“Ninety-six different varieties of wild grasses have been identified, of which forty-six make excellent hay. Of the sedges and rushes there are at least ninety-four varieties, many of which make good hay, and all make splendid pasture during the spring and the early part of the summer. The sedges grow on the lower lands and marshes, and are diligently sought for by stock in the early spring, and during those seasons when the upland grasses harden. Cultivated grasses also do well, timothy, alfalfa, western rye grass, and blue grass having been introduced and all proving very successful.
“The establishment of agriculture depends upon many natural resources, such as extent of fertile soil, rainfall, and energy of the people. All these elements are compounded in the case of Alberta. The soil is deep and black, composed of a covering of vegetable humus which sits undisturbed since it was laid down many centuries ago. The chief nutriments are nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid, but what is of principal importance is the lime contained in the soil whereby the nitrogen is set free and ready to be absorbed by vegetable organism. The richness of the soil is illustrated in the number of grains in the cluster found in the heads of the wheat plant. Three, four and five grains occur in each spikelet, a fact which explains the large average yield of the Alberta wheat fields.
“The rainfall is sufficient to nourish crops, and the climate is dry and equable for long seasons. The rainy season coincides with the growing season. There is abundance of rain and heat during June and July. As the weather cools the rainy season ceases, the air becomes dry, hardening the grain and giving it a colour and hardness which accounts for the splendid quality of Canadian wheat. Even the frost of winter exerts a beneficial influence, as it pulverizes the ground and puts it in ideal condition for the rains of the following season. A prominent scientific authority says: As long as the West is blessed with winter frosts and summer rains, teeming crops will be the product of her soils.’”
STEAM PLOUGH IN ALBERTA.
On the question of wages a publication of the Ontario Government says—and the wages will not vary much from this rule in the Prairie Provinces:—
“The standard of wages at present for a twelve months’ engagement is as follows:—
“Experienced Men.—Farm labourers, well able to plough, to milk, and to do general farm-work, £4 to £5 and over per month.
“Partly experienced.—Eighteen years of age and upwards, strong, well able to handle horses, £3 to £4 and over per month.
“Inexperienced.—Eighteen years and upwards, strong, unused to any kind of farm work, £2 to £3 per month, according to ability.