The Virginia enterprise., 1904-08-26

tory above all others most admirably
adapted to this particular industry.
The buffalo, bunch and other grasses
that grow in profusion in this district
and retain their nutritive properties the
year round, and the moderate climate of
mid-winter rendered such by the
Chinook winds preventing any consid-
arable depth Of snow at any time, espe-
cially fit the district for the peculiar
methods of the rancher-raising his
herds the year, round in the open coun-
try.
While there are no large lakes or
rivers in this whole country there are
numerous fast-running streams fed the
year round by melting SHOWS in the
mountains furnishing an abundance OF
the coolest and purest water, the best
for beast as we'll as man. The country
has at once an abundance of the best
of food and drink the year round, a clear
sky but little wet or stormy weather and
a favorable climate the year through.
Englishmen and Americans in the
western territories are bringing in their
herds as fast as they can and leasing or
purchasing land in lots from 1000 to TO-
600 acres from the Dominion govern
ment. An idea of the growth of the
industry will be gathered from the fact
that in 1899 there were but Al All head
of cattle shipped and sold from the
ranches, these figures ran to 55,129 in
1900, and to 100000 in 1903, averaging
$40 per head for the owners. But it
takes great many ranchers and large
number of cattle to cover an area of
0,00O, 900 acres, the area available for
ranching in the Canadian northwest
1t Is not at all necessary that large in
vestments should be made at the outset.
Many men commenced with small cap
ital and small herds, and have worked
themselves into large herds and great
wealth. There is still in the country
plenty OF room for those who desire to
go and do likewise.
Second Part.
The second part Of the Canadian
prairies embraces the great wheat grow
ing belt Of the country which is easily a
half larger than any other in the world.
It includes about $50, ,O00,000 acres. As
It is comparatively free of broken land
large lakes and rivers, about 1875 ZOO, 900
acres of it can be brought under the
plow. Placing farmer on every half
section (320 acres), it can comfortably
locate 10000 farmers or 4,000,000 of an
agricultural community. A glance now
at what the farmers of the territories
are doing will give better idea Of what
can be done in this great wheat-growine
zone. The territorial government re-
ports show that in 1903 there were raised
1e.629, ,149 bushels Of spring wheat oh
of S37, 7,234 acres, an average OF 1904
bushels per acre; OF 440,662. acres OF
oats there were grown 14,179, ,705 bush.
els, an average of 32 II bushels per acre:
69,667 acres produced /, ,741 ,209 bushel.
Of barley-24.65 to the acre, and 81, ,431
acres produced 292,S55 bushels of flaz
seed, 9.03 to the acre. As but 1883, ,43A
acres OF little better than one per cent.
OF the entire wheat-growing area of the
territories was under crop, q little fig
uring shows 13 per cent ol the entire
country under wheat will raise the 20O,-
900, 900 that Great Britain annually re-
Quires from sutside countries. =s.
It must not be supposed for . moment
that while this part of the country is
outlined as the sperially favorable dis