26 THE DI RECTO If, EXnERIMESTAL FARMS 



ciliated, and the canal has cost considerably more than was at first anticipated. That, 

 however, has been partly paid for, so I understand, in land, which the Mormons a^eed 

 to take in part payment for their work. 



By Mr. Clancy: 



Q. I suppose the canal company was really the land owners ? 



A. They were the land owners. They owned the whole of the land along where 

 the canal was to be dug and they sold portions of the land to the parties who helped 

 them to dig the canal. The land is of very good quality there and the crops I saw were 

 very satisfactory indeed. I have never seen prairie lands treated just in the way thii 

 Mormons treat theirs. They put four horses on a plough and break the prairie up 

 about five or six inches deep, a practice which in Assiniboia would be thought most 

 unwise, and after ploughing it is harrowed and sown. I saw the crops they wore grow- 

 ing on land so treated and as near as I could estimate they were about half of what 

 we would call a good crop. That is, wliere wheat would yield 30 bushels to the acre 

 in the North-west with the usual methods, they would get 1.5 bushels, but that was th.j 

 first year. 



Q. They disced it, broke it up ? 



A. Yes, and in other Mormon settlements which I saw a similar practice was fol- 

 lowed. The difference in climate seemed to permit of the land being treated differently 

 from what is done in Saskatchewan and Assiniboia. 



By Hon. Mr. FisJier: 



Q. This is done without irrigation ? 



A. Yes, and the average of the fall wheat I saw would, I should think, be about 

 15 bushels to the acre tlie first year after ploughing, and from ZO to 4i"> bushels the 

 second year when the land is in good condition. 



By Mr. Gilmoiir: 



Q. Do you know if fall wheat has been grown in other seasons around Pincher 

 Creek and Lethbridge ? 



A. Yes; they have been growing there for many years, I have had samples sent 

 me in previous years by people living there who were successful in growing fall wheat. 

 When I visited the Mormon district nine, years ago, they, were then growing spring 

 wheat brought from Utah, but for some years past tliey have been cultivating fall 

 wheat which is harvested earlier. 



By Mr. Davis: 



Q. What variety ? 



A. The variety they have they call the OJe-sa. They are anxii.u-i to test other 

 varieties, they are not sure that this is the best sort. I have sent them some other 

 varieties for trial since my return. 



By Mr. Oliver : 



Q. Were the crops grown at Stirling and Magrath this year the result of irri- 

 gation ? 



A. Not to any extent. 



Q. Not the result of irrigation ? 



A. No, sir; only in occasional instances were they able to use water 



Q. You mean only in an occasional instance did they require to use water 1 



A. No; but that it was not available in time for use on the crop 



Q. This year ? 



A. They would, I believe, have had larger crops if they could have used the water. 



