22

custom clearing was $32 per acre for all types of cover (Table 12). Heavy,
medium and light clearing had cost $52, $30 and $13 per acre, respectively. The
custom charges for breaking had varied from $5 to $10 per acre, averaging $7.
The charge did not seem to vary with the type of cover that had been on the
land. The total average cost on 29 farms for custom clearing and breaking,
then, amounted to $39 per acre. A few farmers had arranged to have custom
clearing and breaking done under a single contract. The average charge in
these contracts had been $41 per acre.

Cleared and piled with a power brush cutter and piles.

TABLE 12.—-AVERAGE CUSTOM CHARGES PER ACRE FOR CLEARING AND BREAKING
FORESTED LAND, PRINCE GEORGE-SMITHERS AREA, 1943-45

Type of cover
Heavy Medium Light aan canes
$ $ $ $
Clearing aise ne pire ete ena et ieee Oey 30 13 32
Breakin gererintevyu ois cna a yh tetas oo Suen (G 7 7 uf
Moealsc etme. ds © 5. eae aan 50 Geil apie heals ees

It seemed then, that the cost of bringing land under cultivation had been
high in relation to the probable net income which the land so improved might
produce. With regard to agricultural development this had had a two-fold effect.
In the first place it had discouraged land speculators and allowed the area to be
exploited by bona-fide settlers only. On the other hand it also had kept private
loan agencies away from the area and this lack of capital had probably been a
factor contributing to the slow agricultural development.

FARM TYPES

A fairly large number of farm types had developed to take advantage of
the market and natural conditions peculiar to the area. These types could be
separated broadly into commercial and non-commercial types depending upon