The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-09-17
KRIENKE ON CANADA
Minister Writes Gazette Of
Conditions In Far North
West

G. J. Krienke has been spending
some time in Canada and after study
ing the situation carefully has writ
ten the following letter to the Ga
zette from Winnipeg:
After having roamed to and fro
in the state of Washington, the state
that will soon attract the eyes of the
world because of its fine apple orch
ards which will soon lead in the mar
ket not only in quality but also in
quantity, we catch a breeze from
King Georges Great Northwest
which we would see next. Hence
we bid adieu to Uncle Sam for
fortnight to make the acquaintance
of his neighbor John Bull.
1.-The first glimpse we get of him
is when we attempt to board steam
er for Victoria where he stops US at
the gate, inquiring into our financial
standing; saying: "You must carry
$50. 90 with you if you would pass
this gate" On landing at Victoria
he apparently had changed his mind,
now fearing that they may be too
well to do, he says: Let me exam
inc your baggages, peradventure |
may share some of your riches with
you.
British Columbia seems to berich
in mountains, beautiful lakes, and
fine numbering sections. Fruit
ranches are being developed quite
extensively also; so that when John
wants an apple he need not ask Sam
for one. The Frazer and Peace River
valleys are at present attracting
many settlers, and will undoubtedly
make good farming districts.
After crossing the Rockies. which
are said to be grandest in Canada,
we stand on the threshold of great
plane which is destined to become
the granery of the Western Cont
nent. at least for season. AS we
ride in crowded trains, and then look
at the vast fields of golden grain, we
think the song of a certain settler
quite appropriate; viz.
This is the country of golden grain
Where hundreds come on the train
And where an acre40, so bushels yield
On the Canadian unrivalled field"
In this great wheat field of the
northwest, as in Minnesota the soil
varies in productiveness from that
of too short and too thin to cut, to
that of 40 or so bushels per acre,
which could not be excelled even in
California where it is said, that the
farmers do not shock their grain be-
cause the grain is so thick that there
is not enough room to set the shock.
'"This may be as it will, the fact
remains that I've seen grain in some
sections that Minnesota could not
beat. | stood in field of oatsWhere
the heads touched my chin, and /
don't imagine that struck the tall
est in Canada.
1t seems it's at all times hard to
get the grain started in the spring,
but when it is once started, the soil
is so productive in places that it's
growth seemingly would never stop.
if Mr.. Jack Frost would not put on
the brake. Early frosts seem to
have been the greatest difficulty to
contend with in some sections. The
question is whether Mr.. Frost comes
too soon or whether the grain mat
ures too late? am inclined to be-
lieve the latter, as the corn of the
southern states cannot be expected
to mature in the northern; no more
can we expect grain adapted to Min
nesota or South Dakota to mature in
northern Canada.
1T is said that brand of wheat
has been developed at the Canadian
experiment stations that fully over
comes this difficulty in maturing 10
or 10 days earlier. If this proves to
be a success, would bespeak vet
great things for the granery of the
northwest. For marvellous has been
the growth of many of its railroad
centers in purely grain sections, and
still the country is far from being all
settled. If results are so wonderful
now, what will they be when on every