1937 - Convention Report

              58 ALBERTA WOMEN'S INSTITUTES
I am sure many of you have heard the " Farm Forum" broadcasts from the
University of Edmonton, and many have derived much information from them.
They contain a wealth of wisdom to help the farmer solve the many problems
which confront him today.
While many sections were dried out, and crops a failure, this was not so
of most sections. Some farmers of Alberta were agreeably surprised last season
to find an unexpected demand for malting barley coming from the United States.
New varieties of seeds, both in flowers and vegetables, are always interest­ing.
This year much attention has been given the new Collarette Marigold, on
the market for the first time. This marigold is double, and the foliage and
flower odorless instead of having the usual unpleasant odor which has lessened
the attraction of this flower. I was fortunate enough to run across some of the
new short turnip- shaped parsnips last winter, and as some of you already know
of this variety, I wish only to say that it is a very satisfactory kind, of good
flavor, and much easier to handle than the ordinary variety.
At Taber, 400 acres of broom corn were grown and a good harvest resulted.
One farmer sold his crop of fifty acres for $ 4,000.00, and was relieved of any
harvest or threshing expense. Just recently mention was made in newspapers
of the success of two farmers who raised a crop of mustard in the Warner area,
and shipped fifteen tons to Ontario. It had been said that most of the mustard
raised in the U. S. A. was grown in Montana, and these men believed that it could
be grown in Alberta as well. They had a fine crop, the first, I believe, to be
grown in the province.
In the early days in Alberta it was impossible to buy any plants, and every­one
had to start their own from seeds. February is not too early to sow celery
seed in boxes. These can later be transferred to the hot bed or cold frames.
Onion seed, too, can be started very early and transplanted several times. New-
York head lettuce is ready to use earlier if started indoors and transplanted.
The planting of a few early seeds lengthens the season at the beginning as well
as successive sowings lengthens it later.
In our Province there are still many bare, unprotected farms, many of which
were once sheltered by native trees or bushes which were all cleared awav. Many
a farmer now regrets his too liberal use of grub hoe and axe when trying to get
a good shelter belt or hedge started during the last few dry years. Too, many
forget to use the common native bushes, even with others if desired, in their
planting. In the city I have noticed native choke cherries, pin cherries, saska­toons,
dogwood and other wild shrubs and trees used with very lovely effect.
I think the T. Eaton Company should be recognized for the encouragement
they give every year in the class for boys' and girls' calf- raising competitions.
They always buy the prize winners, and pay the winning owners very handsome
prices.
I am sure, from press reports of meetings, that many more Branches have
held Agricultural meetings than were reported to me. The Directors were very
good in sending reports from Conferences, but I think I should have asked
personally each Constituency Convener for any reports. Some reports covered
the two committees by one Convener, who handled both Agricultural and
Canadian Industries topics.