WHEAT AND CANADA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 668, 13 May 1914, Page 3

WHEAT AND CANADA.

The steady fall in the price of wheat during the past few years is casuing considerable apprehension in Canada, as the welfare of that country depends upon the prosperity of the agricultural industry. A Royal Commission was recently appointed to investigate the position, and, on evidence acquired in Saskatchewan, it was found that the average price received by the farmers of that proivnce bad fallen from 81 l-sc. per bushel in 1909 to 66£ c.per bushel in 1913.Every year showed a decrease, and in the period mentioned the shrinkage amounted to nearly 19 per cent. The fall in prices realised has been accompanied by a persistent advance in the cost of production, but to what extent opinions differ. The commission estimates the rise at 12 per cent, on the 1909 figures, making the cost 62 cents per bushel placed on rails at a country station. Assuming the correctness of the data given, it is evident that the margin of profit to the wheat grower is fast vanishing, and unless he can make more money ther« will be no return to "boom" conditions in Canada. Cheap iand, and the profit in grain, growing, were the attractions which brought the American and British farmers to the western provinces of Canada. Land values have been rising rapidly of late, and, as has been shown, the growing of wheat has not been" nearly so remunerative. Probably this combination accounts for the decrease in the number of settlerß from the United States, as by the monthly emigration retuns. The remedy for the unprofitable character of grain growing in Canada appears to lie in increasing the area under mixed farming. With the high price of meat, there should be more inducement ot carry stock, and the recent hard times have probably compelled more attention to be paid to economy.