314 THE BOOK OF WHEAT 



by virtue of its large area of fertile land, land so well suited 

 to the growing of wheat that the grain produced is of a quality 

 not generally equaled by other countries, and by virtue of the 

 intelligent and industrious settlers who are rapidly taking up 

 the unoccupied lands. Estimates vary greatly as to the actual 

 wheat area available in Canada. The best lands are located 

 in Manitoba, Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Alberta, It is 

 probable that there are at least 150,000,000 acres within these 

 limits upon which wheat could be profitably grown, an area 

 approximately three times as great as that annually sown in 

 wheat in the United States. As yet there is not more than 

 about 5 per cent of this land under cultivation, but over 100,- 

 000,000 bushels of wheat are annually produced. The hard wheat 

 of the Canadian Northwest ranks with the world's best wheat, 

 and the Toronto papers quote it at a price about 15 cents 

 above that of Ontario wheat. In some years over half of the 

 crop grades No. 1 hard, and it is greatly desired by the millers 

 for mixing with lower grade wheats for the purpose of main- 

 taining a desirable and uniform strength of flour. The yield of 

 wheat per acre is larger in Canada than in the United States. 

 The average yield of spring wheat in Manitoba from 1891 to 

 1900 was 19 bushels. During the same period of time the yield 

 in the Dakotas was about 11 bushels, while that for the whole 

 of the United States was 13.3 bushels. The land of Canada 

 seems to be more productive, the climate more favorable, and 

 the methods of farming better. About one-fourth of the coun- 

 try is capable of tillage. 



The settlement of Canadian lands is progressing rapidly. A 

 large proportion of the immigrants and a great amount of 

 capital come from the United States. From March to August 

 of 1902, about 25,000 emigrants went from the United States to 

 Canada. 12,000,000 acres of land have been settled in one year. 

 In effect, the homestead laws of Canada are similar to those of 

 the United States. Transportation facilities are being rapidly 

 developed in order to meet the demands of the increased popu- 

 lation, and some of the largest modern grain elevators are be- 

 ing constructed. It appears as if Canada is destined eventually 

 to produce the bulk of North American export wheat. The cold 

 climate is unfavorable to the production of corn and many 



