REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 7 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



At that time no very large area was occupied by this crop, and with many farmers 

 spring wheat was preferred and the cultivation of winter wheat had scarcely passed 

 the experimental stage. Since then the acreage under this crop has much increased, 

 and the growing of winter wheat become much more general, esi^ecially in the Leth- 

 bridge, Macleod and Pincher districts. 



A statement as to the area under winter wheat and the yield of grain per acre 

 appeared for the first time in the Annual Crop Report for the North-west Territories 

 for 1903, in which it was stated that this crop occupied 3,440 acres and had given a total 

 yield of 82,418 bushels. In 1904 the acreage was increased to 8,296 and the total crop 

 to 152,125 bushels. The returns for 1905 are not yet available, but there is no doubt 

 that they wall show a much larger proportionate increase. While the total crop of 

 winter wheat in Alberta in 1904 is far exceeded by spring wheat, it must be borne in 

 mind that in some of the districts of Southern Alberta, where only a limited area of 

 land is under cultivation, winter wheat formed that year more than one-third of the 

 entire wheat crop, and there is little doubt that the returns for 1905 will show a much 

 larger proportion of winter wheat. 



INTRODUCTION OP SEED OP SUPERIOR QUALITY. 



During the past two or three years, a variety of wheat known as Turkey Red has 

 been introduced and is fast coming into general cultivation in Alberta. Much of the 

 seed sown last year was brought from Kansas, where it is commonly grown. It was 

 brought in by the Canadian Pacific Railway and supplied to the farmers at cost. 

 Turkey Red is a wheat of high quality, probably the best in this respect of all the 

 winter wheats. It is a bearded variety with rather a short head, and does not look as 

 if it would be very productive, and in Ontario it has the reputation of being a light 

 yielder. In Alberta this variety stools very freely, often producing from five to seven 

 heads from a single kernel, and its general productiveness has been a matter of sur- 

 prise to many. Samples we have had, brought from Kansas, have shown the kernel to 

 be small and thin, with a weight per bushel of 60 to 61 lbs., while in samples grown in 

 Alberta, the kernels have been much more plump and brighter in colour, with a weight 

 per bushel of 64 lb. and over. This wheat is a favourite with miUers in Kansas, and 

 there is no doubt it will make excellent flour. 



A TOUR OP INVESTIGATION. 



With the object of inquiring more fully into the agricultural conditions and 

 possibilities of the western part of southern and northern Alberta, having especially in 

 view the production of winter wheat, a visit was paid during the past season to differ- 

 ent parts of that province in company with Mr. A. Mackay, Superintendent of the 

 Experimental farm at Indian Head, Sask. 



We arrived at Calgary August 27, when we called on Mr. J. S. Dennis, Superin- 

 tendent of Irrigation for the Canadian Pacific Railway, from whom we obtained much 

 valuable information, especially with regard to the progress of irrigation in Alberta. 

 Through the courtesy of Mr. Dennis we were shown over the irrigation works of the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway, within ten or twelve miles of Calgary, and had the oppor- 

 tunity of seeing the great progress which has been made there. It is expected that 

 when this gigantic undertaking is completed, that the irrigation ditches will distribute 

 water sufficient to irrigate about one million acres of land. It is difficult to realize the 

 wonderful change this will bring about over a large part of the area lying between 

 Calgary and Medicine Hat and when the irrigated land becomes saturated with suffi- 

 cient water this will no doubt bring about more favourable conditions of moisture for 

 the growing of crops on adjoining lands too high to be reached by the flowing streams. 



