Gilpin observer., 1919-05-08
fine CROPS SURE
Outlook In Western Canada Never
More Favorable.
Perfect Weather Conditions Enabled
Early Seeding and Wheat Has lonu
Been Above Ground In the
Land Of Opportunity.

The greatest optimism prevails
throughout every district in Western
Canada. From the eastern boundary
of Manitoba to the slopes Of the Rocky
Mountains the farmers have been busy
for three weeks In seeding operations.
Last fall even for Western Canada,
was an exceptional one. Threshing
was completed at an early date and
the amount Of fall plowing made ready
for crop from fifteen to twenty-five per
cent more acreage than in any year in
the brief history Of the country. There
fore there was ready for seeding this
spring an acreage away beyond any
thing ever before experienced in that
country.
On April 20 Calgary (Alta.) report
ed that in south country points there
was a notable spirit of optimism
amongst the farmers there. Moisture
and weather conditions were good,
while land in most places was in the
best possible condition. More tractors
were being put into operation than in
any previous year. In some parts Of the
south country. however, there was a
marked shortage of labor but In the
consideration of the country as q
whole the labor outlook was bright.
Seeding operations were well under
way In every part Of Western Canada
by the fifteenth of April. The practice
Of the farmers In that country is to
commence as soon as the frost Is out
of the ground enough to allow the few
Inch seed bed to be worked up we'll.
Beneath this the ground may still be
frozen, but from this frost the young
and tender wheat roots get the mois-
ture at first so necessary to its exist
ence. The warm days of spring and
the long hours of sunlight that are
1shered in with 1t thaw the frost out
day by day and pay to the growing
plant the moisture as 1t Is needed.
Natures way of producing moisture to
the young wheat plant is one of the
chief reasons why Western Canada has
become world famous as a wheat-pro-
ducing country. What may be said
Of wheat can as truly be said of
oats and barley, and yes, in fact, corn,
too. Rapid and strong growth is stim-
ulated in this manner. Heavy spring
rains usually occur after seeding IL
over and the grain well above ground.
Already report has been received.
dated April 20, that farmer near Ca
bri, Saskatchewan, had $50 acres Of
wheat showing above the ground.
A good. strong and sturdy wheat
plant Is necessary when 1t Is ex-
pected that there will be produced .
forty rty-bushel-to-the-acre crop OF wheat
Of a quality that will weigh out its
sixty-five pounds to the measured
bushel.
These spring wheat conditions rep
resent but one of the reasons why
Western Canada has been able to
produce. with SO little effort, worlds
record grain crops. wheat and oats
that have carried OFF all champions
ship awards at Americas largest ex-
positions.
Western Canada has this spring
shipped ten thousand bushels of Mar
quis wheat. the variety that holds
most Of the worlds championships, to
Australia, where It Is to be tried out.
Seventy-five thousand bushels of the
same variety has been sent to France
to be used for seed.
The wheat lands Of Western Canada
are probably the most undervalued Of
any on the continent.
A comparatively small acreage Of
Western Canada's lands has been sold
as high as $50 an acre. The greater
portion of the best farming land In
Its unimproved state may be purchased
at $25 an acre. The comparison be-
tween these prices and an annual rev.
enue derived from grain-growing alone,
with big yields and present prices, can
but more firmly impress one with the
certainty of rapid Increase within
the next few years.AAdvertiseme
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