100 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
The above, it should be remembered, are based on the growers’ own 
reports. With regard to the final estimate it might be stated that it is 
conservative and might have been made somewhat larger without the 
statistical experts being fairly charged with over-statement. It was 
only when the threshers’ returns had been received that there was no 
longer doubt as to the results. From a list of eighty-seven wheat 
growers scattered over the three provinces, I have made the following 
record: 11,786 acres in all produced 526,731 bushels, an average of 44-7 
bushels to the acre. The lowest yield was 263 bushels (on stubble), 
the highest was 834 bushels (on 3 acres). There were in the list several 
as high as 70. One of 85 bushels is not included, as the acreage was 
not stated. In a paper of this nature, claiming to have some his- 
torical value, it would not be permissible to include or introduce 
“fairy tales,’ but when one has authentic records it is allowable to 
narrate them, as they are more or less typical of the higher class of 
production :— 
The crop that paid the mortgage. A farmer in Manitoba, a two-year settler 
from the United States, began the year 1915 with a mortgage of $1,200 on his farm. 
When he started south at the end of the year to tell the good news to his former 
neighbours he had paid off his mortgage and had 10,000 bushels stored, held for a 
higher price. 
The crop that could not be hailed out. In June a hailstorm struck the farm of a 
man in Saskatchewan. The damage was appraised and the Insurance Company 
settled forthe loss. The surviving wheat renewed its life and gave a crop of 30 bushels 
to the acre. He did not repay the insurance as he stated that he would have had 
50 bushels to the acre but for the hail. 
The crop that sowed itself. A farmer in the dry area in 1914 left his 50-acre 
crop uncut—it was considered not worth cutting. His sons started in to plough it 
up in 1915, and, after ploughing under 30 acres concluded to leave the other 20, and 
turned their attention to other land. They saw that the 20 acres had produced 
some grain that looked promising. The new sowing gave 50 bushels to the acre, but 
the 20 acres that sowed itself threshed out 30 bushels to the acre. 
The crop that fooled the hired man. A farmer in Alberta had part of his seed in 
the ground when the hired man suddenly left to enlist. A new man was engaged, 
and in the rush of work, instructions were somewhat hurried and indefinite. Un- 
fortunately, the new man sowed a small portion of the land a second time. This 
double-sowed portion yielded 83 bushels to the acre. 
The crop that sold itself. Inthe dry area there was a disconsolate farmer. He 
had exhausted his resources and his credit, having had no crop in 1914. Late in the 
spring of 1915 he heard of the government help available. He procured enough seed 
to put in his crop and then waited for results and the sheriff. In due time the sheriff 
came, seized the crop, had it threshed, sent it to the elevator, paid the judgment, 
and handed the farmer a cheque for the balance, $3,000. 
