The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-15
ITS CLIMATE IS GOOD
Western Canadian Winter Has No
Terrors for the Wise.
SUMMER AND AUTUMN SUPERB
How the Soil Is Able to Eet Along
With Il Low Annual
Rainfall.

Many of the readers of this, says a
Canadian government publication, II they
are residents of any of the western states,
or, in fact, of some of the eastern states,
will remember that in the early history
Of these states complaints against the
climate were frequently made. 1t was
said that fruit could not be grown; that
it was not possible to raise cattle sue
cessfully, and that farming operations
could not be carried on with any degree
Of success, but long since 1T has peen
demonstrated how erroneous these IDEAS
were. In the same way what is now
known as western Canada, one OF the
greatest wheat producing districts OF the
world, was spoken of as a wilderness, nj
only for buffalos and foxes. 1t IS haroly
necessary to state how completely theSe
allegations have been falsiied, and every
year is proving the fallacy OF similar
statements respecting the western prov
inces. The climate of western Canada, as
described by those who have lived there
for some years, Is said to be very agree
able. Disease Is little known, while cpl
denies are unheard of. Spring commences
about the first Of April. Some seasons,
however, seeding is begun early in March,
the snow having entirely disappeared. But
spring scarcely puts in an appearance pc
fore it is followed by summer, and 1t is
almost impossible to describe the Delights
Of that pleasant season, with its long days
and cool nights. 1t is in this fact that
we find an explanation of the extraor-
dinarily rapid growth of vegetation,
which, under the influence of this long
continued sunshine, exceeds anything
known in lower attitudes. The soft maple
tree has been known to grow more than
five feet in single season.
The autumn season is one Of the most
delightful that can be imagined. 1t eX-
tends into the month of November, snow
sometimes not falling until late in De-
cember, giving the farmer the opportunity
Of finishing up his threshing, completing
the marketing Of his thousands of bushels
of Nc. hard wheat, and leaving him SUI
fcent time to put his land in condition
for the crop of the following year.
AS for the winters, they entirely lose
tie dread with which timorous people have
regarded them, after a single experience.
1t is difficult to obtain from the reading
Of record of temperature any idea of
the comforts or discomforts that prevail
It is we'll known that humidity is of equal
Importance, probably of greater impor-
lance, while the velocity of the wind is
A contribution to one of the eastern
magazines says:
Cold Not Formidable.
In the crisp dry atmosphere of western
Canada the writer has experienced tempera-
ture of 40 degrees below without dis
comfort; and, while wearing the same cloth
ing as in the other case has been chilled tc
the marrow in the mosture-laden air of the
when Thermometer
tered 10 degrees above.
In describing the effect of the warm
winds Of the Pacific on. the Alberta dis
trict, and comparing the generous climate
there with that Of the districts south OF
the boundary line, the statement is ad-
vanced that "the Rocky Mountains, which
in Colorado are twenty degrees from the
coast, aresbut ten degrees distant in lati-
tude 56 degrees, and the pass in the
Rockies Though which Peace river flows
from wess' to east is but $500 feet above
sea level; or more than mile lower than
the summit station on the Union Pacific
Railway in Wyoming. Across this noun
tain, however, SO much diminished in
width and height, come the warm chinook
breezes, which make the climate of AL
berta SO mild
Great Britain is one of earth's most IA
vored regions for wheat growing. It
Fahrenheit. =. '-e~...'as
In the Northwest Territories the do
minion government maintains sixteen sta
lions where the terlpera ture is daily re-
corded. Ten of the sixteen showed q
mean summer temperature of so to IS de-
grees Fahrenheigfor the year 1893.
Soil and Rainfall.
The surface soil is a rich vegetable
ol,,
subsoil throughout the intense heat OF
summer is kept moist by the slow melt
Ing OF the deep winter frosts, the moisture
ascending to the surface and nourishins
the roots of the grain, thus stimulating
growth and producing bountiful crop
Again, the sunshine is longer just at the
needed time, when the heads are ripening
Heat alone will not bring wheat to ma.
turity, solar light being a necessity ant
the greater its amount the better result
obtained. From the 18th of June to tho
LIST of July there are nearly two hours
more daylight in every twenty-four il
western Canada than in Ohio
In the spring and summer wild flowers
are as common as in England, and il
August wild fruits and delicate ferns
abound. Of course, there are good ane
bad seasons in Canada, as everywhere
else, but, taken altogether, the climate il
decidedly good one. Z ~
In April, the monthly mean temperature
of 40 degrees Is found in Alberta and AS
sinibola and passes eastward to Manitoba
indicating spring slightly in advance O
southwestern Ontario, on the 42d parable
of latitude. Spring in April makes rapit
strides In Manitoba, with an average da.
temperature Of 4S degrees.
In considering the climate Of the Ca
madam prairies, the fact should not be los
H. !, IL. Z
averages only 1885 inches for the Terri
tories and 1884 inches In Manitoba, thu
amounts falling between April ant
Oct. 1 are respectively, $50 inches ant
1887 inches, or 1913 and 74.2 per cent o
the whole. The rainfall in Manitob.
April to October, 1900, was 1914 inches.