Winnipeg, the grain centre of Western Canada, has received and handled more wheat per day than Chicago, Minneapolis, and Duluth combined.
Approximately 191 million bushels of grain were shipped from the elevators at Fort William and Port Arthur during the season of navigation; from the first of September, 1913, until December 20, 127 million bushels of grain were shipped to the east—52,000,000 bushels more than for the same period last year.
What Farmers Receive.—The amount of grain marketed, and the estimated receipts, based on an average price for September, October, and November, are as follows:
| Bushels | Price per bushel | ||
| Wheat | 97,000,000 | .73 | $70,000,000 |
| Oats | 30,000,000 | .30 | 9,000,000 |
| Barley | 9,500,000 | .40 | 3,800,000 |
| Flax | 6,500,000 | $1.10 | 7,150,000 |
| Total | $89,950,000 |
A Splendid Fall.—The fall of 1913 was exceedingly favourable to the farmer of Western Canada. The weather made it possible to harvest and thresh in the minimum of time, and in some cases permitted a start on fall ploughing early in September, in many parts continuing until December 1st. Owners of traction engines took advantage of clear nights to plough, the powerful headlights throwing a brilliant light across the fields. The men worked in relays, and it was frequently midnight before the big outfits quit.
| Beginning a home in the prairie—house and table "lands" are built on cement foundation. | Sizing up quantity of hay per acre he would get from his hayfield. | Starting from town with loads of posts for pasture fence. |
Mixed Farming.—Mixed farming is yielding large profits to those who work intelligently along the lines of intensive farming. In addition to wheat, oats, barley, and flax—alfalfa and other fodder crops are grown, and in some places corn.
Every variety of vegetable grows abundantly and sugar beets are a moneymaker. Stock-raising is an important branch of mixed farming, and hogs and sheep are commanding high prices, the demand greatly exceeding the supply.
Sheep.—The sheep industry in Western Canada pays exceedingly well. In the early days—but a few short years ago—a district south of the Canadian Pacific Railway from Swift Current to Maple Creek was stocked with sheep, and several large ranches made money, but with the onrush of settlement these ranches have been vacated and are now given up to successful grain growing. However, the farmers who now cross the boundary to purchase the best Montana breeds and take them to their farms, in every case report a success as great as that in grain growing. Although no country could be better fitted for sheep raising, and numerous successes have been made, Western Canada imports much of its mutton.
Profits in Horse Raising.—The raising of horses is receiving increasing attention. Here also a rare opportunity for profit exists, for the market is woefully unsupplied.