of the Red River Valley, only 800,000 acres had been cultivated. North of the Canadian Pacific Railway again, and within reach of railways, was another fertile region of 4,600,000, acres of which only 500,000 acres had been placed under cultivation. There was still room in Manitoba for thousands of comfortable homes and prosperous farmers.

During the year the question of constituting an agricultural college for Manitoba, based upon the Ontario one at Guelph, was discussed, and at the annual Convocation of Wesley College in Winnipeg, on June 9th, the Premier stated that it was the intention of the Government to shortly appoint a Commission to inquire into the matter which had been for some time one of the planks in the platform of the Provincial Conservative party. Later on a Committee was formed to report upon the project, and the members included the Hon. Thomas Greenway, Leader of the Opposition; the Rev. Principal Patrick, of Manitoba College; Mr. J. A. M. Aikins, K.C., Mr. H. C. Simpson, of Virden; Mr. J. A. Miller, of Manitou; Mr. G. Halse, of Brandon, and Mr. H. Irwin, of Altona. In approving of the idea, the Winnipeg Telegram, of August 8th, declared that the standard of entrance should admit anyone who could read and write. "Agriculture and horticulture must undoubtedly be taught, and attention should be given to stock-raising, dairying, arboriculture, fruit-growing, and perhaps landscape gardening. Some knowledge of chemistry, entomology, bacteriology and veterinary science should also be obtainable." The women's work on the farm should also be considered, and their duties dealt with in method and practice.

Agriculture

in the Territories

Mr. G. H. V. Bulyea, M.E.C., Commissioner of Agriculture in the North-West Territories, presented his annual Report to the Lieutenant-Governor on March 1, 1901. The statistics showed a considerable decrease for 1900 over the preceding year, in most of the chief lines of production. Reasons varied in the different Districts and Territories, but climatic changes seem to have been the main causes. Taking a three years' period as presenting the most fair view of the matter, it was found that wheat showed a product of 5,542,478 bushels in 1898, 6,915,623 bushels in 1899, and 4,028,294 bushels in 1900. The acreage was respectively 307,580, 363,523 and 412,864, while the yield per acre was 1801 in 1898, 1902 in 1899, and only 975 in 1900. In oats the production was 3,040,307 bushels in 1898, or 28.93 to the acre; 4,686,036 bushels in 1899, or 34.81 to the acre; 4,226,152 bushels in 1900, or 24.08 to the acre. In barley the production was 449,512 bushels, or 26-29 to the acre in 1898; 337,421 bushels, or 23-62 to the acre in 1899; 353,216 bushels, or 20-72 to the acre in 1900. Some progress was made in the work of the nineteen Government creameries during the year. The number of pounds of butter manufactured increased by 135,000, while the quantity of milk supplied diminished and the quantity of cream increased. The patrons numbered 1,169 in 1900, and the pounds of butter made were 637,052, as against 501,907 pounds in 1899 and 484,948 pounds in 1898.

The prices of cattle varied throughout the Territories during the year. Freights averaged $13 per head, as compared with $8 in 1899, while the price of hay advanced $2 per ton. Export cattle from the Calgary and Lethbridge districts brought about $50 per head, while $40 to $42 per head were paid for light cattle. Elsewhere prices went from $40 to $45. As a general rule the stockmen obtained $50 per head for four-year-olds and $45 for three-year-olds. Yearlings ranged from $16 to $18, and two-year-olds from $23 to $27.50. The total export of cattle from the Territories in 1900 was 55,129 head, as compared with 41,471 in the previous year. According to Mr. C. W. Peterson, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture : "An interesting feature of the cattle business in the Territories is the movement from Ontario, Manitoba, and the farming districts of the Territories to Southern Alberta and Western Assiniboia. The importations from Ontario amounted to 11,434, from Manitoba 24,896, from Saskatchewan 738, from Eastern Assiniboia 4,996, and from Northern Alberta 222; making the total influx of cattle into the ranching districts of the Territories, 42,286."

66

The sheep industry of this region was, in 1900, a prosperous one, the total stock being 225,000, the home market for wool favourable, and the export market for mutton unlimited. Yet there was no tendency to expansion in the industry, and upon this fact Mr. Peterson comments strongly. When one comes to consider the large tracts of country in Western Assiniboia and Southern Alberta admirably adapted to sheep-raising on a large scale which have never been utilized, and the crowded condition of the ranges in the United States, it seems surprising that the sheep stock of the country should be decreasing rather than increasing." He urged the development of a high quality chilled-mutton trade with Great Britain. The bulk of the mutton produced during the year went to British Columbia, and some large shipments of Assiniboia sheep to Winnipeg. In swine the Territories were reaching the point of supplying the local demand. During 1900 only 670 head of hogs were imported, as against 1,925 head in the previous year. Extensive pork-packing establishments had been erected at Edmonton and Calgary.

For 1901 the figures concerning grain were very different from those of 1900. The harvest was like that of Manitoba-unique in its quantity and quality. So large was it that exact returns as to the amount threshed could not easily be obtained by the Government, but they were able by the end of the year to make estimates which were officially stated to be reliable. The following table of production speaks for itself:

Product.

Wheat, 1900.

66 1901.

Oats, 1900.

64 1901.

Barley, 1900.

66 1901.

Assiniboia.

Saskatchewan.

Alberta.

The total production of wheat for 1900 was, therefore, 4,028,294

bushels, and for 1901, 12,676,343 bushels. Oats increased from 4,226,152 bushels to 11,113,066 bushels, and barley from 353,216 to 736,749 bushels. The total increase was from 8,607,662 bushels to 24,426,158 bushels.

Agriculture in Nova Scotia

On March 13th the Hon. Mr. Murray introduced in the House of Assembly at Halifax, a measure for the encouragement of horticulture. It would enable the Government, he explained, to appropriate a sum not exceeding $1,000 for this purpose and it was proposed to obtain experimental plots in the various counties and hold public gatherings of the farmers at which instruction might be given as to the planting and care of the trees grown thereon. Fruit trees were not easy things to buy and the average farmer had no knowledge upon the subject and was apt to be deceived by agents. The stock grown on these experimental grounds would be scientifically selected and instruction in the making of an orchard given by men thoroughly familiar with the matter. The experiment would cost very little and he hoped the result would be an aid to fruit production in the Province.

Mr. C. E. Tanner, the Opposition Leader, believed that Nova Scotia could equal any country in the world in the production of apples, pears and small fruit such as plums. He was not sure as to the value of the Government's proposal and was inclined to suspect political scheming behind it. He doubted whether farmers would leave their work to come and see some trees planted on a selected spot. It would be better to go upon existing lines and give more aid to the agricultural or fruit societies of the Province. The main thing was to give the farmer facilities for procuring good stock either through existing societies, or by inducements to the nurserymen, or by the establishment of nurseries on the Government Farm at Truro. The trees which thrived best in the Province were not those grown in and often imported from the States. He thought the proposal as a whole was a mistake. The Bill, however, became law in due course.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association on February 13th, Mr. J. W. Bigelow, the President, made an estimate of the fruit crop of the Province. He placed the annual average value at $1,000,000; the net receipts for apples sold to Great Britain in 1899 were placed at $800,000, and in 1900 at $200,000 ; the value of the orchards now bearing (9,000 acres at $500 per acre), was $4,500,000; the annual additional value to the permanent wealth of the Province by young orchards was estimated at $1,000,000; the number of men employed in fruit culture were stated to be 7,000, and the number employed in industries collateral to the cultivation of fruit were placed at 4,000; the freight paid for fruits to railways was $60,000, and to steamboats $200,000. President Bigelow referred in denunciatory terms to the troubles of the fruit growers in connection with transportation and summed up the situation as follows:

"First. That the Halifax and St. John merchants have had and always will have sufficient influence with any Government to subsidize a line of boats to London for their own benefit, even if they are

totally unfit to carry apple cargoes, or whether they carry any apples or not-hence fruit growers need no longer contest the subsidy question.

"Second.-The Line subsidized this year by petition from, and for the benefit of fruit growers, from Annapolis, has given the worst service of any in the trade for twenty years.

"Third. All attempts to combine fruit growers to form a shipping company for their own interests have failed. A Commissioner appointed by the Government to inspect all steamers carrying apples, with power to prevent shipment of inferior fruit in unsuitable vessels, improper storage, etc., would remedy much of the wrong complained of, and would this year have saved fruit growers in Nova Scotia over $100,000."

Mr. Peter Innes followed in a strong speech along the same lines; quoted resolutions passed by the Kentville and King's County Boards of Trade; and moved a long resolution appealing to the Dominion Government for relief from the disabilities under which they suffered, and for a Royal Commission to inquire into the grievances and to provide for both the employment of suitable steamers and the proper regulation of freight rates. It passed after some discussion.

The

The annual Report of the Department of Agriculture was presented to the Legislature on March 15th, by the Hon. Mr. Murray. He described the progress of this industry as having been very marked and by way of illustration instanced the growth of Agricultural Societies. In 1864 there were 37 in the Province with 3,744 members, who subscribed $1,859, and received a Government subscription of $3,010. In 1894 the number was 80 with 3,986 members and subscriptions reaching $4,424 from members and $8,000 from the Government. At the close of 1900 there were 131 societies, with 7,362 members, whose subscriptions amounted to $9,322. Government grant was $10,000. These societies devoted themselves chiefly to the improvement of live stock and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture had reported to him that competent judges from Ontario and the United States, who visited the Halifax Exhibition in 1897 and in 1900, stated that Nova Scotia had made as great progress in cattle, sheep and swine as any Province or State they had visited. A later statement showed 23 cheese factories with 1,203 patrons. The amount of milk received was 10,205,862 pounds; the amount of butter made was 273,626 pounds, and of cheese, 365,205 pounds. The value of the two dairy products was placed at $112,000.

A week later Mr. Murray proposed the second reading of his Bill for the establishment of an Agricultural and Horticultural School. It was done by agreement with the Governments of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and empowered the expenditure of $50,000 for buildings and farm lands. As it was to be located in their Province, the capital expenditure was to be borne by Nova Scotia. The annual expenditure was to be based upon the population of the different Provinces, and was limited to $10,000. The population of Nova Scotia was placed for the purposes of this measure at 500,000 ;

that of New Brunswick at 400,000; and that of Prince Edward Island at 100,000. He was not quite sure that the other Legislatures would approve of the location in Nova Scotia, but he hoped for the best. If approved and accepted, the annual expenditure upon the project would be $5,000 by Nova Scotia, $4,000 by New Brunswick and $1,000 by Prince Edward Island. The Bill passed in due course.

An Act was also proposed by the Premier, and duly carried, for the further encouragement of Dairying. An annual expenditure of $7,000 was provided for the purpose of establishing schools where special instruction in this subject could be given, and for equipping with plant and machinery any new creamery which would undertake to annually manufacture for five years not less than 20,000 pounds of cheese. During the year an immense number of meetings were addressed by Mr. B. W. Chipman, Secretary for Agriculture, and Professor Sears, of the Wolfville School of Horticulture. A travelling dairy also carried on extensive operations during the summer season. An effort was made in the Legislature to do something in the direction of compelling farmers to use wide tires for their vehicles, but it was found to be rather a serious undertaking, and the measure was withdrawn. The importance of the question is indicated by an editorial extract from the Canadian Orchardist, of Wolfville, written on March 19th:

"They," (the roads) "are allowed to go too long without repair, and then when they are put into repair, what has been done is washed away by the fall or spring rains, or dug away by the narrowtired wagon.. With narrow-tired vehicles it is an impossibility to have good roads, and we will not have them until the use of wide tires is made compulsory."

Agriculture in New Brunswick

In the Legislature at Fredericton on March 8th, the Hon. Mr. Tweedie explained the terms of the Government's proposed Cold-Storage Bill. It was a measure guaranteeing the principal as well as the interest on bonds amounting to $60,000 issued by a local Company for the purpose of building a cold-storage warehouse in St. John. During the preceding year they had tried to float these bonds, but had only been offered $42,000. The guarantee of interest alone was, therefore, not sufficient, as all kinds of bonds were selling lower than a few years since, and financial men were slow to take up a new project of this kind. Under present arrangements the Government held the property of the Company until the bonds and all the interest due thereon was paid. The profits were to go toward the payment of interest, and any surplus toward the creation of a sinking fund for the redemption of the bonds. "Refrigerator cars would be placed on the Intercolonial Railway, which would convey goods intended for cold-storage directly to St. John, where they could be stored until required."

Mr. Douglas Hazen, the Opposition Leader, thought that the measure went too far. The original guarantee was sufficient, and the failure to float the bonds indicated a lack of commercial value in the