The growth of to-day will be insignificant compared with the achievements of the next few years.
The homestead shack is now giving place to the comfortable residence, large barns are being erected where the improvised log and mud stable sheltered a few head of cattle, fields are fenced, roads built, and great fields of grain and luxuriant pastures are always in evidence.
The Climate.—Owing to the altitude, Western Canada is one of the finest and most healthful sections in the world. Speaking generally it is at least a thousand feet higher above sea level than the Middle Western States, thus giving a dry, bracing air, much like portions of Colorado. During a large part of the summer the days are hot and sunny, with more than twenty hours of daylight and consequently growing weather, in each day. The nights, however, are always cool and restful and are largely responsible for the splendid vitality of Western men.
The winters are truly splendid. Usually farming operations on the land are stopped by frost from the 12th to the 15th of November although some years they have been continued into December. Usually late in November snow falls, and with the exception of those districts where Chinook winds are frequent, will remain until the following spring, disappearing early in March. During this time there is clear, bright, dry, sunny weather and an intensely invigorating atmosphere. The average winter temperature ranges from zero to twenty-two above zero, according to the district. Occasionally severe cold weather will occur, lasting for two or three days, but this is not unknown in the Middle Western States. One of the greatest advantages is the hard frost, during the winter. This freezes the ground to a depth of several feet. In the spring, thawing naturally commences at the top. As soon as the top soil is sufficiently thawed the land is sown, the cultivation forming a mulch which conserves the moisture in the frozen ground underneath. With the increasing warmth of early summer, the lower frost gradually thaws out and this moisture aids largely in the growth of the young crop.
The heaviest rainfall occurs in June, when it is most needed and does the most good to the growing crops. The rainfall of western Canada varies from 16 to 28 inches. The farmers are usually working upon the land during the first week in April. This gives a long growing season and plenty of time to dispose of the crop and get the land prepared, ready for the next season's operation.
METEOROLOGICAL RECORD FOR JANUARY, 1913
| Experimental Farm or Station at | Degrees of Temperature | Precipitation in Inches | Hours of Sunshine | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | Lowest | Mean | Possible | Actual | ||
| Brandon, Man | 36.9 | -37.6 | 24.60 | .11 | 268 | 73.6 |
| Indian Head, Sask | 40.0 | -45.0 | -6.51 | .80 | 266 | 57.9 |
| Rosthern, Sask | 38.6 | -49.5 | 13.30 | .55 | 252 | 73.9 |
| Scott, Sask | 38.8 | -48.8 | -9.47 | .59 | 255 | 83.9 |
| Lacombe, Alta | 45.3 | -35.6 | .67 | .93 | 257 | 63.3 |
| Lethbridge, Alta | 47.0 | -30.0 | 7.49 | .80 | 269 | 91.9 |
| DECEMBER, 1912 | ||||||
| Brandon, Man | 39.9 | 27.2 | 9.30 | 1.00 | 254 | 61.1 |
| Indian Head, Sask | 39.0 | 19.0 | 13.19 | 1.23 | 248 | 53.2 |
| Rosthern, Sask | 38.8 | 23.2 | 8.15 | .50 | 233 | 62.4 |
| Scott, Sask | 44.1 | 19.8 | 16.86 | .27 | 238 | 91.3 |
| Lacombe, Alta | 58.6 | 10.6 | 21.98 | .03 | 238 | 7.42 |
| Lethbridge, Alta | 50.1 | 0.9 | 27.16 | .23 | 254 | 102.3 |
A scene showing farming on a large scale in the park districts of Western Canada. Water is good and plentiful in this district.