Agrtrnltnral& Jnoustrial Prngre as \n (Eaaa&a 



Published Monthly. Free on request. 



// will be appreciated by the Department if editors and 

 writers using mailer from this Bulletin will quote source. 



Norman S. Rankin, Editor of Publications. 

 E. L. Chicanot, Asst. Editor. 



General Agricultural Situation 



By J. Dougall, General Agricultural Agent, 

 C.P.R., Montreal 



The season for the Canadian Agriculturist 

 to commence his activities for 1922 has about 

 arrived. We have passed what has perhaps been 

 one of the most disappointing years that Cana- 

 dian agriculture has seen. This for many reasons. 

 The farmers had been led to believe that the high 

 prices prevailing during the period after the 

 armistice would continue. They were badly 

 advised. Prices deflated very much faster than 

 even the pessimist had expected. The early part 

 of the grain season was disappointing, and the 

 price of live cattle went to pre-war levels. The 

 two encouraging features were hogs and dairy 

 products. These kept at a fairly high price, 

 and in those provinces where dairying was the 

 prevailing agricultural occupation, the financial 

 condition of the farmer was the best. 



However, the indications are that the Dominion 

 of Canada will have an acreage under cultivation 

 in 1922 in excess of that of 1921. The West, in 

 spite of the depression, is going ahead with the 

 preparations, and with reasonably good weather 

 in the spring will get in a good average acreage. 



British Columbia. Difficulties in this province 

 presented themselves in connection with the marketing 

 of apples. The market was flat and quantities of apples 

 were put in cold storage. This has now been cleaned up 

 and there is an expected increase for 1922. The outlook 

 for this season is good. It is intended to pay special 

 attention to the pack. 



Alberta. Reports are that conditions are good. 

 Moisture sufficient. Farmers are buying machinery. 



Saskatchewan. Farmers, in some districts, will 

 require to have help but, generally speaking, are in good 

 financial condition. Condition of the land on the whole 

 is satisfactory. 



Manitoba. Expectations are that acreage will exceed 

 1921 and conditions coming out of winter are encouraging. 



Ontario. Farmers as a whole, in fair financial condi- 

 tion, but considerable acreage of fall seeding will have to 

 be re-seeded. 



Quebec. This Province is coming through _the 

 defaulting period well. Seed will have to be brought into 

 the province on account of drought last year. The 

 railways have made special rate reductions for this purpose. 



Maritime Provinces. Conditions as a whole are 

 fair except in the Annapolis Valley apple district where 

 conditions are good and the outlook for the_ apple crop 

 for 1922 is excellent. It is intended to pay special attention 

 to the pack this year. 



Livestock. We are still facing the question of live 

 stock markets and a conference is to be held in Saskatche- 

 wan at an early date, to find some solution of the problem. 

 The result of the live cattle export for 1921 was very 



unsatisfactory. The cattle exported to the British Isles 

 did not bring the Canadian farmer a reasonable return. 

 '1 he cost of transportation has been materially reduced 

 on both rail and ocean, but conditions for marketing in the 

 United Kingdom will have to improve before it will be 

 commercially sound to ship. The cattle have come through 

 the winter in excellent condition and there should be a 

 goodly number for export next autumn. 



The cattle markets in Canada have been firmer on 

 account of small numbers offering but the situation looks 

 more encouraging. 



The Fruitlands of Ontario 



Reports from the various fruit growing sec- 

 tions of Ontario indicate a greater interest in 

 horticulture, and prospects are for a much larger 

 area being devoted to fruits this year than last. 

 The grape growers of the Niagara peninsula are 

 said to have planned a greater acreage than the 

 combined area set out during the war, whilst 

 nurserymen all over are in receipt of orders 

 which tax their capacity. Thus the province of 

 Ontario would seem to be instigated by a deter- 

 mination to maintain that distinction she has held 

 for so long as the first fruit producing province 

 of the Dominion. Whilst in the multitude of 

 phases of provincial endeavor horticulture has 

 become largely subservient as an industry, by 

 reason of the excellency of conditions and the 

 priority of establishment it is still the first 

 producing area of the Dominion. 



It has been said that Ontario possesses every 

 quality to become one of the first fruit growing 

 sections of the universe but that of the men to 

 take advantage of the fine natural conditions. 

 The fruit belt of Southern or Old Ontario extends 

 from East to West for a distance of over 400 

 miles and from North to South for from 50 to 

 150 miles, constituting an area of from 20,000 to 

 60,000 square miles. The yield at present is 

 limited only by the want of adequate labor and 

 its possibilities are as yet unmeasured. In this 

 territory various kinds of apple can be produced, 

 the quince, cherry, strawberry, and other small 

 fruits, whilst grape growing is particularly suc- 

 cessful and profitable. 



Greatest Fruit Producing Province 



At the time of the 1911 census, Ontario had 

 279,011 acres of orchard ;12,973 acres of small 

 fruits; 8,542 acres of vineyard, and 63,810 acres 

 of vegetable. Though this area has been in- 

 creased substantially since that time, it can be 

 readily realized what an infinitesimal portion of 

 the orchard lands of the province are producing 

 the crops to which they are so well adapted. And 

 yet at the time of the last census Ontario was 

 producing 98 per cent of the Dominion's grapes, 

 92 per cent of its peaches, 69 per cent of its plums 

 and 60 per cent of its apples and cherries. The 

 average annual yield of apples in the province 

 is about a million barrels and of grapes about 

 20,000,tons. 



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