The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-06-21
TRIBUTE TO
WESTERN CANADA SOIL

That there is good reason for the
wonderful crops Of grain grown in
Western Canada, which have made
thousands Of former residents Of the
United States wealthy, is not always
given the thought that it deserves is
quite apparent. But that there must
be reason is quite evident. Proba-
bly, more than one-but the one that
requires emphasis-is that the soil Is
Of the nature that will produce good
crops. 1t was not long since that the
farmer selected his land in the most
haphaZard way. He need not do so
today. He will select it on the soil
analysis plan. Soil from Western
Canada was submitted to Prof. Slew
ems, soil physicist Of the State College
Of Washington, ut Pullman, Wash. His
report should no doubt further encour-
age settlement in Western Canada. It
reads as follows:
1--WE have analyzed this sample and
find that 1t runs high in lime, very
high in potash phosphorus and in nj
trogen; that 1t has a splendid supply
OF organic matter and is in the best
Of physical condition. There Is moth
ing wrong with this soil from the
standpoint Of crop production, and I
am satisfied that 1t will give splendid
results wherever put under cultiva-
tion."
1t Is soil like this properly worked,
and on scientific lines, as Is the
rule today, that gives the opportunity
to quote the experiences of farmers
who have increased their incomes
from $500 to $4,000 in two seasons.
and whose story would read as fol-
lows: .-~--
II have threshed altogether 1000
bushels Of No. Northern wheat from
200 acres, which went from "a to So
per acre-sod breaking "a, spring
plowing 36. back setting 56 bushels
the average being 35 bushels per acre"
The newspaper giving an account Of
this mans experience says: "When he
disposed Of his 1000 acres from north
Of Brooks, Alta, to four Oak FlarbOr
men, he was worth $4,000. Two years
ago he came here with $500 and a few
horses"
1t is the soil of Western Canada.
and the knowledge of what 1t will do
that brings to Canada the hundreds Of
settlers that are daily arriving at the
border. A growing enthusiasm for the
fertile prairie lands Of Western Cam
ada is spreading all over the continent.
This enthusiasm is the recognition OF
the fact that sufficient food could be
produced on these prairie lands to
feed the world. From the south, east
and west hundreds of men, too old for
military service, are pouring into
Western Canada to take up land OF
to work on the farms. A great many
OF the incoming settlers have arrived
at such central points as Calgary, Ed
monton. and Lethbridge, Alberta. and
at Regina, Moose Jaw, and Saskatooi,
Saskatchewan. Judging from the bulk
Of their household effects, the number
OF their horses and cattle, and the
quantity Of implements they are bring
ing with them, most Of the new ar
rivals also seem well blessed with the
worlds goods.
Reports from North Portal, Sas-
katchewan; Coutts, Alberta, and Kings
gate, British Columbia-the principal
gateways into Western Canada from
the United States-indicate that the
present influx Of farmers Is in such
volume as has not been witnessed for
many years. From Vancouver, Brit
ish Columbia, people are going to the
prairies for summer farm work, many
with the intention Of taking up land
themselves at the end Of the summer.
The influence Of this tide of farmer
settlers on greater food production will
be more readily appreciated when IL
Is considered that the average settler
takes up at least twice as much land
as he has hitherto been farming-and
land which. acre for acre, produces bet
ter and larger crops.-Advertisemen
He talnes grief that fetters 1t In
rhyme.