ON AGRICULTURE TO CANADA 



111 



The greater section of the public, however, have not yet realised 

 the profitable nature of breeding a good draught-horse on distinct 

 lines. The country is pre-eminently suited for it. both as regards 

 soil and climate. The time has now gone when the farmer could 

 buy a team of horses at less than he could rear one. There is a 

 large and growing market for street or lumber " drafters " of 1 500 

 to 1800 lbs., and these horses cost no more to raise than the non- 

 descripts of half the value. This fact is being impressed on farmers 

 by speakers at meetings, and by lecturers of colleges, and will bear 

 fruit in the near future. One of the largest ranch owners in the 

 Calgary district gave it as his opinion that he could grow a horse 

 to four years old for £10. In the east, the estimate was £20. Prices 

 ruling in the cities and in British Columbia for the best class of five 

 year old horses ran from £60 to £80 each. In Winnipeg one team 

 working daily on the street cost £100 each. 



The number of horses, according to the census in Canada for 

 the last twenty-seven years, was — 



For 1881 .... 1,059,358 



..1891 . . . . 1,470,572 



„ 1901 .... 1,577,493 



,,1907 . . . . 1,923,090 



„ 1908 .... 2,118,165 



The rate of increase is remarkable. During the period noted 

 the numbers have been exactly doubled. 



The export trade since 1900 is both interesting and instructive — 



These figures show that whilst trade with the United States 

 has kept uniform, it has almost closed with Britain. The higher 

 prices prevailing in Canada and the United States have brought 

 this about, so that notwithstanding the fact that horses have 

 greatly increased in numbers during the last seven years, the supply 

 is still short of the demand. 



Sheep 

 Viewed in the ordinary way, there does not seem to be any 

 reason to conclude that Canada is an unsuitable country for sheep. 

 The physical features, the soil, and in many parts, the climate. 

 are all favourable for the production of mutton and wool of good 

 quality. Yet we were informed on all hands that the sheep industrv 

 has been falling back in almost every province. In 1881. the total 



