35191 VY5C^ Cornell University Library SB 191.W5C2 Wheat growing in Canada 3 1924 002 858 631 Wheat Growing in Canada [ BY > WILLIAM SAUNDERS Director Dominion Experimental Farms Reprinted by permission from the April Canadian Magazine Copyrighted TORONTO THE ONTARIO PUBLISHING CO. LIMITED 1904 cry. (^ /i^ K^ WHEAT GROWING IN CANADA By WILLIAM SAUNDERS, Director Dominion Experimental Farms ||ANADA is widely known as a " land of plenty," and is frequently referred to as one of the future gran- aries of the world. The opinion has also been often expressed that the productive capacity of the land in the Dominion will, when the country is fairly settled, be more than equal to the task of supplying the Mother Country with all the wheat which her teeming millions require. Such statements are sometimes made in the absence of any definite ideas as to what the farming lands of Canada would probably be capable of produc- ing annually if they were fairly well occupied by intelligent and industrious settlers. The area of land suitable for the growing of agricultural crops in Ca- nada is so vast that when presented in figures the mind needs a deal of train- ing before their full significance can be grasped. The civilized world is grad- ually awakening to a somewhat hazy perception of the immense wealth laid up in the many millions of acres of fertile lands unoccupied here, and large numbers of immigrants are flocking to our shores. Commenters on these great possessions commonly pass over the large stretches of unoccupied ter- ritory in the Eastern Provinces, and direct attention mainly to the great Northwest country, a huge field for future enterprise, as yet very imper- fectly understood even among our own people. In this article, it is the possi- bilities of the latter which will be pri- marily considered. THE WHEAT AREAS The following figures as to the quan- tity of land fit for settlement in the Province of Manitoba and the three Provisional Territories, Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Alberta, have been obtained from official sources and may be accepted as approximately correct for the areas in question: Total area Estimated Exclusive Proportion of Water. Suitable for Acres. Cultivation. Acres. Manitoba ... .41,000,000 two-thirds equal to 27,000,000 Assiniboia 57,000,000 seven-eighths '• 50,000,000 Saskatchewan 70,000,000 three-fourths " 52,000,000 Alberta 64,000,000 two-thirds " 42,000,000 Total i7i,o«o,ooo It is thus estimated that there are within the limits referred to, after making allowance for lands unfit for agriculture, about 171 million acres suitable for cultivation, by which is meant land of such a degree of fertil- ity as to admit of profitable farming. It is proposed to confine our discussion on this occasion to the possibilities of agricultural progress vyithin this area, where the quality of the soil and the conditions of climate are fairly well known. We should not, however, deal justly were we to pass over the great north country lying beyond the bound- aries of Saskatchewan and Alberta without a few words of explanation. The 155 million acres of land in Athabasca, and a large slice of the 340 million acres in Mackenzie, will no doubt prove important factors in the future development of Canada, but what proportion of these vast districts will be capable of the profitable grow- ing of crops is as yet a matter of con- jecture. There are, however, some proofs available showing that it is pos- sible to grow cereals to some extent in portions of these remote districts of which our knowledge is so fragmentary. NORTHERN EXPERIMENTS The writer has received samples from Dunvegan, on the Peace River, in Athabasca, 414 miles by latitude north of Winnipeg, of Ladoga wheat plump and well matured, weighing 64 lbs. per bushel; oats weighing 40 to 42 lbs. per bushel; six-rowed barley, 52 lbs. per bushel; and spring rye weighing 56 lbs. per bushel. At Fort Vermillion, further down the Peace River, also in Athabasca, WHEAT GROWING IN CANADA 591 miles north of Winnipeg, Ladoga wheat has been raised weighing 60 lbs. per bushel; oats, 41^ lbs.; six- rowed barley, 51?^ lbs.; and spring rye 57^ lbs. per bushel. From Fort Providence, in Macken- zie, 710 miles north of Winnipeg, have come good samples of oats and spring rye; but the quantities received were too small to permit of their weight per bushel being determined. From Fort Simpson, 818 miles north of Winnipeg by latitude, Ladoga wheat has been obtained which weigh- ed 62 }4 lbs. per bushel. In this in- stance a small percentage of the grain was injured by frost. This is the fur- thest point north from which samples of cereals have been received. The time between sowing and harvesting in these far northern districts is in some instances less than it is at the Experimental Farm at Ottawa. At Dunvegan the grain was sown May 7th and harvested August 21st, giving a growing period of loi days. The same sorts of grain grown at Ottawa, taking the average of three years, re- quire 106 days. At Fort Vermillion the time between sowing and harvest- ing was also loi days. At Fort Prov- idence 108 days were required to bring grain to maturity, from June i to September 17, and at Fort Simpson the wheat was sown June 7 and har- vested September 22, giving a grow- ing period of 107 days. The long days are an important factor in bringing about this result: the influence of increased periods of light hastens the ripening of cereals very much. This view is supported by facts brought together during a care- ful series of observations made some years ago by a distinguished Russian investigator, Kowalewski. He experi- mented with spring wheat and oats, growing them in different parts of Russia, from the far north at Arkan- gelsk to the southern province of Kherson. He found that in the higher latitudes the grain ripens in a shorter period than in the more southern dis- tricts, the difference varying at differ- ent points from 12 to 35 days. This author attributes the earlier r.penmg in the north largely to the influence ol light during the long summer days. He also believes that the short .seasons of quick growth have gradually brought about in these cereals an early ripen- ing habit. In our experience with early ripening cereals, this habit is a permanent characteristic which they continue to manifest when ^rown in localities where the summer season is longer. POSSIBILITIES Leaving now any further discussion of these enormous northern territories, let us return to the smaller and better known districts nearer the lines of railway. Of the 171 million acres in Manitoba and the three ProvisionalTer- ritories, which are said to be suitable for cultivation, a very small part is yet under crop. In Manitoba there were 2,039,940 acres under wheat in 1902, and 1,134,385 acres in other farm crops, making a total of 3,174,325 acres. In the three Provisional Ter- ritories there were in all 625,758 acres in wheat, and about 363,879 acres in other crops, making a total of 989,637 acres, which, added to the acreage under cultivation in Manitoba, makes in all 4,163,962 acres. From this comparatively small area over 67 mil- lion bushels of wheat and nearlj' 59 million bushels of other grain were produced. In 1903 the season was less favour- able, and while there was an increase in the acreage of land devoted to wheat in Manitoba and the Territories the total production has been about 52 million bushels of wheat with about 54 million bushels of other grain. , While the land prepared for crop in 1904 is considerably in excess of that for 1903 it is not likely to exceed 51^ million acres in all, which is not much more than three per cent, of the land suitable for agriculture within the limits referred to. Some comparisons may help us to utiderstand the possibilities connected with these large but sparsely occupied districts. WHEAT GROWING IN CANADA The United States produces large quantities of wbieat, sufficient to meet the demands of the home market for the feeding of a population of nearly 80 millions, and leaving a surplus, in- cluding flour for foreign export, equal to about 225 million bushels of wheat. From recent crop reports we learn that the total area under wheat in the Unit- ed States in 1902, including winter and spring varieties, was 46,202,424 acres, which gave a crop of a little over 670 million bushels. It does not follow that all the land fit for settlement in Manitoba and the three Provisional Territories is suitable for wheat growing. There are some localities where the season is too short to make wheat a sure crop, and farm- ers in such districts will find it more profitable to carry on mixed farming; but from the good crops which have been harvested during some years past in most of the settled or partly settled regions, it is evident that the greater part of the country is well suited for the growing of wheat of high quality. Another consideration which would reduce the area annually available for wheat is that the land, to get the best results, should be summer-fallowed every third season, which means that it should not be cropped that year. Further, while many excellent farmers advocate the growing of two crops of wheat in succession, one on fallowed land, the second on stubble to be fol- lowed by fallow,, it may be found more profitable in some localities to grow wheat in rotation with other crops. On the other han.l, the yield per acre of wheat in Canada, is larger than it is in the United States. In 1902 the average crop given for the whole of the United States, including winter and spring wheats, is about 14.5 bushels per acre. The same year the average of spring wheat in Manitoba was 26 bushels, and in the Northwest Terri- tories 25 bushels. In 1903, when the season was so unfavourable, the yield in Manitoba averaged 16.42 bushels per acre. In Ontario, in 1902, winter wheat averaged 25.9 and spring wheat 18.7 bushels. The average of a ten years' record tells much the same story. A ten years' average for Manitoba from 1891 to 1900 gives 19 bushels of spring wheat per acre. During the same time South Dakota gives 10.04 ^"^^ North Dakota 12.07. The wheat yield for the whole of the United States for the same period was 133 bushels per acre; while in Ontario, the only Prov- ince with statistics covering this period, we have an average of 19.4 of fall wheat and 15.2 per acre of spring wheat. This larger yield in Canada is no doubt partly due to the land being more productive, and partly to a more favourable climate, and in some meas- ure to better farming. A REASONABLE PROPHECY The total imports of wheat and flour into Great Britain in 1902 were equiva- lent in all toabout 200 million bushelsof wheat. Were one-fourth of the land said to be suitable for cultivation in Manitoba and the three Provisional Territories under crop with wheat an- nually, and the average production equal to that of Manitoba for the past ten years, the total crop would be pver 812 million bushels. This would be ample to supply the home demand for 30 millions of inhabitants (supposing the population of Canada should by that time reach that figure) and meet the present requirements of Great Britain three times over. This estimate deals only with a portion of the West, and it leaves the large Eastern Provinces out of consideration altogether. From this it would seem to be quite possible that Canada may be in a position with- in comparatively few years, after sup- plying all home demands, to furnish Great Britain with all the wheat and flour she requires and leave a surplus for export to other countries. With a rural population on the western plains in 1902 of about 400,000, over 67 mil- WHEAT GROWING IN CANADA lion bushels of wheat were produced. Add to this the wheat grown in Onta- rio and the other Eastern Provinces and we already have a total of over 93 million bushels. These figures are full of proiTiise for the future of Canada as a great wheat-exporting country. WHEAT QUALITY Under the climatic conditions which prevail in the Canadian Northwest, wheat of excellent quality is grown, which is much sought after by millers to mix with the flour of wheats of a lower grade, so that a desirable and uniform strength may be maintained in the flour they produce. This strength in flour, which is so highly developed in that made from No. I hard wheat grown in the Northwest, is due to the presence of a large proportion of glu- ten of high quality. The relative pro- portions of the more important constit- uents in wheat will depend on the character and tendencies of the individ- ual variety, the climatic conditions under which it is grown, and the fertil- ity of the soil. The chief constituents of wheat are gluten, starch and fat, all highly nutritious in thgir character. Starch forms the larger portion of the substance of the grain, ranging in spring wheat from 65 to 68 per cent. ; gluten from 11 to about 13; and fat from about i^ to 25^ per cent. Win- ter wheat contains a larger proportion of starch, from 70 to 74 per cent., and a smaller proportion of gluten, from 6 to 9 per cent. The proportion of fat is much the same in both classes of wheat. When a number of different sorts of wheat are grown side by side and under the same conditions, some will be found to contain a larger pro- portion of gluten, others a more abundant deposit of starch. In the better sorts of spring wheat, when grown in northern latitudes, where the summer season is short and the growth rapid, the proportion of gluten is usual- ly increased, and under such conditions the grain improves in quality. Chemical analyses of gluten have shown that it consists of two different principles, known as gliadin and glu- tenin, and it is from the combination of these in the best proportion that the highest quality of gluten results. Hence, while the percentage of gluten may be regarded in a general way as indicating the quality of a wheat, a high percentage of this substance is not always a sure indication of the milling value of the sample. Both the percentage and quality must be had to produce a flour which will give to bread made from it that tenacity which re- sults in a light, porous white loaf of the most highly esteemed character. The best spring wheats grown in the Canadian Northwest are noted for the high quality of gluten they contain and hence are in great demand. At the Dominion Experimental Farms persistent efforts have been made from the outset to bring together from different countries the best and most promising sorts of wheat for trial, the qualities particularly sought being productiveness, earliness and strength of flour. These varieties have been grown side by side, under similar con- ditions, so that their relative value might be determined. RED FIFE WHEAT Among the spring wheats commonly growii at the time the Farms were established none was so highly or just- ly esteemed as the Red Fife, and the position it still holds is a preeminent one. It is remarkable for its produc- tiveness, for its high quality, and for Its power of adapting itself to varying conditions of soil and climate. This wheat originated about sixty years ago, and in the Canadian Agriculturist for i86i the following account of its ongm is given: yC t''°"' .'^^ ^r^" '^^^ '^''- I^^vid Fife, of the Township of Otonabee, Canada W^st now Ontarm, procured, through a friend in K^ PJ'L .^'=°"''"'^' ^ quanfity of whea wh.ch had been obtained from a cargo direc from Dantz.c. As it came .0 hand jifs°be?ore sprmg seed time, and not knowing UetherU was a fall or spring variety, Mr. l^^flco "nd the result. It proved to be a fall wheat, as it WHEAT GROWING IN CANADA never ripened except three ears which grew apparently from a sing-le grain. These were preserved and, although sown the next year under unfavourable circumstances, being quite late and in a shady place, it proved at harvest to be entirely free from rust when all wheat in the neighbourhood was badly rusted. The produce of this was carefully preserved and from it sprung the variety of wheat known over Canada and the Northern States by the different names of Fife, Scotch and Glasgow." From this it would appear that the Red Fife has been in cultivation for more than half a century, and it does not show any tendency to deteriora- tion. It gives as large a crop and is as high in quality as it ever was. It was taken from Ontario to Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, where it is believed to have improved in qual- ity, and. as grown there stands probab- ly higher in the estimation of millers for the making of flour than any other known variety. While the Red Fife has so many points of excellence, it is open to one objection, which sometimes proves a very serious drawback to its cultiva- tion. It is rather late in ripening, and during the past fifteen years there have been several seasons when early frosts in the Northwest have itijured the grain so as to reduce its value very materially. Whenever this has occur- red an outcry has been made by the farmers who have suffered, for an earlier ripening wheat. In the endeavour to meet this de- mand varieties of wheat have been brought to Canada from many differ- ent countries, and grown for many years at all the Experimental Farms alongside of the Red Fife and other well-known sorts, and their periods of ripening and weight of crop carefully recorded. Some wheats have been brought from the colder districts in Northern Russia, verging on the Arc- tic circle, sorne from other countries in the n&rthern parts of Europe, others from different altitudes in the Himalaya Mountains in India, from 500 to as high as 11,000 feet, which is about the limit for wheat growing in that range. Other wheats have been obtained in the North- ern United States, from Australia, Japan and elsewhere. Both the Russian and Indian wheats have usually ripened earlier than the Red Fife, but some have been inferior in quality, and others have given such small crops that the growing of most of them has been abandoned. Those we have had from Australia, also those from the Northwestern States, have been as late as, and many of them later than, the Red Fife, and. show no ad- vantages over that variety. Every promising sort obtainable has been test- ed under the different climatic con- ditions existing in Canada, without finding a single earlier ripening sort in cultivation elsewhere having the high quality of the Red Fife. THE BREEDING OF NEW WHEATS. Another method by which we have sought to obtain the desired end has been by the cross-breeding of wheats, with the object of combining the good qualities of two or more varieties. It was on July 19, 1888, when the first experiments were begun in the cross- breeding of wheat on the Experimental Farm, and since that time several hun- dred new sorts have been produced and tested. In originating many of these new productions the Red Fife has been chosen as one of the parents. One of the earlier importations from Northern Russia was the Ladoga, a wheat which after a thorough test proved on an average to be about a week earlier in ripening than the Red Fife; it was also fairly productive, but in quality did not compare favourably with that variety. A considerable number of crosses were produced between these two sorts, the most promising of which were multi- plied until plots of considerable size could be grown. These were subject to rigid inspection from year to year, the less desirable sorts being promptly discarded so as to keep the number of varieties under trial within reasonable bounds. Among the most promising of the numerous progeny from this cross are the varieties known as Preston and Stanley. The Preston is a bearded sort. The Stanley is beardless. Tak- ing the average yield obtained on the WHEAT GROWING IN CANADA experimental plots on all the Experi- mental Farms for a period of nine years, the Preston has given a crop of 34 bushels 41 lbs. per acre, while the Red Fife has given 33 bushels 7 lbs. per acre, a difference of i bushel 34 lbs. in favour of the Preston. The Preston has also ripened uniformly earlier, the gain in time of ripening varying from four to six days. The Stanley is a twin wheat with the Preston, both having had origin in the one kernel. The plant grown from the cross-bred kernel the first season produced heads which were uniformly bearded; but when the seed from this was sown the year following, some plants produced bearded heads and others beardless. Subsequently these two varieties were bred to type by dis- carding all the variations produced un- til the types became fixed. Stanley during a nine years' test has given an average crop of 32 bushels 2 lbs. per acre, which is i bushel 5 lbs. less than Red Fife for the same period. In earli- ness of ripening this variety is about the same as the Preston. The White Fife, which has averaged 8 lbs. per acre more than Red Fife, during a nine years' trial, is grown to a considerable extent in some parts of Manitoba and the Northwest Terri- tories; but, although highly esteemed by some, it is not held to be equal in quality to the Red Fife. This variety was also crossed with the Ladoga, and the best results obtained were Huron and Percy. Huron is a bearded variety which has also proven productive and early. During a nine years' test it has given a slightly larger crop than Red Fife, exceeding that variety by 4 lbs. per acre. It has also matured from four to five days earlier. Percy has given an average crop during nine years' trial of 31 bushels 30 per acre, which is i bush. 37 lbs, acre less than Red Fife for the same time. This also ripens earlier than Red Fife by from four to five days. Another variety, known as Early Riga, was obtained by crossing one of the East Indian wheats, named Gehun, brought from a high elevation the lbs. per in the Himalayas, 1 1,000 feet, with a Russian wheat known as Onega. The Onega was brought from near Archangel, one of the most northerly wheat-growing districts in Russia. These were both early varieties, but were not very productive. The early Riga was the best sort produced from this cross, and has proved to be one ot the earliest ripening wheats known. During the five years it has been under trial it has ripened on an average from eight to nine days earlier than Red Fife. It has also proved fairly pro- ductive, having given an average crop for five years at all the Experimental Farms of 31 bushels 2 lbs. per acre, being 4 bushels 23 lbs. less than Red Fife for the same period. A COMPARISON The next point to consider is the quality of these cross-bred wheats and how they compare with Red Fife. To gain information on this point, three lots of samples were put up, consisting of two of Red Fife carefully cleaned and of the very best quality, with two each of Preston, Stanley and Percy. One of these was grown at Ottawa, Ont. ; the other at Indian Head, N. W.T. One lot of samples was submitted to Mr. Julicher, the well-known wheat expert of the Pillsbury- Washburn Flour Mills Co. of Minneapolis, Minn. A second lot was sent to Lord Strath- cona, High Commissioner for Canada, London, England, with a request that they be submitted to one of the best English wheat experts. The third lot was handed to the Chemist of the Ex- perimental Farms, Mr. F. T. Shutt, for analysis. The samples sent to Lord Strathcona, were referred by him to Mr. Wm. Halliwell, technical editor of The Miller, who is regarded as one of the most competent authorities in England. He is said to have had twenty-five years' experience in practical flour mill- ing and wheat buying. These samples were all sent under numbers, and no information was given as to their names. The reports of the experts on these wheats show that they were all of good WHEAT GROWING TN CANADA 1 quality. In Mr. Julicher's report the cross-bred sorts were all shown to con- tain as much gluten as, and two of the three varieties somewhat more than, the Red Fife, while the qualify of the gluten in the cross-breds was placed at loo, and that of the two samples of Red Fife at loi. In some particulars the cross-bred sorts were rated a little below the Red Fife; but the differences were slight. Mr. Halliwell, the English expert, rated the samples grown at Ottawa as lower in quality than those grown at Indian Head. In " milling structure" and "appearance" the Red Fife, Stanley and Percy, grown at Indian Head, were all placed on an equality, the estimation being indicated by lo as a maximum number. In " strength " and "colour marks" the Red Fife, Stanley and Percy were all rated at lo; while the Preston was put at 9. In working these samples Mr. Halliwell compared them with others on the Lon- don Corn Exchange, and these in some instances graded lower than most of the Canadian samples, and none of them were equal to the best of the Northwest samples. As to value in the London market, Mr. Halliwell says that Percy, Red Fife and Stanley would sell at that date ' 'off Mark Lane stands" at 34 shil- lings 3d. per 496 lbs., and Preston at 34 shillings — thus placing the Preston, on account of what he calls, in another part of his report, "a just perceptible difference," 3d. per 496 lbs., less in value than the other three, which is equal to about three-quarters of a cent per bushel. The Huron wheat has not yet been reported on. The Early Riga was subsequently sent to Mr. Julicher, who reports that it contained 14.2% of gluten against 1 1. 9% in Red Fife; that the gluten is equal in quality and colour to Red Fife, and he gives it the same grading, viz., loi. The only point where a very slight difference is given is in the colour of the dough, which in Red Fife is said to be "white" and in Early Riga "creamy white." The report given on these wheats by the Chemist of the Experimental Farms agrees closely with those of the wheat experts. He finds the proportion of gluten highest in the Early Riga and second highest in Percy. In all these wheats he says: "Not only is the gluten satisfactory as to quantity but also as to quality. In noting the char- acter of the wet gluten it was found to be slightly creamy in colour, firm, elastic and of uniform texture, denot- ing a ' strong ' flour and one eminent- ly suitable for bread-making purposes." From these critical examinations and analyses, it will be seen that these cross-bred varieties grown in the North- west compare favourably with the Red Fife both as to quality and yield, and there is no reason to believe that their general cultivation there would appre- ciably affect the quality or reputation of our Northwest wheat, and the ear- lier ripening of the cross-bred sorts would be a great advantage to the growers. Apart from the likelihood of escape from injury by early frost, the convenience in cutting of having a part of the crop ripen a few days earli- er would be much appreciated. Where a settler has 200 or 300 acres of wheat of one sort all ripening together, and has limited help at harvest, he is oblig- ed to begin to cut his crop before it is ripe or his wheat will shell badly be- fore he reaches the end of his harvest- ing. The part cut first, before matur- ity will shrivel more or less, which in- volves loss in weight and depreciation in quality, due to unevenness in the sample, to which must be added such loss as may arise from shelling in the part cut latest. By sowing a part of the land with an earlier ripening sort such difficulties could be largely over- come, and would result in better and more satisfactory returns. Many farm- ers are determined to get earlier ripen- ing sorts if such are obtainable, and it is gratifying to know that they can now be had, and of good quality. In a recent letter from a prominent farmer in Assiniboia he says: " There is one thing- I wish to say for your information. There are thousands of bushels of Preston wheat sold in the Northwest Ter- WHEAT GROWING IN CANADA ritories. It is sold as Red Fife. I am inform- ed that nine out of ten buyers cannut tell the difference between Red Fife and Preston. A buyer was asked in W his opinion ot Preston wheat. He said ' I know nothing about Preston; I only buy Red Fife.' He was ask- ed if he had purchased from Mr. . He said ' yes ' and I gave him the highest figure for his wheat. He was surprised to hear that it was Preston. This writer further says, ' I grew Preston wheat this year. It wa.s shell- ing out while my neighbour's Red Fife was green and frozen.'" Mr. A. Mackay, Superintendent of the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, Assa., writing on this subject in his Report for 1903, says: " I wish to draw the attention of Territorial wheat growers to the cross-bred varieties of wheat, Preston, Stanley and Huron, which have been tested for some years at the Ex- perimental Farm. These varieties were sown in field crops later than Red Fife and were ripe, cut and in stook five to six days before frost came; while Red Fife was injured by the cold wave of September S- Huron has al- ways been near the top in yield here, and this year heads the list in productiveness. It also matured before frost came. Preston, Stanley and Huron were the only sorts out of nine vari- eties sown in field crops that will grade No. I Hard. Percy, although fairly ripe, had heads not matured which the frost injured." ■In a favourable season, when the temperature is high enough to ripen wheat rapidly, the difference in time of ripening of such early sorts as Preston, Stanley and Huron as compared with Red Fife is reduced to about four days; but when the weather is cold and back- ward and the ripening process goes on slowly, the difference is increased, and, under such conditions, will often amount to from one to two weeks. The reports on the Early Riga wheat are most gratifying. The propo.-t.on of gluten found in this variety is about 20 per cent, more than in Red Fife and the quality of gluten equal. To find a wheat superior in quality to Red Fife is what one would scarcely expect; but to find that superiority as- sociated with so much eariiness— from eight to nine days, as an average of five years' trial— is highly satisfactory. The general introduction of such a wheat will probably extend the wheat- growing area in Canada and make it successful in points further north than is possible with the varieties at present grown. The fact that it falls a little below Red Fife in yield is more than atoned for by its eariiness and quality. The outlook in this connection is most encouraging, and the results a triumph of the skill of the plant breeder. In view of the great importance of this branch of the work at the Experi- mental Farms, arrangements have been made to devote even piore atten- tion to it in future than has been giv- en to it in the past. A special Divi- sion of Cereal Breeding and Experi- mentation has been formed. A series of important experiments has been commenced during 1903 along promis- ing lines, and about 400 new varieties of wheat have been produced. The field is a boundless one, and the possi- bilities of success great. It is hoped that the skill and energy brought to bear on this line of work will bring further results of even greater value to the country. SUMMARY Land fit for settlement in Western Canada, 171,000,000 acres. Of which there is now under cultivation, 5,000,000 acres. Present production of wheat and other grains, about 125,000,000 bushels. Possible wheat production (one-fourth under crop annually), 800,000,000 bushels.