The Decline of Land Settlement in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

] N some areas of western Canada, such as the newly-irrigated lands of southern Alberta and neighboring portions of Saskatchewan and the Peace River Country of Alberta and British Columbia, virgin lands are still being taken up and put to the plow. In the northern frontier zone of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, however, land settlement is at a virtual standstill and has been for several years. How should this situation be interpreted? Should it be considered merely as a lull in the long process of settling the arable lands of these two provinces or as an indication that agricultural settlement is nearing its ultimate limits? It is not easy to give ready, pat answers to these questions. The farm frontier in Manitoba and Saskatchewan has advanced at a highly variable rate both in time and space. There have been periods in the past during which land settlement has slowed to a halt, and a retreating frontier is not unknown. The agricultural fringe now lies well within the margins of the northern forest (Fig. 1) and presents problems for settlement not encountered in the earlier-occupied prairies and park belt to the south. Obviously, any conclusions to be reached must be based upon consideration of the two basic factors in frontier settlement: the availability of arable land and the demand for such land. THE LAND FACTOR

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