Saskatchewan, the central Prairie Province, is a huge rectangle
extending from the 49th to the 60th parallel, with an area as large as
France and twice the size of the British Isles.
It comprises 155,092,480 acres, and extends 760 miles north and south
and 390 miles east and west at the southern boundary bordering on the
United States. The average altitude is about 1,500 feet above sea level.
Saskatchewan claims to be without a rival in North America as a producer
of wheat and small grains. Only physical and geographical conditions
retard even a more phenomenal agricultural development. Its growth and
acquisition of wealth has been phenomenal. There are four distinct zones
extending north and south: (a) rolling prairie, (b) prairie and
woodland, (c) forest, (d) sparsely timbered belt. All the land is
suitable for cultivation and will yield the highest quality of cereals,
though less than 13 million acres are now under the plough. The
population of approximately 550,000 thriving, vigorous people will
eventually be a million. The increase in ten years was 440 per cent.
The Government forces in Saskatchewan are complete and effective. Every
branch of agricultural work conducted by the Provincial Government is a
part of the Department of Agriculture.
=Soil and Surface.=--The soil in all of Saskatchewan is a rich loam,
running from eight to twenty inches deep over a chocolate clay subsoil.
Moisture is evaporated from this subsoil so gradually that the fertility
is almost inexhaustible. With few exceptions the southern portion of the
Province from a line east and west through Saskatoon is almost flat.
In certain portions the surface is undulating, but in no case so hilly
as to preclude ploughing every acre; near some of the rivers in the more
hilly sections the soil becomes lighter with some stone and gravel.
Five reasons may be given for the exceptionally favourable conditions
awaiting the grower of wheat in Saskatchewan: 1. The soil is of almost
inexhaustible fertility. 2. The climate brings the plant to fruition
very quickly. 3. The northern latitude gives the wheat more sunshine
during the growing period than is had in districts farther south. 4.
Rust is of infrequent occurrence. 5. Insect foes are unknown.
=Fuel and Water.=--The coal areas to the south, and the partially wooded
areas in the north, provide an ample supply of fuel, while water can be
secured anywhere at a reasonable depth.