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Among the Farmers -

The Assiniboine Valley Farming and Dairy Company The Manitoba Agricultural Museum obtained digital copies of the Nor-West Farmer and Miller for the year 1886. The Nor-West Farmer in the mid 1880s ran a monthly series called Among the Farmers in which a reporter for the paper, simply identified as R.W.M., visited various communities in Manitoba and reported on their progress.

Many of these reports are interesting and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum will be using individual reports as a basis for an interpretative release.

This release contains Among the Farmers - Assiniboine Valley Farming and Dairy Company report of January, 1886. The Nor-West Farmer carried articles on grain and livestock and the livestock sec-

tion of the Nor-West Farmer contained a number of sub- sections; cattle, dairy, horses, pigs, poultry, sheep and bees. Generally the number of livestock articles far outweighed the articles on grain indicating the importance of the livestock industry in 1880s Manitoba.

Given that grain farming was a perilous undertaking in the 1880s as the varieties in use were relatively long to maturity thus exposing the crop to the danger of frost, then there were the issues of hail, drought, grasshoppers, crop diseases such as rust and smut. One can see why the farmers in 1880s Manitoba were very interested in livestock.

money to irresponsible and audacious adventurers who have got up wild cat schemes, commercial and agricultural, which flourish amazingly on paper, till the bottom falls out of the concern and the credulous partners in these ventures are left lamenting. Joint stock ventures in this kind of farming are fortunately few, for they have left behind them, or are A good deal of harm has already likely before long to leave a very

By R.W.M unsavory record, and very detriOne of the most pleasant parts been done to the reputation of this Province by the exaggerated mental every to our credit and of our duties as caterers of information for the farming com- estimates circulated in the east- interests as a community.

The Assiniboine Valley Farming munities is to note the inception ern provinces and in Europe of the wonderful profits to be made here an Dairy Company, to which we and progress of branches of the in every branch of farming, even by propose to devote our present pafarming industry likely to bring per, has not been put before the capital into the country, and likely, downright greenhorns. world with a blazing prospectus Still greater harm, if possible, as well to give a steady and satand a flourish of trumpets, such isfactory return to the investors. has been done by entrusting

The Assiniboine Valley Farming and Dairy Company

as heralded some of its more pretentious compeers, but we liked it all the better for its modesty, and we have pleasure in making a note for the good fortune that has so far attended the enterprise.

Thirty miles west of Winnipeg on the main line of the C.P.R. is Reborn Station, and between that and Poplar Point, the next station to the west, lies the lands of this company. Some 3,000 acres of capital hay and grazing land having been quietly secured by the projectors, a company was formed some eighteen months ago, with Mr. Duncan McArthur, banker, as president, Messrs.

Robt. Tait, Silver Heights, V.P., and Taylor, ex-M.P.P. of High Bluff, and a few others at home, with

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A drawing of a Durham bull taken from an ad in the Nor-West Farmer. Durham cattle were originally found in the Northeast of England. In the late 1700s the Colling Brothers started to improve the Durham breed with the new selective breeding techniques developed and proven successful elsewhere. At the same time Teeswater cattle also found in Northeastern England, were being improved through selective breeding as well. Breeders then developed the Shorthorn breed from Durham and Teeswater cattle.

Generally Durham cattle were dual purpose being used for both meat and milk production.

As well, Durham bulls when castrated could be used as oxen. Bull of other breeds could be used for oxen as well. For a pioneer in 1880s Manitoba versatile breeds such as Durham were very desirable.

a fair proportion of British shareholders, among whom may be named Messrs.

Fleming, banker, Grantown, Scotland; Girdlestone, Bristol, England, and F.A. Pelly, Tuam, Ireland, with Mr. Gridlestone as secretary and business manager.

The capital stock of the company is $75,000, of which one half has already been expended on land, stock and suitable buildings. The situation is exceptionally favourable for a stock farm. It was near this, if not on the very same ground, that the old Hudson’s Bay stock farm was situated, and a glance around suffices to show the wisdom of the choice.

Standing on the rail track where it intersects the farm to the south we see a broad sweep of as fine hay land as could be found within the whole province, from which this year 600 tonnes of choice hay have been cut and stacked at a cost of less than $1 per ton and within a mile of the homestead 1,500 could with equal ease have been secured, as the long, dry fall was especially favourable for this low-lying rich meadow, which at times is completely submerged by the overflow of the Assiniboine River, which bounds the property on the south.

This cheap and easy style of irrigation is occasioned by “ice blocks” which occur almost every year at two loops of the river, a mile or two east of the company’s present property. On the north of the track, about a mile back, lies a long narrow stretch of water called Long Lake, which bends around at its east and west ends almost enclosing some 12,000 acres of rich grazing and meadow land, one half of which is already owned by this company. Besides an ample crop of grass on the open, there is a splendid growth of nutritious pea vine in the bush, along the lake and on the river side. The only drawback to be noted is the want of a flowing well which necessitates pumping for the winter supply of the whole stock, but this may be remediated by the introduction of a little machinery and a gin-horse.

The buildings so far, are of a very unpretentious character. The manager’s house has no drawing room or bay window, it is in fact only a good old log cabin, of the plainest Northwestern pattern, for the use of Mr. Brown, the working head of the concern, his wife and family, and the hired man or two who are in the winter, employed in attending to the cattle.

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A wide and cheaply constructed cattle barn, 400 feet long, accommodates the stock, the cows being tied up, while this year’s crop of calves, numbering over 80, runs loose in a portion of the building more or less carefully closed in, as the nature of the weather outside may require.

There is a small dairy, built of stone and floored with concrete, but dairying is not yet of any account here. The whole of the mothers are allowed to suckle their own calves, and this plan is likely to be followed till further developments warrant a change of program.

There is besides, a roomy yard enclosed with high and close board fencing, and partly shedded, in which the cows can be turned loose for air and water throughout the winter without incurring unnecessary exposure.

The first installment of stock was purchased last summer, by Mr. Laut, now of Glendurham Ranche, Selkirk and consisted of over 90 well graded Durham heifers over two years old, with a couple of well bred Durham bulls.

From these over 80 calves have this year been raised, and a more promising lot of animals it would be hard to find anywhere. Their breeding is evidence of the soundness of Mr. Laut’s judgement, in the selection of stock. It is a strong point in favour of the working management that, of the whole herd, but one cow has yet died, and not one calf has been lost by disease. A small additional purchase, made a few months back, has now brought up the total strength of the herd to 200, including three bulls. Two or three scrubby animals might be pointed to, but as a whole they are a most useful and promising lot of cattle, and with anything like their previous good fortune will come out next spring in first-rate condition.

In addition to the natural increase from the stock now on hand, it is proposed to import next spring from Ontario about 300 more heifers that will come in as mothers at three years old. After next year arrangements will be made for the sale at regular periods of the surplus stocks of bullocks and mothers, which after their fifth year will not add to their value by being further, kept. A most desirable addition to this fine herd would be the introduction at an early date of one or two well bred young polled Angus bulls, which experience at home has shown to make a splendid cross for beef cattle, and will we doubt not show equally well as draught oxen.

The next point to be noted is the necessary cost of working. A fancy man on such a place as this generally costs more than two useful ones. For some months in the summer Mr. Brown is the only man whose time is actually occupied about the cattle.

The hay is cut and stacked at a nominal sum of 80 cents per ton, but to be safe we have put it in a dollar. In winter two additional men are employed, mainly taken up in hauling in hay and feeding, while Mr. Brown attends to the chores. The total working expense runs at $1,000 to $1,200 per annum, and with double the present stock, if kept on the same method the additional expense would not be over $500 more. The expenses of the directorate and business management we have been assured have been kept down to

the lowest possible scale.

This brings us to the financial aspect, the last and most important point to be handled. When the whole has been set in good going order, and got settled down into a regular business shape, what are the probable financial returns? As we are not laying out bait for “suckers,” but are trying to submit a careful estimate to the keen criticism of the experienced farmers of the Northwest and elsewhere forth of Manitoba, we shape our figures accordingly, and assume that the natural increase in the value of a young cow will be say $10 and the value of her yearling calf, well nursed and hay fed through the winter, will be $16.

Allowing for the cost of a wagon or two of bran for the calf when weaning, and a stray handful at other times, the actual outlay for winter keep will be $2.50 each, we have an outlay of $12 per annum to put against a prospective income of $26. Taking a maximum stock of 480 cows we have a gross annual income of say $7,500 on an actual outlay of $50,000, or 15 per cent of possible

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profit. But the exceptionally good luck and successful handling of the stock up to the present time may not be maintained. Still, we are pretty safe to allow 19 per cent as a probable return, on the capital laid out on this Assiniboine farming enterprise, and the men who want more than that out of any ordinary business enterprise richly deserve to get into the hands of tricksters who pay 25 per cent out of capital, and treat credulous reporters and lay visitors to champagne luncheon, sandwiched with agricultural romance.

It is the opinion of practical men that, taking into consideration the whole facts of the case, stock raising and feeding in this province may, with economy and skillful management, be made quite as profitable as ranching in the far Northwest, and with this opinion, so far as our present information goes, we quite concur. Time and new developments may make a difference in the conditions, but meantime, with the right men in the right place, stock raising as a specialty may be relied upon as a practical success in Manitoba.

The Museum researchers searched the municipal history books for the area this operation was active in but found nothing on the company. There was no mention of this company in the Manitoba history books the researchers have had the opportunity to look through. As the company appeared to be interested in selling livestock as breeding stock, the researchers also looked through the ads which appeared in the Nor-West Farmer for an ad from this company. Again nothing was found. It appears the Assiniboine Valley Farming and Dairy Company was like many other companies active in Pioneer Manitoba, it only exists today through fragments such as the Among the Farmers report in the Nor-West Farmer.

The Manitoba Agricultural Museum is open year round. For further information visit mbagmuseum.ca. As Manitoba celebrates 150 years as a province, tell your story of Manitoba agriculture! The Manitoba Agricultural Museum needs you to contribute your farming story by showcasing yourself, one of your ancestors or someone you know and telling your/their story!

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A Creditable Record In the past weeks, the Manitoba Agricultural Museum (MAM) issued as interpretative press releases three essays written in 1887 on the subject of “How to Start a Quarter Section Farm: Hints to New Settlers”.

These essays were part of a competitive essay contest the NorWest Farmer magazine was running at the time. The second prize winner in this contest, Mr. William Fawkes, who seems to have been an inveterate letter writer as the MAM researchers found the letter “A Creditable Record” written by Mr. Fawkes and ran by the Nor-West Farmer in March of 1888.

In reading this letter which summarizes his experiences on his homestead, the researchers realized that he may have written a previous letter to the Nor-West Farmer. A search ensued and a letter was found which is simply attributed to an Englishman rather than Mr. Fawkes.

This Englishman took a half section near Oak Lake as a “military homestead’ in September of 1885. The date fits Mr. Fawkes taking up a homestead and we know Mr. Fawkes was on a 1/2 section homestead near Oak Lake which he received as a result of military service. So the MAM researchers think that Mr. Fawkes also wrote the letter, “A Pretty Live Settler” which appeared in the February, 1887

The “Pretty Live Settler” letter (February 1887):

Nor-West Farmer. After the researchers found the “Pretty Live Settler” letter, other letters written to the Nor-West Farmer by Mr. Fawkes were found.

MAM could find no more letters written by Mr. Fawkes however the digitized Nor-West Farmer papers, only consist of the years 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1892 and 1897.

The Museum is hoping to obtain digital copies of the other years the paper was printed.

The MAM researchers then searched for mention of the Fawkes family in the municipal history books for the area Mr. Fawkes homesteaded but only found one mention of a William Fawkes when he was named auditor for a one room school house, the Johnston School, in 1894. Other than this, nothing.

Likely today the Fawkes homestead is, at best, a row of neglected trees in a field. At worst, a location in a field where occasionally a piece of metal

or broken glass turns up during field operations. What became of Mr. Fawkes and his family is unknown. They are one family in a host of numerous families who homesteaded on the Prairies, made a life here and went on to other opportunities.

Mr. Fawkes probably gave no thought to his letters other than his written experiences may help new homesteaders get started on the right foot. Today, these letters are valuable as so few homesteaders wrote accounts at the time they were homesteading or at least accounts that are publicly available. Other than letter writing, Mr. Fawkes is unremarkable, just a hard working man determined to make a life for his family on a farm in Manitoba. However through his letters we can gain a glimpse of the realities of homesteading in the late 1880s in Manitoba and so Mr. Fawkes lives on through his words.

An 1886 Westbrook and Fairchild ad showing John Deere’s Prairie Queen breaker plow. Westbrook and Fairchild were wholesalers for a variety of machinery companies including John Deere. John Deere plows were known for their ability to “scour” in heavy soils such as found in the grass lands of the Prairies and Great Plains. In other words, sticky soil would simply slide off the share. Other plow manufacturers also developed steel and the technology to polish this steel so that their plows also scoured. Most other plow manufacturers also developed breaker plows similar to the Prairie Queen with heavy parts well sited to stand up to the hard work of breaking land. Generally with breaking plows, the mold board was quite elongated as compared to a plow used for cultivation of a cropped field. The elongated moldboard resulted in the sod being laid right over. A shorter moldboard was not always able to do this due to the root mass of virgin prairie. Mr Fawkes never mentions in his letter what make of plow he was using to break his homestead.

An Englishman writes us; I was pleased to see in a late issue of your paper “A Settler’s Testimony.” I think it about time the sober truth were told about the country; it is good enough to stand on its merits, being neither the El Dorado looked for by some nor the Arctic region imagined by others; but a good enough country for any willing worker, and healthy too, as I have proved by five years residence.

In September, 1881, I left England, not for her good but my own. I came to this country to make a home on my own land; and as many like myself are on the lookout for information, it may be of service to them if I state my experience.

I have a wife and four children, and having no trade I have worked at anything I could get, at whatever wages were going, taking care to buy for cash in the best market and also to spend a little less than I earned.

In September, ’85, I located half section near Oak Lake, as a “military homestead”, and in May last I took a small outfit, built a shanty, and started to plow on my own farm. In seven weeks I had 42 acres broken, besides helping a neighbour at a plowing bee, and doing the statute labour, losing one day on account of the heat (over 100o in the shade). In seven weeks more I had it back set, using an iron swing plow, the drouth rendering the breaker useless for that purpose.

I may here remark that very few people back set, as they waited for rain: but competent judges pronounced my work well done. I then harrowed it three times. I also plowed about 26 acres for a neighbour, with his four oxen and gang plow, in return for his putting up hay for me as per agreement, thus making a total plowing of about 110 acres between the Queen’s birthday and the first week in October. My neighbor is keeping my oxen and will draw logs for building at per foot. I am back in the city working for wages to keep us through the winter.

I intend fencing about 40 aces for pasture and breaking about 50 more, making 90 in all. This will be worked on the three course system, that is, two crops and a fallow, viz: first, wheat; second, barley and the coarser grains; third, fallow, roots and vegetables. What I cannot manure from the buildings I intend to green manure by harrowing in the seeds of some quick growing crop, on a shallow plowing, as early as possible after spring sowing is done, to be plowed under when in flower; thus a seedbed will always ready for the wheat before harvest, giving time for plowing the wheat stubble after harvest for the following crop of barley, etc. In this way the work can be done without hurry or confusion. And here let me say I claim no credit for anything new; it is simply a modification of the English plan - the best I know of at present, and when I see a better I will adopt it at once.

Messrs. Lawes & Gilbert, of Rothampstead fame, tell us that seven pounds of good grain or its equivalent will produce one pound of flesh. If it be so, it will pay the farmer here to sell his coarser grains to his stock at half a cent per pound, that is, so long as said stock fetch 3 1/2 cents per pound fat. I spend 22 years on the estates of the celebrated Shorthorn breeder, Col. Kingscote. The formula there was “nothing sold unless fat,” and only the best of wheat left the farm - barley being fed to the stock, unless it was extra good; in that case its money value was returned to the farm in the shape of other feeding stuffs.

Another point worthy of attention is the cost of plowing here and at home, The father of steam cultivation is Wm Smith, of Woolston, England, and the man that can cultivate by steam cheaper than he does not live on this planet; but the Manitoba farmer can beat the record with oxen every time; for I found on measurement that I had plowed 3 3/4 acres of stubble per day with four oxen and gang plow, equivalent to a cost of about 25 cents per acre for manual labor.

Experienced judges in England tell us that the cost of keeping a farm horse is from 26 Pounds to 28 Pounds 10 shillings - equivalent to $5 per week per team. My creed is, “feed well and work fair.” I gave my oxen 10 lbs per ace of chop feed when plowing, with grass ad libitum, and they gained flesh right along, and I did not need a whip. Here I close for the present.

Should you invite further remarks, I will be willing to comply.

Letter in the Nor-West Farmer correspondence section (September 1887): Wm. Fawkes, Oak Lake, writes: - I am one of the sufferers from the late hail storm. I believe my loss to be fully 10 bushels per acre. I started cutting August 17th, and I will be able to tell you more later on. In the meantime I keep at work as the best cure for the blues. I have broken 30 acres this year and back set about 12 acres up to date. There is a log house waiting for the roof, 16x22, a log stable 18x66, and roof poles laid down ready.

The excavation for this work took three days with plow and spade. A cellar partly dug in house. The getting of hay cost $25. This makes a total outlay in cash of $150, - 40 acres seed, $40; planting, $20; getting logs, $40; hewing, $20; poles cut by man, $5. I am here about seven and a half months, and for this time and cash I have to show over 70 acres broken, over 40 in crop broken last year, 30 acres broken this year, and 12 acres back set; house and stable waiting for roof, hay for winter use, a good farm and a satisfied homesteader. W.F.

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The “Creditable Record” letter (March 1888):

Mr. William Fawkes, the author of the second prize essay on Homesteading is not only a capital writer, as that paper shows, but a capable worker as well, and we are glad to publish the following summary of his experience as a prairie farmer, on his homestead, E1/2 16, 10, 24W: In September, 1885, I located this as a military homestead. On Queen’s birthday, 1886 I proved up by starting up, and in seven weeks I had over forty acres turned up, and in seven more it was turned down, i.e., back set. I found an iron swing plow a necessity on account of drouth. After harrowing three times, and ploughing about twentyfive acres for a neighbor, with his oxen and gang plow, in lieu of his putting up hay for my oxen in winter, I returned to the city early in October, where I had left my family for their schooling. I may here say that before leaving I arranged with a neighbor to haul building logs as per government permit, at per foot; also to plant my seed wheat, as I had an engagement in the city until May. This was done as agreed and on the 20th of April, 1887, I got a letter saying my wheat was planted.

In May I again took hold of my oxen and started breaking. In the last week in June I got the foundations ready for a house 16 by 22 and a stable 18 x 66 and a partially dug cellar. As I had no scraper I used the plow to loosen the soil, building a sod bank about five feet and throwing the loose soil back with a spade, this was on a grade of about 1 in 10. When finished the bank will be up to the eves on the north side. A fowl house at one end and a pig sty at the other. When the foundations were ready I got two neighbours, one afternoon, who were adepts in the art of building, to put the first rounds in each building.

A neighbour lad, who knew the course, ride round and invited the neighbors to the raising bee; enough responded to raise up both buildings in one day, on temperance principles.

About the last week in July I hired the cutting for hay, cocked it myself when about two-thirds dry, and hired help in stacking, this and the purchase of another small stack costing me $25. I was now at liberty to follow up back setting till harvest (I had broken about thirty-one acres). On the 20th of August, just four months after seeding, the binder started, hired of course, and I stooked up behind, as soon as fit. I got the man who cut it to bring his team and enough Indians to form a noble gang with my oxen and wagon, and we stacked in about three and one half days. After which I kept my plow going till called to exchange work with neighbours.

As I had back set about twenty-six acres, I hired the balance done, also twenty acres of stubble plowed, as I was under contract to come to the city on the 15th of October, by which date I had got it threshed, cleaned it with a fanning mill with Indian help, while a horse team drew it to the mill (it graded No. 1 at 51 cents), and I was on my way home with the proceeds in my pocket book.

The matter may be summed up thus: I have put about seventy-three acres under cultivation, got up hay for cattle, taken a crop off first year’s breaking, threshed and sold same, inside of ten months, using one yoke of oxen.

And now for the benefit of intending homesteaders, I give gratis, through you, a few items of experience that would have been worth a good many dollars to me if I could have got them in the same way five years ago. Your readers can draw their own inferences, I give the facts: 1st. I paid $11 per acre in rent and taxes on a farm in England; results: I took emigration fever, and came to Manitoba for a cure, and got it.

2nd. I find oxen the cheapest known motive power. I employed steam power on my holding at home and know the cost, to my cost. I can now take oxen on to the virgin prairie, make a good seed bed, by breaking and back setting (narrow) at about two-thirds the cost of preparing clover lea at home.

3rd. I find that more work can be really done the first year than usually is, say fifty to sixty acres got ready for a first crop, with one yoke of oxen. I got over forty acres ready after May 24th, and if I could have started, say the Middle of April,* I would have had sixty acres done, at the same rate of working. I consider this gives a marked advantage to the poor settler, as with a fair crop, the results of six months away from wage earning, is practical independence.

4th. I find that a start can be made here with less outlay than any other place I can hear of, and that oxen can work without grain, but it pays to treat them liberally. I gave mine 10 lbs. chop to the acre of plowing, and it kept them smart. I look upon oxen as the good friends of the settler and worthy of good treatment.

5th. I planted potatoes on an old firebreak without any previous preparation, and in six weeks I began eating the proceeds. I got butter from a neighbor at 12 1/2 cents, and eggs the same per dozen. Cows milk well, as long as grass is green, and hay is better when cut in the latter half of July.

6th. And at last but not least. I find the climate healthy; also that the changes of temperature can be best borne by a total abstainer, and as health is essential to success, here as elsewhere, dainties and stimulants had better have a wide berth. W.F.

Your Buying Guide The image “A Settler’s Home in Manitoba” appeared in an 1886 Nor-West Farmer showing how the settler progressed from a thatched A - frame hut the settler used as housing for the family the first summer on the homestead to a rudimentary log cabin with a thatched roof that was used for next

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several years and finally to a larger log cabin with a shake roof and two chimneys indicating a stove or fireplace at either end of the cabin for improved heating. It is interesting to note on the cabin with the thatched roof that the area around the chimney pipe is not

Still Rustling (November 1888): Our subscriber. Wm. Fawkes, in answer to a request for details of his experiences as a settler at Ridge Farm, Oak Lake, says: As you are aware I located on a military homestead in the fall of 1885. In May, 1886, I proved up by moving on to my land with a wagon and oxen, about 300 feet of lumber for shanty, costing about $8, five hundred-weight of chop feed for cattle, one sack of flour and some groceries, saw, hammer, nails, and a breaker.

Built shanty after about 3 o’clock, and on the morrow started work, broke 42 acres, back set same and harrowed three times. Plowed 25 acres for a neighbour with his oxen and gang plow in lieu of his putting up hay for my cattle for the winter. Early in October I gave them into his care; arranging with him to get logs at 2c per foot under permit and buy seed and plant my wheat in the spring, which was done on 20th April, 1887, in which the reaper started 20th August.

I had a good crop but it got hail struck and I only sold 500 bushels at 57 cents and returned to my family 15th October, leaving my things in

charge of a neighbour. I broke up 31 acres last year besides getting up hay and harvesting the crop.

In April of this year I returned took ahold of my oxen, hired help to get my seed in quickly, as the season was backward, harrowed thoroughly and rolled when grain was well up, to make smooth for reaping. Barley intended for feed 3 acres, oats for feed 6 acres, wheat about 52 acres, all of which is now reaped and nearly stacked with the help of one man, one week. About 4 acres was badly damaged by frost, useless, in being in a flat and very rank, balance is a fair crop and it was all about ready together, I had two binders “hired” to rush it through quickly. I have broken this year one acre for garden and about 18 or 19 acres besides, making about 92 or 93 acres in all.

I planted nearly one acre potatoes by 24th May, these were all stopped from maturing by the second frost, but as they were well on, we have enough and to spare of the first quality. Turnips are small but we are pulling smallest for pigs, best will be stored for family use.

thatched but rather wooden shakes, probably as an effort to reduce the fire hazard presented by a chimney in conjunction with a thatched roof.

A thatched roof would not only offer some protection from rain but would offer some insulation value as well.

However it would present a significant fire hazard as it would easily catch fire from stray sparks. Mr Fawkes did not build a thatched hut the first summer he was on his homestead rather he built a shanty from lumber. He then returned to Winnipeg the first winter to find employment and built a log cabin in the second summer. It is not known how many settlers used thatched huts but it does appear that log cabins were somewhat common and may account for the somewhat odd pattern of homesteading as in the early 1880s as homesteaders may have been attracted to areas with trees rather than areas of open prairies. More work needs to be done on this issue.

I have built a house 22x28, five rooms, i.e. kitchen, dining-room and three bed-rooms and moved my family in on 16th of August. Cost about $450. I now stand thus:-320 acres of good land, my own, over 90 acres under cultivation, a good house built, two harvests gathered, vegetables in plenty, plenty milk and butter at present from our own cows, one sow nearly fat, ten store pigs, as the result of a little under fourteen months spent on my homestead.

Financial summary - I left England with about $300 in the fall of 1881, and a family of four. A councilman recently estimated my belongings at a little over $3,000.

“Formula,” work, work, work, on temperance principles, with a hand and brain, one job at a time and that one well.

Hope was my guiding principal and this principal called out greater energy and determination. Success was my goal and I have reached it.

As to what I think of the country, I am about purchasing a quarter section of government land for pasture.

Hoping these few facts will incite some young fellow to “stick to it,” I remain yours. etc. W.F.

Letter in the Nor-West Farmer correspondence section (February 1889): Mr. Fawkes, Oak Lake writes: “I told you in my last that the frost had damaged my crop, to what extent, I was unable to say, but it now turns out that the shrinkage was more in weight than in bulk. I got about 1,200 lbs. of wheat - machine measure, about 170 of oats and 75 of barley. The Red Fyfe gave about 30 bushels per acre on back-setting. The White Fyfe a little more, I cannot state exactly as there were a few acres I did not cut (spoiled by frost).

20 acres of Red Fyfe sown on autumn plowed stubble, gave 20 bushels, - machine measure.

As I did not go to the city to work as usual this winter, I have stayed on the farm and have been busy fixing up generally. I told you previously that my stable and granary combined was 66x18. I have now added a pig-stye, 9x18 and fowl house, 7x18, a shed at the back, holding wagon, seeder, 2 plows and 1 set harrows.

We killed the sow I spoke of and cured her as we would at home, and sold one of her sides to the store at 12 cents per lb., and as the price of frosted wheat was so poor I am fattening up six more which I valued at certain price when put up and now charging the feed to their account, (viz. frozen wheat meal), this is an experiment and when complete I will send you results, at present it looks like being a success.

I have about 60 acres ready for seeding. Our new house is very comfortable. We have bread and seed, 4 cows and a new sleigh, as the result of this crop; total stock: 1 yoke oxen, 1 steer, 5 cows, 5 turkeys, 20 hens, 6 pigs fatting, 5 young sows and a hog running loose. There are nearly 30 acres stubble for summer fallow, 1 acre for garden and my patent will be due in June next. I may now add I had less than $1,000 when I took up this homestead. I had first to pay for bounty-warrant and Government charges on pre-emption, buy wagon, plow, harrows, lumber for shanty, provisions for summer and chop for oxen. Second year; seed for forty acres, planting, as I could not be present in person, crop, partly hail struck, cost total outlay in cash $160. Returns, $265 worth sold and retained, besides feed for sow and young for this last summer. Same year bought heifer and calf off a settler for $22; they are now worth $40 at least. The Northwest Land Company are holding adjoining land at $6, payable in bonds equal to about $4 cash. And as I have now been about 17 months on my homestead any reader can reckon for himself as to whether homesteading can or not be made a success in the Canadian Northwest.

For myself, as I look round on the plump faces of well fed children, a house warm and convenient, land capable of giving 30 bushels of No.1 hard, stock comfortable and profitable and I give thanks to a kind Providence and a generous Government.” W.F. (He has a volunteer’s half section.)

The Manitoba Agricultural Museum is open year round. For further information visit mbagmuseum.ca. As Manitoba celebrates 150 years as a province, tell your story of Manitoba agriculture! The Manitoba Agricultural Museum needs you to contribute your farming story by showcasing yourself, one of your ancestors or someone you know and telling your/their story! More information on this project can be found at mbagmuseum.ca/farmersofmanitoba.

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