It will be noticed that the wheat belt of the Winnipeg Basin runs across it from south-east to north-west, following the general trend of the isotherms. On the north-east it is limited by cold, and on the south-west by drought.
The following figures indicate the nature of the progress made in wheat cultivation by this region within recent years.
The rapid development of Canadian agriculture, which, as indi cated above, has taken place within recent years in the Winnipeg Basin, has naturally led to much speculation as to the future possi bilities of the region. It is generally admitted that the present production of the land is but a fraction of what it will ultimately be, but with regard to its potential resources there are grave divergences of opinion. A few years ago several estimates of the future production of wheat in the Winnipeg Basin were made by competent authorities, and they varied in amount from 250,000,000 bushels annually, to 800,000,000 bushels. All such estimates, however, must, from the very nature of the case, be extremely hypothetical in character, and for their fulfilment must depend upon the extent to which the demands of the country are met. Of these, the most pressing are an increase in population and a further development of communications. It has been estimated that a rural population of 900,000 is absolutely essential to procure an annual yield of 250,000,000 bushels. The rural population in 1911 (the last Census year) was 848,000, and it is probable that no considerable increase will be necessary before the lowest estimate of the possible yield is reached. For the highest, 800,000,000 bushels, it is estimated that a rural population of 2,880,000 would be necessary. Clearly, so large a population, acquainted with the agricultural methods of Central Canada, cannot be obtained for some time, though that it will ultimately be forthcoming, if required, is a matter of little doubt. There are several sources from which it may be recruited. Within recent years a considerable movement from Eastern Canada has taken place, and there has also been a large influx from the United States, made up in part of Canadians or their descendants who emigrated from Canada during the 'eighties, in part of native-born Americans, and in part of naturalised Americans from the continent of Europe. From Great Britain, and from several continental countries, especi ally Scandinavia, Russia, and Galicia, there is also a steady flow. The settlers from the Eastern Provinces and the United States are perhaps the most suitable, as they already possess a knowledge of farming under Canadian conditions ; of those from Great Britain, the Scottish are generally recognised as more adaptable than the English ; while of those from continental countries, Icelanders, Scandinavians, and Galician are amongst the most satisfactory. The following figures for the fiscal years 1905-11 (inclusive) indicate the extent of the immigration into the whole of Canada, and the countries from which the immigrants are principally drawn.
The climatic conditions of the country present another set of problems. Over no small part of the area on which wheat can be profitably grown, there is the ever-recurring danger of the crop being damaged by early autumn frosts, and, although it is not necessarily rendered useless thereby, it is greatly reduced in value. One of the great demands of the farmer, therefore, is for quick ripening and frost-resisting varieties, and the development of such is being carried on with success on experimental farms in various parts of the Dominion. In the semi-arid area, the deficiency of
moisture frequently renders ordinary agricultural methods of no avail, and irrigation and dry farming have to be summoned to the farmer's aid. The two largest districts irrigated at present are situated, the one to the east of Calgary, where a block of 3,000,000 acres, which was granted to the Canadian Pacific Railway, obtains sufficient water from the Bow River to ensure the growth of crops over half its area ; and the other, and less important, in the neigh bourhood of Lethbridge, where water can be obtained from the St. Mary's and Milk Rivers. It is not improbable that the future may see a considerable development of irrigation in the western parts of the semi-arid region where a number of streams come rapidly down from the Rocky Mountains. For the full benefit to be derived from irrigated land, it is maintained that hay and fodder must be grown as well as cereals. The ranching industry of the region will therefore also benefit, as stock raised on the prairies can be " finished " for market on the irrigated lands. The system of dry farming, beginning to make its way into Canada, is somewhat as follows : the land is deeply ploughed and well worked ; the subsoil is beaten into a compact mass so as to retain whatever rainfall there is within reach of the plant ; while on the surface there are about three inches of loose soil, the effect of which is to prevent evaporation. Land treated in this way is usually cropped once in two years, but the yield is above the average.
The subject of communications will be dealt with in a later section. The development of railways is absolutely essential for the economic welfare of the north-west, but, as there is no reason to believe that it will be wanting, the subject need only be mentioned here.
As the Winnipeg Basin is underlain mainly by Cretaceous and, in places, Tertiary materials, those minerals which are found associated with the older rocks are generally absent. The mining industry is therefore confined to the exploitation of the seams of lignite which underlie the greater part of Alberta, south of the fifty fifth parallel, and extend eastwards into Saskatchewan. Coal of a similar character is found in the Cypress Hills and Wood Mountains of southern Saskatchewan, and is also believed to exist in Turtle Mountain in Manitoba. Edmonton is at present the chief mining centre of all this region, but there are many small mines scattered over the country, and it is said that almost every rancher owns one. Notwithstanding its lignitic character the coal is of con siderable economic importance as the country is treeless, and cheap fuel of some kind is absolutely essential for the agricultural popula tion which is so rapidly increasing in numbers. From the mines in the south of Saskatchewan a considerable amount is sent as far east as Winnipeg. Natural gas has been found at Medicine Hat in the south of Alberta, and in the north along the Athabasca.
Winnipeg, situated at the confluence of the Assiniboine and the Red River, and midway between the international boundary and Lake Winnipeg, is the great collecting and distributing centre, and the chief industrial town, of the region. Other towns serve mainly as local centres for the districts in which they are situated, and carry on a few primary manufactures.