The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-08-03
GRAIN CROPS
ARE PROMISING
Western Canada 1917 Crops In
Good Shape.

will produce, there is every indication
at the present writing that the 1917
crop will give an excellent return. Re-
ports received from all portions OF
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
speak of good growing weather. q
fairly advanced stage of all grains,
with prospects as good as in the past
two wears. Should conditions con
time as ut present. 1t is safe to con-
cludc that Western Canadian farm
erS, already free of debt, rs a re-
suit of the splendid crops and prevail
ing high prices, expect from this sea-
sons returns to be in a position that
will place them away beyond any fear
Of the future.
The acreage of Western Canada will
be about the same us last year. Seed
ing was somewhat later than last
year. but termination was quicker. The
only possible drawback now would
seem to be Il scarcity Of harvest hands,
but it is felt by the authorities that the
situation will be pretty well cared for
by that time.
Land values are increasing. but there
Is room for Il much greater Increase
than in the past, owing to the returns
that farmed land will give when com
pared with its cost. In some districts
land that could have been bought five
years ago for SIS an acre Is changing
hands ut $50 an acre. the seller satis-
fed that he Is giving the purchaser
good value for his money. And why
not. when it is known that i'm a great
many cases during the past two years
crops have been grown on this land
that have produced a profit of forty,
and fifty dollars per acre. over and
above cost Of production. These cases,
while not general, were not excep1
tiOnal.
In addition to the lands that are
offered for sale by railway companies,
land companies and private individ-
uais. the hOmesteading areas offer
great inducements for those who are
willing to do Il little pioneering for q
year or two. BY that time settlements
would come into existence. and this
means n condition similar to that en-.
joyed by many Of the older settlements
OF today--schools. churches, railways.
The iand Is OF high-class quality,
strong and vigorous, easily worked,
and capable Of producing the very best
Of crops.
The demand for oil grains for some
years will be great, and 1t will require
all the resOurces Of man, beast and.
soil to meet It. That the prices will
be good goes without saying, but at the
present time there Is something more
appealing than the lucrative prices
that prevail. That is, the desire to
assist in winning the world war. The
man at the pillow is doing his bit and
the spirit OF patriotism that prevails
will lead him into a broader sphere OF
action. No matter where he may be he
will look about him that he may find
land to further develop the country's
resources. 1t Is possible that his own
state may furnish the land, In which
case he will be quick to take advan-
tage Of the offer. II land In his
own state Is not available, Canada
(now our ally) will be glad to furnish
II In unlimited quantity, as she is vital
~ interested in largely increasing the
supply OF foOdstuff which is now as
urgently needed and is rs valuable as
ammunition to the allied countries.
The appeal made by Mr.. Hoover,
United States controller Of foods, and
also by Hon. W. ]. Hanna. Canadian
controller. emphasizes the need of the
niles. urges economy and the proven
ton OF the waste in food. and be-
speaks whole hearted public co-opera-
ton. Speaking Of Great Britain,
France. Italy. Belgium and their Eu-
ropean allies. they say:
For nearly three years their man
power has been engaged ia the direct
work OF war. and in some cases large
areas of their most productive lands
have been overrun by the enemy. Their
food shortage and the food to supply
the armies Of Canada and the United
States must be wholly provided from
this side OF the Atlantic. The supply
must also be sufficient to cover losses
at sea. Australia. New Zealand. the
Al6SAtIHV ANVpuUIIS anu OtlCT COUus
tries are not now available to relieve
the situation because of their remote
ness and the shortage of tonnage.
THE crop Of storeable foods grown
In Canada and the United States suit
able for shipment overseas threatens
to be entirely inadequate to meet the
demand unless the whole people de-
termine BY every means in their power
to make up the shortage. Every indi-
viduai Is under a direct obligation to
assist In rationing the allied forces.
There must be national ~self-denial and
national cooperation to provide tho
necessary Observation-Disclosures
The Situation.
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