The circle banner., 1920-02-13
WESTERN CANADA CORN
Nins First Honors at Kansas
City.

While visiting the Canadian Govern
ment Information Bureau at Kansas
City, where there is on exhibition 8
very creditable display of Canadian
products, my attention, says writer
in the agricultural press, was directed
to a few ears of Dent corn, bearing
the modest inscription,
'"This Northwestern Dent corn took
the first prize at the Soil Products
City, Mo-, and was grown by John
Hamilton of Kelwood Manitoba"
Kelwood, Manitoba lies about twelve
hundred miles north of Kansas City,
and 1t was quite pardonable that these
Canadians should 30 proudly parade
the fact that they had been able to
carry or for their corn display the
blue ribbon that for years the old
"corn-growing" states had looked up
on as being practically their own, and
for which they were strong contest
ants in the recent show.
1 asked Mr.. Hewitt. agent in charge
of the Canadian Government Office at
2012 Main Street, Kansas City, what
the winning Of the prize means for
Canada. His reply was that 1t means
the "corn belt" is moving northward,
and in few years to the fame that
Canada has already achieved as
wheat, barley and oats producing coun-
try, will have to be added that of
growing the best corn in America.
"Why," he said. twenty years ago
q friend of mine was attracted at the
Minnesota State Fair by the number
Of those who were examining some
corn growth north of Crookston. Min
nesota. It was not the large ear pro-
duced farther south, but 1t was an even
ear and perfect kernel. The interest
centered in It was the fact that it had
been grown so far north. That was
twenty years ago. Today, the trav-
eler on any of the railways in that
section of the country may see field
after field of corn. In many portions
of Manitoba" he continued. "out into
Saskatchewan and Alberta, the grow
Ing of corn is receiving much atten-
ton. at presently mainly for fodder,
but within short time, with acclima-
ted seed a maturing corn of good quail
ity may reasonably be expected. Al
ready the number of silos in use in
Western Canada indicates that the pro-
gressive- farmers there look forward
to the day when corn will be one of
their most important crops.
'.Corn lands in South Dakota are
said to be selling as high as $3.50 per |
acre. and If corn has been the means |
of placing these lands at this price |
what may be expected of Western Can
ada lands, when the day comes that |
corn will be grown as successfully
there?"
1t was not in corn alone that West |
ern Canada carried off the honors at |
the Soil Products Exposition. The |
awards won by Western Canada were
40 first, 20 second, and 26 third
prizes. These included 1st. End and
Bird prizes for hard spring wheat; the
sweepstakes for wheat and the cup Of
fered by Canadian Pacific Railway for
the best half-bushel of hard spring
wheat; 1st, 2nd and Bird prizes and
sweepstakes for oats; 1st. 2nd and
Bird prizes for barley; and End and
Bird prizes for oats.
1t is interesting to note that the
for wheat and first prize
for hard red spring wheat have been
won by Saskatchewan exhibitors
seven times in the last eight years,
Manitoba winning one year.
Potato classes have some interesting
successes for Western Canadian ex-
nibitors. who won four firsts, three
seconds and three thirds. Exhibitors
rom these provinces also made fine
showing in the vegetable classes, win
lig among other prizes the premium
prizes for cabbages, caulifiowers,
pumpkins squash and watermelons
ADV.