women in rural homes, would be the provision of an adequate supply of pure water on tap in the house. In most cases, including the cost of a windmill where that is the best power, the cost need not exceed one hundred and twenty-five dollars including power, tank and piping. The drinking of impure water has the effect of depressing the vitality of the whole family, making them more liable to disease and resulting in loss of efficiency. These are evils in addition to the occasional cases of fever which come from drinking well water into which the seepage from house or stables has found its way. Crops The survey for the Committee on Lands had brought out the fact that, if farmers on the average throughout Canada would farm as well as the fifty best farmers whose farms had been surveyed, the result would be the doubling of the quantity of field crops from the land now occupied in Canada within a period of three years. Since the valuation of field crops in Canada ranges from five hundred and seven to five hundred and fifty millions of dollars per annum, the importance of that possibility is seen. It is not suggested that it is practicable to bring about such a change in three years; but by such means as may be taken, the quantity of field crops from the farms of Canada could be increased one hundred per cent. within twenty years, besides all the additions that would be made by the occupation of new lands, and the inflow of new settlers. One of the best means towards that result would be for municipal authorities, Provincial governments and the Federal powers to join in recognizing these best farmers as illustration farmers and in holding up the example of their good practice in attractive ways in order that others might follow their systems and methods. Dr. Robertson recommended the enlargement of the Committee on Lands and a continuation and extension of its work along similar lines. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN CANADA The area in crops in Canada in 1891 was 15,662,811 acres; in 1901 it was 19,763,740 acres, an increase of twenty-six per cent., and in 1910 it was 32,711,062 acres, an increase of sixty-five per cent. over 1901. The area in wheat, oats and barley in 1910 was 20,992,900 acres, being 1,229,160 acres more than the area of all crops in 1901. a The figures for 1891 and 1901 are taken from the census reports of those years. The figures for dairy production in 1907 are taken from Census and Statistics Bulletin No. VII. All figures for later than 1907 are taken from the Census and Statistics Monthly, of the Dominion Department of Agriculture, and are estimates based upon returns made by voluntary agricultural correspondents; consequently, they have not the same statistical value that attaches to the figures of the decennial census. Accurate figures for fruit production since 1901 are not available. Animals killed or sold for slaughter in 1891 were: cattle 957,737; sheep 1,464,172; swine 1,791,104. Of home-made butter, there was 111,577,210 lbs. manufactured. In 1901, animals killed or sold for slaughter were: cattle 1,110,209; sheep 1,342,288; swine 2,555,413; poultry 7,063,597; while there was 105,343,076 lbs. of home-made butter and 84,132,802 doz. eggs produced. In 1891 there were 1,736 butter, cheese and condensed milk factories which turned out products valued at $10,780,879. In 1901, there were 3,580 factories producing a product valued at $29,731,922. In 1907, the value of products was $35,457,543. The following is taken from the Report of the Fruit Branch of the Ontario Department of Agriculture, 1909: Ontario produces 75 per cent. of all fruits grown in Canada; In the census of 1891, the number of fruit trees was not ascertained. BRITISH COLUMBIA" In 1891, the area in crops was 115,184 acres; in 1901, it was 171,447 acres. The increase in the area of land under grain crops in the ten years was only 12,199 acres, mostly in oats, and the increase in production was 460,945 bushels. The area in potato and other field roots increased by 4,531 acres and the products by 389,890 bushels; and the area in hay and forage crops increased by 39,349 acres and the products by 71,297 tons. There was no substantial increase made in live stock from 1891 to 1901. In 1891, the value of dairy products was $3,530; in 1901 it was $105,690. The fruit industry in British Columbia has made rapid advances in the last few years. In 1901, there were 567,000 fruit trees; in 1903, there were 1,000,000 trees; and in 1905, the number had almost reached the two and a half million figure. MANITOBA The area in crops in 1891 was 1,229,041 acres; in 1901, it was 2,756,106 acres; in 1910, it was 5,318,989 acres. a Data are not available to make comparisons for British Columbia as in the other provinces. In 1891 the value of dairy products from factories was $103,887; in 1901 it was $416,272; while in 1907, it was $533,263. NEW BRUNSWICK The area in field crops in 1891 was 736,248 acres, in 1901, it was 897,417 acres, and in 1910, it was 1,050,152. While there was progress in live stock during the ten years from 1891 to 1901, it was not marked. |