A grtriiltnnil $c Jluiumtrial {Iru grnia in QIanaba 

 Published Monthly. Free on request. 



It will be appreciated by the Department if editors and 

 writets using matter from this Bulletin will quote source. 



Norman S. Rankin, Editor. 



General Agricultural Situation 



Compiled by J. Dougall, General Agricultural Agent, 

 C.P.R., Montreal. 



The general situation as applied to the crop 

 outlook for 1921 over all Canada is very en- 

 couraging. Rain and snow have fallen generously 

 throughout the Dominion during the month, 

 and the ground is in excellent condition for 

 working. 



The price of all farm products is on the down 

 grade, due to the general market conditions. 

 Canada has 26,000,000 bushels of wheat that is for 

 export from 1920 crop, and, generally speaking, 

 it has been disposed of at a fair price. Some of the 

 farmers are still holding for higher prices, but 

 from all appearances they are going to be dis- 

 appointed, and they are now shipping their 

 holdings. 



The reports from the provinces of Prince 

 Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Bruns- 

 wick indicate that the acreage in potatoes and 

 roots will be equal to that of 1920. While the 

 market for these products has been very irregular, 

 growers have been able to export to the West 

 Indies this spring to advantage. 



Quebec has, so far, done very little, as the 

 season is not sufficiently advanced, and the land 

 is too wet for working. The acreage, however, 

 will be on an average with other years. 



In Ontario, the farmers are on the land, and 

 good progress is being made. Seeding is in full 

 progress. Reports show that the fall wheat has 

 come through the winter in favorable condition. 

 Clover has also come through fairly well. Late 

 reports from the Niagara fruit district are to the 

 effect that frosts have done no damage to fruit 

 trees, and the expectation is that the yield will 

 be normal. 



The growers have decided to market a large 

 percentage of their crop this year co-operatively, 

 and have formed The Niagara Fruit Growers' 

 Association for that purpose. They will also buy 

 their own supplies through this association. 



In the Prairie Provinces the reports are very 

 optimistic. Rains and snow have been general, 

 and the wheat growing belt starts out with 

 conditions exceedingly favorable. 



In Manitoba, seeding has commenced and 

 will be general, if the weather permits, by the 

 time this is printed. Cold spells have kept the 

 farmers off the land, but at time of writing, 

 indications are that work will be general shortly. 



In Saskatchewan, considerable moisture has 

 fallen over the province and is still falling. Re- 

 ports from all over the province are that the 

 moisture conditions are good. This means a great 

 deal, as the seed bed is fairly clean, and with 

 moisture below the seed bed the crop should get 

 away to a good start. All indications are that 

 the acreage will be normal. 



In Alberta, all reports are that the moisture 

 conditions are good. Rain and snow are contin- 

 ual. Seeding is reported from many districts. 

 Reports state that the acreage will exceed that 

 of 1920. 



In British Columbia, reports from the fruit 

 districts are to the effect that the trees came 

 through the winter in good shape, and experts 

 state that a normal yield may be expected. 



The live stock situation all over the Dominion 

 is disturbed. The continued agitation for the 

 removal of the British embargo and the possi- 

 bility of the United States Fordney Tariff Bill 

 becoming law have had the effect of worry- 

 ing the stock raiser. He is wondering what 

 effect all these questions will have on the market, 

 and is somewhat diffident as to further invest- 

 ment or increasing his holdings until things are 

 settled. Marketing of live stock in the Dominion 

 for 1920 was, low, and the outlook for 1 1921 is not 

 encouraging. Canada will have to find another 

 outlet for her live stock, and probably in the 

 shape of chilled beef. This can be done with the 

 co-operation of the farmers, packers and rail- 

 ways. 



Dairy products are in great demand, and 

 although prices are sagging to some extent, yet 

 this very important item from our farms shows 

 the least depression.- There is no doubt but that 

 Canada is destined to become a large exporter 

 of butter, cheese and eggs. 



Twenty Years' Homesteading 



There can hardly be any gainsaying the state- 

 ment that the biggest factor in the phenomenal 

 development of the Canadian West has been the 

 concession of free land by the Dominion govern- 

 ment to farmers and intending agriculturalists 

 who undertook to settle and reside thereon and 

 bring a part of the soil under cultivation. The 

 prospect of obtaining, for a mere incurrence of 

 the most ordinary obligations, land which in 

 settled sections of the continent was valued at 

 hundreds of dollars per acre, and in older 

 European countries was absolutely beyond the 

 purchasing ability of the average citizen, drew 

 thousands of land-hungry men from all over the 

 world. to people the vacant plains of the west. 

 In the record of homestead patents is contained 

 the gist of western development, for it was the 

 agriculturalist who came first to really develop 

 and stay, and all else has followed in his wake. 



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