Prince In Canada

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 203, 11 August 1927, Page 9

Prince In Canada

INTEREST IN RANCHING. A MODEL OF ITS KIND. Vancouver, July 15. Aside from the lavish preparations that are being made for the visit of the Prince of Wales to the Canadian Nationail Exhibition at Toronto on August 6th and 7th, accompanied by Premier Baldwin and Prince George, the Prince of Wales is looking forward happily to his visit shortly thereafter to his Canadian ranch in Alberta. Many improvements have been introduced since his last visit and the property is beginning to make some return to the Prince for the sums he has spent in developing it. It is expected that the Premier, Mr Balwin, will accompany the Prince to the ranch. The E.P. Banch, as it is known locally, is a small one as Canadian ranches go, extending over some 6000 acres, but it is high-grade land, and is situated in one of the richest graingrowing and stock-arising regions to be found in Western America. It has always been the Prince’s ambition to make this a model of its kind and an example to other farmers in the Dominion. Everything in connection with the ranch is conducted on business-like lines under the control of Professor W, L. Carlyle, one of the leading agricultural authorities in Canada. One of the Prince’s first steps was to place on the ranch a herd of purebred Shorthorn cattle selected from his farm at Stoke Climsland, on the fringe of Dartmoor.

To this herd has been added some of the best strains of Canadian cattle. Already the Prince is experiencing a considerable demand for his cattle, mainly for breeding purposes, and good prices for the cattle are being obtained. The Prince later turned his attention to the raising of useful horses. The King presented him with his thoroughbred, Will Somers, and though this horse proved a disappointment on the turf, his value at stud has been considerable. The Prince likewise established the first stud of sturdy Dartmoor ponies that Western Canada has known, and there is a brisk demand for these throughout Alberta. SELF-SUPPORTING PROPERTY. Next to attract the Prince’s attention were sheep, and ho bought some prize winning rams and ewes from the famous herd of the Duke of Westminster. These are principally of the Shropshire and Hampshire breeds and have been found to flourish so well on Canadian soil that many farmers have established similar flocks, mainly from the stock established by the Prince. The whole of his ranch, however, is not given up to stock-raising. A considerable area is under tillage, so that the property is practically selfsupporting, providing almost the whole of the fodder required for the horses, cattle and sheep. This area extends to about 200 acres, and oats and sunflower seeds are the principal crops harvested here. These provide the winter food, the ample grass lands offering all that is necessary during the summer months.

Since last His Royal Highness visited his ranch the house has been enlarged and improved. A new lounge hall and extra bedrooms have been added. This modest dwelling is modestly furnished, the place being almost Spartan. It contains a few comfortable lounge chairs, a wellfilled bookcase or two, and one or two water-colour pictures of beauty spots in the neighbourhood. Its sporting equipment, however, is of a very complete character, and His Royal Highness is able to enjoy good sport while in Alberta.

On his own property wild duck abound on one or two small lakes and a tributary of the High River that winds through the ranch and provides it with water. This stream abounds with mountain trout, some attaining considerable size, while not far away partridges and prairie chickens are to be found in flocks at certain seasons of the year. If the Prince has a taste for bigger game he has not to ride far before he comes upon the trail of herds of wild deer that range over the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.