142 THROUGH CANADA 



attributed to the climate, which at one time was 

 regarded as inimical to agricultural interests. Prof. 

 Macoun, of the Canadian Geological Survey, points 

 out that as long as the West is blessed with winter 

 frosts and summer rains, so long will teeming crops 

 be the product of her soil. The frosts help to crumble 

 it ; the rain and sunshine do the rest. Artificial means 

 of nourishing are unnecessary, the grain entrusted to 

 its keeping has eighteen inches to feed on. 



It naturally follows that the conditions that prevail 

 in Alberta supply the best advantages for the rearing 

 of live-stock. The breaking up of the soil has also 

 been instrumental in disbanding the enormous herds 

 of cattle belonging to the old ranching days. Cattle- 

 feeding on a smaller, and from the farmers' point of 

 view more efficient, scale is carried on as a remunera- 

 tive industry. The demand for home-grown beef is 

 exceeding the supply. 



Sheep are kept nearer home, and are no longer 

 the prey of the destructive coyote. A good wolf- 

 hound or two are a sufficient provision against that. 

 The reward given by the Government for the wolf's 

 head has tended to put a check on the depredations 

 of the thief. 



Success in horse-breeding has been marked of 

 recent years. The heavy draught teams seen in the 

 towns and cities indicate this. At the Pan-American 

 Exhibition, and the New York Horse Show, the 

 champion hackney came from Calgary. At the 



