Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-02-08

Crop Prospects and Climate About Ed
monitor, N. ". T.-Intsrestinx Letter
from Mrs o. A. Brigham, Late

monton, N. w. T.--LntercstfnE Letter
from Mrs. 3. A Brigham. Late
Of Mason City.
The following extracts from an in
teresting letter to the Mason City (Ia.)
Republican, written by Mrs. 8. A.
Brigham. late Of that place. but now OF
Ross Creek, Alberta, Canada, 50 near
ly describe most Of the districts Of
Western Canada that we take pleasure
In presenting same to the attention OF
our readers:
Ross Creek, Albert, N. w. T., Canada,
Aug. z, 1899.
Editor Mason City Republican-Dear
Sir: We are located in the Beaver
Hills. 80 miles from Ft. Saskatchewan
and 80 miles from Edmonton. To the
east OF these is an immense area OF
bottom lands, which furnishes abund-
ance Of hay for the settlers. 1t is dot
ted with small lakes, the largest Of
which Is called Beaver Lake, 10 miles
in length.
The Beaver Hills are covered with
small green willows which are easily
gotten rid of before breaking up the
land. Here and there poplar. birch
and tamarack 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 no tough sod to
break, and 1t is very productive.
Wheat, oats and barley do finely and
vegetables are the finest that can be
grown. Potatoes especially are large
and solid, easily producing from 200
TO 300 bushels per acre, and best Of all
neve a "taty bug" to wrestle with.
Wild fruit, strawberries, gooseberries,
saskatoons Tor pine berries), raspber-
rles and cranberries, are found in the
hills. Small tame fruit does 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 July; one can see
TO read many evenings until 10 o'clock
In the twilight. Some nights less than
8 hours OF darkness, and the birds are
singing at 2 o'clock. Then again, il
rains so easily. You look toward the
west and see a little cloud coming up,
a gentle shower follows, the sun shines
forth eGain, and in a little while you
forget 1t has rained.
Cyclones are unknown here and the
thunder aud lightning is very light.
We had two storms this summer &C
companied with wind and hail, but
nothing to lodge the grain. The aver
age heat is about Is degrees. We had
three or four days in July a. 80. The
nights are always cool.
The winter season is one OF great ac-
tivity. All the fencing Is gotten out
then and logs for the farm buildings.
BY paying 20 cents you are granted a
permit at the land Office to cut logs
upon vacant lands. The roads are
good and smooth, for the snow never
drifts, not ever around the buildings,
and this Is a great saving Of time to
the farmer. Hay Is hauled from the
bottom lands all winter long, and a
man can work outside every day as far
as the weather Is concerned. There are
cold snaps when 1t reaches 40 and 4S
below zero, but the lack Of wind pre-
vents one realizing Ii and the noun
tains $50 miles west OF us are a great
protection. Our neighbors are mostly
Canadian. Scotch. Swede, and we have
a nice sprinkling OF people from the
states. The creeks abound In small
fish.
We are now In the midst OF hay
making (Aug. -. Wheat will not be-
cut until early September, this being
q little later season than common, but
the crop will be immense. send you
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