42 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



Park Lands 



On the way north to Edmonton, four of the Commissioners went 

 ofi at Lacombe to see the experimental farm. They came into 

 Edmonton later on, with glowing accounts of the district and of the 

 good work which the experimental farm was doing. The section 

 which continued the journey towards Edmonton were met at 

 Strathcona by representatives of the city and of the Board of Trade, 

 and driven to a farm, 1^ miles from the town, owned and occupied 

 by a man who came from England eleven years ago. He had then 

 only 1500 dollars, and no knowledge whatever of farming, and only 

 six months to live. He bought some land for eight dollars an acre, 

 and sold some a week or two before we visited his place, for between 

 100 and 200 dollars an acre. He has comparatively good health 

 now, and a well-stocked and apparently a well enough managed 

 farm. 



We were the guests of the people of Edmonton on the follovnng 

 day, and the country from Edmonton to Fort Saskatchewan was 

 explored. It was a big day, counting by miles. We lengthened 

 it somewhat by going on the south side of the River Saskatchewan 

 and returning on the north side. It would in ordinary circum- 

 stances have been enjoyable since it gave us ample opportunity 

 of seeing the fine park lands of Edmonton, but the weather had 

 changed in the night. It was bitterly cold, and a biting wind was 

 blowing. Moreover, we had been taken completely by surprise, 

 and had neither sufficient underclothing nor outward wraps. We 

 stopped only once by the way at a farm of 160 acres owned by a Mr 

 Stevens. He bought the farm seven years ago for 22 dollars per 

 acre. His rotation is, — spring wheat, then oats, then barley, 

 and then timothy. He harvests from 35 to 40 bushels of wheat, 

 60 to 70 bushels of oats, and 35 to 40 bushels of barley per acre. 

 He keeps a Jersey herd, and sends his cream to a creamery in summer, 

 and his whole milk in winter. On reaching Fort Saskatchewan, 

 which by the way is the headquarters of the North-west Mounted 

 Police, a body of finely disciplined and vigilant men, we at once 

 made for the hotel, where lunch had been provided for us. Various 

 speeches were delivered, and it was 3.30 when we got aboard again, 

 with our faces set towards the biting wind and Edmonton. As on 

 the outward journey, so on the homeward journey, we made only 

 one stop by the way. It was at a packing-house belonging to J. Y. 

 Grriffin & Company, Limited, which has just been opened. It will be 

 able to kill 1200 cattle and 1800 hogs per day. Its significance lies 

 in the fact that it is located in the centre of an agricultural country, 

 which means that here at his own door the farmer has a market for 

 cattle and pigs. This in turn means that he can rear stock and get 

 into a systematic system of mixed farming, which in course of time 

 must come. The day was closed, as so many days were, by a 

 banquet given on this occasion by the Edmonton Board of Trade. 



There is great rivalry between Edmonton and Strathcona. They 

 are both beautiful for situation, standing on high well-wooded 

 ground on opposite banks of the North Saskatchewan River. These 



