The searchlight., 1911-12-15
WESTERN CANADA
FARMER SECURES
WORLDS PRIZE
FOR wheat
RoeTheRN, oAsk., FARMER
THE LUCKY WINNER.

THE LUCKY WINNER.
Sir Thomas Shanghnsssy Of the Ca
madam Pacific Railway offered $1,000
In gold - prise for the best 100 lbs.
Of wheat. grown on the American con-
tnent. to be competed for at the re-
cent Land Show In New York. In
making the competition open, the
donor Of this handsome prize showed
his belief In the superiority OF Ca
madam wheat lands. By throwing the
contest open to farmers Of all Amer
lea, both United States and Canada.
The United States railways were By
no means anxious to have the Ca
madam railways represented at the
show and New York paper comment
ing on the results Of the competitions
says that they were not to be blamed,
as the Canadians captured the most
important prize Of the show.
The winner Of this big wheat prize
was Mr.. Seager Wheeler of Rosthern,
Saskatchewan. and its winning has
brought q great deal of credit on the
district. The winning wheat was the
Marquis variety. and received no more
attention from Mr.. Wheeler than his
other grain, but he is a very particu-
lar farmer. His farm Is one of the
cleanest and best kept in the Ros-
thern district, and this year he won
first prize In a good farm competition
which included every feature of farm
ing and every part Of the farm. Last
winter Wheeler was a prize winner
at the provincial seed fair in Regina.
Wheeler ID q firm believer in SOW
ing clean seed Of the best quality pro-
curable. consequently his grain is
much sought after by the best far
mers for seed purposes.
Wheeler Is an Englishman. He is q
pioneer Of Rosthern. coming here fif.
teen years ago. In the last six years
he has done much experimenting, par
ticularly in wheat varieties. His farm
resembles an experimental farm. A
long driveway, lined on both sides
with trees. leads to a modest house.
the home Of Wheeler, a modest. unas-
suming man with the appearance Of q
student rather than a man engaged In
commercial pursuits.
There are now no free homesteads
to be had In this district, and farm
lands are worth from $40 to $40 per
acre. which a few years ago were Sc
cured by their present owners, either
as free gift or purchased at from IS
to IS per acre.
1t is not many miles from Rosthern,
where the farmer lives, who secured
the first prize for wheat last year at
the National Corn Exposition at Co
lumbus and West of Rosthern. about
$50 miles. lives Messrs. Hill and Son.
who won the Colorado Silver Trophy.
valued at $500, for the best peck Of
oats. also awarded at the National
Corn Show at Columbus in 1910.
Not contented with the high honors
obtained In its wheat. Canada again
stepped forward into the show ring.
and carried OF the Stillwell trophy
and $1,000 for the best potatoes on
the continent. This time the winner
was British Columbia man. Mr..
Asahel Smith, the Potato King" Of
that province. The exhibit consisted
of one hundred and one varieties
drawn from all parts Of the province
aggregating in weight one and half
tons.
At the recent Dry Farming Con-
gress, held at Colorado Springs, and
at which time 1t was decided to hold
the next Congress at Lethbridge, in
1912. the Province of Alberta made q
wonderful showing Of grains, grasses
and vegetables.
AT the Congress, Alberta got more
prizes and trophies. ten to one, than
any state Of the Union" said Mr..
Hotchkiss to the Edmonton Bulletin.
I'VE brought back all but the build.
ing with us, and they offered us that.
saying we might as well take all that
was going. We would have brought
II along. too, II we had had a fat car
to put 1t on. Alberta captured nearly
SO first prizes. 20 seconds. 3 thirds. .
cups, 40 medals, 80 ribbons and Q
sweepstakes. The grand sweepstake
prize. for the best exhibit by state or
province. a magnificent silver cup.
was presented to us with much cere.
mony at q reception to the Canadians
In the Empress hotel. The presenta-
tisn was made by Prof. Olin. chair.
man Of the judging committee. and
the cup was received on behalf of the
province by the Hon. Duncan Mar