From actual and practical tests the Peace River district has been proven to be one of the best grain growing districts of the marvel- lously productive western plains. The soil and climate are of the best. The soil generally is a thick black loam, as much as twenty-two inches deep, with a clay subsoil.

The growth of wheat, oats, barley and other cereals as well as roots and vegetables, is equal to that of any other temperate climate. As will be seen from statistics taken from the returns for the experi- mental stations in the north country, grain sown early in May ripens about the middle of August, thus avoiding early frosts. This rapid growth is due to the long hours of sunshine in the summer months. And while the growth is thus rapid, the grain matures splendidly and is the best grown.

From June Ist to September ist there are from 16 to 20 hours of sunshine daily.

The desirability of the country as an agricultural area is demon-

strated by the fact that there has never been a total crop failure in the Peace River district.

Vegetables By actual test and experience the land is well adapted for the growing of large crops of the best vegetables. A few figures in this connection should be sufficient to convinee the most skeptical.

Potatoes IBEWAN AIR OYSCY amore ane oe average yield per acre 400 bushels. @ammanN On leeecssceecsccscee tees average yield per acre 375 bushels

Potatoes sell from 50 cents to $2.25 per bushel, according to the season of the year, and many farmers raise from 1 to 5 acres yearly.

Carrots, beets, onions, celery, cabbage, garden peas, beans, toma- toes, lettuce, radish, turnips, pumpkins and squash give large and satisfactory crops and properly matured vegetables.

Market gardeners adjacent to the town of Peace River grow large quantities of tomatoes, corn, cabbage, cucumbers, citrons and other vegetables . One local gardener in 1925 shipped several tons of ripe tomatoes in addition to supplying the local demand, and another mar- keted close to seven tons of cucumbers from one and a quarter acres of land last season. The seed was sown in the open field, and both cucumbers and tomatoes sown this way have given excellent results. For earlier marketing, the rule is to transplant the young plants from the hotbed. Early cabbage from local gardens has been mar- keted as early as July, and the profusion of growth is such that for late cabbage there apparently is no limit to the supply that can be grown from comparatively small areas. The profusion of growth in all classes of vegetables is such that visitors to the district invari- ably express the greatest surprise at both the quality and quantity of yield.

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