Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1907 — CANADA’S BIG CROP. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CANADA’S BIG CROP.

GRATIFYING CONDITIONS IN WESTERN PROVINCES. — —-—; ■■ Farmera In that Section of the Dominion Raalc in Financial Sunshine—lmmenae Yield of Dollar Wheat la Reported. Winnipeg Correspondence : , Most of the States of the Union felt the unusually severe winter of 1900-07 and the effects of the succeeding late spring were everywhere apparent. Corn had been planted 1 two and sometimes thfW times, the winter wheat suffered, and generally there was a nervous feeling as the retarded grow-tji was in evidence. From the Dakotas to Texas the feeling of dread existed, and the fears were entertained that the crop of corn, wheat, oats and barley would be a' distinct failure. How far tbhi was the case is best left to those

who passed through the experience. Naturally the same conditions we ,- e prevalent throughout the province of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, in Western Canada, and with from 250,000 to 300,000 farmers there from the United States, a large degree of interest was manifest in almost every State of the Union, for every State has some representative there. This interest was a nervous one and caused considerable indecision on the part of friends and others intending to follow. Those • interested in injuring the country circulated stories of ruin and disaster, but the effect was lost, as it had been long enough in the limelight to. prove Its high standing among the agricultural sections of the continent. The heavy strain placed upon it was not too great; it has shown that the faith placed

in it has been warranted and it is this year producing undoubted evidence that in agricultural possibilities and resources it stands among the first of food producers. A late spring delayed seeding from the usual early April period until late in May, and in many cases well on into June. It is a little early to tell the result, but that there will be a threequarters crop is almost certain. The yield of wheat in 1906 was 95 million bushels; this year it will be between TO and 80 million. It could not be expected that seeding of June would mature and ripen in any country. The May sown ripened, and this is the feature that has proved Western Canada’s superiority as a great grain growing country. It demonstrates that the length of sunshine Is so great that the growing and ripening

season, although shorter in number of days than In parts farther south, in hours la as great or greater. ,It Is true the season has not been so favorable as other seasons, but this condition is widespread. The corn crop in the States of the Union, where it Is the premier crop of the farmers, is subject to frost. Froat has undoubtedly materially reduced the total yield in places this year, but after every allowance has been made for this sad other causes the fact remains that the total grain In Alberta will be the largest in history, while In the other provinces the yield will not fall far abort of other years. With reference to Alberta, further ad-

vie* from one who Is in dow touch with the crop and commercial conditions in the most southerly hundred and fifty miles of the province state t that the fall wheat crop is phenomenal, threshing from 30 to 60 bushels per acre and grading Nos. 1 and 2 northern. The price realized is 75c to 85c per bushel. The balance of Alberta north to Edmonton and east to Lloydminster has mostly spring crop. It is largely a dairying, beef and pork raising country. The excessive rains in late August and early September 1 delayed ripening of the -crop on the heaviest soil, and consequently was considerably damaged on the arrival of fall frosts. On lighter soil the crop was fair to good. On the line between Calgary and Edmonton spring wheat was seriously damaged, but will produce a large quantity of low grade milling and feed; early sown oats are excellent feed quality," but; late sown are seriously damaged and a small proportion will be fed ia the straw. On the Canadian Northern, from a point forty miles,east of Edmontett to Lioydmiaster oats and barley are generally excellent; wheat is somewhat damaged and there is

some loss of late sown oats and barley. South of High River there is an enormous crop. From High River to Edmonton and from Edmonton to Lloydminster there is an average crop of over fifty per cent of last year, and the price is from fifty to one hundred per cent higher than last year. The root crop is excellent and the live stock is in splendid condition. At the time of writing it is difficult to determine even approximately the quantity of wheat that Central Canada will market this year. The threshers’ returns will tell the story. The proceeds of the excellent Western Canada field of wheat Which la here pictured were sufficient to pay out of the one crop the price of the land upon wfiiclr it was grown. Sheep raising as well as grain growing is also a profitable industry in almost any portion of Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta. The pictured flock of sheep is a perfect reproduction from a photograph taken in northern Saskatchewan.

A SHEEP RANCH IN SASKATCHEWAN.

MANITOBA MILLS AND ELEVATORS.

FIELD OF WHEAT IN WESTERN CANADA.