The grain growers of the Prairies have called 1952 a “year of wonders” They had nearly ideal harvesting conditions during April and May, when they safely threshed over 150 million bushels of wheat and about 135 million bushels of oats and barley that had lain out in their fields during the winter, because of very unfavourable fall harvesting conditions.  Spring conditions were so favourable, however, that much of this grain graded higher and was worth more per bushel than that which they had succeeded in harvesting the previous autumn.

For two successive years the harvesting and planting of cereal crops on many areas of the prairies were carried on simultaneously. Farm mechanization made this possible, and the exceptional weather conditions that prevailed allowed for the almost continuous operation of farm implements and mammoth combines. By the middle of May, the spring harvesting of crops was nearing completion in the southern areas of all three Prairie Provinces, and wheat seeding was also practically over in these areas by that time, and at the end of the month, seeding was generally completed in the West. 

During 1952, almost ideal weather conditions prevailed throughout the great cereal growing areas of the west, for the seeding, growing and harvesting of Canada’s record wheat crop, estimated at 688 million bushels, which exceeds the previous record. crop of 1928 by 121 million bushels. There were also record crops of both barley and soy beans, and above normal yields of most of their other crops, making 1952 one of the best growing seasons for farm crops in western Canada. 

The West has also had a favourable season for marketing their cereals. Before the close of navigation, they had exported wheat and its products (in terms of wheat) and coarse grains over 500 million bushels, which was about 100 million bushels more than the former record year of 1928-29. Supplies of wheat and feeds, however, in 1952-53, because of a carry-over of 213 million bushels, will amount to about 900 million bushels, a record that has only been surpassed in 1942-43. What are the marketing prospects for this enormous quantity of wheat and feeds? 

It was estimated that world trade in wheat last year reached over one billion bushels, an all time high. This year’s crops have been good in many of the non exporting areas, Western Europe in particular had crops much above average. India and Pakistan had yields, however, much below average. The four major exporting nations: Canada. Australia, United States and Argentina have about 600 million bushels more than they had last year, and most of this surplus will have to be marketed outside the International Wheat Agreement, as Canada’s commitment was within five million bushels of being Filled in the final year of the agreement. 

Two conditions have developed that are very favourable to marketing Canada’s wheat crop: First. the superior quality of the 1952 crop has resulted in a very active early world demand for our wheat;  second, a very severe drought in the United States winter wheat growing areas has greatly reduced their estimated yield. The Wheat Board confirms reports that future commitments to ship wheat to other countries exceed those of any previous year. Every effort has been made to move Canadian wheat to the seaboard as early as possible, to relieve storage in the West and to have it where it is available for immediate export. The wheat Board have been refusing business by way of Vancouver since early in October, as that port is “booked solid” until July 31st, 1953. Final shipping returns from the National Harbour Board elevator at Churchill set the 1952 ocean cargo total at 8,585,121 bushels. This is an all time record for this port, and exceeds, by approximately 1.3 millions the previous high set last year. It is transportation that is now limiting sales of Canadian wheat. 

Ontario, extending as it does, from a point farthest south in Canada to Hudson Bay, and from the Lake of Two Mountains on the Ottawa River to the Lake of the Woods, includes many climatic zones. Its growing season, however, was early in southern and eastern Ontario, and most of its  farm crops reached or exceeded average yields. Southwestern Ontario had a drought period in the early autumn, which reduced late crop yields, but in the north, there were many record yields per acre of potatoes. We do not have this year’s returns from Lambton County, but last year it produced a three and a half million dollar crop of husked corn, and eight million dollars worth of honey. 

Quebec had a backward spring seeding season, and grain crops showed a marked decrease in yield; the average yield of wheat was down two bushels and that of oats was down 1.4 bushels Iron the previous year. may production however, amounted to six million tons, an increase of 185,000 tons over 1051, and the potato crop gave a yield of 149 cwt. per acre 1 or a total of 22,750,000 bushels. These were the two outstanding Quebec crops in 1952.

Spring opened early in the Maritime provinces and there was some early seeding and planting which gave excellent returns. This was followed by a period of rainy weather that greatly delayed the general seeding of crops. There had been very little winter killing and clover and hay generally gave yields above average and of excellent quality. Early pasture conditions in Prince Edward Island were never better than average yields. Potatoes however, in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island gave record yields.

– Newsy Notes, December 20, 1952

Source: Islandnewspapers.ca

“Dull November is with us again. The gorgeous color of the woodlands has given away to bare limbs of leafless trees. We feel that we shall not enjoy summer sights nor sounds for many a long month to come, and can now settle ourselves down to the indoor tasks we had in mind. But November has a charm of its own. Its brown meadows and sombre woods invite us for a brisk walk in the bracing air. Nature is past her heyday, so that such a walk is greatly enhanced by having some other purpose.

One november day as I was enjoying a walk it occurred to me to note the flowers which were still in bloom at this late date, And by the time I had returned home I was really surprised at the number of these late stragglers.

As I crossed some fields there were little patches of golden rods. Of course many of the plants had gone to seed. But here and there, amid the downy seedheads, I saw the touch of a yellow flower And also, among the asters I found brown tufts of down everywhere yet the dull patches were brightened in places — perhaps more sheltered than elsewhere— with the rich purple of new England aster, the blue of the heart-leaved aster or the plain white of the little many-flowered aster. Many times I saw the yarrow with its flat top of white flowers still blooming, and I could not resist pausing to sniff its pungent odor which always reminds me, not of November, but of hot July days.

Of course I found plenty of dandelions. It would take more than the casual frosts of early autum to kill off these hardy stragglers. Amid the wilted grass I spied many a little golden head bravely blooming. Another spot of yellow was the odd solitary buttercup, aloft on its tall stem. Clovers, too, were in evidence. Occasionally a head of purple clover showed near the ground; and even the rose-tinted Alsike was to be seen. Often the tall sweet white clover held a spray of its tiny florets still in bloom.

For some distance my walk led me along the country road, where I found the common mayweed. This little daisy-like flower is abundant by roadsides throughout the summer. Sp that it is not surprising that in spite of such early frosts as there had been, many of its flowers were still in bloom. And here again I was tempted to smell the flower. Sure enough! It still retained the rank scent which has given it the name of “stinking mayweed”. The chicory was here too. Though somewhat lacking in its summer vigor, its flowers still gleamed in their lovely blue if anything enhanced by the drab surroundings. 

Nor were these all Most folk know the plants mentioned, for their flowers are conspicuous I found humbler flowers also. Ragweed, sheep sorrel, and pigweed were still in bloom. One would never gather sprays of any of these to deck a vase at home. They are dismissed as weeds by all but the botanist. Yet if trouble be taken to examine these lowly plants, their flowers will be found, which, though microscopic, are as perfect and as beautiful as the rose or the daisy.

It would be too much to say that all the flowers I found on this November day were at their best. Some looked as though they were struggling against odds which would soon overcome them. Others were putting on a bold front and looked almost as vigorous as in summer. But stragglers though they were and sadly out of season, their unexpected appearance greatly added to the interest of a November ramble.”

                                                      – Newsy Nature Notes, November 15, 1941

Source: islandnewspapers.ca

A dried fungus reached me in rather round-about fashion, from “somebody in the Market building.” From its appearance I judged it was an uncommon species, so I sent it to the Dominion Botanist for naming. By return mail I got this reply: “The specimen you sent for identification, is, as you suggested, one of the phalloids, Mutinus Ravenelli (B.& C.) E. Fisher. There is no common name as far as I know except “Stinkhorn,” which is generally applied to the group as a whole and not to any particular species. Yours truly, J. Walton Groves, Plant Pathologist.”

I have entered this find in my records. As the phalloid fungi require extremely good soil and special circumstances for growing, they are naturally scarce. The only other specimen I have in my records I found at Mount Herbert on July 7th, 1922: It was Mutinus elegans, and was growing near a hen-house where the soil was “rich.”

Some of the group resemble a horn shape, and as the tip is covered with an extremely evil-smelling gluey substance, the country folk in Britain named the group “Stinkhorns.” The smell attracts flies which afterward carry the spores (roughly, seeds) of the fungus locations. 

                                                              – Newsy Notes, October 29, 1948

Source: islandnewspaper.ca

I have received a short letter from Summerside, worded as follows: “Dear Sir, ─ I am enclosing a leaf in the hope you may identify it. The plant was not in bloom when I saw it. It seemed to be a climber of some sort with bean-like leaves. The seed was found in a packet of tea, and the lady who found it said it looked just like a bean. If you could reply through your Newsy Notes I should be Obliged. Yours truly —”

This is quite a task, for leaves from different plants may be sufficiently alike to puzzle an expert ─ which the writer does not profess to be. Moreover as the seed was found among tea, it is reasonable to suppose the plant is tropical and therefore more difficult to identify without special books! One longs for Sherlock Holme’s double-peaked cap!

Ah, I’ve got it! I recall half a century ago I grew in my glass house, a climber called the Hyacinth-bean ─ a native of india. Its botanical name was Dolichos Lablab, an odd name, and easy for me to remember. Turning to Seymour’s “New Garden Encyclopedia” I gather that the plant has trifoliate (3-leaflets) leaves, climbs to about 10 feet high, adn bears stiff spikes of reddish-purple flowers. There is a form with white flowers). These are followed by attractive seed pods, so that this climber is grown as an ornamental in the U.S. Possibly our season is too short for it to bloom; I should be glad to hear how the plant succeeds. In the tropics the beans are grown for food. not for ornament. 

                                                  – Newsy Notes by Agricola, August 31st, 1946

Source: Islandnewspapers.ca