39. AGRICULTURE. At least half of the population of Canada is directly or indi rectly dependent upon agriculture, the chief in dustry of the Dominion. During the present century agricultural development in Canada has been extremely rapid, and although violent dis locations were caused by the European War there are indications that after the conclusion of peace a new period of rapid agricultural ex pansion will begin.
Political Boundaries.— Extending west ward from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north ward from the United States boundary into the Arctic circle, Canada, in size, embraces a total area computed at 3,729,665 square miles, of which 125,755 square miles are water. Politi cally, Canada is divided into nine provinces, in addition to which there are the Northwest and Yukon territories. Each province has control over its own affairs. Agricultural conditions vary with climate and physical characteristics, density of population, accessibility of markets and special aptitudes of the people. In 1912 took place the latest adjustment of the pro vincial boundaries when by act of the Dominion Parliament portions of the Northwest terri tories were added to the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The effect was to extend the province of Manitoba northward to the 60th parallel of north latitude and the southern shores of Hudson Bay, to extend the northern limits of Ontario to Hudson Bay and to throw into the province of Quebec the whole of the huge territory of Ungava and Labrador with the exception of that part of the coast line'which belongs to Newfoundland. Manitoba thus re ceived about 113,984,000, Ontario 93,696,000 and Quebec 227,175,000 acres of additional territory. The agricultural possibilities of these new areas are at present unknown.
Effects of Extending over such a large area and presenting topographical and orographical features of considerable variety, the Dominion of Canada possesses a series of different climates which influence and modify the local agriculture. The Atlantic provinces (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) have comparatively mild winters with a moist, cool atmosphere. Potatoes and root crops do well, and buckwheat is a special crop. In Quebec and in the eastern and northern parts of Ontario the winters are colder arid the summers are warmer than they are at the coast on either seaboard. The ground is usually
covered by deep snow during winter, and there are occasionally spells of severe cold in winter and of intense heat in summer, the latter usually tempered however by cool nights of great benefit to vegetation. A special characteristic is the rapidity with which the spring advances and merges into summer, and the rapidity of vegetation when once the winter snows have melted. In the southern parts of Ontario, es pecially that part of it which is known as the Niagara peninsula, the climate is considerably Fruit cultivation is therefore a great feature, and tender fruits such as peaches, pears and grapes are grown to perfection. Corn i is an important crop grown both for grain and green fodder or silage. The Prairie provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) have cold winters, but the air is dry and bracing. Usually, especially in Manitoba and Saskatche wan, an abundant snowfall protects the soil and ensures ample moisture during the early stages of plant growth. In Alberta the winter climate is variable, but milder as a rule than in the other Prairie provinces. Cattle ranching is a feature in certain parts, the animals being able during winter to remain out of doors and find their own food. The Chinook winds, which blow down from the Rocky Mountains, often cause a rapid increase of tethperature to the extent sometimes of 60 degrees. In southern Alberta are large semi-arid areas in which irri gation and methods of dry farming are being successfully practised. Finally in British Co lumbia the climate varies greatly with altitude, latitude and coast proximity. The valleys are warm and suitable for a great variety of crops and for mixed farming. The areas near the coast have mild winters and a long spring, the conditions resembling those of the south of England. The precipitation varies a good deal. It is as much as 100 inches per annum in some i parts; in others it is so scanty that agriculture is dependent upon artificial irrigation. This is being resorted to with marked success for fruits and vegetables.