The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-02-01

Crop Prospects and Climate Assat
Edmonton, n. w. a.


Edmonton, y. w. a.
untere1ting letter from Mrs. 8, A. Brig.
ham. .ase Of Mason Cityl
Editor Mason City Republican.
loss Greek. Alberta, N. W. T.,
Cauada, Aug. 7. 1899.
Dear Sir;
We are located In the Beaver Hills,
20 miles from n. Saskatchewan and
30 miles from Edmonton. To the east
OF these Is an immense area Of bot
tom lands, which furnishes abundance
Of hay for the settlers. II Is dotted
with small lakes, the largest OF which
Is called Beaver Lake, nc miles In
length.
There Is shelter for the cattle and
horses now feeding there.
The Heavier Hills are covered with
small green willows which are easily
gotten rid Of before breaking mp the
land. Here aud there poplar, birch
aud tgmnrack trees abound. Small
meadows are numerous. The soil In
these hills is much richer than the bot.
tom lands. being a kind Of black leaf
mould. There Is DO tough sod TO
break and II Is very productive. Wheat,
oats and barley do finely. and vege-
tablcn are the finest that can he
grown. Potatoes especially arc large
and solid, easily producing from 200
90 800 bushels per acre, and best Of
oil never a "taty bug" to wrestle with.
Wild fruit--strawberrics, gooseh.rries,
sasGaioons Tor pine bcrries), raspber.
Tics and cranbcrricz-ar found In the
hills. Small tame fruit docs finely: the
red and white currants In my garden
are as large again as common sized
ones.
We have long days during the
months Of June and Igly. one can sec
10 read many evening" until 10 o'clock
In the twilight. Some nights less
than . hours OF darkness and the
birds are singing nj . o'clock. Then
again, II rains 30 easily. You look TO.
ward the west ana see little cloud
coming UP. n gentle shower follows.
the sun shines forth again, and In a
little while you forget Il has rained.
Cyclones are unknown here and the
thunder and lightning is very light.
We Rad two storms this summer ac-
eompEnicd with wind and hail. but
nothing TO lodge the grain. The av.
Cragc heat Is about Is degrees. We
had three or four days IN July at 90,
The rights are always cool
The winter season Il one Of great
activity. All the fencing is gotten
out then aud logs for the farm build
ingS. by paying 25 cents you are
granted a permit at the land Office 10
cut logs upon vacant lands. The roads
are good and smooth, for the snow
never drifts, not even around the
buildings, and This is a great saving
of time 10 the farmer. Hay Is hauled
from the bottom lands all winter long.
nhd a man can work outside every
day Os far as the weather Is con-
ccrucd, There are cold snaps when Il
rcacheg 20 and Is below zero, bu' the
lack 81 wind prevents one realizing Il
aud the mountains $50 miles west Of
u are great protection.
Our ucighb1rs are mostly Canadian,
Scotch. Swcdc, aud We have nice
sprinkliay Of people from the States.
The creeks abound In small fish.
We Rrr now ir the midst OF hAy-
making (Aue. nm. Wheat will not be
cut util early September this being
little later season than common. bur
the crop will be immense. / send you
sample of wheat and barley--its
height is almost oven with my Shout.
ners, average 80 inches. Newcomers
lacking binders can hire their grain
cut for n cents per acre. Prairie
chickens are here by the thousands.
The water t. good. We have n fue
well IS feet deep. In the creeks the
water Is soft and Of ycllowish colour.
Then again We are surrounded with
bachelor; we have no less than rs
single men In this neighbourhood, on
matrimony bent. When a feminine
gender OF any ago between Il and 20
visits these hills we pity her, so great
is the demand for her company.
In conclusion. II the remainder o.
cur loved ones were here with MS. We
should better enjoy life on Ross Greek,
and unless the unexpected develops,
consider this will be a pretty fair
PLACE to end orr days.
MRs, S, A. BRIGHAM.
~- -
sport ia Maime.