10 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



were in all about 20,000 acres of wheat in tLis district, chiefly winter sorts. One 

 elevator was built at Spring Coulee, and a second one nearly built which would be 

 ready in time to receive the crop. Seven elevators in all have been built along this 

 line. 



ABOUT PINCHER AND COWLEY. 



The next part visited was the district about Pincher and Cowley along the line 

 of the Canadian Pacific Railway towards the Crow's Nest Pass. 



At Pincher we saw the wheat fields of Mr. Wm. R. Dotbie. He has 1,170 acres of 

 winter wheat, about 550 of Turkey Red, 200 of Odessa, and the remainder mixed bald 

 and bearded wheats. One field of Turkey Red examined we estimated at 30 to 35 

 bushels par acre. One part of his crop which had been sown late was lighter and would 

 not probably give more than 15 to 20 bushels i>er acre. 



Mr. G. W. Buchanan, of Pincher, had 300 acres of winter. wheat, and many other 

 farmers in the district from 50 to 100 acres or more. Most of the land in this part of 

 the country has been fenced in, and nearly all the homesteads have been taken within 

 reasonable distance of railways, and much additional land held for sale has been pur- 

 chased by incoming settlers. In driving about this neighbourhood, and from Pincher 

 to Cowley, large quantities of winter wheat were seen in stook covering many hundreds 

 of acres, also many fields of recently sown grain. 



At Cowley Mr. Bryce Miller had 110 acres Odessa and Turkey Red. His wheat 

 was cut on August 15. 



Mr. J. E. Davison had 50 acres of winter wheat near the station, and many other 

 fields large and small could be seen in the distance. 



BEST TUME FOR SOWING, &C. 



Much difference of opinion was expressed by the farmers we visited as to the best 

 time to sow winter wheat in Southern Alberta, but judging from the results seen it 

 would appear safer as a rule to sow on well prepared land from the last week in 

 August to the middle of September. 



We did not hear of any injurious insects affecting the winter wheat crop, but 

 there was a good deal of smut in the grain in some localities. "Where this occurs the 

 grain is considerably lessened in value, and as this disease is so easily prevented by 

 treating the seed with copper sulphate, bluestone, (one pound dissolved in three gallons 

 of water and sprinkled on 10 bushels of grain a few hours before sowing) no farmer 

 should neglect to take this precaution. 



With regard to the time of ripening, the winter wheat in Southern Alberta ma- 

 tures on an average about ten days earlier than the spring varieties. Most of the wheat 

 thus far referred to was grown on land which five years ago was considered fit only 

 for grazing and with one or two slight exceptions was all grown without irrigation. 



VISIT TO NORTHERN ALBERTA. 



In pursuance of this investigation we visited also the northern part of the pro- 

 vince from Calgary to Edmonton and found more or less winter wheat being grown 

 at many different points, although the total area under this crop in Northern Alberta 

 is as yet relatively small. 



In the suburbs of Calgary Mr. Wm. Pearce had a few acres of winter wheat sov\n 

 this season which had made strong growth and looked promising. 



Fields of winter wheat varying in size were seen from the train in many different; 

 places. Some were in stook, others but recently sown and well up. Fields of this crop 

 were most numerous from Crossfield to Olds. In a drive taken through the district 



