The Green Forest tribune., 1909-02-26
NELL PLEASED WITH WESTERN
 CANADA.
GOOD CROPS, SPLENDID CLIMATE
 AND WELL ENFORCED LAWS.

Mir. George E. Hunter is a Maid stone, Saskatchewan Central Can ada), farmer, who writes to a Cana dian Government Agent as follows:
 Tt was the first week in November, 1907, when we arrived here. There was very little snow or cold weather until after the holidays, then the snow and cold increased, but to no great extent l think the coldest 1 heard of was 50 degrees below zero, but that degree af cold would not be felt here any more than 10 degrees below zero would be back home in Michigan, owing to the beautiful dry atmosphere of this coun- try. There came a good thaw every month that settled the snow, the fields soon became bare, and on the 18th of April 1 commenced ploughing. The snow was then all gone and summer at hand. This last season was some thing more than an average year around here witl fine crops gathered from large acreage. In parts the crops were less than average but gen. erally speaking they were above it. The price of wheat was quite good. Some fine yields sold at $1.10 per bush el, while some were marketed at much 3ess, but hardly any went below about 90 cents bushel.
 Oats started on the market at s cents a bushel, barley about 50 cents, and flax from 90 cents to $1.00 bushel.
 As this was nay first year in this country, it was a hard year for my horses, owing to their being eastern horses, and not U-ed to the western climate, but they will soon get eli matized
 The soil on my farm is black loam about one foot in thickness, be- lov that we find about six feet of clay, and below that again gravel and sand, with an abundance of excellent water. This was the condition of the ground as 1 found it when dug a well. l can say that the water is as sweet and as free from alkali and i'm purities as l ever saw.
 My opinion is that the man who comes here with little means can dc no better than invest $500 or S1.000 in cattle, after locating homestead ad- joining or near some hilly part of the country where it will not be taken up as soon. There is plenty of grass and hay to be found in the hilly country and small lakes and sloughs will afford sufficient water for any amount of cat tle The bluffs with a few hay or straw sheds will make sufficient shel- ir worry about the market for cattle, as there is already a great call for stock of all kinds to satisfy the continued demands of the large packing house at Edmonton, established by Swift and Company.
 "The dairy business should by no means be forgotten. It is one of the paying enterprises of this great west Ghe price of butter seldom goes below 25 cents and reaches as high as 50 cents pound. Also the new cream cries that are fast being erected along the lines of railroad are calling on the farmers for their cream.
 These creameries are greatly wei comed in all communities, because sell ing cream is better than making but ter, even at an average price of 9 cents pound. For a new country the railroad transportation facilities are good; not yet, of course, what they are in older countries, but the new tines are swiftly gaining as the coun- try gets more settled and supplies them with produce to ship. It is har& to say too much in favor of this coun~ try. All one needs is a little money with grit and ambition. l have seen fomesteads that were filed on little over three years ago that the owners have refused $3,000 for.
 There is much more that can be said in favor of Western Canada, but | think my letter has been long enough"
 THE BOY AS WE KNOW HIM.