15

There were 1,110! occupied farms in 1931 and these increased to 1,205! in 1941,
a proportional increase of approximately nine per cent (Table 6). The rural
population was 7,149 in 1931 and 7,694 in 1941. In 1931 they were divided
approximately equally between those on farms and those not on farms. By 1941
the rural population on farms showed a moderate increase, but there was no
change in the number of rural population not on farms.

TABLE 6.—RURAL POPULATION AND OCCUPIED FARMS, PRINCE GEORGE-SMITHERS
AREA, CENSUS 1931 AND 1941

1931 1941
— Total Number Number Total Number Number
Rural on not on Rural on not on
Population farms farms Population farms farms
Rural Population........... 7,149 3,470 | 3,679 7,694 4,084 3,660
Occupied Farms........... 1,110 x x 1,205 x x

The improved land in the area averaged 42-6 and 56-5 acres per farm in
1931 and 1941, respectively (Table 7). The increase represented an expansion of
13-9 acres per farm during the decade, or 1-4 acres per farm per year. The fact
that a certain number of new farms came into existence during the period meant
that the rate of development was slightly higher than that but it was probably
less than two acres per farm per year.

TABLE 7.—PROPORTIONATE USE OF IMPROVED LAND, PRINCE GEORGE-SMITHERS
AREA, CENSUS! 1931 AND 1941

Moves Wheat. Oats Hay | Pasture Other Total
Year Acres per Pan |
: per cent | per cent | per cent | per cent | per cent | per cent
NOS era erica 47,289 | 42-6 7 18 39 12 24 100
NOS eli tarstare risiatshetnrats 68, 115 56-5 5 10 57 9 19 100
1

Growing of hay and pasture was the important land use in both Census years.
Moreover, during the ten-year period grass acreage increased in proportion to
the acreage used for other crops. The acreage devoted to hay and pasture
increased by an amount approximately equal to the entire area brought under
cultivation during the period. As a result grass occupied 51 per cent of the land
in 1931 and 66 per cent in 1941. This increase was accompanied by a decrease
in the proportionate acreage of cereal crops, especially oats. Oats occupied 18
per cent of the improved land in 1931, and ten per cent in 1941. The significance
of the shift to more grass was that it allowed farmers to increase their livestock
enterprises, particularly cattle (Table 8). In the ten-year period the number of
cattle per farm increased about 50 per cent, horses and sheep per farm increased
almost 50 per cent. The number of hogs per farm nearly doubled. In aggre-
gate, however, the numbers of livestock were small. The output of the hog
enterprise amounted to little more than that required for home consumption on
the average farm. Cattle numbers amounted to 11-4 head per farm. They
would constitute the main source of livestock income but an average herd of
12 head per farm would be only four each of mature cows, young calves and

1 Aericulture, Census of Canada, 1931, Vol. 8; and British Columbia, Census of Agriculture, Eighth
Census of Canada, 1941.

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