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I WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THK CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. -f hr. ^■'' J^ I^LA.I1T STj^TEZMIEIsTT OF THE I EXPERIENCES OF FARMERS few. rj RESIDENT IN THE COUNTRY. 1886. I if co:N^TE:]srTS. Breaking and Backsetting ... Capital Required Cattle Raising willXiatc ••• «•• ••• ••• «•• Cost of Preparing Land Dates of Ploughing, Seeding and Harvest... Farm Houses X. CXlClllC ••* €•• ••• «■• •!• First Season's Crop ... Growth of Flax Hints to New Comers How do you spend your Winters? Mixed Farming Postal Addresses of Settlers Prices of Provisions... Sheep Raising Soil, Water and Fuel Sport in the North-West ... Success of Settlers ... Summer Frosts and Storms Use of Manure rAGE 6 26 12 33 34 38 37 31 37 II 39 36 28 18 45 42 16 37 "WH-A.T SETTLEK/S S-A-IT OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. v/N<^^«^«#»#«^«#«#*4 This pamphlet consists of the experiences of men settlers in all parts of the Canadian North- West on various points. The replies to the various questions were given in the months of October and November, 1885, and are, therefore, in every possible way representative of the country as it is to-day. Care has been taken to make no selection of the replies, except where substantially the same reply is given by many, in which case the number is stated so far as possible. The language of the writer is givsn as written, in proof of which the originals maybe consulted at anytime on application to Alexander Begg, Canadian Pacific Railway Offices, 88, Cannon Street, London, E.C. A general description of the country, which the present pamphlet supplements, may be found in the illustrated pamphlet, " Manitoba," to be had free on application as above. A sequel to the present issue has also been published under the title, " What Women Say of the Canadian North-West." This, too, may be had free on demand. FULL POSTAL ADDRESSES OF SETTLERS Whose experiences are referred to throughout the Pamphlet. Name. Postal Address. Name. Postal Address. Allen, W West Hall P.O., Turtle Barclay, J, Waneche P.O., Man. Mountain, Man. Barker, T.M. Rayfield P.O., Turtle Mtn. Allison. G Elkhorn, Man. Bartley, N Wattsview P.O., Man. Andy, J. C Russell, Shell River P.O. Beattie, A Austin P.O.,. Man. Armstrong, W. J. Wheatland P.O. Bedford,] Calf Mountain P.O., Man. Astley, W. J., and Bell, P. C Sidney. Lanyon, R. E. Pense, N.W.T. Bell, J. C Craigilea, Man. Averill, Clan William, Minnedosa Bennett, W. H. Whitewater, Man. Bill, Ingram E. Stock Pert Farm, Row- Bailey, D Nelson P 0., Man. land P.O., Man. Ball, C Killarney P.O. Bleaklev, F. W. Alcestcr, Man. Bannister, D. W. Oak Lake, Man. Blythe, R Blythewood, nearWapella. WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF IIIK CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. Name. { I • I f I Bom pas, A. B. Bond, W. W Bowes, J. Brondgeest, J. A. Brown, C. H.... Brown, J. H. ... Brown, R. Burnett, K. ... Butcher, A. G... Caffcry, David Cameron, H. ... Campion, RE. Carduff, j. P.... Carmichael, W. Carr, S. T. Carr, W. Carter, T. Christopherson, H. Christopherson, S. Cleveland, J. H. Clifford, Hon. W. Coleman, G. ... Coubrough, A. S. Connell, R. ... Cooper, F. D. Copeland, W.... Cosgrave, W. Cowan, J. Cramer, G. Cramer, G. W. Crowell, W. N. Currey, P. Carrie, G. C. ... Dalzell, T. ... Danagh, J. Daubney, W. H. Darough, C. ... Dawson, A. ... Day, S. Docking, A. E. Dow, J. M. ... Drummond-Hay, C. Drury, J. Duncan, J. Dutton, J. R. ... Ellis,]. Ellison, M. Empey, M. N. English, J. A.... Fanning, / . R. Postal Address. Ridgeway Farm, Wolseley Fox'on, Man. Virden (Sec 25, Tp. q R. 27 West) Turtle Mountain, Man. Manitou, Man. Balgonie, A.ssa., N.W.T. Qu'Appelle Station P.O. Millford, Man. Rus.sell, Shell River, Man Elton Balgonie, Assa. Belleview. Carnduff, Assa. Minnedosa P.O., Man. Campbell ville, Man. Moline, Man. Woodlands P.O., Man. Grund P.O., Man Grund P.O.. Man. Hazelwold. Austin, Man. Newhaven P.O., Man. Stonewall, Man. Osprey, Man. Rosegarland Farm,Souris Richmond P.O., Man. Sumner, N.W.T. Souris P.O. 0;enaw. Otenaw, P.O. Napinka P.O., Mar. Whitewood. Fairburn, Man. High Bluff, Man. Bradwardine. Brandon, Man. Ninette P.O., Man. Headingly, Man. Fleming, N.W.T. Grange P.O., Man. Toddburn P.O., Man. Craigilea P.O., Man. Rapid City P.O., Man. Austin P.O., Man. Virden. Crewe, Man. Miami P.O., Man. Hernefield P.O , Man. Grange P.O, Newdale P.O., Man. Name. Fergus,] iMiich. W Fleming, J Gardiner, J. ... Gilmour, T. ... Goodwin, W. Graham, R, ... Grant, W. ] Gray, ]. L Greenbai.k, ]. Hall, D Hamilton, Thom.is ... Hanson, J. D. Harward, F. T. I Hedley, Wm Helliwell, W. ]. Hicks, C. G. ... Hipkins, Alfred Holland, A. C. Huddlestone, Thomas Hunt, Edward Hunter, James M. ... ]amieson, James M. Jefferson, James Johnson, Christian ... Johnson, Josiah Johnston, Geo. P. Jones, Thomas Kent, S. J Kindred, Alexander ... Kines, William Kirchhoffer, Richard B. Kirk, Samuel... Kyle, John Lacey, John M. Langill, John P. Lawrence, Geo. Leece, Isaac (J. P.) ... Little, Nathan Lloyd, Alfred Logan, Isaac B. Long, Wm. ... Lothian, Wm. Mackenzie, Alex. Mackie, ^ilton Makey, Donald Malcolm, Jas.... I Postal Addro)). Yorkton Assa C irma 1 P. J., Man. C.e.Vv. P.O., M .1. Grange P.O., Man. Thornhill P.O., Man. Moose Jaw, N.W.T. Briarwood P.O., Mnn. Fairburn, Man. Brandon P.O., Man. Wawota P.O. Austin P.O. Carlingville, Man. Turtle Mntn. (1,3,22 West) Grange P.O., Man. Oak River, Man. Ralphton, Man. Whitewater, Man. Meiiota. Holland P.O., Man. Oakland P.O , Man. Minnedosa P.O., Sec. 20, T. 13, R. 17, W., Man. Beresford, Man. Blake, Co. Westbourne. Balmoral P O., Man. Grund P.O., Tp. 14 W. Heaslip P.O., Riverside, Moosomin P.O. Wapella, N.W.T. Ralphton, Man. Moffatville Farm, Wolse- ley P.O., N.W.T. Osprey. Souris, Plum Creek, Man. Logoch P.O., Man. Douglas. Deloraine. Clear Springs P.O., Man. Glenora P.O., Man. Glendinning P.O., Man. Littleton, Man. Maple Creek, N W.T. Whitewater, Man. Alcester P.O., Man. Pipestone P.O. Shellmouth,T. 25, R.3i,W Ninette P O., Man. Ralphton P.O., Man. Oak Lake. Man. WIFAT SKTTI.riiS SAY OK TIIF, CANADIAN NOR rir-WI'.sr. Name. Pobtal Addrcs"!. in. West) 3C. 20, , Mar.. jrne. n. . W. erside, yVolse- :, Man. , Man. Man. .T. 1. •3i,W n. Mann, John ... Mansoii, Wm. Mamie, Rev. J. A. ... M.irtin, Cha.s.... Martin, Orson Mawby, Geo. T. McArtliur, D. J. McBean, Peter McClelland, Wm. ... McConncll, D. McCreath.W.andJ.... McCutcheon Josh. ... McDougald, D. McFarland, J. McFie, G McGhee, Jas. ... McGhie, Lewis McGill, Geo Mcintosh, Alcv. Mclntyre, J. R. McKay, R McKelvcy, Wm. McKelvy, John McKennit, J(ihii M( Kenzie, J-is. McKenzie, Kennetli (Senr.) McKibbin, John P. ... McKinnon, Duncxn ... McKinnon, Jas. McKinnon, John McKinnon, John McKnight,Rich.(J.P.) McLaciilan, D. F. ... McNabb, Hu^h McPherson, Arch. ... McTaggart, E. McWilliams, Thos. E. Middleton, Frank Millar, Wm Miller, Francis B Miller, Jas Miller, Thos. F. Miller, Wm Moir, John A. Molland, Jas Monteith, Geo. D. ... Moore, Joseph Moore, Robt.... Morton, Alfred Morton, Thos. L. Mudd, R Summerberry, Ri ssburn P.O., Man. Marrinj,'hiirst, M.'in . Craigilea P.O., M.m. Ninga P.O. (Grange P.O., M.m. Carlingville. Man. Emerson, Man. West Lynne, Man. Golden Stream, Man. Morris P.O. Whitewater P.O. (Soutli half Sec. 14, T. 4, R. 21 1 Meadi)w Lea P.O., Man. Ft. McLeod, Alberta, NW'I Wakopa. Blake P.O., Man. Arden Station. Carrolton P.O., Bunclodv School District, Man. Petrel P.O., Man. Clear Springs, Man. Crystal City. Man. Gladstone, Man. Wellington, ^Lan. Pendennis P.O , Man. Beaver Creek. Burnside P O., (Sec. 2, T. 12, R 8. West.) Cartwright, Man, Whitewood, Assa.N.W.T. Oberon, Man. Pipestone P.O., ^L'^n. Penrith P.O. (Posimasler; Carman P.O , Man. Wellington, Man. Carducis. Lansburn P.O., Man. Lothair P.O., Man. Pasqua Assa . N.W T. Viola Dale, Man. Wassewa P.O. (T. 2, R. 20, W.) Toddburn, Birtlc, Man. Miami (Sec. 12, i.i, 'jv) Prince Albert, N.W.f. Trince Albert, NW.T. Souris P O., Man. G endalc P.O., Man. Smiths Hill Beresford, Man. Moose Jaw, Assa. Birtle, Man. Gladstone, Man Wavy Bank, Stonewall. Name. Murdoch, Jas. N'csbit, Geo. .. Nicholson, John Nield, Geo. A. Oatway, Richard Oak, Samnel ... Oliver, Thomas O'Neil, P Page, E. Spencer Parsons, James Patterson, Abruhaiu . Patterson, R. M. Patton, Robert Pearson, S. A. Phillips, Samuel Plaxton, William Pollard, Harold Pollard, P. ... Pringle, David Proctor, Henry Rae, James ... Ralston, John Ramsey, L. G. Reid.J. F Renton, John Roiierts, L. L. Robertson, Peier Robinson, Jos. E. Robinson, William . Robinson, William . Robson, J. S. Rothwell, William . Rowan, Gilbert Salter, Richard Savory, Herbert W. . Scott, Adam ... Seebach, Otto (J. P.) Semple, Thomas Shields, Wm Simpson, Wm. S. Sistons, Thomas Smeilie, C. L. Smith, A. Smith, Thos Smith, William Smith, William Smith, William Postal Address. Preston P.O., M.m. Wheatland P.O., N.W. Otiarfer of Sec. 1:, T. 1.3, R. 22. Turtle Mountain, Man, Seeburn, Man. Green Ridge. Fairburn. Burnside P O., Man. Menteith P.O. Moose Mntn. P.O., As.;.!, . Carnduff, Assa. Alexandria P.O., M.ui. Slide Out. Newhaven P.O., Man. Michic P.O. Rapid City P.O. Prince Albert, N.W.T. Alameda P.O., Assa. Alameda P.O., Assa. Alcester P.O., Man. Woodlands, Man. Nimitaw. Rapid City. Stv.^rtbnrn. Yoikton. Deloraine. Russell, Man. Wellwood, Man. Stuartburn. Fairburn P.O. .Turtle Ml, fn Woodlands, Man. ArchibaldP.O.,Thorn(li:e.. Hillview, Man. Parkisimo, Man. Salterville. Kipp, Macleod, Alberta. Plum Creek, Souris P.O. Seeburn, Man. Silver Heights Farm, St. James P.O., Man. Newhaven P.O., Man. Beulah P.O. Portage la Prairie, Mar.. Binscarth Carducis, Man. Medicine Hat, N.W.T. Beaver Creek, Man. Wassewa P.O., Man. Wheatland, Man. WHAT SF.TTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTII-NVEST. Name. Siidcrberg, Chas. South, T. N Spencer, W. E. Stark, Wm Stephens, John Steven, James Steven, John ... Stevenson, F. W. Stewart, Alex. Stiles, John Stiatford, Jno. Wm.... Stuart, John Sturt, John Sutherland, Jas. Suton, P. D. ... Taylor, Z Tetlock, Wm. Thompson, Wm. Thomson, E. A. Traquair. Robt. Postal Address. Selkirk. Thornhill, M.in. Lennox, Man, Mellendean.RoseberryP.O Glendinning. Lagoch P.O., Man. Bannockburn, West Hall P.O., Man. Hillview. Dunalister Farm, Castle- avery, Man. Viola Dale, Man. Carberry, Man. Stuartburn, Man. Adelpha P.O. .Turtle Mntn Eden P.O. Lennox, Man. Lothair P.O., Man. Grenfell, N.W.T. Miami P.O. Shoal Lake, Man. Beaver Rapids. Name. Tulloch, John G. Turner, Jas. E. Turton, John Umphrey, Samuel ... Vandervoots, J. M. ... Walker, Geo. E. Ward, James A. Weightman, W. T. ... Wenman, Wm. West, Edward (J. P.) Williams, Jas. R. Wilson, Jason Winter, Eliel Winter, Thos. G. ... Workman,Alfred(J.P.) WrIght.Thos. & Son... Young, Joseph Postal Address. Swan Lake, Man. Killarney, Stonewall P.O. Rose Mont, Moose Mntn. Miami P.O., Man. Alexandria, Man. Farlands, Binscarth, Man, Glenboro P.O., Man. West Hall P.O., Man. Souris. Heaslip P.O., Man. Binscarth P.O., Man. Rocanville, Assa. Orange Ridge, Man, Edgeley Farm P.O., Qu'Appelle. Crewe P.O., Fort Ellice. Qu'Appelle, N.W.T. . .. >., Pense, N.W.T. CAPITAL REQUIRED. In dealing with this subject it cannot be too often or too strongly pointed out that the money found ample to start one settler may be quite insufficient to start another. It is practically impossible to name any distinct sum and declare to all comers " With that amount at your back you may e.xpect to succeed." So much depends upon the habiis of life, powers of the new settler to make good use of what he has and so on. With this understanding it may, however, be said that with ordinary care and an average knowledge of the ways of farming, a settler may be able to take up a Government free grant and commence land operations on from ;;Ci50 to ;^300. The more his capital e.\ceeds these sums the better his chance of a speedy competency. It will be seen that many who are now owners of successful North-West farms commenced with even less than ;^ioo. This is, of course, still possible in some exceptional cases, but it is not generally desirable that any one with so small a capital should at once take up land on Jiis own account. His proper course under such circumstances is, first of all, to engage himself to assist a good farmer Ihat he may learn the ways of the country, have time to look round for a desirable location, and add to his capital, so as to allow of his commencing a farm of his own in a year or two with fair chance of success. The experiences of settlers on this point are as follows. Their present postal addresses in the North -West may be found on pages 3 — 6. The addresses given on pages 7 — 10 show their nationality and their residence prior to settlement on the prairie. WHAT StTTLKUS SAY OF TIIF. CANADIAN NORTH-WKST. Name. Proctor, Henry Bell, JohnX'. McKlbbin, John V. Morton, Tliomas I Carduff, J. P. Hipkins, Alfred D.inogh, Joseph ... Harward, Frederick Moore, Robert Turton, John Smith, Thomas Scott, Adam McDougald, Duncan Smith, A Makey, Donald Shields, William .. Dalzell, Thomas ... Cosgrave, Wm. ^IcKenzie, James .. Christopberson, Her- nit Logan, Isaac B. .. Miller, Wm. McKinhon, John ... Bond, Wm. W. ... thristophcrson, Sig- urdur McCutcheon, Joseph Brown, Robert Stephens, John Salter, Richard Bleakley, F. W. ... Duncan, John Johnson, Josiah Formiir Residence in Old Country. WIl.Ml settled. Capital at commtHLTment, in £. Value of I-'.irru Oct., 1885. linKlimd, J^laidburn, Yorkshire Nova .Scotia, West New Annan Ireland, Caledon, co. Tyrone England, Plymouth ... Ireland, Kerry duff, co. Down l"'nKland, Blooiufield, Tipton, South Staf- fordshire Ireland, Strahane India, Educated in I-'n^land, Wellington College, Berks Ontario, Lindsay P.O. England, HolI)eck,near Leeds, Vorks ICngland. Hartlebury, \Vorcestersliire Scotland, Hawick Scotland, Bomore P.O. , Islay, Argyllshire Scotland, Aberdeen ... Scotland, Toftingall, Watton, Caithness Ontario, Kinburn P.O. Ireland, co. Armagh ... Ireland, Belfast Scotland, Ullapool, Kg s- hire Iceland, Reykjalilic, Thingeyjarsysla NovaScotia, Stewiacke, Colchester co. Scotland, Earlston, Ber- wickshire Ontario, Chepstow P.O. Bruce co. i.ngland, Bideford, North Devon Iceland, Reykjahlie P.O., v^'a My vain Ontario, Markdale P.O. England, Sunnyside Terrace, Carlisle England, Wainfleet, Boston England, Exmouth, Devon UnitedStates,Michigan Ontario, Lambton co. England, Hull , June, 1883 I Nothing ... Jime, 1879 May, 1879 |unp. 1873 1879 July, 188a March, 1881 April, i88r 1874 May, 1883 April, X883 1874 1878 March, 188 1 Mav, 1879 1872 1883 1877 1S84 June, 188a 1873 May, 1882 1874 1881 May, 1883 June, i88a April, 1881 1848 March, 1882 1877 i88i Nothing ... .None at all None Nothing ... With. present improveiiieiit-i ! 4,000/. j 500/. I Siooo'* . ... ...' 340^- i 800/. to 1, 000/. i No capital. Was an Assistant Cheap at 640/. I in Dry Goods Stores Nothing I Nine sliillings and fourpencc ... Tv/elve slnllings and si.\pencc. One span of liorses and waggon None. H.ave worked .ind earned it since I came to this country. Only a small c.ipital Very limited Very little... 'I'wo teams of Iiorses, four cows two sheep, waggon, harness, and some money None Span of horses and household: effects i Very small Commenced with a good deal inj Ontario, but lost it there ; had veryjittle to start on intheNW i/. isr 4/. entry money for homestead and pre-emption Came to Winnipeg with 4/. and span of horses and wagon s/. About 5/. or 6/. 10/. was all I had when I came ] 19/. { 20/, I 20/. i I 20/. I 20/., about 20/., about 20/. 340/. 300/. 500/. 240/. 300/. 700/. 800/. aoo/. 640/. 400/. 1,000/. I would not take less than 512/. I think it worth about 800/. 160/. 600/. 2,400/. 400/. Wouldn't like to take less than 400/. 1,000/. Will be double that value when the railroad is built. 1,000/. 600/. r Oil 600/. to t,'">i"'0/. Eo !' iknow, but considerable. 600/. 1,000/. ; would not take less. 160/. I i WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. t Name. P'ormer Residence in | When Old Country. sclllcd. McArthur, D.J. ...I Ontario, Bruce co. McClelland. W. ... MiUer. Thos. F. ... Rothwell, W. Connell, Robert Hay, Charles D. ... Patterson, Abraham Goodwin, Wm. Molland, James Carr, Wm Phillips, Samuel ... Lothian, Wm. Sample, Thos. Martin, Orson Vilest, Edward (J. P.) Bailey, Duncan Ellis. John McGhee, James McLachlan, D. F.... Finch, Wm. Moir, John A. Steven, James Gardiner, James ... Miller, James Tragiiair, Robert .. Robinson, William Oliver, Thomas Winter, Thos. G. .. Carter, Thos. Astley, W. J. and ") Lanyon, R. E. ... ) Ireland, Derrysonnelly, Fermanagh co. , United States (Western States) j I Ireland, Goldengrove, Roscrea Ontario, Poole P.O., Perth CO. | England, Lymington,! Hants Ontario, Centralia P. O. , England, Bu.xton,! Derbyshire I Ontario, St. Ives, Mid-j dlese. CO. | England, Hensall, Nr Sell^y, Yorks. England, St. Austell, Cornwa". Scotland, Coldingham, Berwickshire Scotland, Lisinahagow, Lanarkshire Ontario.. England, Hull ...; Ontario, Guelph P.O. | Nova Scotia, Upper; Stewiacke, Colchester Scotland, New Deer...' Ontario, White Lakf| P.O., I^anark co. ... England, Ross, Here- fordshire Scotland, Crofthcad, Tirbolton, Ayrshire Scotland, East Hill, Lanark Scotland, Woodhead, Edingight Grange, via Keith Scotland, Highlands... Scotland, 26, Bride St., Edinburgh Ontario, Goderich Town, CO. of Huron Scotland, Roxb'rghshire England, Oaklands, Beaumont Park.j Huddersfield I England ! ! England j 1882 1871 1876 June, 1882 July, 1881 1882 Sept , 1877 1883 May, 1879 August, 1885 June, 1879 July, 18 So 1882 Capital at commencement, in £. 30/., about 30/. about 30/. 40/., and annuity 40/. and a span of horses 40/. I 50/. and one span of horses I 50/., about 60/. 60/., about 60/. 60/., about 60/., undtr April, 18S1 I 60/. and pair of mules July, 1881 1875 1881 18S2 1880 June, 1878 June, 1877 1882 1878 Spring, 1884 June, 1882 April, 1882 June, 1877 May, 1882 May, 1879 June, 1882 I 60/. ! 80/. i 1 80/. i 80/. i 80/. 90/. 100/. 100/. 100/. 100/. looZ. i I 100^. 100/. 100/. 100/. Value of Ffu.n, Oct., 1885. .' Ought to fetch j 400/. Land willgoupwhen I we get N.W. ' Central R. R. 1,200/., about. . 1,600/. was I offered me two j years ago. I s88/. . 400/., estimated at. 160/. I, coo/. • 3C0/. Not less if I '- wished to sell. ! 800/. 200/. 320/. 350/. Refused 240/. fifteen months ago, when no pros- pect of r'ilw'y. 600/., Not less and think it worth more. 200/. 1,200/. 500/. about. 200/. 500/. 400/. 800/. 300/. 400/. 300/. 500/. Say 400/. 1,000/. ... Stock implements, &c., T,ooo/. ...1 600/. WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. Name. Former Residence in Old Countrv. Roberts, L. L Bill, Ingram England, 190, Carlton koad, Sliemekl Nova Scotia, llentville Bannister, D. W. Ralston, joiin Fleming, James Patton, Robert Dawson, N.... Malcolm, James Dutton, John R. Englond, Evesham, Worcestershire Quebec, Wakefield, Ottawa CO. Ontario, Herkeley P. O. , Grey co. Seebach, Otto, (J.P.) Ontario, Sebringville, ' CO. Perth Ireland U.S..^., Fort Union ... Scotland, Drumquharn Farm, Killeam, Stir- lingshire England, Dairy Farm, Saighton, near Ches ter Clevf land, James H. Ellison, Michael .. Moore, Joseph Robinson, William... Allen, Wra Scotland England, Allendale, Northumberland Ireland, Desertserges, CO. Cork Ireland, Middletown CO. Armagh England, Halifax-, Yorkshire Jamieson, James M.iOntario, Kirkw.-^ll P.O., Wentworth co. Ontario, Huron co. Middieton, Frank Mann, John... Parsons, James Burnett, Frank Kindred, Ak.v:. Lloyd, Alfred M uddleston, Thomas Turner, James E. Bennett, W. II. Scotland, Blantyre Mills Engl'd, Dilton's Marsh, Westbury, Wilts. ■ Scotland, Peterhead, i Aberdeen Scotland, Brandon Place, NetherwcU, Lanarkshire Engl'd, Tetbury, Glos. England, Stavcley, near Kendal England, Treverrow Farm, Tywardreath, Cornwall England, Liverpool . McKinnon, John Mawby, Geo. T. Mackay, R.... Patterson, R. M. Beattie, Andrew Sissons, Thomas When settled. May, 1880 Spring, i3G2 October, 18S1 1873 October, i88i Spring, 1882 1879 1871 April, 1883 May, 1883 1880 May, 1877 1882 1S81 April, 1884 1-77 iS3o Nov.. 1870 1882 April, 1880 May, 1884 June, 1884 1864 August, 1877 May, 1884 Scotland, Skipness, 1874 200/. to 300/. Argyllshire England, Bourne, Lin- .Spring, 1880 200/. colnshire Ontario, Bradford ... June, 1883 200/. Ireland 1876 200/., about Scotld, Castle Douglas 1878 200/. Ontario, Selton P.O., Sept., 1871 200/., about CO. Kent * These settlers must obviously be excluding in their calculation the value of improvements, buildings, stock, &c. Capital at commencement, in j^. ICK)/. 100/. ico/. loc/ 100/. 100/ Value of Farm, Oct., 1885. -. -— -,i No market value (in sucli a new country). With iniprove- I ments worth I 300/. 800/. 2,000/,, would not take less. 400/. 300/. 120/. 120/. 12 /., about 120/. 120/. 120/. to 140/. 140/. 140/. 140/., about 160/. ...' 300/. ... 2.000/. ... 260/., about. 240/., about ; could mort- gage for that easily. 600/. Cannot say. 600/. to 800/. 400/., about. 7 dols. per acre, /.c\, 224/. 800/. 160/., about, and a cartload of 600/. stock and household effects, i 160/., about 160/. 180/. 200/. 200/. 200/., about 200/., about 200/. 1,200/., about. No nmrket value, new country. 700/. 2,000/. ... 300/. ... 3.200, whole es- tate and effects j ([an. I. 1885). .. ' 800/., including I buildings, &c. Very little until railway comes here (Littcl- ton Sn. Man.). 3,000/. 104,000/. 600/. 4,000/. to 6, 000/. 800/. 200/.* 6,000/. to 8,000/, ^ A 10 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. Name. Former Residence in Old Country. When settled. Capital at commencement, in £. • t Crowell, W. N. • Mackenzie, Alex. Averill, Octaviiis Gray, John L. Ontario, Croton P.O, Scotland, lo, Forbes Street, Edinburgh England, Broadway, Worcester Scotland, Ferrintosh, Ross-shire Barclay, James Graham, Robert . Hunter, James M. . McFarland, Joseph. Plaxton, William . McGhie, Lewis Sc'tl'd, Beith, Ayrshire Ontario, Teviotdale ... Ireland, Armagh Ireland, C-ivan Ontario, London Scotland, Ironside, New i Deer, Aberdeenshire Miller, Francis B. .. ' England, Liverpool ... Workman, Alfred; England, Dursley, (J. P.) Gloucestershire Weightman, Eli/.a-j England, Belford, beth (Mr. W. T.) ; Northumberland Savory, Herbert W.^ England, Field Dulling, [ Durham Campion, R. E. ...i Ontario, Belleville, Hastings co. England, Otterburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne Ireland, Cumber, co. Down England, Liverpool ... England, Broughton, Cumberland England, Walton, near Loughboro' England, St. Bees, Cumberland England, Nottingham Ontario, St. Thomas .. Scotland, Berwick .. = ^t Hedley, William 11 Caffery, D. ... i: Coubrough, A. S. Thompson, Wni. i Lacey, John M. 1'^ Nicholson, John •ft Daubney, W. H. D^v, Samuel Kenton, John Stark, William ... Scotland, Mellindean, Kelso Kirchhoffer, Rd. B. Ireland, Macroom, co. i Cork McKnight,Rd.(J.P.)| Ireland Stevenson. F. w. ...' aigland, London Blythe, Richard ...; England, Hernc Hill, j Surrey May, 1884 Spring, 1S79 July, 1880 1879 June, 1883 March, 1R84 April, II August, 1874 Summer, 1879 May, 1882 October, 1880 1880 June, 1882 July, 1880 1883 July, i88o Spring, 1883 March, 1882 187s Dec, 1883 1880 August, 1881 April, 1882 April, 1880 Ball, Charles Jones, Thomas Smith, William Cooper, F. Douglas Bell, P. C South, T. N. ...! Wright & Sons, Thos.j England ICngland, Hill Top, West Bromwich England, Swineshead, near Boston Ireland, Killane, En- niscorthy | England, St. Dominic,' Cornwall j England, London ... May, 1879 Spring, 1882 1879 May, 1883 October, 1883 March, 1882 Nov., 1884 May, 1 88 1 April, 1884 1880 1877 Spring, 1882 I 240/. 250/. 280/. 300/. 400/. wh.en I arrived in Winnipeg; 400/. I 40c/. 400/. •.. ... ... ,,,| 400A 40o'' .; 500/. ' 500'- \ 500!. : 500/. i 600/. ! 600/. 600/. 600/. ... 600/. 700/, 70c/., about 800/. 800/. I and two sons ... 800/. to 1,000/. at least ... 1,000/ r.ooo/., about 1,000/ i.oco/. r,ooo/., about altogether 1,000/. 1,200/. 1,200/. to 1,400/. 1.400/. 1.400/ 2,000/. 7,000/. Value of Farm, Oct., 1885. 600/. 600/. 400/. 1,200/. was offered years ago, with less improvements. 320/.* 600/. 800/. 3.40o^ 1,000/. 200/.* 800/. Cannot get a bid for it at all. 800/. 800/. exclusive of stock. 1,200/. 90/.* 2,000/. 2,000.''. 1,400/. 700/. to 1,000/. Difficult to form a standard. 640/.* 1,600/. Rather not snv. railway to De- lorainc will treble land values here. 1,600/. to 2,000/. 1,300/., about. 2,000/. 2, 000/. Value of home, offices, and imi:)rovemcnts 4,000/. 1,000/.* Dollar per acre. 600/. and farm and stock. 400/., over.* 7,400/. * These settlers must obviousi v be excluding in their calculation the value of improvements, buildings, stock, &c. \\n\V t^KITLEk^ SAY OF TIIF, CAXADIAX NORTH-WEST. ZI Df Farm, 1885. was ed years with less ovements. o/.* 00/. 00/. 400^ 000/. )o/.* 00/. It get a bid t at all. ool. exclusive took. 200/. >o/.* 000/. 000/. ,400/. to 1,000/. jlt to form andard. 40/.* ,600/. T not say, iVay to De- ime will lie land ics here. . to 2,000/. '., about. 000/. 000/. of home, :es, and rovements ,000/. 100/.* • per acre. and farm stock. , over.* 400/. tock, &c. HINTS TO NEW COMERS. Points ofvalue to intendin^ij settlers are often to be found in the letters of actual residents who have been " through the mill," so to speak. Some hints and suggestions of this nature are therefore appended. The full postal addresses of ach settler are given on pages 3 — 6. Mr. J. M. Hunter : — " I am satisfied any wise economical man will do well here. I would advise all men and women in the North of Ireland who want to get an independent home for themselves and families to come to Manitoba or the North-West of Canada, where they will be their own masters, and they will never regret it. This opinion is from a sincere friend. The above class of people are the nearest and dearest to me, and that is the reason I advise." Mr. J. McCuTCHEON : — "Yes, I am perfectly satisfied. 1 think the prospects are .as good as we can expect. We have got the soil and the climate. All we want here are farmers to till it properly, and they will get the return no doubt. A man requires from ;^ioo to ;^200 to commence with. By rights, no doubt, he can commence with less and do well. I believe it is the finest grain growing country in the world." Mr. I. B. Logan: — " I spent four years in Colorado, Oregon, Washington Terr, and British Columbia, trying to better my condition, and I would say to intending immigrants from the old country or else- where, if they have a small capital (say from :£^ioo to ;^20o) and are possessed of a certain amount of pluck and determination to succeed, that they cannot do better than turn their attention to farming in the fair province of Manitoba." Mr. D. Caffery : — " I would not change this country for any other. Prospects are good. There are certainly some drawbacks to contend with here as in any other new country, but all these things will come right in time. I would advisa intending settlers to settle as near a good market as possible (and I consider Brandon one of the best), and also to make up their minds to hard work and industry, and they will doubtless succeed. Land will become very valuable in a few years as the country becomes more fully settled." Mr. O. B. BoMPUS : — " The climate is perfect for comfort, though the last three seasons have been too dry for the crops. A great deal has been said against the North-West on account of the summer frosts. I don't consider them anything very serious, and feel sure that as the country becomes settled up, they will become less frequent. One of the first things a settler should do on taking land is to protect his land from prairie fires by ploughing, especially where there is any young timber." Mr. S. Umphrey : — "With proper railway facilities here (Miami, Southern Man.) I would be more than satisfied. A man coming to this country in order to be successful must be industrlotis and economical, and ought by all means to pay as he goes, or, in other words, buy for cash or trade. By following those rules closely he cannot fail to do well." Mr. P. Robertson : — " I would say go into mixed farming and not on too big a scale at first. Increase with his income, not beyond it, and he cannot help but get along well." Mr. J. E. Turner : — " Intending settlers will do well to rent a farm at first, or, if their means are small, hire themselves out for one summer ; but in no case be in too great a hurry to locate until they are well acquainted with the nature and quality of the land they intend settling on. When that is determined get 3'our crop in as early as possible in the spring." Mr. R. Whittaker : — " In my opinion a man coming to this country from Britain should bring with him .,. ficient capital to keep him for two years at the least, and if he once gets a fair start he will have a better chance and can make things profitable. He should, if he can, get a stock. Sheep do well ; they don't need much looking after." Mr. W. Goodwin : — " I am satisfied that with industry and proper judgment and good cultivation of the soil a good living may be had. With good and deep cultivation of the soil good crops of ail kinds of grain and roots may be grown here ; it is a good agricultural country, suitable for settlement. There are many people come out herewith small capital who may possibly have read some very misleading" statements made in some former descriptions of Manitoba and North-West, such as: 'They have only to tickle the soil, and they will have a crop,' &c., &c. They expend their all in breaking and sowing grain in the^rs^ year, instead of seeding only a few acres just for their own requirements, and then bre:ii< 19 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CAX/vDIAX XORTH-WEST. nndback set all they possibly can do themselves for cropping the next year. I would also strongly recommend any new settler to buy at once, on locating, one or two cows and some poultry, then they are sure of a living ; also to have oxen in preference to horses for first breaking. I would also recommend all new- settlers to find out the nearest Agricultural Society and place themselves in communication with the secretary, as they would then have the advantage of the experience of those who had been in the country some time. These would be glad to welcome and assist any new settler ; at any rate I can speak for the Moose Jaw Agricultural Society, of which I am a member." Mr. J. Ralston : — " A good plan for people from the old country would be to rent a farm the first year, so as to get a chance of looking about them. By doing so they get a better idea how to build, and understand how to get along generally better than by going on a new place the first season. My farm is part of Sec. 34 and 35, T. 13, R. 19 W. I intend going to Scotland this coming winter, for the pur- pose of accompanying a party out, and helping them to get settled. The party is intending to come out in the Spring." Mr. E. Wkst, (J. P.): — " Bring all the clothes you can muster, but no building fixtures, and make up your mind to roughing it at first, with plenty of hard work. Don't be discouraged at the first failure or light fix you get into, but make up your mind to succeed, and success will crown your endeavours." Mr. J. R. Button : — " 1 may add that there is ample scope out here, particularly for the tenant farmers of England, with capital of from ;^5oo to ;^2,ooo, and there are plenty of that class paying rents varying from £2 upwards per acre, just making their way (in the old country), whereas out here they would make a living and independence easily." Mr. A. Kindred : — " I am well satisfied with everything. I would advise all parties who intend leaving their homes in the old country, to come and see this rich country for themselves before thejr believe anything they may hear about it. I am sure they would be well satisfied with everything they saw. I would also advise them, if they have any friends in this country to go to them first, and take their advice as to where they shall settle, and what they had better first do ; by so doing they will save themselves unnecessary expense and trouble." Mr. C. Ball : — " A settler leaving the old country should leave everything behind him but good clothing and bedding, and substantial boots and shoes, and such things as can be sewn up in course wrap- pers, and need not cause anxiety. If he is a poor man he can make his own beds, and tables and chairs, on arriving in the N.W. It is a good country for farmers, but he must not try to do too much the first year, and ho should see that his house is as tight as a bladder, on account of cold in winter." CANADIAN 1>AULL\MICNT BUILDINGS. WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. 13 Mr. C. Drummond-Hay : — " I would suggest, for an intending settler, that he should begin with ■small crops at first, till he can see for himself in what way he can farm best, as every man has not talents in the same direction ; also not to purchase machinery either for cash or on [credit, till he has got a sure footing on his farm." Mr. O. Seebach (J. P.): — " Settlers from England should try and settle near some older settlement, and as near the railway as possible. They would then be able to purchase their cattle, &c., in their own neighbourhood, and profit by the experience of the older settlers. You can get a team of oxen fcr ;^20 *o £30 ; cows, £6 to ;^io ; pigs, two months old, 4s. to 6s." Mr. 1 . E. McWiLLiAMS : — We want good men and true women. We also want settlers here that are willing to work and make a home here. We want men with capital. Men that have capital can make more of it here than putting it in the bank. A man with money who would go into farming and stock raising is the man who is going to get rich. There is a splendid opening here (Pasqua) now, for a good flour mill. The man who would build a mill now and run it properly would do well." Mr. W. Finch : — "From practical experience I would recommend new comers to hire themselves out for the first year. I would not advise any one to break deep and sow in the spring, the same land will only yield half a crop next year. The country cannot be beaten for farming; grain or stoc.c will both succeed if you only work well. It is no country for idlers." THE CLIMATE. This is an old but very important question to the new comers, and one upon which they should first ask " What do residents themselves say .'' " To this query the following replies will afford a full answer, and as a preface to them it may be well to quote what Professor Tanner, Senior Examiner on Agriculture, under the British Government Department of Science, has to say in his recent report on the Canadian North-West. "In speaking of the agricultural capabilities of this district, I have," he says, "made reference, incidentally, to the brilliancy of the summer weather, and its powerful influence upon a luxuriant and healthy growth. A farmer needs no better testimony in favour of a summer climate than is given by the splendid growth of Manitoba spring sown wheat. On this question of the summer climate there is a very general agreement in the opinions which are expressed, and here I can bear my own personal testimony to the fact, that the brightest and most perfectly delicious summer climate is to be found in the Canadian North-West. When we have to speak of the winter we find some very singular differences. Those who do not live in the district, proclaim their opinions as to what the conditions of discomfort must be, and on the other hand those who do live there, say that their winters admit of very much happiness and enjoyment. For my own part, I am more disposed to accept the statements of those who speak from a personal knowledge of the facts, than from the loudly proclaimed opinions of those who really know nothing about it, except the conclusions of their own imaginations. Certain enquiries naturally spring into the mind on observing this conflict of testimony, such as : — What difference can it possibly make to outsiders, so long as the people of the North-West are satisfied .?" The question asked was : — " Is the climate healthy, and fhive you suflered any loss or hardship from the climate in winter ? " No less tha n one hundred and seventy-oxf. reply : ^' Climate healthy, or very healthy, or remarkably healthy ; no loss or h.\rdship." The rest reply as follows. The full postal address of each may be found on pages 3 — 6. 14 WHAT SETTLKKS SAY OF THK CANADIAN XOK IH-VVKST. I li I Dalzell, T. :— " I consider the climate as healthy as any part of the Dominion. Have suffered no hardship or lo^s." Workman, A. (J.P.) :— " Healthy for strong people. The climate is very severe." Burnett, F. : — " I never enjoyed such excellent health as in this country. None whatever." AsTLEY, W. J., and "^ : — " Have been in every climate ; never saw one as healthy. None Lanvon, R. E. ) whatever.' Pollard, P. : — " Yes, very healthy ; no place more so. None." Pollard, H. : — " Healthy, more so in my opinion than England. No loss or hardship." Patton, R. : — " Climate healthy and bracing. None.'' Walker, G. E. :— " Yes, healthy. No, except that I have to travel sometimes in bad weather." Martin, C. : — " I consider it healthy. My hardship and loss is in teaming my grain 50 miles ta market." [Craigilea, Southern Manitoba, now being opened up by the extension of the Manitobjii South-Western branch railways.] Oliver, T. : — "Yes, healthy, very much so. No hardship or loss. I like the winter, it is so dry and steady." Hunter, J. M. : — " I think it healthy ; climate is first-class. Not any." Stark, W. : — " Ves, decidedly healthy. Less severity in winter would of course be very desirable. No serious hardship or loss since properly housed. In winter of 1S79 to 1880, I had no proper roof on house." Reid, J. F. : — " I was always delicate in the old country, now I am as healthy as a fox. None whatever." Logan, L B. : — •' The most healthy climate that is known, especially for children.' McCreath, W. & J. : — " Exremely healthy. Have lost nothing. I find the climate splendid." Cafferv, D. : — " Much more healthy than any of the Eastern provinces. None whatever." Steven, J. : — " Yes, healthy. No inconvenience whatever." • . Ramsey, L. G. : — " Yes, healthy, but too rigorous for delicate constitutions. None." Bannister, D. W. -. — " Very healthy, so far as my family is concerned ; more so than England."' TuETON, J. : — " The climate is very healthy. I have suffered loss of cattle from not having them stabled." M.\CKiE, M. : — " The healthiest place I have been in. Never any hardship or loss." ' - English, J. A. : — "Very much so; better than in Ontario. No hardship or loss ; no one need with care." Bleakley, F. W. : — " I consider it healthy. Have suffered neither hardship or loss from cold." Ralston, J. -. — "Yes, healthy. No, I think winter as pleasant as any part of year." Winter, T. G. -. — " Decidedly healthy. Suffered hardship before country was settled as now, but no loss." MuDC, R. : — " Health is one of its chief features. I and my son worked in bush last winter every day. McClelland, W. : — "Yes, very healthy. I have ten in family and it never cost me 10 dollars for doctor's bills." Williams, J. R. ; — "The best I was ever in. None. Exceptionally healthy. Decidedly no hardship or loss." # McPhkrson, a. :— " Yes, healthy. Only had my grain frozen a little for three years." Carr, W. : — " More healthy than in England or Ontario. No hardship or loss in the least." Dutton, J. R. :— " Verj', always lays on flesh. No hardship or loss, but would recommend buffalo coat." • . . •-^ •- . • A.\3:; rv .xvyK WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CAXADIAM NORTH-WEST. 15 McTaggaiit, E. :— ' Very healthy, as my health has improved wonderfully. No hardship or loss whatever. ' Nesbit, G. : — "Without doubt healthy. No hardship or loss. Decidedly better than Ontario winter." Kindred, A. : — "Healthy, Family and self never enjoyed better health. No hardship or lo--;. Prefer it to English or Scotch winters." Ball, C. : — " Nowhere in the world more healthy. As a male courier for four years I have experienced very cold weather, but no loss," McIntyre, J. R. :— " I do. Very little." Drurv, J. : — " Very healthy. My family were always ailing until they came out here. N'w hardship or loss during winter." Robinson, W. : — "Yes, it can't be beat for health. Since I have come to this country have suffered no loss or hardship during winter." Kyle, J. : — •' Yes. None ; I rather like the winter season." Robinson, W. : — " Very healthy. Not any loss ; sometimes there is a stormy day." Drummond-Hay, C. : — " Very much so; atmosphere very dry indeed. Not much ; lost two pigR in cold stable." Marnie, Rev. J. A. : — " Very, No hardship ; went through first winter with Old Country clothes." McK.\y, R, : — " Most decidedly ; in my case a complete recovery after seven years' broken health. No." HiPKiNS, A. : — " Climate is decidedly healthy to any man of common sense. No loss and no roil hardship," Smith, T, : — " Yes, better than in England. No hardship or loss." KiRCHHOKFER, R. B. : — "Very, never been better in my life. None of any kind; never saw- stock do better in winter than they do in Manitoba." Seebach, O, (J.P.) ; — "Yes. None whatever; 40^ below zero is easier to bear here than 10" in Ontario." Proctor, H. : — " I think this country is as healthy as any in the worl^. None whatever." Morton, A. : — " Very much so, as there is very little cloudy weather. Neither hardship nor loss.' Mackenzie, A. : — " Exceedingly healthy, and I would urgently recommend any person in delicnte health to emigrate hither. No hardship whatever; the winter is most enjoyable." Bond, W. W. : — " Yes, generally healthy, but bad for rheumatism and consumption. Considerable hardship, but no real loss." McGiLL, G. : — " Compaied with Ireland or Ontario it bears the palm. None." SissoNS, T. : — " Yes, for people with sound lungs. No." Lothian, W. : — " Consider it extremely healthy both for old and young. Suffered no hardship or loss." Bell, J. C. -. — " Yes, I have much better health than ever I had in Nova Scotia. No." Robinson, J. E. : — " Very healthy. Considerable hardship, no loss." Brown, J. H. : — " It is the healthiest climate I ever lived in. None whatever." Finch, W. : — *' Yes. Lost several young cattle." Carr, S. T. :— " Yes. No, I like the winter." Hanson, J. D. : — " i. One of the healthiest in the world, 2. None at all." Barclay, J. : — "Yes, healihy. No ; there are some very cold days, but I prefer it to Scotland with its wet." * It will be seen on reference to the replies uuder "Summer Frosts" that the experience of recent years not only shows that these frosts are quite exceptional, but also that with autumn ploughing, enrly spriiig seeding and other proper precautions, no damage need at any time be feared to crops on this account.' i6 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. SUMMER FROSTS AND STORMS. The secret of escape from summer frosis on prairie lands lies in tlie simple injunction : — Plough your land in the Autumn, and sow early in the Spring. Careful investigations show that this having been done the crops remain unharmed, though proper care should of course be taken — in the same way as among British farmers — in the selection of seed, etc. As to summer and winter storms, which are more or less present in most parts of the American continent, it will be seen by the following replies that it is but rarely the Canadian North-West is visited, and still more rarely that any noteworthy damage is caused. The questions were : — (i) Are summer frosts prevalent in the Canadian North-West or are they exceptional ? (2) Have you suflfered any serious loss from storms during either winter or summer ? As to summer frosts, one hundred and six reply simply " Exceptional." In answer to the question regarding storms, one hundred and f'fty-seven say " None, " or "Never.'' Of the remaining replie^i the following are representative. Full postal addresses are given on pages 3—6. Bleaklev, F. W. : — " I. Have no summer frosts in this locality." Long, W. : — " i. Have raised four crops, and this is the first injured. 2. None whatever so far." Pringle, D. :— " I. In Manitoba they are exceptional." Pollard, P. :— " i. Severe frosts exceptional." Clifford, Hon. W. :— " i. The exception in Manitoba." Hall, D. : — " i. Some years prevalent, others little or none." Jefferson, J.: — " i. This is the first year I had any grain hurt with the frost. 2. None whatever." Smith, W. :— " i. They are exceptional in this part. 2. We had a hailstorm in 1884 that did some damage." McKenzie, J. : — " I. I have seen no summer frosts so far, not even to hurt garden stuff. 2. None wh.Tever." Morton, A. : — " i. They are exceptional. 2. Have never suffered ; in fact, there have been no storms." McGhee, J. : — "i. Summer frosts are slight and not prevalent. 2. No." Blvthe, R. :— " I. Had them slightly in June and July, and badly 24.th August last." Smith, A. :— «' I. They come too socn. 2. No." Finch, W. : — " i. Exceptional. We had no frost in this township this year or last. 2. No." McKnight, R. (J, P.). :— " I. Exceptional. 2. Once I lost part of my crop with hail." McGill, G. :— " I. Exceptional in this part. Frost came on the 24th August, but the crops were well matured. I had no frosted wheat, and never saw frost come so early for the last four years. 2. No." McKiBBiN, J. P. : — " I. We are subject to frost the first week in September, which hurts grain that is not cut before. 2. No." Averill, O. :— " I. Exceptional on high dry land, but prevalent on low lying lands. 2. No." McKay, R. :— " i. Can't say as to Norlh-West generally, but in South Manitoba, the Pembina, Turtle and Moose Mountains, and the Rock Lake and Souris districts, they are exceptional. 2. No." 1 if-' r i ^■WBfSt*i^ WHAT SETTLERS SAY. OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. 17 None Lacey, J. M. : — " I. Frosts are very exceptional ; last year we had none till October. 2 whatever ; have never seen a bad storm yet." Cafferv, D. : — " I. We have never had any here to hurt us. 2. Have never suffered the slightest loss." McFarland, J. : — " I, Exceptional. 2, Never suffered anything from the weather." Ore, S. ; — " I. I am afraid they are here, this is why I would so much urge people to go in for cattle and sheep. 2, None whatever." Robinson, W. : — " i . We are troubled very little with summer frosts. The frost this year was one early in September. 2. We have had no serious storms since I have been in the country." McKelvev, W. : — " I. Have only seen frost that injured grain three times in twelve years, a. None yet." VVard, J. H. : — "i. This is my eighth harvest, have had one crop frozen. 2. Have not lost anything by the climate." Leece, I. (J. P.) : — " I. Prevalent, but not to do any damage. 2. Not from storms." Dalzell, T. : — " I. In this part they are exceptional to do any harm. 2. None." Spencer, W. E. : — " i. Exceptional in this section. Never saw frozen grain until present season, and no) only late sown is injured. 2. No loss." Suton, p. D. : — " I. Some years enough to touch tender vegetables. 2. None." Brown, C. H. :— " i. Old settlers say exceptional. 2. No." Umphrey, S. : — " I. In 1884 no frost to do any harm, in 1885 slight frost 23rd August; killed tender plants and vines ; no general damage. 2. No loss whatever." Burnett, P.: — " i. No, they are exceptional and come late. No man need have any grain destroyed if he farms rightly and within his means. 2. There has not been a dollar's worth of loss from this cause in this district." Cramer, G. : — " i. I got lightly touched this year for the first time. 3. None." Lothian, W. : — " i. They are prevalent, but the damage done is very exceptional. 2. Have suffered no loss whatever from storms." SissoNS, T. : — " I. I have raised fourteen crops, and only two were injured by frost. 2. Not more than once or twice in fourteen years, and that was from wind and hail in or near harvest time." Plaxton, W. : — " I. Summer frosts are exceptional and local. 2. I have not." Kent, S. J. : — " i. Suffered slightly this season for the first time. 2. None." Helliwell, W. J. : — " I. Since I have lived here (1867) I never heard of such things until the ast three years. 2. Never." Ralston, J. : — " i. Have never been injured by frost to any extent. 2. No." Bill, I. E. : — " i. Old settlers say they had not for twenty-five years seen a frost until 1882 and 1885. 2. No." Mackenzie, A. : — " i. Exceptional except in the northern districts. 2. Never. I have camped cut in winter with the thermometer as low as 40" below zero, and suffered no inconvenience." Cowan, J. : — " i. I have never been touched till this year. 2. None whatever." MuDD, R. : — " I. There was one exception in September, 1883, that was the only frost to do us much damage, 2. From these atmospheric disturbances we are exceptionally free." McKe vv, J. : — " I. For the last three years, but not before. 2. No." Steven, J. -.■ — " i. Summer frosts or rather early autumn frosts are prevalent, but grain is generally ripe, unless in a few exceptional instances of late sowing. I have never had any grain frozen, it was cut before frost. 2. No." Proctor, H. : — *' i. The summer frosts are exceptional; about equal to my experience in England. 2. No loss or inconvenience worth stating." C i8 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORIH-WEST. il' SOIL, WATER AND FUEL. These arc points of the first importance. The high average yield of crops in the Canadian North-West is of course in itself a practical proof of the suitability of the land as regards soil and water. The following replies will however enter more fully into the matter, dealing with each locality m these two respects as well as regarding fuel. In relation to fuel, it must of course be remembered that the Souris, Saskatchewan and Alberta coal-fields are rapidly supplying settlers with all their needs at reasonable rates. This coal question is fully dealt with in a general pamphlet, " Manitoba and the Canadian North-Wcst." The full postal address of each settler replying below may be found on pages 3 — 6. The questions were : — (i) Please state nature of soil on your farm and depth of black loam ? (2) Have you plenty of water on your farm, and how obtained ? If from a well please state depth of same. (3) What sort of fuel do you use, and is it difficult to obtain ? Place. Name. Reply as to Soil. Alameda Pollard, P. 1 Black loam and clay subsoil Alcester Long, Wm. Clay loam on high ground, 8 to 10 in. in loam ; low ground, 12 to 18 in. i Alexandria ... Vandervoorts.J.M. A clay subsoil, with; about IS in. black loam Austin Clifford, W. Hon. Sandy loam 1 Balgonie Cameron, H. \ Clay, 2 to 6 in., black loam Clay bottom, with from Balmoral Jefferson, J. 4 to 5 in. loam Beaver Creek ... Smith, W. A black loam, 12 in. deep, on a clay sub- soil Beaver Rapids Traquair, R. Clay loam, 18 in. Belleview Campion, R. E Rich dark sandy loam, 2 to 6 ft. Beresford Hunter, J. M. ... 2 ft. of black loam, clay subsoil Beulah Simpson, W. S.... About 6 in. loam, lying on marl Binscarth Smellie, C. L. ... Loam, 18 in. to 2^ ft. ; clay subsoil Fuel. Spring on surface Good water at 16 ft. ; stock are supplied from a pond Any amount well, 25 ft. from Water obtained 5 ft. ur'%"r surface; stream runs past my house PVom a well, 25 ft. ... Plenty of good water ; dug i8ft. and drilled 18 ft. 10 in. Plenty of water, at a depth of 12 ft. Plenty. Well 15 ft. ... Plenty of water ; 2 wells, one 25 ft. and one 8 ft. Plenty by digging for it, about 30 ft. No springs ; have sunk a well near a slough Running creek, several ponds, and three wells of an average depth of 45 ft. Both coal and wood easily obtained. Oak and poplar, about 7 miles distant. Oak wood ; plenty to be had in this section. Wood, and can obtain it in abundance. Wood, not difficult to obtain. We use wood, and have plenty. Wood ; it is plentiful. Wood ; difficult. Wood ; not to obtain. not very difficult Wood ; have to go about 12 miles for it. Wood ; have to draw it from 9 to 12 miles. Plenty of good dry poplar ; so far wood fuel. WHAT SKI TLKRS SAY UV lllE CANADIAN NOKTH-WEST. 19 Place. very difficult Birtle Blake Bradwardine ... Brandon Burnside Calf Mountain Campbellville... Carberry Carlingville .. Carman Carrolton Cartwright Clan William Clear Springs. Crewe ... Crystal City . Deloraine McGhee, J Danagh, J. Gray, J. L. McKenzie, K.,sen. Bedford, J. Carr, S. T. Reply as to Soil. Vegetable loam, with a little sand, 12 in. Sandy soil, from i to 3 ft. deep Clay subsoil, 8 in. ... Half of farm black loam, 3 ft., the other half light sandy loam with white clay bot- tom, 18 in. loam Black loam, about 2 ft.; clay subsoil Clay subsoil ; 18 in. black loam 2 ft. on a clay subsoil Plenty of water on farm ; use spring water for house Plenty of water, 10 ft deep... Yes, in a running stream I have abundance for all my stock all year in spring creek at end of stables Plenty in a creek which runs through my farm Well, 21 ft. deep Fuel. 2 ft. black loam Stratford, J, W.... Sandy loam; about McArthur, D. J. Yes ; a river through runs McKnightR.Q.P.) McGill, G. McKibbin, J. P.... Averill, O. Langill, J. P. Fleming, J. McKay, R. Renton, J Clay subsoil and a little sand in the black loam, above which averages from 4 in. to about I ft. Clay loam and clay subsoil ; loam from I to 2 ft. 3 or / ft. deep ; on river flat 15 in. Average depth of black loam 20 in., clay sub- soil, under the clay sand or grain Rich loam, about 15 in. It is a clay loam ft, ex- • •• Clayey loam, i deep ; soil is cellent Black loam, from i to 3 ft. in depth About a foot of black loam I clay subsoil I have excellent water from a well, 20 ft. deep, and also a lake I have plenty of water until July in one slough ; after that the stock hunt their own drink. I use a well about 8 ft. deep for the house The Boris river runs through farm. Well 12 ft. deep for food water Wells, one 60 ft. deep, another 41 ft. down bank, and another 33 ft. deep. Splendid water There is a river runs through the farm Good water from well, 20 ft. deep Yes, and from a well about 22 ft. From a ravine, which is full of splendid springs, 2 ft. deep We have three running streams,and a well by the house, 30 ft. deep Poplar ; it is not difBcult to obtain. Wood ; lots of bush. Poplar ; plenty easily procured. The only drawback to the country here is scarcity of fuel. Wood ; easy to be got. Oak and poplar wood. Oak, elm, and poplar wood. Not difficult, as I have 80 acres on my farm. Wood is abundant. I use wood for fuel. Wood, mostly oak, easily obtained, as I have 50 acres of wood. Getting difficult to ob- tain. I pick up wood about the river. Wood ; it grows on the farm. Wood ; not difficult hitherto. Wood ; not hard to obtain. Dry poplar poles ; plenty of bluffs around full of them. Wood ; I draw as much in a few days as will last a year. WHAT 8ETTLKRH »AY OF THK CANADIAN NORTH-WKST. Place. Douglas Eden Edgeley Farm Elkhorn Elton ... Emerson Fort McLeod Fairburn Fleming Foxton Gladstone Glendale Glendenning .., Golden Stream Green Ridge .. Grund Hazelwood .. Headingly Heaslip Hernefield High Bluff .. Reply as to Soil. Kyle, J [Clay subsoil; black loam from 6 to loin. Sutherland, J. ... Clay, about 2 ft , T. G. ... Winter, Allison, G. Caffery, D. McBean, P. McFarland, J. .. * Oke, S Day, S Bond, W. W. ... Morton, T. L. ... Molland, J. Leece, I. (J. P.) ... McConnell, D. ... Oatway, R. Christopherson, H Cleveland, J. H. Dawson, A. West, E. (J.P.) ... Empey, M. N. ... Dalzell, T. Clay loam, from 4 in. to a ft. Black loam, 6 in., and clay subsoil Black clay loam, depth 2 ft. My land is of a red loam, with clay sub- soil Clay loam ; about i ft. of loam oil top Clay subsoil ; black loam, varying from I to 2 ft. Black loam, with clay bottom Sandy loam Black loam, about 18 in. deep; clay subsoil Black loam on clay subsoil ; loam from 12 to 15 in. Clay loam, from 2 to 4 ft. Clay loam, 2I ft. deep 3 ft. of black loam ... Black loam, 18 in. ... Black loam, from 2 to Black sandy loam, 12 in. in depth ; clay subsoil Black loam, 3 ft. deep Fuel. Plenty ; well 8 ft. deepi Wood ; not hard to obtain. Yes; well, 12 ft. ... Poplar wood; no. Water in pond ind in Poplar wood; plentiful. well, latter 18 ft. deep ; coptouH spring all cold in summer and clear as crystal Yes ; well, 22 ft. Plenty of the best of water, from a well, 12 ft. deep I have a good well at 13 ft. ; bored 120 ft. without gettine any. I use both well and river water. Well, 12 ft. I have two wells, one for the house and the other for the stable, 18 ft. deep ; plenty of water Yes; I have some ponds and a well, 20 ft. deep From a well, about 15 ft. deep Yes ; small lake in summer for cattle ; well for house and cattle in winter, 12ft. Well, about 15 ft. deep Yes ; from spring creek in summer, and well, 10 ft. deep, in winter Yes ; from 2 wells, 13 ft. deep Plenty from a well, 12 ft. deep I have good water and a lake on my farm Yes ; a well 20 ft. .. Yes; from the river ... Springs in ravines ... Well, 33 ft., with good supply Plentiful, in well 14 ft. deep Wood ; no. Poplar wood, and it is getting scarce; had to buy some last year. Poplar ; not diilRcult so far. Wood and coal in abundance. (3 dols. =E I2S. at coal pit.) Poplar wood, and plenty of it in this part. Wood ; plenty. Wood ; easy to obtain. Plenty of both oak and poplar. Poplar ; can be had by hauling about 10 miles. Wood ; no difficulty. Poplar wood. Wood ; easily obtained. Oak and poplar. Poplar wood. Wood ; not difficult to obtain. Wood ; not difficult. Poplar poles at Turtle Mountain ; easily ob- tained. Poplar ; oak and elm are plentiful. Mi< Mill Mii Mc lard to 10. ilentiful. and it is rce ; had last year. ifRcult so coal in (3 dols. oal pit.) >d, and it in this ty. to obtain, th oak and be had by about ID difficulty. ly obtained. iplar. .d. I difficult to t difficult. !S at Turtle 1 ; easily ob- ik and elm ;iful. 1 WHAT tiETTI.KKS S \V OK TIIK CA.\A»I.\.N NORTH-WEST. 21 Place. Hillview Name. Rcthwell, W. ... Reply as to Soil. Water. Yes ; natural ponds ; I Fuel. Sandy loam, about Old poplar ; it h very 14 in. got water at 1 2 ft. scarce, must soon use coal. Holland Holland, A. C. ... Sandy loam, 18 in. ... Yes ; from creek ; well at the house is 21 ft. deep We drink the Lake Wood. Ki Harney Ball, C. Very heavy, and when Wood ; getting scarce, digging a well found (Killarney) water but can be obtained 2 It. 9 in. of black in abundance 7 miles loam off. Littleton Little, N. Black loam, about 2 ft. Well, 15 ft. deep Poplar, spruce, and tamard ; very >i*.ntiful. I.othair McTaggart, E. ... Black sandy loam, clay subsoil ; top soil from 6 to 12 in. Well, 12 ft. deep; plenty for stock in a spring ravine all Plenty of poplar wood. winter Manitou Brown, C. H. ... Clay loam, 3 ft. Yes; well and run, 20 ft. Wood ; is not difficult to obtain at present. m Maple Creek ... Lloyd, A. Sandy clay loam A well, 50 ft. deep ... Wood ; 8 and 10 miles distant, 9 Marringhurst ... Mamie, Rev. J. A. Light soil, sandy A pond for cattle, and Wood ; lots of it. 1 bottom a well for the house, 24 ft. deep H Meadow Lea ... McDougald D. ... Heavy black loam, from 10 to 12 in. deep Plenty from a well 14ft. deep; would supply 100 cattle the year round Wood ; easily obtained. ^B Medicine Hat Smith, T. Sandy loam, with clay Yes ; creek or brook, Coal at 4 dollars (i6s.) ■ subsoil runs right through my farm No better water any- per too is plentiful. H Menota Hipkins, A. ... !•• Plenty of firewood H where ; I have beau- along the river to H tiful springs and hold out till our I good water, not deep immense coal-fields . are opened up. «9 Menteith O'Neil, P. Sandy and clay loam. Have plenty of good Use wood for fuel. 1 from 18 in. to 2 ft. water; well 14 ft. deep which we have to hand about 6 miles. M Miami Umphrey, S. Black loam, mixed with Yes ; plenty from well, 12 to :5 ft. deep, and Oak and poplar; are very plentiful. H some sand, from 2 to ^B ID in. deep from stream H Michie Pearson, S. A. ... Gravel, about 2 ft. or Yes; from a well 18 ft. Coal and wood ; wood !■ 2i ft. in depth is difficult to get. M Millford Burnett, F. Black loam, 18 in. deep ; clay subsoil Yes ; a spring creek ; never failing supply of splendid water Wood ; and plenty of it. H Minnedosa ... Carmichael, W.... Clay ; and about 15 in. I have plenty of water We use wood out of the 1 of black loam for my cattle, and a well for my own use, 26 ft. bush ; it is not very hard to get. S Moline Carr, W From 6 in. to 2 ft. ... This country is well watered ; for stock I Wood ; any quantity. -m fSM have a well that • m answers all purposes, , '^M • about 8 ft. deep 1 it WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. Place. Name. Reply as to Soil. Moose Jaw MooseMountain Moosomin Morris Napinka Nelson Newdale Newhaven Ninette Ninga Nimltaw Oak Lake Oakland Oak River Oberon Orange Ridge Osprey Otenaw Pasqua Pendennis .. Goodwin, W. Page, E. S. Johnston, G. P. ... McCreeth,W.&J, Crowell.W. N. ... Bailey, D. Fanning, A. R. .. Coleman, G. Mackie, M. Martin, O. K.ae, J. ... ■• Bannister, D. W. Huddlestone, T. Hedley, W. .. McKinnon, J. .. Winter, E. Connell, R. Cramer, G. McWilliams.T. E. McKennit, J. ... Strong clay loam, 6 to ID ft. deep ; gravelly in some places ; very little black soil Clay subsoil ... Clay loam, 2 ft. Water. Fuel. Sandy loam and clay loam ; depth of black loam about 40 in. Clay loam, about i ft deep Heavy clay soil ; black loam from i to 2 ft. Black loam, 2 ft. deep Sandy loam, with 2 ft. of black loam Clay loam, 15 in. deep Loam about 15 in. clay subsoil Sandy loam, from 12 to 36 in. deep Slightly sandy loam, 2 ft. in depth, loamy clay under. Sandy black loam, from 6 to 15 in. About 2 ft. all over, with clay subsoil Clay loam ; 6 to 12 in. black loam Black loam on top, from 4 to 18 in. ; clay subsoil Black loam, 2 ft., and clay bottom Kind of brown clay about 4 ft. deep Gravelly clay, i ft. I have no well, but hope to obtain water at about 20 ft., half a mile from my house Yes; at 14ft Good water at 20 ft., and lots of it Plenty of water, as we are situated on Morris River (win ter and summer Yes ; from a well, 1 1 ft. Yes ; both from a creek and well, which is 20 ft. deep Plenty of pure spring water at 13 ft. deep Yes ; from a well, 1 ft deep Well, 6 ft. deep ; I have running water also Plenty from the Pem bina river ; numerous springs along the stream. Yes ; spring well, 26 ft. deep Well, 12 ft. deep plenty of water Plenty in summer in creeks and sloughs ; wells good at 10 ft. Yes ; from well, 22 ft. Plenty ; from a well and first-class Plenty of water; well 15 ft. deep Yes, good water ; well, 36 ft. deep Plenty of good water by digging 16 ft. well Water from Moose Jaw River Yes ; from a well, 14 ft deep Wood scarce, and sells at from 5 to 7 dollars (£1 to ;^i 8s.) per load. Saskatchewan coal at 6 dollars 25 cents (;^i 6s.) per ton, at statioii. Wood ; not difficult. Poplar ; good and handy. Wood is scarce, but we are going to use coal. Wood ; not difficult just at present. Wood ; got on my own farm. Dry poplar poles ; troubled with in- spector. Poplar wood ; easily got. I use wood. Wood ; have to draw it 7 miles. Wood ; not difficult, only haul 10 miles. Wood ; on my own farm. Wood ; it is not difficult to obtain, but has to be hauled from be- low Portage to here Wood ; will be none in a year or two. Wood ; not difficult. Wood ; easily got in Riding Mountain, about 2 miles distant Poplar wood ; plentiful about 8 miles distant Oak and poplar, and plenty of it. Some wood and som coal. Wood ; not difficult. WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. as Place. Penrith Pense Petrel Pipestone Portage La Prairie Preston Prince Albert... Qu'Appelle ... Rapid City ... Rayfield Richmond Rocanville Roseberry Rossburn ... Rowland Salterville ... Selkirk Shellmouth ... Shell River ... Name. Reply as to Soil. Water. Fuel. McKinnon, J. ,. Young, J. Mcintosh, A, .. Lothian, W. Sissons, T. Murdoch, J. Plaxton, W. ... Wright, T.& Sons Ralston, J. Barker, T. M. ... Copeland, W. ... Wilson, J. Stark, W. Manson, W. Bill, L E. Salter, R. Soderberg, C. ... Mackenzie, A. ... Butcher, A. G. ... Clay loam ; depth of black loam, 14 in. Sandy clay loam Clay, from 6 to 12 in. Rich clay ; black loam 2 to 3 ft. deep Clay loam with clay subsoil, loam from 2 ^o 2i ft. i ; to 14 in. black loam on clay subsoil Clay subsoil, with from 6 to 10 in. black loam Dark loam, clay sub soil Clay subsoil ; about 18 in. black loam Sandy loam, clay sub' soil, from 8 to 12 in About 7 to ID ft. sandy loam Clay soil, from i to 2i It. I ft. deep black loam ; subsoil whitish clay Heavy sandy loam, from li to 2 ft. deep Clay loam, i8 in. deep Heavy black loam, clay subsoil Black loam, i ft. Black loam, about 2 ft. deep ; clay subsoil Portions light and sandy, part of good black soil ; loam li ft. deep Plenty of spring water Plenty of water by digging 14 ft. Plenty ; from well 24 ft. deeo Large supply of fine water from well in a ravine, 7 ft. deep, would go 16 ft. down on level Plenty of good water by digging 12 to 14 ft. I have a creek, a living spring, and 2 wells, one 12 ft., another 20 ft. deep ; water is ex cellent and abundant Plenty of good water ; a spring running out of a bank 4 rods from the house Plenty in well and sloughs The Saskatchewan runs through my farm and I have springs Yes ; well, 32 ft. deep You can get plenty, 12 to IS ft. Yes ; 16 ft Wood ; it is easy to get in this locality. Wood ; no trouble so far. Poplar wood ; it is difficult, for a poor man to get when the Inspector is here. Poplar wood ; go abou 8 miles for it ; very plentiful. Wood ; not very diffi- cult to obtain. Wood; I haul it 5 miles. Pine and poplar; plenty 2 miles away. Yes ; from Spring Creek ; water easily obtained by digging Yes; well, I2 ft., and from a small lake Abundance ; well, 7 ft. Water can be obtained from wells, from 13 to 15 ft. deep Sufficient for all pur poses ; I have a spring at the door Plenty of slough water, also a well 25 ft. deep for house; well wants lowering. Wood ; not difficult to obtain. Maple, willow, and poplar ; I have plenty. Wood ; no. Wood ; we pick it up on the prairie. Poplar ; not difficult to obtain. Oak ; plenty so far in my own place. Poplar wood ; heavy timber north ; no difficulty. Wood ; I draw it 7 miles, where there is plenty of it. Wood; no. Poplar; and plenty of it. Wood ; where I at pre- sent reside it is to be had in abundance. Poplar wood ; we have to haul it about 10 miles. WHAT SETTLERS SAV OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. Shoal Lake ... Silver Heights Smith's Hill ... Souris Stonewall Summerberry Swan Lake .. Thornhill Toddburn TurtleMountain Viola Dale ... Virden Wakopa Wapella Wattsview Wavy Bank ... Thomson, E. A.... Sample, T. Monteith, G. B.... Cooper, F. D. ... Coubrough, A. S. Mann, J Tulloch, J. G. ... South, T. N. ... Dow, J. M. Brondgeest, J. H Middleton, F. .., Bcwes, J. McFie G. Jones, T Bartley, N. Mudd, R. West Hall Steven, J. ^^'ellington ...i McKelvy, J. Wellwood ... Robertson, P. .. Reply as to Soil. 1 8 in. black loam ; clay subsoil 6 to i8 or 24 in. ; sub- soil limey clay Black loam, from 8 to 18 in. Rich light loam on sandy clay Sandy, i to I3 ft. Clay and black loam... About 14 in. black loam ; yellow clay Sandy loam ; about 3 ft. of black loam Clay subsoil, with about 15 in. of black loam on top Clay and clay loam ; black loam from i to 3 it. Loam and clay, 6 to 12 in. Sandy loam, 12 in. ... Black soil ; depth 16 in. Rich sandy loam, 12 in. Sandy loam, from 6 to 12 in. Black loam, 12 in. deep Rich black loam, about 3 ft. ; clay subsoil Very rich sandy loam, 4 'n. to 4 ft. Lots of water ; get it in the River Oak Sufficient so far from small creek and slough Plenty ; well, 25 ft. deep House is on bank of Souris ; also good well, 56 ft. deep, with 9 ft. of good water Yes ; from a well, 25 ft. deep Yes ; spring and sloughs Plenty of good water ; well, 12 ft. deep Yes, and good ; from a well, 8 ft. deep Yes ; I have a creek, also a well, 15 ft. deep Running creek ; plenty, also have a well Oak River in summer, scarce in winter Any amount ; spring creek Plenty ; two wells, one 12, one 30 ft. Yes ; from slough and well, 30 ft. deep . Plenty of good spring water, summer and winter Well, 25 ft., spring at the bottom Yes ; from a well, 1 1 ft. deep Plenty of first-class water; well, 32 ft. deep I have a spring at 2 ft. ; cattle water at pond Fuel. Wood ; in abundance. Poplar wood, of which there is plenty near at hand. Wood ; to draw 10 miles. Wood on river banks ; coal8dollars(i/.i2£.) a ton from Gait Mines, Brandon. Wood ; no. Wood ; not very. Plenty of fuel. Oak, and plenty to last for years on the farm Wood ; we have plenty convenient. Wood or coal easily got at 3 dols. (12s.) a ton ; wood for 5 dols. (i/.) a cord and work of cutting. Wood ; have plenty on my own farm. Wood ; and coal jdls. (i/. 85.)perton. Wood ; easy to obtain. Wood; no. Plenty of wood here, but scarce in some places. Wood ; it has not been as yet. Wood; no. Poplar ; it is not diffi- cult to obtain. Coal mine opened, 25 miles off; price about 1 6s. per load ( 1 4 tons) . Coal has been found within2 miles. Wood very poor at a dis- tance of about 9 miles. Good wood, 22 miles; neighbours go together, making a pleasure trip. WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. 25 Place. West Lynne Wheatland Whitewater Whitewood Wolseley Woodlands Wolf Creek Yorkton Name. Reply as to Soil. Water. Fuel. McLelland, W. Nesbitt, G. Logan, I. B. McKinnon, D. Kindred, A. Proctor, H. Gibson, W. Kail, R. S. Clay subsoil ; black loam, 2 to 3 ft. deep A good clay bottom ; black loam from to ID in. Black loam,claysub8oil Heavy clay subsoil 15 in. black loam Gravel and clay ; depth of black loam from 12 to 18 in. Black loam, about 2 ft. deep, under heaviei clay subsoil, 2 ft. deep Black loam, 18 to 24in. deep ; clay subsoil Sandy Icam, 12 to 18 in. Yes ; a creek supplies the cattle and a well, 12 ft. deep, the house Plenty ; Oak River is never dry, water in abundance at 6 to 1 2 ft Plenty by digging 12 ft The best of water ; depth of well, 30 ft. Water in abundance in lakes, and a well, 1(6 ft. deep W'l have the best of water in this town- ship from S wells, 20, 25, 26, 30 and 36 ft. deep Yes ; in slough, and a well, 12 ft. Good well, 20 ft. deep, lots of water Wood ; I have it all on my own farm. Poplar ; plenty as yet ; it grows fast. .Wood ; easily obtained Dry poplar ; easily ob- tained. Wood ; no, it is ob- tained a short dis* tance from here. We use poplar and oak woods, which are very plentiful in this district. Wood ; easily obtained. Poplar wood ; easily obtained. ^:;pr|!.|p|jj?|p;,^:pp:s^^|jp^^ HEM. FARM, QU'Al'PELLK .,^i 26 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. CATTLE RAISING. In the general pamphlet, " Manitoba and the Canadian North-West," full reasons are given for the statement that the general healthfulness of the climate and the favourable conditions for feeding horses, cattle, and sheep, make stock-raising a most profitable industry. The boundjes* prairies are covered with luxuriant grasses, giving an average yield of hay per acre of 2^ to 3 tons ; sometimes 4 tons are gathered, and in wet seasons as many as 5 tons. This abundance of fodder, and the cool nights for which the North-West is famous, are most beneficial features in regard to stock, while the remarkable dryness and healthiness of the winter also tend to make cattle fat and well-conditioned. The easy access to good water is another advantage in stock- raising. The abundance of hay almost everywhere makes it an easy matter for farmers to winter their cattle, and in addition to this there is, and always will be, a ready home market for beef. ' , ' The experiences of settlers on this subject answer the question : — "How do horses and cattle thrive on the prairie grasses, and how do they thrive in winter ? " One HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHT reply, " ThRIVE SPLENDIDLY AND WELL IN WINTER," OR ''Remarkably well," or "Excellently." Others reply as follows. Their full postal addresses may be found on pages 3 — 6. Bedford, Jacob : — " Well ; I have some cattle fat enough for any market, with nothing but grass. They require more feed and warmer stabling in winter than in England." Burnett, F. — " I do not care how poor they are in the spring ; after running all summer they could not look better. They thrive well in winter on the wild hay and oat straw." McNabb, Hugh : — " Cattle thrive better here on the prairie than in Ontario. Cattle and horses generally do well in the winter." Stevenson, F. W. : — " They fatten all summer on the wild grasses. Horses do very well in winter, and cattle still better if well housed." CoNNELL, R, : — " Excellently; they could not do better in any place. They thrive well in winter if in a comfortable stable." McKenzie, J. : — " Cattle grow very fat on the prairie grass. They have all done very well so far in winter." Bell, P. C. : — " Very well. I have 33 cattle ; they do very well in winter with good feed." Smith , A. : — " Splendidly. I have about 40 horses and cattle. Eight two-year old steers were in the open barn-yard all the winter, and all did well." Logan, I. B. : — " Better than in any country I have been in ; thrive well in winter with care." McCreath, W. & J. :— " They do well, and give rich milk." Cafferv, D. : — " They do well, and fatten better than in Ontario or the United States." Bartlev, N. :— •' Cattle thrive well, both for milk and beef." Hamilton, T. : — " They do well, but require a good range." Wr ight & Son, T. :— " Most admirably well. Have 24 horses and 74 head of horned cattle." ROBSON, J. S. : — " Splendidly ; they have done well in winter, and went out to grass in April." WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. a; ROTHWELL, W. :— " Well ; they thrive well. Ponies do well out all the winter." Bannister, D. W. : — " Splendidly. I have some splendid beef cattle. They thrive well on hay in winter, and I get splendid butter." Fleming, J. : — " Really well. They thrive well in an ordinary stable in winter." Scott, A. : — " They thrive well and fatten in a very short time on the wild grasses. They thrive as well here in the winter as in the old country." Allen, Wm.: — "They do well ; I believe it to be a good cattle-raising country. They do well in winter in a warm stable." Moore, J. : — "Very well, and in winter far better than in a wet country." English, J. A. : — " Uncommonly well ; do well in winter on natural hay." Long. W. : — " Better than any cultivated grass, and do well in winter." Docking, A. : — " Soon get fat on prairie grass, and do well in winter." Winter, T. G. : — " Could not be improved ; I sometimes stake my oxen yoked in a plough, with too feet rope, and leave them for four or five days, and they get abundance of grass and water. They winter well." McKenzie, K., Sen. : — " Very well ; my lo horses and 80 cattle thrive well in -.yinter." Morton, T. L. : — " Well ; 3 horses and 25 cattle." MuDD, R. : — "Seems to me to thrive as well on wild as cultivated grass. My 2 horses and 29 cattle thrive well in winter on plenty of hay." Renton, J.: — " Cattle and all stock d 3II on wild grasses. I have 11 horses, 40 cattle and 40 sheep, which do well in winter — better than in Ontario." McClelland, W. : — *' Do well on prairie grass ; 6 horses and .'15 cattle do well in winter." Carr, W. :— " All get fat at 12 months old." McLachlan, D. F. : — " Excellently (4 horses, 50 cattle) ; winter well if properly attended. Armstrong, W. J. : — " Very well ; only exist in winter on account of cold." Stiles, J. : — ''Thrive well on prairie grass until frost comes, and do well in winter." Dutton, J. R, : — " Could not do better anywhere ; do capitally in warm stable in winter.' McFarland, J. : — " Thrive remarkably well. Have about 40 horses, 500 cattle." Jamieson, J. M, : — " Excellently. Have 8 horses and 53 cattle; thrive very well in winter." Gray, J. L. : — Splendid ; 4 horses, 31 cattle, 22 pigs. All do first class all year round." CouBROUGH, A. : — " Thrive well ; 5 horses and 40 cattle." Graham, R. : — " Well, with plenty of wild grass, and well in winter." Bali., C. : — " They grow and get very fat ; winter well in warm stable." Christopherson S. : — " Could not do better anywhere. Have 3 horses, 20 cattle, 40 sheep." Nicholson, J. : -" Poor cattle turned out in spring will come in fat beef in autumn; winter well with care." ^ Patterson, R. M. : — " Thrive very well. I have about 300 horses and cattle." Robinson, W. : — " They do well on the wild grasses, much better than in Ontario." Plaxton, W. : — " They get very fat in a short time on the wild grasses." Stephrns, ]. : — " I have horses, oxen, milch cows, and some young stock, and they thrive well in winter." Blythe, R. : — " Admirably ; and stand winter well." Smith, T. :— " Thrive better on wild grasses here than they do in England on cultivated grass; also winter well." JoNSON, J. : — " I have 10 cattle which did well last winter on autumn hay." Finch, W. :— " Get fat on the wild grass by end of June. Could not thrive better than here." 28 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. KiRCHHOFFER, R. B. :— " They do well and grow fat, having nothing else than wild grasses through the grazing season. Have 3 horses, 2 colts, 2 foals, 12 cows, 3 heifers, 10 calves, i bull, 60 pigs, &c., and all have done well through the winters, and come out well." Wenman, W. : — " Thrive very well indeed ; winter well if properly housed and attended." Seebach, O. : — "Thrive better than on timothy grass in Ontario; they turn out in first-class condition in spring." Miller, J. : — " Very well indeed ; cows do better here than in Scotland." Currey, p. :— " Cattle do well on wild grass, but require a large run ; all do well in winter." McKiNNON, J. : — " They thrive well ; I have 19 horses and 150 head of cattle." Proctor, H. ; — " They do well here, equal to West Riding of Yorkshire in England; I have a stock of 100 head which do as well in winter as sumnner." Semple, T. : — " Prairie grasses cannot be excelled for pasturing cattle ; do well in winter." Morton, A. : — '• They become very fat ; they do well in winter, as there is no wet." Bond, W. W. : — '" Thrive first-rate, and will keep tat ; I have 2 horses and 32 cattle, Which do well in winter." McGiLi., G. : — " Thrive excellently ; prairie grass is like lawn grass in England." Brondgeest, J. H. :— " They do better on prairie grass than on tame grass ; I have 74 cattle. Hlddlestoni, T. : — "Splendidly; thrive well in winter if fed and housed — horses will live out. I have 8 horses, about 25 cattle and 20 sheep. Barclay, J. : — " Very well ; I think this will be the great dairy centre of America." SHEEP RAISINa Sheep-growing is now becoming an important industry in the Canadian North-West, and the climatic conditions are such as to render the yield of wool much finer and the fibre con- siderably shorter than that from the same class or breed of sheep elsewhere. Sheep have been entirely free from disease in the North-West, and foot-rot has never occurred so far as can be ascertained. " Do sheep thrive in the Canadian North-West, and is sheep-raising profitable ?" In answering this question one hundred and twf.mi -three settlers replied " Yes," or ' ' They do well and are profitable." or similar i^hrases. The replies of the others are given below. The full name and postal address of each settler are given on pages 3—6. Dalzell, T. :— " They thrive well and pay well in mutton." Ellis, J. :— " They thrive well and can be made to pay well," Burnett, F. :— " They thrive well, and there is a lot of money to be made in raising them." McKiBBiN, J. P. :— " Sheep thrive well, and are one of the most profitable kinds of stock a farmer Bailey, D, :— " They thrive well and would be profitable if there was a market for wool." Hunter, J. M. :— •♦ They do well on fenced-in pasture." Stark W. :--" Sheep are the most suitable stock for the country. No demand yet for wool and very little for mutton ; but I thmk I may say sheep are the hope of Manitoba." McCreath, W. & J. :-" They will do well, and will be profitable if grazed on timothy pasture." WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF TIIP: CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. 29 Caffery, D. : — " I believe sheep raising to be very profitable, but we have none yet." Bartlev, N. : — " Sheep do very well here, better than in Ontario." Steven, J, : — "There are very few in this part, but I think they do well." Ramsey, L. G. : — " None raised in my vicinity. Think sheep would do well here, but price of wool pt vents farmers from keeping any." Tetlock, W. :— " They thrive well. You bet its profitable." Bannister, D. W. : — " I have none, but my neighbours have, and they do well." Umphrey, S. : — " Sheep do well and will certainly pay when a good market for wool is opened." Thompson, W. : — " Sheep thrive well and are profitable if properly cared for." Greenbank, J. : — " Sheep do splendidl;'. There is not much of a market for wool." Fleming, J. : — " Yes, but they require fences ; this is why they are not more generally kept." Cramer, G. W. : — " It is the best stock to raise." Cramer, G. : — " The best place in the world to raise sheep." • Mackie, M.: — " Pay well here." McKenzie, K. (Senr.) : — " Thrive well, and so far profitable, and likely to continue to be." Renton, J. : — " Very well. No wool market yet, but they pay to raise for mutton." McClelland, W. : — " Splendidly. Most profitable stock I have." Carr, W. : — " Do well. How can they do otherwise with our climate and grass ? " Grant, W. J. : — " Profitable in some parts." Dutton, J. R. : — " First rate, and would form a good part of stock for mixed farm." McFarland, J. :— " I have a herd ; they do exceedingly well." Savory, H. W. : — " Certainly ; better than any stock. Yes." Jamieson, J. M. : — " Those who have tried it say most profitable." Gray, J. L. : — " Do well and are very profitable this year." Bowes, J. : — " Yes ; I have a few and never saw them thrive better." McKelvy, W. : — " There are very few here ; they do well." Martin, O. : — " Not many in this part ; do well." Christopherson, S. : — " Yes, one of the most profitable industries." Nicholson, J. : — " Thrive prodigiously, nothing more profitable in my opinion." Johnson, C. : — " Splendidly ; and are most profitable." Lloyd, A. : — " Too many coyottes here at present." McKay, R. :— " Seemingly. Splendidly." Smith, T. :— " Splendidly. No fear of foot-rot." Seebach, O. (J. P.) : — " Yes ; and it can be made very profitable." McKiNNON, J. : — " Did not thrive with me." Proctor, H. : — " Have 100 sheep which do well with very little care." Morton, A. : — "They do well; sheep raising is very profitable." Mackenzie, A. :— "Thrive very well, just the country The land along theC. P. R. is particularly suitable for sheep farms." 9^^■*sUi 30 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. FARM-HOUSES. It may be useful to supplement in settlers' own words the information given on this point in the general pamphlet, " Manitoba." Representative answers only are given. The question was, " Of what material did you build your house ; name appro.ximate cost." Logs. It did not cost me anything, I built it myself. Logs, with a sod roof. Two days' labour, two men and a yoke of cattle. Cost nothing except labour ; cut and hewed the logs myself, sawed the floor out of logs by hand, and put them up with a thatched roof. Logs. Two weeks' labour for one man. Logs. I cannot say ; my eldest boy of 12 and I put it up. Logs. 1 6s. 8d. cash, built by myself, family living in it now. Built of poles and covered with sod. £1. Logs and thatched. £2 ; it was a small house. Logs. I built my first alone, so it did not cost much, say £2. Frame. About £2 4s. Logs. £3 i2s. : nails, £1 -. windows, 12s. 6d. ; door, £1 4s. ; did the rest, niyself. Logs. Built by contract by half-breeds, complete for ;^5. First house, logs lined with lumber, £6. Present house, frame, ;^5o. Logs, thatched roof, lumber floors and door. About £6, besides my own labour. Logs. This year (1844) I have built a neat frame house, costing ;^i6o. First log house cost £j 4s. ; size, 14 by j8 ft. A frame shanty, tar papered and sodded. ;^io. Logs, half a window, and lumber for door, and log-floors upper and lower. ;^io. Logs. Lumber, shingles, nails, windows, and lime, cost ;^I2. Lumber house, but intend to build a stone one next year. ;^20. Logs. About ;^20, besides labour. 1 have built a frame house since. The material cost £60. Logs, which cost 50 dol., hewed and laid on ground. Lumber, &c., I had to team from Winnipeg, about 80 miles. Altogether, cost me £30. Partly logs and partly of clay and hay mixed. About ;^30. Built of logs, plastered with clay, and covered with lumber. ^^40. My first house was built of oak logs. About ;^40. I have now a frame house up. Logs, with a good shingled roof, 18 by 20. ;^40, besides my own labour. Hewed log, 18 by 24, with kitchen attached. About ;^5o. Logs, size 21 ft. by 25 ft. £60. First house of logs, £^0 ; another just completed, costing ;^30o. Log walls with board and shingle roof, and lined inside. ^80. Logs, lined with lumber. We built two, one on each homestead, costing ^^80 each. Frame, 18 by 24, and shingle roof. About £g$. Of hewn poplar logs. Counting my own wuik, ;^ioo. Frame. ;^ioo. A two-storey house, 18 by 24 ft. Frame house 24 by 24, 4 rooms and 2 garrets. £1 10. Frame. ;^I20. Brought the material from Ontario with me. 18 by 26 size. Frame 50 by 35, two-storey. ;^200. Frame, 20 by 26, two-storey high. ;^200. 1 1 rooms lathed and plastered, cellars to full size of the house, with double stone wall. Frame fetched from Ontario. Mine is considered one of the best farm-houses in the North-West. Cost ;^320. Frame and grout stable, ;^200. Frame.;^6oo; filled in. ;^500. .-- ^m»y>r^mP'0mi'^^i WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANAD1A?J NORTH-WEST. 31 THE FIRST SEASON'S CROP. The following are representative answers to the (luestion, " Do you consider that a partial crop can be obtained during the first year of settlement off ' breaking,' and if so what is the best seed to sow ? " From them will be gathered the experiences of settlers themselves. In speaking on this point of so much importance in the early days of settle- ment, it may be well to explain that " breaking " is ploughing the virgin soil of the prairie. When the sod is " broken " the weeds and roots arc allowed to rot thoroughly, and if then the sod is replaced into its former position, the land is said to be " backset." I have oats this year, 30 bushels to the acre on three-inch breaking. Yes, but it is best to do without it if possible ; have seen fair crops from wheat, oats, and barley. Yes, and a good one too, of oats, barley, tu nips, potatoes, and vegetables. Have had 30 bushels of wheat off first breaking (6-in.), and good crop of oats. If breaking was ploughed deep, say 4 inches, I believe h\x would do well. Do not approve of cropping on sod. Tried it but got poor r:rop. You can get a very fair crop off heavy land without back etting. Yes, flax seed best. Wheat and oats will grow fair crop? if sown early. We got half a crop of wheat and barley, but oats are the best. I have had 65 bushels per acre. A partial crop may be obtained, but it does not pay, as the following crops suffer. If anything is sown on breaking, it should be oats, but all say that it is injurious to sow on land the same year that it is broken. Yes. Had potatoes, oats, peas and flax first year ; also garden vegetables. Ploughed furrow, put down row potato sets, turned next sod two inches thick on them. Proceeded in every third furrow ; never touched them after till ploughed them out ; had half a crop. Oats will do on the breaking first year, and be a very good crop. Flax does grand on breaking. Not always. I have seen 40 bushels to the acre, and sometimes not more than 10, but it is always wise for a new settler to try a little. No, it spoils it for crops after Yes, but do not consider it profitable to do so, as the next or following crops are never so good ; if done, sow oats, There can, but would not recommend it except for potatoes. I have grown the finest crops of potatoes the first year. It also leaves the land in the finest condition for crop the next year. I raised a good crop of oats and peas by ploughing 4^ inches deep, and have a good crop of wheat on the same ground without ploughing. I sowed Fyfe wheat on the first breaking, and raised 30 bushels per acre. You will realize a good half crop on breaking, especially fall breaking, but I do not recommend it, as the following crop is sure to be light, as too much grass grows, and the sod is not properly rotted. Yes, a crop of oats. From 30 to 50 bushels can be raised. The first year I raised 35 bushels of oats on fresh breaking. Oats will grow from 40 to 50 bushels per acre. Potatoes and turnips a fair crop. I have 35 acres of iwheat on last year's breaking, which will yield about 20 bushels per acre. Yes, oats. I have grown last year 40 bushels per acre on 23 acres. On scrub land, first year good ; but on prairie land better to break and backset. Flax I consider the best paying crop on breaking ; potatoes do well, and oats fairly well, when put in early. Flax should yield about 8 dollars per acre. I raised last season 1,000 bushels of oats off 25 acres, weighing 40 lbs. per bushel. 33 WHAT SKTTLERS SAY OF 1 UK CANADIAN NORTH- WEST. \ BREAKING AND BACKSETTING. The advisability of securing a crop during the first year on the breaking has already been dealt with, and it is now necessary to ascertain the cost per acre to a farmer doing his own work and including his own labour. An average price per acre may be taken as about 3 dollars (12 shillings), while backsetting generally costs 2 dollars to 2 dollars 50 cents (8 to 10 shillings). The rate per day may be taken as from i.^ to 3 acres. The majority of settlers, it will be noted from the following representative replies, consider backsetting in the autumn advisable, if not necessary, though it i« evident that many find a good crop obtainable of oats and wheat without backsetting. Some few do not consider Dacksetting necessary, "as it gives the weeds the preference in the spring," and as " the grain would grow to straw." The questions asked were : — " What is the cost per acre of breaking to a farmer doing his own work, and including his own labour ? Do you consider it advisable to Irckset, and if so, state the additional cost ? " Breaking is worth 3 dollars (12s). Decidedly backset, prices dollars (12s.). 5 dollars (i^) per acre. I do not consider it advisable to backset. It is better to seed on the breaking as early as possible, then you will reap a fair crop, but I am sure that you cannot reap a fair crop without the sod is thoroughly decayed. 2 dollars (8s.) If you want a good crop you must backset, i dollar (43.) per acre. About 2 dollars (8s.) per acre. It is advisable to backset, and it would cost a farmer about the same as breaking. Breaking will cost about 3 dollars (12s.) per acre. Backsetting is advisable, as from 5 to lobushels per acre more can be grown from it, and backsetting can be done for 2I dollars (los.) per acre, and requires only about half the harrowing in spring. About 4 dollars (i6s.) per acre. Backsetting is mo; s expense, but it puts the land in finer mould, and raises better crops ; I approve of cropping first breaking. I consider backsetting as expensive as breaking, 4 dollars (i6s.) per acre. With a pair of oxen it costs but little, as the oxen live on grass and do well. The only expense is his board, 3 dollars (12s.) per week, and plough repairs about 30 cents, (isd.) per acre. Parties have broken and backset in this vicinity this season for 5 dollars dl. per acre and boarded themselves. E ckset by all means, but parties that want to have oats or peas first year may proceed in one of two ways : plough 4in. deep and harrow on cover ; or sow on the prairie and plough down. 1 dollar (4s.) per day will board a man and a pair of horses, if he buys in bulk and boards himself. I find it best to backset black loam, but sandy loam may be broken deep and seed harrowed and rolled without backsetting. About 3 dollars 50 cents (14s.) per acre. I do not think it necessary to backset, as it gives the weeds the preference in the spring. A man with a span of horses can break from an acre and a half to two acres in the day. Late breaking in mellow land need not be backset. 3 horses on a sulky plough can backset 4 acres in a day. 2 dollars 50 cents (los.) per acre for breaking ; but if hired-done it would cost about 4 dollars (i6s.). i do not consider it advisable to backset in most cases, as the grain would grow to straw. Breaking i acre per day, oxen i dollar (4s.), man i dollar (4s.), sundry expenses with ploughs, &c., so cents (2s.), or say 2 dollars 50 cents (los.) per acre. Backset by all means, about i dollar 75 cents (7s.), or total 4 dollars 25 cents (17s.). To contract would cost about 6 dollars (24s.) 'o get the land ready for crop. Break your land early in June, not more than 2 inches deep; instead of seeding on spring ' breaking, hire out with a Canadian farmer for a time. Backset in August, plough 4 inches deep. If done by contract it would cost for both ploughings 5 dollars (i/.) per acre. Breaking 3 dollars (12s.). By all means backset the same fall, that gives you a chance to sow earlier in the spring, which is very necessary ; then you can sow two weeks before you can plough. Backsetting is worth 2 dollars (8s.) ml an til WHAT SKiil.KRS SAY OF THK CANADIAN NORTII-NVKST. 33 IS already a farmer acre may dollars to o 3 acres. consider lany find consider the grain ncluding il cost ? " ed on the !ap a fair ibout the o bushels icre, and r mould, jnsive a» :pense is boarded 3ceed in vn. himself, d rolled IS, &c., 5 cents s land spring p. If o sow lough. COST OF PREPARING LAND, SOWING, AND HARVESTING. 'IliL- ([ucstions asked on these important points were : — " What do you consider the cost per acre of preparing the land and sowing it, including price of seed, grain, and also harvesting? " The following arc representative replies, and they show an average of eight to nine dollars, the prices named being of course throughout the cost per acre :— 4 dollars 20 cents (18s.) ; made up of charges for cutting and binding, i dollar 50 cents (6s.); stacking, i dollar (4.S-.) ; seed (6 pecks), i dollar 20 cents (6s.) ; harvesting, &c., 50 cents (2s.). 6 dollars to 8 dollars (i/. 8s. to i/. 12s.) is a fair co.st for well tilled crops. 12 dollars (2/. 8s.) for preparing the sod, seeding and harvesting; 7 dollars (il. 89.) old land. This question depends whether done in his own family or having to pay wages. With me, I do all within own family, otherwise about 7 dollars (1/. 8s.) from all points. About 6 dollars (i/. 8s.) being cutting with a self-binder. Ploughing, sowing, harrowing, and rolling, 5 dollars 25 cents fi/. is.) ; seed, i dollar 50 cents \6s.) ; harvesting without threshing, i dollar 50 cents (6s.). Total, 8 dollars 25 cents (i/. 13s.). Letting by contract 1 can get the work done as follows : — Putting in the seed, i dollar 25 cents <5S.) ; seed depends on price of wheat ; harvesting, i dollar 75 cents (7s.), including twine. 10 dollars (2/.) per acre, this will always ensure you a first-class crop. It depends on the kind of grain; wheat, about 6 dollars (i/. 4s.) per acre; peas, more; oats, barley and flax, less. First crop, 9 dollars (i/. i6s.) per acre ; second crop, 5 dollars (il.) per acre. Stubble ploughing, 2 dollars (8s.) ; harrowing, 90 cents. (3s. 9d.) ; seed, 7 pecks per acre at market price ; reaping, i dollar 50 cents (6s.). Preparing, 6 dollars (i/. 4s.) ; cutting, 1 dollar 75 cents (7s.) ; sowing, 25 cents (is.) ; shocking, 30 cents (is. 3d.), with etceteras, equal 9 dollars 90 cents {il. 19s.) 4 dollars (16s ) less after first crop. To take it out of the prairie, it is worth 8 dollars (i/. 12s.). Breaking, i dollar 50 cents (6s.) ; backsetting, i dollar 50 cents (6s.) ; seed wheat, i dollar 50 <:ents (6s.) ; harrowing and sowing, i dollar (4s.) ; harvesting, i dollar 75 cents (7s.) ; stacking, 50 cents (2s.) ; threshing, 1 dollar 59 cents. (6s.) ; total 9 dollars 25 cents (i/. 17s,). If the farmer does the work himself, i dollar 50 cents (6s.) preparing the land; 2 dollars (8s.) for seed ; and harvesting, 2 dollars (is.) ; total, 5 dollars 50 cents (i/. 2s.) ; or say 6 dollars (i/. 4s.). The first crop costs at least 8 dollars (i/. 12s.) per acre. After that the cost is not so great, the breaking being done. 10 dollars (2/.), and if well done will yield 30 bushels per acre of wheat, at say 60 cents a bushel would be 18 dollars (3/. 12s.), leaving 8 dollars (i/. 12s.) for threshing, &c., and profit. Without your own labour it will cost about 7 dollars (iL 8s.) from sowing to stacking. Near about 8 dollars 50 cen's (i 14s.) per acre. Seed, 2 bushels per aci at 75 cents (3s.) per bushel. After first crop, 2 dollars (8s.) for ploughing; 75 cents (3s.) for sowing ; i dollar (4s.) for seed; 2 dollars (8s.) for harvesting ; and i dollar (4s.) for threshing. Total, 6 dollars 75 cents (i/. 7s.) per acre. I consider it will cost me hiring all labour, everything included, 8 dollars (i/. 12.?.) per acre, but don't think the first breaking should be included in first crop, but divided over say 5 years. Two ploughings 8 dollars {it, 12s.) ; seed wheat (2 bushels at 80 cents) i dol. 60 cents (6s. 8d.) ; harvesting i dollar 50 cents (6s.); threshing 75 cents. (3s.). Total, 11 dollars 85 cents (2/. 7s.). Clear ^ain per acre with me 8 dollars 95 cents (i/. i6s.). 7 dollars (i/. 8s.) for ploughing twice; i dollar (4s.) for seeding, harrowing, and rolling ; i dollar ^O cents (6s.) for seed; in all abouc 10 dollars (2/.) per acre. If a man rented a farm he would have to prepare the land and find seed and haivest, and thresh for .half the crops. About 7 dollars (i/. 8s.) per acre at first. Not so much when land has passed first crop. 5 dollars (i/.) per acre altogether. 34 WHAT SF.TTl.KRH SAY « I- IHI". t'AV.MHAN Xt)kT)l-\VK!iT. DATES OF PLOUGHING, SEEDING AND HARVEST. In vii'w of the crroncdus imprfssioiis ofti-n j^ivcn to the general public in the old country by non-ivsidcnts as to tlic duration of the farming,' seasons in tjie Canadian Xoith-West, it is well to have tiie actual dates on which farmers commenced and endeil the various important farmint^ operations. It will be seen, from the representative replies jfiven l)eIow, that ploujjjhin;; may Ik' said to conuncnce, where so early operations are desired, in the be,i;inninji[ or first weelc or so of April — though plou^hin;,' is very often be,!i[im and well pushed on before the close of March. Fall or aulunui plounhini; is often carried on into the lirst week of November ; some years have seen plou.ijhini,' in December, and even on Christmas Day, but the last week- in October may be taken as the avcraj,'e jLjeneral period when the season's continuous plough in,i.j operations close. Harvestinjn is ,i;enerally carried on from the seconil w\'i'k in Au,i;ust until the middle of September. The question asked was, " What are the earliest and latest dates on which you commenced ])lou,i;hing, seedin.i; anil harvest .' " Ploughing, April till November; I seeded 16 acres in March, 1SS4; Iiarvesting in August. Ploughing and seeding, 12th April; harvesting begins 20th August; am still cutting (Sep- tember 13th).. Ploughing, 27lh March ; seeding, 24th April ; harvesting, 24th August. Seeding, 3rd of April, 1884; 14th in 1883. Had plough working up tu 6th November in i832 and 1883, began 15th April ; seeding, 20th April ; harvesting, 29th of August. I have sowed on 9th April, and ploughed till 15th November; harvested as cailv as 14th August in 1881. Ploughing and seeding, 4th April ; plotighing ending 20th November; harvesting, loth August. I sowed my wheat 28th of April this season, and it is harvested all ripe some days ago (Sep- tember I2th). 3rd April, comnienred ploughing and seeding finished ; harvesting, .•^Sth August. Ploughing, April Sth ; seeding, the same ; harvesting, August I5tli Commenced seeding Ust spring, the 2nd day of April ; harvesting, 2C;th .\ugust. It ripens on old ploughing sooner. .Some commenced seeding 28th March. In gen -'^ seeding commences loth to 15th April. Harvesting 25th August. I started ploughing this year on 25th March ; last fall I ploughed till nth of November: sccdii K';, April 3rd to May 15th. Wheat sowing, April 13th to May 20tli ; oats sowing, April 30th to June 15th; barky and peas, .May 20th to June 20th. Ploughing on ist April ; seen it done earlier. My latest ploughing 20fh October. Ploughing, 20th March to ist April ; seeding, ist to 15th April ; harvesting, .August loth to 25th, Ploughing and seeding, March 25th ; harvesting, August 14th. Seeding, 27th March to 21st April ; harvesting, 22nd August to ist September. Ploughing and seeding, last week in Marcli ; cut hay in July, and grain in August and September. I stopped the plough the 24th of October last, and started 27th of March ; commenced to sow wheat April and. This year, ploughing, 15th March; seeding, 25th March; harvesting, loth August; threshed, ylh September. Ploughing, 26th .March to October 25th; seeding, April 12th to May loth ; harvesting, August 20th to September 25th. ^, Ploughing and needing in 18S0, April 30th; 1881, 20th April ; 1882, April 25th ; 1883, April 27th ; 1884, April 25th. Harvesting, August 13th to 27th ; this year August i8th. wea abo Auj abo 188 Jun WHAT Sr.TTl.J-.RS SAY OK TMK CANADIAN NORTH-WESl'. 35 S«;fdinK, loth April, 1884, on land ploiij^hod on 7th Novcmbt-r, 1HH3. IMoiijjhintj done last fall. Scrdin),', J5tli Marrh ; harvestiii),', ist ol Aiigt st. l'loiij;liin;j jjennrally stops about ti\e ist of NovcmlxT, and starts about lotii of April. Th«« severe wi'athtr about two montiis loiiij. Seeding, early in ;\pril ; harvesting Listed two weeks in .\ui;ust. I have ploughed as late as jf)th December, ami as e.irly as .March iJth. Generally coinnience about 15th of Ai)ril, and close 5th of November. S(;eding, April _'oth ; harvesting, _5th .Au^'ust. Don't plough in the spring. Seeding, March 26th to May ist; harvesting, July ;.'4th to .August iSth. Ct)mmenced seeding one year on the 7th March, but that was an exceptional year. Generally .ibout the 21st of April commence to seed. Seeding, Ji4th March; ploughiir^, jMth March, 1884. Stopped ploughing about miildle of October, J 883. In 1883 I sowed wheat 17th April ; tliis year on 3rd .April. Have seen good barley sown 2otli June. I'otatoes planted nth July. PLOUGHING ON TIIR PRAIRIE. 36 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. MIXED FARMING. u i To the general settler the suitability of the prairie to cattle and sheep-raising is a matter of great importance ; for the most profitable as well as agreeable mode of farming in a country such as the North-West is undoubtedly the combination of cattle-raising and grain-culture, and mixed farming generally. A steady and increasing importation to Manitoba of cattle and horses of good breed is now taking place, and the cheapness with which feedV'g can be carried on and the power a mixed system gives the farmer of making use of svhat would otherwise be wasted, must lead to a still further increase in the extent of stock-raising in the country. Following are the representative experiences of settlers, and the unanimity of their replies in favour of the general desirability and profitableness of mixed forming will be noted. The questions asked were : — "(i.) Is stock-raising profitable combined with grain farming where cattle have to be housed during winter? (2) What is your opinion cl mixed farming, that is, stock-raising and grain-growing combined ? " I. Yes, and very healthy and hardy. 2. Mixed farming is best and turns everything to account. I. Yes. 2. That it is far better than grain-farming alone, both for the pocket and the land. I. It is the most profitable kind of farming. 2. That it is the most pleasant and profitable. I. Yes, we have all to go in for mixed farming ; find nothing pays better than stock-raising. 2. This is a great wheat country, no doubt, but I think it by far a greater stock-raising country. I. Stock-raising and grain-farming is the sure way of success ; cattle can be wintered most of the winter on straw. 2. Mixed farming is the most reliable mode for succeeding well. I. Yes, I consider it the most profitable way in the North- West where grass and hay are so plentiful. 2. Mixed farming is the best and mcst suitable in this neighbourhood. I. Cattle pay very well, but it is not advisable to keep a large stock where much grain is grown. 2. Cannot be done by a poor man to advantage ; stock-raising on a small scale is all right. I. That is the true way of farming in this country, and by all means the most profitable and easy and the most comfortable. 2. The proper way to farm; and the farmer with 320 acres and mixed farming is t!ie man who will succeed. I. Nothing better ; if one misses the other hits, as stock is always a good price here. I. Yes, because your young stock will live at your straw all winter if sheltered from the winds. 2. Mixed farming is the safest. I. Stock-raising is profitable under any circumstances whatever. 2. I think mixed farming is the best. 1. Yes, there is food in almost unlimited quantity ; easily fed, and they fetch 50 or 100 per cent, more than in Ontario. 2. It is the best way to farm. I. Where there is plenty of hay, as here, the stock have, so far, been the most profitable of the two. 2. Highly desirable. More pigs should be raised Co consume our coarse grains ; the price of pork is likely to be high for some years. I. That is my way of making a living. 2. The stock eat the refuse grain and fatten on it, so your beef is improved with what would be lost if you had no cattle. i. We find stock-raising quite profitable here so far. 2. Where farming is done on a small scale I consider mixed farming will pay well. I. I consider cattle raising profitable where the land is suitable for both combined, and it is in many places. I. You can have 50 per cent, on your own money. 2. It does well with all. I. Stock-raising gives amusement to the ladies in making butter. 2. I favour mixed farming. WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN* NORTH-WEST. ing IS .a farming sing and Manitoba h which king use jxtent of ir replies ed. The ve to be ;k-raising Lccount. nd. tie. aising. ost of the ay are so is grown. and easy nd mixed he winds. irming is per cent. )le of the price of t, so your nail scale id it is in ling. I. Yes, stock-raising pays well. 2. Mixed farming pays splendidly. I. I think so, and am keeping 12 cows and theircalves. 2. Sheep, pigs, and cattle, fed with oats, peas, and barley are profitable. We are too far from market here at present to grow wheat largely. I. Yes. 2. Do not like it, as there is too much to attend to during harvest ; should prefer either bv itself. I. Yes. 2. It pays as cattle are a good price. GROWTH OF FLAX. The following answers, taken at random, from the mass of testimony show that flax- raising may be carried on with considerable success in the Canadian North-West. The climate and soil are peculiarly suited to its growth, and it would seem to be especially useful as a crop on the breaking in the first year of settlement. The opening of milling facilities at Winnipeg is now further tending to extend its cultivation. The question asked was : — " Have you ever grown flax, and how does it succeed ? " Want of space forbids the publication of more than one reply or so of each class. Yes. It will do well on land broken in fall (autumn). Yes. It does very well indeed on new breaking. Not tried on backsetting. Have sown twice, and had an excellent crop. Yes, succeeds admirably. Yes, two years, the best I ever saw. Yes, on a small scale for home use ; made splendid tweed. Quite a success. The first year on the raw sod, after breaking ; it did well. I traded it for flour and seed wheat. Grows splendidly. I have grown flax, and it succeeded remarkably well. Have 20 acres about ready to cut, and crop promises well. Grew about 10 acres last year ; fair crop, but owing to late sowing was frozen. I have, and it grew wonderfully well. Yes. 40 bushels per acre. USE OF MANURE. As will be seen from a perusal of the following representative replies on this point that farmers generally in Manitoba and the Canadian North-West use manure but sparingly, generally only after the second year or so to prevent any exhaustion of the land. "Do you consider it necessary to use manure on your farm, and to what extent.'" Yes. What time you can spare is well spent in manuring your land, although good crops arc raised for many years without it. On heavy land, no ; on a lew light spots, yes. No, except for some things that require forcing. Yes, in small quantities, after the second crop. I don't think it necessary to use manure for years to come, my third crop being better than my first. I have used manure to a few potatoes to try what effect it had along with others that were planted without manure, and they did no better than others. I find manure benefits vegetables and root, but with grain it grows so heavy and lodges that it is hard to reap, and does very well, if not better, without. J8 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WESl'. « Have never tried it ; can grow good crops without it. I believe manure at present would do more harm than good, but it is not so on all lands. I believe manure is needed on the high land, after it is worked 9 or lo years. I do. I find that manure is as beneficial here as in any other country after removal of a few crops. I have used a little, but it does not require manure. Yes. One coat every three years. No. My method is to take two|or three crops from first breaking, and summer fallow this year what I want for next year, then I am ready to sow early, and it rots the land and keeps it clean from weeds. Not necessary, but very desirable in garden for forcing vegetables. Yes ; then crops ripen 10 or 12 days earlier. About as much as used in Ontario. Yes. I am this year using about two tons of stable manure to the acre on third-crop wheat ground, that is, successive crops of wheat. The man that throws his manure away is no farmer. Let him try a piece of land with it, and he will be convinced It will increase the grain 10 bushels per acre. We manure very little ; it makes the land too rich. My farm has been under cultivation over 20 3'ears without manure, and it is still good to grow wheat, barley, or anything else. Not necessary until fonr or five crops have been taken off, then the land would be better for it ; but I have seen land where fifteen crops have been taken off without manure. I consider thct well rotten barn-yard manuie will be very beneficial, as it would make the soil more mellow, and not so liable to bake after rain. FENCING. Wire fencing- is preferred by many farmers to rail fences, the former requiring little repair and preventing drifts of snow. A wire and wood fence — consisting of pieces of wood connected at certain distances by wire has been patented, and may be purchased in Winnipeg. This kind of fence is a great improvement on the barbed-wire fence, the objection to which is that cattle injure themselves by runnmg against it. The price of wire fencing varies according to the distance it is sent. As to fixing, two men could fix one mile in four days. The average expense of fixing, including wire or wire and wood fence, would be from about 20/. to 30/. per mile. The question asked of settlers on this point > is : — "What kind of fencing do you use, and if possibie state the cost of same per mile?" Wire and wood rails. Wire 3 heights costs 20/. per mile. Wood rails cost the work of cutting aud drawing. Poplar. 8'. per mile more or less. Posts of cedar, pine, rail on top, 3 lines of barbed wire posts 10 U. apart and 2 ft. 6 in. on ground. Cost per mile, 75/. I am just fencing round my section in tl.is v/ay. I use wire. It costs me about 20/. per mile for 3 strands o^ rvire. Wire fencing with posts one rod apart. 12/. per mile for wire, 2 strand ; posts got for the hauling. We don't use any fencing, as we herd all the cattle. I have about equal parts of ^ach. Rail fence cost 17/. ; wire 25/. per mile. Barb wire to fence a night park for cattle is all that is needed ; they roam the prairie and come home at night. Have herd law in force here. Have built about one mile ; native posts, with top rail, and one .strand barb wire, costs 15/. Wire. I built 334 rods cf fence this year for '8/. 4s. Some rails, some vyire ; a rod of wire will fence 40 rods which costs 2I. ; posts, ^d. each. Wire. 20/. per mile with your own labour will make a good fence. Wire, 2 stranJs, with pole on top ; poplar posts. Wire costs 7/. per mile, labour and poles, 3/. posts, 2/. WHAT SKI TLERS SAY OF THF. CANADIAN NOR 1H-\VEST. 39 1 few crops. s year what om weeds. Barbed wire, 2 wires enough ; cost 12I. i6s. per mile, besides posts. Herd law here, no fencing required except for pasture. Wire. 24/. per mile, 3 strands. Wire. About 16/. per mile, not including work. Rail at first, wire now and Tamarac posts at §rf. each in bush ; 2 strands for 11/. los. a mile. Wire, 2 strands. About 12/. 16s. per mile when you do your own work. Poplar poles. About 8^. to me ; people in other localities, where wood is not so abundant, use steel wire. Cost about 12/. per mile. eat ground, 1 it, and he ;ion over 20 r for it ; but le soil more liring little Bs of wood Winnipeg, )n to which :ing varies four days, from ahout 3er mile ? " k of cutting 1. on ground. the hauling. ie and come lil, and one :h. id poles, 3/. PRICES OF PROVISIONS. This is a question best answered by the mother, wife, or sister of the household, she having direct management of such matters. Those interested should therefore consult what is said on this subject in the pamphlet, " What W^omen Say," though it may be of interest to give also the experiences of some men settlers in various parts : — "How do you fmd the prices of the necessaries of life as compared with those you had to pay before coming here ? " A little dearer than in England. Much the same ; prices get lower every year. Prices are higher here than in the ola country, but wages are higher also. Groceries rather dearer and dry goods also. Flour, beef, pork, mutton, &c., cheap. Prices to-day are slightly over those in Ontario. In a few years living will be cheap in this country, i.e., when farmers grow the principal necessaries of life ; they have not had time yet. More expensive at first ; about same now as we paid before coming here. One can purchase goods here as cheap, if they buy them wholesale, as they could in Scotland, but retailers have good profits here. They average from 10 to 15 per cent, dearer in this district, except meat, which is about the same. A man can live here (Millford) as cheaply as anywhere after he has raised his own pork, flour, butter, and eggs. They are now getting more equal, and many things are no dearer. They were high at one time, but compare very favourably now. Along the railroad, no dearer than when I left Ontario. There are some dearer, but on the whole we can't complain. Heavy goods a little dearer, ) ght goods not much difference; matters are improving now. No difference now that we hx c a through route to Montreal throua^h our own Dominion. There is very little difference, except bacon and woollen goods, and they are getting lower. A trifle higher, but not so high as when I came here first. They were very high two years ago, but are very reasonable now, as there is everything necessary for the wants of the people shipped in by merchants and agents on the C. P. R. Somewhat higher ; not as much as I expected. CI HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR WINTERS? ff The replies to this question are interesting, as bearing upon the nature of the climate of the Canadian North-West in winter. The full jiostal address of each respondent may be found on pp. 3 — 6. ■ • Dalzell, T. : — " In at^^ending to cattle and getting fuel and fence posts." Bedford, J. : — " Plenty to employ one on a farm, hauling wood, lumber, grain to market, &c." Workman, A. : — " Getting wood, tending to cattle, getting hay and making improvements, &c." AsTLEV, W. J. and Lanyon, R. E. : — " Cut wood, feed stock, hunt and go round visiting." .40 AVHAT SKTTI.KRS SAY OF THK CAXAniAN NOR TH-Wr.ST. Pollard, P. : — ' Shooting, chopping, arid general work." PoLLAKn, H. : " Plenty of work, but spend a good time." GtLMOTK, T. : — " A man witli i6o to 320 acres is never at a loss to find work to do, ii Iil- attends to his business." RoBKKTs, L. L. : — " Cutting firewood and rails and looking after the stock." McKlRBiN, J. P.: — "Attend to the stock, cat wood for fuel, go fisiiing (through the ice , and skating, &c.'' S.MiTii, A. : — " Marketing, getting firewood, lumber, rails, and tending stock." McCo.N'NKLL, D. : — " Feeding stock, reading the papers, and teasing the women." Stank, W. : — " Tending cattle, getting out fencing, firewood &c. Always plenty to do." Caki'kkv, D. : — " Taking care of cattle, getting up wood, choring and reading newspapers in tlu. evenings." Bannistkr, D. W. ; — " Tending cattle, getting our firewood, visiting our friends, and entertaining." Umimikev, S. : — "Getting fuel for summer and tending stock, thrashing grain, teaming surphis grain to maiket, &c." Thompson, W. ; — " Tending cattle, getting wood, teaming grain to marker, and pleasure riding." Ralston, J. : — " Takin good time generally." McKknzie, K., Sknk. " T, ...jing cattle, marketing grain, and getting firewood, Sic, .-md goii>u,' to church on Sundays." CAVi-ioN', R. E. : — " H.iuiing vood and grain, and cleaning the wheat for market." Lacey, J. ]\I. : — " Driving around, calling on friends and having a good time." Johnson, J. : — " Teaming grain, Sec, to market, and necessary work about farm." Carr, W. :^" Looking after stock, doing marketing', seeing neighbours, reading, ai.u other recreations." Dt'TTON, J. R. : — " Hauling grain and wood. Plenty to do." McGhie, L. : — " Sometimes go out to hunt, and draw some firewood." Kindred, A. : — " Getting wood for fire and fencing and enjoying ourselves." Steven, J. :— " Haul firewood and fence poles, eat, sleep, and enjoy ourselves." Johnston, G. P. : — " Visiting my neighbours." Cardi;fk, J. P. : — " Attending stock, getting wood for fire and driving about." Carmichael, W. : — " Waiting on cattle, driving, fiiewood and fencing, and shooting." Darolgh, C. : — " Fishing for pike and selling same by the ton." Drury, J.: — "Getting out firewood a.id fence rails, drawing pioduce to market, te;u!iing the children and preparing for spring. ' CuRKiK, G. C. : — " Teaming wood, &c., and social pastimes." McKay, R. ;— " Caringfor the stock, getting fuel, marketing grain, and putting seed r.ud m.icliinerv iii good order for first approach of spring." HiPKiNs, A. : -" Getting out wood, attending cattle, and with the wife, quite snug." Wenmax, \V. ;—" In attending to cattle, getting fire'vood and marketing grain ; every h-ir ii^ occupied. ' MiLLEis', J. : — " Getting out grain, firewood, home and shooting rabbits." Proctor, H. :— " I first complete recjuisite work, then visit among the neighbours." I WHAT SF.ITI.KKS PAY OF IHn rWADlAX N'ORTII-WF'^r. 41 MlUNT Sir.l'Iir.N, ' AN \1)!A\ KOCKY MlH NIAINS. i i ."".^ ■-» | "-""-— ■ 4* WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. •..it'^iM« ;UCCE8S OF Are you satisfiet with the country, the climate, and the prospects ahead of you ? Is there any adv ce you would give to intending settlers ? Dalzell, T. :— " am well satisfied. I consider this one of the best countries for stock raising and agricultural purposes in the world. The soil is the richest I have ever seen, and with the Canadian Pacific Railway running from ocean to ocean, we have an outlet both ways for our surplus grain and stock, which puts us on an equal basis with any part of the Dominion. Thtic is room here for millions who are willing to work.'' Bedford, J. : — " Many are crippled for want of capital. Many that had money at first are deficient in knowledge. Many are lazy, and some are extravagant, but any person coming to Manitoba, if he is strong and willing to work, with or without money, can do much better than in England or Ontario. A person with capital (say ;^6oo to jfSoo), and with judgment, perseverance, and frugality, can do much better than in England. I have now invested over ;£8oo on 150 acres (less the first purchase), which is paying me a fair interest. " I would advise any young man from England to work for some good farmer for a year or more. An Englishrr an has much to learn when arriving in Manitoba. If good farming does not pay, b^.d will not. 1 daily witness^ tjie bad effects of repeatedly sowing the same ground with wheat. In some of these instances persons are losing one-third of their crop, and with some the second crop is very bad. The third year for the future I intend to summer fallow about half what I sow with wheat and timothy, cut off the timothy the next summer and plough immediately again for wheat, the rest will have barley between. Perhaps the above will not interest you; my remarks are intended for the public benefit." Smith, W.^:— " I am well pleased. I cannot see anything to prevent a working man with say ;^200 to start him from doing well in this country." -vm'!;;; » Ellis, J. -. — " I cannot say but what I am. I am convinced that no better place can be found for any man to settle in than this country; but let him not come here with the expectation of planting potatoes, and digging up silver arid gold. He must be diligent and careful^' and not^xpect too much, nor should he cultivate too much icind ; what be does do let him do it well. 'It has been the curse of this country men going into firming on a large scale, ^d not getting their cropsiajtill after the season for sowing was past. As was to be expectedj the consequence was damaged grain Td the fall, anu then the country has to bear the blame." ^^ • '- .',.'.... BuRNETT,.p>;— '* I have been pretty* necHy all; Ovv" the world, an^ a'irr sp'^atisfifed with the country and my prospeists that 1 guess I w^lJ^ a £xtureh.e^e^^l^7 the re^t of my^.dg.x9«^,v;ic4okisider there is no country better ,; and very few' tQ; equal "this: in the way," in affording a msin with&viBQderate capital an opportunity of building up &'cb^l6rtabUboftie for himself through farming. Arid jf,>he does not make it a success, it is entirely his own fault, as no man need be a failure her6 if< he will only work." MoLLAND, J. : — " I am satisfied, and think the North-West a very good agricultural country for such as are willing to work." GiLMOUR, T. : — " To this I reply ' Yes' and ' No.' I can only speak of this part of the Province from personal experience and observation, as I have not travelled much beyond this point. My testimony is therefore confined to Pembina Mountain district, and is to this effect : — For a good he? 'thy climate, a iirst-class virgin soil capable of producing from 20 to 45 bushels of wheat per acre, and a proportionately large yield of oats and barley and all kinds of roots, together with live stock of all kinds, this province has no par." Carter, T. :— " Why not ? If you or any other man can show me a better coimtry than this for a poor man to live in, I will give you or him ;^100, and I will go and live there, but I am going to stay here until such a place is found." McGiBBiN, J. P. :— " Yes, I would say to intending settlers come quickly and secure land either b> i.omesteading or purchasing railway land." Bell, J. C. :— " Am well pleased with the country ; prospects very good. People who are able and willing to work will do well in this country. The land is fertile and easily worked." tol^ hea to pi' cor a wis| fine WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. 43 raising nadian in and nilUons eficient if he is )ntario. lo much vhich is )r more. b'».d will some of is very 3W with [leat, the nded for say ;£200 pund for planting 00 much, se of this eason for then the e country lere is no apital an not make juntry for Province oint. My Dr a good t per acre, ire stock of 1 this for a ing to stay land either re able and Oliver, T. : — "Yes, I am satisfied. I have been in Australia, Scotland . ^ Ontario, and I con- sider the North- West the best country for a steady, industrious man to make a start and a comfortable home for a family." AvERiLL, O. : — "Quite so. I consider any man willing to work, possessing as much as ;^200 capital, has a much better prospect here than in the older countries, especially if he has a family to provide for, as they can live much cheaper here, having plenty of game for the shooting, and splendid vegetables, as well as great quantities of wild fruit for the picking." Bailey, D. : — " Very well satisfied. I believe at present an ambitious man can settle on a farm of 320 acres with the small sum of £^o, and do well, if he has the brain and muscle to carry him along." Fergus, J. : — '* Ves. I think that farming in the North-West will only be successful with those who understand farming. One can't sow any way or at any time ; the ground must be well ploughed and harrowed. A great many come to the North- West who know nothing about farming and fail ; they then leave and give the country a bad name." Helliwell, W. J. : — " Yes. My advice would be, come prepared to work and not to find a crop and house already on your farm for you. Make up your mind you will have to rough it for a time and that you will not pick up gold dollars at the end of every furrow you plough, but make up your mind to do plenty of hard work, and you will succeed and be comfortable." Nesbitt, G, ; — " Perfectly satisfied. I have no personal ends in saying so, but I was born in the Lower Province and lived there till I was 23, ar ' emigrated to Huron 1858. I am now growing old. I have always followed farming and this is ^iccidedly the finest country I have ever seen ; the best climate and the easiest to make an independent living in. I often wonder at the fine young men working hard for their scanty living in the old countries, when they might be independent here at once. I think this place escaped the old curse ; we have no thistles and the land brings forth in abundance. If we had only a few more railroads we should be all right. I hope the Rapid City Railway will come through here soon." Gray, J. L. : — " I am satisfied with country, climate and prospects, with some laws being reformed in due time. I have answered most of your questions according to my pioneer knowledge, as 1 went over ICK) miles for supplies for my family. To-day I am only two miles out of City of Brandon limits ; never dreamt of such a place. In conclusion I can safely say there is no other country I know of can surpass Manitoba in raising beef, grain and vegetables, and that of the best quality. As to intending settlers, all I can say is let them bring willing hands to work, a stout heart and a resolution that will not be shaken, and no fear but they will get on." McCreath, W. and J. :■ — " I am satisfied with the climate. Our prospects are not much at present." Wright, T., and Sons : — " Not as well as we should like to be. We consider still that there are ample inducements for immigrants to come to this country, and the earlier the better." Sutherland, R., Senr. : — " I think the country is very much hurt by those who go into farming beyond their m6ans. Thirty acres well put in is worth fifty half or poorly put in. If farmers farmed what they can do well, there would be less damaged grain. When land enough is broken, then every farmer can have summer fallow for his wheat. With a smaller acreage there will be more grain raised, and a far better sample. Those who are content with what they can manage, will raise the best grain, and are most prosperous. I was told by a man the other daj that he put in over 100 acres last spring, with three horses, and ploughed a lot of it. He did not intend to reap but very little, as it would not pay for the binding cord. Now forty acres well done would be better than all that. People will soon see their folly ; some see it now as they have ruined themselves by going on too large a scale. Let every man do what he can do well, and he will get along, no fear." Ramsey, L. G. : — " I am satisfied that although we have some disadvantages to contend with and tolerate, ' i time this is bound to be a good country. Fro.fi my experience, and from what I read and hear of other countries, the Canadian North-West is as good, if not a better, country for a man to come to who is not making a living where he is. I consider that it has less disadvantage, and a better future pi-ospect, than any other country I know of, but would not advise anyone to come to it who was comfortable, and making a living elsewhere." McBean, p. : — " Fairly satisfied, but there are drawbacks." Bailey, Z. :— " Yes, I am satisfied. I do not consider any place preferable to the North-West for a man with moderate means. I have heard of some few going to Western States from here, and now wishing they were back again. Any person to whom it is convenient to bring sheep or cattle would find it pay, but horses can now be got reasonable here." 44 W'UXr SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. BANNlsviiR, D. W. :— " We are all happy and contented with our lot so far, thanks ; we came for a good home. I can honestly recommend industrious agriculturists to •' ■ land of the free. The last; six years I farmed in England I sunk ;^4,ooo sterling. I left Engla. ^h September, 1881, and I commenced on the open prairie 7th May, 1882, Now I consider mysel. rth — house and buildings. ,^300; cattle, ;^8o; horses, £60; implements, ;£i4o; land, ;^6oo; all got by the industry of my own family. I have homesteaded six (all satisfied) within a few miles of myself, by letters 1 have written home." Malcolm, J. : — " Yes, but I may be disappointed. I like this country well, and I would like to see some of my old conipauions in Scotland here, for I am sure they would do well. I look into the future with a bright hope that in a few years I shall have bettered my position here. I know some who could get along in this country. I won't say any more, but guarantee the above to be all true." GouRLAY, J. W. : — " F'airly satisfied. People coming to this country must not expect that they are coming to a paradise, but with industry and good management a man can make a comfortable home in about 20 years." Scott, A. : — " Quite satisfied. In regard to raising vegetables, I was a gardener in Scotland for over 30 years before coming out here, and a very successful competitor; but I tind that I can raise vegetables of more variety and greater perfection in size and quality in this country. I have also planted a large quantity of young trees in this district, and they are doing well," Allen, W. — " I am satisfied. I believe there are reports prevalent about blizzards here in the winter, and that last winter a man had to stay in the house for three or four days and dare not ^o out to feed his stock on account of a blizzard, yet knowing at the same time his stock was starving tor the want of food and water. I believe it to be untrui^, for I can safely say there was not a day all last winter that I was unable to feed my stock three times a day and water them." Mackie, M. — " I am. Any man that has no way of living but working for it, this is the place for- him, for in three years he can have a good home." Bleakley, F. W. — " Am well satisfied. Prospects are good as soon as branch roads are built. As a grain growing country I believe it is not excelled by any in the world. The " Arctic climate " we hear so much about is more imaginary than real. Its broad acres of the most fertile soil, the certainty of crop returns, the very excellent prairie hay, its pasture land, but above all its very healthy climate,, render it, in my opinion, a very desirable place for those wishing to better their circumstances by agricultural pursuit."?," Pringle, D. — " Yes, if we had a railroad (Southern Manitoba, now being opened up by branch lines) to take our produce. As a farm labourer from Scotland, I consider Manitoba a good home for all who will work on a farm. There are hardship^ to endure, but they are soon got over by all who are in- dustrious and willing to work. Fortunes are not picked up at once here any more than in the old country." Morton, T, L. — " Yen, fully. Too much importance cannot be attached to the necessity of mixed farming where practical. Stock of every kind giv a surer profit, although not as quick a return in the first instance, as grain. There is too much talk about the land not needing manure, it certainly doe:-> after three years' cropping, I have raised 40 bushels of wheat an acre this year on land broken iiv 1874 ; it was four years in timothy prior to 1885." Campion, R, E. — " Very well satisfied. Am satisfied, could not do better elsewhere. People who have had some experience in farming will find no trouble in getting along and makin^f rapid headway in this country. If they are willing to apply themselves, work pretty hard and manage carefully, they can become independent in three to five years. Mixed farming is the only sure system of success." Stratford, J, W,- -" Yes. I think this country in every sense of the word an agricultural country. I admit the seasons are short, but the very long day which we have in summer I think makes up in some measure for the short season, and if farmers in general would be satisfied to sow less crops- and get it in early and harvest early, they would, I think, succeed better than they do. In 1883, when crops were badly frozen, only late crops were damaged in this part of the country ; early wheat was a splendid sample." MuDD, R.— " I am ; what more can I say. Res' lution, tact, and ^^240 is, under ordinary circum- stances, sure to win. A strong, healthy man can obtain an independent position in this country. He will have hardships to encounter at the outset, none but what a vigorous resolution can surmount. I have surmounted them, handicapped as I am with a family of seven, the youngest a baby." WHAT SKTTLERS SAY OF THE CAXADIAX NORTH -WE ST. 4S imate ' we Renton, J. — " I like it better every day I am here, would not go back to Ontario to farm. After many years' experience in farming in Canada, I have no hesitation in recommending this part of Manitoba as a des'rable place for settlers wishing to fa.m. I need scarcely mention the drawbacks, as all new and, indeed, old countries have them. I have already hinted at them. Our great drawback is the long distance from market, but we hope that will soon be one of the things of the past. This country has made wonderful progress, for when I came in the spring of 1880 the nearest house was about 27 miles to the east, none west, south or north nearer than the Elliot Settlement; now we have stores, post office, churches and schools, and the prairie all dotted over with houses, and thousands of acres under cultivation." McClelland, W. — " Yes. I am glad that I struck on Manitoba. I have given you a true state- ment to all your questions, and I would strongly advise all those who have a little money and no farm of their own to lose no time in coming west. I for one would not go back to live in Ireland for any farm they have got there, and pay rent for same." Parsons, J. — "Yes, I am satisfied. I am about five miles from Souris River, where there is a little timber, and about 35 miles from Souris Coal Fields, 70 or 80 from Moosomin, the nearest rail- road, but I expect that sometime the South Western will be extended through this section. I think this c untry will be settled very much quicker than the older parts of Canada, and when settled as nnich as Ontario will very much surpass it." Lacev, J. M. — " I am greatly pleased with Manitoba; would not go back to England. I might add that in my opinion Manitoba is the farmer's paradise. I have farmed all my life in England, so I ought to know which I like the best. I mean to say that any man of a little capital, say from ;^I50, can with moderate energy make a very comfortable home here, in fact, if I was in England with the like amount, I would soon strike out for the fair prairies of Manitoba, where I could get a home I could call my own. I am sure that if the country was properly represented, a lot of farmers with moderate means from around when ! came from (Leicestershire) would come to Manitoba in preference to paying high rents in England." Rae, ]. : — " Fairly satisfied. One thing about this country which is against some people being satisfied with it is that they come here expecting too much, having only very limited means, and a great many no experience in farming, and scarcely in work of any kind." Carr, W. : — "I am fifty -years old, and five of family— seven all together; we are all delighted Avith the country and prospects. My opinion is that it is the best country for farming that I know of ; .iny man that will work three months in the year can live. The<-e are thousands where I come from in the old country (Yorkshire) that would be better here, as they can never expect to do more than live in half poverty ; here they can have 160 acres of the best land in the world for 40 shillings ; that will be worth in a few years £1,000 sterling — in fact it is now, as a proof of which it will keep any family, and you can save money. If any of my numerous friends should wish to better their condition, come to this country at once, as these chances will not be for many years." McLachland D. F. : — " Quite satisfied as far as the country is concerned.' Smith, W. : — " Yes ; by all means use oxen. The first two years I think any one will do better to come than to stay on a rented place (in the old country), or work as a labourer." SPORT IN THE NORTH-WEST, The autumn months aflford a good opportunity for hunting and sport among settlers and visitors to the Canadian North-West. Useful hints are given on this question in the general pamphlet, " Manitoba and the Canadian North- V^est." From these it will have been seen that lor the English sportsman there is no lack of opportunity for excellent hunting, and it will therefore be of general interest to supplement the particulars already published by the following notes on the game and fish of the country, from the pen of the President of the Manitoba Gun Club :— DUCKS.— Manitoba and the North-West Territories are the nursery for nearly all kinds of the duck species, and breeding-grounds for almost all the migratory b-rdo of North America. Instinctively 46 WHAT SETTLERS SAY OF THE CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. taught, they begin to arrive as soon as