Canadian A(/r{culture. 
255 
arose from grain being cut in a partially unripe condition, the 
result of uneven growth and the fear of early frosts. In the- 
eastern districts the loss arose principally from rain, which 
shelled out much of the grain standing ripe, and caused that 
which was cut and stacked to sprout. Fears of an occurrence 
of early frost caused much wheat to be cut in an unripe condi- 
tion, and consequently a large percentage of loss from shrinkage^ 
was observable. 
The educational value of these bulletins can hardly be over- 
estimated. In the October issue the farmers of ^lanitoba are 
plainly told that, so far as the wheat crop is concerned, they will 
have to wake up in many respects, and make themselves 
acquainted with the requirements necessary to render wheat- 
growing a sure and profitable source of husbandry. The 
necessity for the autumn ploughing of wheat land is insisted 
upon. In every case in which wheat was sown as early as 
practicable in 1884, on land that was prepared in the fall of 
1883, the crop was not hurt either by frost or rain. Moreover, 
the crop had the advantage of the moisture contained in the 
ground, which served effectually to counteract the drought which 
prevailed in the latter part of May and the beginning of June. 
On the other hand, the later-sown part of the crop after spring 
ploughing, through the effects of a badly-prepared seed-bed and 
of the drought, came up unevenly at first, and when rain came 
later on, a second growth started which led to uneven ripening : 
consequently a portion was prematurely cut, and considerable 
loss from shrinkage was the result. Farmers are also warned 
against cultivating more land than they can fairly expect to 
manage, as seeding of the largest possible acreage does not 
always imply the most successful farming. The average amount 
of seed wheat sown per acre in 1884 was 1*8 bushels ; but there 
is a feeling in favour of much thicker seeding, as this would 
provide against immature seeds, secure the retention of moisture 
in the soil, prevent the growth of weeds, and promote earlv 
maturity. Wheat stools out very freely here and west of 
Manitoba. On the Bell Farm, and also on the experimental 
farms of the third prairie plateau, 1 noticed some extraordinary 
cases of tillering. ^luch damage arose from w^ant of care in 
looking after grain that had been cut and stooked, but not 
stacked, during the abnormally wet harvest-time. Improper 
care in stacking likewise led to loss. With printed information 
of this kind circulating amongst the farmers, the agriculture of 
Manitoba ought surely to undergo a marked and rapid im- 
provement. 
In 1883, the acreage under wheat in Manitoba was 260,842. 
The yield, based on the returns of the threshers, gave an average 
