of British Columbia the fruit and vegetable crops brought 

 good returns and placed a large amount of money in the 

 hands of the producers. The season was a very success- 

 ful one and demonstrated the value of fruit organizations 

 to handle crops. Great strides have been made in the last 

 few years and the grower now knows that the fruit is 

 marketed to the best advantage, while the consumer gets 

 the grade and pack that he pays for. Service in packing, 

 handling and carrying has been good, while markets are 

 being extended, so that it is not difficult to see a tremend- 

 ous development in the apple and other fruits business 

 and even greater efficiency and dispatch in handling to 

 market. 



In a general way the Pacific Coast Province is 

 picking up and ready for steady expansion of its wonderful 

 natural wealth in minerals, lumber, agricultural products, 

 fish and manufactured articles together with an extended 

 effort to develop its export trade, in connection with which 

 many more lines of steamers have made Vancouver and 

 Victoria ports of call. 



In the Prairie Provinces, the cycle of prosperity appears 

 to have begun to revolve. Never very long to suffer from 

 depression, there is a marked bettering of conditions 

 and a confidence in the outlook. Traders speak well of 

 conditions as they exist, taking into consideration the 

 lessons of the past few years, and of the prospects for good 

 business as a natural outcome of the phase through which 

 we are jutt emerging. 



While with the approach of the winter months one 

 cannot say what big developments are likely to be shown 

 in next year's program, it is an undoubted fact there are 

 many important projects to be dealt with, and it seems 

 reasonable to bejieve that some of them, at least, will find 

 their beginning in 1922. 



Raccoon Ranching 



The raising of wild animals for their pelts in 

 Canada, which may be said to have had its in- 

 ception in the cult of the silver fox in Prince 

 Edward Island, has spread all over the Domi- 

 nion and come to include within the scope of its 

 activities practically all fur-bearers of any value. 

 One which has been somewhat slow in finding 

 favor in the Dominion, but which has risen to 

 greater popularity with the increased value of its 

 skin, is the raccoon. The initial successes 

 achieved in Canada in the domestication of this 

 little animal has thrown light upon the industry 

 and the profits to be secured from its following, 

 and has encouraged many to enter upon this 

 interesting pursuit. Now raccoon ranches are 

 to be found all over the eastern and occasionally 

 in the western provinces. 



Canada holds out particular advantages to 

 those inclined to follow the farming of these 

 profitable little fur-bearers. The climate and 

 topography of the Canadian provinces are con- 

 ducive to the production of richer and glossier 

 furs of all kinds than other countries. This is 

 true of both the wild and domesticated animals 

 and the raccoon is no exception. Coons found 

 wild or raised on ranches in Canada are stated to 

 be in every way superior to those in existence 

 across the border. 



Easily Domesticated 



Authorities are of the opinion that raccoons 

 are the most easily domesticated of all the deni- 

 zens of the wild, after a short time in confinement 

 losing all inclination to stray from their new 



homes and becoming as home-loving as kittens. 

 If permitted to stray from their pens they will 

 invariably return. They are less delicate in the 

 rearing than foxes and it is almost impossible to 

 kill them through exposure or neglect. They 

 are both meat and vegetable feeders which sim- 

 plifies the proposition of dieting. Their food in 

 the wilds consists largely of frogs, honey and 

 birds' eggs ; domesticated they thrive exceedingly 

 on butchers' scraps, cooked and boiled corn. 

 Gloss is put on the fur by periodical adminis- 

 trations of castor oil. 



Not only is this animal a fur-bearer but valu- 

 able in his products from three points of view. 

 Besides his pelt, which of recent years has greatly 

 increased in value, from twenty-five to forty 

 pounds of palatable meat, as fine as lamb, is 

 taken from his carcass as well as about a gallon 

 of oil. 



Generous Profits Obtained 



The raccoon is prolific, producing at a birth 

 from two to nine of a litter, so that a substantial 

 ranch can be built up in a very short time and 

 the proposition put on a profitable basis. Pos- 

 sessed of a home-loving instinct as these animals 

 are, a ranch may successfully be conducted within 

 a very limited area. A very successful one, in 

 fact, is conducted within the confines of the city 

 of Montreal where a breeder, after experiment- 

 ing a'l his life with other species of furbearers, 

 decided upon the raccoon as offering generally 

 the greatest profits, and has run his ranch for 

 six years. The foundation stock he obtained 

 from animals caught by farmers and from other 

 domesticated stock. 



There is a great future for the domestic rear- 

 ing of fur-bearers in Canada, and each year the 

 industry is attaining more important proportions. 

 Settlement is gradually curtailing the natural 

 haunts of these animals, and on the other hand 

 national fur markets at Montreal and Winnipeg 

 are becoming important as world fur centres. 

 As the richest producer of wild furs in the past, 

 Canada is determined to maintain her prestige 

 in the future, against the inevitable diminution 

 of the catch, by extensive establishment of domes- 

 tic ranches, providing profitable openings for 

 many followers. 



The Trapping Season Opens 



Indications are that the coming season will be one 

 the most prosperous trappers have experienced for many 

 years, with the possible exception of the extraordinary 

 season of 1919-20. In consequence many trappers who 

 last year deserted the chase, not foreseeing sufficient profit 

 in it, are once more looking to their traps and snowshoes 

 and completing preparations to be in a position to hit the 

 trail with the first snow. 



There are several reasons for this optimism. Fu 

 houses are in need of pelts, and prices are good. Whils 

 furs have dropped from the phenomenal prices which pre 

 vailed two seasons ago, raw pelts are selling in most in 

 stances at several times the amounts they brought befor 

 the war, and at the fall fur auctions in Canada, as well ; 

 elsewhere, a striking rise in the amounts realized for moc 

 species of fur was noted. There is a brisk demand fo 



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