Agriculture -- Prairie Provinces; Northwest, Canadian -- Economic conditions
The northern and western portions of Central Alberta have some "brush"
land with soil equal to that of the open prairie. The cost of clearing
is slight, and there is the advantage of shelter for cattle, and an
absolute assurance of splendid water. There is a good market for the
fuel and timber obtained in clearing. Practically all of the land
between Edmonton and Athabaska Landing--and between Edmonton and Lac la
Biche to the northeast has been subdivided for homesteading.
NORTHERN ALBERTA
North of the end of steel extends 75 per cent of this rich Province, yet
unexploited. When the railways push into the Athabaska and the Peace, it
will be realized that Alberta owns an empire north of the Saskatchewan,
a country set apart by nature to provide homes for millions of agrarian
people.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA
=Southern Alberta= is open and rolling, and devoid of timber except along
the streams and the Rocky Mountains' foothills. The soil is a fertile
loam. The climate is ideal, with pleasing summers and mild winters.
Stock pasture in the open air during winter, grazing on the nutritive
sun-dried grasses. The absence of timber in Southern Alberta is
compensated for by the supply of coal.
[Illustration: Typical school in rural district in Western Canada, which
will soon be replaced by consolidated school, picture of which appears
elsewhere.]
Ranching which once was predominant is fast being abandoned and settlers
are dividing the limitless acres into small, productive holdings. As a
grazing country, Southern Alberta has had few equals, for the hills and
valleys, well watered, afford excellent pasturage. Winter wheat sown on
new breaking, or summer-fallowed land, from the middle of July to the
end of September is ready for harvest from the 1st to the 15th of August
in the following year. Climate and soil make this an ideal wheat-growing
district. Considerable spring wheat is grown, as well as oats, barley
and flax. The production of sugar-beets compares favourably with that of
Germany and the world.
The average of winter wheat for the Province in 1913, was 21 bushels an
acre. The greater portion was grown around Lethbridge, Taber, Grassy
Lake, Cardston, Spring Coulee, Pincher Creek, Macleod, Stavely, Leavitt,
Claresholm, Nanton, High River, Okotoks, Carmangay and Calgary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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