The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-05-29
WESTERN CANADA'S
PROSPECTS FOR 1914
Excellent Spring for Work and
Wheat Seeding About
Finished.

The writer has just returned from
an extensive trip through the PROV
inces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
Alberta, In Western Canada. The cror
conditions are the very best, and ne
one locality seems to have an advan
tage over another in this respect. The
uniformity in growth is remarkable
and in all parts of the three provinces
spring wheat at the time of writing
May 10th, is well above the ground
from two to three inches. Consider
able fall blowing was done last year.
and this, with the summer fallow, Is
already seeded, so that practically
wheat seeding is over by this date.
Everywhere the farmers are busy and
the whole country presents, one great
scene of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., four
horse and five-horse teams are busy
preparing land for barley, oats and
flax. On some of the larger farms
batteries of steam and gasoline out
fits are at work, but in great many
districts where these have been oper
ated in the past they are being dis
placed by horses, owing no doubt par
TALLY to the difficulty of securing ex
perienced men to operate them. Any
way, there is being put into agricul-
ture in Western Canada, greater eff
fort with more promise than for some
years past. The soil Is In the best
possible condition; moisture has been
sufficient, there have been no winds
have had to lay up for day or so
now and again, it was merely that the
ground might have the advantage of
the rain and an occasional snow,
which promise so much for the grow
ing crop. With some warm weather
the grain will come along in a man
ner that will equal the best years
Western Canada has ever had.
1t must not be thought from this
that the farmers are full bent on Sc
curing a grain crop alone. In nearly
every district there is more and more
the i..ication and inclination to go
into mixed farming. Herds of cattle
now dot the plains that up to the
present had been fully given up to
grain growing, hogs and sheep are in
evidence. New buildings are to be
seen on a great many places, these
being pig houses and COW stables, al
though protection of cattle is not regu-
larly required, excepting for calves
and such cows as it may be necessary
to house from time to time.
The growing of alfalfa and other
fodder grasses is an industry that is
being rapidly developed.
During this spring a splendid class
of new settlers have gone in, many Of
them from the eastern states. These
have seen what success the western
and central states man has achieved
in Western Canada, and are now go
ing in in hundreds. The movement
from Montana, Oregon and Washing
ton to Canada continues without any
abatement as to numbers and value of
effects, while the central and eastern
states are still sending an excellent
class of farmers with means sufficient
to begin farming on a scale that will
pay from the start.
Those who contemplate visiting the
Panama Exposition next year will find
that one of the most interesting trips
they can make will be via the Cana
dian West. There will be three lines
of railway they can use-the Canadian
Pacific, Canadian Northern and Grand
Trunk Pacific, all of which will have
through to coast lines completed. Thus
will be given a view of prairie, wood
land and mountain scenery unexcelled
in ca.-Advertisement.