Homesteading 



over, provincial Government departments give a 

 good deal of attention to the matter, and on one 

 or more occasions a special seed train has been 

 sent over the railways, with experts to advise the 

 growers and help them. 



But in spite of this it is doubtful if the average 

 settler realizes the importance of the matter as 

 one of those links in the long chain that go to 

 make the prospect of a good harvest probable. 

 In fact, following such a season as we had passed 

 through, it seemed doubly important, for the fact 

 seemed to be that the amount of really first- 

 class seed there was throughout the country was 

 strictly limited. Moreover, the disastrous season 

 had left many men in such a poor financial posi- 

 tion that they had not the wherewithal to buy 

 any seed at all. Under these circumstances, 

 and seeing that the general prosperity of the 

 country depended on its grain harvest, it be- 

 came needful for the Government of the province 

 to step in to help. This it did through the 

 municipalities, and arrangements were made by 

 which needy farmers were able to get seed by 

 giving a note for payment after harvest. 



Backed by the Provincial Government, the 

 mimicipality was of course able to borrow from 

 the banks (though, be it noted, on no very favour- 

 able terms, being already in debt) and to pur- 



232 



