matic service, have settled in Alberta and more are expected 

 from China where they temporarily settled. French and 

 Italian reservists called from their farms to serve the colors 

 with their respective countries have returned, unfortunately 

 in seriously depleted bands, but they have induced many 

 comrades to accompany them and swell their ranks. 



There is food for thought in this wholesale adoption of 

 the profession of agriculture by the ex-soldiers of many 

 countries. It typifies a desire continuously lurking, some- 

 times unconsciously, and often stifled, in the minds of 

 thousands of me_n. The men who constituted the armies 

 were in a peculiar situation in as much as, rudely torn 

 away from the grooves they had followed all their lives, 

 with often the prospect of a struggle to resume their old 

 calling, the unique opportunity was offered them of choos- 

 ing new callings, of beginning life over again. That so 

 many men adopted the pursuit of agriculture in Canada is 

 indicative not only of the comparative prosperity they 

 visualized in following the Dominion's first industry but 

 the inherent love of the soil in the hearts of most men. 

 Thousands of others, not soldiers, would doubtless like to 

 do the same but hesitate to take the momentous step. All 

 they need is some similar abruptly working agency to tear 

 them up and set their feet in the new direction. 



Dutch in Canada 



In view of the efforts Canada is persistently 

 making to colonize her vacant fertile agricultural 

 tracts with new people, primarily those who have 

 had some previous experience of agriculture, it 

 is very pleasing to learn that ihe Dutch govern- 

 ment is so interested in the possibilities of farming 

 settlement in Canada that through the Dutch 

 Settlers' Union it has issued a pamphlet giving 

 information about agricultural opportunities in 

 Canada. It is a matter of reciprocal benefit, for 

 whilst cramped little Holland is desirous of 

 relieving itself of the congestion a continually 

 expanding population brings about, Canada 

 stands ready to receive these superfluous citizens, 

 assured through the worth of those who have 

 preceded them of their high calibre and sterling 

 value. 



Dutch immigration to Canada has always 

 been of some relative importance. In the first 

 ten months of 1921, 69 Dutch settlers entered 

 Canada, which introduction was effected in the 

 face of restrictive measures. In the fiscal year 

 ending March 31st, 1921, prior to these measures 

 coming into effect, a total of 595 entered Canada, 

 a substantial increment over the previous year's 

 154. It is a tribute to the high qualities of these 

 immigrants that in the record of 221 deportees 

 from ocean ports, not a single Dutch citizen is 

 included. At the time of the 1911 census there 

 were 54,986 Dutch in Canada, and since that 

 time about 5,200 have made their homes in the 

 Dominion. It is safe to say that at the present 

 time Canada's Dutch population numbers about 

 sixty thousand souls. 



War interfered with Dutch Immigration 



In the years immediately prior to the war the 

 average yearly influx to Canada from Holland 

 was between one thousand and fifteen hundred, 

 but the war and its aftermath have seriously 



affected the human tide from this country as 

 from others. With the sympathy and active 

 co-operation of the Dutch government.which sees 

 a bettering of conditions for her superfluous people 

 in settling them on Canadian farms, Canada has 

 confident hope of a resumption of the pre-war 

 force of flow. Since the war such immigration 

 from Holland as there has been, has been largely 

 in the shape of parties of skilled agriculturalists, 

 in the main well supplied with capital, and in a 

 position to go immediately on the land and 

 become producing citizens. 



Holland is in the main an agricultural country 

 and large flocks of sheep and herds of cattle are 

 raised on the luxurious meadow grasses. Wheat, 

 oats, barley, and rye are raised successfully on 

 the small intensive farms, whilst Dutch flax and 

 dairy products are world renowned. Sugar 

 beets, tobacco and hemp are also grown exten- 

 sively, whilst market gardening and fruit culture 

 are followed profitably. It will be noticed 

 that in its wide diversity of agricultural produc- 

 tion it follows almost in an exact manner the 

 variety of products raised on the farms of the 

 Dominion, and herein lies the true measure of the 

 value of Dutch settlers to Canada. The major- 

 ity of those immigrating to Canada have all their 

 lives, from the necessity imposed by the narrow 

 limits of their holdings, practiced the best cul- 

 tural methods. They come to Canada imbued 

 with the finest agricultural knowledge, which 

 they apply to the same crops they have been 

 accustomed to on the larger acreages they are 

 openly delighted with the possibility of securing. 



Approximately 60,000 Dutch in Canada 



The 1911 Dutch population of Canada of 

 approximately 55,000 was divided as follows: 

 Ontario, 35,021; New Brunswick 4,320; Nova 

 Scotia, 4,179; Manitoba, 2,835; Alberta, 2,951; 

 Saskatchewan, 1,505; British Columbia, 1,255; 

 Quebec, 213; and the Yukon, 14. The majorit 

 it will be seen, are in the older provinc 

 of Ontario and the Maritimes with their 

 smaller farms. Here are to be found the 

 older settlements where conditions to a greater 

 extent approximate those the emigrant left 

 behind in the Homeland. In the newer Western 

 Provinces the distribution is fairly even, and to 

 this territory it is that the modern immigration 

 tide is flowing, individually and by conducted 

 party . 



It is to be hoped that the efforts of the Dutch 

 government are successful in imparting a stimu- 

 lus to Canadian immigration and will result in 

 substantial numbers of new Dutch colonists for 

 Canada. The Dutch have a history of success- 

 ful colonization in many lands behind them, and 

 in Canada, where conditions are in so many 

 instances duplicated, they can be reasonably 

 assured of achieving success and finding pros- 

 perity on the land which imposes no limitations 

 or restrictions to their activities. 



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