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/ SHEWING THE EXTENT AND SITUATION OF ITS
POBLIC LAC^IDiS,
/l/6^^ /7'6^ GEOGRAPHICAL RELATION TO THE i
- BRITISH ISI^ES.
,..■<"
I\ihlisluMl l>v order of*
' MIA'ISTKU "»
>.. runiiMiuMi ov oraer or .vvv
^il.
/
iinyitiiili- Wr-t (!|5 /?T'm (irrriiwii > i;ni
<.r;\
Ki\
■<S \
. py 'M* ^,o»^,;^ T« '3 V.'iTPr*
in
^• w mtf,m.
R E P E T S
or
TENANT FARMERS' DELEGATES
OS TilB y^
DOMINION OF CANADA
AS A
FIELD FOR SETTLEMENT.
\
SECOND SERlEa
i-
>-
Published hy Authority of the Department of' AgricvUure of the
Government of Canada,
1881.
• I
V r'. •; J /■
. X.
/^.
;.(?
V
*^Y
»
CONTENTS.
iNTnODUCTION . - .
rHOFESSOU SuEr-Do^'s RicrouT
Mit. Hugh McLean'^ Rki'uut
Mu. Qeouoe Cuktis's Repout -
Mr. R. II. B. P. ANinnuiON's Rf.i'out
Mr. W. p. Cuuitt's Rei'out
Mr. Petek Imhie'.^ Rei'Out
Mr. J. Sparuow's Report
Mr. Georqe BnoDEKicK's Rurom'
JIu. John Sagau's Retout
RIu. James Rtddell's Papei
itxTRAC'T,S FROM Ml".::.S!;.S. RlCAD AND PeI.L'.S REPOUT -
XTRACT3 FUGM 'COLONIZATION CIRCULAR'
XTRACTS FROM COLONEL DeNNIS'S MEMORANDUM RESPECTING LaND
'i lations
Information for Intending Settlers
It ^
|n any o'
ifherr
Regu-
tAOl
V
9
28
48
C9
74
84
97
IOC
lie
120
130
132
110
143
' -!
:n[one Y.
hi
1.1.
ii
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For sinnll cliniij;
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ildll.ir U ... ... ...
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04
Die Iiiilfp.nny storllii;,' U ono cont, and tho panny Bterlini; is two ce.itj.
For nrriviiifj rounhly nt tlKj" uiiiirnximivte viiliu! of htijjtcr li^'\ii-M, the pound Htorling may be
counted as five dollars. Tlio sign § id u.iud to iudicato tho dolliir.
/
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i>'(l-
JC
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...
(",
...
4
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ny sterl
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e pound
Htorling may be
INTRODUCTION.
Tiir, Focond ficrics of the reports of favmovH from Kiiglatnl, Troland, ami ScotlniiJ, who
visiti'd Canada in tlio .suinnier and autumn of last year, are now presented to tlio pnl)-
lie. They have bicn made by tlio following fjcutlomon, Komo of whom wore appointed
aa delegates by tins farmers in tlieir districts, while others, from their ivmitious in the
ngricidlural world, are well riualilied to Hi>eak upon so important a Hiihjoet.
■RFii. J. P. Siii-.i.niiN, Professor of Agrieulturo, Wills and llmu.'i Agricultural
Collei,'o, Downton, Salinbur}'.
Ml!, lliuiii McIiK.vN, llhu, Tnrbort. Argyll-hiro.
Mit. CiKdiKii; C'ruTls, Woodside, Sil.sdeu, Leeds.
Mit. 11 II. 11. P. Ani)i:i!.«oN, ListuMel. County Kerry, Ireland,
Jti!. W. Cn'.nT. IJaetfin Abbey, North WaMiam. Norfolk.
Mit. Pinicic Imiiik. CawdcrCuilt, Mary hill, Lanark.
Mil. J. Si'.MiKDW, Woodlands Farm, Doynton. near liath.
Mk, G. Buodf.uick. Ilawes, Wenslo>daio, Yorks.
Mil. John Saoau, Waddington, near Clitheroo, Lancashire.
A paper has also been contributed by Mil. Jamus IliDUi'.i.r., who has been residing
in Manitoba for four years. Extracts are al.so given from the report of Mi;ssi!>. Ci.AiiK
IlF.An and Ai.iiEiiT PEi.li. M.P., pre.sented to Parliament in August 18«'i and fiMii
the Chapter of the ' Colonizatioii Circular ' relating to Canada recently .Jed by tho
Colonial Ollico.
Containing, as they Ji;, .laich information upon the acrricultural resources of Jfini-
toba, tho North-West Territories, Ontario, Quebec, and tho Maritime Prrvmros of
(Janada, and '. suitability of tho country generally for tlie settlement of I'litish
agriculturists and others, these reports will doubtless bo read with interest by many,
who, from various causes, are looking around for fresh fields in which their capiUil
and energy can be invested to advantage.
The following are tlic classes recommended to go to Canada :
1. Tenant farmer.'^, who have suiHeient cajiital to enable them to settle on farms,
may be advised to go with safety, and with the cerUiinty of doing veil. The same
remark will apply to any persoiiswho, although not agriculturists, would be able to
adapt themselves to agricultural pursuits, and who have sufliciont means to enable
tliem to ^ake u\i farms.
2. Piv'duce fanners, and persons with capital seeking investment.
ii. Male and female farm labourers, and female domestic servants (to whom assisted
passages are granted) and country mechanics.
The classes who should be warned against emigration are females above the grade
ot servants, clerks, shopmen, and persons having no particular trade or calling, and
unaccustomed to manual labour. To these Canada offers but little encouragement.
It is claimed that Canada offers advantages to steady hardworking men, unequalled
in any other country. In the first place, the cost of reaching there is less— a consideration
where a man has a family and is not overburdened with cash. Tho sea passage is also
shorter ; and the settler remains a British subject, not requiring to change his nation-
ality before taking up a free grant of land, or acquiring the right to record his vote.
Free grants of land, ranging from 100 to 200 acres, can be obtained in most of che
provinces. In Manitoba and the North-West Territories a settler can obtain 160 acres
free, and purchase another 1(30 acres at a nominal price and on very easy conditions, as
set forth in the Appendix. In writing of this part of Canada, its rapid growth and
development must be mentioned. The country was practically unknown ten years
ago; now^ it possesses a city of 12,000 inliabitants (Winnipeg), besides many smaller
towns. The rapid construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway must undoubtedly
vl
Tiilroduition.
.- 1 111-1 -r.ni- +,% tlip c.Mii.lrv l>v oncn'mr; il np niul slviiis cmpl.-yir.cnt to a
. „ev l' a„, lUi..^ U,nt ma, •« «'"' ."t"""?' '";;"'■;■„,,. • U,.v „c«l •,» comment :
to may be obtained f v.^m any of the ovorim.uni olhccs.
nn<l lii'iviiis cmplnyn-ciit to iv
il)t.lc!<s be made iu tliis va: t
V proilucos all tlio crops tliat
lel^ns, griipcs. peaches, ami
ciiriaiice, which is a sullicicufc
)i'ts : they ncctl no comment ;
nir iMmla'nd to rettlo ilnvn in
t'tlio (iisa^b'aiitagcs, and form
it of agvicaltui-ists, ami those
wake. _
dthe rcpoits therein referrea
INTUODDCTION TO FIRST SEUllW OF REPORTS,
ri'TlLli?lii:D EAI^LV I.V I'^'O.
, .r li .,,„ T,r;„i<t.>i-<^[ \"ncuUuro of tlioGflvernmcut of Canada,
THE Hon. J H. I'"!".^ « ' :„, i^ „ fi naiit S:o<.,.v, in ll,o irnilo.l Ki„3,!o,,..to
'"'ii,^rr»"w;ll;r.!i:f,Ha.t•„:aS£^^^
TVT„ riTf^it The Grange. Dalbeattie, Kirlccudbnghtshirc.
Sr Cmv S 3lte.,r c^Pa^k. Glenhrco, Wigtownshire
Mu G OUDUN, Comlongon Mains, Annan, Dumfne.slure.
MP Eli.iot, Hollvbiish, Galashiels.
M ■ L ,c; \N Le-^e -wood. Earlston, Rovwicbdnre.
5 ■ Sn AN Piintaton, Fountain Hall, Mid otlnan.
S : nuTcinN.oN, Brougham Castle Pcnnth, Cumberland.
Mu. PEAT, Lees House, HiUoth, Cumber and.
Mn IRVINCI, Bowncss-oii-Solway, Carlisle.
S JOHNSTON'K, Low Burntlnvaito, near Carlisle.
' Si,!: Wilken, Waterside of Forbes, Abcrdcensh.ro.
Mu. Bui:(;e, Aberdecnsluro.
Mu. \VALL.\f'E, Tsithsdalo.
Mu AYelsii, Eskdalc. , „ ., • ^
;„ fl,o first nlacc clearlv informed it was of all thuig.s dc-
Thosc gentlemen were in the ^^^ ,1^'°' .^r^., 'v^^rcised and entirely unfettered ;
shvA that their own judg.ncut '^^;? , '^ ".^^^^ „l: their own pergonal
SSS.aro¥So''X'ti?»,rr„'£,S"a..a .U». c„,..U.oa. do no.
require to be informed of it. .„,,„. „,,,i nffovdin"- them facilities to Fee every
irfc;:.',: ";, no .na..o>i on «|,at »H,o,jt, <^;f^SS;^, t„ „,„,, ,„,,.=Uv«
^i;:^Xr:ss:^^:^J'^ss^^'^r&i^.ay ..». *™ =<- -.^'"'
revision by the delegate '•c^;P«"«''^^\^°'\'?T, nt visit the Dominion as delegates, n.imely,
The reports of two gentlemen wdio d d "' vi;>} tl ° the County Tyrone, in Ireland,
Mr. John Maxwell, of C^irhsh^ ^-^^^-^^-^^'^J: .Jj^ ^...vZv...o appended to
but who accompanied p.irUes or ine ucK^atv, i
^''^["'noSugbt necessary to ni.ko in this place any attempt to summarise the
VlU
Iiiir<i(hicl!<.n to First Ftrks (<f Rciwrh.
reports of tlio delc„'-itcs, .is tlicv will l)c vend with very Ri'cat and specinl intcveKt by
many in the United Kingdom. It may, liowcvor, be gcnorally stated that those wlio
went to M:ir.itoI)a and ccntiguons parts of the adjoinin',' territory, fonnd the band to
be of extraordinary richnoss. and specially adapted to the <,'rowth of wheat ; whdo in
the cdder jjrovinces of the Dominion they found the conditions of mixed farming very
much the same as in the United Kingdom. One o[ tl;e delegates. ]Mr. Elliot, stated
that, in the parts of the Dominion he visited, he did not find that cattle reqinred to bo
boused longer than in Scotland.
Several of the delegates refer to the question why farms may be bonf?lit in the older
provinces, and why the land is so cheap. In so far as respects price, ii; the last-named
portion of tlie Dominion, it is to he observed that the value of occupied land in the
older parts of a new counti'v like Canada nuist necessarily, to a great extent, bo
governed— first, by the cost of clearing new fo»est land in the wooded parts ; and,
Bccond, by the facility with which prairie land can be obtained free, to the extent of
](iO acres, on the simple condition of continuous settlement for three years. It must
be plain to all men that the fact of vast areas being open to settlement on such con-
ditions will largcdy affect prices of occupied land a few hundred miles distant, to which
there is connection both by water and r.vil.
A fact to be remarked is that the farmer who migrates from the British Islands
to anv l)art of Canada doc,-; not change his flag ; nor docs he, except to very slight
rleuree, change his mode of life or his companionship. He goes among his own people,
to" conditions of life and society the same as those lie loaves behind. Ho is not
obliged to swear— before he can exercise the rights of citizcn.ship, or in some States
hold laud-that he ' renounces for ever all allegiance and f.delicy' to his Sovereign and
the hind of his birth.
The farmer who migrates from these Islands, moreover, has the satisfaction of
feeling that he is assisting to build np a great British Empire, having for its seat tho
northern half of the Continent of North America, occupying a space as large as the
■whole of Europe, and containing agricultural, m-neial. and commercial resources to bo
developed in the immndiate future of almost illiraitable extent ; and, as the reports
of the delegates will show, certainly beyond populav conception in this country.
The public lavds of Manitoba. Keewatin. and the North-West Territory are in tho
hands of the Dominion Government ; and tl-.ose of the older Provinces, in the hands
of the Provincial Governments. The regi.lat-.ons, as respects tho Dominion lands,
stating the conditions on which homesteads are given to settlers, and tho prices at
which other lands arc sold, including the railway lands, are appended to this publica-
tion. Any further particulars on any noinc may be obtained by correspondence with
li Government ajjent.
spccinl iiitcvcKt by
ted that thoso wlio
■, found the land to
of wheat ; while in
nixed farming very
, Mr. Elliot, stated
attic i'cqi'ircd to bo
bonfflit in the older
:e. ih the last-named
iccupied land in the
a great extent, bo
wooded parts ; and,
■ee, to the extent of
ree years. It must
lemcnt on such con-
ies distant, to which
the British Islands
cept tt. very slight
ong his own people,
behind. Ho is not
p, or in some States
io his Sovereign and
5 the satisfaction of
ving for its seat tho
space as large as the
rcial resources to be
and, aa the reports
this country.
Territory are in tho
vinces, in the hands
10 Dominion lands,
rs, and tho prices at
ided to this publica-
jorreapondcnce with
THE REPORT OF MR. J. P. SHELDON,
Projivaor of A'jnciiUure at the Willi and Hants A'jriaiUura) College, Downton, SaUshwy.
INTEODUCTOKY.
SaimnO from Liverpool in tho Allan steamship Peruvian on tho 12th day of August last, I
IniKk'cl in Quebec on the 21sl of tlio 8ami3 month. I thou prooeedoJ by wiiyof Alonlrcal to
Ottaw.i, steumiiig up tlie Ottawa river ; I afterwards went to Toronto, and from theneo, by
way of tho Great Lakes, to Manitoba, which was tlie extent of my journey westwards. Return-
ing eastwards, I spent a considerable time in the Province of Oiitario, leaving it. at last reluc-
tantly. I then proceeded to the Vrovinccs of Quebc;, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island,
and Nova Scotia, and my impressions of each of tliose will bo found later on in this report,
Having spent exactly ten weeks in tho country, I sailed from Quebec on the 30th of October,
and arrived in Liverpool on the 8lh day of November.
On tliis occasion I took passage on tha ^H'W mail boat Moravian, and I may now take the
opportunity of expressing a high opinion of the great carij and skill with which these vessels
are navigated, the coinfortablo and elegant manner in which they ai'o fitted up, tho attention
wliich tlic passengers get from t'no stewards, the courtesy which they never fail to receive from
the oQlcers of the vessels, and of tlio general cleanliness, neatness, and order which reign every-
where on board.
Going out on the Peruvian wo had a large number of emigrants as steerage and intermediate
passengers ; and through tlio courtesy of Captain Smith, wiio personally conducted mo over
tho si.ip, being clearly familiar with every detail of its management, I was enabled to inspect
tlie emigrants' quarters. I wish hero to bear testimony to the cleanlinces and airiness of tho
sleeping rooms, to tho excellent quality of tho food supplied, and to tho order, neatness, and
discipline which prevailed throughout. To cross tho great Atlantic in these boats is, in fact,
a much easier, simpler, and pleasanter thing than people think ; and if it really is the case that
many persons, particularly females, are deterred from going to Canada on account of the
voyage, I may here say that there is really nothing forjiiidable in it at all. After a safe and
rapid vovago, emigrants and settlers in her Majesty's Canadian Territory will meet witli every
attention, and receive tho most ample instructions, from tho ageut* of the Dominion Govern-
ment, who aro stationed at every necessary place for the purpose of giving assistance to those
who need it.
It must be understood that I can only give in this report the unfinished opinions which
may reasonably be cxpectc I to come of a tour fur tuo liinitol in tune. Opinion", in faot, I
shiill scarcely venture to give at all, eiaopf. on certain points on which my intonnation may be
regardeil aa BufReienily definite ; for tho most part I shall confine myself to impressions, sug-
gesting rather than drawing inlerenccs. Many of tho conditions which bear on the agriculture
of Canada aro so essentially diffeient from those which prevail in the mother country, that
dogmatism on the part of a mere traveller would easily develop into egotism ; I shall therefore
mainly confine myself to descriptions of what I saw, and to recital of what I heard.
It is to bo feared that some writers on the agriculture of Canada, who were travellers and
not agriculturists, have fallen into tho error of expressing opinions of a too definite character ;
and were it not that I am a farmer by early training, and by subsequent experience until now,
I should feel diffident at expressing even my impressions of the various ProTinoes through which
I passed, of the different soils I inspected, and of tho diversified systems of husbandry which
came under my notice. I made it my business, however, throughout the journey, to see as
much as possible with my own eyes, and to obtain the most reliable inforniatioii within my
roach ; it is therefore competent for mo to draw a picture which, if erring in any particular,
will err unintentionally.
The Dominion Government, and tho Provincial Legislatures, as well as the asjents of the
Dominion and private individuals almost everywhere, all'jrdod mo every posdble facility to see
llio varigus soctions of the country as thoroughly as circumstances admitted, 4ud I found no
ir.\>'noi)A.
JU^'^v^ niul Piirmm; ;9 f.ill ,r.f Jntcvosf.
- - ■ ■ '^ r;iiati liiiy pi'
Tl.umUu.l!uyumlinlIu.l.o.t.A\ilham
luindci' liny una in mi ^ -.. i..,,.in,. Hiilwiw, a v<-:vJ wmni i» ..^^...s -f ; ■■■•..; - ■,,,,.
EaMora t.vminus of tho C'iiiu,.lmn 1, "•'",, '"'^V.vccs of the Korlb.^^^■st nnlory. 11)3
_ ; .1, will in duo time optu ui> Hie illmn iibU' J"^^ """; , .y, ,. Vntil it is Imiltj indeed,
S;?in K tnecoLv} to .ho -'-f ;^--^,° 'jile" H^;i;o' p^U-ee of .Ue N J,l,.>2
and until there i^" Canmhau ™na -.';:',;,, United Slates' tcrrdory. unksB, indeed
iMudisofsliil-iiiBi'ii^^'.;''--. .-l Y,"*
d 1 wns c( vtainly elvuck witii tho
un thcvJ in time to fee tlio luilcr p.ut «* ' ; ""' •^,,,'; tl,c ovndcst cultivation.
excellent crops of ^vhoat and «f V !' W ^,d I eaw a kw .trins-bindor at %vork m a crop of
On tho day after my arrival, ^q'tcnihcr H 1 eaw > i^ h ^^.^^ ^^^^ ^.^,^^^_ ^„^; „^ ,,j
..eat in thc^Kildonau -^l^^^^ ^^ ,^ Xr^-^'u^li .as ve^_,nod ; _U. .hc^v..^^
feg'but ,onK- ten or t.;;lve n.iles «^vay '• '■" tb. t) ^^^^^^^^ ^^^,^ jj,. p ,,„a
^ ^I.and increases r.picHy m vnUv. nu u to '^^ ' f /^,^,^,^, ;„ „,,nt, and the o^ner has put;
367 dollar, ; now ho ^vant. 3 000 'l'f'*'^^'.;^',,;.|,es breaking up about half of the land.
up a small hou.o and "^f^^^^:^^:':^^ as^-l and t.dl of organic ma.lor.
The soil of Manitoba \» a puiel> ^e^cuuii.
fiiilnfosiof niocf.niitvj'
s ill fiui, L'ii:.i<T i-y f;"-
,i„l, r, 1- Iho I'coplo nvo
irtiinilv for oiu' tnwil.
oftlioir piMC'.i'O. M.v
IP uiitiviiig kiiulr.ofs il
Uful sceufS wluch Iho
T
I'lr. J. P. ,S'i(h!o7i's fu-pvl.
11
^v•r.v ;? full i^f i"tolTst.
ii,!iiv-(ii'. Tlio viirioiis
nurjiHliiclivily beyond
I Soiiiul, thei'C lire Mib-
piililio iiisliUitioii?, tiiiil
i.ht into c'ullivalioii. At.
■ic into IIk^ coiiiitvy wit'i
Ic molo li'iilio tlio liP^t
sliivtcil og'.iii. Wo saw
t Ihein ; tl'cre were lU'O
ilk'i', pvuviiig tlmt fruit
naiiiliels.
ifidlic'iit f-ci>uevy, cMuny
^d V)lnue isiU (m^ciil tho
I boiiiK 1^1 iilly built.^niul
liAVfbt Ti-irilory. I'lui
LTiitil it. is Iniiltj imkctl,
oiluce of tUo NoHli-Wcsb
i' tcirilory, unUss, indeed
ttiitiriRin tires, Mii\, cor..
[•sliil>ii'Bi'ic'..r.Cf.-. I ^vas
civtiiinly struck witii tlio
cultivation.
inder at work in a crop of
lice even crop, ami would
pnod ; tlic wheat wiis tlio
ren cro]), tl\c straw riillicr
■n-fed, brifjlit, mul fit for
St pr.iiric sod— tliat is, cii
d is very tougli at fui-t, it
seed liiul 'h-cu imperlVcllv
M'iod of 13 weeks. It is,
ill UO (!;iy.i-tliat \9, sown,
as wliieh wos sown at in-
a ; the oats were llie b'.uek
llio crop would reach 43
t» in'uiuioid to be a Rood
iig to ilr. Koss, of Wiuni-
fsame farm Mr. Eoss pnid
I'nt.nnd the owner lias put
bout half of the land,
and lull of orpanic matter,
' the Ked and Atsiniboino
uit-fi,iod, and cannot family
ut of it in the shortest pos-
;. By turning up an inch
ywcd, and liiesnnio exliaus-
long period witli impunity,
[ninuiriiig the soil would do
vmt it, the furmers were in
hing it out on the ice of tji?
f,.„..n rim-sin winter, 1 1 lx< eavri.d nway soniewlu^ro, when .pvir.^n.ro and tlio "'""^l' ^J";^^.
1 . , i^l, .' V i„. now th.-yl.'ivo it to rot in heaps ouwuio ll.o slublo^ ami find it an
::::!. r talk to remove 'tlio LuJ rather lUau th. manure, when tho latter beeou.es unpleasantly
'''"'iSourso of timo it is probable tlmt the mnnnro will need to ho put to it 3 lefiiliinnto use of
bo a^v n Z< 1 t, that llu. better soils of tho p.uvi.iee will ever be,;on,e sler.le, providing lliab
.k ts a V f, I 1 1 'a,..'. It i. pvoluMe lh:.t there i« g-od bind on wl„.'. they ure not omul. L t
CroUu '; of lV,u,rso.l'n.li. Trovinee i,. pbuvs ; tl,U i^ chu.ly alkahne sod, ou w^i cli
S^ldng^hit! is pivili ,bl.. .,11 grow i,i U. pve.ent cnUitiou; .n "'-'y ft-^• .^^ "J^i^' ^
is .dka:i,ie. Yet there i. plenty of ^omI water to be got n. mo.t if " ' '"• i^.;"' "'
BC ne instance, u elea,- pure .pring l„.s been M ruek a very few Ij el, below to I. o
It niu=t not be suiM-o-ed ibat the soil ol Manitoba ih fi. only fu- wheal ' ;^ j^,^,^\'™
praxes it i- tine, a.v v.ry eoiu.se in eb-ira.ler, and ll.cre are many wee Is and wo.llikss planta
^li:^;i;:,n.ye,^.d,lelJ,a,hontbe,.u,nuensephuusof,n;a^
cra;:S?e'lG"oi'f i 0.":^':-::^: ": :^"";"y -«•'-' rv'iiS't;; rrixr
fueees.. while sue!. " tame" gra^^es as timothy ami the .■ve grasses. a..d also red and wluto
there is a good .uarket in Winnipeg Un- all kinds of gardeu .Lnll a..d ' ' '^^ ':™^
mand ve.-y bigb prices, so that our Yorkshire friend, as 1 >vas toid on the best aut-iouty. 13
renpiiig a rich reward of his skill and indnstry. r , „ „n Pi,.„nPP«ter nunils
I w"i3 niueh surprised to find aoioug the Manitohan farmer^ oneof my old Ci.encester p j 18.
He h. d b ght afann ot sou.e m> aeivsa lew nales w.st of SVimnpeg. pay.ng, '»;;;- f,'^«t
the exirav,, "...t price of 20 dollars (JCl) an acre. He d.'e .red. howeve.-, to no ^1 •»'""»
e b,:.t larm .,1 the loealily, wt.ioU may be taken as ev.denx-e ot "^..•'^^'f/''' £i^„f '^^^1
and be was growing c.-ops of t.irnips, potatoes, oats, cte.. which vvero Ire idy a l:''^'' « ° «°^
tooehiap and ploalilul to admit of m.ero.eopio culUvaliou us we luuo i.1 m i'^^Uud ana
^"iC'diief drawbacks in Manitoba, iu tho csti.nation f "" ^''SU^lnnan arc those : Bad
roads, bad wat.r in many parts, the almost utler ab.-:om-e ot ' ') « ■,7,^1\^ "' ' ' ^^ ^^ f,,i5'' ^f, [
tho ildness of the country, and tho Ion- and severe wui!er. (And tntso remaiks apply wiiii
!; n '^l der fot Tlarg^ traels of country I h.ve seen iu the "-l"--^-'M-;^-^^ ^ J"
United Slates.) No doubt the road, in time will be improved, tl.ough road-n.e, al is vt y scarce ,
goo dlL-wiU be oblamedin .no.t parts of the country by boring ''''•'' i/'^'-;;'';^^^' ^^ J, £
being done , trees will be planted to b.e.k tho n.onott,..y of the ^cene, uid, s > ^^ '^^j; '\Y.o
nrn .^ine-nu-d I am assured by those whose testimony is worthy of all trust, tl.at tuougn uio
nereurylmyg. to ao'bcl^^ "'O cold is not intolerable, but ralbev P f ^^f'.f, «"J
bracd "/ 'ihe cur h dry. The llat, low-lying In.d in the viem.ly of Winmpeg has luthe to
b nlmm.ioo£ in spn;(g..in.e, but an "tensive a.ul sveU-e...uted^y. em oM^
"-^"^i^^^^^^::^^;^:^:^^^^^^^^^^ can be bought at^ot nr.
reason be Is i a..d, ibove allf agricultural tools and umehmery ol a ''-^^f „3'-^' ','^, 't',
Leu ml run Of such thing, in E.igluud are everywhere abundant. It is, u. fact, ouo of. the s.gl.ts
13
Ml. J. P. ^hhloui Hij'ort.
most eiipzc8tivcor»vnection, to n<,ticc at llic ruiln-ny staliona Irtc ami tliei-o.nml at ll.c (l.nlers
»toke«, abujidunt Bui.plics of liibouv-saviMg implomcMts ami nincluiicry, wind, luo chonpop
lianiUcr, and better tuuilo tl.un imiMy Ki.glisli goods. The cost ol living is not vvvy Ingl. ; brct,
by the Bide, in winter h about 7 onts a lb., beefsteaks in smnmjr 15 ecMt-, nu.tton ,n winter
about 12 cenlfl, and butter about 25 cents the year round. Lg-s in winter oro 3a cents a
"Tlio crcat features of Manitoba arc: Land of excellent quality, very low in piiee, and in
crcat abundance, and a climate which brings to perfection, in a nhort time, all kimls of c ativalcd
crops. The value of land is 1 dollar (4s.) to 10 dollars (£2) un neve, away in the country, wh.lo
near the city, in some cases, it is still higher. Out in the North-NVcst lernlory, however, tlio
finest land can bo bought at a dollar or less per acre, and actual settlers c«n obtain l.ce grants of
IGO acres for each adult, with a pre-emption right to ItiO more on paynient of a nomma sum to
Government. I cannot, however, recommend English farmers ot middle ago to go tlicre to
settle, because they are entirely unsuited to pioneer life, and would liavo n.ueh to unlearn betoro
they could learn the ways of the country ; but young men with small capital n-.id strong hearts
and willing hands, even though they have been reared amidst the comforts ol an iMiglish lioine,
are sure to prosper in the new territory, providing thoy arc steady and industrious. lieing
young, they are not too closely wedded to certain Imlits of life, and tlicy would the more easily
habituate themselves to the new conditions which tlicy would encounter m the now country.
But whoever may go to Manitoba from the Old Counti-y, will do well to have a good look round
before buying land, and, if possible, to pass a few we.ks on a farm here and there, with a view
of watching the processes on which husbandry is conducted in the ^ol■th-\\ est; and ..man
with a small cnpilnl and no encumbrances would do well to hire himsell out to " la''.'"*-'' f"«" »
year or two bcfoio locating himself on land ol hix own. Land may be i-ented m Maintoba, and
probably it would bo a wise thing for an Knglish farmer to rent a (arm tor a vcar or two, until
ho has learnt the country and the country's ways, ai'.d he will then be the boUcrable to f elect
the right sort of land for himself. Land may be rcnte.l as follows : the landlord provides the
land and lialf the seed ; the tenant the labour, implements, hoi-ses, and hall the seed ; the hind-
lord receives one-third, and the tenant keeps two-thinls of the produce for his share ol tlio
business. Mr. Mackenzie, of Buriiside, one of the largest and most prosperous lurmers m
Canada, lets off some of bis land in the Torlago la Prairie on those tonus.
OXT.^KIO.
Of the'southem part of this Province I cannot speak in term? other than of warm praise.
Generally speaking, this favoured portion of the Province has a rolUng, and, in some parts,
almost a hilly surface ; in certain localities, as that of Hamilton, for instance, the surface w
much broken and almost precipitous here and there, but as a rule the great bulk of the hu'd "n
this part of the Province, with the exception of rocky or swampy districts, is easily cultivable
when it is cleared of tiinber and the roots arc pulled out. Thirty or forty years ago, Ontario
must have been a vry hc'ivily. wooded district, and the labour of charing the hundreds and
thousands of beautiful farms must have been prodigious; in the district to which these remarks
more specially lel'er, the work of cleaving is for the most part done, but there ai'c slill n'ai.y
extensive tracts of tiii'ber-hiiid liei-e and there, and must of the farms have a smaller or greater
proportion of uneleuied land on them. This land is kept to grow wood lor fencing and lor
fuel. ,
This portion of Ontario maybe rcgardct as the garden of the Dominion — literally as W( II as
figuratively the garden — for it is there thatapples, p.ars, grapes, peaches, melons, and the like,
grow in the greatest profusion, and with the least trouble on the part of the farmer. Every
farm has its orchard, and it is purely the fanner's fault if the orchard is not an excellent one,
for the climate and the soil are cleaily all that can be desired, and the trees will do their share
of the work provided the right sorts are planted. It is usual to plant out peach and apple-trees
alternately and in rows in a new orchard, and the apple-trees are at a distance opart winch will
bo right when they are full-grown ; this is done because the peach-trees come to maturity first,
and have done bearing before the apple-trees require all the room ; the peach-trees are then cut
down and the apple-trees occupy all the room. These trees arc planted in rows at right angles,
to that there is a clear passage between them whichever way we look, and the land can be freely
cultivated among them ; it is, in fact, usual to take crops of wheat, or oats, or maize, from the
land during the time tho trees are young, and we often see fine crops of golden grain overtopped
by noble' young trees laden with fruit. A farmer may not, of course, look to fruit alone to
grow rich on, but he often nets a nice roll of dollars out of it, and, to say tho least, it is con-
ducive to happiness to be well supplied with fruit, while to live in a climate and on a soil that
will produce it abundantlv is always desirable.
There are many kinds' of soil iii this part of the Province, most of which are fertile and cai(r
Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report.
13
, niid at llic (loivlors*
vliii'li iivo clicnpop,
ot vi'i'y liiyll ; bref,
, iiuiltnn ill wiiilur
Ucr are 35 ccnta a
11W in price, find in
I kiiulsof iltiviiled
II tlie I'ouiitry, wliilo
ritory, however, Uio
obluiii lico Rraiitsof
of a nominiil sum to
ogo to RO there to
oh to unlcai'n before
\\ awA strong liciirts
of an Eii^lieli homo,
iiiduslriijus. lieing
ould the more easily
in tlio now country.
10 a pood look round
id Hicro, with a view
li-W'esl; and ii man
lilt to n fanner for a
ed in Muiiitiiba, iind
a vcar or two, until
1 beUei'able to f elect
mdliii'd provides the
I the seed ; tlic hind-
for his share of tlio
ospcroua farmura in
than of warm praise,
and, in some parts,
tanco, the surface is
it bulk of the land in
,3, is easily cultivable
ly years ago, Ontario
ig the hundreds and
1 wiiich these remarks
tliero ai'e nlill n'any
D a (.iiiiiller or greater
d lor fencing and for
n— litenilly as wdl as
, melon!", and tlie like,
if the farmer. Every
not an excellent one,
ses will do their share
peach and apple-trees
;auce apart which will
ome to maturity first,
jach-f rees are then cut
n rows at right angles,
tlie laud can bo fi-eely
its, or maize, from the
Iden grain overtopped
look to fruit alone to
y the least, it is con-
nate and on a soil that
cli are fertile and caif
to cultivate. The most common soils are loams of one kind or another, comprising all llio
varieties included in the terms ' sandy' ond ' clay' loams ; then there are light soils of Tnrious
k-nds, clays, on'' marsh soils, most of them more or less impregnated with organic matter.
Many of these soils— I speak now of farms that have been long under cultivation— were at first
well adapted to the growth of wheat, but it appears that in many places wheat has been grown
to repeatedly on the land, that it will no longer produce the crops of it that were formerly easy
to obtain. The fact is, this one crop has been grown so very often that the land has become
deficient in the elements necessary to it ; the same land will, however, grow very good crops of
other kinds— roots, clover, linrley, pen", oats, and the Lko, while in some pjirts profitable crops
of Indian corn are grown ; thu hitter, however, is also an exhausting crop, even more com-
pletely so than wheat, but not so quickly, and can only be grown to profit on a rich soil and a
hot climate. The dilfercnco between the two crops is this : wheat exhausts a soil of certain
elements, leaving the rest comparatively untouched ; but maize is a generally exhausting crop,
loss dependent on special elements, but feeding, as it were, on all alike ; ond so it followi that
it can bo grown for a longer time before the land shows signs of exhaustion, which at last is so
thorough that fe>-«ility is restored with great difficulty. There is, IioweTcr, a great deal of good
wheat- land in Ontario, ond much more of it to bo cleared. The partially-exhausted land, too,
will come round again, and will grow wheat profitably as before, but it is only good farming
that will bring this about. The fanners of Ontario declare that they would hardlv have known
what to do with their land if it were not for cheesomaking, and particularly for the new cattle
and beef trade with England. VVIicat, wheat, nothing but wheat as a paying crop, was simply
exhausting the land, returning nothing to it; cattle-raising paid poorly, because the demand
T.as limited ; and eheesenioking couhi only bo profitably carried on in the districts suitable to
it. But the demand arisiim in Iho Old Country for beef, and the improved means of trans-
portation over the sea, have provided a new and profitable opening towards which the encrgiei
of the farmers are being directed. The raising of stock suitable to the English market it now a
leading and profitable branch in this part of tlic Dominion, and it is encouraging to the cultiva-
tion of root and green crops, of clover, timothy, and other forage crops, of green corn, etc., for
soiling. The growth and consumption of these crops, indeed, is the very practice that was
needed to restore fcrtilily to soils which had been injured by over-cropping with wheat. But
numbers of the Ontario fanners seem to bo so wedded to whcat-raising,_ that rather than go
extensively into stock-rai.-iing and fattening, and the growth of various rotation crops, mora
ofter the English and Scotch models, they prefer to sell out and go to Manitoba and the North-
West, a territory which is par excellence a wheat country, and which must soon become, perhaps,
the greatest granary in the world. They aro the more inclined in this direction because they
can sell their Ontario farms at 40 to 100 dollars an acre, and can buy virgin soil in the North-
West at 1 to 10 dollars. By an exchange of this nature they can easily establish their children
in separate farms, a thing but few of them could hope to do in Ontario, where land is com-
paratively high. They have also the spirit of restlessness which permeates the Americans as
well, but which is scarcely known in England.
These various iiiQucnccs are causing numbers of formers to migrate in the direction of the
setting sun, and the Amerieons themselves were never more crazed about the West than are the
Canadians of to-day about their Manitoba and North- West Territory. They treat their land
as a parcel of schoolboys treat an orchard of apples into which they are suddenly let loose : they
rush about from one place to another, plucking an apple here and there, having a nip at it, and
throwing it down, only to repeat the process at every tree they come to, thinking in this way
to find the best fruit in the orchard. So it is with the Canadian and American farmer of the
West. His farm is a mere machine, out of which he gets all the work he can in the least pos-
sible time, and he quits it for anotlier, as his fancy suggests. It is of seco.id or third-rate
importance to him, for he can buy land on the Western prairies at a less cost than that of
putting tlic first crop into it; and the atPection with which an Englishman regards his farm,
and the home of his childhood, is a factor at present almost unknown in the social life of our
friends across the Atlantic.
In time this will change in Canada, and in England the old tics are rapidly weakening.
It ia well, or. rather, would be well, if English landlords would note this change of feeling,
this loosening of the Old World sentiment, this infi.tration of now ideas, which are surely, and
not slowly, permeating the rank and file of British farmers. Steam has made the whole world
II possible market for the products of any single portion of it, and, along with education, i*
making iho people everywhere cosmopolitan in thought and feeling. To him who travels these
things are clear, and I repeat that it would be well if those in power would recognise them
without delay.
As a dairying country some portions of both Western and Eastern Ontario are clearly wrtl
adapted. The chief want of the country in this connection is that of streams, and springs,
and running brooks; the snialler stnains, in fact, are citiier less numerous than they were
before the forests were cut away, or thoj- are dry at the tiuie when thcv are most wanted. But
j^ jjr. J. 1'. >^heldo)i's liejml.
.!,P Bolloville district in Eiiitevi. Onlnrio, wlicre tlioro is inrlprl a Ki-oftt tloal of pxcdlpnt lftii<l,
the ohU.r soib of Ontavio, «-hi.h have bfon ov...-..r,.iM..-l nvuI. « -'U. . ml n «..k «a
in dairy funnii-R. It is truo that ftood natural paslur.v^ nv. sc, ,re m t.u; i. ' '*\' ' ' •. ' ' 1' '^
t c^e .ro any ut^all v^■hioh dc.-rve thonanu- fro.n an K,„!i.hn,anV i;!'''^'' ;;;;^\ \''; j*^^; 1"'^^,^^
land I .aw in Ontario wa. in th. noighhuuHicd "f '-'»''-•'■■''' "''l^.^irVf ^i;' or
as I have said, clovers, ot.., prow woll, and thoy «ill ans^v.., .•:m..I.11v f<'> P ^^ ' ' e a r"c
snpply ot' Kroon corn-thnt is, nmize cut before it come. V. n,ulun.j-for sodm^ .n .uinuur
""x.:'rj;:r:^,r ;:':.. -Hows: 1. who.toroM,, 2 ^"»-;-|,^;---rio:f I;
3 Oats or barW, POC.U'd d,;wn .vilh arliUfial pr.>-c« j .I, f,, and, t "''^ '^'''''^fj'X''"^
fossilised n.slrio.ion, n» to cvoppin.^ ex,.t, a, th 7 do .n lM,,d;>u.l, '' ^w , /c r'^^dXh
the crops that «uit Ins purpose hrsl . The pr.flue a! U .w I'.rk .« t- .-o v «. ' ' ^ ^ ;, v
is a luxuriant cropp.r, thickly, in drills of ei.hhon or t.vcniy ■'''l';-"; ;> J ' , Cn
space between tlJ drills is o„:nly horso-lu.o I, ..old th- corn .s « f-^^^' ° ";. . f ^^ J 1 j" "
grows rapidly, and cfVo.lntdly s-nothors the w.cls and v;dt '■^^'^^^/^ ' ;', 7 , '" ] .^ ^ ,0 1 of
forcing a clMnate. In O.natiu, as in Kncln.l. the ax,om ,s I rue tha n.,i u S ! ;' ^^ 'J^^ ,7^^,
wdssoellVH.:dlyasaheavycullivatc,lcn,polBomokn.l.My<her. If mU^
is not Tvanted lor Boili,,., the h:dan..e i. cut and slock.d wh le 1 ■ e^ s g, ;>- " '.^^^^
grain in the n.ilk, an.l it i. lol> out ,n , u, he d.. -; ;:';; ;^\,^ ' . ' ,r "a X..::;,h'the
this way it makes very go.nl f>"';a''. ;""'' ''^ '■^""V' I J ;> ^ .'l:,t „ ,, be followed with al-nost
chaff-cutter, and all consumed by the stue.t. A sniul.a ^V"-'' ''>; , ,,,,,,,■,„,, „<• it, „.hicli
ftuy other kind of soiling crop-that is, makui- into toragc for «inle>' that poUiou ol
" XrSuldSStcs .0 in Canada, chee^e-nnddn. has had n,oro ..tcntion than bulter-
„,a£;"nl;re sllll Ind investigation have been ^V^f^^oi^'-^lifl^r^^^^ [ir^d iS b'^
delieate and succulent grasses, appear to be best mu <-d for ^ ' h;' ' ! f,\,t V u dt'r av W^
i:KSif::j'ii:s™':r'i.s^;;t:5?^;r.s^i'.i' s;t3'S ;.».,: ■-
this as it may. however, the cheese of Canada in nuiuy ca-es is ver* S'"'''- ;''"^; ' \" 7,"'^=
::!^bt^^5S^™5.*:.s-£2ir:-;:j.^:^:n^^^
before Je.sc Wdli-i.ns established the first eheese-h.eiorv n.'Mr u yoe, ,n »l"' '^t ;' '" .7"",i,, .^^
i:ts:;;:E:;::i:;ir£v;;;:ii;-:,;i'p?.*^;s:^^^^
mama
of excellent Iniid,
iviiifc, with many
t would npiienr, in
I) nifty bit iiiiu'o n
, niup'i (lidiciilty, f
!e wliicli isoomiiion
I'stioin wliic'li iifTcil.
'iilcf qiica' on, nil-
ivo tho attention it
jlisli cnntcnuiovftvy,
vci'y l;nv<' cropi of
ilari'o, iind I elioiild
lUoyo'l, if nt nil, in
( cl'iir, from wlmt I
•lA", ami very poo'l
wiitcr, urn llic lii-st
<Mii to n-invi;ii)rrtlo
nit 1I10119 w.ii'k well
Provitu'c, if iiulool
,i,'W (llii- host j^Msa-
t.) Hiiillon); but,
i?(ui-<'.< f.ii- u yi'iiv or
1- to iii'.xlui-e a largo
ir soiling in suuunur
o\\ orops for foiling ;
vi^abti-, G,0l•a^9 for
a eiuiMlry wlicro no
iicr I'lin aiwayi* jirow
west cm C)Pii, wliii'h
ilo; in tlii- way tlio
lorc liij^li ; tlio corn
;ro\v vigorously in so
ins cUuMi llic soil of
nil t'iic Wl^tl;rn corn
J ft ill gri'on, mill tho
vmitfil in wlnti-r ; in
jiasseil lliriiiitih the
foUowi'il wil!i almost
, portion of it which
Itnition than buller-
s cdiisiqnciitly ahead
3 and soil are better
aliir.il herbii^ic full of
;: still, it ia true that
L wholly under arable
tc. ; and again, a hot
here this is, there is a
tlio milk-;;! mds. Be
id, wliile the butter is
lie, be denied that the
some twelve or fifteen
e— some of it of high
:ery iiilVriur, cliariictev
ic St it" ot Xew Vork.
,\-»- York, the highest
n'JUierous in C.<nada,
, few and fur bolweeii ;
inanufaelure, tho one
is tlmt elioese-making
ia the sister industry.
.;//•. J. I'. S/uhloii's Ui'poil.
1;
. M naultvno M P i' ; it IS known ns the Tavistock factory, and •»,«'l"" ':' "J'lr ""''"
, »> >,,f «(i" fn.. aiivliicT clucse and To for Mnunier, and at Oo for rieli autumn ciier. c. diio
t'uVit; of sS; Teed is 2 to 2i lb, I'or 1000 lbs. of uulk ; tlo smallest quanfty » used when
""M"''''B«lk';'d vnc for mnny Tc-ars past has paid nn-ch attention to tho suhj^ct of checc making^
n, alo ha V " end other pr^ominenr dairym. n.in Ontario, --\^^^^ -^^ ^^^^^l '\" " S
much towards raiMim the che.^eof tho Domini, n m the rslimalion of bnjeis n '•'«''""
FoLdy?l ewas«'reatdiflle,dtva in n.aMog aytun.n •■';--,;" ^';;."; ',
iiligliiia
; wen s time i/necessary to the ripening of an, thm-;. ,"^' ''-' l'^, i'';,^; '^y,: :;1™
the best cheese cannot be made from fresh, warm nnlk ; berauHc, '''''«''\'?''''i'i ,,;;"',"
.„ongh,and has never been cold, it has not tho reqmred ''f ' ""^V '^hl "old an tl is
prefers that one-half of tho nnlk he nn.kes cheese from ^ '''"';' '^'', "/J; '"^^'"^^^'^Jn^l^^^^^^^
being ripe enough in itself, rii.ens tho fresh ';;f"""B « "'f ,'^''7' '" '^ " .^'^ '"/[^^^^^
In smnn.er the ripening of the evening's nidk is cnon;-!. '^^'V, t''''M^"n'''^^ '' 'f; " '''^'^^^^;^
w ntler of antum,! it i 'not, so the morning's and evening's ^-^-:\jr:''^^^^^^^^
lomncrulure of 00" or so, and allowed to stand several hours b.fore ^''^,''''"^1^. old to
r^r coa,nla.ion, and this is done because the autumn's 7-;-'f,;'\l;, ';;!,;; "/^t
admit of enough if any ripening. As tho mass of m,!k ^'^''I'l^ "^. «/''';;■' ^i""',^
rincns. and the dinieulty previously so common disappears, the a diinin «-'"'.-« '"^'^^^ °,
Sh and mcllowncss'o'f character of the sumnu.r eluese and ' -' j' /. j'"^' /f^,^!' ,i " '^i
hy the excessive heat of the summer dimaln , this nutu.m cheese, in fa t, ■ | '^^
is probably tlie best of the reason, wherea. it was (oncerly. m n, n ;«=^N " «>'>•■• ;
M.mmcr. I was pleased to find that rrofe.sor Arnold, an able cxpoue.it of the L 1 lar sjstcm,
h s one mneh good in Canada in t.a.liin. dairymen how to -'|-«%"-^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^
bv espoeing them longer in the vat, and by developing more '''^^^11^^'''^}—
wd.ieh is co.nmon to lloating-curds. The milk is general y delivered "\';^^'^/'''>,Vo'ke proper
factories, and tho farmers, uiuh v pain of having their "'''^irJ^^ 'i^'>.rf..'^^; •' ihiSouJ^L^
care of tlie evening's nulk, and to deliver it in good condition at the fattoiy . ihis aouo,
transit is SMpposed to do the milk good rather than harm. rinlnvio in which cheese
Incersol s at once the oldest and most famons of the clistriels of Ontaiio ^'^'"^^f^™^
facto ifshve been established ; I was, consequently inlerested in looking • '^'">« ' « /^"^ "^ ^{»
r.rh, rl i neir the town in eceina the neighbourhood, and in attending the cheese market. My
[i . va «,^de the a" as on fo r calling a meeting of the farmers, factory-men, cheese-buyer. and
o : , ' Iml in ned be in the town at the time. To Mr. Uately, a considerable "l-Her of
e nlia e 1. . to Kugland. I am indebted for the pleasure, ''♦'■'•'^ ' '"I'V'! '''"'"u i tS ^s
U ineelii,g allbrded nfe. A most interesting diBCUssion ^--}^'''^^^^^'^l£^^:^
cliieQv dairy larniing. It transpired that some farmers receive as m ich as \, ''' """ P^ J= 'J;
m Ik seiit to theictorics dinging the season and the fanners were M-'i^^i^'^; ,, ."^
prosuccls of chcese.making in that part of the Dominion, though t is true that the mclustiy.m
comiiion will, all oahers, had recently pa.^sed through very trying tunes.
The dairy cuttle, in some parts of Ontario, will compare not u,. avourat)ly witli ""f'' °' ^ ^
parts of E gland. Shorthorli grades prevail, and it may be said that, wherever « J ^ « »
Ltlearo found, the rmprovement is due, as a rule, to the ^''^J' i"';" ^^^'^;' ;i,,,^;;'^, . f ' ,,
cent herd of pedigree shorthorns at liow Taik, 1 f''»"J » coUection ot »"'"?''^' '..',;
n "mbcr and q ' .di, y, cannot in hU prubabihty be cqimll.-l clsowl,ere. It is '•'"" ' '"'' ' ' "'^
^d soil of Canada- are well suited to maintain tUo j^uvi.y and vigour ol these ani.n.ls, and tliers
t !
Mr. J. V. Shililona thyort.
[
midst, then, the mrgcsi neni ui jhik- ^ « nnm.irv with llic v cw of (lovcloi)iii;» tlin
cxten.i»e use of it to improve tl,« bov.no.tock of ^^'^^^''-^ij^ ';\';;'e LyTon nl,.',,., nn.T not
llu) Inr... crowa fiuo crops of iniiMpeli., rinl cLver, Imurno, unci llio l.lf j "'"•""""''"''}
SXcTovcr ILh of its own aLrd. lm« sprung up on a ry« stubble of t ,o pr-c>n auUun ;
»M Mover in fac't is indieenous to these soils ; tl.o romls.dos are covered «'''/. nm Itiio
fild in oJestion is now provUnng a fair paBturo for about forty in-e«lf heifers, wh.le the portions
o 'JhrTr^ lie "ar7really U"<!^uched parts of the prin,eval forest have a strong-^temmcd
undergrowth of red cloTer, wherever the brushwood has been trampled or cut away.
STncrthrmaRnificent farm, which erstwhile was forest and glade, now growing magn.-
floe?tcr?ps"Jfgrasrand grain. and roots, and sn,.porting son,o <>/ ^1-, "'"-'Id Xk b'a" 'and
of the ubiquitous Tccswator bovincs. Tliis transition from Rod Indian, and black beai. and
moo e dcer^to Anglo Saxon and Kirklevington Duchesses, to Duchesses of Barnngton and
Sxford and woodhi"uo Royal Charmers. Countesses. Lady FawsUys, Polly Owynnes. Roses
of &nWa°ei loos Wild Eyes, and the like, to Princes, Dukes, Ears, and Barons of the
same i Randall thes; glories of shorthorn fame supplemented by wavng fields of pram, of
mZmoth manael wurwls, and of thickly-carpeted clovers, is as re.narkablo as anything we
rit wi h i^l^^s great yoJng country of the We-t. The situation of the farm, and the views of
?he diTtriet wind, we obtain to great advantage from many points on the rivers high bank on
the we tarl beyond compare the finest I have seen in Canada, or, for the matter ol that, in the
United States -and when wo turn from these beauties of locality to witness the grand shorlhon
cows and he fers, «nd yearlings grazing lustily on the ncwly-scedcd clovers, or on the primeval
Jurfwldeh for tt'-es has formed a beuutiful glade in the forest, wo have the surrounding, com-
pote wl"o "S^iake up a scene in which the soul of any Old Country farmer would take great
**"' The Bow Park Farm was purchased, a doze, years ago, froni various persons who had
Bottled iipoiTitrby the Hon. George Brown, whoso melancholy death a few mon hs ago, by tho
bullet of a drImkJn assassin, filled the whole of the Canadian agrieultuval 7[ f ^-^1' '-llS-"
tion and dismay. It was converted first of all into an ordinary dairy 'arm, in the days when
CanaZw^ coming to the front as a cheese-producing country ; and a cheese «^tor.v which s
•till standine. though put to other uses, was built for the convenience of the farm and of tho
nealbourhood around. Gradually, however, the dairy stock were improved; and as the soil
deSed an°mals in a superior manner, the idea arose to form it into a breeding establishment
?or Bt^k of tk^ best kind, and there is now upon it one of the largest ''"^^,>"°'f/fl''^„^'; «''°'- '
horn herds in the world. There are in all nearly two hundred fc.nales and forty to fifty males
"man/of "hose veins run. the bluest of blue blood, while there is not » -f;; — ^ -^ ^
them who has not unoxoeplionable pretensions to p.. r.cnn pavondv^'.. In ''f^ "^ ^ f J,'
forty we find the females pasturing ia vari.iH parts of tho ian.i ; ami it •.. a s,ght, N>>,ilh tund.
1
ronliMiT, ill fJicirnov?
in II ln'i'il tliiit is Well
oviiin llio cnni|vin_y of
I'ck'* or cvoii tiioiillii",
IV. C'riftilft lins iiilifi"
10 oiiiilit to ninlto an
iciT (if (lcvclrt))iii;{ Hio
iiy pniiiplHiis, mill not
Lviiififiii of pood Rtock,
10 Stnto.a. This ouglit
loiil 1 ho nmilc.
s nitiiiitod, isof n inoro
lid rivers wlicro banks
(if Ontario. It ii also
1 witliiii ft long liorso-
r's linnk on llio west ia
mcwlmt rnrying slopn
on tlio oppoaito nidcof
iiti ft view of I'cni'lf llio
rp, a liiipn (ilatc, wlii'li
of it dipping; rnfily into
ml ill flio south ofsoiiio
Innd for sinio (H.^linu'C
h is still bcitii; ll'iiidod
liinii till' "oil i.< astroii;;
lil. 'llio lower pint of
iko ; tlio middln is well
;rows a liiij^o bur len of
iinato of Canada are ill
as (llio a root of red
witli a luxuriant root of
of tlio pri'sont autuniii ;
jvorcd with it, and the
cifers, wliilo tlio portions
liaro ft slrong-stemuicd
or cut awuy.
idr, now growing magni-
finest the world Ims in it
nil, and black boar, and
sses of Barriiigton, and
>, Polly Owynncs, Roses
larls, and Barons of tlio
uving fidds of prain, of
arkable as anything we
10 farm, and the views of
ho river's high bank on
the matter of th.it, in flio
less the grand shorlhorii
vers, or on the primeval
I tho surroundingM coni-
f farmer would take great
ivious "persons who liad
few months ago, by tho
mil world with indigna-
''arni, in tho days when
cheese factory, which is
of tho farm and of tho
iprovi'd ; and as tho soil
I breeding establishment
Hid most valuable short-
and forty to fifty male?,
b a single animal anioni*
. Ill I'lts of twenty (.»
; i-j a si;;ht worlli travel.
.I//'. ./. /'. SIkI, Inn's Ifr/mrf.
17
lina fur to SCO which wo f^'cl in waiidtring slowly through llio lierds, each individual of which, with
)i'digroo and all, is nani''d at onco by iny friend Mr. Clay, to whom tho chief mitnagemant of
the farm is ciilriiiited by tho A^socialion to whom this groat undertaking belongs.
Going first among the hulU, wo caino to tho lord of the harem, the veritoole kinj ot the
hord, on animal of surpasning merit, and a fortiino in himjolf. This grand old sire, the 4th
Duke of Olorenco, who wm bre I by Colonel Ounter, of Wetliorby Grange, in, to the best of mjr
roHollrtction, tho niont nearly faiiUle^' bull 1 liavrt seen in this or on» other country. He is a
huge mountain of Ihuli and bono and miiscU, and uf first sight one would think that no two of
his four legs noiild snjiport the burden i but whun wo notice tho grand devplopinnnt of muscle,
and the grace and ea^^e with which he moves, wo think so no longer. His brisket is wide and
dc(tp, down to his knees ; his shoulder, from tlie point of it to tho brisket between the knees,
nieaiiuring 4 ft. in., is tho deepest I have seen, and yet it is not in tho least coarse or lumpy i
his top is level, wide, and lon^, measuring 6 ft. H in. from point of ihoulders to tlio square of
the tail, and the roasting-beef is there in flno display, lie is well sprung in the ribs, with great
chest-room ; equally well let down in tho flanks, forming perfect uiulerliiies ; the tail is set on as
a tail ought to bo, but not always is ; the neeic is wonderfully massive and muscular ; the head
has the truo shorthorn character, and is withal very kindly in expression, denoting the gooc|
temper which the owner is known to pos»03<, and which is no moan factor in the process of
pliysicol development. AVitli u constitution n'lisurpasseil, this fine six-year old bull is n most
iiiiprossive sire, superseding in iilmoti, every cme the "iiidueiK^e of tho dam; he is, in fact,
thoroughly prepotent in tho widest sense of the won., iniprcssiiig his individuality on sons and
daughters alike. His dam wiis tho 'Ith Duchess of OInrenee, and his siro the I8tl-. Duko of
Oxford, who was bn'd by the Duko of Devonsliirc. lie traces hack through Dnko-i of Claro,
Wharfdale, York, and Northumberland, through Cleveland Lad, Uelvedere, V: s Ilubbauki,
Kettoii 3nd 710, Oomek 155, and Favourite 2i2 j and nmoiig tho breeders' names are Bates
and Colling, lliinter aud Thompson. Here is blue blood enough and to spare, with a repre-
sentative ill every way an honour to it I
Among tho younger bulls wo come to tho Duko of Oxford 'IGth, a most promising young
animal of eighteen months, whoso sire is tho ■lUi Duke of Ularonoo, and dam tho Grand Diichosa
of Oxford 2'Jth. He hua a great deal of the sire's eharncter in all resn.cts, and, if we mistake
not, will prove n'worthy scion of a grand line. Next we find a beautiful ten months' bull, Baron
Aeomb lltli, by tho same sire, and out of Aurora, a rich red roan in colour, shapely and substan-
tial, and most promising withal. By the same sire, again, there aro Baron Kiiightley 5th, only
four months old, 8th Duko of ICirklcvington, a few weeks younger still; Karl of Goodness 8th,
Prince Victor 2nd, Roan Duko Odi, ditto 7tli and Htli, Waterloo Duke 2nd, Dukes of Bar-
rington lltli and 12th, and Butterily'g Duko, animals whoso ages vary from two to nine months.
There are also many excellent yearlings hy other sires, forming a collection of great merit.
Among tho more celebrated and vuluablo females, we find Rose of Autumn Urd, a pure Man-
talini, and a very choice animal ; she is now four years old, and a most beiiutiful oow, in-calf to
Prince Leopold. This cow is simply grand in the shoulders, which are deep, clean, and beauti-
fully set in. She has very fine bone, well-rounded ribs, a very small amount of offitl, and esceU
lent roasting joints. Idho walks oU' the ground bravely and gracefully, and fills the eye wealthily
as she pusses away. An excellent and well-preserved animal is Biitterily's Duohesa, bred b^
Mr. Game, of Churahill Heath, and imported. She has a wonderful substance, magnificent
hind-quarters, and grand broad hips, with a top of surpassing breadth and evenness. Among
the yoij.>iger females we come to Koynl Charmer 11th, ten mouths old. This e^cbUent youug
animal has a beautiful skin, rich roan inoolour,aiid vorymellow to the touch, perfectly level top
and even underlines, handsome head and neck, fine bone, clean and even paints, and neat as •
new pin. It is wonderful what matronly models these young heifers lay hold of. I cannot find
time to describe more than a tithe of those I should like to mention, aud it would, indeed, tak«
a week to learn them properly first ; nor, in fact, do I pretend to have pioked out the best speci-
mens so far, for where there are suoh a number of first-cluss animals, most of whom have many
merits in comnioi>, while many of them have special points of excellence of their own, it would
require the nicest judgment, formed after a long and careful inspection, to assign the many
blue ribands which I should feel bound to award. Suflieo it to say, that here is a great herd of
shorthorns, in which all the finest families are more or less represented, and that they are
iluurishing in the best manner possible, and under conditions closely allied to nature.
One of the most striking facts biought out in connection with the Bow Park herd is this—
the best-bred animals are clearly the bcst-developod ones in size and beauty, while their consti-
tution is just as clearly of the soundest and best. Xo doubt the way in which all tho animals
alike are treated haa no little to do with the superb health which they all enjoy. In no sense
aro they forced into condition by extravagant feeding. The food they get indoors is chiefly
maize, of which stalk, leaf, and half-developed ear are passed together through the uhafF-cuttcr.
The older cows and heifers, in fact, do not receive through the summer even this modicum of
. r 1 f n.l . lh..v .1<TCt..1 entirely on Rru.s, wLrn Huvo in cnouRl. of It, a. tl.ow li.i» Wn
:;:;; ;;;;;\!;r ::t*l:;.^.;::r::X;^.out^uiu;n,> ; >.nd it h .,uu.c.i ..,,.,...„« to «.. ti. excel.
iiiiiiiiipiSi
iiiiiinvo the lloeks, iih aliortlionia are to improve iho lieru^, ot t^aMiiilii. in nuy cii i, . .
roLct belle- ll.un ll.ut of our Colswold Bhcop, or than of nn.ny ol tl,.« r'"''''";^."'^' ' .'';
C:^l:<>V.^^ a rule, ueed improving i.. ^^^^^^^l^y; !^^:^'Z:ZZ'^. i\^n^
« K iu omoof the ProvinccB litllo or nothing would appear to luwo been done m ^ » J'J^«° 3;
calud by an ciUurpriaiiig breeder of iifteon yearj oxpenonco :
riiiiin-, feeding, and attendance flrat year, per head 2t doh.
gcnond year,
third year,
18
21
Total cost of fat bcunl weighing IGOO lb. CO dols. = rn ii.
This would be about 4 dol«. I2i cents (Ifis. f.d.) per 100 lb. live weight, or 3^d pe' lb- on
,1-e dre sed meat At tl.e present rat'es of freight, in summer time. «"«'' "" "°'"^^VT I .a Cana
,Lve pool for £5 to £■!. including food a>id attondaneo. It u probable, n. /-»«*. "^' ^ana-
ian bee^f will be landed m Liverpool, giving fair profits to all eoneerned a 5d. » 6d. a^
A neighbour of mine in Derbyshire, an intelligent '^"''''"S, "'""^^f '' " ^ A'' J''^^^^^^
ohildren, went out to Canada, some ten or twelve year. "S^V^ t'\ .'^''°"' f^^^Sic llinZe
TT.vmo .i« nrldrcss with mo. I wrote to him, and ho came to loronto to niett mo. lus nomo
Sr the present s'nCounTyGrry. Ontario, ^hero ho is farming 200 acres of rented land m
idd irofto r :anUt$°of"lfis owJ: For tl e rented land he pays 75 cents an aera-or ..th r
tl.i. i. what ho aerees to nav. or its equiviilcnt in some other form ; the lact is, no.vevei. mat
' imjr'vemenfs have ^Jo'roLn coVred the rent. The land is cleared, but tJie permanen
mpiovcments done on it are such that they balance the rent ; those ""P^';'"^"'*^.^^;;/, °^
oncinir draininn. road-making, petting out stone.., and the like. Ho raises cattle and sheep ,
uSnfr a;e "fatWes with sll'o'rfhoru^.rosse.. the hUter too arc native, moi. or less impi.ved
His fat ewes, sold in September, weight 180 lb., hve weight, on the average Ho « o** '^P"
for shoop.feeding-a pracliee very popular and profitable on the limestone ^^^^ "^ ^f g^j;",;
Improved lambs are worth 1 dollar apiece more than native \'»™>^5i ^''-V"^ ~\ '%i';^^^^^^
5J cents, native lambs being worth 2 dollars to 2 dollar.. 50 cents Oat, fetch 30 to 31 ce„U .
wheat, 90 to 100 cents ; white peas CO to 05 cents ; and barley, 50 to GO cents P^' »"^''«'- "'
ploughs rape under for barley, and, alter barley, takes turnips, working "','6'"g> ^ J '^ we"P
he land for them. He says that if butter fetches 15 cents a pound, tho farmers do well.
C Uirvhen at7ete!.3to4.cents a pound, live weight, these are native cattle; improved
n te . ewUV5to5icenU while Litton is ^-'1' t'° 'f '""'r.T't^^w'" ' fatTro '
the time of the year. My old neighbour is not afraid of work, and he l»»^ "^ « 'tario i) ^^^90
shrewd-US.; he thinks a man will do better renting than "'^"'"g'^'' ^7-'^."' ^"^^^^^^^^^^^
the rent is le..s than the interest on the money ; he has prospered hnaself in t mg ^" J- n't
informs mo he is now worth upwards of JUIOOO. Ho would not have been worth oac.-lourtli ot
it if he had remained in England.
Ml. ./. /'. Sh>'hl„n\i /.\/...//.
H
It, a* tlicw liiw lii'cn
sing to Bt'i) ll<0 cxcel-
aro inilividuBllT i»nd
K'P, to tlio»o of loHi
, no »VJ^\\ of tuborou*
iii-bvoil M they huyo
clcariT cliniato than
ni imiiiUy I'lijoyoil by
licli tlio piiroat bliinit
liomu admirutily Biiita
i'iiiiH«p wlio viiiits llow
ei'iioil, it ia <'U'Hr lliiit
II Uiit-n <lii.v» I diieiitivt
u'ciU'cltlurL'tliiin licri!.
11,1, but tlu'y iiro open
wv! ui'i) I'lilculiiteil to
III liny oa<i>, howcvei",
•y, in IX rule — in tlie.-o
IK Loii'O^tors ; but tin)
It- in Hize. Tbn pigs,
,lio II'!?-' ii» ""^ Bnliuli
imt. It is abuiuUntly
lilt most of them are
ot. betMi sti'onj? enough,
done in tbi» dirootion.
u yeiira' time wo shall
eep, «i wi'U as a great
ioning beef in Ciirmda,
iiv has boon coinmuni-
oli.
ight, 01- 3^d. per lb. on
animal would bo liinded
t\e, ill fact, tliftt Cana-
I, ot 5d. to 6d. alb.
witli n lirgo family of
lut £100 in his pocket,
o nieot mo. His home
ores of rented land, in
;nt8 an acre — or, rather,
lio fact is, ho .\ever, that
ired, but the permanent
nprovoments consist of
aises cattlo and sheep ;
more or loss improved,
erago. llo grows rape
ne soils of Uerbysliire.
iz., 3 dollai-a to 3 dollars
9 fetch 30 to 31 cents ;
;0 cents por bushel. Ho
', ridging, and manuring
1, tho farmers do well,
native cattle; improved
iccording to quality and
3 has his share of natiTo '
land in Ontario, because
self in renting land, und
loeii worth one-fourlh of
1 Win niii.'li ii.(ero«ic'l in ii trip made to Ura^ironl and Uini •, tlie lalt.i' a h'aiilifiil Ki.vii .m
nn arm of 1,'ikn Siincop. At both tlii-'e towiK we liad a nneliMv' of fnriiiiTi in llie cj.niiii;, iupI
n livi'lv iliJcii^Mon on iijirlonltunil topic. The In iiicrii aroiiml linidfoi'd doclareil tlinl tlic'v lia 1
more than held I'leir own, dcxpito the bad tiiiie'< of the past four or live yearn. 'I'liey roiiitLlered
their capilnl cinployed in rai-minj» lial at alt ereiiu piid live per eeiit. per nnnnin diiiin;? that
period of ilepi-e-sio'i), Previooilv, a fanner o'cpeele.l to buy and piv I'.n- an e\liM fann "Very
i'i(r|il or ten years but of lite years lliev have not been aMe to do wo. The lainl about llni Iford
in a rlavev loam, come of it altno-'t n eliv, and, n* a role, it, j. well fanned. More or 1 •■•s livo
Moek an''kepf, and tli, land is farni,-.l in rolalioin whieli am far from iirbilnivy o' rei,Miliii-.
Wheat is liken ii;)w and a(,'ain; niaiiBc!', (■a^•ol^ turnips etc., are t;rowii, mid the linid is
generally needed down witli a white erop i if with untnmii wheat, tho liinolliy is sown ni tho
untiimn iiiid the clover in tlii' i»pring.
It. is iieodhMt to su.,';;e4 anythin;! to the fanner* of nradford, except thai they kv-p aniiiiii/
livo stoi'k us no-isible, making the other operations of tho farm snb^iiliary to tliein ; tho livo
stock then will do their pari in maintaining and inereasiii'^ tlie fertility of the farm-".
Ihid the )ileasuro of being present nt the a'.;rieiiltnnil allows of Toronto, Hamilton, nivl
Montreal, and I may say that 1 have oeun no shows in Knglmid, ex;'opt tho Koyal and the Ihil'i
and West of Knjjland, "that cm claim to bo nhea 1 of tlunn in a;;','rei,Mto merit. Tiic Montre.il
•how is a new on \ and in a short time will also be a ' ery good one, no d iiibt ; in any c is,), it«
permanent buildings aro tho best I have soon, either in Cianiidi or the .States. The Cana liaiH
throw thenielves with groat spirit into entorprisos of this kind, an 1 these shows aroagr^;;'^
credit and ornament to tho Dominion.
Tho school nceommodation of tho settled districts of Canada, and tho fiualit.y of the oluei.
tion given to tho c:hildren, aro among tho lountry'a greatest morits and ornamonts, The scliool-
iloiHos are frequently the most prominent bniidin^M in many of tli'! towns and village--, ami
thronghout tho Dominion the cluoation of the young is regarded n» a nuiti r of vital import-
ance, and Olio of tho highest duties of citizenship. Kvorywiiero primary c Ineation is free, tho
poor man's child ciijoymg advantages o pial to tho rich man's, and oven in tho higher branches of
education in tho colleges the fees aro merely nominal, the State nrnvidin'^ all Ihu machinery and
defraying nearly all the coat. The pliieationof all children between the ages of seven mid
twelve is compulsory, and Acts of I'arliamont are in force under which dcliminont parents mny
be lined for neglecting to send tlioir children to school. It is impossible not to discern in thcao
provisions one of tho surest pledges tho future greatness of the country, imA they obviously
provide the poor man with advantages greater than those ho will meet wilh in most parts of
Engl Old. One of the llr-t duties of a new district is to erect a school-house with ample necom-
modution; and so imluied aro tho people with tho need and wisdom of such an act, that tho
provision is mad.- wiili alacrity. Sectarian diireronccs arc arranged by tho crcBtion, wlieic
ncoessarv, of aepa e schools, but in any case, tho children aro bound to bo educated. It imiy
bo true I'lint tho •<; .port of tlio high sehooU shonl I come in a larger measure from tho-o who
benellt hv Ihein, and in timo no doubt this part of tho educational question will bo in or.> or
loss modille I, yet it cannot bo denied that if tho Provincial Oovcrnments Imvo orred at all in
this matter, they have erred on tho right side. It is not competent for me to go farther into
tho question in" this report, but it is impoitant to notify to intending emigrants that, at all
events, their children are sure to be provided, according to tho measure of each one's capacity,
with tho knowdedf^e whieti is power.
Among educational institutions tho Ouclph Agricultural CoUego occupies an honoumblo
position. The College was iinfovtuiialoly not in session when I was there, and the President
and Profeasor of Agriculture were both away at the Hamilton show, so that I saw the Collogo
and farm under unliivourablo conditions. The Professor of Chemistry did nil that lay in his
power, however, to give mo facilities for seeing tho educational machinery of tho College, as
well as the farm buildings, tho farm, and tho stock. The following day I had the pleasiiro ot
meeting Mr. Mills, tho President, and Mr. Brown, the Professor of Agrienlture, at Hiimilton.
It is salisfaetorv to know that the College is being more appreciated and employed year by year
by those for whoso licncUr it was established. Increased aecommodation is now being provided,
and there is a prospect of the College even becoming self-sustaining in timo. Already it i' u
ilourisliiiig, though quite a young institution, and its itilluonce is being felt on the .igricnlluro
of the Province. Tlio students receive an agricultural education, in which science is happily
bleudod with practice, and theory is borne out by demonstration. Tho farm cjnsists of soino
EJ50 ocrcs, on which a variety of experimentnl and practical crops are grown, and ucverul kinds
of puiobrcd English shcep"and cattle aro kept, which, in their turn, wi.l have an important
cHect on tho country's future.
Tiio taxation in Ontario is light, as it is cvcrvwhere else in the Dominion thit I have been.
At first sight it would seem to be heavier than in some of the o'iicr Provinces, yet it is not
really so. It is asscised on tho basis of valuation of properly and in this sense diflers but
elightlv from the other Provimes. Land, and rcul properly" generally, leaving out of cou-
20
Mr. J. J', aluidoiis lUjioii.
f
i
f
1
If
t
gideration swell cilies ns Montreal and Qmbec, is niorcTnhinble in Ontario than olscwlierc, yet
flic total tiixatioii, including echool-rntes, does not often pobejond 25 to 30 cents an ncro, wliilo
it frequently fulU below tl.osc funis. Some (lietrictslmTe public properly wliieli neiuly provides
all tlic public money tlint is needed, and olliers uro the more lu'nvily rated for the present in
order to wipe oil' bums of money wliieli were given ns bonuses to new railways passing tlnouuih
tlieni. llut nowhere did I meet with an instuneo in which taxation may be regarded as reiilly
burdensome ; yet it will be expedient for new-eou.ers to make inquiry into tliese matters bcfuro
purchasing farms.
In the matter of nsiessing land for taxatii n, the farmers appoint a commission to value II,
and it is revalued cacli year if tl'.ought rxpedii-nt. Jf n;iy dispute aviso the hind is looked over
again, and tho dispute may be privately settled by ihc judge. PraeticulJy the farmers ho'.d
their taxation in their own handj", for no direct imijeriul taxation is levied.
Tlic farming in many jiarts ot Ontario is of a higlier order than 1 had been led to expe.-;t.
West of Toronto, us veil as norlii of it, I euw niiiny farms iii u condition which wouhl bo no
discredit to any country whatever, but u great credit to most.
1 have to regret that my time did not admit of my taking more than a glance at tho Eastern
Townships of tliis Province, because I am persuaded lliere is niiieh excclKiit hind in them, and
R good opening for Eiiglifli farmers. 'Jliey are siliialc between the cities of Montreal and
Quobe>, and niav some of the cities of the United States, in all of wliieii there are good markets
for farm produce. The land, moreover, is much lower in price flian in the better jiortions of
Ontario, and farms for most part cleared and fenced, in a fair state Of cultivation, and pos-
sessing good houses and buildings, may be bought at the rate of JCl or £o an acre. The dis-
trict is rolling and the soil loamy ; it is also \.ell supplied witii water, a valuable feature in
dairy-farming and stock-raising. The climate is healthy, for it is here that Sir. Cochrane has
raised his excellent shorthorns, and where he is now beginning to raise high-class Herofords
in the place of their..
The agriculture of Quebec, generally speaking, is susceptible of improTenieiit, and the snnio
may bo said of its cattle, sheep, hordes, and pigs. In iiiimy parts tiie farmers plough tho
' lands ' loo narrow, as if the soil were very wet. If such be the ease, it were better to iinder-
dniiii it. I noticed that grasses and clovers grew best in tho numerous furrows. The fences
of Quebec, as a rule, ore quite iqiial to those of any (itlicr I'roviiice, and probably superior,
because, being straight rail fences, they uro not such a harbour for weeds as the ziyzajj ' buake-
fences ' too commoiily are.
KOVA ECOTtA.
Of this province, too, I am unable to say very much, as I had not facilities for in?pectin»
it equal to those wilh which 1 was provided elsewhere. In the neighbourhood of Truro I saw
some useful loiid, m the Vale of Annapolis al^o, some of which is not easily excelled in any part
of the Dominion. I was recommended, by his Excellency the (Jovernor-Gencral, to pay a
visit to this fertile region, and I may fairly say that I should have missed a treat if 1 had not
done so. The finest portion of the valley is found in the Keiitviile district, and in Cornwallis,
in King's County ; and the great feature of the locality is found in tho djke-lands, which havo
been re<'laiuied Iroui the Bay of Fundy.
Of the nature of these kiids 1 shall havo to speak at some length in niy remarks about New
Brunswick, which Province also has ii largo area of tlicm. There is, however, some very f no
upland in the valley, which is admirably adapted to the growth of roots and grain, and to tlio
raising of live stock of various kinds. The apples of the Annapolis Valley are famous in many
countries, and though they do not surpass tlioi^e of Oiiturio, they arc an ornament to the country,
and a source of prolit to the people. It is probable that there is room for a limited iiu:-ibcr
of English farmers in Nova Scotia, but, so lur as I saw it, it does not offer induecraents equal
to those of the adjoining Provinces, The country for some distance out of Halifax cannot
ever become valuublo farming land, a great part of "it being what is termed a 'hard country,'
that is, rocky nnd short of soil,
riilNCB edwaiid's islakd.
In some respects this is one of the most beautiful provincrii of fhc Dominion, and it lin«
probably tho largest ]>roportion of cultivable land. The soil generally is a red sandy loam, of
one character thionghout, but diH'eiiiif in quality. On tho whole, the grass-land of the island,
and Ihe cliai'acter ol tho swartl, roi:,-:^hiig cs it (k.c* of iiidi>;cnous clovers and a variety of th.;
liuvr grusice, reniiinicl nic sivoiiy'.y of muuc porlions of Old Eugliiud. The people, "too, :..iu
BM.'^lwr.
Mr. J. /'. iSheldon's Rrpnyt.
21
niavio than olsowliere, yet
to 30 cents an ncro, wliilo
•rty wliicli iicuily provides
\y rated for tlio present in
' rnilwiiys passing thioii,u;li
nmy bo regarJcd os rciilly
y iuto these matters bci'uro
a commission to value il,
iso tlie land is looked ov.p
•niticuUy tlic farmers lio'd
levied.
I liad been led to expe.--t.
idiliou wliicli would bo no
inn a planco at tlie Enstcvii
■xeelKnt liind in tlicin, and
;lie cities of Montreal and
lieii there are good markets
n in the belter jiortions of
ate Of cultivation, and pos-
1 or £5 an acre. The dis-
utcr, a valuable feature in
lere that Sir. Cochrane has
I raise high-class Ilerefords
improTemcnl, and the same
ts the farmers plough the
ise, it ^^•ere belter to under-
arous furi'ows. The feiires
nee, and probably superior,
ivecds as the zigzag ' buake-
not facilities for in?ppctin»
ighbcurhood of Truro I 8a^Y
It easily excelled in any part
aovernor-Geiicral, to pay a
missed a treat if 1 had not
: district, and in Cornwallif,
I the djke-lands, which have
II in my remarks about New
is, however, some very fiiio
roots and grain, and to tlie
j Valley are famous in many
e an ornament to tlic country,
room for a limited nuriber
not offer induecmcnts equal
itauco out of llahlax cannot
is termed a ' Lard country,"
f the Dominion, flnd it liflS
M-ally is a rod sandy loam, of
, the prass-land of the island,
clovers nnd a variety of tlu!
gluud. The people, too, ui'O
mnrp Knnllph in nrpehrancc than those of any of the other I'lovmces, with the rjoeption of
Kew llrnnswiek. 'inis is probably owinf? to a cooler chmnto and the contiguity of the sea.
The hotter climate and (he drier air of the West seem to deprire the cheeks of some of the
( <,luur The summer climate of the island appears to be almost every thins that can be rtesirecl,
hut the winters are very long ; the Northnmbtrlninl Straits being frozen, the people ore isolated
from the mainbin-l during the winter, unless, indeed, they cross over on the ice-a thing wliicli
niav bo done, and I believe not uncommonly is. .,.,.,,• x • .i i. . i»
One of the most annoying circnmstanees in connection with the island winters is tills . it
commonly happens that in spring numbers of icebergs llnd their way through the Str»its oi
Uclle Isle, and collecting in the northerly hall-moun const of the island, inelt^ there slow y,
relardin? vegetation sometimes a forlnight or move. The pen,.le believe that if a breakwater
were thiwvn across tie Straits of 13ellc Isle the climate of the Gulf of St. Lawrence would be
vnstlv improved, and there are some who incline to the belief that m tins event the St.
Lawrence would be navignblo the year round ; if such results were at all hkely to follow the
cloPing of the straits, why— the sooner they are closed the better. ,,.,.,
Prince Edward's Island is covered with a soil that is easy to cultivate, sound and healtby,
enpable of civimr excellent crops of roots, grain, and grajs-an honest »oi! that will not fail
to respond to the skill of the husbandman. For sheep, particularly, the island appears
to bo well adapted, for the soil is light, dry, and sound, growing a thick-set, t^ender, and
nutritious herbage. For cattle, too, it is suitable, though perhaps less so than for shoop. lor
iiorses the island has been famous for ;i long time, a.id American buyers pick up most of tlioSe
there are for sale. It is not improbable, in fact, that taking them for all in all, the horses of
the island are superior to those of any other Province ; it seems, in fact, to be in a sense the
Arabia of Canada. The sheep, as a rule, are fairly good, but open to .mprovement ; the cattle,
generally speaking, are inferior. Many of the sheep arc now being ' r.orted to England, and
the day I sailed from Quebec, Mr. Senator Carvell was shipping '.'no 1200 of them, most of
which were of very fair quality. This gentleman, to whom I am indebted for ™«ch knulness
and information, informs me that sheep from the island cost 16s. a head m freight, fbod, and
nttendanco, by the time they reach Liverpool, besides which there la insurance, which rarics
from 2 to 10 per cent., according to tlio season of the year. ^ , „ ^ „ , .
It cannot but be regarded as a good thing for the island that Mr. CarTell has opened up a
trade in this way, and it will be an inducement to the people to go more into sheep-raismg--
nn industry for' which the island is speeijilly adapted, 'i^he cattle at present are not good
enoueh for the English market, and they are not worth taking over. The Provincial GoTern-
luent has established a stock-farm near Charlottetown for the dissemination of better blood
through the flocks and herds of the island ; but so far the farmers have not avivilcd themselves
n-i thev ou"ht to do of this great advantage. Tiio new trade with England w'lll, however, m
all probability cause tliem to put their .houhlers to the wheel and to bring their cattle up to
the level of tlic sheep. Leef and mutton are very cheap at present on the island ; stall-fed beef
in spring can be bought at 31 cents a lb., live weight, and grass-fed beef in October was worth
onlv2.i, while dressed beef by the side could be bought at 4 to 5 cents per lb. ; lamb and
mutton by the quarter, and of very nice quality, was being sold in the markets at 5 cents per lb.
Lambs were worth from 6s. to lOs. c:.ch, and ewes, lOs. to 18s. ; while fat wethers and ewes
were bought at IDs. to 20s. By ixporting a few thousands yearly to England the price of
sheep will increase on the island, Tho farmers com].lain that they receive but 17 cents
per lb. for their wool •, but so long as they theer unwashed sheep they must submit to low
'""ll'ie island crows very good wl.cut, and probably better oats than most other parts of the
Dominion. Of tlie former, the crops •.re from 13 to :10 bushels, and of the latter, 2o to /O
bushels per acre. Barley, too, s may l.e expected, makes a very nice crop \Vheat at lie
time of my visit was worth ds. per bnshel of CO lb., oats Is. Od. per bushel of 3i lb., and bai ey
i!s Od. to 3s. per bnslicl of -18 lb. V.'inter-wlieat is regarded as a piveanous crop, being ImUle
to be thrown out of the loose soil by tho thaws in spring. The same thing holds good m
Manitoba, and in Ontnrio I found that the farmers consider there is danger on the one hand,
with winter-wheat thai, is too far advance.l wlien winter sets in, of having it smothered by a
too heavy fall of snow lying too long, c»pecially on damp land ; and on the other, of having it
throw itself out of the ground by the heaving of the frosts and thaws of spring. In this event
the dead plants may afterwards be raked oil' tho land like so much hay. There is indeed, on
these loose soils, room .or the cxerci^f. of .judgment in the sowing of the groin. Many tanners
consider it a good thing to drill it in -.lorth and south as a protection against the prevalent west
winds, while others trv tho experiment of leaving a row of old cornstalks •tanding at mterva.'s
of IB or 20 feet. AUtliis is done to prevent the wind blowing the snow olf the plant and so
exposing it to the withering frost, for snow is indeed a protection if there is not too much of it
ond the laud is dry. , . , , i r * „„
Ihe island is noted for its larRC crops of excellent potatoes, which not uncommonly foot up
S2
Mr. J. P. .S/i'ldotig lujort.
to 2',0bu^lipU an ncro of fino l.n,Ml-onic tuber?. At tlie time of my visit tl.oy w.mv wortli only
15 to 2 coi uTbu XlJ^ tariff of 15 cents a bushel imposed by tlie Amcnmus on t^^an,„lKm
lotlLs hrvi,^^^^^ killed a onco Inv.e export tr.de of potatoes to Ibo 8t« e«. Swedes maka
Kne c op. no? uneomnionly ro^eliins 750 busbeU per ncre of sound nnd 'olid bulb.
Tlic iplnnd possesses one ndvantn«e wln.'b is unique nnd immensely valunble I lefer now to
its il iek bed of ' mussel nnul.' or ' oy.te, -inn.i.' xvlneb nre found in nU the bays nnd nvor-
;,o« s Te deposit, «l,ieh is eommouly many feet thiek, eonsists of tlie organic remains of
^CnV ei, m.nerat 0,8 of oysters mussels, elams, and otber bivalves of the ocean, and of crusta-
!Z „n iSRe^e iS The sl.ells ar; .eue.'ally mo,-o or less intact embedde I lu a densa
deZit o mudTo ff, wbi.h is found to bo a fertiliser of singular viiluo and poteney. 'J ho
Spy of it i" sa d to be almost inexliaustible, an.l it is indeed a mine of great «eu lb lo bo
island It i also found to sonu, extent on tbe ea.t coast of Nova Scotia and ^e«r Hrunswiek.
A good dre sing o it '-^b'-"-'--^ '■^'•■'i'i'.v '" '^ "'"'^"'^ ""'""^"" *" ''"i r°"''' ''"'' V t"'- ^"Za
aftuHt qmte uxuriantlv, and, as it ^;•elv, indigenou-ly ; by its aid heavy crops ol turnips ad
notatocs^nn, raise and in<leed, it may be rcgar.led as a manure of great value and apphcable
fo unv kiml of e op JN'm- is it s^ou exbauste,!, fur the shells in it de.ay, year by ye^v t,lirow ng
off a'mn" of fertilising matter. This siugul.vr deposit is obtained, as a rule, below low-watc
mark, and °\ linter «d,en the water is a solid mass of ice. Holes are cut through 'O -» ;»;
"ho mud is . -nuhed, and a powerful nnd ingenim.s horse-power scoop is used to l-'t'^l' up the
mud p!ud dui.'.p it in the Weighs; it is then taken to shoro- and laid ui heaps until it is
"""Sre is not much Crown land to dispose of i„ (he island at the present time, but^ there arc
plenty of encumbered farms, more or less improved Nyhich cnn be bouL-ht^ at o -^' 1"'^ '" •^•
dollars an acre. Taxation on the island is very light ; it amounts to -' to 3 cents an acre, ac-
cording to value, or from 15 to 18 cents per 100 dollars vuhiat.on.
1U% educational advantages of the island are on a footing similar (o those of the other Po-
vinces. There arc good roads, railways, etc., and many excellent, harbours around tbo u d
There are also thriving woollen and other mills, not to mention the l'^'>''"- fi^l'^nes, wb.di a e
a source of considerable wealth to the Province. There are, however complaints that too many
farmers have been tempted into the fishing business, to the neglect o ihcir farms ; tb. t between
two Lois these men have fallen to the ground, and that the land is sometinies blainod f^or
losses which really come of neglecting it. I was assured on the highest authority that farmers
who have minded their business, have been steady, nnd have used a moderate supply of common-
sense in their dealings, have made farndng pay and become independent I^'^ "•"!";" '> ";■'»
is indepen.lcnt ou a smaller sum in Prince Edward's Island than he wouM be in Ii.ugland, b .t
at the same time thei-e are luimerous evidences of hnppincgs and conleatment among the
''^"it^appcars to mo that Englishmen of moderate ambit icm would find Iiomes congenial to their
tastes in this beautiful Province, and 1 have an impression that, with cattle and sheep raising
and fattening for the Englisli market, better limes are in store for these hospitable and kindly
i«landcr», many of whom I shall always remember with feelings of more tlmn ordinary kiud-
nees. For agricultural labourers there is plenty of omploynient at good lat.s of pay. A man
will Ect 80 dollars to 150 dollars per annum, plus board nnd lodging; (n>, minus board and
lodsmg, but with cottage, keep of a cow, and an acre of land for potatoes, will receive 1 .0
dollars to 200 dollars in cash. 1-arming, a.-'ter all, cannot be bad wnero sue i wages are paid to
men, and there is every inducement lor the farmer and his family to do all llie work they can
within themselves.
Kcw Trer:;s\viC'ic.
Apart from its wenMi in timber nnd mincn-ls, the latfrr ns yet only jnst he^hiiung to ho
.velnned, the Province of >'.w Jirunswiek is uvll adapted to the puivu.ls ut nuneullure. In
cveial portions of the Ihovince there me ^olls which have certain very remarkable (enturcs niul
d
fcve
jn'opeities; nnd in nuiiiy other portions 1 found
>
cleared of timber, deep in einple, nnd rich in the ace, nulaird fertility of many centuries.
■ ordering on the beautiful valle- of the St. John Kiver hnve every
I
Sdile Ihiit a-e easy to cullivate when onco
1 iiulaird fertility of many centnric:
y
Wany of the upland soils bord „ , , , . , , .,■. r .i „
indication of being well adapted to stock raiding, pnrtieul.^iiy of ovinc stock. 1 liey are fw the
most part sandy or gravelly looms, soinelim.s ,.,,pro.u-hlng to stilfi ess, but generally friab e,
rarvina no doubt, in depth ami n„idi(v, but liuidly anywhere r--od fir rotlmi-. It is probable,
in iact; lint, ^ ila -.liu cxi'cption ol Ji'iince Edward's Island, New Bn.iiswiiu bus a larger propor-
tion of cdtivuMe sjils than any of the older Provinces of the Domirion. . ., .
So f.ir, however, the ecttkd pnrtsof the I'rovinee are chielly along, or adjarent to, the rivers
which drf;iii tV.s couatry ; but there are yet many millions ofneics not appropriated as good i:i
all f r:b:ilil:tj. for agricultural purposes as those that are- if wo ir.nke eieeptioa of the djkc
.Vr. J. P. Shrld'Ji,'..
U^r
;■(.
23
• wi'i'o worth only
mils on C.iniiclian
}». Swedes iiinka
biilb.j.
,e; I refer now to
B buys niul rivor-
•jranic rrmiiiiia of
in, and of eriist:!-
edilc'l in a donso
nd potency. Tho
•at wcullli lo tlio
[1 New Hninswii.'k.
j\U ; clowr grows
pa of tnrnips nnd
hie nnd appliciiblo
r by yeiir throwing
», below low-water
'oui;li tlic ioo until
d to letcli np the
I heaps until it ic
time, but there arc
at 5 doUiivs to ?."
cents an aere, uc-
Bof tho other Pro-
nround tho island.
(Isheries, whicli are
lints tlnit too many
irins ; that between
letinu's blamed for
hority that farmers
supply of coinnion-
t is true that a mini
le in ICngland, bv.t
.'iitment among the
ca con;x»'nial to their
! and sheep raisiii;;
)spitahlo and kindly
Minn ordinary kind-
rs of pay. A man
r, minus board and
JOS, will receive 1 iO
li wa;»es are paid to
II the work they can
j.iut he!?hinin:» to h'O
of Hi;ii.'\i!lure. In
larkahlc features and
eullivato wlien oneo
■ of many eentnries.
in Kiver have every
k. Tliey are for the
lit poneiidly friable,
liiii|v It is probable,
I has a larger proper-
idjiirent to, the rivers
roi)riafod, in good, i:i
leption uf the 'djkc '
*
nnd ' intervMle ' 1 iiuU. But these unsettled portions are fc^r the most part slill eo/ered with n
dense growth of timber, and I should hiirdly fancy that English farmers aro cither lilted for or
would like the task of clearing it off.
The work of clearing theae lands is, indeed, horculcnn, but it is generally supposed that the
timber will i)ay for it. Tho land may bo cleared at n cost of 12 to 20 dollars an acre,
nnd it is said that a Canadian backwoodsman will cut down an acre of heavy timber in three or
four days.
Let us take tho now settlement of New Denmark as an instanoo of what may be done.
Seven years ago tho locality was covered with a dense forest, nnd the Danes who emigrated to
it were very poor ; now hundreds of acres are cleared, and aro producing abundant crops of
grain and vegetables, some of which are of a superior character, and the land supports a happy
i.iid prosperous colony, which in time will be a wealthy one. It is not too much to say that
the condition of tliesc people is far better than it would liavo been in tho land of their birth.
Take again the Scotch settlement of Nnpan, on tho Miramichi : here we have fclso a favourable
illustration of what thrift nnd industry will do. Tho settlement is mainly Seotsh, but there
are a few Irish among them, some of whom have prospered. One Irish farmer wo met had
beeoino woiillhy, 'and,' sitid a countrymnn of his to me, 'wo call him Barney llothschild
itself !' It is at once ;)leasant and instructive to eco these new settlements, for they are only
what will bo found all ovwr t!ie I'rovinco in course of time.
It would seem probable that a number of English fa-in-liibourers might do tho same, starting
with free grants of land covered with timber, nnd clearing it as far as circumstances would admit
of. They would in any case meet with encouragement from tho Gorcrnmeut and people of tiio
I'rovinco, nnd with industry their reward would bo sure.
Generally speaking, the sheep of Kew Brunswick are tolerably good, producing very nice
r.'.ulton, and it does not appear that any special elVort at improving them is at present called
fdr. But the cattle generally are very inferior, and here it is that ellorts nt improvement aro
urgently required. It appears to me tliat good sliorthorn, polled Aberdeen, or polled Norfolk
blood would bring about tho desired change. I saw, however, many cattle in tho neighbour-
hood of Sackville that are good enough for all practical purposes, and fit for tho export or ony
other trade. Uere, then, tho 'blue noses' have an example in cattle-breeding set them ill
their own country. It is clear that the climate nnd the soil are lit to produce excellent cattle,
nnd if we find comparatively few such, it is man's fault, not tlie country's. Ontario is a long
way ahead of any of tho other Provinces in cattle, and this will give her, in tho new trade, a
lead which cannot easily bo taken away.
The soils I have spoken of [as possessing certain remarkable features and properties are the
' dyke" and the ' intervale ' lands. Both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are celebrated for the
former, while the latter are a peculiarity of New Brunswick, in the valley of tho noble river St.
John. The dyke lands of both Provinces nro found bordering on the inlets of the Bay of
Fundy. Those I saw in Nova Scotia are in the neighbourhood of Kentvillo and Amherst; in
New IJrunswick I saw them at Dorchester and Sackville. As tho name suggests, they are
dyked in from tho sea, from which they havebeon from time to time reclaimed. In many cases
marsh grass is cut from saline swamps which have not yet been dyked, ond over which tho high
tides for which tlio Bay of Fundy is noted, still during certain teisons, continue to flow. The
grass is made into hay in the best way possible under tlio circumstances— on the ridges of higher
land, on platforms, etc. — and is stacked on a framework which is raised several feet obovo the
land, supported on piles ; and it is a cnrious sight to see the water flowing under the stacks
and in and about the piles when the lido is at its height. In one case I counted, near the
town of Annapolis, upwards of MO of these stacks, each of them containing a ton or so of hay.
They are put up in this manner hurriedly, and arc fetched into tho farmyards, in winter, as
they are wanted, to uso along with ordinary hay, with straw and with roots, to which they are
found to form a tolerable though coarse addition. But the dyke-lands proper nro so fenced in
from the water by a strong b.i-.ik of earth thrown up some six or eight feet high, with u broad
and substantial base, that the land within them is firm and solid, of excellent quality, aud
eovced with a tliiek sward of coarse thougli vigorous and nutritive grass. Th .' fertility of these
reclaimed soils is unusually high ; they are never manured, but they cut on the average upwards
of two tons of hay to the acre— a yield which has been sustained for njoiiy years, and shows no
signs of running out.
Tho land, however, under this ayslem of farming is found to become weedy in the course
of time and it becomes expedient to plough up portions of it in rotation, at intervals of ten or
twelve years, taking one crop of wheat or oats, with which now grass seeds nro sown, to form
the new sward which is desired. This once ploughing is found to kill the weeds for the tim'a
being, nnd they do not again become very troublesome for s oino years ; nnd when nt length they
da, the land is simply ploughed up ngnin in (he way described.
These bottom-lands nro valuable acquisitions to tlio upland farms adjoining, most of which
have more or less of thoiu attached j and they do much tovurds inainlainiug the fertility of the
21
Mr. J. r. 'ShcI'lun'n Rqwrl.
>r
ii.
,,,,u„a.,..,i.«n,«,.n„,..,.,;r™„,,— ^^^^^^^^
mo.cing on the 1st of Se,.te.nbor. a ^^ .mj» ^^^,j j^ j^.jj^ „„ t,,e nvubev
appointed to place a valuu on f "f " »" ^ P",^ ;''" ^ followB that w. see
an.l kind of animaU he ^I'-'ll »-" ,f^' r':^^;!^;,.? feed at will.
see very largo tracts
uix'l kind of animals lie siiaii senci .o. i""""'"*"- ^■{7.,- . ..will
of land'on which Kundved. of eatt le voam about - - ".^j;!;;,.,,^ „,, ^hero is .till a lar«o
'11,0 extent of these dyke-lands i» saul •-« /^ J^^™ ' ^.^; ayk.-d by tlio French, previous to
area to be recUimcd. A large p.rt.ou of "l-^J^^^, ;,;f, „^„,,s they were taken pns.e.sio.,
,l,e conquest of Fort Bcausejour "' 1'^^^; ./T ^''^ ^J,. nt of them from the Crown. The
„f by the English set lers. ^ ''Vlflt'r.il fro. oi O^t dc-llars to twenty dollars per acre, and
..xpenso of dykinf? fresh '"';;">"-'«" J '£, uc , hykos .u.d aboideaux adopted by .lie first
it IS worthy of note that «'=« «.V«^'-'"\°i,'-r^!,^nisfom of cultivation is very simple, and con-
1-reneh settlers is the ono «"' 9"'l','^y^^, oo.l^L 1, ," 3 fout wide at the top, 2 f.H ■) inches
*iHs of surface drauiiMK by cuUugd.tces-ja^^a^n^^^^^ afterwards the laud is
deep, and sloping *» l/";^,''^"^ !, ^Ji]''«own^^^^^^^ und needed down with timothy and
ploughed in iidges of to, 8 feet wiili, »"''" ^ descrintion, and it would seem to ir.o
ilovc.s. It then yields large evops of grass o a - ,, ^^ ^ ^ P'^,^,'„,,.i,,g ,vould iucroase the
tl,at careful draining, generous "'It nation, ami ihsa mil. i, ^.n.aevised system of
.,,,,.,i,,y. or at all events improve .'•" 'i;''^i7,/f„, J^f fi"e percolation of raiu-walcr
.Irainage. carried out in ^ ''7'''»'*"f^"\3Yv lose much of the saline eleme.it which at pre-
through them, these dyke-lauds ^""I'V ^™^ . 'r ™raiid they would become fitted to t'ho
sent is not favourable to the growth the inc B^.^J^Xy^e^y ,a i,„ g,eatly improved
growth of roots, green crops, and gram, wh''>- "« 1 '*" J / gupgests, found in the valleys.
^ The ' intervale lands ' of iNew Brunswick are «s the "»'«« J^^, ^ ^,^^,^^ ^^,^^,„.
The name is peeuliu.-ly ^PP-P-;'' -^^^PX :i ,0 ," tV atniuL and purposes, with this
lands or alluvial soils. They are, lU fact, alluvial sous i„,,ervale lands consist
peculiarity, they are still i'V:r'''^'L°^iv sue \n t e m g. il cut river St. John ; but for th,
of islands in the rivers-and there '''•«"'*Vy/"''' , ^;;" "^fso ne eases several miles wide and
most part they are leve banks °" «.«f 7'*^" °{, '''"Xm ramparts of the valleys they enclose,
reaching to the feet of the lulls, ^^'"^ ,f '^ *S„"f;; rtley roduce is very good. Like the
These intervale la.ids are r.ch .n q""*]' fA;^"^ "'^f^ jyke-la ids, in fact, have such a deep ex-
dyke-lands, they need "» V'**" T"'^^/ n\!^ maiiu.^^n ' iJ superlluous ; but the intervale Uds
cellent deposit of unusual "^ '' l^J', ^i";'^ ^^^^^ each spring by the freshets of
receive a periodical manuring i the f P°''' ^'' "'' 'f' .eve.'al weeks in the spring of the year,
the rivers: They are, in fact, Uooded ^''''.f j^^^T ."^ o ad(l fertility to an already rich
„ud the deposit left by the '•«-'^';'e wf^ ^ ' 1^"^ A cl o-^o of rich alluvial mud deposited
growth of cereal, 'oo^,''"'^ T"!' "Tr f ha e ein thein in 0^^^^^^^^ "owherc belter vha.i
particular do remarkably well wherever ^^\*;,^,,^f^'-". ;Xu is spec ally desirable, for they ^ro
r„ New Brunswick. Lilt e, U "^A "S and ti™ of coSrsc well inured to the soiU-d
^°t^e .re in thU Province .jUions oUcre. ^l — ^t^^SdttS laS^ ^
SS^l'iidES^^—^^
of cleared farms which can be b"^'g » ; ;> e^^J.^ °'^^^^^^^^^^^^ l. Old Country, especially
of £3 to £8 an acre, and it scem.^ to me "/f " P'''°*;^\' „ j^ ^^11 in this Province. So far as
if he has a rising family to ic.p him cou^^^^^^^^ ,^, home here, and there
the people are concerned, an ^' 6^^ /;""^' j^^augo , paiuful disillusion. The geographical
is nothing in the soil or chmato *'";' «°^^'f„^''"'/ * the notice of the Old Country
ppsition of these mantune P^^'^f « K^^^ ''^tTastrs^ew cl^^^ nearness to Britain.
s^sritin;:^uj[^:^i!^^5?5j-^
^/r. J. P. ShfffJ'in'n li'ijinrt.
26
yke-livnds nro in
ere, in a country
orlions of tlicso
t fencod tff from
nietiiiios several
couibinnd, ooin-
!0 of aasBisors i*
on tho ni'nbpv
very largu traoU
•0 is jtill a larfjo
incli, previous to
taken pnssessioi)
he Crown. Tlia
lars per acre, and
opted by llio (h-st
hiniplo, and eon-
)p, 2 fott i) incbos
rards tba land is
(itii tiinotUy and
vonld seem to ir.o
;)uld increase tliB
levised system of
ion of rain-wiiler
jcnt wliich at pre-
oomo fitted to t'lio
tly improved,
nd in the valleys,
call tlicm bottoin-
ui'poses, with tliis
I'vale lands consist
Jolin ; but for the
ftl miles wide, and
dleys they enclose,
y good. Like the
ve such a deep ox-
he intervale lands
g by Die freshets of
ipring of tho year,
to an already rich
ivial mud deposited
freshets ; and thcr
tly adapted to tuo
o" stock. Shoe) in
jwliero belter vhaii
irable, for they ire
nred to the soil Hid
at the same tiin.i,
cut basis on wliicii.
)lood from the Old
' a heavy growth of
dituro of labour to
t there arenunihera
III them, at the rate
Country, especially
rovince. So far as
)me here, and there
Tiio geographical
( of the Old Country
aearness to Britain,
i strong induceinent
ep which is rapidly
g in those Proviuoei
a profitable liii'inc^s to those who have the will and tlio judgment to lay themselves out to pro-
duce live stock of the quality which will find favour in England.
1 must not omit to mention, with warm feelings of pleasure and gratitude, the unbounded
courtesy and kindness which were extended to me by the Llentenant-Qovernor of the Provinc,
by all tiio members of the government, by various ofllcials, railway and steamboat raanagers,
niid by private gentlenu^n and otliers, in every part of the I'rovince I had the good fortune to
visit. Tiie niemory of my visit to New Bi-uii'swick will be a source of pleasure to me as long
as I may live, and I shall not cease to entertain fcehngs of more than ordinary friendliness
toward many persons whoJe acquaintance 1 hod the pleasure of making under Bueh happy
ai'spices.
It danliot bo denied that to the average Engli,''hman Canada is n oonntry considered to bo
chiody noted for fur-bearing animals, Esquimaux, Tndinus, and winters of extraordinarv severity.
It may be these, but it is sonietliing more. It is a country abounding in agrieulturnl and
niincriil wealth, and it is a great country for timber. It has vast areas of excellent land, un-
surpassed in fertility, and suited to tlie'growtli of many crops. Tt has already many thousand.s
pf prosperous and pleasant farms, and in a few years' lime will have many thousands more.
It abjunds in game and (isli, in llie live stoi k of tlie farm, in fruit, and in cultivated crop.s. It
is true that tlie winters are severe, but 1 iim assured alike in Manitoba and Prince Edward's
lildiid, in Onl-.rio and New Bruaswiok, tliiit tlie winters .n-e bracing and healthy, full of enjoy-
ment, and fur more tolevublc than a seveic winter in England or Scotland ; though tlie ther-
niomcfer may now and again full to aoa below zero, tlie atmospliere is always dry, and »o tlie
Cold is not felt- as severely as a inueli less extreme degree is in a damp climate.
The farmers of Canada work, it is true, hut I doubt if they work as hard as we are in
the habit of tliiukinj:. But in any case tliey work— not to ilo so would demoralise the
men— and it seems that a drone cannot well exist in the atmosphere there. I believe I am
correct in sayinj,' that the dignity of labour is more generally honoured in Canada than in
England, and a.s there arc fewer idlers, men in rags are scarcer. I do not, in fact, remember
seeing more than two or three men in laga in the whole of my wanderings, and not many
diity, except tho Indians, and not always these. Yet the farmers have not all plain sailing,
nor do they grow rich without industry and thrift. Every country has its disadvantages,
and Canada is no exception. There are sometimes violent storms which do injury to the
crops and stock ; sometimes they are troubled with grasshoppers, but their visits are few
and far between, and thev have only made their appearance about six times during tho last
llfty years, Tho Colorad'o beetle 1 only saw once. It does not seem to have yet reached
Manitoba and the North-West Territory, and is not nearly so numerous as I had expected
to lind it, having conlhied its ravages more particularly to tho United States Territory.
Then, again, the weevil and the Hessian Hy attack the wheat sometimes, and it is difTioult
when tlfey do come to check their ravages ; and lastly, the winters put a complete stop to
agricultural operations, and the ploughing and sowing, as a rule, have to be hurried through
ill a limited period. The seed-time and harvest are very busy periods, but when the winter
is over the spring comes at a bound, and vegetation grows at a rate which surprises
Englishmen. , x n
These disadvantages apply to the whole of North America, and not merely to Canada ;
but they have no apparent effect on the progress of settlement in the country. Men somi
learn to accommodate themselves to these things, suiting their work to the seasons, and
planning out beforehand various things that can be done in the depth of winter.
Three things in Canada strike a stranger powerfully : the vastnoss of tho country ; the
unbounded faith the people have in the future greatness of the country ; and the cheerful
loyalty to the Old Country which is everywhere found. The liberty of the Canadian
farmer, grand and unconventional as it is, and the independence of mind and of position,
considerable and even complete as it is in many cases, do not develop into hceiice and
recklessness, but into cheerful and generous habits of Jife. Loyalty to the Old Country
and pride in their own are leading features in the political faith of the people ; hospitality
to straufers, and reariiness to impart information and render services, are equally features
in their domestic life ; while a living faith in the future of the Dominion, based ou a
knowledge of its exhaustless natural wealth, and of the inherent energy of its citizens, is
hvoininent in their conversation. It is not the aristocracy of birth, but that of labour and
of brains— personal merit, in fact— that holds a foremost place in the estimation of tho
The new departure which has recently begun in Canadian farming— that of sending
cattle and sheep alive and dead to England— has elated the farmers of Canada in a degree
corresponding with the depression it has caused among the farmers of England ; it is a new
and unexpected source of wealth to them, and they are laying themselves out to make the
best of it in the future. So far the country is free from diseases of stock, but how long it
if,
Mr. J. P. !^hfU,„'^ lirjynrt.
♦1,. iplioii of tlic Gov. nniKiit Slrinfient
Europe, ^■^-^:',^:tXL cxcluacl ; in IBS
Kbo American ca.tle wore t ".. c.c ujlea ; n b j*;-^;,!;,^. ,,, those (iguros am
a"'Vi« «-y^V::.^L^;±;r:fMolu.S;"vho is tUo chief fiovon,mont n.u-to. o.
i^ttlcd ami S)''vJea Stic"' j'",^^^ ' , ^,.,.t,,, ,„a BVeakorsoua^ncnlturaj
Thclancllonlsanclfanueisof ''"«'='"''"'„ Ivj^f tliat with au n.croasc of tra< o and
«,JtPrB wotcss to find .n,uo consolat on ?} T/''; •,;'', ,^^,i on transatlantic iniportat.ois
ZnZ entailed by V-«"V;"!n iJ^TO " n' is is'bn.ugh^about by enlarged .bi,s a s.na or
than freidit at 503. a ton did in lb/0. ""'^ '•' " , .^ frci'dit. The ships now biuking,
S?"nli « o of coal, and a larger ^V.'V'f ''' '^" VU t a.d^any very much nuno fre.tdit,
thouc larger than those runumL', uiH nm at 1^ « J; ''^ J ^^ /,t, very low, it is an open
and & S freights for some tin>e pa.t '"^^.^^If ^'Vn any ca e, the rate at .vhichsnps.ro
secret that^freights pay 'ar better tl....pas^-n^s.n a^^^^^^ ^^^^ "^ /'"t f;
'*^V"^»othe last ponitof f^r-'^X't^^^V'^^^^'^^
suitairtleld of settlenient for English farnie.Bj •^I'l -^',^,t,,,,^, , Are Eng.sh farmers
lam awaro of its great >'"P"'t'''\^^\J^"f,Xcaadt as a country, has niai^^^^
«« table fo! Canada'; It appears to ine tlia^J-^''^ ■'' . ; ; , f.(,„„try : this cannot bo
nSafuture in all l-robabili ty very unpm^ant Mic is v^^^^^ l\hii.k, then, that
denied ; and she '^""""S ■•^^'••";\'^'l'' As rfnii ittcd by th.ir habits of Ufe and of labonr
nny of our mi.ldle-a^.ed Kngbsh f« ";" « '^7,,'^ ';'i"t ,, Canada. But there are many others
to battle v'ith the uork ^bich won d fiill to Ic^^^^ active lives ; and our
Iho are litted for it, Vavtieularly tlu.se vU .H.a.c IcU i ^^.^^^ , „„t
young farmers would soon fall into <-.^ ^ '^V., "' The younger men would not long be at
afraid to work would, as a rule, do yl " ^;; '" ' ^- j^ i^,.„ {"^ ^ ,nan who has been long
.loss in pioneer life in Manitoba but '^ ''^^^'^'^'^^^i^'^J'' ,vould have to unlearn their oW
fvcci tonild to ICnglish '"'^thods o farm ng th t s t O ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^,, , ^,.„,^^^ „f ^,^,,,,,y,
methods and lean, new ones, but f '^ '; ''y 'J 1? at present alike unnecessary and scarce y
"re so generous that very careful cuUnationis .up j, ;er, and their wives wouhl
;.rotit:d,le These latter men, as it sc mo to le, worn j^./^^rd Island. They are not
Cmore content, in Ontario, or New 1 .m.swick,^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ,,,i ,^„ i
^iUd to the cruder life o the ^ar \\ est A luan ^ ti .\^^^,^^^^^. „f q ,,eo ; one with
L one or other of the maritime rrov^ne, or int. ^^^^^ ^j^^ ,^l either go to the
£2000 would do well in Ontario. A n.anvUi ^i-^^^^ Provinces. But any man
lied Uiver district or take a free 8 ""\" ,^'';4';' ^ ' „,„e kind of employment before he buys
should look round h.m for ««" « ^ mie, a i .et . .^^^j competition which Cntisli
are sober and frugal. . , . ^^nd this no doubt is tine ; but it i^
It is said that Canwla is the pla««,f^^ ^, P^ s ^\^{^ there. It is not probable however,
also the place for a man of '"-"f;. *";[,:^'^t „ i Is they know not of in Canada and indeed 1
that many farmers of capital will ace t lo i.^i« > ,j j,^ y,;^ country ; but, then, it is
would not advise anyone to S^^t^'^'^J^.i^Xigo there as farmers, for money is wanted
hardly fair to Canada that o»ly,P°°^, '^u m Iv^ I know farmers in England who to,
to deveU.p the riches ot the «"'!-" "V w it ou bein'' any forwarder at the year's end than
year after year, and live very carofully, .^^^*'i°", " "ems very hopeless, and I would say to
S were It its start ; this ^o--^ "^ ^ J^"^^^^^^^ "^n c i^, not,^ind has not bcen.abcttcr
d Ci^bS" ^"i '^ iSKi^^Jtc C..aa. Ciada is Ju.t rcc.vei mg from
«■>
i^rimtjmau^H
Mr. ./. r. SI,UI,:n\-i /i',,,o,t.
27
•lit. Sli-iiifient
ml lean s-toi^k,
10 nut ivilniiltcd
1 in lb77 with
18,000 i<c'nt to
it, all Canadian,
,villl)oshivpeil;
(;se (iguri'N I am
it iiisin-ctor t.|
i on ai^ricultural
c of tra<lo and
tic inipoitations
1 cannot paitici-
ighta rising, but
lus, and variouh
cost of sailing a
, and the size of
f littlu more eost
18S0 vays bitttor
Kliips, a Kinallcr
>H now building,
ich inoio ficiglit,
i\v, it is an oiicn
t -wliicli Bliips nro
hiniL' of freights,
urt in a hoped-for
viz.. Is Canada a
hcaii^'on, bec;uiso
Eng.i.sh farmers
many advantages,
r : this cannot bo
think, then, that
life and of labonr
re are many others
vc lives ; and our
iiilies who arc not
3uld not long be at
rlio has been long
unlearn their ohl
imatc of >ianitoba
ssary and scarcely
their wives would
nd. They are not
)00 would do well
; Quebec ; one with
A either go to the
ices. But any man
uent before he buys
ition which British
vagcs they have to
lieir families would
afraid of work, aud
bt is true ; but it is
, probable, however,
inada, and indeed 1
:vy ; but, then, it in
;)r money is wanted
n England who toil
the year's end than
and I would say to
\s not bcon, a better
jiitt rcc'Afi ing from
n period of depression durint; which the value of land has become reduced, and it sohappcns
that niiiii'' of the farmers of the Lower l'rovinc;es are looking wistfully at the wonderful
prairies of the Xortli-West, and are anxi ius to soil their prenent farms and go there with
tliiir rising families. They, it is true, are iitted to f,(>, aud it scums to nioanicearr.ingemcnt
that English fanners of capital should take their places. It would seem, inilcul, that the
,sys ems of f:iniiing to which lOu^li^h farmers have been long accustomed an! well adapted
to restore cainlitiou to the laud, while Canadian methods arc better Huite.l to the present
comlition of the .N'orth- West. It is at the same tiino true that many luiglish farmers would
do well ill th(! Korth-West, particularly those whose capital is small, and who are not too
old for pioneer life. Yet in the Lower i'roviiiccs they would find farms and homes ni.ro in
kee])in;.; wi(h tho;>e they leave behind wi Euglaiid. Their sons, in turn, will move ia the
dircctio:' of i\'f setting sun.
REPORT OF MR. HUGH IMcT.EAN,
nU, Tarhert, N. B.,
THE DKLKGATK OF THE KINTYHE AGRICULTURAL SOCIKTY.
/XT lo iQiift\ -Mr Tfi.trh McLean. Rhn, the deli.'ate appointed some time ago by
i, divid«l into Beven wa o -t ght '^^^^l^^^^l^^l^'l^ n.aiutains a speed of 14 knots per h..ur.
high and low pressure ^"K'"'^^ "f, ^f.f '';;''^^l^''*'J^,'^^„d,^ti.,„ for 180 «aloon, 60 interne .ate,
She in Btrongly bu.lt, carnes ten ^'f«^°^*^, 'l^^'^^^X^ i« managed in the most approved
boauty of that nail up the St. Lawrence wa^^^^^^^^^ taken to the Cn.tom-
'SXTr^^^yZS^^lZ:^^ Beemed light. The oat crop was
much lighter than at home , ., Q^gT^p^x i .vas informed that his Excellency the
Mr. Iliiijh Mcfjuiii's lifjiort.
»
socir.TY.
; some time ago by
[vliility for eiiii>.Ta-
TownHall. The
Gallnaith, llev. J.
: Argyll; Liichlaii
y, Ym{. ; .TiwTies B.
[)ied the chair, and
it was fixed that I
Snrdiuian, Captain
inaj;e ia 4376. She
ct-actiiig comiiimiul
' 14 knots per hour.
>n, 60 interme late,
the most approved
d every attention is
3 comfc-'ahle and
light and extinguish
vening aboiit S p.m.
ton's lectures on the
md vocal. Havin;^
e others about three
of Belle Isle. Tho
9,ken to the Custom-
jrhaps what attracts
vnd nj) like men, say
ry, as if the hand of
ieautiful pliintations
ke.s him feel sad to
line of railway from
The oat crop waa
his Excellency the
:hat he wished me to
New Bnmswick, and
I felt that the task
presented myself at
u'e, was in England ;
not be back till next
f introduction to Mr.
I fih.inld mention in
written a very excel*
lent paniiilili.t mi the Culdiado pdtato bcotle, showing how to cppoiie its ravages. As the
pauipliKt is liiim;ly circulattd throughout tho Doniiiiioii, f do nut dmilit ))iit that it has buen
lastnnuental, where the HUggustions contained in it are attended to, in allaying', and in many
places nullifying, the ravages of that ilentnu '.ivn insect. The methods of destroying the beetle
are, first, handjiicking ; and second, i'aris green. Tho latter is very etlicient.
Beforo leaving Ottawa, I was nmcli impressed with the beauty of its public buildings, con-
spicuous amongst which, situated on a hill, are the Purlianient Houses, consisting of three bliicks,
foniiing three hi(U's of a sipiare, all detached. Tho grounds around are very tastefully laid ont.
Tlio I'list Office is an elegant structiiro.
Ottawa is famed for its trade in lumber, which in Canadiaa means 'timber.' The saw-mills
are a study in tlieniBclves. Tho railway station from which I went to Aluiitieal is at Ilidl, on
tlie east sido of tlie Ottawa river. 1 saw tlie Ciiaudierii falls when jiassiiig thc! suKi)en.Hion
bridge, and jjeroeived tliat limestone is tlie prevailing rock of the district. Thee are slides, or
tind)er erections, in the river, to guide the rafts that def^cend tiie river to the various Haw-
mills.
The land around Ifull is very good, and judging from tho condition of sheep and cattle, as
visible from the railway, the grass must have a fattening (piality. Crops of wheat, oats, buck-
wheat, anil corn whirled past as the train sped from ptation to station. Wooden houses, with
verandahs in front, constantly nut tlie eye ; wood fences everywhi e, till at last night closed the
scene. At length wo arrived at lloehelaga htation, which is tho name of tho original Indian
village, on the site of which Montreal is bviilt.
The city of AFontreal is situated on an island. The Victoria Bridge crosses the St. Lawrence,
its length being !n94 feet. The city contains many objects of interest, which were seen on my
return ; but on this day I visited Notre Dame Church, which internally is a mout exijuisitely-
finished place of worship. The Crucifixion, the Apostles, the altar, the candlesticks, the gold
and crimson decorations, all surpass description, and fill the beholder with awe and admiration.
I started for London, Canada West, by the evening train, but saw nothing of the country
till next morning. When daylight came the morning was very wet. The country was beautiful.
I found several fellow-passengors by the ^'fii-iliiihin were in the train. We were all glad to meet,
but they dro))ped oat one after another, and we were lost to each other probably for ever. Wo
drove through a country farmed by English, Scotch, and Irish. There are good crops, good
cattle, good houses. The fields are rich with golden coloured grain. The orchards loaded with
fnut. Everything to the passing visitor has the apjiearance of plenty. Now we pass fields of
clover. Arrived at Port Union, we pass more clover fielils. Swamps intervene, then light crops.
By-and-by beautiful crops burst njion the view. Eicrywhere the fields are fenced with zigzag
rails, which appeara to me to occupy too much land ; but the British Canadians adopt them
' universally. We come to Toronto.
We proceed and pass through Guclph. On tlio run we notice brick buildings going up to
replace wooden houses, generally a fair sign of a prosperous fanner ; but sometimes I was told
emulation induces a man to build a fine hmjse while his land is mortgaged. We pass Brcslau,
which seems by the map to be not far from the Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon ; then through
Berlin, Hamburgh, Stratford, St. Mary's, at which last place I changed for London, and saw the
last of my last Sanlinian .
I arrived at London and took train for Newbury, f<u- the purpose of paying a short visit to a
Kintyre settlement. I was dri\en over a clayey road from Newbury to Crinan liy the light of
the moon, and as yet s.aw nothing of the country. My quarters at Crinan were with the
Itev. John ^lilloy, a native of Chichaig, Kintyre. In common with the whole settlement, I was
roused about two o'clock in the morning by a tliunderstonn. In the midst of it all 1 fell asleeji,
and awoke to find myself surrounded by glorious sunlight, and everything smiling.
I partly visited in the neighbourhood the farms of Messrs. John McMurchy, from Le.anng-
bhoich ; Archibald McEachran, from Auchnadrain ; James Stalker, from Achnacloich, Muasdale ;
Duncan Stalker, from the same place ; Doug.ald McMillan, brother-in-law to Mr. John Gilchrist,
Ballivain ; Messrs. l-)uncan Campbell, from Ballochroy ; Finlay McNab, from Cour ; Donald
McCallum, from Can-adalo ; Peter McMillan, from Achnafad, and many others, all natives of
Kintyre, and all evidently doing well. I then called on Mr. Neil Walker, from Achnaglaic, near
Tarbert (who hatl no notice of my approach), and who gave me a hearty welcome. I took tho
liberty of putting inquiries to him, as to his success since he left Tarbert in tho year 1874. His
farm I found to consist of 100 acres, one-third or 33J acres being under wood for fuel, one-third
under wheat and hay, in proportions of about 18 acres of the former, and say 15J of tho latter ;
the remaining third contained 3 acres barley, 2 acres Indian corn, 14i acres oats, and the balance
sunuuer fallow.
'I'hc summer fallow land is ploughed in autumn ; it lies exposed to frost all winter, and to
the sun till 1st September, when it is sown with fall wheat. He explained that when the land
is first ploughed, it is so tough that one would suppose nothing could grow on it, hut by being
exposed to the frost in winter, and to the sun in summer, it moulders away until it is like tho
soil of a molehilL The soil in this part is black mould above and clay below, which, after
30 -V/'. Ilii'jh .Vrf.r'tu'n I'ljfivf.
.xiioHuro, in g.«..l i,.-<..lucini( Nvhc.it Un.l. If the eliiy in undmln..!, it U gnod for mo«t crops, oven
'■"' 'n?Lt year M.-, Walk.i- cvino t., Caua.la ho b-.u-bt hU ,.r.8cnt hol.h, ,', «hi.h est 3800
,l„lla H r ^700, inclM.lin.r l.i,-.hnuse, ban.H. otc., ho having' uIho the straw .,f the «'^V«;'"'.« -rop
II H ,w« 2 buKh Is ,.f fall wheat a.xl A '-"hI'-^I" "f '"^t- '" "'? ""I-'''"' ■■''''•■ ^^^ . 1 v tho
'f\l eat last venr an.l ha.l 2:U ImnhelH, which he c..„si.lcre,l very puor «u,l ■"'■'••I' '"l""' h«
o ^r Ho L\ the vear before thra.ho.l 'IC.O bu.heln fr,..n 12 of Hee.l. Hh •;';*;;;"«'"'' !^^^^^^^^^^
the H-nuo an at h..,ne. The rotatinn he follnwH in to ,.l,..>,h la,..l that "■''^, ""'''; "'.^'."I^^^J
rr'is-.' hist voar. in the full, 1.M.1 HOW uatM in it in HjiriiiK. After oats, snn.rner f llo« it , afttr
ai ,w »T. v\Xai a;iain, b. t i-uttiny all the n.annre the far... ,.ro,b.ceH on he fall- w. 'I ..r... .s
:::;,1 ma... el wur..erare' not V'-ow.t Ho had 10 rnilk cowh. 7 twoyca.-.oMs .,ne,vear oKls,
a'i i^wes an.l '^0 lan.bH, T. piKs, and U horses. Ho an.l his two s.ois labour tl.i; .:i...m.l.
The foUowin;,' weie the niceijils an.l exiienditnr..' f.-r tli.' I'a-it y.pr :
I'roib.ee of c.iws s.ild
Two threc-year-ol.l >to!
AVhottt .
W.M.l .
TiM.niM . .
I'lKH . •
1 (lO-OO
ntioo
2;i;voo
471'2
Gor.o
r.ooo
5COO'02
E:ii'i:M>n'i'iiK—
Interost on ?53,SOO
Taxes . . •
T,abour . .
Cl.>thinj,'
Smith-work . <
^lOO'OO
2000
liU'OO
100-00
500
r.oooo
rilOlMT, 4:20 2s. 5d., or
giooca
I?,' were Mr. W.Uker's returns „f v.v.ious coreak niuce he en-.grated m 18< 4 :
Yeah.
WllKAT.
Baulky,
1875
187C
1877
1878
lb70
1 70 bushels.
ISO
:jio
sr.o
0:iO „
80 bushcils.
Oats.
600 buwheln.
350 „
220
'^10
1115 I,
PliAHE,
220 bushels.
100
105 „
70 „
37 II
*i,o* 4>,o ln.nd still roauiro.s iTcat improvements to bu made on
He wished to in.,.ress on mo ^^^"'^ j^^f J*^i^^^^^^^^^ adopted 'at homo, it w.mld produce
it, and that if it were farmed ..n the Bame »i«tem uia i ^^^^^^^ tl.at-in
double what it now docs W.th ■''rf "^^. »» ''"'Xlga " of c^^^^^
May last. 2019 !b o ininv ''"^^ «"1^' ^^gd j£ ]Zl o June 299(5 Xh. of milk were sold
factory realised IC'oO dollar., or £3 6b 2d- I' ^he ,n ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^
to the factory, maki.ig 276 lb. of chtcse, «^?»'"'"^ "' , j„ Aunust and September, although
in July there was a di-awback °^"ng to the lot weat^^er, in ivu K^ ^^^ ^^.^^ „^„„^y
there was less milk, it took less «"'lk t<>J"'^ -^ doUars per month for six months out of the ten
^r^:^:Xl2.. StHfSl S^ iS^ws produce 100 dolhi.. or .32, or an
•-i-t:l^I^^^:?:Gl^r;Maple.tre..^^^^
Mr. Iliiijh M<Lo(Ih'» Ri'port.
ftl
r niiwt crops, oven
, wlii.h c>«t 3800
hu wiiv!i'>iiig rrop.
• «uw<m1 110 ll\lnhl!H
>l iiiiicli liclow the
iiiitiitiK'H arc iimch
\i:\- wlii'iit (^.•itll(mt
cr fiilldW it ; lifter
!■ f«ll< w. 'I'liriiiiw
M, 4 Mio yt'ivr ipMh,
riMUlnl,
I'.O'OO
r.tioo
:i:VOO
t7'12
cor>o
r.ooo
0002
'•,00-00
100 02
ur, and clothing are
auiily.
Tlie follow-
Pbahb.
220 bnshela.
100
It
105
M
70
It
37
1
inents to bu made on
lino, it would produce
alUer stated that— in
ch, minus exponses of
lb. of milk were sold
. 6d. Ho stated that
I September, although
btr is the best money
months out of the ten
doUai-s, or £32, or an
I paused Battle Hill,
rt-ar of 1812. Bc^fore
■i titWnUou to fcoding
cattle forthe home market. Passed ^'^ ,-;;^;- ,;;[, ^.ll^Snir a mUe Sn:' hai!;;"^
^•'1;;;r;.Sn;^ mX,,e.oR. London I m..^
■''l;;:\;iS'i>^nnwithaPuu.n.., Mr ...b^rfJ
farms. He slat, ,1 thn .Ay-'"'- 'f^ ^'^^ ," ,,;,;,,', I .■ .1 ho b..st bivol tli.y p-s...Hea ; that a
cross between an .Vy.slme e.,w and the 1 . '" "^ _ "^ ^» , ;„., ,,„^,, averaged 2:t dollu.s
«"t '^"^T'if ';;:: w ;:S,s' "ue';,: i.!:' x.!' u'^^em.:! re.,.,, for whe;:t ti,ro„«ho,^
bushels. He ,'av,. the fullowlu, rates '•VV^;; , r. r tn^ e on^
20 dollars or Xi V- V":^^' :! J ^'S molt i "^hl'f l.^..« w.^re the reUvil priees of vari.jus
JC30, '""'<l-«'-7''";V'''''''"';Vly ,J^^^^ .^^^^^^^ Steid;, 4id., other beef (iVL to 4^d.
artieles, ),MN>eu bv hi... a... couve.ted " ''V, ':'' ^''y.-,, t,. 5: ,.. tobacco, Is. 0'..l. to 2s, 0,1. ;
per lb.; Kio eolf.e, U. OM to Is. fa. p -^\\" ^^ 7, ;^^ 2^1. to 0.1 ; ham, Od."
bread, 2 lb., ^ cuts, or 12.^ c.nts for « ''\ ' T \k -J ' '^ ,\. ,, i, j . M.,rriso„, of Conu.i.a
Havi,.,^ arriNv.1 ''^ Warn.a 1 mj. 1... a ,na lUa. c^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^ j. , _^^^^ ^.^.^ .^ ,__^^.j
(Moore Cmity , ..n the M flair 1. er. il'« "ir^ ^' '^'•: .. . j.-.^n ,yhrut,
Un.,irnfroinAIa..ito.,a,.u.t wdl^^h^^^^^^^^^^
25 bushels per luie , oats uO to ..0 l.usmis. ^i 1 i,^,,i„„i,;„ „f May; dii;s them about
Humpti..n. I'hu.ts the... f:"-'"-{^':';.;';'«. ;f ,,-^' ..^, : S^'vs heat this-fall .do... with g.-a...-
1st September. 'I'l.e followiUKMs the lotation " ;^ ' ' " ^. • „„^t„,,, i.^,;,,,, l. „f tiu.otl.v and J of
.eed. Is bushel wheat ar..l,l ''."^''l«''^t. " x vea a ir^M hay next year a;,'aiM, a..other
clover, often half the ,,.,a..t.ty -/"•^'-■"''j^^,^^;,'', „\;'^ ;, -^^^ ..' in pasf^.e. lie mentioned
crop of hay (no manure or top-d ressin,'). l^-t^ t " lan 1 1 , ^^ ,^ ,^ ^^
that he had laud in pasture ''"^ »"' -V-^^- '^^' ' ,^^'^ , ..,u .1 fro.n leajie pats oats in it
twentysix years lu sueces..,,., ' " ^ c 1 • Wl a tu _ ^^^^^^ .^ ,_^ ^,^^^^ __,,,
(2 bushels per aere. «o_wn w.tl. see l-d ill). 1 ' « - ^ .• ., ^,^,^^,„, , ,,„,„ ^ f„, f„ll wheat
(2 bushels per aere. «..wn with - '^;^, J^ ^l am ^.^ t e se, smi. and e.-ops it for fall whea^
crop it the t..>t year but re plou-^hs >t^^Y "'*''; r ,', '^,-,,„„, ;« „.,t .....lerdraine.!, but HUrf.ie.
by 1st September. Manure is put on '^^ /^ "J^ «^^^ ^ ^,^ i.^.j i, the best lau.
draincl It consists of a sfoi^- chiy ^;' ' ^j^"^ £ , , here wil raise wheat. It would raise
for wheat. Ln.,d that a crop of oats '=■''""''* '^,;;^"'"\"',,;.,f seed to ^' of an aere. Turnips s,.
outs if n.auu.ed. His tornips were ''"^ ' 'l' ;"V,yi '' nm into old land, tliey are sow.i
ni'b;:\£d^ni^.!;n;:r:;;Srsir:iti:^ridp-Howir on the ..ei surf..e about
" S.:i"^ StSS^^r jr?:t. in J,.n ..^^^ jn fn;m the 2 Hh May .
1st .Tune. The re.ison for not i;"\^'"g X.^c.^i c t\';hillV:f"aml « .'reen, to hUo
i;;xs^;^s ir K'^SEE;:t: i^iK uSsr ^ '^^ -" ;;
not ...id, as producers ,11 Canada are 7'^^'\?^"'-?";Xv(0 cents per bu.^hel of 48 lb. ; oats, 34
'' I'l- ^ i^^'nirrT'lOO ::^e:- each which captain Jf-'- -Jl^ l^t'fanS.irl.ly
wo,!d t^^.ther is half cleared. He has m ..le ^--'^•^^;'^;^ ' ^ JL or orchard lani.
,„.,le; barley, twenty-two un.ler ''^V and w e t, Be,t j , n ^' ,^^,.^,^ „„,,,,
twelve under wheat, and the ■'""'""J'-'^ l^tf^^ ;;'oO apple-trees a.,d twenty plum-tree.-,
wood, the reu.aincler hay and past.ire He ha^ .n ^''"k^ Insists of twelve cws. t^renty_.
^om\l. 10 cents, or f-^.^i^- t"/"^- P- ^f-,^ Mi^o '- *
:^^; ctt 35 d,.lla.M e.ich. ^^■^:r^^^;^ tS^ 'i^s i^ighbolJat from j to.lO.
I^icester tup 30 dollar, or ^^^ ^^ U. ^^dollar. or £20 tu ^0..^^^;^
:{^.r., tl^l^s Xi to £2. Draught lun;s,. sell^t lUU .0 ^^V^---,;;,;;; ^ ^.,, ,,,,,„;„:;
s ^'^ ::;,riS.";& wh^rS^ritMio'dX. . £.. f,. th,. tw,
I'ii'" are eillu
82
Mr. Ihi'jk MvLidaa li'i.o,!.
a JuUiura, iir \2», fiiuli.
Man Ht-rvant, Wrdo.l, Bot-. 15 .I'lliw-, <"■ X:i l"i i>i"»th.
L,t.l Hrrv^uit, „ « .. '■'•':■'• "
MaiJK.i\.int „ _ T) „ '.r U
Munwivaiil fnr twi. m.>tit!l« -"'"'" i"..
»lan .luplHyr.l i.rr ,l,iy .lurln- hnrvr^U .lullar ii: !■ .l.ij.
Tiixfs (111 '^iiO ivci" fiiriM, '^7 it'lliirH, >ir XI I I't.
> II. f „.f ,,f I lUn 11, 11.. II nil liniii-.l till! HU'ivm«li!i> O/irt-io, Ciitiiin
„.!:£ l::;;;„r 'K^':^ nt'i,^" . j,. .- j-- i?;-;?:;;;;:, i-^irs
follow- ,u..-nx-r. H,.v.r„ CaMmlnn. f'« ""•'■^- . ' '' '''''V;; ^;;u , , , I 1 1. .... it wiU. , m, ,
jvh.,, ,,..a., -v-;^ -- ; - ,^ ";,vt'. ::,::„;" oir at tho ..n.i ..f .i,.iy -, 1,.. ti..u ,.^1,1. it.
^^.^:^^^^^ --;;;' lt;::.:;!rz,r'.S' ■:!;? it : ,; ::: r;";^:;; ,::
J"S?iH»^^^^^^^^ ^
feature nf tho cimnti-y. >,.. ,L,,iv..,l at Hb liniiifacc. <.i)iMwito Wi'iiiiiiLg, uihUt iun.,t
Ni^ht hav n, c..n. o" »- ™ ';, ;- '^^ ,'^,^^. . , int,'. v?iiw l>.v li.ht of \h.- wI,uI„wh,
^^"in thf'interval, having been aJvisod by Mr. SJncrur, Millor Street, Qla.-ow to call on Mr.
Gcrrie. Winnipeg, who owns land at Sturgeon Crc U, i cHd p ., and Mr. Gcrric kind y offered to
drive ine to his farm wlien the rortds became p.-^^s^Mo. '.t present they were absolutely impa.-.-
ablo I was, therefore, somewhat down-Iiearted irf. my bad fortune in losing the stcamoi' and
being deLaiued at WinniiK.;.;, but boro np tho b- ■. v.,v I could. Meanwhile I was introdnc'd
by Mr. Genie to Mr. Bathgate, Main Slreit, VVii.iroc-, who informed mo th.at coal had been
discovered on tho Souris lliver, and is in conr.se ot being worked, and some of it brought down to
Winnipeg. He said that a railway is likely to be conslrufcted between Winnipeg and the Souris
River. alHO that coal had been found on the I'embina Mountain. Further, th.at great quantities of
coal, of the very best quality, had been discovered on the Saskatchewan River, but tlmt, in the
meantime, this was very far cli.stant. He also ntated that on certain parts of the Canadian
Pacific line of railway not only coal but other minerals were reported to have been found. Mr.
15athg.itetookmetoanoffico'inWimiipeg wlicro I procured a specimen of the coal from tlie
Suuris lUver, which I have in my posse-s-iion now.
uUy W(!ii{h
v>, r,.i>tiiiii
III. I lui.l for
V Mr, IVk
wiUi ])i'iiiM ;
Ill'Ullt l.itll
[llnUyllH it,
till' iaiiil i.4
wx tiiriii|iH,
iii'hi'H. ills
;1V
tlu<
-■nil
iiiiiU'f mu„5
liii wiiidiiWH,
Tlic liiiiil-
til hiiiiMulf,
oilistivntial a
k'd. I gilt a
111- luunUfuMt
wliii.h Mas
i; iii-:ht, iiiul
lis, Imt tliu
iii'il Klvcr,
1 taku nut u
irgi't tliu faiij
oiiduil (111 till'
iftur yiit (iiir
,e wislifj imr
leiitjt for two
HiHiiuct that
tty t'xpuiiMivu
priiitoJ rti;M-
adinu I'aciliu
ilcr to Nt'u tliu
oro, to dux i.-.c
ru fniind that
ad Riiilod ii)'
lit to wuil at
;o cull (in 'Sh:
dly offered to
iituly impar'i-
) stoamei' niid
as inti-odnc'd
:oal had been
luglit down to
,nd the Souris
qiinntitiert of
t tlmt, in the
ho Canadian
found. Mr.
coal from the
Mr. JJii'/h Mcl.ftin't liffujit.
83
Tim fiilliiwlMK Im thu i'X)Mrliii(i) of Mr. Mc("ori|niidiilii, Tfc ailinuli v ;
III' li ft OalL'iii»h, Ar^vli'Khlir, In ITill, fur (.'aiiada. !(ad iiiaiiv liiiil-iluin whi ii \\f catiui to
Canada. lSnii;;Mt 100 iwh'k at t dollar |i('r ai'ic i liad to cli ar It all of unod, '\'\w lai. mux in
llin towntlilii of ( irciiiock, liai'k of Uiiiiiinlini', Lalvu Huron. Id' ^'ot on very wull tlmru. Two
of \\\* HoiiH and hlin.tulf, tlii'uo ycni'M ai^o, c»niu to Manitolia lo nco tlii' country, It iilraHcd jilni
HO will that hu d!d imt rrtiirn to Caniula. HIh koiih rttiinird tt'ni|ioi'arily. Itn hiiiMilf >i]M'nt
► U wciikM travi'llinif tliroiij,'h thu iinintry, lookinu for a siiitali'u jiliiii' J|j dM not xti rji in a
lii'd all that tinii', Mr took lhi« fanu liy idiaru from lliu iirojuiitor, Mr, (!iiiiiiiii^;liaiiii . Mr,
MvCori|iiiidal<!'H tcrniH \\\\v. to work thu farm and uut lialf thu iirolltH. l)nriiii; the liixt year li<'
liHikod out for a Hiiit.'ililu I'laco ilxiwhuru, and |Mirciia'i,d onu of ,\-iO acruH for liiiiixclf, ami one of
II'JO for hiH Him, ill llio Hoiith of lliu province. Thcru in a ;.;ood dwilliny liou.su on each farm,
Thu farms uro jiartly miwn and iiaiily plantud, nady for hiit golii;{ tliuro nuxt month. I drovo
tliroii!,'!) tlir.to fartii.t on n fiitiiru day. Thuy wuru iiuxt to tim Mcniioiiitu Srttlcinciit, irii the w.iy
111. Ill I'cmliina Mountain. Otiu r four hoiw liimnht uauh I'^O acrus at th^ lia';k of JJock J-aku,
aliiiut 1)0 mili'.s failliur west. Hr toii.sidtrud that Manitolia was vciy far lioforu that pari, c f
Canada hu camu fi in, hut lliu iouiIm, ho naid, wuru very fur Ijihiiid, Tliiri wan certainly a
),'irat iniioiiviiiii iico n mw iomhih. 'iVnyono coinin({ here,' naid he, 'takiiiK up a hou.sc, han
nothing to cdinplain of, ciiiii]iarativi ly ; hut if onu hai« not ^'ot a Iiouhh, hu inuNt prtparu to go ovir
thu country and jiitch hix tent, and lli.tt is not alwayn agruualilo.'
Thu foilowiiij^ \* a ittutumunt hy Colin, hiH nun, uf thu capahiliticH of thu land prcHunlly
farinud hy hiit fallur :
' Wluat (t hiisliilH Hown pur acre) iirodiicud 'iri hiiHhulH. Tho wheal In nown in upriin;. Knll
wlnat irt not giiKrally Hown in .Manltoha, Inn a ti "«t ha.s huun iiiadi', and it has huccuuiIhI,
lluapin^ coinmcncLM in August, Tliu lund in ploujjhud rigl.t up that Maine fall, when wheat in
Hiiwii .lyain in npring in MUcocHMlon for VLaiH. V/uiyht, CI lb,, never lesn than (iO 111. per lumhul,
' O.tti* avura(;u 75 hiixhelH pur acre, hut it in not unuHu.al to take 100 biuhulii ulf. Sow '2^ to
J buHhels pur acru. Oats weigh IM lb,
'liarluy does well. How 2 IuimIiuIi per acre, returns GO biiHhelH.
'I'utatoeri — <'! bushels planted proiUicud 87 bushuLi ; 400 bunhulH linvu been raised per acre,
but not on hiH father's farm,
'TurnipH do well.
' Indian-corn (hies not ripen. Farinui'B cut !t green, and it makes an excellent feed.
'Cabbages, carrots, lettucef, paiHiiip- uicumberH, iiieloiiH, Hipiashufi, etc., do Wull.
' Have not yut grown apjili'-i. Old ^■eltlei'H have grown them.
'I'ricoH — Wheat, 05 to lO.'i cunts ; oatn, 4'2 to 75 cuntn ; barley, 60 to 65 cuntu ; potatoM, CO
to 125 cents. Thu two iiriuts are fall and xpriiig rates.'
All round in a graiiing country. If a mm cutn an much jfrasn an will feed hia cattle, it ia
then Huitablu for grazing.
Thu hot weather beginn in June, abotit Ist, Juuu in thu wet uiuntb ; mure raiu fullci iu it
than in all the other numthM.
.Tilly is hot, with occasional thunUor-Hhowers.
August, warm and dry.
September, do.
October, cool biit dry.
November, wintei sets in alioul lOtli. It sots in with frost and occasional falln of wiow, but
not much Hnow.
December, snow falls about 20th. Tho greatest depth on the level is 22 inches.
January, snow fallLi.
February, do.
March, begins to get a little warm ; about l.'/th I'cgins to thaw.
April, nnow being olf at latter end of Maiuli, begin to plough and how. Weather pliT.s.int
for yvorkiiig.
May, usually fins weather, and devolcd to sowing pinposei.
The mor.'hs of March, Apiil, and May are Hpring ; October it tho fall.
Labour. — Kami servauts, 1(3 dollars per month, ijl.
Maid ,servant.s, „ „ Jtl '1m.
Day labourer.s, IJ „ to IJ dollar per day.
Tii.rf«. — Xo taxes till this year, except the school tax.
Water is very good in his place — the very best, pure spring ; but in sonw? other parts it U
impregnated with alkali, and of a saltish nature.
»S'0(7, — If the grass is short and smooth, and not a close sward, tliat ground is not good. If
tho gra.ss is long, elo.se sward, and the soil black el.ay luaiii, that ground is good. Manuring the
iilU-ali land with stable manure makes it good. Tho soil where alkali is, is oi a slicky nature,
and manure loosens it,
y.V>. — I found this disimted elsewhere. Some say tlmt two crops of beet absorb tin? alkali,
others laugh at the idea, .and say, 'Have nothing to do with it.'
Grain is s^old witliuut any trouble to merchants.
31
Mr. Jliifih ?.tcL(an's I?rpr,rf.
Milch-cows average 35 dollars, or £7. Thoy can bo houL^lit nt tliat in tlio crmntry ca-ily.
Cows are cross between native cnttle and lUirliam bull. Teini nf liDrscs enst from 'J,"iO dollars
to 300 dollars per pair, that is £50 to £60. Team of oxen, 110 dollars to 180 dollars, or £28 to
£36. Mrs. McCorquodale says a cow will make 100 lb. of butter ii. ^hc season, from May up to ■
the end of September. Price, 20 to 25 cents— yieklinp; £4 to £5. In winter the price is .10
cents. Sweet milk cheese is 20 to 25 cents. l"gc;s, 25 to 35 cents pir dozen. Toultry ; 1 dollar
for young turKeys ; 3 d.'-llars for pobbler, and 1 doll.ar for turkey hens ; 25 cents for common
hens"; 1 dollar each for ducks ; 5 dollars for a pair of geese.
I left Headingley next morning, driven in an Indian cart, and proceeded to the Tiver Sale.
Wo passed through three very bad swamps, from three-(iuart(is to one mile broad, and of
indefinite length. These swamps might be drained into the Assinilx>ino and Sale Kivers without
much difficulty. The Indian pony, .leannie, dragged her owner and myself through tlie swamps
and over the prairie gr.a-is, eating a bite and ninning as she ate, without being in the least
fatigued. Her driver used neither whi]) n.r switch, but (mly a Kind word of praise, which she
evidently understood, or a word of c.iution, which sho understood ecpLilIy well, or an appeal to
energy, which set her all aflame when she came to a diflicult ."^pot. She was the licst of ponies.
Her nwner'a name was lOmou.
Mr, Alex, Murray, of the ho.stclry of the Kiver Sale, a branch of the Assiniboine, has a
htock of twelve cows. The ^;pring was so wet that he did not sow wlieat. He says the carriage
of wheat to Winnipeg takes 25 cents off the price. ![(! mentioned that he had a farm for salo
in the county of West Manpiette, parish of Portage la Prairie, of which he gave me both par-
ticulars and price.
We left the River Sale next day in company with a Canadian, he being on horseback. We
were both bound for the Boyne settlement. We passed some very bad sloiighs and went through
three large swamps. The prairie grass was very good and abounded with dog-roses, which
dotted it all over, growing about eightecii inches high, and which were very beautiful. Tho
principal grasses were bone-grass and bniralo-grass, a brown grass .said to lie good for cattle, also
goose-grass, said to be \ex'y good for horses. These grasses indicate good scjII. There is another
grass in tho prairie called by some arrow -grass, by others spear-grass. AVhiii drawn and thrown
it sticks like a dart, and is bad for sheep and cattle. It is always avoided for hay. The arrows
had dropt off when ] waa in the country. We arrivcil at Mr. Johnstone's farm on tho Boyne
after a long journey, during which the Canadian horseman was kft behind, his horse having
become exhausted, and hu Iiiii'sclf being obliged to dismoiint and walk. He was close to a farm
at that juncture, which relieved my apiirehcnsions for his safety.
We sojourned with Mr. Joseph Wells Johnstone, who came from Comity (Ixford, Ontario, in
1870, and settled on this farm. Since he came to Manitoba his wheat 1i:m averaged 32 bushels
per acre, but he hius thrashed it.it 52 bushels and at 60 bushels, and five years ago at 48 bushels.
La.st year it was 20 bushels, jle sows 1 bushel and 5 peeks to the aero.
As to oats, he considers this tho best of countries for oats, which weigh 42 lb. per bushel, and
produce 70 bushels jier acre. He has known, at Ueadingley, a licld of ten acres produce 1010
bushels, or about 100 bushels jier acre.
Barley weighs from 48 to 52 lb., and an acre produces from 50 to 60 bushels. Finds a
market at Winnipeg, which is sixty miles distant from this. Jle grows - o Indian com. Price
of barley laiit j'ear, 60 cents ; oats, 50 cents; wheat, 1 rlollar ; polatoi.s, 50 cents per bushel ;
butter, 25 cents per 11 l; jiork, 10 cents.
Tho system he adopts is : St.arts ploughing about 15th June, and breaks land till 15th July.
Leaves ic lying till following fall. This plo\ighing is as shallow as pi'«-;,ilile — say 2 inches — and
from 12 to 14 inches broad. In the fall ho backsuts it- that is, jilougl-s it the same way, being
3 inches deep and 12 to 14 inches wide. Hj harrows it in spring, and sows it with liroadcast
seeder. Has a 10-liorsc power thresher ; charges 4^ cents for threshing wheat, 3 1 for barley,
and 3 for oats. Sows tiuK'thy aiid white clover. Timothy is a splendid success ; has one iiiv.co
which he c\it in July, and expects to cut it again before winter. Mangel-wurzel does v. ell,
and so do turnips ; also oni i' , carrots, g<ioseberries, currants, and rhid'arh. Buckwheat grows
Well, so do cucnnd)ers, melons, .si|uashi's, and strawberries.
With regard to flics, he s.iy.-j that the bulldog is drtadfid in July on hor.-e and cattle- niakis
a horse lean, and he won't eat. The mosipiitoes need no eomnient ; (hey are very toiiblesouie.
The liuffalo gnat is very bad for liorses and cattle in June and July. Tliere is alsc> the stoid-lly,
which is not very bad, but is f(!unil where there is high glass and scrub.
May is a very nice month.
June, very wet,
July, very hot ; hotter than Ontario-
August, showery and cool.
Se]itember, fine weather.
October, very tine month.
November, fine monlli ; clear and fro
]"»ecenil'er. snow -1 foot ,-.\xrn"-e ; (n
Jam
-up to 100 in the -liade.
■d.
ary, \-.'iy coM ; tln.riu.iin ter fioz.) up la'-t wiiiicr.
J
that in llio country c!t«i!y.
iKirscs cost fpm) 250 ddlliirs
[ivsti. ISO d.illavs, oi- £-28 to
viiu season, from >ray up to
. In winter the price in fiO
r dozen. Tonltry ; 1 dollar
hens ; 25 cents for common
micecded to the river f^ale.
to one mile broad, and of
lino and Sale Rivers \vitho\it
nivself through the swampn
', without being in the least
id word of praise, which she
eiinally well, or an appeal to
She was the best of ponies.
.'h of the Aspiniboine, has a
vheat. He says tlie carriage
1 that he had a farm for sale
whieli he gave nie both par-
he beins on horseback. We
lad slmr^hs and went through
inded with dog-roses, which
li were very beautiful. The
vid to be good for cattle, also
good soil. There is another
s. When drawn .".nd thrown
ivoided for Iiay. The arrows
ilmstone's farm on tho Boyne
Ifft behind, his horse having;
alk. >le was close to a farm
tn C'lnnily Oxford, Ontario, in
heat li;s averaged 32 bushels
d five years ago at 48 bushels,
aero.
I weigh 4 -2 lb. per bushel, and
Id of ten acres produce 1010
II 50 to 60 bushels. Finds a
grows • o Indian corn, Pi'ico
lotatoes, 50 cents per bushel;
nd breaks land till 15th July.
R po'-oiblc— say '2 inches — and
ougl-s it the same way, beijig
a, and sows it with broadcast
li-cshing wheat, 'ih for Ijarley,
ikndid huceess ; has one pi^ee
■r. Mangcl-wurzol does v.cll,
1 rhubarii. Buckwlvjat grows
dy on hiir.-e and cattle- niakrs
lit; they are very toublesonie.
ly. There is also the suudil)',
Bcrub.
J!/: llihjh McLean's Ju/>(Ji(,
February, cold iniiiith.
March, nnt so enlcl ; siinw be,^!as to Licit.
April, lino month.
The soil is black vegetable motdd and cl.iy bottom. The water is spring water. The water
i- good in the I'oyne settlement. He says the heat, even when the tliermonieter is at 80', is not
telt "o much as in Ontario, as there is always a fresh bree/.e. Although very cold in winter, he
s.iys that coM is nmre eiiduialilo than in Ontario, there being less changeable weather in
Manitoba. He spoke of tlie Indians dying in the spring of the year from consumption, but
altributed this to tlieir being careless as to kee]iing their feet dry.
He has seven cows and tliree teams of iiorses. I took samples of o:its and wheat. Ho has
one crabajiple tree bearing fruit, of wliidi lie is very proud. Mr. Joliastime added : ' In Ontario
all I could do was to make a living ; here I liave made money.'
I should have im ntioued that we passed tho I'oplars before coming to the Boyne .settlement.
We passed Tobacco Creek settlement, which lay east of us.
Wo started on tho morrow for Xelsoiiville, but were ovei-takcn by Mr. Iiim.in, of the Boyne,
wlio ov.'ns 800 acres of land there. Jlr. Inman spoke of a blue flower that always mdieateil, by
its presence, good water. He mentioned that he l>aid 10 dollars for ICU acres, and got 100 acres
for pre-emption price. He bought scrip for tho balance. He has tiO acres in crop.
Wheat will a\
Oats ,,
liarley „
I'olatues
He stated that he does not make butter, but rears
]Rr bushel ; oats, ij'i cents ; barley, CO cents ; potatoes,
butter, '20 cents. Young cattle can be bouglit in the full for from 7 dollars (£\ 8s.) to 10 dollars
(V^) per head. Hay can l.e made here, deducting expense, tear, and wear, for ] dollar (or 4s.)
per ton. 'J'wo tons (if hay, with some straw, will winter a yearling well. A three-ye.ar-old steer
is wortli from 35 dollai's '( t?) to 50 dollars (£10). Hence" he considers it is more profitalile to
rear cattle than to grow wheat. This is the way he puts it : 'Wheat was W(ath 1 dollar per
bushel in Winnipeg last season ; the yrar befcpie, GO cents only ; 40 bushels can lie taken in a
sledge in winter over tl:e ice, by a team of oxen, to Winnipeg, sixty milts distant. It takes live
duys to make the round liip.
' A man and his team is wcuth 2 dollars 50 cents jier day . .S12'50
llxpenses on mud not less than 8'00
J 30 bushils
per acre
GO lb.
40
ti
31 „
;io
»i
■18 „
•250
00 „
cattle. The price of wheat is 1 dollar
15 cents in the fall and 50 in the spring;
r>'ice of 40 bn-hels, at ."Si
C'ii expenses , . •
40 bushels realise
!J20'50
$10-00
20-50
C'l'J-50
'Actual pi-Jco of wheat 48 cents, (U- 23. per bushel.'
He says tliat a man on tho river brought in 12 slieep from Ontario, and they are doing very
well, as he has lost none Vet. Prairie dogs are danger(JU9 for sheep. Water ia good, and ther*
is "ood timber near him. " The Dominion liarve.sters are very bad [N.B.— The blackbir.ls who
feed on wheat]. Wages, 15 dollars (£3) per month for farm servants, 2;. dollars (£;>) per mon«i f.r
h.ayin" .and harvest montJLs ; 6 dollars for maid-serv.ants (£1 4s.). Taxes— School-tax is -,'„ths of a
cent per 1 dollar, according to the v.alue of the land and other property ; he is also bound to give
throe days (jf road labour'for each IGO acres he owns, or pay 1 d.vilar 50 cents per day.
The province is divided into municipalities, in each of which there is a wanlen and five coun-
cillors. In the nmnicipalitv in whi'.h Air. Iiim-in lives, every man takes care of his own cattle,
and is responsible for any damage ,^,ne by then! to his njiglibours' crops from 1st Apr;l to l.st
October. After th.at thev are free cimi iiouers.
I'igs are profitable -8 dollars per '.00 lb. They are fe.l on cracked barley.
Fife wheat is sown mostly on tl.u Boyj,;-, also red ch-iff wheat.
t)ats— black oats chic:llv, and white oats also are so.vn.
A man comli.g here to .settle, ihould start v,ith oxe'i for the first two years, until ho gets
enough crop to feed the horses. Having to erect a house, hia horses are standing exposed to the
weather, wli-ist the oxen will take c.vre of themselves.
Having airivel at Nelsonville, I washed witli soap and water in the hotel, and felt an un-
common initatio'i over my face, vnilst my hair and beanl secme ' to bo glued. T was told that
this arose from ai!:ali w. t'er, an l that na soap should be used in wn'-lung.
Mr. Nelson, founder o.' *■',. town, statec', that when searching for water and digging his well,
the ■ from whi-.h the inhabita.'ts obtain drinking v\ater, the v.,.,etable mould
36
Mr. lliirih MiLcau'x lujiorf.
as
60
was 18 inches to 3 foet <1eep ; tlion !! tt> i fiot f.f niaily day ; thon n fiet ..f suli,! yfcv day ; th^n
Wai-k si.ai>st..iie. The waUr is gfiifvally fimndlictwct'n tlio day and s. .apstonu. 'If Hut s<iu-
LTs-ful," ail(k"l Mr. Xdson, 'try nnnthur I'laeo.'
Whuat iiroducfs 20 to 30 bu.shda iiL-r acre. Wcitiht jior ^^^^hd, 01 to CO II',
Oats „ '10 t> iiO „ „ ., „
IJarley „ 40 to 50 „ u ii ii
Votatdcs „ 200 M II
Mr. Nds.mcameto ^ran^toha in 1877. Ho had i.lantfd c\ic<miberH, ixtatnr.s, t.ihl.ages—
very weakly i)hmtB— i>ii tliu 28th June, and they all oamc go.Hl,
JJubts, tiirnipH, and nianiiul wurzel do well
Mr. Xelson ciirriiborated previous statements as to tho weather, reniavking t •; the ther-
lucinuter showed 110" in the shade in July, but that <iMe c.ndd stand the JKat better m Manitoba
than in < )ntario. He t'.xnight that the cool nif;hts helped it. There are only two or three nights
ill the year, he said, that tliev don't use blankets. , , , ,
Ho remarked tliat the thermometer froze last winter, but that the eld wa.s eniUu'able when
th..ic was no wiiul. Ho is a miller by trade, having gi'ist mil's whieh grind wheat, etc., at 15
cents ]iir bushel. -r • ^ • i »
Ndsonvdle is a thriving little place, and the inhabitants are kmdly. It is destmod to bo a
pLuv of considerable trade, as it is on the track to Turtle Mountain, whid\ is fast settling up.
Mr. Nelson showed me next day tomatoes sown en the 10th M.\,y, which premised te ripen. I teek
samples, but they did not keep. He showed me cauliflowers, estimated by him at 1 to ,') lb.
wei'dit. rotatoes— early ro.ses keep till the new ones come again. I'lant them from 1st May to
1st Tl une. I took two samples, and one potato from a seed planted on ^rd .Tnly. ^\'hen the lull
was <lug there were seventeen potatoes ol> it, the sample taken being the biggest. I also took an
average onion. 1 1 i i- n i
Tho I'embina Mount is a rising eminence, so gradual in ascent that I could not discover that
I was ascendin<T it. It is inuttv thicklv wooded from Tewnship 4 north, but has not such unin-
ternipted good°prairie. There "is said to be a stretch of sandy land not very good for settlenicn;
beyond it, but good land comes again at Turtle Mountain, which is well wooded. Crystal Cit"
is on the ea.st side of Uock Lake. , ,i ^i i ,1
The Rev. Mr. Ixlwards, whom T met, stated that there was plenty of land all through tho
eountrv that coidd be got from men holding tho land on Cruwn iiatents. Tolacco oreek is eon-
Kldeied the best settlement in the country. Tho soil is loose black vegetable mould, clay bottom.
'J'he water is very good there ; wells can lie iad from eitrht to twenty feet ilei p. ^\ ood is rather
scarce, being froin six to eight miles distant, blackbirds (or 1 )emini.m harvesters, .as Mr. Tnmau
called themt resort to woeds and water, Imt will not go far away from a. good supply of both
All the laiiu ..b.mt Tobacco Creek is owned by private indivi.luals. Mr. Kdwards stateci that
:> dollars an acre was the highest price asked for liuid, and from tho location he considered it
reasonable at that price. • ■ 1 1 .
Haviii" now turned towards Momitain Citv we passed Mmniwashtoy, meaning good water,
also Adam'son Crock and Deadhorse Oreek. 1 was stnick with finding bouldei-s of granite on
the road to Mountain Citv, being evidently floated there during the glac'al period.
The number of houses" that :^Iountain City rejoicoH iti is eight, but it will proliably bo a big
place iiy iind-bv. After leaving Mountain City tho stage i>roce( ded to HtodJaitville, whero wc
put up for the night, air. Stoddart had very good crops. Next morning we started early, piu^s-
ing Calamity Creek and LiU'ey Creek, an Irish sottlemont, and the fann of Mr. Wnidrani, M.l .,
Dlulf, South Dniferin. ,, ,, „ ,,,
I'ltimately, after passing various farms, amongst others, Mr. McCorquodalo s, wo came to
Austervitch, a Mennonito village. Iteforc ooming to it wo saw a gietvt patch of alkali lai>d.
'J'he crops in this neighbourhood were light. • 1 u
We could, on looking back, now discover that we had descended tho mountain, Imt tho
descending was not realised in the act. Tiio MeniioiiiteH have very good crops. Their cattlo
pasture toj^ether in great herds. They had steam threshers, and all their houses were neatly
tluitehed. 'I'hey al.so had machine-houses to hold their agricnltiir.al implem<!nts. _ ,
An accident happened to our stage by the rim of thu left fore wheel coming off, which
wo repaiiid under peculiar circunistanees. We ciime soon to County 'I'ouro, Ithinelaud, and
met a party of emigrants. We jiassed tiifilie Lake, and perceived a horse thresliingniill
treading the corn under foot, according to the Kasterii custom. We met the (iovernor of
the Mennouites driving out. A large windmill made of wood was in one of the vdliiges.
I'ltimately wo came to Nvonloch, and dined in a Mennonito cottage. Everything was very
clean and" tidy. Hunfloweis were cultivated in the gardens, as were also popjiies.
Wo canio next to Urangeiiali, ultimately to tho Iliver Moiaye, and saw Smugglor s Point,
Pakota, not far off. Finally we crossed the Ked Uiver, and entered the thriving little city
of luiierson. The city of l':niers(m conlaiiis about l,r>00 inhabitants, aiul it aiijiears to be a
place where a good business is done. The mud is not <piit(! so !.ad as th:it of Winnipeg,
but it is bad enough.
I
m. :J^*"i
Mr. Hii'jh MrLinii.^ Ut.i>ort.
87
uHil yiev 'liiy ; thin
itoiH'. ' ]f nut s\ic-
Tho streets by this time liiid diitJ ui), Imt tlio
potivtocH, ; .iWiages —
ivl<iiig t' •; the thor-
.t liftter in Maiiitnlia
y two ox throe nights
was eniluraMo when
uiil wlitiit, etc., at 15
It is (k'stinod to ho a
li is fast settling up.
isoit to ripen. I tnnk
I by him at 1 to f) lli.
honi fr(jni 1st Mav to
July. AVhen thehill
,'g'est. I als'i took ail
)ulil not discover that
it has not Huch nniu-
y good for settlenien'c
ooJed. Crystal Cit;'
land all through the
Fobacco Creek is eon-
e nioulil, elay bottom.
Uip. Wood is rather
•Voters, as Mr. Tnniaii
good supjily of both
Kdwarda stated that
tion he considered it
ae.ining ' good water,'
Duldei-H of granite on
period.
vill proliably lie a big
oddartville, where we
nu started early, pass-
Mr. Wiudraw, M.l'.,
I'lodalo'H, wo came to
patch of alkali lai>.d,
lie mountain, but tho
d crops. Their eattlo
jir houses were neatly
iients.
fel coming t)ff, which
I'lmro, llhineland, and
I horse threshingniill
met the (lovornor of
II one tif tho villages.
Everything was very
j)op|iies.
j.aw Smuggler's I'oint,
he thriving little city
nd it ajiiwars to bo a
as tlint of Winnipeg,
On Monday I returned to Winnipeg
"%hSi£:Sre tl^ S- ^^'c-tain article, at Winnipeg : B.-eaking ,.lough, 25 to 1, dolhn-s ,
c<,mnum loSl« to 'iLlollar-s , reaper and nu.ver combined 200 dollars ; horse h.-^raker,
•.Tt 4i dollars- wa-'ona U-O dollars; spades, 1 dollar; shovels, 1 dollar :i;. cuts ; havf iks,
- c nts ie^^f^o^^^^^^^^ ham.ws, ir; to ^5 dollars; two hoo,^,,ais 2.5 cents ; three
.."■^KaOcmL; lo'in. tubs,'«0 ccajts , blank^s. ^Yn^'.^L^ hU^; llu/:;:
and Indian. The Mennonite. lue llussian, and nun.her about /,000. There are about 1«,..U0
'•'"£ i^Sr ::; Muntoba -^ m latitude 40' 0' to .Or 2' ...rth. It 7;^'- «f ^^ '^i::::;
.„ds divided into four counties -Selkirk, rroveneher, L'-^y;^'', and Alar., ote and tlue
h'to twenty four districts), each of which returns a n.ember to the Donun.on I'avhament. Ihe
'-\%^^::':i t;;rsf ri^j^vid'f^-iho mdia,. ^^^:^%:^s-^-!-^
M.nnonites. The sections throughout the provmoe bulon-mg to the Had.on IJay .mil stnool
'''^S^ruSd;:^?'5l:ec2u:;;U £:i::'::;^^^ -^ emigration must f^vwes^
wMd sTth t il he cou>> rv is opened bv railways, its future prosperity must undoubtedly be
■-:-. ' 'Si;x. iiS;';r "r=;.^ .i-!'pvf aJ s'^^?5=
wheatst w ,^ui r^.. up in stacks f-i «inUi f«^"" =• ^' , . , , c„,,tain, 'he is misMiig
itrii..:':,,;:^-" ';'»i'"^«'»''™u r,;;t Jv,;~ 'li,,,. L...ui,« t,. l...
nil liarviht
;!:'f:;;iX::;X:;:;Xth:,:ne;;du^^^
^1
33
Mr. llvih J/c/.M
i;.r'»i.
I wont to Lonif or V,. ■• i
Lift in 1818. Was in Uk >
over 60 11).; bai'luy, oO buslji i
for him iill suinuier. A good
Oetolitn-, fitio irKriilli. XoVL^mliif, l.rolicn Scotcii wcutlicr. Dixx-inli r, fi" t .-t^lis tlu' i)Unigh.
.liUiii.'uv, winter; snow 1 foot. I'dnimry, jiartly snow ; coM.'
Ho tolil mo tliiit tluru wcri' SLVcnil farms in liis iiciuli'ionrlioo'l f^r .<:ilo. Ho also tolil niu
of a farm liolonginj; to liis father that ho wonld wish soM. It is in tlu' tounshii) of Finch, Stor-
mont, Ontario. " 1 mot at Sarnin s,>vunil partits aii|naiiiticl with iioojilo at homo.
On roturnin',- to tho townshii> of AWlioroo'/h 1 mado fiullur in^inirics as to returns. Mr.
Stalker's ruturns of wheat avera;,'ed 20 busliels jier acre; oats, (iO ; potatoes, 20 returns per
liushel ; barley, 100 Imshels from 12 bvisju'.s ; bat this was not },'o,>d, the s-e.ison bein;^' very
unfavourable. l)urin:_; my absence they had had a very wet harvest, ][e was wlaterin;,' l'>
three year-olil steers feedin;,' with clioiPiu-d '■hilF, peas anil oats, l^as not doin;,' so well with
the liug ; he uses l)r. Tacln'V antidote. They put all the manure they can spi.ie on the wheat
laTuI, sow it with wheat and timothy an<l clover seed (.') lb. timothy an<l ,'i lb. clover to each acre).
The average price of a three-year-old steer is 10 dollars, or £0. Visited Hector Mcl'herson, lona,
from IMiunahoaran ; Dimcan >[cTiean, West AMb^lroM^dl. He thra.shed GOO bushels of wheat
from 21 acres, sown with 1 ,; laishel seid per acre ; -10 to .",0 bush-Is oats from 2 bushels sowing ;
SO bushels barley per acre. Has 111! acres; 1)0 oiider cultivation. Ta\es, 25 dollars. lli»
rotation is wheat sown in fall, and clover amoui; the In-ainl in spriiv,'. Cuts it in .July. Some-
times ha.s a second cut of ch'ver for .seed. Next year he lets the clover grow up and ploughs it
under, .anil then gives fair crop of wheat again. 'I'lic townships here are ten miles long by ten
miles broad. Mr. Dyke, in this town.ship, sowed 12 r .v. wheat, and thrashed 277 bushels,
liaised .')0 to 00 bushels Indian corn per acre. Gr:' ng is from 2 to 3 acres per cow. Good
hay, 2 terns per aero ; light crop, 1 \ ton per acre. '. iiruips do not grow well in hard clay. I saw
many other Kintyre people— Mr. Itamsay, Mr. Stewart, and visited a cheese manufactory owned
by tlanies McLean.
" " ~ ■ w"\ero I met with Mr. A. Kerr, from Kilmory, Lochgilphead.
I liis life. His wheat avei-ages 20 bushels per acre, weight
re, weight JS 11). He .stated that 12 acres grazed five cows
hiuld make 3.") dollars out of cheese ; has cows that e.weed
that. Leicester shcej) rcciuire great care ; South Downs are best.
I met with a (Jerman gentleman, .T C. Schleihauf, who gave me information as to shingles,
flooring, etc.: The fornua-, 2 de)llars 25 cents, per 1,000 ; the latter. 4 inches to 6 inches, IS to
20 dollars per 1,000 feet. 1,000 shingles cover 100 s-piar.' feet. Hricks worth about 5 dollars
per 1,000 ; drain-tile.s, 2), inches, dollars per 1,000 ; 3 inches, 11 dollars ; 1 inches, 12 dollars;
lengtli, 12 inches. Land can be bought here from 20 to 30 dollars per acre,
1 visited St. Thomas ; took rail for Dunkeld, County Bruce, Ontario. Saw splendid land on
the line from London City to Harrisburgh. I'assed ( kielph. The land here seemed to be gravelly
clay with loam above. Arrived at Dunkeld station late. I'roeeeiled to Si)\ithampton, on Lakt!
Huron. This country is not very prepossessing. Drove from Southampton to Owen Sound,
passing the Dagoen lUver, Chippev a Hill, and an Indian reserve of 12,000 acres. The soil is
light iuul sandy. A good deal ol bark is made from tl.e hendook tree for tanning ; sells at
4 dollars l)er cord— that is, 8 x 4 x 4. Cedar i-i used U>\- j'aving.
l'a.ssed the Sangeen Hiver. Mr. Vandriek, who owns horses and buggies for hiving, states
that he solil horses at 112 dollars each for Duluth. The expenses to the purchaser were 20 dollars
for duty and 8 dollars for freight.
There is a settlement at the Lake Shorn of Lowland Scotch, who go in f'l' feeding. They
Ji.vy high pricos for bulls, have good cattle, and exhibited steers at I'hiladelphia.
We passed through the township of Keppel. We skirted along the I'ottawatamie Falls. _ By-
auil-by we ftpi)roached Owen Sound. There is an immense ledi,'e of limestone in its vicinity.
The town itself is beautiful comjiar.d to oilier towns which I had occasion to visit. There is
a market in Owen Sound daily. The jjrice .)f wheat hero is !15 cents iier bushel.
Donald McKay, 4, Conces.sion, Sydenham, nu'utiiuied that fall wheat averaged 30 bushels per
acre, but thia is from land of which ono-thuil is covereil with stumps. When stumps are re-
moved, such land yields 40 to 45 bushels per acre. Ho con-iilers this the best wheat producinij
district in Canada. The drawback here is th.at, having comiuevieed pour, settlers were obliged
to take crop aftercrop otf the land till it was cleareil. Now that they are getting up in the
v>orld, they intend to give it rest and to sunuuer-fallow it, and l)y this means believe its fertility
will be increased. Oats yield from 40 te) 50 bushels per acre ; barley, 45 to 50. Turnips grow
to a very great size. Grow apples 13 inches in circumference.
A Air. McLean, from a second year's crop of wheat, produced 100 bushels from 2J acres, as
stated to nie ; that is eijual to 40 bushels per acre. The price of cattle and horses corroborates
the price already given elsewhere, .and the s.ame for other produce. Average yield of hay, 1 to
1 .', ton per acre. White clover is natural to the soil.
The average number of cows kept in a 100 acre farm is five, with their f.dlowers. I saw here
Malcolm Gardener, from Margmona.;.veh, Ivintyre, and a brother. I also saw Francis McNeale,
from Crubasdale Shore ; Hugh McDonald, a native of Islay, and oth'M-s. I passeil five farms
belon''in;j to Islay men from i'ort Ellen. Tlie following is the system adopted by some, After
ill
^t"llS tlu' l)llJllgll.
}tt nisi) tolil 1110
msliip (if Ji'inch, Stor-
Imiuf.
I iH to returns. Mr.
atot'H, 20 returns per
liu s-e.isdii lifin;^ Very
][e w.as wl.'iturini,' l.'i
it dfiinj,' Ki) well with
xii spire oil the wheat
l>. clover to each acre).
i;tur ^[cl'herson, lona,
(iOO bushels of wheat
;oiii "2 liusheU sowing ;
\eH, '25 ilollais. Iliii
its it ill July. Some-
row up and ploughs it
ten wiles lon^' by ten
ilinished 277 bushels,
acres per cow. Good
ill in hard clrvy. I saw
su manufactory owned
ilnioi-y, Lochgilphead.
ishels per acre, weight
acres grazed five cows
has cows that e.^ceed
mntioii as to shingles,
he.s to 6 inches, IS to
worth about Ci dollars
; 1 inches, 12 dollars ;
re.
Saw splendid land on
e seemed to be gravelly
ioiithampton, on Lake
[itoii to Owen Sound,
00 acres. The soil is
for tanning ; sells at
;gies for hiving, states
rchasur were "20 dollars
in f '1' feeding. They
'Iphia.
;tawataiiiio Falls. By-
lestone in its vicinity,
ion to visit. There is
ousliel.
iveraged 30 bushels per
When stumps are re-
.■ best wheat producinij
', settlers were obliged
■ are getting up in the
alls believe its fertility
to TiO. Turnips grow
ishels from 2J acres, as
iiid horses eorrobor.ites
■rage yield of hay, 1 to
[• followers. I saw here
saw Francis McNeale,
s. I passed five farms
opted by some, After
Mr. Ilof/h McL<<in'<i ncporl.
30
breaking un a field it will f.leh five good crops of wlicai in wiccc:ision, or it may be werkcU
lifter tliisfinliinn ;
1st year, :'ow it in fall with v.lient.
2nd year, oats, or SI. ring M-lu-nf.
3r(l y.'ar, :>iiotIier spring wbrat crop.
4th year, iiiiolher ^pl■ing wheat crop.
nth year, a crop of peas.
6th year, fit for spring or fall wheat.
Tut manure on pea or out ; round, and sow wh'-at. j , , t. f fl,.,t li..
7th. After that crop, siimnier-fallnw and seed down with timothy .and clover. /;'t ^'^ ';;
fnur years, cutting grais .annually. I'.isture two or three years, and it ,s considered agani lit foi
"""Tn'thisTnwn'.hip a.i in other townships, cverv man does what ho consid.-rs right in his own
eves ThV"ctt?^;uble they have is thi limestone boulders a good fault, for limestone rock
^v ; a good true s.il. I thereafter drovo througl, Holland township, which - --"ty.'- 1^^^^^^
fc u's settle.1. and, like the other, is a beautiful cuntry. J-..e;bsli, lr,sh, and Scotch settlers.
Countrvaforesttliirtvycarsago— infested with be.ars and wolves. ^ ,.„„, „„nd
"w to Cl.atsw.;rth station; visited the fair; catt e not good but '"^^^^t ^^J^V ««" :
Went bv train from f 'hatsworth to Toronto. (In this line, the n.arrowcst in C.an.ada, our train went
':v--abont twelve miles au hour, (.ur pa-scMigers were drovers. 'Phe train stopped B.uWenb^
■ What's ni.'' Only p. king the cattle.' MJet up, get up. g«t "P- ^vdl ye ? Get up ! lJ>oyo?^s
were on tc line p/^ n- the cattle with sticks to make them rise up. After the poking he train
es on a-ain Uv n. d-by a frantic rush is made to the win.lows, and thereafter to the bell-rope
tstont^il toil, and we learn that five of the rattle had leape.l out ! l^y-an.l-bvs after a drive
Tany lio^^^^^^^ ^ poor country, ..nlive.ied by many incidents such as a Scotch tenner
rac"m. us a,i.l barki.eg furiouslv, night comes on, and we ultimately a iglit at Ton.nto.
Next day I went t>. Hamilton to attend the exhibition, but Canadian exhibitions are not ld.o
,..h bUions in this countrv. The cattle we.o not forwar.I, and, although the exhibition was
pSvoJen, H had net been form.ally opened by his Excellency the Govenior-General, and would
""^'SJla.Kirit^nSbourhood of Hamilton needs no description. It i., according t^ tlic
ncople o ha lu rter, tl.e garden of Canada. But the most of Canada is a garden 1 he orchar.ls
\um. region ale extrkordii.ary. Clover cut first in June is now (September ^''VrT,., kV and
can casilv fancy what a beautiful country this must appear in spring, ^yllo^l the apples an
uevcl. 's are h. bl.Loiu. It is literally a paradise. The soil in this district is a deep red I left
11 milt^ The -uil becomes of a lighter colour, but the hne vegetable mould
!; a ns The iiJlK show \vhat splendid crops were produced. More orchar.ls, more reclaimed
riSrick an s 1 e h.mses. It w.as a relief to see a stone house. Indi.an-corn extensively
grow;: Ma '^'iceiit orchards. It is hopeless to describe the land ; it was oi.o panoramic view
■' t^~l'r!wdan!;- I came out at St. Catherines, and drove to Clifton, and visited the
Falls of Xia-ara. The land in this neighbourhood is IniRstonc. , ,, ■
The falls and the banks of the river are subjects for scientists, and would re'PV.o "^ very
!,.n. thy description. They are ^aluable geol.v,i,^ally, an, every stra.^ger should visit hem.
, v ;' returned to J f amilton, 1 went to the Exhibition, Nvbich was to be othci.ally o,,ened next day
\momTthe exhiias were turiup.s of various species, cabbages, s.avoys, parsnips, beet, «'l"" h«^^.
;.\ri ne nods pumplcins man-o Is, potatoes, a fine collection of wheats (spring and winter) from
ii' oviilnuJpeHment farin.'ontario! The Tonmto cordbin-ler. •^'--'-- (^' -»;-;;
eii-ine (oOcwt.). I'rairie (Meen plo.e;hs. Ko cattle forward .'Xeept a contingent of Heief.. d
d^- shines and a shorthorn stVer mid one cw. 1 eouhl notluse another d.y, >";'''- 'V";ff
cause me to Inse a week ultimately, an.l therefore, to my great regret, left before the t.o^ellu.l.
'"'l theiTwent'to (Ittaw.., an.l returne.l by tb.e Craii.l Trunk to Montreal. The quality of the
■land a W. this route, on the whoh, is go..d, tliough I f.nuid that fainylual, equal in .,uant,ty.
" L tlK- west was not raise.l in it 1 called on my townsn.an, I'nn. ip.al ]Mc.l..u,;hran ..f the
\-^er lar • Co it-v an I was very kindly received by him and by his brother, Dr. McI acliran who
d,«ve ^e far 1 to the countrv, an.l sh.fwed m. all objects of ii,tere..t around Montreal I was
t:\J^^^^ by M,;. Drysdale, Mr. AlcXish,.ai,d_M^ Alex. Mil .,y. On the Monday,
\ slute.l or the Eastern Townships, going ov.a- the \ letona Bri.lge, which is tubular
1 efo .,',■" t,; the Eastern T.Iwns|,-:,,s I slunild r.mark that n the bush ni Canada the -est
Ian, i generally f.mnd where .l.ciduoi.s trees loo.-t aboun.l. The pine gr.nvs -^ ^<^^^^^
:,i,d swamps ; .>n san.ly ridges it is of rcgailar .growth, on swampy l.an. it .,ccurs ere ami th.ie.
As a ..en.aal rule, deciduous trees, such as m.aple, beech, .,ak, .'tc , in.icate good Ian. .
TiT. Irive thi. ugh the ImvikIi country was .lelightful. It is a vautitul conn ry. an.l the
farm are bett.^rcuriivated than those mi the line fr.in C u-bne. Iho system of ^mcingw h
.traioht rails is now introduo-1, and the :-lg/ag Ontario rnds ceas..'. \N e pass the r.xer Leh. .1.
T .Vl v,-r luay be al-ut 200 Niuds wi.le, i.nd was of a .kybh.e colour, bke Lake Suponor \\ e
,.U ,'V''.' '^'(l ' '^>^"^^1'' 1 »!^^ •:'-^"U;i., vliieh is wooded to t!.e base of a pe. p.ndieular
ii
1
Mr. Ihi-jh McLeans Iii-)'>rt.
,.iccii.ico which wn« Inrt in fog. Tho autumnal foliage Ih rich, ahouiKling in green, purpl",
^"^ Tho^'riL.frof'the churches arc of tin, and tho Hi.ives are nl«o lined with that metal. Tli.^
cflcot when the snn shines iH.ist be daz/.ling. Tlie country consists of panoraniic views of rar.
beauty. In the ftekls, the Hdges are not particularly straiKlit-Ihchevo ^l'^«'«;.''=;"y =f;''',!;^- ,/,
have notice.1 tho same phenomena in County Galw.ay. Ireland, and m ""/'>'^1'> /*"''«„'" "'^
own lli;,dilands. I also ohscrved that gi'oves of poplar, which is a sacred wood n 0-^th. e
countries, abound in the French country. At len;'th we arnvo at l^>"l>=»m- ,^''-'^,,^^7;^^:
arc now seen. Those bushes d,. not ,^row in Upi>er Canada, and here .lo not become f''««. »- f
homo. Ultimately we came to the St. Francis Kiver. The acenery hero is gorK-ous. 1 amtni^
itself would fail t.! repi-esent tho lovoliuesH of the folia-o. A picture Buch as this wo.ilu be on •
demned as unnatur.al. We p.vss Ilielimond. Mr. McKenzie's farm, from Loch l^--^"' "'■;;' ^';
HteeVs farm. Underground drainin- is done h(re. We come to Windsor, whe ^-e-^ «• a napei-
mill. Tho Bahnon aBoend fifty miles above Windsor. Tho variegated foli.ig.. ...=-> _ - .-s
ov iy. I never beheld anythiui,' more beautiful. Jb.un.ls of earth are c ad w'^h trj^s pam ed
in ex luisite colours, as Nature only can mix thorn. I-'armhousos and lovely white cotta.^es with
I"e.,n' blinds add variety, while tho broad river, like a huge snake, cods .i,s wry ..round the W
of mountains full of colour. A graveyard on tho opposite side remiudg the observer that, not-
withstanding the beautiful surroundings, man is mortal. _ i,„ »^,„„ Th..
We j.a.ss saw-mills, and see wholo logs drawn up by machinery in order to bo eawn. The
river is blocked witli rafts. ., „ , . •• c -n.. , un „,.,.„
We arrive at Slierbrooke. My first visit wa.s to Mr. Buchanan, township of Bury---140 acre
farm. ' AViien a field is broken up,' said ho, ' oats or liarley are jiut m. A\ heat sometimes does
well, and in some places better than either oats or barley. Next year potatoes manured, next
year wheat, and seed it down with timothy grass and northern clover, sometimes Alsiko. White
ilover is natural to the soil. In poor land the ground is manured for second-year crop. It u.
allowul to lie in pasture till it., turn comes round.' When Mr. Duclwnan came here six .>Mr;
ago tlie land was run out. The heaviest crop was a half-ton of h.iy per acre He manured the
land for two years and cropped it, and laid it out to gnvs, and hrst year out I4 ton to the acie
the second year 2 ton (part being manured and part not) per acre. In some farms this quantits
is taken twice in tho same year.
lletunw— Wheat, 2') bushels per acre . . • •
IVuley. 30 to 40 bushels per acre
Oats, "30 to 50 bushels per acre (known to be (JO)
. CO lb. per bushel.
. 3^ 11
The oats arc smaU long oats. Tease, raise them among oats-txvo-thirds of nnts, and one third
of pease. Beans good. Turnips do exceedingly well, but there is too much work in weeding
them. Wheat, 1 dollar per buslu^l. Other cereals as m Ontario and Manitoba. Buckwheat,
Mr. Buchanan said, does well. Tho more rain it gets tlie better it will be. I* l';«d"";^^f » to
75 bushels per acre. He sows 4 bushels of oats per acre ; wheat, H l'«8hel ; b«'l«y. ^ ^'ishels
buckwheat. 1 bushel. Indian corn requires more manure in Bury than turnips. 100 loads of
manure will produce 100 bushels of Indian corn. Cattle sell 3 to 6 cents live Aveight. Hoi.,c:s
100 dollars for good junk (15 :> 10 hands) ; cheese, 12 cents; butter, 30 cents; ye«"-bng, 10
dollars ; two-ycar-old, 20 dollars. IJ acre pasture per cow sulBcieut ; haa 5 milk cows and their
followers.
Henry Cowan, Goulil, Ijengwick, stated hia returns of
V Wheat to be 20 to 25 bushels per acre
i Oats, 30 to 40 „ ..
Barley, 15 to 20 off old, 25 to 30 ofY new land.
Sold four steers at 27.\ dollars each, two and a half years old : bought some of tlicro in the
fall rit dollars ; h.ay, dollars to 8 dollars per ton j butter, 18 to 25 cents ; beef cattle. 5 cunts
'"■' llr.' Cowarromarked Uiat this was » Very dry season ; had resided in Llngwick forty-
four vears and never sftw tho water so low. ,,».,, i. - . „k:„„„i
Ontario, on the other hand, had a very wet hftrvest, and Mamtoba was showcry-exoeptional
circumstances in both provinces.
Mr. William Buchanan's farm : , <,rA »i. .. .t.,1 » »„„«.«,.
Made 900 lb. of sug.-vr out of 500 buckets of maple julfie. Made l,6n0 ib. wdght of silg.lr
in the season, which sold at 8 dollars per 100. Was shown the maple trees and the apparatus.
Visited Mr. Robert French's fann. He is into the thorough-bred bi sineas, and doing well.
Visited the meadows, which produce three tons of hay per acre . , , , . , , , o, «.-
Next day saw a wellnuvhured grass field belonging to Lewis Mclver, which also yielded three
tons of hay per acre.
.JH^
Mr. Iliii/h McLcctu'n R'jicrt.
41
lingt in green, purpl''
ith that metal. Tii.^
riorainic viewH of ran^
oriiifneiUy crookod. I
mittielil lands in <mr
icil woihI in Cathi'lic
ihani. Ali'or b\i«he,i
irit l)oconie trees, ftH at
5 goi'g'MVUS. I'aintiiij,'
1 aH this wo'.'.lu bu otm-
lioch Urooin; aluo Sir.
vln'- *>ei-^ '■ a iiajier-
iiliiigi. ■■■'- vii- - i.s
ilail with trees jiaintcd
ly white c(itta,vto« with
,« wpy iivimnd tliu base
the obacrvcr that, not-
rder to bo eawn. The
hip of Bury— 140 acre
Wheat sometimes ih)C'«
itatocs manured, nu.xt
lotimes Alsiko. Wliito
Bcoiid -year crop. It in
an canio here six yvriv;
;ro. He manured the
out 14 ton to the acre ;
lue farms this quantity
CO 11>. per bushel.
48
32 ti
Is of oats, and one -third
much work in we«dinR
divnitoba. Buckwheat,
be. It produces 50 to
del ; barley, 2 huwhols ;
. turnips. 100 loads of
>t live weight. Hor.sc:<,
30 cents; yearling, 10
i 5 milk CUW8 and their
fht some of tliero in the
its ; beef cattle, 5 eunt.s
led in Ling wick forty -
IS showery — exceptional
,6ri0 lb. weight of .sngar
trees and the apparatus.
i, and doing well.
which also yielJed three
\rrived at Comptou luul diove to tlie Knn. Mr. Cochrniie's fanii. \V;ts shown his uplendid
Iim'liam stock— anionyst these the 10th DiieluM.n of Airdria and tlireo of her [.rocniy, viz., 2 cow.s
mid a heifer; 10 to 12 calves from the Duko of Oxford and Mimnds of Jlillhurst. Saw a
tliuiou"h-bred white cow— fat— shown at the Dominion K.xhibition, Montreal, .ind which obtained
(iist priy,e. Shown also a twoyear-ol«l imported Ayrshire bull, n very line animid ; also
the Duke of Oxford, a very famous Durham. Tlie Duchess of Airdrio is twilvo years old, and
I ,r descendants have rialised to iMr. Cooluimo £;!0,!300, bein« unprecedented in bovine history.
Was aUo shown otlier oowt^, a
U of excellent i|Uality, kept for feeding the tlmniughbrtd calve.-.
Ml- Cochrane does not jianiper the Duchess, but keeps her in ordinary condition. Ho received
■I fiien.l who accompanied me, and myself, very kindly. Saw a :iplundld turnip field on his farm.
lli^ fiiiniK are in the lii'.,']iest order of^cultiviitioii, and show what llmt soil is capable of proilucliiL;-
vlien fanned scientilinilly. His land was of leas intiin.-ie value orii;inally than other lands in
|^.. uei.'hbouring toivushij*, but to tho observer it woidd appear now to be vastly superior to
aiv in the district. Of course his success is inducing! others to folL.w his example. 'I'here aio
lu." collections of field stones studded in heaps over his fields, as may be seen everywhere iti the
I'lovince of (Juebec, an.l also in tho townsliips alx.ut (Jwen .Smuid, Ontario, and elsewhere.
They are p\it into sub.it.inliid stone fences.
there is a plant in the district called the wild schnni:-c, which raiises the hamls and fnc! to
.well if t.aiehed. 'Iliu wild ivy also alVects some iiecplo even if they come within tho wind of
iL It is fo\ind in (ineb.,e, Onta'iio,aiKl Manitoba, an.l al.-^o in the Statics.
I visited at Sherlir.ioko the I'aton Woollen Mills, having received a note of intioduction to
.\ir Paton from tlie Hon. Mr. rupe. Minister of A,-rio\dtme. These mills are very large. The
' ishiu" and cKai-' maehine di-jioses of 4,000 lb. of Canadian wool per 10 hours, or from 2,000
4,000 lb. of fin \iv.>l. Saw the dyeing vats, tlie boir-ipicking inaehino, 20 sets of curding
lehines, 21 spinnin" mules, each havin.Lr "oO splndhs; lo.'i luoios i.mducing last week 711
i.ieoes of cloth, each 'i.i yards long ; the hydraulic press, the patterns, and the maehme shop.
The work employs from 500 to 5.'-0 hands. It is the largest in the Dounnion, and the machinery
i- of the Litest and most approved invention. ,, . .
Visited the annual exhibition or fair. The licat cattle are now sent off to Britain, and oonse-
laiently the fair-exhibits snlFer. , . „ . ■
I next went to Uichmond, an.l visited the College of Agriculture, being very kindly received
ly Principal Kwing. He informed me that wheat with him averaged from 20 to 26 busheht
l.Lr acre ; barl -y, :!0 bushel-. ( >als is g.iierallv a Mue crop— u.'i bushels to the acre.
He groumled his students well in aritluuetie, algebr.a, Euclid, and land-surveying.
On tlio '>nd of October I went to see the (Juaiantine Depot at Point Levi, which containe.1
many excellent cattle newly arrived from England. I thereafter started for St. John, New
lUuiiswick. In this journey I passe.l over a -reat extent of French country, beautiful land-
.aues, seeing various glimiwes of tho bays and liavens on the St. Lawrence, and once mora
li.holdiii'r ocean's shijiping. Tlie most promimnt feature in the Lower Canadian towns and
tillages Is the churches, which are of immense size generally, and tho contrast between these
l.nge i>ilcs and the small dwellings is very marked. In the course of time we entered ^ew
llrunswick. , . . . , mi. -o c rn. t
This province is divided into eight counties and fifty-nine parishes. The Bay of Chaleur
forms its north-western boundary, at the head of which lies Campbeltown. Very litflo farmmff
is done there. It is famous for sulnion-tishing, though that industry was not very successful
" Tha salmon go up the rivers Kestigouche and ISratapedia. There is a salmon-breeding establish-
ment which tuniR out three-fourths of a million of young fish yearly. The yining tisli, when ht
for removing, are taken to other rivers along tho Bay of Chaleurs. The salmon is caught by stake-
nets on the sea-coast, and on the rivers by fly. .Salmon is very extensively exported. A fisherman
with a 300-fathom stake net averages 1,500 dollars value of fish cluving tho season. _
The specified distance between each stand of nets is 'IW fathoms, but this la not always
ti-orously enforced. Fishing begins 24th Mjiy, and ends with the last week of July.
There is a good system of schools in Now Brunswick. Education free. Personal property
is taxed, and every man from twenty-one to siity pays 1 dollar poll-tiix. , „,.
The river St. John is navigable for t. ,ding vessels of say fifty tons burden, and small steamei's,
for about fifty mijes of its course. Her craft can get up 150 miles. Among the fish are
salmon and sturgeon. The biuiks ai e i\ 1 tilised by tho overflowings of tho river, leaving aUuvial
ilopoaits which manure and enrich tho grass. . xt i> • 1
I ultimately arrived at bt. John, which I made my headquarters m New Brunswick.
I thereafter returned to Sussex Valley. Tho soil along tho railway from St. John to Kothesay
is vegetable mould on a sandv and gravelly subsoil. The rail skirts along the estuary of
St. jShn River, which is wooded and has precipitous, bold clitt's. Tha scenery is very beautiful.
I llothesw to Quinspansio is hilly. There are good f.-vnns along the line. The soil from CJums-
lansja to Nawigewa is reddish. Dyke land, exqellent for hay, occurs along the Kiver W. John,
From Nawigewa to Hampton there is beautiful green pasture, and much dyke land. WWtn 01
I i
43
Mi; JIiKjh McF.ciutu lifjio)/.
I
river hire iiiiiiKnicliiis \Vtst I.c.tli Turin it. Tim iijuntrv ix luautiful and Imn a rich appearatice,
Suil, as turtii'ci in( r !■>■ tlic iplini.;h, is l)iC'iuii!rr, an wo truM'l olcii^', iif a lighter reil.
l'a.sHi;(l Nort<iii Statidii. '{'ho rivir-lmiiks |>riH( lit niiltjiidid grazing. ra.i;«:d Apohagrii ;
then Honiu Indian wigwanw (:i'V<.iiid with beichliarlc.
Arrived at Siifscx, and called, ith Octuhcr, cm Mr. (ieorgo A. Dnli.min. He hhdwed uie ex-
ceedingly gtidd mangel-wurzel. He stated that hi« wheat imidnced 2't hwMwU to the ociv
(8|)rin({ wheat) ; oatii, 4f>. Take.i five crops in wiree-isidn otf hix hay-f,'ri>iinil. I'otatoos, lii'
planted -J barrelH, and dng lOt barreln. The proliiics were tlio kind, hut they rot more than
the otherB. The red Hafen have a red streak when cut, are latisli, Imt very goiMJ. Has sUv. i
dollars, a white potato. Had (wo oxen (liinhanis); woidd weigh whei\ fat, live weight,
3,800 lb. He fed and sold oif S!) head of fat cattle la^t season.
His statement of the weather was that snow falls in 1 )eeenil)er to a depth of two feet, nmi
lasts till March. ,Tannary an<l Feliruary are tlie cohlist montlis ; hardly any rain in winter
months. In March mow begins to decrease. Ajiril is rainy. Half of May to half of .Juno
is occupied in sowini,' and iilantinir. May is niil«l ; .l\nie, very iiot ; .Inly, liot, little rain, thunder
generally ; Au;;ust, lii>t, al.-o thun<ler ; Sejaendier, dry, with occa-ional slinwerii.
Visited John (irahani, from (iirvan, at tliu cheese factory. He coinlucted the fii'st factory
in the province; makes from l!."' to 20 tons jier season. He iiieiitioned that he knew of many
farms for sale. I<and has not been so clicaj. lliese thirty years, he said, as at present. l{o sowe.l
7 biLshels of wheat, and thrashed lOJ, beiny 20 biishels per acre fully. Last year ho had
33i bushels from If bushel sown, the extent of ground consisting of hardly an acre. Weevil
used to be batl, but is not so now.
Oats average 45 bushels, and arc sown 1st .Tune, thraslied 2nd September.
I'otatoes : Considers New IJniiiswiok tlio best country he ever saw for potatoes — has generally
20 to 20 returns.
Labour is from 60 to 70 dollars per six months— that is, £12 to £14 ; 14, 10, and 20 dollars
per month for having. Girls, r> to ti dollars per month. Milk, 2 to 3 cints ; butter, 18 tn
20 cents ; bet,f and m\itton, li to 7 cents ; pork, 4 to C cents. On 500 dollars wl vitlorcm a
tax of 1 didhir 80 cents is jiavable, and 1 dollar 25 cents for school. They have to give thre.j
days' statute-labour on the roads, or pay 50 cents per day. Ministers are supported by voluntary
contribution.
Schools : No ho'.vse to be more than 2^ miles from a school. A house is seldom more than
three miles distant from a chinch.
Sussex Valley is a good district for Indian com, squashes, melons, pumpkins, etc. I there-
after drove past Mr. Nelson Oinald's fanii. Mr. Charles Haison's— a farmer who goes in for
vegetables, carrots, and straw) lerries, sending them into Ht. .Tolm ; he also grows plums, currants,
an* gooseberries. Mr. Hugh McMonil;ale breeds horses— from thirty to forty thorough-breds—
and has fenced in parks for training them. Passed many farms, all of excellent quality, with
ij{)lcndid orchards attached. , j . .
The nature of the soil in this district, as seen from a well in process of being dug, is loam on
top two feet thick, gravel two feet, red clay and gravel mixed all down to ten or twelve feet,
where water U got. , i . i.
The forest trees are the pine, tamarac, spnice, birch, alder, cedar, maple, balsam, and birch.
Wild ai lals are the cat, bear, moose deer, and carilioo. The latter are generally twenty miles
back in he forest. Calving cows can be purchased at from £5 to £(>; yearlings, 12 to 15
dollars; twii-yearolds, 20 dollars. The Permissive Act is in force in King's County.
We drove into a diiferent township, and passed through many fine fanns. The following is
the rotation practised bv some farmers. A field in pasture, on being broken up, is sown with
buckwheat. Next year half in oats .and half in potatoes ; next year, put potatoes in where oats
of host year were ; and oats seeded down in potato ground of the preceding year ; next year, oat?
and seeding down. Take hay crop off for throe yearn ; p.usturo for a number of years accordinij
to extent of ground. . , , i
Mr. Nelson Coate.i, whose farm I did not visit, stated th.vt his whe ,t would average 2i) biwhels,
and* his oata 35 bushels per iu'iv. Ho has a 3.10 acre farm, 160 of which are in cultivati-^n,
Cuts 100 ton.-i of hay annually. Winters 60 head of horned cattle. The pasture gives 2 acrcf
per cow taken all throuuh, but in certain parts one acre would graze a cow well. L.abour,
100 to 120 dollars for a man per annum; 60 to 70 dollai.s for six months. Has 22 milk
cows. , , J 11 •
From a dealer I learned that South Downs and Leicester sheep are the breeds generally in
this pit)vince, weighing .as a rule about 80 lb. They are wintered on h.iy and grain, and can be
purchased at from 5 to 6 dollars, or £1 to £1 4s. I'reight to Liverpool, 1 dollar 30 cents from
lUmouski on the St. Lawrence. He stated cattle freight to be 14 dollar.s. ■ , mu
The Sussex Valley is uncommonly fertile, and farms are said to be easily purchased. The
city of St. John contains 32,000 inhabitants, and has a considerable trade. I was present at the
opening of the Provincial Exhibition. The display of agricultural produce was very good indeed.
It is situated on the Bav of Fundy, where the tide rises some thirty feet. Tlie fish around tb«
coast of the province consists of salmon, herring, gasparouche, shad, haddock, pollock, lobster, and
I
-1//'. IIiKjh ^fif.ecuCs Iiiiiort.
43
1 liiiH a rich ruipenratico,
i!,'litiT roll.
[. l'iiMi«:(l Apohiigtii ;
11. ]Iu hhdwod uiu «x-
1"> Viui-tic'l.-t to thu atr
linmiul. I'otatooH, lii'
lit tlii'y rot nioro tliiiii
Vfiv giiiMl. HftM silv.i
vlicn fat, livu weiyht,
ilupth of two fuct, mill
lly any iiviii iii wiiitu'
■ May to half nf Juno
liiit, littlu lain, thunili.1'
InWirii.
iK^teil tlui iiint factdiv
tliat ho knew of many
at jircsont. Ho Howci
ly. Last yoar ho ha'l
inlly an acre. Weevil
her.
jiotatoos — has generally
; 14, 10, an(120<lollais
3 ctnts ; butter, 18 t"
(liillars ud viilorcm .i
hoy have to give thrtu
BUjiported by voluntary
vi is Buldoui more than
iimpkins, etc. I there-
anuor who goes in for
grows plmnH, currantB,
forty thorough-brods —
excellent quality, with
f being dug, is loam on
to ten or twelve feet,
splo, balsam, and birch.
generally twenty miles
'.ii; yearlings, 12 to 15
ng's County,
inns. The following is
broken up, is sown with
potatoes in where oats
ig year ; next year, <wt>-
mber of years accordin;j
ould average 25 bunhels,
hich are in cultivatii^n.
lie pasture gives 2 aert>
J a cow well. Labour,
months. Has 22 milk
the breeds generally in
y and grain, and can bo
1 dollar 30 cents from
r.s.
easily jiurchased. The
le. I was present at the
ze was very good indeed.
it. Tlie fish around th«
ock, pollock, lobster, and
I^ lilmt, .-tuvuiM.n i.li >iiiiil In tin; liveis, This province is boiimliMl on tlio north by the pro\;iico
i.f <,'ii.:boi; mill Iho JLiy nf Clialeur ; on the east by the Gulf of hit. Lawrence ; on the we.it by
III" Sl;it(! iif Maine ; iiiid on the south by the liay of l''undy,
I laving (111. sell finiu St. .liiliii by steamer to Annapolis, I entered another very fine Provineo,
l!i,il, of Xiiva Seiiti.i. 'I'liis pruvince is linunded on thu nortli by the liay nf Fundy and Cliivnorti',
;iiiil is scparatfd fnuii I'liiue JMward Island by Xoithumberlaiiil Strait, 'l"hc^ (!iit of Caiiso
.-r;i:ii:ites it fidiu ('aju: Hiitun ; otherwiso, except at Amiicist, where it is eonneetod with New
riuiiswiek liy an istiuiuis about twdvi' miles long, it is altogether Kiirrounded by the Allaiitie
(ifoan. Tlio len^tli of this province i« 2(i0 miles; its greatest breadth, 100; its area, lti,.')00
,-'|iiari' miles. Cape I'lietiiii, jittaclu'l to it, is 110 miles long by 00 broad. The population in
l.'^n was ;iS7,000. 'I'h^' Catholies ami I'resbyterians are about equally divided, being abinit
111.1,000 each. Oilier il ■iiPiniiiatiDUs luiiiilur ubuut l.Hl.OOO. There are fourteen counties in
.\iiva Seitia and fmu- in C.ipe Hretmi. Nova Sentia is an iindiilating cniintry, ruiisistiiig of
liills, plain-, .iinl niountaiii laii^es. The ridges run aling the entire country, thrnwing stnanis
In the U'.ilh anil smitli. 'I'lieso ridges terminate in buld u)iiiglit he.aillamls on the coast, i'lid
sioiietiiii"s ;;ia'luate into verdant plains. IJetweeii the Xnrtli Mmiiitain, along the Hay of Kuni'v,
fiiim l)ii;by to Cape IJIi-iuidoii. and tin; Si.utli Mountain in Annapolis and King's Counties, is a
beautiful valley, which was ]jait of the subject nf my visit.
'I'iie s lil tliiougliout the ]ii(!viii:'e is vaiii.d, tile iuferlcu- being found along the south-in
■^hoi'es. Tlui h.'^t hiiil is 111 the nurllieni. The counties along the ]>ay of Kundy cont.tin
iiiiieh ilyke liiiid that is, land that was eiiclnsed finm the rivers by the early Trench colonists.
li\ nieaiis nf earthen ilyk<:s. It is excjedingly fertile, having, without manure, prnduc :d spleiiilid
: ,iy crops fur the last l.'O years.
The winter sets in about the 1st of Dereiiiber, w.iun snow falls from one to two feet denp,
Tanuary, the frost is pietty severe. I'Vbruary, 20 to 2t" b.low zero. Thernicimeter never
I'lee/.es. ^laveh is wintry, blustery weath;'r, rain and snow.
Snow leaves about the last wc;ek of April and the tirst week of Jf.ay, Then ploughingan 1
■^•iwing .'lie in full cipeiation, and eciiitliiiies to the 10th of June. Potatoes and buckwheat
are in by tlie 1st of ,(uno. In the last week of July and first week of August, hay is cut.
Harvest eiiininences about tin; 20th August, and all through September. Spring wheat is cut;
in S'liteuilier.
The «l(;i'mer, on her way to Annapolis, toueheil at Digby, a considerabla town. I wm
i!!ipvesseil during the tail up the Aiiuajiolis Gut liy the a])peaianco of well-to-do farms and li'h
dyke meadow land, conifort.ible liniise.s, with orchards. I was not prepared for what was sti.l
t > be seen. I went by rail from Aniiapulis to IJridgctown. I visited the Paradise Chee.so
I'act Ty. They there can iiianufaotnre lo cheeses per day of from 20 lb, to 80 lb, weight. The
faetoiy is a jiiiiit stock eiinpany emiiposed of farmers in the di.strict. They semi in their milk,
and the jiroeeed.s, after dediietiiig expenses, are divideil amongst the partners. They manufacture
sweet-milk cbei^se from 10th May to 10th Uctober. Skiniinilk cheese runs a fortnight. This
sia-^on they made l,2o0 cheeses, the weight bJng 27 tuni.. oOO cows are about the nuinlier that
supply milk. The jirolits allow about 1 cent, jier lb, nf milk. Two hands are employed in thu
factory, and five t auis. The cheese is sold in tile hnal n.-trkets of St. John, Halifax, and Yar-
mouth. They manufacture the cheeso on the princiiile invented by Jesse Williams, the first
cheuse-inaker in the I'nitod States. The aveiage price fur cheese is 12 cents. 35 head of swine
are fed with the whey. The foUnwiug are the factories in operation in Nova Scotia : i i;i
I'ietou County, 1 in (.'ape Iheton, 1 in Hants, 2 in Colchester, 5 in King's County, 8 in Ann.apnlif,
and 1 in Yarmouth.
Mr. Pettoii, Paradise, Fays that wheat averages 23 bushels ; oats, 25 bushels ; barley, 23
bushels per lu're. I'ot.itoes are not good with h"m ; they average 200 bushels per acre.
Mangel wurzel, 500 bushels, H.ay, 2 tons per aero. The best land in the county for hay is
the dyke-land. His farm is 101 acres. He goes in for raising oxen. Paises three calves a
year. Sells a yoke each year; price, 8 dollars per 100 lb. 1'he pair weigh together 1,100 lb.
dead weight ; live weight would be 2,S00 lb. i'ami labourers get 12 dollars (t.i) per month
for ordiiu-ry work. One dollar p.r day for h.aying, and ':l of a dollar for harvesting. Servant
girls, 4 dollars per month. Jlany of the girls go to the States, The county of Aiinapi lis will
liroduce 150,000 barrels of apple-!, at 1 ilollar 25 cents per barrel ; and judging from the number of
voters in the county, and that the half of them are farmers who, as a rule, sell two oxen each
annually, there may be 3,000 oxen exported yearly for the English and Scotch markets from
Annaiiolis county alone.
I drove into the country, up one road and down another, and was channed with the f!,rms
and general appearance of prosperity. Notwithr-tanding all thi.s, I was informed not onl-^ in
Nova Scotia, but al.-o in New lirunswick, and in the Quebec and Ontario Provinces, that many
farms are hi^avilj' mortgaged, which means that heavy interest is payable for money advanced
to their ownci-s, and that their owners are only too anxious to sell off their farms so as to b8
able to clear their ilebts ; so that there is a gnawing worm at tho roou of every tree, however
promising it may be externally. The farms con -ist of mountain land, upland, and interval
lauiL Bridgetown, fourteen miles from Annapolis, is at the head of the na%igation of the
[
i«
44 Mr. Hiigli McLedn'a JiffMtt.
rivor, an<\ Ih the krROBt t„wn in AnnnvolisCmnty. 1 naw a ycm^l ho,-o of from 159 to 200 ton,
r^Ju\\Z!\cunALu.ut to many arti«.i«» : a gvi.t.n.ill i« much wanto.l, ho Ih a wooUcu-unll,
""' 'mvir ;::i^S!!i.ot,.,vn an,l it. boa„tiful fnut,. I prnc-cad to K.ntvillo which lH.nvh.,n...l
1,v h 1« I hero ox,K..ic.,..-..l th., greatest h..H,,itality fn.rn "», «l>''^^-<^"""*^>'";"'\ y, "J''' ;;
rmn c'or..ftho Annapolin nn.l Win,I,.T Hallway, n.jt on y in_.lrlv.nK tno oyer the count.j.l'Mt
in exvlainln'T the ni.li le of the <list.ict. an.l aft..war.ls ..ntr.ia....n({ an.l Incl','.. p me.
>^-eeai;i o,. M... Lea,.,ler Kan,l. townshl,. of Can..!.,,', ^'^ ^'ilYu U^Z^!:^
nvcra-eH22b..Hhc.lH ,.er arro ; oat., 4f. to f.O In.sl.els ; In.li.n corn, 40 ^''-''yl'',;hrl ud ; i-otnto -.
2or, bn.l,elH. Man.,lo is B,.,va,l b.-oa,l..ast. Hay gnvs ^it''";!-': "";'/"' y,' ^^^^'^'.^^l^f
).„.hel. i-er acre. There in a.,y an.ount of m<^.y n;a,,lo "i; '" /''f'^*!.^' ,','"""*/ f^'
ncco„,.t. Mr. llan.l ha. fo..rteen or fifteen acre. ... a so .1 '■'''^•V"„on^' 'hr. ui^
Imnel.' Ho ha« thutv thre,. h.ad of cattle, .-xn.! !.,. far... .h one of 200 ae e . /■^'J';'^";:'^
at the ratio .,f nix <•.. v. to rh;ht ae.vH. T-al.oo.. is .'',0 conts l-er .lay for a la.l ; U a.. o..l.n,;.y
t^X\ -Ml-l-r -lay : ao.l 1.0 .lolla,. ,;.. an.o.,.. fora n.a.j %^:^:;Z^,^")^Z'
iM-ii. llO.lulhus \vitliah..i,M,,u..l l<r,.,. l.iniB.lf ; i.ia..l ..rva.it, I .1- lain ..■> .....nth. A^f.rav
: . ,1, . o iv... in an o,-.ha.-.l of two 'aer... is 110. ll.' has ^ot 2.0 harreis '''ff '■«;';-';•,
an.l K..1.1 100 ImrrelH at 2 .lolla.-.. Tl..a.hi..K i« .lone by stea.n tl.ra.sl.er ; gne ^^^y *;«''''' ]^"«^;
in r.-t..m He UMuallv i.lo,.f,'h. B.-ven inches .kci. ; n..rst ,ieo,.l,. o.,ly 1' ""gl> J'V" " <= cs. Better
" f-nHs to 20 cents ; 'cheese, 1 2 cents. A n.ilk cw sl.onia ,.ro.luce in """5 .f,,' ;;"«-;;' f^.« '
„necowhe had l.r.Kl.iee.l 300' lb. ..f milk in a week, imt the average of ^»\]\^f^^"^Yo'};^
18M lb AVorki. .' horses abo.'.t fifteen l.a...ls high a.-e worth 100 (Ulars ; working oxen, 80 t,
00 .I'lliars per .air. Oly.les.lalo ho,ses a.e too heavy f.,r that ,li«triet. an.l trot ...g horaCH too
light. The cattle they want are polle.l Angus ; and the h.>.ses the ^o^.mn brcc.l.
Mr. I.n.es estiniated the fruit-production of Annapol.s, King s. and Hants Counties nl
''TSdrn a'i.':'X W. Margieson. His wheat averages 27 bushels per acre ; oats, 30 •
barlev!n.^ c ; a"era;;e of potat.-es, 200 bushels. Ho has two farn.s-one of 210 acres, a...l . no
.,f 212 aires The hitter has 10 a.T..snf salt ...arsh, which is the very best for fatten ng cattle.
iUe hwlis worth i.. the .narket V'.2 an.ae.v, or 100 .h.llars ; npla,.d .s -^'^^.K'^Son '
nm,. Average ...ice ..f h.ay is 10 .h.llars p..r ton, but he .s selln.g .t at lb .1.1 .ars pti •
,, . .,d hay is"a .loUaroherper, vi.., 9 .h.llars ..n an av..,age. Mar.sh.m..d is s,.k.,d.d foi m^^^^^^^^
Whe.. ordinary grnsslan.l is n,a..,.red by it, it pr..duc..s cas.ly 2 »''"; l-'.^;"^' .^"* "" ^'i'^'-
bi.i.l 15 t..ns. Air! ]SlarL'ies..n states that the present ti.ne is the w..rst that th.^y e\ cr ha.L
Mr I.mes continut.1 his drive with luo through Coiiiwallis, a beautiful country, and we
%:::!i'Xy/;Sede!i't-o Windsor, an.lthe superinten.lent of the railway Pl-t being on the
train, he gave . le verv valuable info...,atio.,, not only as to the construe ..... of the dykes and
B bdc^s, biU also i„f.,r.nation a« t,. ..th.r industries. We passed C..r.,wall.s / >y,<;:^ «'"« « T''''-
Fort William, Avo.i Kiver, and O.-an.l Pre, the see.ie of I.o.,gfell..w s poen. of ]'.\angeline.
(Jrand Vvi (<.r the great fiel.I) consists .,f al...ut 3,000 acres of dykedand, and is held m
common by a nundier of propriet..rs. After the cr..ps have been cut, cattle arc t.irned on to
U ™fter-fee.l, or paslui-a-lre, an.l, aecor.li.ig as the season has been favourable or otherw.se, a
Kreater or lesser n.miber ..? cattle are alh-w.-.l o., the .lykeda.ul ; and a pr..p..rt.onat.^ numb.
of cattle, aecrding to the extent of their other la..,ls is .lec.ded upon by the pr.,prietors f.n
'''''' We'i'wwsaw Hantsport, on the other si.le .^f the Avon, and Armstrong's Khip-buildin- yar.l.
The river here is three-rp.art.Ts ..f a mile broad. At Avon i'ort, on our own s.de, a bh.p ol
1,200 t.)ns burden was on the stocks. f,.„„„ja
Wo pas.sed a br.)ok, the divi.Ung lino between Hants and Kn.;.; s Counties. The fo.mer is
mostly kept up by ship building. At Hautsi.ort a UOO-t.m vessel was .... the »t..eks , sa.l-lolt.
and other nauticil in.lustries wo.-e spread about. The viUane depe.ids on shipping. AVe passed
Newp..rt Landing, mouth of St. Cr..ix Mhcv, ontiguo.is to Win.lsor, ^vh.eh was a m.le di.sta.it.
Wo now passed an iron bri.lge 1,200 feet long, .rccted at a cost of £10,000. a.ld arrived at
Windsor, a thriving town of 2,r.00 inhabitants. This neighbourhood is rich in limeslone ami
L'Vpsum, much of which is exiiorted.
By the kiiuhiess of Dr. Black, I was again driven over the country. We cal.cd on Mr.
Maxi.er, who has a farm of 12,5 acres. His cr..p of wheat this year was e.xcpti..nally poor ; it
wo-ild only average 17 bushels per acre. His ..ats would average S.". bushels per acre ; barley,
only sowed half a bushel ; potatoes, 200 bushels. He has 25 hea.l of cattle ; generally fattens
tw.) every year. He h.as 4.". acres ..f dyke land, and 17 <.r 18 under crop. He keeps IS cows.
He sells milk at WindR..r, 2\ cents a lb., and gets at factoi-y 1 c.^nt; butter averages 20 cents.
Dr Blaek sai.l that retail price of lamb was 10 cents ; roast beef, 12\ ce..t- • steak, U cents, at
Wilidsvi-, The luikh-CJW^i are a iui.\ture of Ueref'.rd, Durhani, and Uevoiis. A good ci>W
Mr. Jtuijh }frLenu'» Heimrt.
■from 159 to 200 ton,
Ituristrt.' nri'l'4«t<i« 11
I, HI) U a wooUt'ii-iuill,
Up, which Ih «'nvIion("l
uiitrvnian, Mr. Iiiiu-.
'. over the country, but
cli;iiip nic.
;iitville, whoso whual
luls Nhrllud ; jiotntocs
fully ; turniii!', 1,000
ut it is not turuLMl t"
[ fi'lloWS, M hvi fis :>
iu'ri:n. Thi! gra/.in;4 is
a ta'l ; for an oiilinary
i hi'usf ; for a niariliil
ijtr month. Avor.T.,"'
•is nlf forty-two tlCCH,
vc every twelfth bushel
,'h five inches. Birtter
nilk 30 dollars, or 40 ;
of hia other cows was
; working oxen, 80 to
iid trotting horacH too
an breed,
d Hants Counties nl
bIs per acre ; oats, 30 :
of 210 acres, and one
ust for fattening cattlo.
is Worth 1(1 dollars an
at 1 6 dollars per ton ;
is splendid for manuro.
per acre, but on dyke-
[it thcjy ever had
utiful country, and we
way plant being on tlm
ctiou of the dykes nml
lli« llivcr, King's Tort,
ni of ' ]'>-anj,'eline.'
ce-land, and is held in
sattlo are turned on to
Durable or otherwise, a
I proportionate nunili-r
by the proprietors for
ng's ship-buildinj; yard,
jur own side, a bhip of
iiintics. The former is
1 the stocks , sail-loftn
n shippiii;j;. Wc jiassod
ch was a mile distant.
£, 10,000, and arrived at
8 rich in limesloue and
;ry. Wo cal'cd on Mr.
s e.<cci)tionally poor i it
iislu'ls per acre ; barley,
ittle ; generivlly fattens
op. lie keeps 15 cows,
itter averl^'os 20 cents,
lit-" • steak, 15 cents, at
Uevons. A good cow
45
TVIr.
would cost from 35 to 10 dnllars, and would nvrrajt" t^'" qni^its per day for six mnntln.
Maxner corroborated nil about (lykc and upland.
Dr. lilaik iliove \w V< the (ilaee whue f'lr many years the late .I\iili,'i' Halilmrton, wh't
wrote 'Sam Sliek," r.-ided. Not far from his hous.; a lan,'e •,'> pMun .|onny is bi'ing worked.
I was very kindly entertained by Dr. lilaek, and aftnuards bavin,' aeeidintly nut Dr.
I'ras ;■, Windsor, he ftls.. was cxcecnlingly kind to ine. Wo witm-ssed the tidal wavn calb-d
the'i iro' coming tip the river. All creatures leave the wny when it ftpproachys. Tliocattlu
know the sound of its ronrim;.
Ki'..ni Windsnr I returned to llorion Tinndin}.', Grand Vie, and ealUd «n Mr. ralerson, who
•d*. riceived me very kiiullv. lie likewisi^ drove me over thecouiitrv. He owns 100 aeri"<, :!0
iiiiii" uplnn<l, 70 dvio' land.' His wheat, ho stated, avtra^es 20 biish-ls per acre ; oats, .10 ;
l«rl"v, none, but 40"iis.'.l to be the av(r,ii;e. I'otatoes, he had 8 acres, which produced '2,0')')
bushel's, which he was ^h;ppinu ; this -iv.s o.-,o bushels i)er acre. , , ,
He staled that he iiev. r succee.Kd with turnips ..n his land ; they worked too much to leaf
luid stem with him. 'I'liev, howev. r, do v,rv well with a neighbour who, on the other hand,
(■oiild not raise mangels, whil-t .u his land he can raise 1,000 Inishels per acre without trouble.
( (f sugar beet, he stated that he raised 200 biislwls last year; but s\i!,w beet was more dilli-
lult to cidtivKto than eitlier mangels or turnii>s. Indian corn did fair— 25 to 80 busliels per
iicrc*
In that province they manure thi^ ground for pot.atoes, spreading it on ; also numure the
iMrniii i^round, and sow it in drills. He kei)t 10 cows last summer, and raised tlu! calves. This
huninier only kept (5 cows, filled up the vacancy with oxen. He is under the impression that it
is more profitable to feed than to breed. He says the dyke lanil will produce 2 tons hay on an
nvera"o per acre. The upland, by undcr-drnining and nianui-ing, will produce ;t and even some-
f imes'j tons per acre, but tlie dyke land will take care of its'df. It has been cr.ippe<l continuously
for l.'iO ve.ars. A Unhand horse, about 1,000 lb., would be worth liJO dollars.
Next day I ciilled"upon various parties in Halifax ; amongst others. I ha'd the ploasuro of an
interview with Mr. ( Jossip, the president of the tieidogical .Society of Nova Hcotia. Having a day
t.i spare, I visited the east side of the peninsula, for the purpose of )assing through a portion of
the milling country. On the train, I met the Jfon. Mr. Ibdmes, and also the Hon. iMr. P.ipe,
Minister of Marine, Ottawa. 1 received much information fnini the former as to the geidogy of
Nuva .Scotia, and from the latter an invitation to visit rriiiet^ Edward Island. I was very sorry
that I could not do so, as I have rca.son to know that the island would have richly repaid
the visit. In common with Nova Scotia that island has a mud in the beds of rivers, whieh
is a great fertiliser. It consists of oyster-shells, animal ntinains,' and lUtirU of soil washed
down by the rivers. This, when applied to tlie land, enriches it so much that it cannot ba
Biirpassed in the Dominion. . , „ . , , ,. ,. l\. a ,.
At the Montreal Kxhibition, Prince Edward Island toi.k the first prize for white oats, the hist
for black o.ats, the second for spring wheat, and the second for barley. It also carried the
fii-st prize for dr.-iught-horses, and the' second prize for sliorthoins. _ , . . .. »
i come now to the peculiar excellencies of the peninsula of Nova Seotia, and that is, its vast
resources in minerals. The minerals generally belong to the (iovcrnment. but they are leased
to parties desirous of entering into nulling operations, and every f.acility is alb-rded to prospectors
Particulars can be had on application. The coal of Nova .Scotia is bituminous, and consists of
cokinu, cherry, and cannel coal. A v.ast coal-field, extending seaward under the Atlantic, occurs
in Cape Breton ; the Sydney coal-field is f.-vmous, and has been found valuable for steam ca
■iml for gas; the Inver'ni'sscoaMield is likewise well-known, and, froio analysis made, would
cemmamfa re.ady market if suitable facilities for shipping it were provided ; the Pictou con 1-
field south of New tilas-.nv, whieh pl.ace I visited, has an area of thirty-five nules, in which the
bells are uncommonlv huge. It is very favouraldy spoken of by the manager of the Kichelicu and
t)nt.ario Steam Navigation romp.inv,who con-idors it eipial to Seoteh. It is used on the Inter-
c .louial liailway. The Allan Line steamers also use it. The Cumlurlaml coal is much u.scd in
t\t .Tiihns New Brunswick. In one mine the vein is t;i-ht feet thick. SpringhiU is extensively
worked. ' Between Cape Breton and Nova Scotia there are coal-beds which cover an area of Obj
"'"'in ."ddilion to coal, there is -old, wliich is to be found along the Atlantic cnast from Canso to
Yarmouth. It occurs, as is stated in the lodes, ' in spots of every shape and size, up to CO-ounco
,niL"'etH.' In this province the deposits are f.uind at Wavcrlcy fifty feet deep. The following are
the districts in which gold is known to exist: Caribou, Moose I?iver, Fifteen -mile Streain, bays
Kiver, Laurcncetown, ^lontagu, Waverley, Oldham, Sherbiookc Isaac s Harbour, Wine Hartour,
Tan^rier, etc., etc. For full information, see work by Mr. hdwin Gilpin, jun., A..\l., *•«•»•■
on 'The l^Iines and Mineral Lands of Nova Scotia.' Amongst the information m tliat excellent
work will be seen a return per man from the various districts, the highest being the JMontagu,
G dollars and 13 cents per day ; next to it Oldham, 5 dollars and 41 cents per day. _
There is also iron to bo found in the province of great value ; Londonderry is a well-known
miniii.' locility, and the iron here is believed to be superior to the best I'.nglish iron Iron on s
are also found at Pi«tuu. Iron U fouuU nil the way from the Uut of Causo to \ armouUi. (^opper
Mr. Iftiiih MclMtii's /{.•jod.
40
V II, w I'i K Pr .luc.,1 l.v other ....an.. Tlun. aio nl~o ..It h,., i.,^s a,„l n.n.jn.l wat-r. f.n ^
, K-n it.. lla«., slat.;, .lav, li.n. >lon.., ,.,a.l,U,, an,l M.dmal .•< .i„.,U ; ...• .lay fo.' bnck« a „
tii.r; yrimUm.c; .nilUl,,n...s'i a. well oh nmclhN nt... vMn^^uvm hIo.u, ju^l-er, alul .-l.l-, and
iielii,ti',ipu IT l,lo,"l-sloiif.
In c„m.h.sio„,tlu.- r.,.NiMCc. of Mauitol,;i an,, mis to liav.. a mop. f.rtil.' soli tl'nn any one .,f
till- ol.l,... provincos. In ,,.„.l,.ctiv..n,.ss it lanUs lir>t ni .. ^l...ot o w li, at, <,al-, ami voUto.. , 1,m
If,, ,1 that oontinuoUH croM.in., of wlaat is .va-ici,.. tl„; lan.l. Tm n>iH an.l ....•|..l wu./.-l
i„ Zct in.'lv w.ll. The a •'.»".., tak-n from Ih.. invcclin- not, s aiv «h..at, .W, l.nshoU 1» ,
or o t n^', l'ot:a.,.s av. ,4. -;i l„..h.ls ,„.. acr... As thr ,,>„^in... at J.vsent con-.u,.;
« its vh..at, tlu, VvUrM .,\,tain..l a.o as yoo-l as those in Onlano ; lu\ when wh.at im oxi.o.t, .,
?1 .r^ 1 a relalivolv hnvei-. Tl,.. ca.nt.v is .nital.l.. Tt eattU. ...i.in.,'. 'inM..,h.v l.av an!
1 t-mii.. 'r ss n .1^ p I crops ; u.l tlov.r h,.. 1h-.> tri-l, but will not >tan,l th.: wmt, ,.
' " '"an .c.^.!l tai/u'.Ulon.^ the I.mIus of th.. .ivus, an,l w 1 lots are as.i,n...,l to -ttlers ; ,u.
nnle.s coal <,. other niat.^rial is Hnl,stitut..l, woo.l ;,'r„uin;; n.ust he very extensively resorted (■,
t. .M.nUth., 8cti:..:s with fn..l. The clin.ate of Atanitol.a is healthy-thc .ur dry. dear an,l
invi"„'ain.,'. J-ana cmi easily bo protect, d fr.Mn prairie tires, which are not nnfrciuent n,
^'' S't?. Manitoba, the provin-'o of Ontario has the 1*st cereal cr,,,,s Wh, at in the .listrl, t
v!sie.l bv .no avera:;e,l 'j' bnsh.ls per ace; oats 4S ; barley r,., J'olalo.s a,., not nm. .
ftrown, except for hon.e eonMtn.plion. In.lian ..orn .lo,..s v.ry vy.ll !• rn.ts m-.' ..xex.l ■ nt 11 ;■
cli.nato is p.ocl. There me many in.lnslries in the towns, prnu'ipally e.,nn,.,.te,l with ayneu,
*"'ls-ext in o.-.ler cn,n..H Snssov Valhy, Xew I'.iun.uiok. -NVh.at pro.lncos on an avei-ajjo 2.!
bushels, i,,..l .,ats 4S bnshels j.er ..,■,•,.. Xew Jiru.iswiel; has a lat.r .,,.,..,; and 'Y." '.[.''f'^;:,'.";-^ ;
a...l a damper din.,., than Ontario. J'otato.s, ina..ii..ls, an.l Inrn.ps tlmv.- well. Cattle full,
for the Kn!;lish market is bein- e.itere,! into. J lay la...l .s -oo.l. The b.cal n.arket for ii.o.t
iiroilnee is St. Johns. . ,,i t i . t "•:
The Kastern Townships .,f Quebec pi-odue.. wh, at av.r.i-mcr '^ biisli... s p<v .acre , .Mts. -w
biirlev, ;iS.'i. The townships are -oo,l ^;ia/.in- lands, an,l ...attle fced.n^ is b,_.iny ^'ono into.
1.\ Nova Sootia wheat avera-.s ■>■> bushds per acre ; ..ats, 2,'. ; barley, 2:J. Jthas excced.nglv
rich.lvkci mr.,sli.l«n.l», the river bearing .lown a mineral deposit, an.l the ti.les cany.nK U],
vegetable and aiii.nal particles, which together for.u a mu, that cannot bo mirpa-se.l as manur.
f..rLTass-la.ids. Nova Scotia consume.* all its .,wn cereal produce. Its winter is l.,nyer t i..i.
Ontario, but ve.^etati.m is very rapi.l when the heat of the ...numer comes on. Cattle feedln^
for the English market is exteii.sively ^oue into. It can y.e w.t i Ontario for its api-les, pears
plums, nndyrapes. Its in.lustries are Hshing, inininy, sh.p-buiMing, hiu.bering, commerce, and
'""TiSrthold.Ier provinces, that is in Ont;ui,>, Eastern T.iwnship^ of Quebec, Nova Scotia,
,ind New ]'.ninswick, there a:,, miuiy fanns f,u. sale. ,., „ ... ,... , ,.
The houses in Sussex Vallev, in New l!run^wick, ami in the Coriiwalbs, AVuids,.r. and An_
li.^polis .Ustricts of Nova Scotia, a.e ve.-y niedy -ot up, an,l in jj:eneval are better than the nin ot
Ontario houses, though in some t,,wnships and mar towns these also are very !,n,o.l.
'J'ho i.rice .,.■ land <,t curse varies very much, acco.-.ling to its .piality an.l the houses erectcl
Tinon it ; but with a yo,,.l awellinKd.,,use ,n the farm au,l the rcpiisite siabl,,., barn, etc. a farm
of 100 acres could be ea;ilv pui-dms,;,! I't -10 .lollars per ac'e, aii.l sometimes at less. In Nova
Sotia marsh-land sdls very liit,d>-ab,,.it 100 dollars, or. a2 per acre^
One can jud-e from the prece.lin.M- ,...ceouut which i,r,,vince he woiihl seb-ct if he were .lispnsei
to emigrate Manitoba is far .listaiit. The lan.ls next the railway at the \V mi.ipeg end are all
taken up, but c.mld be bought high fr.,m their l.olde..s. Kmi-rauts rcpu.'e t.. )^n back into the
country to secure tho fr.)e-giant lands, but the immediate extensi,.i. o. the 1 acii.c Ka.hvay,
whidi IS now un.ler cntract, will si.eedily ojK-n uj) the vast area of prairie laii.l between Manit.iba
uii.l tho Ilocky Mountains, ft distance of Ji<it loss than 900 miles. . ^, ^ ^u
My idea is that Canadians are better fitted f.'r prairie life than wc arc ; and pecmg that they
are not ve y far distant fr'-.m Manitoba, families could ovcrcomo, without nearly so much in-
convenience or cNpense, the difficulties which distances throw in the way of British fanners. I
met an ol.l Canadian, ISIr. Kutherf..rd from Oxford Co., Ontario, who was all over the Province
. oJ Manitoba luokins f<3r laud, lie bought au improved farm west of Calf jSIountain. I'erabma
live ku'iwntii lio hi 1.1
lu latter liirj,'i' ile|Mi-il
Scift t'Vli'iiiii. iiH stall' I.
ilh liuic wlirii ' lit. ■! ill
miiiiiirc, aiiil fm- i>la.l' .
;o Murk.
Ocliic "( nil' fiiuiiil ■<''
iiiililiciUioiiH I'f rud 111! 1
il iiiiiiiial watcirt, fii'i
till' day fill' laickrt aii'l
jiisjiei, ami I'lial-', Uli'l
iilo XI '11 tlinii any one i.f
(lat-i, anil )'Mtnti.N,H ; Imt
\\iH anil u ii'iKil wurz-l
ulirat, iiO), hiiwIioU 1» I
ici' at incKunt cnn mic-
vliun xvliiat in uximrtrl
n','. Tiniotliy liay an!
,11 nut ,-taiiil tln^ wintn.
i^iyni.'il to Hcttk'i'.i ; Imt
'.• extensively resoited t^
— the air dry, clear, an.i
are nut nnfreiiuent in
Wlnat in the di^^triit
J'olaliM.-i are nut nineli
nit.-i are exeellent. 'I'ln'
Ciinnei'ted with ayrieiil
idiicoH iin an avcrajjo 2i!
■in^' and a later harvest,
ve well. C.ittlo fuedili,'
1 liieal niarkot for nio.-t
ii.'ls per aeru ; oats, ."7
s liidiiy t,'niwj into.
, 'I'j. It has exceedingly
id the tides carryini,' np
lie mirpavsed aa iiiainir'-
,.s winter is longer tli;'.ii
lines on. C.'ittlo feedin^
rii) for its api'les, pears,
iiibering, uouiniercu, and
of Quel>oc, Nova Scotia,
ivallis, Windsor, and An
re better tlnui the nin of
•ery j^ood.
:y and the houses erected
.scat lie, liarn, etc., a farm
letinies at less. In Nova
select if he were disposed
the Winnipeg end are all
uire to ^o back into the
of the I'aciiic Kaihvay,
c land between Manitoba
irc ; and seeing that they
boat nearly so nnich in-
xy of British fanners. I
ivas all over the Province
Calf Mountain, Perabiua
2/r. Ili'[ili Mif.'i'ii'H I'r/'iirl.
•n
T; lO'e roiisistiii!? of :i20 ncre^ for 2,1)1)0 dnljars, iiiebidiii,' 'JO nens ,,f »v..,, 1 with biiildinus. llu
|,„ru'il tbalaf . Mvlleiit in.pwas on lb- u'omid. Me pn fern d puyilic; the Hbove price to
lepi
iiieinriif tlie ■irat . xpetie al'id labmir of .1 till},' biiildiii-s and fi mis, and the inennvenielicu
and exiiense that wmild ..tberwiHe be attached to his setlliiiK' on iiiioeeiipi'd land. If Mr.
1! itlierfoid found this to be advisable in his ea.'e-and ho was a man lit tn juil^;e— I think iviiy
l„'ison di -irons of emi'iatin- hIiouM eniiHider well, whether, if he can albird it. it iniRht not U
Ilisiiabli! for him to ^ivo a liiKher price in the lower and niniilime proviiieeH for a ready -inado
farm, where he nii-ht have all the Hoeial cuiifort* of life ipiite within hiH reach, than proccid
"'.Maiiv Canadian funnels are burdened with iiiortf;ai,'.s on their faniis, and they are anxious
ti. be reli. Md of the e faniis, and to start lif- afiedi in .Manitoba, where they can Kct their sons
aii.und them, and bo aft.rwards provided for. Tliese men are accustolmd t;. roUhdi it, an.
laiovvhow to use till Ir axes in inetin- lo- huu.es, etc., and they tlurefoie ale eminently .piallfieU
for life ill Maiiitolia. .,.,,, , i \ ,i, i
AstoHeho.ilsund.huiehes, th.'Dnnini.in 1 1 as hi-ldy fav.mred as we are ourselves. A hcIio.iI-
tax is iiaid, but no b . -. . , , i i -n
Medical piactitiniiers can .very where be had in the l.e.ver provinces, and by-and-by will
spread thi ins. Ivi's iiver .Manitolia. <-, ^ . a i. w u i i,
T retnnie.lfrum Halifax by the .Ulan st.iamship //limimH, Captain Archer, ^\ehall he.ivy
we.ither, biithad a a I ship and a g 1 eomimvnder ; and altlioiiKh ourpa,ssa-e was protracted,
we passed a very pi. asant time, arriving' at Liverpool .m the "iiOth October.
\fterthe report had been read, a number of Rentlemcn sat down to tinner iii tho Argyle
.\.ms Hotel, 1). Mcdiblion, V.n^i, presiding'. Tlie usual loyal toa.sts having been duly honoured.
Provost (5ieenlees said it had fallen upon hiin to propose the toast of the evening. Ho
did not know for what reason, but he suiipose.l it -.vs becanso he w^as a very old friend of his
All must admit that Mr. McLean had done his • .ty faithfully. \Vheii they considered that
he had kept them for two hours and three-.iuartrrs listeniiit; > ■ the account of Ins experiences
in that CO intry to which he b.a.l been seat, they w.nild aekm.u leil«e that ho was a man of no
,lii ary ability. In seeking a representative to send from this .listrict the fanners could not
have K'.t abetter nian. He c.nild fancy Mr. McLean going about everywhere with his note-
book iin.ler his arm. He did not give them tho idea« of ono man only, but he compared various
opinions with his own, and th.'U arrived at the result, and he wa,s certain that ^ '^^'''O' "l''"""" ho
gave ho was thoroughly honest. He a.sked them all to join m drinking long hf- an.l health to
ilr. Mclicaii.
Tho toast, was ilrunk with enthusia.sin.
Mr. McLean maile a suitable reply, and, ftftor other toasts, tho company aep.uated.
REPOirr OF M]^. GEOPvGE CUliTlS,
Wjiihi'lif Si/)'diii, Yorloihire.
' Cn.WFK fiaiiicrs nro pretty well ncipiainttil with the circumstances which led to tlio a]i])(P!nlmiint
of Mr. G. OurtiM &a their dulogate to Canada to report on the Buitability of that country as a
field for the emigration of Craven farmers. SulKco it now, therefore, to say that five mont.'is
a^'o, on the invitation of the Cajiauian (Jovcmnient, the fanners of this important j^razing din-
triet ii]ipointed Mr. Curtis, and he accordingly went, out to view the land, leaving the Bhorcs of
Knglaiid on bo.ard the Allan Lino steamer isuiniatian ahout the middle of July. He remained
in Canada a little short of three months, confining his obi^ervations chiefly to the Province of
Ontario, covering in thr.t period a tract of country about 700 niileB long by 300 miles broad.
Becoutly Mr. Curtis returned home, and last Monday met a large gathering if the Craven
farmers at the Assembly l^oom' adjoining the Black Horse Hotel, Skipton (Mr. John Throup).
It being the fortnighiiy catth -fair day, the room was crowded. On the jnotion of Mr. H.
Holden (Halton Kast), seconded by Mr. W. H. Davis (Oargrave), Mr. A. Itojs was called to the
chair. Amongst 'hose present were Mr. Grahame, of Glasgow, Canadian Governmer". agent ;
Mr. (Jomorsall, Oticrbiu'n ; and Mr. Slmttloworth, representative of the fetateof Iowa, U.H.A.
'The Chairman, in o])ening the proceedings, said that five months ago many of those pre.ieut
as.sendded in that room to select one out (jf thr-.^ gentlemen nominated at a previous meeting to
proceed to Canada, at the invi'ation of the Can.adian Government, as a delcg.ite from the Craven
farmers. Mr. Curtis was selected, and to-day they had met together again to hear Mr. Curtis's
report on Canr Jp a.s a field for emigration. Doubts had been expressed as to whether they had
done right in '^electing a gentleman who liad passed the mc-ridian of life for so arduous a task.
]jut in looking at Mr. Curtis now, and at the voluminous report which he had laid on the table,
he was sure the issue had confirmed the wisdom of their choice ; and ho was glad to see that,
mentally as well as i)hysically, ^Ir. Curtis had taken no harm by his sojourn in the Western
Hemisphere.' — (.'ravin Pkitcci; No\ ember 20, 1880.
Mr. Curtis, who received a very hearty welcome fr ^m his brother-farmers, then formally
presented his report, which was a long and exhaustive one, and ably written throughout. He
said :
X proceed to give an account of my Ht"wardBhip, by submitting to you a report of the mission
with which you entru; t^d me a few months ago. I went to J<iveriiool on the 21st of July last,
and there met with Messrs. Sagar, Imrie, and Broderick, U ilow-dclogatcs. On the foUowirg
day we sailed in the Stirmatian, a vessel of admirable build and noble proportions, fnder llio
eilieient command of Captain Aird (an appropriate name i ;r an Airdale fanner to sail under).
This vessel is one of the splendid line of steamers owned by Messrs. Allan Brother';. We had
a large number of emigrants and other passengers on board. >Ve called at Moville (Ireland) for
the mails, and th' n steamed away across tlie Atlantic without let or hindrance until the 2Sth,
when we were enveloped in a dense fog. The weather became very cold, and we were close to
a number of icebergs. The fog-horn was repeatedly sounded, but va that had nn effect upon
those mountains of ice, our speed was slackened and the engines finally stopped, to avoid a col-
lision with one of t!"" e ' cool customers.' On the 29th we passed through the straits of Bello
Isle into the Gulf, and as we steamed into the liiver St. Lawrence the weather vccs delightful.
The shore on our left, near which we sailed, appeared rocky, but well timbered. Batches of
wood are cleared in some place.', and u]M)n these clearings are erected houses inhabited by
i'shermen. They are painted white, and have the effect of brightening up an otherwise sombro
scene. There is also a fine view of the Laiu-ntJan Hills, which stretch away as far as the eyo
can reach. Some miles before reaching C^uebei , on the right-hand side of the river, we obtain
a pretty view of Montmorency Waterfalls.
Wo arrived at (Juebec on the afternnow of the 31st, where we remained until the Monday
morning, the 2nd of August, and then left for Ottawa, the capital of the Dominic- In a consul-
tation thers OS to our futiun movements, it was thought unadvisable for all tr travel over the
4!)
i-ciill thill'. .<i:.'lil,v
JUTIS,
vhich led to tlin ai>i>(i!nltii.-!nt
ability of tlmt coiuitry as a
ore, to say that five jnont.'is
tliis important t;ra?.iiig diu-
3 land, leaving the shores of
Idle of July. He remained
ns chiefly to the Province of
:8 long by 300 niileg broad.
;e gathering if the Craven
Ikipton (Mr. John Throup).
On the motion of Mr. H.
Ir. A. KojH was called to the
madian Oovernmer» agent ;
: the ibtate of Iowa, U.S.A.
8 ago many of those present
ited at a previous nuoting to
LS a delegate from the Craven
er again to hear Mr. Curtia's
issed as to whether they had
if life for BO ard\ions a task,
lich he had laid on the table,
nd he was glad to see that,
his sojourn in the Western
ithcrfamiera, then formally
jly written throughout. Ho
to you a report of the mission
lool on the 21st of July last,
lelcgates. On the foUowirg
noble proportions, vnder t he
Airdale faimer to sail undrr).
irs. Allan Brothcr-^^. We had
ailed .it IMoville (Ireland) for
or hindrance until the 2Sth,
;rv colli, and we were close to
(is that had r.o -iffect upon
inally stopped, to avoid a col-
d through the straits of Bello
the weather wad delightful,
t well timbered. Patches of
erected houses inhabited by
ening up an otherwise sombre
stretch aw.ay as far as the eye
id side of the river, we obtain
re remained until the Monday
af the Dominic . v In a consul-
sable for all ti travel over the
Mr. (Jiovijc. CaiiU's Hcjort.
-'- «-nuUud with a ^ie. -Xii';:::^'^eXvb,::'!:f in:itr and M. ^.^. and I
IV'T fnntSV W^t.^^'Sd o e^^ section ..f country together but there wei^
q^lS-lnw^^^ ^ate.^^1^^^
mmmmmmB
existing ones were not thought of " ^^?'' *" ' " ^^„^'^, „,,^ ,,„,„„ f'anadians receive a military
the country. It is now the seat of a '>"';^''>^.V c"l^,« .Trvt ul'ice we arrived at is Belleville (the
LkI we are at Port Hope, where there are some hue farms --^'^ y";f/~th place apF^i-^ t^'
of Mr Wiimot The brother of the above-named gentleman kindly explamed to n.e the.ntercst-
'"TS^ntol^Sw; arrive at Whitby. The land tl^ongh^he i^;^;^ ^^i^J^J;;^:^
l)a4 gton, and Whitby is excellent. I saw many farms n. good c". 'o ' i^'T'^'^^., i^^^^l,.
were good, 'and the cattle and sheen were of a «"l'e";>rc)laHs -^"l-- '"y ^ '^^^f „ J ''^^■a, ,„„ ,,, •
to be the favourites. The price of land vanes from £o to AlO per aci ., ana
rented from 4s. to 16s. per acre. -Dominion, and capital of
50
Mr. Off>i*>jc Curtis' s Pepori
at lii»t fii.'ht of boiu- a tl.vlvii.g and i,..pulou« place. On our anival I was introduced to tiio
Liuutcn rrGove -nor, the Hon. J. 15. l{obi.,s,.n, ami to the Mayor (Mr. Kcatty). who acaMnpaniod
us in a tour through the eity, Houses of Parli;Uuont, collej^es, imrks, and the van.m,s,mhho p ace .
It "Really a heautiful city. Its streets are laid out at right ang es one o which, \ ouge Street
I was inf.nmed, extended into the country for si.xty n.ile,. as straight as a lino, excepting for one
flight bend about thirty miles out of the city. , . , ^ . ., i:.,t„„t „t u,.„„f,.
The first firm I vis ted in the neighbourhood was about twenty-six uiile.s distant, at Bioiite,
.m th road t Hainil on, with Mr. Btecchon. a gentleman from Wilt.shires Kngland, who was in
a tS t'Tr he purchase: The farm l,elo„gs to Mr White, of Milton. Itcons.sts of S acres
in capital condition, with new buiMiugs replete with every modern convenience. Iliere is also
a neat 4i,lence built of conc.vte, in a nice situation. There is plenty of water an I mos to the
hud is cleaved of stump.-, which have been s,. arranged as to form a substantial fence round the
arm Al It e crops h.ad been i-aped and harvested except thirty acres of oats, winch were then
k". cut These oats, I was informed, were sown on the 10th May, and my visit was on the
litirvu'ust There was a field of swede turnips, aln.ust the best I have ever seen. They were
sownonUie 10th dune. Twen.y-four acres of orchard are also attached to the farm lh„
cnu« of hay and corn were abundant. The price asked for this estate, including buddings, is
'''"iMiei! JJImtoiVio Hamilton, a place after the same stylo as Toronto situated O" one of the
bavs of Lake Outario. There I conversed with several of the farmers, who appeared to be h.yn y
and contented, health and satisfaction appearing on every counteiu.nce. . ^ "'^^ P="^ ,* J"'' '''
the vinery of Mr. H.-skins, the city engineer. This vi.jery is twelve acres in extent and gave an
excellent yield. It ferms a part of the holding of Mr. T. Barnes whose farm is m "Of »«"* con-
dition. He has grown a crop of wheat on the same ground for four years in succesuon, and s
preparing it f.,r the fifth. He informed me that he had never had leas than forty-fivo bushels
per acre, but he makes a very liberal application of manure ev'sry year. Ho has also a large
apple orchard, and the fruit was being gathered while I w-as there.
• I next went to Burlington with ^Ir. Kurd to inspect his farm and nursery, which are charactei -
ised by fertility, neatness, and order. His crops wei-e really excellent, and the buildings in good
"" Oil our wav back to Hamilton we passed through a good farming district. Most of th» land
was cIo;u-e.l and under cultivation, and appeared to be fairly well fanned. Improved farms can
be had iii this district at from ilS to £16 per acre,
SUCCESSl'UD EMUiUAXia.
While at Hainilt,)ii we took an opportunity of going to Brantford (where we were introduced
to the mayor, Dr. Heliwood) to insptct the famous herd of shorthorns, founded by the late Hon.
Geor.'e Brown, senator. W.; were shown over the farm by Mr. Hope, the manager, and sa>», I
suppose, the finest herd of cattle in the world. The farm is managed on the most approved
nriiicinles. The crops of mangels and swedes were excellent, also the Indian corn, which is
used as green fodder. The farm is now owned by a joint-stock company, and includes among
its shareholders some of the best agriculturists of this country. Sales are held periodically at
various places in the United States and Canada, and the cattle are in great demand. When at
Brantford, I saw Mr. Burrell (a hab) and active man of seventy-two years), who came to Oanada
from Bardncy, Lincolnshire, in ISaO. He had no capital then, but by hard work and thrift he
jicnuired sulhcient money to buy three fanus. He now lives on his means, his sons workin" the
fanns. This is but one of many similar cases I came across during my travels. We went froin
Brantford towards Paris, and looked over several large farms, amongst othera that of Mr. L,uck,
who arrived in this country twenty-three years ago, from Kent, England, ^vlth a capital of Adl
10s He now owns a farm of 200 acres, nearly all paid for. The soil is a sandy loam. Iho
clover upon wlicat stubbles was sometliing marvellous ; it was from a foot to eigh een nclies in
length, in full bloom, and inescnted the appearance of a regular clover field.
We drove back from Brantford through Mount rieasant, calling at farms on the way.
There were some well cultivated lands in this section of the country, which haa been longer
settled than many other parts I have visited. We passed an orphanage supported by ....rs. Lay-
cock and her brother, Mr. Coekshott, from Colne, in England. While m Brantford, I wivs the
jniest of Mr. I'lewis, who is a genial, intelligent and hospitable gentleman. He is a Yorkshire-
man, fn.m Hornsea, near Hull. He is doing a large business as a milL-r. The price of wheat in
Brantford was -JO cents to 05 cents per bushel. I noticed that a roof v.o ' being put on a nyw
citton factory at Biiiutford, which has been erected by Mr. Slater, late of Barnolduwickin-
Craven. Tlure scouis to be a fine prospect for that business in Canada. _
rroin Brantford I made my way to London. Kit route I noticed the same prodigious crops ot
fruit as I had seen in Wentworth and Brant. Mr. lliley gave mo an apple tha* measured 14 mches
one wav and 13 the otlicr. While in London, I mot M'. llich, who was from Carlton-on-Trent.
Wc Weic ' raisc'V 'W "U'' CiWKoli.iu cousins would pay, within a fe\\ miles of c.ich other. He IS
Mr. Otor<r CurtrVf Rr/'ort.
51
introduced to the
who iiccompaniod
riim.simhlio places.
ich, Yiiiige Streut,
excepting for one
liiitant, at Bronte,
glivnd, who was in
n^ists of 415 acres
CO. There is also
;r, an I most of the
x\ fence round the
s, which were then
y visit was on the
seen. They were
the (mux. Tht!
iding buildings, U
ated on one of the
peared to bo hai)i)y
ilso paid a viait to
ixteiit and gave an
is in excellent con-
succession, and is
1 forty-fiva bushels
lo has also a large
hich are charactoi-
i buildings in good
Most of th» land
nproved farms can
ve Were introduced
d by the late Hon.
anagcr, and 8a>«, I
the most approved
lian corn, which in
md includes among
held periodically at
lemand. When at
lo came to Canada
work and thrift he
is sons working the
lis. We went from
s that of Mr. Luck,
h a capital of X'il
L sandy loam. Tho
) eigh een nches in
farms on tho way.
ich has been longer
wrted by Mrs. Lay-
rantford, I was the
He is a Yorkshire-
he price of wheat in
aing put on a new
of IJarnoldawickin-
! prodigious crops of
; measured 14 inches
a Carlton-on-Trent.
each other. He is
doingalargo business in grain,andha.madehis„K^cyl^^^^
Sat but is now a wealthy man. ^hc c.ty itself .a m^^ ._^ ^^^ ^ , „f Kngland. and
bridges, parks, and principal stree » a>-f "'^"V^f »"" ""'J^'J'J,,,.,!..;.., .,f the city are very pretty.
the/eve^n possess a newspaper called ho {: «• Jjt;'J[i~ Uu of the prosperity of the people
and the substantial residences and "''■"■^f j!* .t'"''; ^.^j^ {^ i« „tuated in the county of Kent
I visited the estate of Mr. Wm. Karnes, which is J^T^^'^j.^^^ottawa city. 434 acres are m one
and Plantagenet, on the Ottawa nver f.''''l^^'^fZSt\^o rest being in timber. Fifteen
block and 150 acres <letached. of which, Oacies are clea ca ^^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^ ^^^ London .s a rich
dollars per acre is the price asked f°';*''°.P/"Pf';>„„k,t -ardener would get on well "» t^'^ P^^*-
loam. I should think from my ^^1^"™*=';* f* " '""ii^,^ lloniul London is a very h"" f'^''"^-
The land is good, and the grmrth -^--^^l K,*; to this time, visited. Land -n.ld be^^
^.S^HZ ^IZ. S;tr[^\?iiiWb«ndings. .rain was selling at 00 ...s
^-illSing London I made for ^iivc^o. ...re h.nd of v., ... ,.naUt.^I --^^^^^ :
K\^:r S~? -- V:S d2!r in pHcc, L the .il m the county of Ken .
generally c,,ual to that in M5'1J1««^':-.. , .^^^ ,„ ^y,^ p^t.-oit Eivcr, and called to see the stud of
We then drove through a ferUle but na.nerem J ^^^^^ ^^ land, but it
characteristics as that of Maldon. ... _.. , .i,„ ...„»,U w..ro not
. 1 1,.. TTnKv/\w T.hn
LANP3.
I next went through a fine district «>-S «- «h- "'if fa™ l^^fthoSoX'
but much ovemm with ragwc.d »^\™f ' '1' fX„ this summer; but the land is of a dry.
jSaS the unusual quantity, of ";*•» £ j^ Jt/.S^f, nd i.l keepiig it clean. It is reaUy a
ber t ml S 1^7-^= to" ^o^^" oCch thistle and weed-the most expensive of al
5000 acres of cultivated land and about 8000 acics in ^^ ^ a^ ^^^.^ ^.^^^.j^^ ^^^^ ood.
ward to the villages of Cottam and Essex Centre J^e \ana tn fe ^.^-^^^^ ^^a would, I
1 uibX farmed It seems capable of P/°ducing ..n> hu.., m uurb ^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^ j^^^
SnSver? profitable if in the hands of "^^f^f^ ^^X^V^^^nfmanager of a considerable saw-
Kthews, laU agent, and Mr. ^^^n JJ' bj^^f;, ^ £) t.> belargely exportecl, -"d w"V PJ['J»
TniW and sash ond door factory, which articles are '"^^'^ ". ?^ -rpi,ey t ' 1 me they had land
"mKlrt for many carpenters.and i^^-^^'^^^t^^^^-.^rd ^ .oh thevalue of the
I fhiB locality, on ^jhich timber >« S™ -nj^ thjt they c^ ^^^^^ ^^^^,_^^. i^^, „j ^,,,, depth .
Umber would more than cover. Iht sou " "' ^jging reaped.
nsc of salt as a fertiliser, with ver.v good »'^»"''' '" ";'',,f,^ ^i^\^^ „ot, at the time of our visit,
Sfi-SL-^fSSdriuS-:Sonrobtainedldonarabushe,wl^
'^ Tii^irJLed Colonel Desmond, .^ ... ^^S'Sut ^^^^1:^^:0^ 'S.Son^" T^
and general features it is much like ^I/^C'^•f ", 'X; Vage, and was working in the fie d
l,«t(.rImub.toBl.«d. Ilinifr>.v,d.. w. niKt.Jl"'. 3_2
Ijg Mr. Gconjr C Urdu's Jiij'ort.
-a loam renting upon n grav^-lly subscil. Land at this place was «tuted t,o bs valued ut £10 an
""chatham is the next place we arrived at. We vinitod several places of iuU-rcKt in the neigh-
bnurhood, inchulinL' Mr. Taylor's woollen factory, and cxannned the cloth, which, whilo it cannot
be compared with the Knglish manufactures in p..int of finish, u yet a good production.
Kroln Chatham we went into tho country to see the land, .wd the way in which it va«
n.anastod. We c.-xlh.d at Mr. Dolson's farm, where I saw a garden laid out with grjb Ux^o
>lis ffrm ha., an area ..f nb.nit 400 acres, and is in very yood order. He was well natisticd ill.
the crops this year, and his Indian corn, which w.is then standjutf, wasHoinething in.iv.elUms---
th.- linost cn.p'l saw in Canada. It would probably yield more than CO bushels to the .,cre. Ho
h:'.d alsi) some excellent oats. .... ,, i^. i i ., ii ...v. i ,
Wo tiiVNcUcd tluoujih Borae good laud in thid dirtriot, and it is well culti\atcd on tao x.ho.o.
FACILITIES FOn TIIK CllKAl' TIlAN.StElt OF LAND.
Chatham is situated on tho River Thames, and steamers run between it and Detroit. It has
eKed^!!.r.^lway communication, and everyfacility for traiispor ing ''"V-J-ts and loan .c^
tures. The surface of tlie country around Chatham is v-ery taking to the ^'J • I' ,=^^ ^^^^^
„iu-shv but sluices or open drains have been cut through tlio land nxht to Lake J.iu,.i cti^l.u cc
llfaittldr^^n miles. '^ The soil b. th. district is not --P'^^ !;^;!>j^-^:: 'S'l;:.XS^
depth mid general fertility, but is callable of improvement.s b> furthei Uiama^L. lUc lana ut.vu
a iTenerivl reHemblauce to that of the Fen districts in Lincoliishuu. , .. t, •.„,„.
'l had .an o portunity during my .stay in Chatham, through the courtesy "f t^e I eg s rar of
in-pe'ling the' simple and clieap ..yst.ui that is adopted for the conveyance and ^^^^^-^.^^^^'^ J
in (■'■inncla \11 tlio holdinL's ill eveiy township are numbered, and tho dioils of tno s.ime .iie
k p't "t £ offi e of the Sstr^ together with accounts of all sales transfer., mortga;,.s, etc..
!^ ' ,.at tl^' itl. of any pr..perty c'an be verified without difficulty. .Jhe whoU^ exponses in con-
i-ee on with tho transfer of hand, including the lawyer's fee, very often does not exceed £1 8s.
T . a on K.s-ter to Wiugham, through the town of Clinton is of ^!^^\^^^-^^^ '^
the same remark will apply to the country for twenty miles between W.nghan. and J-ake
V mon The. is a marked thoroughness .'bout the farming in this section of the country
\ V he re the lai d is cleared of timber and stumps it is put into a cainta tilth for crops Badey
an whelt seem to be favourite crop, for some ndles around Wuigh.am. Most of the land
nm, d this neighbourhood was wild bu.sh fifteen years ago. A large f.^-l'^^^X^S, '^o
erected at a cost of about £2000 sterling, whieii is very creditable to the 3000 i habitants of
he phce. Tlie school-rate amounts to more than .medial of tl.o entire ra^tes but these are lov-
..nd^ mc does not hear any complaints. The price of land is a,bout 40 dollars an acre for
partiallj cleared land. I may say that the woodland is reg..rded equaUy as valuable as the
''''^t:^::^ ;' a'imlSlauufactory. The whole of the butter is taken by a Glasgow
iirni who pay 4 cents per lb. more for it than the local market prices which averse about
'0 cL-nt p^ b. The establishmeMt i. owned by the farmers of the district, who send their m.lk
i-nto the aetory daily, and are paid according to tli- .p.a.ititythey furnish and to the price he
butter realises. The^e are many manufactories of the kind in Canada. I formed a very high
opinion o^ this district, and the land is cheaper than at nonie other places I came acro.sD, aver-
"''■^^'hl^i'att-ewetstCthe'Key. Mr. Betts drove me out to the Lake Rhore, where I met some
vrain-dealers. Barley was being ipioted at GO cents per bu.hel, r.nd wheat wa» from So to
''"^ Wldle-'ln Toronto, Mr. Bennie, a seedsman of that city, kindly drove us round Scarborough
and the adjacent distriet. _.."„, n n .j„ „„ „„ !,„
We weiit to Mr. S. Beattie's farm. Mr. Be.iltie h well knoviTi all over Canada a.^ an iin-
porter and exporter of first-cla.>,s cattle. He w.ts pre.-eiit at the last Boyal Agricultural feocietv s
'l.o«- at Carli'le, and purchased s..me of the finest animals exhibited for breeding purposes. _ 1 e
had s.aue excellent root crops. In tld^ case, as in every other where special attention is paid to
til : l.ittening of cattle, there is a corresponding attention to root growing. _
We passetl several otiier farms, among which was that of Mr. Andrew Hood, the prize plough-
man. 1 was much surprised at tlie excellence of the ploughing in Canada generally. Mr. BeniMo
had some of the best crops of carr..ts and mangels that it has been my lot to see. We saw
p.uiipkins growing which were 3.5 lb. in weight, and sipiashes 150 lb. cach-llkely to be 27j lb.
before they stop ga-owing, and swede turnip.s of good size, indicating wliat can be done in fancy
f.muing. The grain crop was stowed away in the barns in excellent order. Mr Bennie in-
formed me that in seventeen years' farming hia smallest crop of barley aver.iged 38 bushels to
thi acre, and that he had one year an aver.age of 55 ; his corn was also of good ip'-ibty-. _
We next went to the farms of Mr. Thomas Hood, Mr. John Ulbson, and Mr. Hood, junr.
These farms were in oxcellent cultivation.
Mr. Gionjc Curtis s Ucj>ort.
B3
» valued ut £10 an
,t>re»t in tho neigli-
cli, whilu it caiiUDt
i'oduc!ti»ii.
y in wiiich it was
; with great taste.
well Hatisticd with
ihing lu.uvL'llous —
In to the acre. ]|o
vted oil t!ie whulo.
id Dotniit. It has
lucts mid llmmlf.^c-
i. It w.as fuiiiiurly
iikc ]''rio, a distance
of the iii'iiviiico for
-e. The Ittud bearj
)f the Kejiistrar, of
nd transfor of land
lis of tho same are
;ri-', m"rt^'a;;'-'H, etc.,
lie expensed in con-
not exceed £1 Ssi.
cellont ([uality, and
^inghani and I^ake
ion of the country.
1 for crops. Uarley
Most of the land
1 has recently been
tOOO inhabitants of
i, but these are lo\",
dollars an acre for
as valuable as the
;ftken by a Glasgow
•hioh average about
who send their milk
nd to the price the
formed a very high
I came acro.s3, avcr-
}, where I met some
eat wan from S5 to
I round Scarborough
r Canada as an iin-
gricultiiral Society's
iding purposes. 1 le
attention is paid to
nd, the prize plough-
nerally. Mr. KeuiMo
lot to see. We saw
-likely to bo 275 lb.
;an be done in fancy
er, Mr. Eennie in-
eraged 38 bushels to
Mid ijuality.
ud Mr. Hood, junr.
We continued our iournev to Mr. T^'l^'-^^^-f ^Irih^'ZiIIryl'Slr^M,:; 'rh;!!rt:;!
S„uth,lown. which had ^l^^f^J^f^'^^^^Jt^.:^ it nd.ht be cut three
trying lucerne, and speaks aN.urul;!. of it lU VM ^^^^^ ^,_,^;„^, j „„, ,
''-^e S £-U?^=^ M?Kri^rU .me hue shor.o. caUj. ^ ^ner^-
mens than .o,„e of the annuals ^^'^ ^^^'^XTs\^^.^^^ f..Uowing re.ults : K.mr-
his flock of 1-20 Cot.wuUl slieep. '?V",«;,'\f;'V llvv. r-..ld, 323 lb. ; one-vear-old, 310 lb. The
ycar.,.ld ewe, 315 lb ; three-year-oK, 32,. ^''•'Xr 1^0 acres a short uistance away. The prico
^^til v^r- f f^r^:: t^ti^'^i^^^"!^ ^^^ thi« district is of a ^ood quality
(;olle;,'e, whor. youn,^ Cana.l>aus '■^■'^^- \^ "/I '^ ^",, " ..,„v v.t.p .ycr, is .mtitled to .hare on
,f this vuluuM. institution, any iutei|aje.,oith.Mot ■ > y ^ ,„„,^.,i elnmicte.- ; (3) is
oimUtiun (1) tU^.t he is ''''^l''^^^''"'^'''^r'' J;; ' , ,.:.^?\;,a 5) that he intends to follow horti-
in go.„.l heuin, ; ( 1) i. ot fan- f "-','-'>"^,^',^ /t frJ^ t u'l and washing only being charged
cult.uc or auilculture as a profecsiui.^ la ^ ''t " V* ' , j „f ,,i, expeUKw. 1 w,.m
BOCOE.^.SKVL EM lU HANTS.
, , • t. Af.. WliHn occiuned by Mr. Tlinmns P.oak. This is a
We p.^sed on to a farm l'"l;>'^p"S \" ^ ; ^^l^X.J^..i\^^'n. cattle, .some of whi. .
p,od f.rn>, wel -''^j-'.^' ''•■;'] n'vum lie is a a ive of CUauberland, and can.e out to Cana. a
Mr. T.o:,.k lu-.s noporled ''•'''' .r--^ ;!';';, .tVumt by industry he (like scores of others I me«t w.lh
^'cvStu-^IlT ^Piud;::"^:!:!:^!' His l... amint to about 40 dollars per annum for
the liOO acres. „ . . , -o i,w r.,n„.r were nionrcr.^ in this part of the country.
ne:;::'f;rS-:a.Sb^:i;^::t He Parted with ntUe or
"" "^1. went through t^e village of C.uipbeUviHe in t''^-::S;JS^^?iri:^^4
Halton, and an.ong others I u.e Mr. J"^^" , ' '^ {V ' " he erfctlon of a stone dwelling-house and
fine piece of land ("200 .•xcrcs). lie ha.s V I 'j^^ ^^J^^"^,^;! L, ..nd in a state of excellent en ti-
subianti:.! buildings. The .m,>1 on the f'^'"" '^''\.^""^X. ,.nd was able to give us interesting
vation. Mr. A.hunsou .cttled here ;V^^^\^'- ^•y.ftownsiu He started without capital, but
inforu.ation rcsi.ecting the settlement o ^'^^ j-''^^;''^^^ ;„ .^as the first Pettier in this dis-
„„w owns a line f:,rm. Mrs. ^^"^'^l^::;^- Thr fwas not even a road from Toronto,
trict, when the '^^^^ ^"^'^J^'^^u^- Mr A lamson came out from lOngland. He
and they h.ul to find their way through the ''"'^'^, ^ ,| j f„„„j „„ f..v,,„ i„ thi* county m
i, now ^ver seventy years o ^ and H kde -^ --^ J \^^ Johnson- Harrison, of Milton.
neater trim, or mo,e prolitable '=;''^^ •\''''"';''i' fj,,,u,i,,,, i, „.,t allowed any quarters. He
Toronto and HumilLou, and the county is tiaNeu
niBE FllCM I'OVERTY TO WEALTH.
n 1 „f Hin farm of Mr Wilson, who came out from England
On arriving at Ingovsoll, we called at the fw™ of Mr ^ u , ^^^^p,^,,^ „f 3 a„iUus
with his father, in 1832. ^Vhen the>-";;\«J£ ^.^wf.irTg, n i "tier property, 1200 acres ..f
S4
Mr. O'eonjc Curti.-'s lieport.
ujion his farm, iiinl wliilo partaking of rcfrcshmont listtnied with intense interest to thia fine and
intcllifti-nt Yorksliiro emigrant of nearly fifty years ago. 1 may add that their wealth has been
obtained from agricultural ptirsnitH, and that the land does not represent all their wealth. The»e
cases speak for themselves, and show what can ho done in Canada hy hard work and thrift.
We next visited, among several otheiv, Mr. Agar, who farms 400 acres of land of good
quality. He also milks CO cows, and ninkes a large qunntity of cheese. The houses for the
cattle were undergoing extension and alteration. The stahles are well arranged, and have every
convenience. He started with a very small capital, but is now in a position of aflluenoe, which
has been obtained, as in Mr. Wilson's case, from agriculture.
We visited several cheese manufactories in this locality. They are conducted on the same
piinciplcs as the butter manufactories, described elsewhere.
An inspection of this district shows how easily and profitably the land oan bo devoted to
grazing jjui-poses. The soil is a rich loam, somewhat undulating. The brick and stone resi-
dences, with their cedar walks and neatly trimmed lawns and hedges, and the orchards, with
their golden burdens, form a picture difficult to eciual in the finest districts of the Old
Country.
I now proceed to devote a few lines to Tilsonburg, which is becoming an important place,
thanks to the energy and enterprise of its founder, Mr. Tilson. The town is in the county of
Oxford, and its valuable water inivileges have already given an impetus to the establishment of
nianufiictorics. It jwasesses a sawmill, corn, oatmeal, and pea-splitting mill, a large brewery,
and a sugar manufactory nearly reaily. A large ipiantity of beet is grown in the neighbour-
hood. A manufactory for drying fruit for exporting has also been started, and they expect to
iiao 25,000 bu.^hels of apples alone during tlii:< season.
Building materials are very cheap, \\liite bricks (very durable) cost 5 dollars per thousand ;
lime, 2 cents per bushel ; hard wood, 2 dollars ; and soft, 1 dollar per cord {4 feet square, 8 feet
long). This, taken in conjunction with* the extensive water-power available, prognosticates a
biisy future for this young town. It is also said to be probable that any new factory started
would get a subsidy, and perhaps exemption from taxes for a certain time ; so there appears to
be a good opening.
We went round Mr. Tilson's farm. The land is good and well cultivated ; the country
around is a fine fanning district, and not innjitly n.amed ' Goshen.' In driving around I came
across two namesakes, George CSu-tis ami W. Cu'.tis, who came from Lincolnshire.^ They and
another brother arrived in Canada without capital, and are now in the happy position of being
their own landlords.
The price of land around Tilsonburg and Go.9hen varies from 30 dollars to 60 dollars per acre
(£0 to £12), and, though near the town rather light, is of a capital quality.
Continuing our journey to Barrie, and having been joined by Professor Sheldon and Messrs.
Sagar and Donaldson, we paid a visit to Bradford. Some of the land wc traversed was inferior,
but about Newmarket and forward to Bradford it was of good quality. Wo were joined at
Bradford by Dr. Morton, the Keeve of the township, and drove out to Bond Head, calling at
Colonel Tyrwhit's, who owns upwards of 200 acres of land in good cultivation. He has some
good horses, cattle and sheep, and excellent root-croiis. We also visited Mr. Stoddard's farm,
the greater part of which is \mder-drained. This southern portion of Simcoe seems equal to the
best parts of Ontario. At Mr. Stoddards farm I had a conversation with one of his men, who
came from Whitby, Yorkshire. Ho had been there fifteen months, and during the first twelve
months had managed to save 100 dollai-s. His wages were 110 dollars, including board and
lodging, 80 that he had nothing but clothes to find. He is now getting 126 dollars per annum,
and hopes to save a still larger sura this year. To xisc his own words, he ' means to have a fann
of his own before long.' We then went on to Barrie, the county town of Simcoe. It is one of
the largest counties in Ontario, the dimensions being roughly 156 miles by 80, and, generally
speaking, is a fine agricultural countrj'. Barrie is very prettily situated upon a bay of Lake
Simcoe.
We left Barrie in order to make a visit to the Muskoka district, and were accompanied by a
party of gentlemen to Gravenh\u-st, where a railway is being made to connect with the Northern
Pacific. I will give you generally my impression of this district as it is attracting a good deal
of attention. Its scenery is very romantic ; indeed, it is called the Wales of Canada. It ifl
well watered. Part of the soil is good, and part is rocky. I have seen some very fine samples
of roots and gi-ain raised in the district, and think it is likely to become an important district
both for the growth of cereals and the raising of live stock. The population is increasing rapidly,
Eo I was told, and the free grants of lands are being availed of. On returning to Barrie, ve
called on Mr. Bridges, who is a breeder of Hereford cattle. He owns a large amount of land —
about 1800 acres, 1 think. He has a farm of cleared land, and is clearing about eighty acres
every year. He told me that a good deal of the land has cost him nothing, the timber having
realised mure than the price of the land. Most of the farms in the district present similar
features to that of Mr. Bridges', though to a more limited extent.
Before leaving Canada I had an opportunity of visiting the agricultural show at Hamilton,
It comprised many of the same features that I observed at the Toronto Exhibition ; indoed.
(jenvfie ChAIhs IhpDif.
nr.
thin fine and
calth has been
ircalth. These
nd thrift.
F land of good
houHeK for the
ind have every
Ilueuce, which
on the same
, bo devoted to
and stone resi-
nrcharda, with
til of the Old
iportant place,
1 the county of
tablishment of
large brewery,
the neighbour-
they expect to
per thousand ;
; square, 8 feet
rognosticates a
Factory started
lerc appears to
; the country
around I came
re. They and
laition of being
lollars per acre
)n and Messrs.
•d was inferior,
vere joined at
[cad, calling at
He has some
;oddard'8 farm,
lis equal to the
: his men, who
lie first twelve
ling board and
rs per annum,
to have a farm
>. It is one of
and, generaUy
a bay of Lake
ompanied by a
I the Northern
ig a good deal
Canada. It in
ry fine samplcn
lortant district
reasing rapidly,
J to Barrie, ve
ount of land —
Lit eighty acres
timber having
present similar
' at Hamilton,
aition ; indeed.
,.,.v of ti. ..aUlo ,u,d „>.,. of the .eu.aj ^l^^^^^^^;^ T^^J^^^
Hhown at 'I'ovonto. but c.tf.us ----''^'.V' ^Z , ' , .Icl.l. Tho u.uchinery. har.lwave, an. c.r
rather extou-lcMl, c<.vmin,- b< th tho ''^'"^ " ' ' c.^^Uod Toronto if anything ' which •* "'^ J'
V a,.cH were v.ry K-L "'"> I'"/ """^^' f * A v a .dlt'm l th. llinuiughan. of Cannula. The
matter for nurrviso, when one i. "'f'''X' * l^.^^n ,r.a m, at Toronto, ncaled -2850 lb. The
horHen and cattle were good cla,s«0H. «"-. '"f .""j,, ' " ' .„nnuon.led. I had the pleasure o ai
r;:£ in;-::^"^i&m ^^ „ ,„,.,,, ,dne of very
,„.£.::::u«^s;n^fMH»
to niention the iinplenionlH shown by Mr. C-Pl' *"^;[, "; , ^^, ,, ^^onelusion I may say that I
Caua<la at some future day. , j ,i^ „f that place. The diHtnct between
Wene^^madeourwayto^.agaratoHee Kf.~w^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^
Hamilton and Niagara is famous for ,'*;. " *f ° "^i,*^' district was celebrated al over tie con-
,,uUe a profitable trade, and I was t^'^'l/'^^! ^'5;;., j.^irf^^^ and not very valuable for Jarmn s
tinent of. America. The land ab,-ut ^*; ^^J'^^^j ",^^1.^^^ of these mighty waters that it ..
minjoses As to the fiUls, so many have given '\''''«''3"; " t,,^,,„ with my eyes, I suppose
S sVr«"0"« to "lention tl- ™bj^ct ; 'n^ - - -J-jr \, ,, t„dy a -'^li-/«»^^,^^
I ought to say something about a sf '-tf'" ',,'„,, .. ^.t first, but as the whole is ga/.ed at, and
Lhold. ^ Thc^e is something ;,';'"J;:j^7X1"" ''''^ ^^'''' ''""" ""'
S:CS')^ir!:rnS;r is b^^use less awednspirmg.
OEKEIIAL Kl-MM.\tY.
'rii)eii to perfection in the open air. rcnistciod by the thermometer is undoubtedly
^ As regards the winter, the ;''=''•{=« "fj^^;;';;'-;; a" . ami so exhilarating, that the season s
much greater than in this country, but t^« "^;, f ^^^l, '>;„ thu that the dampness of the air .s
Lked forward to as one <> ,^"3;>';^^^^f ^^ ^ c tai"ly heard no cnn.plaints in Canad^ "^
a great factor in deciding the ^"/^'f ^,.^;. ^ '^.'^'.^d that is the necessity of housing the cattle and
winter without any injury to their \f)^^}\3-- . . ^ a loamy nature, some light and some clayey,
So<7.-Sreaking generally, the ^-^'l"/ ."^^^^ /,',", y.,"^, difficult to work as the clay lands o
S^ttintlr'L". ' I may -y that 1 saw no ^^^^^ Sario many different kinds of
w^il of that nature. In a country so lar^^ J^ "'^ ^ 1"^ " ^,^^ (..^^er seems to preponderate, as
tended growing of root crops, .f °[;^?'^^'^"\„ay yet be done in some districts. _
tJnIrom a work issued by the Uov™^^ . „„..,„,. f.m.v .00
^r ei^J^nrs^ ^i-ntitled to select 100 .
r ,t Ontario: • VAvvy irct •«•».."
, and cvcrj head of a family «00
Cfi
Mr. Gt'0)'i/a Ciirtig'n Ihprtrt.
il;iii,>.- ( f til ■ Fivu Clinnl-' miH
nnot Tlio ciiiifliti'onR (if f!(<t»1finMit nrc Bft forth in the foUiiuin;
lloiiuhti'iul Aft, IJcvisud .StiiluUsof Dntiuio, ciiji. .il, s.r. H : "Xi> I'atiMt (.hull i^siu' for .-niv laiul
liicHtid unrtfi- this Act, or iiiidir bnid r.j;ciiliitioii-i, iiiilil the ixjiiialiou of li\u ylfa^^ ficiu tlie dale
of Huch location, nor until the locates, or thoHu cluin:iii^- nnd.r him, or some of tlnni, have pur-
formed the followim,' KuUlement (IuIIlh, that U i" say : liavu dem.d n!\d havo under oultnaliou
at ha->t fifteen acres of tin; said land (uhcrcof, at least, two aens tliall be t-Kared and odliuitod
anmnillv dnrin.r the live yarn next alter the date of the location to hoeumiiut. d from .Miclulute),
nnd have built u hoUHe thereon lit fur habitation, at least sixtein fett by tv.xnly litt, and havo
avlurdly and contimiouslv r.sid.d ujion and cultivated the said land for the term of five,. ear*
next sueceedin^' tlie date of Buch hieation, and from theiieo u)i to the ifsuc of the ))atont, exce;..;
tliat the hicatee Hhall be aUo-.ved one month from the date of the loeation to enter uj.on and
. runnv the land ; that absence from tho saiil land for in all not more tlian nix montlw dunny any
(,ni' year (to be ooinimted from the date of the h.cation). flmH not be IilU to be a certialiou of
uuch ruuidenco, provided HUch land be cultivated i\v afore^iaid." '
■lust a word in regard to these freu grantn. Xo one shoidd choose them fn n Imrry. There
\.i jilenty of Rood land, but as nmch care shoulil be uxereiscd in its silection as if it had to bo
jjuught, for it is a nuittur njion wliieh thi; success of the st ttlei' priie.-.rily deiieiids.
Ontario nnn Field/or Hillli'vu-Iif.—My oi)inion on this lioint in that a man has <*very ehnnce
(if doini; well in t)nta'rio, and that many have wieemi'jd is d.inonstraled liy the oxanjjiles which
1 found in the course of my traveln. I liiay hu asked, and it is a fair (jnestion, whether 1 would
c;ire to live in the ccpuntiy myself and adopt it as my home? In rtsponse, I can uiiy that if ever
1 di<l emigrate, Canada is the"country I would f,o to. Indeed, such a ehanRe.as regards associations
voidfl be very little, as Ontario is uuidi the same as lOnnland, its inhabitants all hailin,!,' from
Uk! Old I'ouutry, having been boin here, ur descended from earlier emif,'rants from our shores.
In a ))ecnniary sens*; the change would be productive of fjreat advantage. In the^ first place a
less capital is refpiired ; one can buy as mneh land in Ontario for a dollar as in England Uir a
sovereign. This is a rough and ready calculation, but is suliieiently near the mark.
labo\n-ei's Ontario oifers gnat advantage.-, to steady, hardworking, and thrifty men. Tliey get
I'or
wages, and may look forward to being able
to start on their own account if they are careful.
Most of the labourers are boarilrd and lodged in the farmho\i.Ki s, so thiit single men are preferreil ;
but in the neighbourhood of the towns and villages this is a disadv:intiige not without remedy in
the case of married co\iples. Ijut 1 think Ontario farmera Wd\ild be serving tlieir own interests
if they were to erect cottages for the men, and thus foster a clivss siniilar to the farm labourer of
Eu'^dand.
Ca/iihd liCiiu'ired.—lu the first place, I n)ny Fiiy that ini]:roved farms vary in price from £S to
i:l() per acre, which includes fences and all liuildiiigs, in fact a fivrniready for occujialion, while land
of similar (piality can bo rented at from 10s. to 20s. per acre. It is, therefore, easy to caleidate what
capital a man o\iight to lia\e. He would, of course, have to buy implements and cattle and seed, to
enable him to nuike a start, and the amount to be ex])ended under this head would, of course,
depend upon tlie means of the farmer and the system which he woidd adopt. _ I may remark here
in parenthesis that land and buildings can be bought in the J':astern Townships for £i or iT) per
acre. It is said that on a free grant a man should have £100 or £150. He would not, of course,
lio able to put a whole farm into work at oii' •■ with this auunmt of capital, but eivch year ho
would be getting a return and bo adding to his capital, and thus be able to extend his area ea-jh
year. Until a man had enough ground muler cultivation i» occupy him entirely, he could earn
good wag<s for his laljour in sjjare time, wliich would also help him. Many have started with
little or no capital, or at any rate much less tlian the figures named above ; but this can only bi;
done by dint of hard work and self-denial, which, after all, are in aiiy case the iirst elements of
success.
I may add that I did not come across any grumblers in my travels. The people seemed
happy and co:itented. I may say further, that I was only asked for alms on one occasion, and
my iiiipiiries elicited that he was not a Canadian, liut a man on tramp from Itocliester, in the
I'nited States. As regards taxes, I found on imiu.iry tluit, tliey aNeraged from £i) to X7 per 100
acres, and a few days' labour (or its e(piivalont) in connection with the roads. There are no
titlies, income-tax, or anything of that kind.
Produce. — The average crops of wheat range from 20 to 40 hiitbels per acre, though the
average for the Dominion is less. Mr. Uomae never had lesj than 2.5 onshels. Oats, barky,
and Indian corn yield good crops, as also roots ; vegetables are abundant ; pota.^oes, carrots, and the
like are larger than in England ; peas and beans flourish ; all kinds of fruit grow .'n g'reat luxuriance,
pcivches, apricots, melons, tomatoes, and grapes couiing to maturity in the open air. Good an the
crops are, they are capable of improvement, by better farming and a more liberal application of
manure, and the scarcity of labour tends to increase the expenses. Dairy produce is also now
coming to the fore, but I intend giving some statistics as to this later on.
Cattle. — Grade cattle, taken herd for he.'d, are equal to any that will bo found on this side
of the Atlantic. They also liave some fine herds of pure breeds of variouj sorts, as my rciiders
will remember. There haa boon no catt;"? plague or plouro-pnoumonia in Canada, so that the
Duiuiiiion is not included iu the scheduled countries. Tb« cattle are therefore admitted to the
Mr. O'i'orr/c t'l'rli'i's Ji({'oit.
07
'leu ("iinnls and
BiK' fiiv juiy lam I
-.s fnuu till' il.'il-o
ilii.iii, have \<c\-
l\{W.\- oultiMvlioii
I iiiul ciilliMiloil
fniiu .-iiich iliite),
■ Utt, ami havo
m of live _. uai>)
(; )>iitont, exc'.';.u
rMluv iij.cin an I
iitliK (Uiriiii; liiiy
)u a ccHtiivlioa of
n Imrry. Thtie
if it had to bv
H.
uiH *vti'y rhniico
iixaiiii>luM which
.vhclhi'i- 1 would
1 biiy that if uvcr
nriU .'ihSociatituiH
dl hailiii!,' frnvu
from our i-hoi'ta.
the fiirtt place ft
1 Knglaud for a
the uiark. I'or
I. 'They get ,L;o(^t
Lliey are carefid.
Ill arc preferred ;
ilhmit remedy in
eir own iiiterefils
farm labourer of
, price from £8 to
)alioii, while land
to calculate what
altle and seed, to
would, of course,
may remark here
for £4 or £t> per
ddnot, of course,
hut civch year he
;nd his ari'a c;i'jh
:ly, he could unvn
lavu started wii.li
, this can only he
first eleiueui.s of
10 people scorned
>ue occanlon, auil
l!oclie';ter, in the
.tu to X7 per 100
Is. There are no
acre, though the
Is. Oats, barky,
s, carrots, and the
;,'roat luxuriance,
air. Good as the
ral application of
oduce is also now
bund on this side
•ts, as my rejidors
Luada, BO that the
« admitted to the
are K'^n-val!)' ■* f,"""' '^T'\ h " H [oad m- 1 'u ler work. Praise i. certaiidy duo to the effort*
.uu told that the greater portion of 1 IB sent o t"^^" j; ' ^^^^"^^^^^^^^^ Kv are light, yet strongly
m. W:s t^ hZ^r^h;r;:-i:i ^^z: &;xz;.kets ^;r thes^ooi. but i am
'told tCy are" I. aln>o.st entirely »upcr«,dc.l bv [^-^-^-'S o 'Soil,- The great fault
'^'•&7-oW..-Tho following f^gu^s ar. usefjilin ''''-••^^13:^ oS'^hri^.O^S
tural ^untry. Exports in !«'« " /vhea and «? ' ;,^\0;f «/;''^^^^^^^^^^ bushels.' In
bushels: in K-71-.of wheat and Hour /> V/' 'j;-* J ~ [^^^^^^^^
1878, f.,035,411 buslmls of wheat, and 2,t521,o81 ''»«''°'^"' "'^"^ '^^u ...^ „( „ti,er grain. Mut
Dominion and in 1879, 1.768,7a;i bushe^ of ;yhe=vt »nd f ^^ ^.^^^'^^^^^^ better
most of this was for exportation fre.m Canadum por. on a«cou^'^^^^
faciliues. for getting to the sea Wd -J,- , '' ^^;- rcrJs^U v^ ^^^^^^ bushels. The
creased m 18/9 ^.v ^0*^'''"°''/""'''''''; ,''!fom) 000 bushels The foUowing are tho exports of
export of flour in lS7iJ was also cjmd to f 'OM'.'^'^" '"'"'"'^Qg c.]ti lb. of buUer ; 38,054,2'J.l lb.
butter, cheese, and eggs during l^^-8 and 8 »^ if^'b'^;t^;".°4Ml4 035 lb. of cheese"; f.,440,828
of cheese, 5,268,170 doz. eggs ; 18/9 l*'f ^'"'^J^^^- '^.'^f. I„ 1878 14 207 horses. 30,450 cattle,
do., eggs. Exports of horses, cattle, "h^' and sue .n ^^^*^^ ^^^J ,,,j8 „„;„«.
^r,S:TrL::^'^^'^^^^^^^^y Mi? W^J. mterson. the secretary of tho
settler are' so goodV There are ««-'-»\-'«;'"«i^^^^^^
tained their lands or lit e or "''^'''".^ have clearta ^^
farms under cultivation. They are now worth a good sun. y. *".: ' addii." to their means in
now they wish to take up '^esh lands and get thos.in^o eutiV!^^m.aa.U^^^^^
this wa/. I came across a man at Wmgham to :^»> ". ^'^.^ I'-we g-.t into
Ihieh is attr.«;ting so much attention, ^^""^^er re so is h^^^ fLiumg, and he
years ; his sons have taken to professions "3\ ^^'f , ", ,^"^^7;' ' , Uy a m at Miltoi who had
flesires to retire a.id live on '"« -H'>f • ^ ^^ '^^ ™ ^'^ "^ H^ ,^ ^
a farm to sell. Then, again, some *7/"" *" '''!^J' 'X^Yi^^^
^^fi;:^ If r t^r^^i: K!^r :i£^ S uS- ana shortsighted operations.
^'^'^;:^;'^^.^!:^Sr^r words up.i tl;y<.^"bject andl^^ Tl^g^d^s^^e^
the charaelerislics which are usually found on tl"^^^;'- "'f \''« ^^^ 't, o"' '^.f the Anieri-
llttle ditferelit from the f '"^'-^l-'-f ^'-::^-,, '^^ ^,^ ^,1^ S ho^^ aud I tliinlc
can witli the caution of the ^'•f';';'^ ;,,,-^'^>^'^, ^.^'fi,, i„ K,,,aa..d, and are more extr
taking class ^•l• '-^'i^-^^ they live in better hs.» Ui.ne^ > ^^ fiu-mhouses.
i,, tli^ way of funiitu.^ JUKI M.xm^s J,^"li^'^;'>t:^^,:.s lining, I think, expressed
Th, ve is of course very ht le anslocr:u:N, ^^,^'^'^^^,,, ,,„a ,„ore equality between man
by the words capital and labour ; and tl'-^'f »» V '' >; ;;^^^^^^^^ I be ieve, in most of our
i,l man in Canad. tliai. in -='--, r,.;);-'^,^ ,«'mS^^
:srrem:^;i/s>iH;-:^^ip^^
Mr. (l<'>r[ii' Curtis',-! Urport.
r.3
1 11.. .,,;i.. Ill,' Ijiii-h nf nil .vrtiH*, till; mind of a
formed « ^pecfvcle not casilv for;;,.U. n, and Nvnuld .-m-uu tl.
i«.ct, or tho ton«uu .>f an orator to .lo it J""!'';'; , , ,. command of Captain l)utl.m.
• 1 ...,uo hack in the Alh>n Lnu, f^^^Z^l^^"%^l^^J:i^.,y^... 'of th. Orphan
We had » eon^'onial con,,.a".V •- ^» o-n ■■; ?_ "'j'i f;, / . , ,„^,i ,„,,„ ^ith her t- Cana.hv. I waH
luMtitutio.., at (!alt, and M.sh Scott »nd » ^J^ ; ,; ^^XL a paK.cn.ar .,f th- san.c nhiplhat
ulHo i-leaHcd to nu-t .loin. McUan, s-i 'jf ^':"''; ;;,;';';"■ ," vdan, Mr I.ons.hd... and Mr.
I went out in. We alM, l>ad the lion 1 . A. hmu ■ ^ '• . ,f„,^ yy^ HicUson. of tho
Monnon; also Mr. W. 1' ^''''^'"•.^^^'t' fAj'^^^; ^,, ,' luij^^
(Jran.l Trunk lUihvav. ami "''^'^ ',' ':" J, ' ' ^^\"\' , . 1 .vcollction.
and inhtnictive convtr^nliou I ^liall t>t» ^■■"-"■' '" '' l""'' ^
(JUK-lKlNN.
. Mr. Crti,, *. w» l,..,aiy .l„ml. ..,-«..l hj. ''f XJIlS wZ'S'""""" """""
,„„"';h,,i i..'..k , i» ™''"\^,t\f ;z ;™t an; u 3 "«" "'■'»i.»
,„ with l.»n ctll., I,ut tl..y ..™i.<i " ■7,, S' » J^';,- *^^^,^,^ i^^^^^^^ |„ ,„„„ I,„ clU..
Kn«lftnd. „.u„n„.r fl,,. fiirm.buildin"S in Canada were of hrick, stone, or
• In answer to the .,ueHtion ftH to whether ''l^''*"" Z;"'!^'' '' ,,„rally of stone or brick up to the
wood. Mr. Curtis said the stables and houses for cattle weic fcLUcraiiy
lirst Btorv, and above that, <.f wood. :„n„„vpni..nt travellinu in the country districts?
. Question-Are the roads very bad, and .« t "^\7;™,S « "'«' be inconvenient. It
rtrVwi ',':." ;?rz"i - i cif Jl i-.a ...i. .h. .hc»H-»>»» -*«* ..
England. r»R„„u ,.„«<,tioii to answer It was often discussed in Canada in
' Mr. Curtis said it was a difficult 'IV""""",*" """''^"t'^ Kometin.es tho n-ntrary. He did not
his presence. Kon.etimes one <='V'S\'7':; ? ' , ^ i;;i'rSanr He did not think the
believe in some of the statistics wa.ch had *';" »7;^'^''^"V uarttras had been asserted. His
Canadians could put wheat down in »''■; «" "' > ^'Yeaten mt of the fiel.l by the corn-K'rowin«
own imi.ression was that Dntano would s. on bt 1 eaten ' "«J Canadians were much
districts of the Far We.t, ]ust as *'"K\'^''^^„7;^^;t|f .J^ r^r ^ e. He was told that the
favoured by their c imate. but ^^f/'f.;^. ^ ^,;'^,, f >.. X! ^PiXbly the average of Canada
S:;^t:;d/;:;?t;t :^:rs^mi::i ;::;:tr this .^X m the com-^owm^ district.
but he believed Ens;land was not ^^^ Suh'i^l'o'Mtari.. generally was well watered.
■^KP*^, .- w ~ * ~ V
Z .^. ■ ■'■ L ^V ' - '' i:k!JH
1
, llii; iniml of ft
aiituiii Diitloll.
, (if till! Oriilmn
L'iinailiv. I «'iiH
' Hiiiiik Klii|> timt
isiliili', »i>'l Mr,
licUsi'ii, <if tho
[uestioiis fjoiiUe-
ley could obtnln
i)f Mr. CiuUh if
irofitaMy HUjiply
Oriiviii funiierH
iiiiire for cuttle-
iilile item of tho
r>f Mr. HiclcHon,
ih he returned to
pf lirick, Htoiic, or
r brick up to the
ouiitry districtti ?
ncoiivcuibut. It
)od ; and he wftH
iiitted that for a
ly were gi-avelled,
nnijiete in wheat-
rtis's ojjiiiion was
Dwing difltrictK of
ed in Canada in
ary. He did not
id not think tho
m asHorted. Hin
the corn-growing
liiuiB were much
was told that the
A'erage of Canada
ere in our favour,
o fear from them,
growing diHtrict»,
■ell watered.
, a vote of tbanka
880.
REPORT OF Mil. U. U. li. V. .VNDEUSON,
0/ Am^'IIv/, Co. Jui;iJ, IrJ'tiid,
ON ONTATIIO, MANITOBA. AND THE NOTITIIWKST.
1 I I... ■, luniilHr of fil. lulh l.i '^o out to Caiiiubi and roimit on
SOMK niontlH a^.. I V'^^^"'';^: „ ^^1 "^ " :, ,i , 1, as a li^d for .,ni^iati.,n. Acconliugb.
the country in general, n vl .\ ;uiit..h,i '"""',. . j,,. „„. ,.,„,,^ ,,.,.,.,, ..liU ^-rowin-, Ik-
I left IiH.l.n.l in .Ii.ly, that 1 ni,.l.t ''^^f ' /', ^ ,;',,;\ '^^ u p..^
lieving that in tlm Htale they aro an gK. ^ '■,,,1".^, ;,;,;;' ^ an,l instructive trils and have
climate of a country. 1 >''^ve now ret .rued afU a nu> l^ ^^ witnessed many of tho
not only ^^^ ^ '^^^V^ ^'^''^'':}: ^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ .no^.^ to Ih- able to judge
ordinary Canadian fain, opeiations , '''^^ ;^;'\,, \„„ ,,,t winter ('aiuulr has experienced
what they must have beu, '*f ••■';;' ';;;;«^^^^^^^^
for yearn, and late enough to '^^"^^^^^ X'^2\^^ during tlu. h .ttest part of tbe Canadian
I travelled for hundreds of I"' '^ ' ;. .^'-^ 'X,\ "^,,l>,s can speUk fnmi personal experience of
summer, and having caniped m U.o " > ^^^^^ ''f '^^^^ ' 1 ,„„ ,it„is and blacl< flie.. 1 have taken
the inconvenience of the heat, aud ''f\''";'^.,^;f;',,t^,, ".,,,, have vi.ited the farmers in Ontario
Home little trouble ^}^^'^^^X. .' I h^tve ce aud done all that was possible in tho
and the Bettlcrs in the ^;'''''>-^,\'^^,', ,,J't^,\' .^^ the whole 1 was much pleas, d.
limited time at my disposal, and ■^''' ''■ ■' {, .' ' .'^^^^.k, ,,„a ,„;u,y of them, as well .vs its advantages ;
There is no doubt that Canada has •'■•^ ^J''"''-'',^'^": [,"'• f;,^,,,^. i,j,„.,, it-in fact, to .(note a
but he must be blind indeed -^^-^^''^;^^:^i^^'^A. v. ill be teeming wi h ne^v
^z!^:S^z r £r :;d'Hh!i:;^::^:^'xewtons \... ...tn.. when this o.d wom.
-*SS3^b^"?Stothem.^^^^^
was almost irritating to our hvu.lM , u « '^ ^'''^"^^^ ,,,,t ^,,,,„ ,,,,vs aud a half, we were only four
fectly safe in tli.ir hands The pa -.ago ''"'^ ' ^\\'l' 'i^'^y^,.^ ..^ii;,,,, {,,, the St. Lawrence-one must
and a half days out of sight of laud .'>'' '^,'^,° J^*-;^^ ^fu ft. The arrangements on b.ard
neo the glones "| this nwvgu.hcen n>.er^ K a J.^ o^
the vessels for the comfort ot -^ll^^^^'Ji't,, t,,.,t bn;b.ai% Hea-sickncss, I c.vim
complete as they could well be. 7/'"' '^f'^' ;,',,„ ,,,lds hi. victim hmg, aud as he van|she.,,as
he is ..uite as black as he » painted ; but he ',U'l ) n i ^^ j^^^^^,^ .^,^^j elasticity
H In ieparatiou for the mischief lie '>'" [J "^■iJi;^^^^^^ de , - o .suffers nu.ch more in the English
which makes one almost t'''^"'^f;f ,f J^tolin'/theAt autic in an ocean b.at.
Ch.-vnnel in an ordinary «toau,..r b.u " " *f ' ^ \',;, i ,,,,, travelled over some COOO or /OOO
As to the travellmg m ^'V ■■\'';>„;^,J,'^",;^'^\ ,"ti 5000 of which have been cither by rail ov
miles of the North-American Coutiuont, moie ^ "' ^ . ,i.j„ ,^,rs and incnveiiiencts.
Steamboat, it will te allowed th.it I '"" '".;^ f.^/, 'J i]": ^ 'V- ;,,,>,,d ■ recklessness which we
So f.ar as'ono could see, there is a. ^^ ^^!^Z^ ;, ,aden times. The railway tr.ocks
.associate with it, and which ^^'^^""^ ':'.',^:'" the Ppeed docs not exceed 3:. mdes per hour;
are extremely well laid, and Kee.n pe f ct > .^a • ^,_^ ,„. ,i,,.,|.,,; e..mp.utn e.it
the carriages are most cmfortable, '^"^' '^ ' ,!i' th,,.e with 1- fatigue than I vv,.uld one of
are perfect. I have ma !;.■ a jmirnes "H^ ^^"^"^ ^Uh.r. and c.iui.-eted at each cud bv a
12 hours here. The eari.a,.s b.-.ng ^ ^ ,* . "^f "^ ^ tr.dn (-.ften n.arly a .piavter o a nuW
platform, a passenger can walk fV, '"''':';. ,„,, a.v.v, .-.voiding the u.ise'.alile fejlmg "I
long) and enjoy the fresh au- ont<.oe the cam-v
if
21 r. !'. II- /'• i'- A'l'l'i-fi'x'-^ li'poii.
CO
, ,, . f I,,,,,,,. ThoarniVfiiviit-i ft'i'i'il tut?!;'.!?" IVVO Niicll
::.,;;;!•: :io';:':ti:;r[b:.":uu;;:: ilinJ u.y4." „.. .....^ - ...u. c..,.
TI„.. ■,.:„.,. .....1 .li..u...in, h.UN uv ''^t'' /''^ ♦'; ' ';^,^,^! / , ;;;,;\,,,,„.'w,n.l,l nU.na , ..M
th.v l.iv.. K'""l f''<li"K """"»^'; '" '•",t'"" '''■";. an':. ?., H,:uin.'l«>T .l..lioat..Hon-4
ss::,s;cE„;\i'::^i;;;f9:. ; s ;;i::;^ ,„...
then,. ■ In,l..r..n,lcnt th- (-•«.,:,. kh. ;•-*;"';'>■;;;;;;; ' , " t 'u.at .I:lf-aHM..ti..r. usually
^"Vn,:: r 'wra'fo. of co„tr.,iction. t^at t.^, . not a .0. ,n^M,MJn^
in llie worl.l limn tho CaniLlinnM ; nor any contry Avhcro a umu, li.u m^ ttCimi 1 1 :-.
havo his title thoroto n.oro r.-.i.ooto.l t'^'^' '" [.j^";;^^^^ thf"Vpofl«CH« to an oxtrnor.Un^vy il.-srco
.jsr=":r;"t;iev:;;:;::u:^^^
attention l.toro ro.chinK (Jneb-o (some nnu; ;;/•'-/;■;, '^.''■^^Uoc is 1^^ Mtuat.a
lookiuK like a streak of mlver ,lown ,>''^^^^ ';' ' '5;;;^^^ 1, .^^ a„d l.elow th- city i but ex-
on a hill con..nanclinK nia-mhcont nu'UH of *!^'^'\,*;,'^ ',;"';' .it j^ tlio vlaoe is unintercstiuK.
c..i,ti,.K th.,... vi..VH and the '>1^;-- ,;---f ^'^ , ' ^^^^ jS^^n!^ .levatorH, in th.
There i« a larf,'e lumber-trade done, and lately '';!';J'^:"';, ','..,„ u^.j,,,, realised, for it «eems to
hope of securing «o,rx of the corn trade 1 '''^ '' "^^^'^'^-^.^f '''^ ,av pre" it, for, should tho
J t'lat Montreal is the natt.ral U've^e.d, p^.t^f the -'■ j^^j^^.Lthe tmde of Montreal
^;SSvra^r^\L:?:r:Sj;";l i;:"^^^ E^^opa fro. ..t omy U. North.
-tt';^iS^l;:?l^r^JSMi;£fo^t^^
everythiuK by which the materia i;"-!-; ' ^ ^: ' J j'' '^^ :'^U,rtronl.le nor expe,.so to obtain
lr1*r'^>;!='t!;rthfain';hJS;rplr;Lof thoprovmce (Ka»ter„ Tow«-hip«)
^-Sn.lntoMo.reM.ncpa^t.ron^^^^^
-:S,'ofis?;:rn.^!:o,i:i;KrrS^.;:^fo.
estt'urof ^ii^'^o'^i" -i'^5 ":^:i:^ ii^::Maf -- of <l^^
'=""^:^ had n.y first cxporien.. of Canadian hotel, , '^^t^-^l^ti'^M^t: ^Ue
.hlch, as in n.ost oM.er thu.gs they ^jl -i;;^^, '^,,^^ !! ^^ v^^^l^.i^ .v.tenl of n.aldng
eumfort and couveuionce of guests. 1 heii cliai,,t -s are m 1 i, , i,.„i„.,,,,, evu rvtluuL'—
'""SI" "tv'V;'l:*l >™ Oiu™. th. C«n.^i™ cpiU. Hero I W *« l.''-™.' -«'"«
< llll! it IllKf
Itl.U'll.il tn tllO
Ili'ilil'iiLr i'li;irp;o
JliM',' (l.'ll':litriil.
jl.. |! -l.iir .1 (!
M uiiujul I iiiiil
d'^liPUtl' Hl'll- ■<
ll ;i riilTl;i',fi' «rt
|iiitc'lli^>!nt mill
JkmiL M'i'nH tip I''!
|:lMi|niti' rIlHlli,'ll
Ivill llllC'ljLUIKllo
It fiMiii '1' pr'Piiln
||j;iii i uVLT li.ivu
.v.Mliiul ; I will
lilV st.:iv 111111111','
Lip.. ! . (iiw lil.l.
iHM .liiir, iiHiially
luct to Ijo I'itliur
or I'lViil |ici)]ili3
jj luMlieity, will
nrdiimi'v clcsroQ
1 1 lit- i/rimnd on
lllu W()lf.
c't I that attract
ritiMiiioiicy i"'iills,
lutifiilly hituatL:d
!•) city ! Imt ex-
i^< tiiiiiitui'OMtiiiK.
clLVatnlfl, ill tliu
d, for it Huciiin to
, fill-, slupidd tlio
laciu of AlmitrLal
only tho Muitb-
Raw annio maijni'
ipri ;• d shiiithoi'H
cousins, alive to
L'd, havo Huun the
i^xpctiso to olifaiii
iti'in Tuwiiuhipu)
ctorift — soma two
II —one quite un-
city of Canada.
mpo and (Jttawn,
nu<l into a public
III it aiu tfliirioiH.
itltit of CuiiiKliau
1 manajenient of
to promote tlie
vsttin of making
ihn everything,' —
nada tho chaiL,'os
mid conifovts you
1 rows of waiters,
iiid oi ^^ontreal,
iL'is in tlie neiyh-
[iasureof mcotiiia
Mr. /;. //. /;. /'. A.
HH I ■ '■(( .1
n.j-oii.
01
Mr. Lowe, th') secietnry of tho AKricuIlural 1 1 ■partiiient.wji i kindly |,'avo niomuuh iwefnl infmiiia-
tioii, anil put niu in the way of t,i i iii;< the ciniiitry to iwlvjiiila;;e.
Aliout Iweiily-Kvu miles from Ultawu tli-ru u noinc! piiim,' lanil, nud I wai inrmiiiod mi tiiQ
br t authmity that the whole valley of tho Ottawa, which i-t ci>ni|io<cd of a li;,dit naiidy loam, i<t
adiiiiralily Huitrd for the eidiivatioii of tln' vine, and i'f expicti'd tn 1)>' a wiiii-piiiduciii^ re;.;iaii in
the immediate future ; indeed, I naw viiupvard.'* myself of Nevend atrii in exti nt, tln' viiiei
looKin;,' heidthy, and yivin^,' evident proof that they can lie Kf'^*" I" adwinl.i'.;e. Tiny hive a
fjre.Tl many vurielieM of hardy \ineM, wliieli, with vi ly little eme, can ho kejit tliiiMinh tho
buvureHt winter without recuivin){ injiiiy. l<'raiieo and (iurniaiiy may yet lind a rival in (>anad.L
for thuir light winen. Ottawa itsulf is nicety Hltuatud on thu iiv> r Ottawa, and U'liitains the
]|ou.icsof I'nrliament, which are really iHautifiil structure i. From them (niu hat a Hpleiidid
view of thu river. The <irdiimry IniildiiiKS in thu town arc ,:i ■!, hut thu streets are aii^lhliikf hut
Will kept, anil tlicre HieliiH to he very little trade in the pi.iee exeept in IuliIkI'. I \iHiliil tile
(Ihaudiijro li'alN, closu to tho town. They aru very tine. Ili^re I wan K'eatly struck with the
utilitarian spirit of the Canadians, tho walura lM.'in)( turned rtmn Iheirnatural coiir»<' over the falln
to work mills fur rultin){ timlier. I went into one of the lumlur iidllH close hy, worked Kululy
by tho river, and whs almost deafened by thu eternal ' whirr ' of Jiu naws. I was told that in
this mill, during the thise months it wurks, they eiit iipwariL ol 40,000,000 feet of kimher.
both here and at Monli A 1 saw thu triiu Canadian hoi>e- small, nliglit, wiry, and full of
pluck— not adiiptuU, apjiaieatly, for heavy work, yut astuninhiny the Is'liolder by what it
CMl do.
ONTARIO.
•
'i'lie next city I .Miall mention is Toroiit.i, the ciqiital of Ontario, tlie riclienl province of Ciinndii.
The ejly \i situated on the .^llllru of Lake Ontario, ami in beautifully laid mit ; many of the streets
III' ud with trues, and thu lovely avenues remind oiicof a park. Hero I reeeised mueli kindiie.'><
froiii Mr. Donaldson, thu (iovurnnicnt agent, wlio pilot- d nm aboiit.and pointed out the varimiii
objects of interest — the univumity, iiiodul-Kehools, ]iark, etc., etc., and wu had ii sail on the laku.
Mr. Donaldson is unu of thu oldest •■ihaljitants of the place, and remeni)x;ra when, about forty-
two years ago, there were but eight houses in it. An old-country visitor looking round him, tlnds
it tax his iiiiaginuliun to believe this. Toronto is tho fountain-huad of thu Canadian cducationivl
Hystutn, which, ho far an 1 can judge, ncciiih purfect. Ist, Tlieru is tlie Public School, in which every
child is eiititled to receive a free education ; next comes thu High Heboid, the cliaige for which
is about JCl a tpuirter for each pupil. There is a I'ublic School and High School ':\ each district ;
the il'gh School course is a very coni]irehensivu one. Tho master's tenure of ol'cicc In thune
bchools depends on his success as a teacher, and as there is a wonderful Rmoiint of rivalry between
them thu pupils are fuiru of liaving every attention ; indeed u gentleman who was for many yean
u most nucoessful master, told me that the post is one of the most arduous that can well be
imi iiied. After these schools comeH the Collegiate Institute, and, lastly, thu I'niversity itself,
'die fei s fer which amount to about jCIO per annum. The pupils in each hchool are uicainined
ll.'. . year by public examiners, and those wlio show Huflicieiit proficiency are raised to tlio iiuxt
school ni>ovo that in which they pa8i. I think the whole system, Ix^th as regiuds cheapness and
thoroughness, will favourably compare with any in this country.
The province of Ontario is a nuignificent farming country : it was hero I firnt began to learn
wliat a dangerous competitor in agricultural produce Great Britain and Ireland have in
Canada. With a soil equal to any in thu world, and practically unlimited in extent ; thu very
best strains of cattle and sheep that can be purchuKed for money increasing daily in number ;
labour-saving machinery of the very finest description, and farms extensive enougli to warrant
its use ; cheap food ; a country which can, and will in time, supjily cver^' want of its people ; Mid
above all, a people who kcciu to have era.sed tho word ' iiopo.-isible ' from their vocabulary, it
does not require the gift of prophecy to say how thu competition will end. One thing is abso-
lutely certain — the sniall farmera of Ireland, even supposing they had no rent to pay, must
succumb. Tlio noil of Ontario of course varies, but, as a mle, is good, being from heavy clay to
rich clay loam and sandy loam. In many districts the land Ls a good deal run down for want of
proper farming ; for, taken as a wliole, the Ontario farmers aru not models I should advise my
countrymen to copy. Among other faults, they entirely neglect the rotation of crops ; and many
soem to think manure unnccoaaary. However, they are rapidly improving in their methods, and
I have met many excellent farmers who do justice to the soil they cultivate, and are, as a conse-
quence, re.iping a rich reward.
The climate of Ontario is healthy, althont^h severe. The heat in summer is intense ; the
cold in winter, though not oi! great as that in the North- West, ij, I am told, more trying, owing
to tlie comparatively greater degree of dampiie.s.s that t .ists. I am inclined to believe that the
indiscriminate cutting away of the forest has injured tho clitnate, and renders it more uncev^ain
than it would otherwise lie. The dry suuimer.s that sometimes occur are, I think, attributable to
this cause. Lut that it is healthy in the extreme is beyond question : both the people and the
cattle being living proofs of it. When one sees thu purest :jliulthorn cattle bearing the Capa-
I
n
-^■r--' " «' .:t.'»mi-. ' a'*ji>v. < •> " '» .
J
62
Mr. Ji. II. B. P. Anderson's Report.
diaii winter with sheltov and fond much inferior to that considered necessary for them In this
country, yet in as good a. condition as can be desired, one must conclude that the climiite is a good
one. The heavy yield of all descriptions of crop proves that it is one suited for the agriculturist.
Mtilons, peaches, grajKis, etc., ripening in the open air tell what the summer can do.
I CATTLK, SHEEP, H0R3ES, PIQS, BTO.
I did not visit any of tlio extensive herds of pure-bred cattle that Canada can boast of, being
satisfied that they exi.sted. I may just say that having first imported their stock from this side,
they are now able to sell us animals for enormous figures. One that I have seen myself was
bought ap a nine-month-old calf by Mr. Talbot Crosby, from Mr. Cochrane, ot Corapton (B.
Townsh '..»), for, if I mistake not, £850.
I th Aigiit it more to my purpose to see what class of cattle the ordinary farmer was able to
rear, and great was my astonishment to find on farms of 1.50 or 200 acres of land (the ordinary
i-ize of a Canadian farm), shoi-thoiTis of the very best families, which they cross with the native
cow, producing very good animals indeed, either for the butcher or the dairy ; and sheep that
would raise envy in the breasts of some of our flock-masters in thift country ; the S*)Uth Uowiis
surprised me much, as I was inclined to think the cold climate would not suit them, and expected
they would be small and puny, but such was not the case. Up to the present, the Cotswold
seems to be most in favour. The pigs, too, are excellent. I saw some Suft'olk and Berkshire
pigs in Ontario tliat would do credit to any breeder in this country. I may mention, in passing,
bavmg seen a beautiful .sliorthorn cow, ' Isabella,' the property of a Mr. llussell, of Markhmn ;
she was a ])erfect animal of her kind
I shall here say a few words on tlio prospect of the cattle trado with this coimtry. I believe
it to be only in its infancy, and tliat five years honce Canada will be able to send us one hundred
pounds of beef for every one she sends at present, and of almost, if not quite, as good a ((uality
as our home-fed beef. My reasons for this ojiinion are as follows : — Until a very few years ago,
the Canivdians had none but native cattle vhich, when crossed with <> gouu 'ijrced, produce
very fair animals, but are themselves inferior except for the pail ; and as they only required
these for dairy purposes or work-oxen, the calves, as a rule, were destroyed as soon as dropped.
Now, not only are there several extensive herds of pure-bred cattle in the country, but it is no
uncommon thing to find ordinary farmers with a couple of pure-bred bulls and good-sized herd.i
of excellent 'grades ' (crosses between the native cow and shorthorn or polled Angus l)ull8, this
last-named breed being admirably suited to the country). The calves are all reared, and as dairy
farming has not paid so well the lost few years, and the cattle trade with England has been tried
and is found remunerative, many men have turned exclusively to rearing and feeding cattle for
the English market. At p. esent the Canadians are, and will be- for some time to come, behind
us OS feeders ; but they are fast finding out the increased value which oil-cakes and other con-
centrated fooils give, not only to their lioef, but to the manurd. Up to the present, by far the
larger number of Canadian cattle sent to us are 'distillery fed.' A man makes a con-
tract with 9- distillery company for the 'swill ;' and this, with hay, is all he gives his beasts.
They thrive well and make good beef. When a farmer tie.i up his cattle he considers them
worth al)out two dollars per cwt. (of 100 lb.) He can buy them for this sum, and is fully satisfied
if he gets five dollars per cwt. for them when finished. It appears to me that a little more time
and a little more knowledge will make the cattle trade a great success — for Canada. But what
about these countries ? I may here remark, that our railway companies might do worse than
take a le.sson from their C'anndian bretliren on the treatment of cattle while in their care. There
is quite as great a difference between the cattle-waggons in the two countries as between tlio
passenger-cars. In Canada, c.ittle are taken on at once to their destination, and not kept for hours
here or there on the road, as In this country.
I saw some very good Clydesdale sires ir. Canada ; crossed with the Canadian mare thoy
make a good animal, but heavy horses are not required, indeed, would be undesirable there — at
least for tlie farm. The Canadian horse is quite strong enough for the ordinary work, and is .t
marvel of activity and endurance. I hear) some complaints in Manitoba of the mortality among
horses imported there, but after sitting b-hind the same pair for six days, doing forty miles {ler
day on an average, and seeing the treat>iient they often of necessity undergo in that country, I
was only astonished that the death-rate was so low ; horses in V. is country would not last two
days if they received similar treatment. I have run short of oats, and .as a consequence my poor
cattle had to go for twenty-four hours with nothing to eat but soft prairie grass, as I was
not always able to get even 1 ^ty. Their gontli.'ness, too, is wonderful. I had a striking
exam|)le of this, having had to drive a pair of horses over sixty miles with thei- shoulders
literally cut away : doing so nearly sickened mo, but there was no help f >r it, and yet the noblo
bnites never even winced. I have got iuto difficulties and out fit them again, without hurt to
either horse or trap, tli.it in this country would have meant the utter destruction of both.
They seem to t.iko everything in a nvist matter-of-fact manner ; it down, tiiey will lie quiet until
freed, and yet are full of pluck.
*«>SISiW
M.; n. II- J'-
P, AhihrS'MK 11 >iorr
ca
ecessary for them in this
th<^t the climtte is a good
ited for the agrioulturiat.
imer can do.
anadft can boast of, being
heir stock from this side,
I have seen myself was
lochrane, ot Corapton (B.
Unary farmer was able to
cs of land (the ordinary
ley cross with the native
le dairy ; and sheep that
mtry ; the Stouth Downs
)t suit them, and expected
;he present, the Cotswold
ne Suffolk and Berkshire
may mention, in passing,
r. Russell, of Markham ;
1 this country. I believe
le to send us one hundred
; quitt', as good a (juality
ntil a very few years ago,
h » Biiud breed, produce
,nd as they only required
iroyed as soon as dropped.
1 the country, but it is no
julls and good -sized herds
ir polled Angus bulls, this
ire all reared, and as dairy
;h England has been tried
•ing and feeding cattle for
ome time to come, behind
oil-cakes and other con«
9 the present, by for the
A man makes a con-
is all he gives his beasts.
cattle he considers them
sum, and is fully satisfied
me that a little more time
—for Canada. But what
nies might do worse than
vrhile in their care. There
) countries as between the
ion, and not kept for hours
the Cnnadian mare they
be undesirable there — at
3 ordinary work, and is a
)ba of the mortality among
lays, doing forty miles jter
ndergo in that country, I
untry would not last two
as a consequence my poor
[t prairie grass, as I %v!vs
lerful. I had a striking
\\\ei with thei' shoulders
Ip t >t it, and yet the nobla
em again, without hurt to
ittor destriiction of both,
vn.they will lie quiet until
fjinl.s AM' iHur.
11 1 * I ' Out ivio wcrt' verv '^ood. i Mi.ai
r ir-ln^ after crop of wte;vt being tuk.n from >' t". >c ,^,,^ ^tt^.-ly innocent
farmed ; crop atttr ciop u ;,„i.j,j j,-, s<nue case*! none. ini. ^..i" eonuiion-
Letter than any 1 ha e ^^^ ^"'^"^^ ,,,„, „f Hh ploughed 'f f.; . ^^.^^/'^^.^ier and more «tony
S:.^".' .>;i;^i» 'St' .h.rs;*,;',';-»..y "■■ <r,v"r -va.* ?'«:",=
crowing in the open air appar
Mr. Stiphenson's extensive orch.-vid
DISB.\SF.8 OF CROPS .\N1) AMM.M.S.
in f >cf neither linrned cattle, sheep,
working IS from f f lOs. to i|a „,emauy degrees m ore o ' „ut.ofHces, ftow-
brick structures of the Sw i-s \ iiia '■'■J "-• „, cannot nlwaVB be ^..^l "i "": j. „
homestead has a large collai m ^v men I
-^«i^TS«S!!!«s»)?«"*-'*F«»'-
I
ct
^fl^. /?. //. n. p. A,>'f>m,ii'» I?<j>ort.
si/ud flclils liy wooden fences ; cmo rari'ly onies across a ditch or wall, hnt I have i-*en a liudi;e
of the Osage oriinge, which makes a ciij)ital fence, the nhnil) being of a prickly nature. The snake
fence is a useful one, easily made, but is untidy-looking ; it is gradually disappearing. Owing
to tho dry climate, fence rails Last for many year.t. Lately a Kirbed fencing wire has teen
introduced. It is an elTeetivc but a dangerous fence, and one, I hope, th.it will never \ie intro-
duced hero, or else g<iodbye to hunting. If an animal nibs ai'-ainst it, it is sure to Iw torn by
tin: barbs ; I .saw two or throe jiorses terribly injured by it. Kach fann has, as a rule, A good
water supply, for thou-Ii there are not many nnming Htrei\ms, there is any quantity of eTCcUent
water to be had by sinking for it, and there .-xro numbers of good-sized river*. There is usually
suHicient timber on tho farm for fuel and fencing purposes, .and yoinig plantations .are being
made on many of them. Xund)ers of these farms ,are now in the market, the price, which
inchide.s all improvemtiit-. ' arying from £'20 ati acre round Toronto to £8 in the more tlistant
]iarts of the pnninee. Am . x'ci'Uent farm can be had, with well-huilt brick dwelling-house,
out-ofllees, et*., in a good district, for about JCVl an aero. There aro three causes at work which
place those farms in tho market : 1st. Rlany farmers have so run down naturally good land that
they find it no longer jn'ofitablo to farm it in the old M'.ay, and are either ignorantof howto bring
it into heart again, or have not capital cnotigh to enable them to do so, and must therefore sell.
•hid. JIany find tho 200 acre farm too small to keep a largo family together. Tho sons, of
niursf, wish to bo settled in farms of their own, and Afauitoba or tho North-West is the place
lli-y n.atiually turn to, ami tho capital realised by the sale of their 200 aci-es in Ontario is
ample tti start the lai-gost family most advantageously in this new country. 8rd. Many fanners,
having made money and liking' town life, prefi r to cell thiir f.irms and go into business.
T.<t it bo remendjored that the capital tl'.e miginal settlers started with to cle.ar away tho
ndghty forests was the strength of their museulai- arm--.
WAGKS AND TAXKS.
Wages are high, good men receiving from £oO to £!ir> ayear with board in Ont.ario; women-
fiervanls from £20 to X25. Taxes aro a mere b.agatcUe, aniounling to about Is. per acre, school-
rate included.
I was agreeably surprised to find that drunkotmess is not common in Canada ; indeed,
T was struck by the absence of spirituous liipiors .at the dinner-table in the hotels, and wa.s
;. mused when tohl by a waiter that any douljt about tho luitionality of a gu«st vanishes
the moment ho orders v.ine or boor, that being a sure sign of his hailing from the Old Covnitry.
1'he ratos of interest eliarged for money in Canada aro very high ; it is cpiite easy to get from
S to 10 per cent, with the very best security.
r.o.xna.
Thti roads are not so good ns in England. lloaJ-ratos are paid by labour, and, judi,'ing by the
work done, tho system is a b.wl ouo,
I'RKE r.ANn.
There is still some free-grant laml in Ontario, in tho Miiskoka district, principally bush. Tho
land, I believe, is good, but I did not visit it.
AGKICULTURAL COLI.EOE.
T cannot conclude my remarks on Ontario witliout mentioning the Agricultural College at
<;uelph. (,}\ielph itself is a fair-.'iized town in the county of Wellington, in the centre of a well-
cultivated district. The laud is pretty good, but not so rich as some other portions of tho
lirovince. There are several extensive brooders of both bhorthorns and Horefords in the neigli-
l)o>ulio(id ; indeed, all tho cattle in the district were particularly fine. Tho collogo is about a
mile from the town, and is supported by the Province of t)ntario. The fahn connected with it
contains about .'iOO acres. I inspected the system of instruction^ which is very complete, in«
clu<ling ut,t only ordinary agriculture and stock-raising, but a pr.octical knowledge of chemistry
.and veterinary science, two very vahmble branches to tho farmer, and very little known. The
crtlinary eiluoation of the student is ;.ot n •glooteil, for I see an English and mathematical course
laiil down, whieh, if taken advantage of, will uive tho fut\n-o farmer something more than hi.'j
bidlocks to think and talk of. Nor is horticulture forgotten, and I saw for' myself that the
student had, in the extensive ganUns connected with the college, ample opportunity of making
liinisi'If aeipuiiiited with that art whieli will enable him hereafter to beautify his homostoail aud
iupply his table with vegetable luxuries.
Among tho live-stock, six breeds of cattle are represented. I.e., Shorthorns, Horefords, Devnns,
Aberdeen pulls, Oallo vays, and Ayrshires. t)f sheep they have Cotswolds, Leicosters, South
Downs, and Oxfoixi Uowns. There ai'e also some very good Berkshire pigs. The fields, which,
as nearly as possible, contain 20 acres each, are fenced v. Jth straight board fences, and are ex-
tremely clean
Turn where you will, evidences of careful management and sound judgment meet you ; but
iftve (■•en a hudi^o
nture. The snake
ipearing. Owinj;
\-^ wire has Ixtu
ill never lie intro-
mtc to Iwi torn by
is a rule, n good
mtity of eTccUrnt
There is usually
ntations are tx'iii;^
the price, whicli
1 the more tlixtaut
k dwelling-honse,
HM at work whicli
lly ;,'i)nd land that
,nt of how to brine;
inst therefore sell,
ler. The sons, of
•West is the jilaeo
iwa in Ontario i.s
•d. Many fanners,
I Inisiness.
to clear away the
Ontario ; women-
i. per acre, school-
Canada ; Indeed,
: hotels, and was
a j^nest vani.shes
lie Old Country,
e easy to get from
id, jud-ing by the
Lcipally bush' The
lultural College at
e centre of a well-
:r portions of the
Drds in the ueiLjh-
collo^'o is about a
connected with it
very complete, in«
ledge of chemistry
ittle known. The
\thomatical course
ing more than hiii
r' myself that the
irtuuity of makin<r
his homestead aud
Terefords, Devons,
Leieesters, South
Tlie lields, which,
aaces, and are ex-
int meet you ; hv.^
Mr. R. II. B. P. Anderson's Report.
68
i|
one would expect nothing (,lse after having conversed with Professor P-rown, who has tl e prac-
tical working of the farm. Professor Krown is making soir.e experiments n cattle f';;'«"S' ""'I
breeding and with various crops, which I am sure will n^sult In much good. I'roni Mr. Mills,
he aUe%resident, I received great kindness. Not only did he, in conjunct .,n with Professor
Ih-own, show me through the various departments of the college, etc., but afterwards drove me
to several interesting places in the neighbourhood,
M.SNITODA.
On my way to Winnipeg I stopped a day at Chicago-a wonderful city, but one v»hkh, all
the same. I shoul.l prefer to live out ..f. It bears about as much mark of the fearful fue which
left it a heap of ashls a few year.s since, as London does .>f the ' Great * ire ; and its niagnil cent
stone buildings preclude the possibility of a repetition of such a disaster. I ^'^'t^'' ''^" .f'";"^"
vards, and found half the cattle and pig pens empty. I was informed it was a very small market
There were about 50,000 pigs and some 10,000 head of cattle. I went through one of the large
.laughtering.houses iM.wlers), and saw the whole process of bacon-cunng. It wa,s mai-vellouH
but very disgusting. They kill, on an average, bOOO pigs a day ... this establishment The
c.mi-ek.vators in Chicago ^re worth seeing ; 1 was surprised and delighted at ^he rapid tywih
which they either load or ..nload a col n vessel. Some of them hold as much as 500,000 bushels,
and one, I be':.. -, is capable of containing 1,000,000. , c , ■„ -r tn u
Utimd to. a few hours at Minneai«.lis, celebrated for its wonderful miUs I went throngli
„ne of th im-the largest, they say, in the world-and was amazed at the perfect cleanhness of
™ whole place There were numbers of ladies walking about, looking at the various operations,
and their black dresses were iv. free f rou. dust as they would be m a drawing-room.
WhUe passing through Minnesota I saw one of the nrtiny ruses the Americans practise
to ..revent emigrants going into Manitoba, in which they see such a powerful competitor
I mmition it heit. as it may prevent many persons being deceived 1 left my own oamage and
w^t into one full of emigrants, for the purpose of .juestioning them as to their destination.
1 peSetc' At one ..f the statious I remarked two Yankees apparently farmers chatting
tf'ether in the telegraph-office. A little before the train started they got on board, but
"idently wished to be thought strangers to each other. After a short time, one of them entered
, o cm versaUon with a Scftch emigrant, and discoursed eloquently on the horrors of Ma.iitoba
said it was a swamp that he had gone up there to farin. had lost nearly all h« P'^^/^-^^^ J' «."^
..iven it up as a bad job. He called the whole thing ' a big take-.n 'on the part of the Canadian
r!overnn"r.r The other fellow, meanwhile, joined in and recounted his experience to a gaping
^udTenceTa, d then Lh praised Minnesota and Dakota in ...e most extravagant tenns pointmg
out the very country we were passing through (splendid land some of it appeared to be) as a
siime.io7wr they could get for next to nothing if they chose to settle in the neighbour-
rocr^n wh ch they Lid they had just taken «p land-curiously enough, one in Minnesota, the
W in Dakota. I don't know how it ended, but I have Uttle doubt they induced so-no of their
hearers to remain in the States. The men were afterwards pointed out to me as'touters. I
S say that gre"thX were offered me by a land agenV, if I would consent o remain n
MtnneJota and ge some of my friends to come out .and join me there. To anyone intending to
.0 trManitoba or the North-West I would decidedly say, do not be kept back by any of tha
mimeroi^s America.. a.'ents you will meet, no matter what apparent advantages they m^y offer
rUndoXtedlyUre land in Northern Minnesota and Dakota is nearly as good as that n
llaiutcXa • but most of the good land-indeed, ALL of it within oonvenie.it d.sta.uie of the
n i wS-i^ ?n thXnds of tlfe railway company, aud is dearer ^"j- //« ^ -^ C*-^^^^^
thing the settler must bear in mind is that the average yield of M.nucota is but 18 bushels per
'" YsJort UmelfJer Sni\2e'sUtion of St. Vincent we were whirled across that imaginary
HuetSVeZS'^i United States from Canada, and I was '^l^^^ll^^l^^^f^'XlU:^'
been haunti.ig me day and night for --^J^ P-';-'J„^^^^^^^^^^^ the bt le 1" b.^in'Llike iir
iir^lfrvSdThChtftl^S^^^^^^
Ss^a^seby furn£i^^:r^:KH: ^as^^ui^ir i i^^
ci y o 12 000 or^l3.000 inhaWtants, the floati.ig population alone l^!"S «^„'""^*'; ^tlionably-
w..,^ ,.to the Presbyterian place of worship and found assembled 1200 or IdOO fastiion.imy
went ...to the 1 '««'iy'';"^ » "^ , ^i^h I consider a decided improvement, it would not
i;:rbtrSto"b:^eVe"l was'ln tt: ch«rch of some Presbyterian divhie in the good towa
"^ ^Tw^verv fine rivers join at the. city of Winnipeg - u.e Assinibolne and the lied River, which
are iiavilable for hmidreds of miles.' To give some idea of the importance of Winnipeg, [
■^rr^c^-'i- .'■ -"WSfSS^iiii^Wi --T
CO J//-. U. II. /'• /'• Aiidu-Mii'i^ i:,/«>i(.
,auy BUY that it huj-ixmIh th.oo Imukn um.1 ...m« ci«ht or t'^" ;«-;;. ^^''^^''/''^J^' J'^,*,-!';^
uii club and Hix .!.• eight churchoH. which are i,'--"^ ^ -f/ .^ ,^^^' , ...uaY ze n
^'"■^;; £r^^K^*MfH::;iK1he Ooven..nent^ntat ^^^^'^^Z^:!,
his time in travelling, and >» »tt«n^l"S t<\hi3 ia.Uan.tni.u.> a^
of the hottest days of this year in Manitoba 7'"\y ^^;'^^-);,^\f^C TeV^^^ For some
venience from the heat, except b«'"g 5''"^ '^ *'' ^'^.^ Zl of 1«^^^ district
landlord took me to see a field of barley, Bown on the 12th of •T"l> ''J^^^^^f/j"^'^.^ jj ^^
igiHiipsill
r lomn to their co'mpany. Next morning I started <>lJ^yj'g^^\^2 "^ N^w thJt the
w~d I wLlS ;,r^^ isefby "he n^^^ and variety of the birds-one spec- s. resembliag
P frf 1p la pS ThichVfew years ago was part of an uninhabited waste is now a thru .ng little
Mr MoKenzie considers that cattle do even better in Manitoba than Ontario, in spite of the
iTavinTteen In Ontario farmer himself. On this farm I saw some excellent root^, beet and
iteTT.'?, T^jl. IJi. "«»..t 'into th. M»llol«n> ,.m.n.tor. So ™d, to th.
:i
luiUls ; ha,s a very
Tlieiu is a, vorv fine
>wu of t'i|ual Kize in
a laiiy'w hair-pin in
nnipeg, who procinvJ
:e this opportunity "f
^rtuient at Winnipej,',
'acilitating my innvi-
er calling upon these
I reliable information.
,, who wished to see
companion for a few
t a little pluck can do
it his trade, that of a
i-tune, and is spendinj,'
tarted at noon on one
, but I felt no incon-
;ry slowly. For some
bhy land, this district
iiinj; is not good. Yet,
ime wonderfully heavy
il of it, I was prepared
im which I found. I
nn for the night. My
as eight or nine inches
itember frosts — a light
it oflf, it would yield a
3med to need draining,
th a whole ftvmily of
should have preferred
5.30 a.m., and had to
rack. Now that the
effort at road-making.
rse for myself through
ie not nearly so mono-
ler, but quite enough of
t was large enough for
leemed perfection; dry
nificent crops of wheat
-one spec -s, resembling
!m. However, they can
look his head, and said,
all have over thirty-five
ts, they looked verypic-
d the curiosity to enter
iharge of fastidiousness,
e, is now a thri\ ing little
elva miles from Portage
;h much kindness. Mr.
ten crops in succession,
;he eleventh was ever so
while the straw was less
they were fair animals.
Ontario, in spite of the
it is a less trying winter,
He is a good authority,
excellent roots, beet and
ive miles North-West of
ks that is crossed you get
On my return journey
great numbers of cattle
kept without difficulty
utes, that a grazier In
vcre quite fat, and this
)er. So much for th^
.1/,-. /.'. JI. li. P- Andcmni's /?rj<ort.
(17
prairie grass, the iutroauc:!.. of ,ood " ^>;;»/;^ j^^'t'^ nKjre^n^t bo
Lw many magnificent work-oxcn "-"""g. *''«'"■ ""J^ht the rgo"*^ ^ *""""
good milkers. These oxen avo very useful "^ «"^"K^*' S.fland. For 'breaking" th,
particularly so in a ,<=''""t^y '"t^"^ ,f J^^J, JS making it hard work for horses i l^sides,
prairie they are invaluable, the sod being very tough, >"« " ,.^ j , „{ ..^ts. I an.
L ox requircH no f.^od but grass and the horse ca^mo 1' - ^^^^hou' a hbcra ^^^ pp y^ ^^^ ^^^
told that oxen trained in Manitobiv a.e ™ ,*^*!^' *Xborn I was amused on one occasion
United States ; the latter are """f y » ""^ «^J iHru y obsUnate brutes to deal with, and w<vs
by the remark of an ox-driver. H'',,*™' .^?. P^'J^l ^y anm without seeming to affect eithor
using bc^h his whip and ^'^n^-i^'^^y "Xirn^vt Teem rather a har'd time of it my
their hides or hearts much. I said to him. You seem lo n blessing and a little
friend, since you find cursing and he w>. 1> "« Rood Why^ot^tiy ^ ^^^^^^^^
gentle persuasion ?' ' ^o "se, said he ; 1 *"\'}.""'°1."\ ",'•„„ t i ^fw a religious man when
^xen for the last five year., and thou.'h you would ^^.^'^^^^Vserv.Uod and drive oxen ; it
I began, but I have at last come o the «"> °1»« »" *Jf .J' « ^^^ ^possible ; that abuse seems t..
is im>»sible.- The best authorities, however »«» "^ '* » ^^'tC^hip will make them do good
«tnpify the animal, but that «f"t'«"^^\*'''^ 'J" ''f ""'"!!, ^ having been got over amid the
work. I reached Winnipeg I'^'^f ''^">s'^*' *^^^\''f *^^„ " ^^^^^^^^
glories of the most magnificent thunderstorn 1 ^^^J^''"^".^^'; the n'.L of the rain was quite
fmagination. T^^ thunder w.s no very loud .^^^^^^
suflioient to make up for this. There ''^ "f^'y ''em Next day I left Winnii)eg, prepared for
summer, but very rarely .s any damage <»' "« '^Y, ^''^^^ J"^^^^^ i„ a south-westerly direc
camping out-and a most enjoyable ^^ i J ^^imt outside w'n^^^^ my horses fell 'all of a
tionf I met my first mishap crossing the feny 3 «f ^^^Z;,;'' "^^ J tL„ got up uninjured. We
heap- on the ferry-boat, but lay quiet y till we f ''«^«» *^titVate and much of it was covere.l
trav'Llled for some miles close to ^^e "v- ; he land was fi^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ „f
with light timber. Near Morns I was «truck ^y;'^X;ed from some bliglit, while the rest
wheat, part of which seemed to have fa led, or *" •'^''- J""*^;^^ '„^„g, t,,!^ nie it was the effect
was covered by a luxuriant crop. On '"^"'""8 *he c^^^^^^^^ they "^nerally occur in July, and are
of a hail-storm. These hail-storms ''7"«'""'^V'" f ^'^ ' s a mUe wide, but perfectly straight,
extremely partial, cutting the crops down in "^ ^elt JH-ihaps a "» « ' ^^ \ however,
right through the district visited. It is wel they are m.t vu-y ' ■^•1"«^»- ^^^^^ The return is
do not make much of it a.s they say there » ''>«'£3;^^«~«i^t behind, I passed through ai.
generally eight bushel. '»«t'^^f/;*^\«'?*y^f^;^,„'''' The Messrs. Lowe have something ike
immense marsh on my way to the Lowe >arm ^^^ excellent, but too wet ; it is
19,000 acres in this neighbourhood m two ™- ^j'^j'^" There is some difficulty about
adminably suited for stock-raising, as hero '« "^^undance of hay. ine ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^
the watei-supply, which, I am sure, will be o^o oa^o. They "r« ^ort ^^^^ ^, „„j j^ ,,m
of the Government cuttings run near them, which ^^'" '"''";" . miles of flat treeless
then be fit f.r any purpose. Ihad f-!7 , b-;P>--.;^J";^^*^^"^8'^hra t JTf extricating myself
prairie, mu.V of it marshy, and I could bonst a a r eM«:"encc i .^ ^^^^^
from a 'si...,' by the time I '■^''■^'''-'^.^^^l^^'J t',, Jf farnier? who seemed niuch pleased with
rolling, dry, and rich Here I."/;,'' ^'"^''-^'^^ °\,^',n' t^ 'w^ through the tembina Mountains.
the country : he had taken up •^TO^P^^^^^^Y^^T.h and very easily worked. Three years ago
I was greatly pleased ^^''/j/'^" ''"'^; X\': "a 'tr c^^ Tu w for fifty miles round there are few, if
there were not a dozen settlers m *h*^,;:^l''^i7^™\,i^rValley, which is a really beautiful sj.ot,
any, quarter sections unoccupied. In t*>'',^'«fXd Atchison whose only cause for grumbling
I i'et two young I/i«h.nen, Messrs Arms rm.gand^^^^^^^^ ^^^ y ^ ,^ ,^ ,,,_ i
wa8 the scarcity of wives ; they told me if I ^ ™t, ""» very disagioJlvblG opportunity of
would make my fortune. Here t^vo daj ''^'" e»^c «ne a j ,, ^^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^
judging what wet weather in M.anitoba is. ^ ^'^^' "7V";,^ j uke to try the experiment
'drenching, nor for havingto let my clothes dvy ^^^^-^^^^ZIT^,,^ , I ani here foiir years
in this country. Kemarking on n.y escape '' »^«"^^^ country in the direction of
and have never heard a man cough yet I ba ^ a K" '^ ^"^»' . j J^^ ^.^^.^^J, Mountain
Kock Lake, but had not time to go ..« far « t^o ^"^1^ tli emlryo city occupies a good and
City, the prope; ty of Dr Codd ■"'<! J^ ;,^;;'- ;>• ^Z is in the middle of a rich district, the
central position as regards some of the other town , aiiu
owners may be congratulated. iir„....„«Jf* Pp.iprve Which stretches forty miles
About ten miles%ast of Mount..in City is \heMennc«ite Reserve, w men ^^^^
towards Emerson. These pcple have a ^'^^^^^^^^"^^'"^li'Te^^^r than any others in the
hard-working, and, as contract '» '""I': • ""."^'^^^tiXerso^ in farming. Their crops wcro
Province. But they are not «ver-cloan, either in then persoi ,^^.^ ^^^^,^ ^j^„
very good, but showed careless cultivation. They glow very nne na
aro'verv numerous and of fair quality. ,,K,m...t Tslaiti'l for Kmi'rson, whieli pUirc I
Having spent a good wliilo fcxainiumg this srltli-ment, 1 siaiu
ill
; -.5aiaS?*««^f'??ar-^»»*;
J
03
Mr. n. II. /<• V- Andii-mn'i licpod.
1,', mill I'.'ft it iiuxt
haviiv; tr.\VLllt;il ovol
HIM' inclined to Imik niinn it w a inuih move ticridus nl
litllo to i-uniovo thuse imprtwMionH : it miint lie cxpeiiencc'Ci
vov.lu.aiivlointhofveniiiuMiuil 1','rt itnuxt .U.V onniy liiiniiiV.:iv.ljo;ivMoy, , •. „
; UJ . h:nuU.a „,ile. of U>o country , and vet I feci Y''-:;'}r"'"t^:i {'Xu m^"' vo
^ccn it 80 Moidl w,i.s the p.irtion I examined eo.ni»ucd with the vast ^^ hole. 1 »ludl noxv uc
Bum., idea of the croi,., climate, etc., nndor their varions head«, and state the conclusions I drew
fioin my vinit.
CLIMATK AND iiKA.SO^a.
Th. climate of Manitoba ntid the Novth-We-t is one of their most Ronons.h-awhacl<«, but we
Ifidi' than it really iH. DeHcnptu n win oo
d to lio m\der»tood. At liom.', exec- live
i;,.Mt isgenerally accompanied by o].presHivenes«;with ilH attendant weariness and j'^-^i'^ ; "";
cold. aA rnle. with dampne.H, which make, it raw and p ere uu,. Now this '; "''^ " "'^^^
Manitoba or the North-We.t. The heat ,.t lOO' was iindmib edly ^^''^'f '''i^;^;" ~'f u n
fnmi personal experience-without miltriness. I perspiie<l free y, but "th"WHo fe t n . ni
nmvei ience. and liad energy enon-h for any nmonnt .,f work. This wrh an timiHual <l"-!»'-;
L"t the Biimmer mean in, I believe, about 70». l^su..lly durin-. B.immer there ., a plea.M
breeze, and the hi-her the theniiometcr stands the more likely is there to be ft breeze, r^o
matte how hot the day, the ni,udit is sure to be cool. Jn winter the cold is very great mt
niithincT like what it is at homo in proportion to the desreos of frost; if it were amnml life
would ''cease, for the thermometer sometimes sinks to W and r.O'below zero-just .magine
what that wouhl mean in J':ngland !-but when it dons so it is certain to be 'i.<;'="'"ra"i«d by a
briaht and perfectly still ntinosj.here and a warm sun. However, as a rule, it stands «;* «r"m
10' to 15'^. As I had not an opportunity of experiencing it myself, I was not content with tne
testimony of the ordinary settler c.mcerning it, but had that of such men as the fiishop of the
Saskatchewan and clergymen of various denominations, as well as bankers and others, on whoso
oiiinion I could rely. AH agref d in sayini; that one feels no uolder when the thermometer stands
at 40° than when it is at lO'^ below zero, nuit that winter is a delightful part of the year.
Numbers of people from Ontario said the climate of Manitoba compared favourably with that ot
Ontario. Th.^r« are, however, slight deviations which are intensely disagreeable. In the summer
there are sometimes extremely high winds and hail-storms, and in the winter storms of wind and
snow—' bli/.zurds ' as they are called. In spring and earlv autumn frosts sometimes occur, wine i
do no good to th. crops ; but all these thim.'s iipply to the Western Htntes of America just as mi.ch
as they do to Manitoba. Indians camp out in their wretched canvas-covered tents ibiring the
most severe wii ters, and white men, when hunting, have often to do the same, find think ""*"'"«
of it A curioiv. fact is that Kuropeans, for the first two winters, bear the cold better than the
Canadians themsc'ves. Snow does not fall to any extent till the beginning of the year, and
BcUlom exceeds an as -rage of eighteen or twenty inches in depth. When the thaw comes it is
unaccompanied by tha^ abominable slushines.s we .h.ive at home; the snow evaporates leaving
the ground dry. ] )uring spring and early summer an immense deal of ram falls ; drought, whtch
BO often ruins "the farmer in the United States, nevt r oec.u-s here. The dews are so heavy that
one would imagine there had been a fall of rain in the night. The seasons arc as follows :
Si)ring, April and May ; summer, .Tune, July and Ai gust, and part of September; autumn, part
of September to the middle of Noveudier ; and then vinter. Of course in so extensive a country
as Canada there is some slight difference in climate. In Ontario the harvest is ten days earlier
than in Manitoba. All agree that a.s regards health the climate of the North-West cannot be
surpassed. , ,
BOIT,.
Tlio soil varies much, as it is natural to suppose over so large a tr.act ; but as a rule it is a
rich, black, vi'getable mould, working very like clay— rich bevuiid imagination— and resting on
a mavly clay. The depth of the surf.iee .'oil vaiies a good di.il, in »onie places not more than
ten or twelve inches, in others us many feet. I am informed that chemical analysis ha.! provetl
the soil t.i be the best a'.lapted of any in the world for the growth of wheat, and certainly prac-
tical experience bears this out. It i J very easily -ivorked, becoming as fine a.s powder. However,
there arc all descriptions of soil to be had here, from the heaviest clay to the lightent sandy
loam,
ritODL"CT.S.
Wheat, of course, is the principal product, barley next, and then oats. Indian com (maize) does
fairly in some places, but is not grown to any extent. Oats stem to riprni too fast, and while it
yields a great number of bushels to the acre, "is not up to the mark as regards quality. Potatoes
are an excellent crop, both as regards quantity and quality (though I did meet some of a poor
enough description) ; all roots grow to perfection. Among the grasses timothy and cocksfoot
jirove a success ; clover yields a pood return ; lucerne and liungarian grass thrive wonderfuHy.
As reganls the average yield I must say of this country as of Ontario, that it is absurd to strike
an average. About twenty-five bushels is given as the average for wheat, but I have seen forty-
five to the aero ; six to eight tons is cousidur-d an ordinary erop of potatoes, with the most
extraordinarily rough cultivation. Of coursi-, climate is a very important factor, but I have no
iviiv; tr.WL'Utiil ovci
I ti> tipi^ak as li:vviur{
J. 1 shall new ^ivo
J coiicliioions I druw
s ih-awhacks, bnt we
Dosciiptii II will "! I
At liiiiu', i:xi;f- iIm'
sH 1111(1 iiici tin. ; niiil
lis iM not thu oa.xo in
80, but— 1111(1 I Bpi'ivk
therwiso folt iv> iu-
(in timisiml (ii.',i;i-eo of
r there is a pleivsiiiil,
to bo ft breeze. Nn
J in very great, but
f it were, animal lif'-
V zero — just imagine
be accompanied by iv
ule, it Ktnnds at from
not content with thu
iiH the Bishop of the
and others, on whose
e thermometer .-'tands
ful part of the year,
vourahly with that of
■able. In the Riiinmcr
er storms of wind and
nietimes occnr, which
America just as much
ered tents durinj; the
me, and think nothinj,'
1 cold better than the
nini; of the year, and
1 the thaw comes it is
iw evaporates, leaving;
falls ; drought, which
lews are so heavy that
eayons arc as follows :
tember ; autiinin, part
so extensive a country
i-est is ten days earlier
North-West cannot be
; ; but as n rule it is a
latioii — and resting on
a places not more than
;al analysis ha-i proved
lat, and certainly prac-
as powder. However,
y to the lightuHt .:>andy
ndian com (maize) does
r too fast, and while it
irds quality. Potatoes
id meet some of a poor
timothy and cocksfoot
[vss thrive wonderfully,
it it is absurd to strike
, but I have seen forty-
jotatoes, with the most
t factor, but I have no
^f,^. ;,'. //. ;.'. /'• -i'"''
•I full S
Uqort.
60
1 1 ■,,„!>. I, w li.wiMo^s (Mil s'Tir,'. in Manit'.l^a lit\nii-r
,„,i.at!on in ..vin. that r-.y "->-';;: ^^;::;';;;:;'^^i'uiVe:,;„rv, und uith on.-balf tho l:,h.,ur
,i Ki„ „f any crop that will -rou ^l'''' "'■;';. :''';,1,,,,, ^ndis oxcclKnt food for catll- .and
.,,.1 expense. The natural -nuss is ^^''"''^'V', ^ , , .\; "verv dav. (Jnriouslv. tlie slic.p
:,,„p. ^She.p.fav,.,in, is ^^^^Jl^^^'^l ^^^i^^^Z Manitoba ever' bein, a fruit
.. uis to pivfer tho coarser parts of the ijr.iss. | '"" " ,, , jj j .„^v abundantly in a
„„ntry ; 'strawberries, raspberries euvraias "'j; .,.f ' ^j ^v n.Hit ^ar-^it seemed a stru,',le
. ild state ; and I Iv.ve seen m\ trees that '- '; ^^ "^^ 'J ^"^^ " A.-w. Melons, tomatoes, etc.,
,ith them to hold their ground ; but peac les, K ; P'- ; ^^^^'l ^^^^ .' ,^ ;„ t^, „' ^ir. The.e I
,,„ be gnnvn. in u^v n->'t> .V- and ^I'^'^'^lSX^ ""^.^.l^ ,1^^^.. of all deseript on.
;;:i;!uS'l^:rdol!Sed ^y\.!: Ual:^ iol,!" the «ower-,araens in front of the Men.iou.t.
I ii^es presented. .,.,.,„,.
. . .. ,,,.(. .,f All. mst- i4 tho time for brsakiuK the prairie ; the
.Tune and July, and, in a wet year, part '1 ^u !:•«[■- ■* *^° J . ,,^,.,j ,,,,,,„ turned up, and
..,„, is wull up in the ,rass, etc., >vhu.li w e «.!> l,^! J-\ ^ 7' , ™ j ,„,,a, the nv-re lightly the
(hl. ground is wet, making easy ^'''^Ih "Hf- |hc, «-^ ' i„ ,.,„ ,Uumn or spring the furrows
Wa.x ; the furrow ■.urned is about ^ \.'- '" ~ i„ the spring the s<..ed is sown, often
,n: backset, the plough turning about thrto inches , s 1. J Jy^,,,ru neglected. AMi-at is
vlthont further ploughing, and havrowed u ^^ f ;^,;! ^; ^^oX^iU-r ; oat. till the end of
.,wn from the mth of April to the j-^^h of Ma , he ^ ^^
Mav, and barley till the end of .lune. I 1^' ^^ "^fj; ' V;^,;' , j ;,eh, viz., two bushels. Harvest
„f j'uly. The quantity of see(l p('r acre IS a 01^ he s,vn.o ^'^l > „ ^,,^ .^oth of dune,
,„ .ins in the middle of August ; potatoes, turnups «-tc., c.m ^..,,,„nK.r. The hay
.ud fall ploughing, the great secret ^^r.---' «^ j^aZ ,a d.-llar a U.. by the time it is in
harvest, in July, IS a simple atlair. ^ '^•" '*;,,, 7^,^,', ,,„t eva^pt as a makeshift the hrst year,
the stack ; a crop can be raised -n. the ^""^ '"'»'; "a-he fanning implements are all .^f the
it ought not to be <^'"^;tHe yH,l,l IS uret.,be K.r ihc^^^^^
v,.vv best (lescription, nu.de with a ^.ew to 1(3 sain,^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ j^^^, , ^^, ,, ,^
;,„d a good te.an. can break or '"f , ^ J "'„ '7, ' utv With a selfbindiug reaping machine
,,,„g plough and four hor-.'s about ^'''''l'''^ * '^* ~^^^^^ ,,e cut, bound, and stocked in a day.
^tended by two stoekers, froni twelve ^;'/f^l'"f';;,^"" Manure is of no value, and is either
I have seen these machines do r"''/ 'v^"'vL' ' : ^^ lake fue of it). It will be years befor.;
burned or carted to the nearest nver(h(= ^^ ." """'i^^,;' ,Xay th.at ol.r highclass Knglish and
,„e land rcpiires it or indeed woij beai ■ ^^J^ J^^' * ^y,,,,,,,, „,„, it is proved, that care
Scotch farming is at all ■''•'^;'^«".\f''\J'"\ f .,, ^ i„ Manitoba. I have, anunig my
iJl'^^i^f ZSrirlA ^:J^^ ^t w,^ SSU that untH tl.ey came to Man.tob.
th.;y never lived out of town. ^^ ^uKTtxn
T;P to the present, an(I for somo^years t.J^ ^W i^ -£ ^'S S^ll^^S wl^S
kinds of produce, owing to the lnflu^ of ^^"'^;•,, /"^J'l..^,,. 1 V to 2 dollars per bushel,
ahuost pay in this c(,nntry : wheat uiout-.J-O^^-^^^^^^^^^^^^^ price is about
and I have been charged as high a« 1 '' ^r a u=n Timothy hay sells readily
.onts ; potatoes as high as 40 cen s, and e ^O t'u g e se m 1 ^^^^^^^ ^,^^ ^
far 1.5 dollars per ton. Two s id ings a " f" J '^^^J^^^j.^ees Liverpool will be the market for
l,ong before the country is settled enough t"!'^; ;[^ ,;>^'(^^'^^Xa ha( the pleasure of hearing that
Ma,.it(,ba and the North-West. Since my '■•^'^ntvithT umber of I'.liglish capit.alists for the
the Canadian Government have '"a'''j,"[a"f "'^"'^ ; ^^j^^^'^^;^"^^ finished within ten years
onstruction of the Canadian l^a^l^V'Vtirnau"! To suppose that within three years at
The line will be about 2800 "..Ics ong, s(. it is i atu a o^ ^^^_^ ^^^. ^,.^,,^^ ^^^,„,|,
furthest between 800 and lOCO miles ..f it ^ i'^,*^;' V 7; *^ „' „^rketal>le distance of Liver-
lines, which are abo under contract w, 1 '^PO" and b u tmn .^ ^,u ,„ taken up,
1„H,1 a tr,act of country that, no matter '7^^' '; 1 f >i ^^ ^'^J '^^^i^ ^ M^y 'of the present y.uir, the
u„ch less cultivated, for the next f'-'-'^y^f'^^.'/^itheWn peg an(lHuds..n's Bay Company,
(iovermnent granted a charter to a,co";panj, entitled thOV >^ » ^,^^ ^^^^ to Tort
wlm want to open up the Hudson s Bay '''^ f '. ^f ^y^^^,^,,, 'nuide ..n the same principle asthe
Nelson opened within six years. It is ^^'W' '~^^ *J^ ^^^'^'i^^^f^'threo months of the year. This
Seeding Aeaniers, will be able to ;';'-^;f t"^^ ^^'^^^^.^st nearer o Liverpool than New York is,
rr.ute will bring the great wheat helds of tl>« > ' '^'h \V t^ t nt ^1^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ s.aistied. I
so that on the score of marK-ets for heir V'-'^f"7^\^'' "[^^^f^' .^^^r.un t^ Saskatchewan on the
thh.k I am safe in s.aying that it will be 1" ^«l''°,^"£f ;.;,,,,, ,it to the farmer. And by the
J,iverpool market for about 28s. per '^''^^'f''l''^^^^.a)Th^uv.r mi..ht almost sell his cnn to
.\nieAcan storage system (our ^are V;■^.>.>S l^a 5^1^^^^;^ j;'^^^,^,t h s hom.^stead. By this I
a bin er in Liver,M>ol while it was stil at tl'C= , > ^ "f^^ ^^ jt. 'fhere is an ele. ator at
,n,autllatabrokeMnLivevp.K,l^^^.|aKHee^lun.^^^^^ .^ .^ ^^^^^ ^,,,^ the
iJiiioot every station for storing the coiU. \M.en
"tmr wssasKBC"
,-752-!S'-j!-3,^"«s*rsr-.-r
->" ■5^;s??*-.''^'-j»r5s«feig!f *
70
Mr. n. ir. /;. /'. Amknoa's I?cj>ort.
owner is fjivcn a docket showing the (,'Mile and number of bunholK, whicli docket is ncgotialjj
anywhere.
CATTLE, SHEEP, AND HORSKS
thrive well, and in Bpitc of tho long winter, during which they must be houacd. StockraiHinp; ii
{ound very profitaMe, hay can lie had in abundance, and cattle kec)i their condition well on it. 1
Hoe no reaHOR why they could not bo Bhipped to Enjrland from Manitoba when iho Canadinn
Pacific Railway ia fiiuHhcd. At prcBcnt there are not many well-bred cattle or sheep In th"
country, but the number is increaHiiig rapidly year by year. 1 made Hcarching inqiiiries regartl
ing the danger of wpear-gi-ass to sheep, and found it was very nnieh exaggerated ; it is only to the
careless or lazy farmer it presents any ditHculty ; it is by no means connnon, and in the distrirt*
where it grows it can be rendered harmless by eating it down early, or by nmning a mowini,'
machine over the patches of ground covered by it. I Iieard some comiilaints about the difficulty
of keeping horsoH in Manitoba. In my opinion, and I judge by what I saw, it would be cntinly
obviated by supplying plenty of good hay and oats. Horses cannot live on tho prairie gra;
Mules are e.\tremoly good, some of them magnificent brutes, standing seventeen hands high ; thi y
seemed to grow fat on the gi-ass, and are altogether hardier and more adapted to the coimtry in
its present state (till more timothy and oats are grown) than the horse, but they are much dearrr,
Oxen, however, are the mainstay of the farmer in cultivating his fann, i'- fact, in breaking tht
prairie he could scarcely do without tliein — thoy are jMiwerful brutes, and i'or oxen, are wonder-
fully active ; they cost nothing for keep, and also have the aflvantage of being cheaper tliim
cither horses or nudes. An ox coatii aliout-£14, a hor . about J,2.'), and a mule about Jt!!.'.
Good milch cows can be had for aljout X8 ; sheep, 12s. to los. each. I forgot to say that the ]%
seems to be at home here, as everywhere else. I saw some prize BerkshircB, eighty miles frnm
Winnipeg, that had been brought from Ontario, and seemed happy in their new ipiarters. Tho
ordinary diseases to whicli stock are liable in Ireland are unknown in any part of Canada, nor ii
there any, that I heard of, peculiar to the country.
TREE CCLTCnE
is comparatively easy. The soil must be dry, and in a state of thorough cultivation. Make th^
pits one-half deeper and wider than the roots require, and plant one inch higher than the old mark
on tho stem, at a distance of about seven feet apart in evei'y direction. In making a plantation, if
possible let a convex surface be presented to the prevailing wind, as tliis will greatly aid the
growth. Keep the ground free from weeds and long grass among tho trees, and, as thi
plantation rises, cut just enough to prevent the trees interfering with one another's growth.
Spring, from 1st of April to 1st of June, is the time for planting. Two men ought to set abmit
200 trees a day. AVhen the ground is ready for them, let the plantation be fenced in and pro
tected from prairie firvs, the natural enemy of forests in tlie North-West. It will be said.
Where are trees to be had ? There are millions of yoimg plants in any of the belts of timbur
growing along the rivcrbanks. Many species grow from cuttings, in particular tho cotton-
wood tree. In planting cuttings, sink them deep, leaving but one or two buds above the ground.
Other kinds grow very rapidly from seed, particularly tho soft maple, which I have seen 15 inches
high nine mouths after the seed was sown ; and plant.-i but ten years old were from 8 to 10 focjt
high, and (juite bushy. These are beautiful and useful trees. The seed is to be had in abundance.
It ripens in June, and should "be sown at once, as if it dries it fails to grow.
Perhaps I have been ton particular in giving these details, but I consider tree cultivation of
the utmost importance. Nothing can ijieak more strongly fur the luxuriance of the natund
grasses, and conse<iuently for the richness of tho soil, than the fact that the-se great treek.-;s
prairies do not suffer from drought, and are so wonderfully productive. It is well known tliiit
tho destruction of forests over large tr.icts of cnuntry is usually productive of barrenness of tho
soil from two causes : 1st, moisture is not attr.acted ; 2nd, any moisture there may be is evap"-
rated from want of protection. Trec-jilanting also h.".s a ni.iterial effect upon the temperature,
and breaks the foi-ce of the winds, etc. While I do not say that the North-West re<iuires
increased dampness, nor would it be an improvement in such a cold country, the v.ilue of the
shelter afforded by plantation, putting all other considerations aside, cannot bo calculated. If
the Government would again put the tree cultiu'e regulations in force, and have sonio simple
instructions drawn up and circulated .imong the settlers, and foi-ced tht; regulations to be rigidly
adhered to, I think it wpidd benefit the country.
FESCIKO
is an easy operation. I havo known two men put down an Irlnglish mile long of feni;in ,>■ in a
day. The snake fence is much used.
I
Mr. n. II. /I. /'. •'"■''
rrf'ili ^
li'iji'irl.
n
ch docket is np^'otlaKi
ouscd. StockraiHinp; is
r condition well on it. 1
i)bn whun iho Canadinn
cuttle or sheep In th"
irching inquiries regarel
;oratod ; it is only to the
lion, and in the distrirtt
r by running a mowini,'
nints about the difficulty
saw, it would be cntinly
ive on tho prairie gra
uutcen hands high ; thi y
lapted to the country in
ut they are much dearer,
i'- fact, in breaking tin
111 ior oxen, are wonikr-
;e of being cheaper than
and n mule about £l'.'\
forgot to say that tho jiig
hires, eighty miles frnm
heir new (juarters. The
ly part of Canada, nor u
h cultivation. Make th;
higher than the old mark
[n making a plantation, if
this will greatly aid the
; tho trees, and, as thi
1 one another's growth.
) men ought to set abmit
(in be fenced in and pro
-West. It will be said,
my of the belts of timbur
n particular tho cotton-
1) buds above the grouml.
lich I bave seen IS inches
d were from 8 to 10 fecjt
s to be had in abundance,
row.
nsider tree cultivation uf
ixuriance of the natural
that these great treek.-is
!. It is well known th;it
:ti\'e of barrenness of tho
•e there m.iy be is evapn-
ct upon tho tumperattiri',
ho North-West re<iuircs
countrj-, the v.ilue of the
:annot bo calculated. If
3, and have some simple
regulations to be rigitily
nile loni: of feilein ' in a
lil'lLlMNa
^ ■ 1 I A „, fH..r <'iii bv crivinsf his own labour and that of
i. not at all so difficult as I had ^'-in;"^^''; .^^^f, ^ a\, ^ f log-lumses, bave a comfortable log-
,,is oxen, and hiring a -"-,\/J;V n wS> a g^ J.i'ft ovefh.ad, w.ll -thatched, the crevices
hut put up-about IS by 22 feet "«''';• ;'',,7J' - . „,,„„t i;i5. Th.'se huts are warm and
,. in u^th brick-day, and nicely ."''*';^^'^^'^^^ "„,;.' u .Kar in Manitoba, on account
,„mf«rtable. Better-class houses '"•''•/.^ ' ^'^^^ , ',",,, Mn.ost auvwher.., and I believe
i:!.£ ::S:l";;;::i:^...Kr'^r;;e i::;:^. z.^ >.. win..ipe, are ...., rapidiy replaced
hy liandaomo brick structures. ^^ ^^^^^^
„ .1 . 1 „,.r- tl>.,t there is a L'ood suiiplv of water in anclgh-
Tho settler mu.t, above all t'""^'"- '"»'^'; , '^^ "v.v.ft^ /there is mme but brackish water
supply of delicious water to be hud by diggmg iiom lo v . ■»«
FUEL.
Timber is the principal fuel. '^-.^f-.,-.jxriSbiS.:tr;;:^»::S't::'-
i::;rS,£" Th^'i ^■^o';r:.ff'^U oriltthJ Saskatchewan ktrict. which .iU
r.nne into use on the completion of the railway.
I.AHOtll.
There are plenty of men to be had, but wages are lu^^^
per day during the spring and summer : ^ut £30 ^i tmmand almost as high wages as the men.
laan by the year. Women serv-ants are 7"=«; '^ '^ ~;\"? by no means a bad plan. Culti-
^ '^""'"^- rilOVISIOKH, SrACHlNEllY, ETC.
iiLikes very little difference to the Bettler. j^ . Ontario. And I believe, in spite
''••^?r£;riSSrhear tha. late^
:■ f ^ri^ Z ^2;:^'ri£?^: rSi: uS?:Kng advantage of them, which speaks
well for the country. ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^
These two may well go together, /o-n^^^^^^^^
roads and the present tracks over the prame h*;^^ —^""^^he beaten soil becomes as hard as
weather they are uncommonly Pl«'^;»"\f°' *'*13 TAe traveller finds himself floundering
nietal. but a single shovverchanges^thea^^^^^^ ,, North-West U
in a mass of black, sticky mud. Ihis « » '•"^'^^^ draina-'e. so that the tracks are always in
much higher and drier and ^^^'^f, '''"^'^^^.^Jriow^^^^^^^ but there is very little of it
fair condition. Manitoba, on the other hand is^thu ^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^
that cannot be easily drau.ed ^"1*^' ,^tW?aU tLou"^ t^^ «™"*^y' «" ^^"^ ^*™'=' can easdy
drainage works ; they are '"f'^\"S deep cut i^s alth.o^^^^ ^..nderful effect. Within the last
manage the rest by surface J7'"}\g^.'S"\"^teen divided into municipal divi dons, and each
SuTbrdnoCX^th? 1>J^^^^^^^^ of it« roads and other public works.
SCHOOLS AND TAXES.
cuuntry, and will I am sure, be kept so.
PVRCHARK AND DIVISION OP LAND.
The country is divided into belts, 5. 15, 20, and 50 miles wide on each side of the railway ,
t ~**:i»»j(^(ii£f»ii«r;'*- -
7a
Mr. If. II n. I'. .l,((/-/M'/,'s
n.
'7'
rf.
thcHO l)cltH nrc ajraln (livulcil into town IiijH nf tf h.|umic iuIIim mchi tliiso Rcctions ftjini" nr''
divided into (|ii;irUr sictidTis of lUO lu iv- > ucli. Two ^L■l■tioM.~ in imlIi lown.^liij) iiiv •^ol iqpait for
.-(•linnl jniriioiCH, and two lulont,' to tlio KimImius l!a.v Cojiiijaio. Tliu nectioiiH avo iniifoiinly
niinibtTfd fnmj tho wuitli ciutirly to tlio iiorlliwiMturly au^di-, tiu- oilJuniuliured Kcctious in
eaoli towiiHliii) avu railway lands, i.e., landn to he sold to icaliHt^ funds for tliu conHtructiou of tli ■
Canadian I'acilic llailway, and tht' uvon nnndH-rud hoctions am Kt-t ajmit for frcuhoiiicHtciwlH and
jin-fniiition lands. Thu landi< are pi-icid aiconliny to thu licit in which they lio ; in othtT^wovd-,
llirir dihtance from tho railway. In Uelt A, the railway jiricu is 'IOh. ; in B, 16s. ; in C, 12s. ;
1), 8h. ; and K, ■In. per aero, the pro iiiijition price in t^cnerally half thu railway price, tacli
scttliT who Ih eitliLT the head of a family, or a male over t^ightceii year.-i of a.,'e, Ih untitled to It;')
acres free, except for a fee of £2. lie iliiiht liave hid name entered for it at the nearest land iitlice,
and innat reside on it for lln-eo years, and cidtivato it to a rtftsoiiaMe extent, according t" hi-i
means. He is allowed two months, which is counted part of tho three ye.irs, after havinjf his
name entered, for moving IiIh family on to tho land. He can also he absc-ir, from his homestead
kIx months out of each year. A second quarter nuntion can be preempted, for which a feu of £2
has to be paid. No further payment is made till thu end of the third year, when fo;a-teuths nf
the price is required, after which payments at the rate of one-tenth eaeh year for six years com-
plete the purchase. Six per cent. inter( 4 is charged on the |iruem^tion mom?y.
Emigrants are received in Manitoba by M,i,'ents »iieeially appoinle.l .'or thu purpose, who Will
advise and yiiide the settlers tu the lands that may have been seleofjd by them.
IN'MXT I'KSTS AND J'ltAIIlli; VUIV.H.
I made particular inciuiriuH concerning the graHshoppers when in Canada, and found that
when they do visit thu country vegetation simjily disiappears along their line of march. They
have, however, only appeared live Jmes within the last sixty years, and tho settlers are confident
lliat they have seen the hvst (jf them. One gentleman told me that they entered his drawing-
room tliron"h the window and destroyed the lacu curtains in it. By cultivation the eggs uro
destroyed, so thiit it is to bo hoped the country will see them no more. Moscpiitoes and black
flies eauHO great annoyance, especially to the new-comer, d\iring the summer months ; bnt drain-
age, thu great enemy of these pests, has been carried on to a great extent throughout tho country,
so that it is likely they will become less troublesome ; they are not bnmd in the town.s, nor in the
hi"h dry parts df tho country. I'rairie (ires ure becoming much less frerpient than formerly ;
however, numHers of them still occur every fall, doing consider.ablo damage ; but it is only the
careless or ovcr-confidont farmer who suffers, as the means of protection are simple and are withm
the reach of all. The potato-bug has not yet ni.ado its appearance in Arunitoba, but they expect
it to do so ; it pcldom attacks potatoes planted in now land ; tiiey are not much afraid of it, and
it has lost half its terrors best to those who know it. . .
CONCLl'SIOS,
Two q-icstions I ^vaR constantly asking myself while in Canada ^vere : 1st. Why do the
Canadian.s come to Ireland? If it be for the sake of scenery they are unwise, for, to use an ex-
pression of their own, their scenery ' whips ours all to bits.' If it be for tho sake of comparison,
that they may think more of their own country on their return, I can understand it. 2nd. \\ liy
do tho Irish la-efcr hard work and misery at home to peace and plenty in that grand now world ? •
I know that nuudiers of Irish do go to Oaiiada, and that numbera of them succeed also, but what
I mean is, why that number is not quadrupled, and why men of a class to whom guccess would
not bo a probability, but a certainty, i.':, men who understand their business, and have a little
capital, do not go out there. I could, if sp.aee permitted, give instance after instance of ""en who
left Ireland paupers and are now well off, many of them rich ; but is there need that I should do
bo' Where is tho Irish family who has not some relative on the other side of the Atlantic, and
that has not over and over again received that extremely pleasing proof of prosperity— a bank
draft— from him ? But these drafts, I am sorry to say, are of tenor the fruit of work done for
otheiM than for themselves, for i was struck by the fact that the Irish seldom ciuit the l.irge towns
in which they have to work really hard frnr their wages, while they leave these rich lands to b,
occupied by English, Scotch, and German faruKTs, who quickly become independent and h.;xpp' .
This .should not%e so. If I am asked who ought to go to ]Manit(vba and the North-West, 1 my
hesititimdy say, i'liy man who for any reason intends to emigrate to any place, and is not afrai.l
of hard work and some discomfort for a few years, and whose family cav get on for a time with-
out the aid of female servants. Such a man will, if ho has pluck, sacceed in time, though li ■
went without a penny, but if ho has £100 or £200 in his pocket, he may expect^ to cnj>.v a
prosperous and happy home in the immediate future. Anyone who cannot ' rough it, or disl.kes
iiaviii" hh face blotched n..w and then by mosquito-bites, any 'n.3 er-do-weel, or druiikard, had
bcttei-'st.ay at home, or, for the benefit of humanity, drowii himself on the way out, as he has no
chance of sueceetb'ng. _ ,. , u ti • • t
I would have no one going to :(Iaiiituba too sanguine or expecting too much— tins la a grcit
I
ie!>e Kcctions aj^ain are
i.-iliip aiv net iqiait fi'i
■iL'ctiimH nvo unifi)iui!y
uniuliuri.'d scctiuiis in
liu coiiHtniutiou <>( 111 '
IV frcuh"iMi'ntc-;Mls aiiil
ev liu ; i" other WDVil:-,
ii'n, 168. s ill f, 12s. ;
liiilwivy price. Each
a^'U: in untitled to lliO
tliu m-'urest liiiulollici',
dtnt, accorditif,' to his
jc'iirs, after havinjf liis
'xr, from IiIm homesteml
, for which a feu of £2
.r, when foia-tenths ii[
\-i:',\Y for Hix yearo com-
noiiey.
' the purpose, who will
thuiu.
xnaila, and found thnt
line of march. They
aettlers are confident
,' entered his drawing-
inltivation the ep-fa are
Mo8(piitoeH and Mack
ler months ; lint drain-
,hrou>,'hout the country,
in the town.s, nor in the
reriuent than fonnorly ;
ige ; l)ut it is only the
■u Kiniplo and are within
nitoliii, liiit they expect
b much afraid of it, and
vere : Ist. Why do the
invise, for, to u.so an ex-
tho Bako of coniparison,
lerstand it. 2nd. Why
that grand new world ? •
I) succeed also, but what
to whom success would
sinoss, and have a little
ter instance of men who
re need that I Bhould do
ide of the Atlantic, and
E of prosperity — a bank
i fruit of work done for
lorn fpiit the large towns
B these rich lands to li.-
independent and happ> .
I the North-West, I on
' place, and is not afraid
' get ou for a time with-
:eed in time, though li ■
I may expect to enji'V a
not ' roiiLrh it,' or dislikes
weel,' or dninkai-d, had
lie way out, as ho has no
00 much— this k a great
tUr. 11 //. n. r. A»Jrr:^.vi'.' nrj'oil.
n
i:s:::;:';ri"i':n;:"!;i;:;:"'s^«l:"^!f :>"'*■ -"«.■'- ■■'-.-'
.'-,"1 r;'i||:;;;;;u'';i;;r/ii'i;.t;i'i;;2:«i.unv„,.v„i,,.H.ru-,.,,r,,i,.v;i
SSlSSiMHS£=S:B£#r
The soil, sumiundmys, even tU . '-I" ="-';; [^ W,Lsililo spend six o. ciylit months ii. tlic country,
i„ the selection of a location A man Mould it "™ ";;;^;^"^' ^^ ■-, j,, ,^ n, )„. ,v.ll be ablo
and go from place to phvce till he is sat.sUed. If ,;.';,;, ^, .'- f ,,„ , f/,,. .. ,„.,,>ih or ko
,,ia), one man nnght go out and '^^^^ "^,; ' \ N U L.ten ui.ed to work, will l.e disappointed.
C'liLavio also. -v ..n, W . t vould be eniovalilc. SoTnoi.nocalla It th'-
„i- tiu-ee friends to spend a hohday. ^..ukah.d and the favour will havj all tho
, „,s;,;»;?t.!:s =:ris * "tii s!'ir:;, si l... ■. « « -'
their country more prominenlly ''f 7'';,^^' l''^^ ^^C" ^a^ be o doubt that the former .ut-
bein.^ fairlv stated-advantages and diawbaeUs jnere ca i ...nobles of the various Canadian
nmnber the latter-and I cannot '^f P hmking th^t au ^^^ ^^.,_^_,j ^^,^,, . „ ,„„ v
l;;:Srd X^i^er ■ '^ "Z :;:SaL" ^ ^-y> ^^- -"^ --'^ "^ -"^'^^^ "^ -^'
a I'.ime there.
fcjai l » ji . ' .. At.
■'-«t'?iBaiiP*=*C'"*:i**
•^ Tin: Ri:rouT of Mit. w. i\ cLBiir,
/ Of Uad(Jii Abbcif, Nvrth Wuhhuia, Suij'ulk.
I? Wiyo recently hft«l th(! i-li-aMiivo i>f visitiiv,' Cm\m\\ n\\<\ Mmiitubn unrlcr an invitation from tlr '
Ciinadinn Miiiistoi- of A«ii<;u!tiiro, I am aiUcd t.p wiito a roiMirt of my travels tliiouL?!) iii.rtion .
of that gniat conntry. Kirit, I niav bi; alloH-ud l-rlitly to allinl.! to a ditHcnlty under whicli [
labour— tliat of liavinj,' been iirucuiluil by ho many practical and intelli^'ont wvn, whiHO report,
and valuable Htatirttico, of thu previimi year havu taken so much ground from under ine ; and
last, but not least, the exhaUHtivo report of the Itoyal Commi.^icmors, Mr. ,C. S. Read and Mr.
Pell, Ml*. I will, notwithstanding', endeavour to render thirf an original document ; and, whiU
notiiia from those who preceded me how 'jienoially pleasant was thu voyage across the Atlantic,
I find none touched upon the incidents of it. i i i •
I left the port of Liverpool on Thursday, SeptemV)er 10th, at kIx p.m., onboard the good Hlup
Polijnemm of the Allan Lino. Wc had uOO'passungers of various nationalities — ( Jcrmans, French,
Norwegians, Atnoricans, and Canadians, with many Irish, Em,diHh, ami Scotch, not forgettiiiu_
Professor lloffneyer and party from Capo Colony, and a i)asHenger from New Zealand. Th-
Haloon passengers niunbercd about 150, and every berth was filled. Before coming on board,
each one has a berth allotted to him, also a pluce at table, ami printed lists containing the name-
of one's fellow-passongers are to ho obtained in the .saloon. The first dinner is a formal affair, but
we soon iHjcome nnitually acquidnted. 1 may here state that the culinary arrangements are all
that can bo desired. Kach n\eal is served with punctuality, and attended by an elKeieiit stall of
stewards. The amusements are music (pi.anoforte), concerts, le.iding. whist, chess, draughts, and
other games, with deck promonadini,' whenever the weather p;riiiit.ted.
At nine a.m. on the 'i'th sighted IJell Isle at the entr.ince of the Culf of .St. Lawrence. \\ e
approach within a short distance of the rocks, somewhat resembling tlie entrance to BridlingtoM
Bay, on the coast of Yorkshire. These form the commencement of the Laurontian CJrcmp, runniii;;
through the province of tjuelieo and Ontario to Lake .Superior, at various distances from the St.
Lawrence and the lakes. We are now getting clear ol the ice, and running thirteen knots an
hour in smooth water. In the evening our concert c.vn\i off, and, having two professcns of music
and some good singers on board, it was a great success. Saturday morning at daylight we were
in the midst of the (iidf, with no land in sight, but in the afternoon were running up the IJiver
Ht. Lawrence, the shores of which were dotted with the white cottages of the French Canadians.
At smidown we arriveil within a few miles of (Juebec, b<it owing to a fog were obliged to bring up
till the Sunday morning, when, after half an ho\n's sail, we reached o>u- destination.
Tin; NKiniinoniHooD ov MoxTUE.vii.
A special train awaited us, and we were qiuckly on our way to Montreal. We saw notldii,'
of note till we reached the great Victoria Bridge, built by our Bobert Stephenson, over the St.
Lawrence. We stayed the night at Montreal, and on the following morning Judge Cross, a
resident of the city, and one of o\ir travelling companions from England, kindly sent his carriage
to take myself and a brother-delegate from Irelaml to the summit of Mount Boyal, where we
had a niagnificei-t viov,- of this fine cl';y and the majestic St. Lawrence, flowing through the
country as far as the eve could reach. Wo continued our drive, visiting some of the adjacent
farms, and were particularly struck with the natm-ally good cl.ay loams. The farming w.as far
from being good ; but there was a notable exception in the case of a Scotch fanner, whose laud
was clean, and who kept a good herd of Ayrshire cows, and had commenced the cultivation of
roots. It was here we saw the dreaded Colorado beetle in its work of destruction ; but its
ravages can now be hindered by the application of Paris green, with which the leaves are
•ininkled. The home of this beetle is in thu United States rather than in Canada, and I did
t hear
cid waf
luMiost e'
Wen
tiiirsqno
Ihi' Secri
"Urney
H'r the
The Ch!
iiidrivin
the stacl
ii'iind.
Wo I
(nrthe 1
«•(• were
«iiL;«rs)
way. Tl
ifiiduce
iiy own
jnythin
and are.
till livi
thi'ir pii
We
illars
It was
It was
all.'n b
«ing SI
liuring
«l:ich '
almost
iiqirisi
returne
tliroiigl
I in Kn^
cattle,
literal
icmntr
We
i\ the
niy nei
agricul
shillini
west a
faniilv
100 ac
thi! wf
wiiods
ei'tcte^
Bays i
dnu.S f
the SI
their
s. >\\n h
of mx
I
cimni
porte
uir,
ail iuvitatimi from th"
•avul-i tliiouLjh imrtinii <
itHciilty under which [
it miiii, whiHO reports,
I from luulur iii<: ; niid
r. .0. S. Rsivd and Mr.
document ; Mid, whilst
Iji! across the Atlantic,
onboard the Rood Hliip
ie.s— Ocrinaiis, French,
Scotch, not forgettinu
n New Zealand. Th' '
fore coming on board,
s contaiiiiii;i the nanie^
jr irt a formal affair, but
ry arranjjeiiients are all
lliy an t'IKcieiit Htatf of
st, chesH, drauijhtrt, ami
of .St. Lawrence. M'o
jtitrauco to BridlincttoM
irentian ({roup, rminiiiL;
distances from the St.
ininj;' thirteen knots an
two professors of music
iig at daylight we were
e running up the IJivcr
the French Canadians,
ivere obliged to bring up
destination.
^n■. ir. /'. Cnliin'.'^ Report,
75
V'i hear much of Its ravayvs in mv trav.t-. 'I'll.- more NtriUingcharactpristlc of thin nrighl.oiir.
,d was the apple.orcliardH, wliicli wtro exceedingly prtxiuitive, and th!-. remark applies to
iiliiiost every farm in Canada.
ori'AW.v.
We next made our wav to Ottaw.i, tho capital of the Dominion, which Ih Hituated in a pic
(mrsquo position on the banks of the Ottawa. On our anival we called upon Mr. .Tolin I.0WO,
th.> Secretary of the Departm.iit of Agriculture, from whom wo received iiiu-ses for our intendod
niirney to Ontario an<l Manitoba by railway and the hikes. An utHeial wa,. sent t-. nhow \\n
wv the Parliament buildings, wliich In design and style of architecture will ilval WcHtminstfir.
Ihe Chandi^re Falls at Ottawa are well woith seeing ; a portion of the water power u utiUsed
Iriving a largo number of saw and (lour mills. An immense lumber trad ' ~
is carried on here,
treal. We 8aw noUi i 1 1 ,'
tephcnson, over the St.
uorning Judge Cross, a
kindly sent his carriage
klouut Uoyal, where wo
ce, flowing through the
ig some of the adjacent
I. The fanning was far
otch fanner, whose land
.need the cultivation of
of destruction ; but its
h which the leaves are
tn in Canada, and I did
the stacks of sawn lumber, piled closely to the height of '20 feet, being said to cover 100 acres ol
i>>imd.
TllK I>IMTI1ICT OK POnT llDl'K.
Wo then went on to I'oit Hone, \\liere we were ue l, as arranged by Colonel Williami, M.l'.
Mithi! East Durham County- a'true tvpe of an Duglish country gentl.;man. and a passenger ih
thi' /'o?v»Mi((»— who had arranged to take us a trip acro.ss the Cavan district, for winch pnr|x>so
«u weni provided with a pair-liorse ' democrat' (a light sort of waggonette carrying six or eight pas-
siiiL'ers). We passed through .some good land, inspecting some of the farms and fannsteads on onr
ivav. The soil is a friable loam, about :iO inches in depth, resting upon diHint(^gratc.l limestone. It
■duces excellent swedes, and grain of good .piality, and just the lan.l I should have Uked In
>m own county ; but from years of close cropping and limited manuring, it is not productng
inything like the cr.ips we aro in the habit of growing. These farms nin from 100 to 200 acres,
anil are, in almost every ca.sc, the propi^rty of the occupiers. Some of the oldest st'tt'ers are
till living, who commenced clearing the forest fifty or sixty years ago, with scarce a shiUnig In
thiir pockets, and ate compur.'itively wealthy. ... ., lAnoort
Wo called on one sturdy old Irishm.-vn eighty-three years of age, wh.i had saved over 100,U0()
l,llar» (£20,000) and had commenced penniless. I could have fdled my notelxs.k with such cxses.
It was not capital these e.irly pioneers then wanted, but strong arms and unflinching energy.
It was perfectly marvellous to tra\ el through this country and see wh.-vt a vast area of forest hft-s
(all,.n before the axes of these hardy sons of toil. 15ut the log-housn and rough shanty are now
l.iiiL' supplanted by neat brick dwellings, surrounded by verandahs and other signs of rahnement.
liuring the day, we lunched with Mr. tieorge Campbell of MiUbrook, then viewed his farm,
«i,ch was clean and well cultivated. The few swedes that were grown wore good, indeed,
almost all the Dominion of Canada is more or less favourable to the production of roots, yet It w
un.rising how few are grown. Proceeding <ui our way wo called at other fauns, and then
returned to Millbrook. The following morning, C(d(mel Williams took us for another drive
through a good country along the shores of Lake Ontario : here I saw farms as «''""«» '"X
I in Kngland; but as usual, cultivated upon the whipping system-much grain with but tew
cattle We returned to Port Hope. I could not but come to the conclusion that under a more
literal .system of farming very nearly as much meat and grain could be produced as in our own
icountry. We here took leave of our excellent and hospitable friend.
A HUCCESSKUL KMIOKANT KROM NOUFOI.K.
We next journeyed to Tor.mto, a well-built city, very Knglish-like in the habits and manner.
v\ the people. I did not remain hero long, ivs I was anxious to visit some old servants who lelt
mv neighbourhood some forty-seven years ago to better their po.sition, it being a penod of great
a.-ricultural depression. This couple landed at C^uebec after a six weeks passage with but ten
shillincs in their pockets. Through manv troubles and privations, they worked their way as far
west as Garafraxa, about t!00 miles from Quebec. After a hard struggle, in bringing up a
familv of twelve children (f,.ur of whom they have lost), they saved sufhcient money to purchase
100 acres of forest, had o raising bee, and in one day felled and squared «."*".«"» t""'^E.*"^"J'»
the walls of a log-hut. The roof is put on by more skilled hands. It is «aid these Canad an
woodsmen are so clever, that with an axe, saw, and auger, they can buiM a house. Having
eie(;ted this dwelling, my friend connnenccd cutting down the surrouiuling timl>er. 1 ;\»\"^^f ^^^
8..VS the wife, " with much anxiety the felling of the first tree, lest it might fall on my house (as
do;... sometimes happen) and destroy it." In the course of years, the f'\""/;^'',^<='"'^'^^' *"^
the soil being rich these good people ultim.ately succeeded, and \'«"" '''« •";«* J'^*;^''^
their farm and are now living in comparative comfort upon tlie'^hard-earned savings The«
s.,ns have also been placed on farms, and their daughters are settled in life. This is but one out
of many similar ones.
AGUICL'LTURAI. COLLEQK AND MOUEL FARM
I started the following day with a buggy and pair of horses some twenty miles ocroRS
cnmtrv to the town of Guelph, where I visited the Model Farm and Agricultural College sup-
ported by the Government of the Province), at which young men receive a practical M weU ai
'«•»#»*.-
J
76
il/r. W. J'. CulAtf.f liej.url.
scientific pdiication In farming at ft very trifling cost. I found both Mr. Milln (the presidi ii'
»nil Mr. J'l'own (the manager) conrteous and Kcnsiblo men, well fitted for the positions th.v
held. I was invited to go through the farm, .and to criticise freely, making any wiggfstii:'
that I mii^ht think desirable. 1 saw fionio txcoUcnt o:itllo, CH]K'ci.ally a Hereford bull. 'J -
sheei) were also remarkably good. The ro >ts were fairly planted, and good in size ; but nlthouji
the niangtil seed was obtained from ine of our crack London set Ismen, the bulb.) wore :,\
various Bi)ecles, iiresenting a most irreguiar appearance. It was ?tir. Brown's opinion that ilie
cultivation of both mau^tel .and swedes i.iight lie incuaf^ed to advantage throughout the jn. >
vinces, and th.at thcie wi ula not be the liilficidty, ns had been represented to lae, of gottiii;
tliem off brfore the advent of frof^; C'on.aderablo alterations and additions wcio being inuile
to the Colli'ge Farm (for increased cattic anu slavp accommod.atiuu) whiuh, wlieu complttte, v.ill
lender it one uf the must valuable iii^titutious of the Uumhiiun.
ENDKJIOU.S nOOTS.
I returned by rail to Toronto, which is .Mirronnded by districts of great fertility, particularh
towards the westward. In the towiifaip of ^^arkham I p.assed some excellent land (clay Io:i,i
which, with draining and cood farming, would grow first-rate crops of all dcr-cri] ions. .
believe Mr. IJead wer.l over The same land, and was driven by the s.ame gentleman. Ml. lieniM,
(■('i'd<man, Toronto. ;)n his bi-otlier's laini they were busy sekciing roots for the Mark! ■
."I'.ow, the weights of which I carefully noted. I w.adil hero explain that the jirizes an; i
!',i\c'i to th;> best farm or field of mots, but to individii:'.l .si)e;"imens, to grow which tndimiV
.sp.iCL i'i allotted. The following weights wore reconled : — .''>ix long, reel mangel, 213 lb., c,
of which v.'ns 54 lb. ; two mammoth S'luash (a kind of pnnn kin), ii;'G lb. The heaviest v,
fi03 lb., and girth 8 ft. Six white rarp'N, taken from the regilar field-crop, weighed <ivi.r I I
each The genei.al cidtivation of this farm could not be surpaiicd — both iiloughing and sov.ii
w^'ro iirst-raf.e : indeed, Mr. I'ennie wi. ' ' me to state that he was willing to enter hi< bmtliw
and l>roUier-in-la\v to compete in any all-Engkuid ploughing mi.tches which mighi hencefoaii
take p'acc,
NI.\n.\nA FALLS. --rK.VClI AND APfLK FAIIMINO.
On my ag.ain returning to Toroiito, I went to the I'alls of Niagara. They quite eqnalleci ii;y
expectations. One i.i n il .iiniprised at the innneuso vob.une of water when the fact is kn<iWM il;..t
it is the outpouring of Lakes ICrie, llunui, Michigan, and .Superior into Lake Ontario, tiieii ■'
I'.p-.Ung its way by the Jiiver ;St. Lawrence into tl.^ sea. Large i|uantities of peaches and \\\i\i'.i
ar, gri.'Wn tliroughout Ontaii.', but it \- i.i ihe neighbourhood of Niagara where they are euii;-
v.ated in sueli lo\uriance. I'eaeh finniing is very prolita))le. The trees are planted as in ;'ii
ap]ile-i^rehard, and when in fidl b;'arin\; net a clear pioiit of about £8 jier acre. I was in company
Willi a guutleman from Niii-ara who had 00 acrii of his farm in peach cultivation.
THE TORONTO ACr.lCLT.TlUAI, SHOW.
I jiasaed the next three days at the annual Toronto exhibition, whore farming stock, ivnul
ments, and m.anufactured fabrics were shown. The iuiplemeuts are of the lightest and nl'l^t
eO'eetive kind, and were all in :uotion, driven by miichiuery beneath the platform on which II
were placed. I noticed a pec\d arly construcl~'il grass-cutter, the knife being driven witlu
c r.inccting-rods. I am rot suiiiciently mechanical to explain its construction, but it seem . I
ni'st ingeniou.s, .and, if succL^sful, must soiuier or later come in'o general use, I think our a;:.
cultural mechanics might with advantage atti^iul these .shows. The cereals and root-crops \vc
pri '^vcelli'nt exhibit. Tlie cattle in so young a country could not, of course, compare with t!,'
c.-:li!bited .at nur b'.\st i'nglish sluiv.s, but tliey were creditable. The ] ferefords, polled An ■
.ni d Ayrshires were well represented from the Model I'arm, but many were imported aniie
TI.e shorthiu'ns from the same fann. were of mjdiuiu quality, but this was amply conipeus^v
for by those .■'cnt by the other breeders of the di.iti-ict. We .al.ui notic-'d a sijleiidid white f ;
yi ar-old shorthorn, which would have m.ade his mark at cither ISiiminghaui or London. T!;
were others of the same kind worthy to compete v.illi him. \Ve idso united a sv'eacUd w' '
Cow [\)nvc shorthorn), and a giiin 1 gi-.ule red cow f(ju;' years old, showiag wlu'.t can be dor. '
crc <sii>g with pure shorthorns. There were also many .'■■pjeimens of younger e.ittle of considera'i
jueiit, but owing to the want of catalogues it wa,^, impo.---iible to obtain the names of the owi.,-
and other desirable particular;;. >Ve saw a p.dr of beautii'ul cows, one bred by Cruiksiuinl; >
Aberdeen (evidently of the Booth type), her companion a beautiful red (said to bo imported I
the States) c.f the Bates tyj^e, and a capital milker. Later on, largo numbers of the polled Aii;;ii'
arrived, and there were good specimens of Oanadiau-brcd Devons, they were of a larger A:.f
than those of our home-breeding, and this .ajiplies generally to the cattle bred ir. the IJomini.iu
I cannot afford to devote more space to this class, but must not onnt to say that I saw uothiu'.; i'
suri>ass, or evei\ ecpial, the m.agnificont Ifi-reford bull thiit Mr. ]?rown .showed me at the Mi i! 1
'■'arm. The pigs were in large nmnbors, (pnto equal to the Engli.sh breeds. Indie,], uiy e ■:
panion, Mr. Christy, of Limerick, thouglit tliem generally better, and 1 notictd tliiMU-)i Kit i
country that the awine were cxcelleut.
Itlr. W. P. C'u'ntt's Rfporl.
11
jtli Mr. Milln (the presidcii'*
fitted for the positions tiny
:oly, inal<iiig nny Miffi^estin! '
'ciiilly a Hereford bull. 'J -
iiidgood in size; butnlthon-li
seLvUiuen, the bulb.f were i,i
Mr. Urown'a opinion that ili?
ivantago throughout the jn :•
•eprtKented to lae, of getting
id additions weiO being iii:iilj
u) which, wUeu complete, \:ii
of great fertility, partlciilailv
line excellent land (clay lo:n,i
; crops of all dcj-cni'iions. I
:; panic gentleniiui, Mi. I'eiiiM-,
icling mots for vhe Jtarkl ■i
qilain that the prizes an; :. •:
ens, to grow which iiuliiiii'i 1
long, rod mangel, 213 lb., ";.-
n), ii;'G lb. The heaviest v,„i
r field-crop, weighed ovtr I !i',
:d— biith ploughing and Buwin,-
ras willing to entei- hU linitlki-
tches which mighi; hencefoiUi
UMINO.
igara. Thriy quite equalled ii'V
,er when the fact is known .l.,.t
ior into Lake Ontario, t'l'/u ■>
lUantities of peaches and ai-p; «
' Niagara where they are c\iiii-
rhe trees are planted as in ;'ii
; i:8 jjer .acre. 1 was hi compaiiv
Ijeach cultivation.
n, where fanning stock, iinnk-
B are of the lightest and nwi^t
!ith the platform on which Hi y
:lie knife being driven with"".:
ts construction, but it seeni i
gener.al use. I think our a;;.i-
rhe cereals and root-crops v.\\i
;, of course, compare with tli'
The llerefords, polled An ,
it many were imported aniin .
lut this w'tia amply conipe'.is;\ '.
1 n<itic>>d a splendid white fi.i' •
I'.iiminglia'.n or Londim. Tli
'e id.io' noted a s'.'oadid w' ' ;
I, showing wlu'.t can be dor. : ' .
if younger c.ittle of consideia! l-;
obtain the names of the owi-.r^
iws, one bred by Cruiksliaid; "t
iful red (said to bo imported I v
rgo numbers of the polled Aii;;u;
vons, they \vere of a larger i-i.^e
Ili! cattle "bred h- the Uoiniuioii.
Dinit to say that I saw nothing to
IJrciwn .showed me at the Mn! 1
iglish brei'ds. Tndcfd, my C"im-
',v, and i uokiecd thr.ju-li )ai l. .;
llv^'ilSSiirioJig 1~? -ertS;^- I also S.W many good carriage-horseB and
''"•^;;:^eare^ix.honndsinT,.-nt,l^
England. Some --^teen ..r twcnity s . t h s and^ a^ ^y^^. , ^^.^ ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^_^,,
:j:;;nea2g'^?h::m t Ipllii^ri^^". this o„ a hard road. ?ound a grass-plat. Thre. of
them 'keep the lead, and come in neck and »'«;cj^- ^ , ^^^ibition of their home-
In the centi. of t le «l^S:^;-:£ ^l ' J 'kuJ^^ -dibits of the same class, but
made wares and fabrics, llie latte '^^'\""^;' , „,,,,„trv as rear.' * her manufactures. At
i, u.ust.ot be f,.rgo|^.. hat Canada IS iiga^n—^ ^.r rK.-.i a much better ami
the .same time, I could not '-',■/;",";■ V ' "i,. i,,. to the advant.a-e of C.madians to apply thoir
tPZS^:X:i!^:lSl^l"^>^^^^^ al^ricmturo ; but more .. this
;;ua i:!"d,;eb. will rcuudn so, the wint.. s uecessit..tiug their being housed.
■* ETTii.v-.ivr.iN.'MiY tivccy.m of noiifolk mkn ivi to. onto.
T^efore leaving tho^hospitaUe c.y .. TV.int.^^^^ ^^^XJ^^I^I wS
than idnety years ago 10 was H tan lna,mwll.c,H^^^^ y f;,unbolled in solitary
well-nigh conceive it to be .. fairy t^^'" ^.^^^ ,*"^'' *'^=^\'^7^",^ s„'^neme, there ha. now
rtream.^' ravel,- visited by ^^^•:^":^^^^^^:^'^'j^^,u:^ continent, with a popula-
ari.sen one of the healthiest . and i"r-t h.UKl.s m e C'"'-'' "n^" ... , -^^ f„„„ ^ur own county,
tion (including suburbs^ of over 80,000 fj"' JJ"^ y < ne us a.ic" in i rtienlar I cannot fail to
:,nd some of them have risen to eminence and 7;^ "'; , /"^^ " '''^^^.'^e^ ,tl,er men besides Nelson
mention, .bowing that even our quiet -"""'{ "f^'' f""V>,"j], [ft tie firm of Gooderham and
noisessed with indomitable perseverance and couiage. 1 ^ »«*'' '^' , j Yo,k Kargers in
Worts. The former was born at ^-'1^' ^'V'^Varin U e tS g of M rti^iqt and Uuaddonp...
the A\ ,.st Indies, where his regiment t™';^ l"*;;^' ..V' .^ ,>,,;, education at a dam.-« school
The latter was born in Great Yarmouth, =^"J ';««';^'\,P'^Y^ G™ dcrham retir. d from the ann; ;
in the village of Stalhara. In the course of a ew >^^';^.;y V^~^^^^ „„ly lister, find'og
and in the mcntime Mr. James Worts, ^^^ >'\ =^^,,XY^tceeded hf 18.^^^^ Canada, t<. select a
little could b3 done in the old country ,7" ^J f^Jf, 1']' f,'^^^^^^^^^^ King t.,.., Toronto,
home for both families. Arriving at .^u "• '« '"^J^K^i^'^';';^j.„,,,„to. and there commeueed
Hamilton, Niagivrn, and various <,t;.p>ae, • ™«' > 'i';,\^i^^ Gooderham sailed from London,
building a small windmill. The foil ,wuig year ^If-^^^.'. JT ;.,,„ ,^^^ „U 64 snol-. cmneeted "
r nging with him his own, ^f-. W ,rr.s and ^^^'if'; ."'^^^^.''^'S'-:;, .'i^^ ■',."' ,,e. J'^inding the
cither iry V,lood or .marriage, y ' -'"^' "V^'^ ;'^jS ^^ Mr Wo ts under tL lirm of (iood.rh:uu
windnull nearly completed, Mr Ooode.h. ""''^^ ^ "^'j^^[; „„i then contained a population of
and Worts, doing a retail bosiness w. Inn ;« f ^' Y,^,^/^! a^ a stupendous busine,. ..
three or four thousand Inom this rat /■^/;"-l"j[!^^;^™^„heHe wonderful men i but suffle- it
I regret that space will not allow '"'''';/"""'., "^-^^Y^o^'possess the largest distillery in the
to sav that, after a time, tl'^Yf '"''"''''f ^ 'f ' " 'f' "^^^^^^^ :
world. Tlielr active ^--"y^^'^.^"^^^^^^^ 20.o5o bushels of oats,
500,000 bushels of moize, 100,000 u"^"'-'' "'/y'l',, .V" „nn.iftl i.roduce of 31,500 acres of average
and' 10 tons of hops ; in other words they absorb f ",,'*"X ^r^r odiyions, bel.ig 8000 ii.q.erial
huid The production of the establishment is on a sea^ ^^ 1 [ ;'^.;^'"Xmt 2500 bullocks ar«
gallons of s^nrit per d.,.y. To consume tlie rofus '^ 'J J. '".Messrs. Lumbers, Reeves,
b?r?;:iiul;\h:tlS^Sa^'d^^^ ^-ers who have opened up the
•^<^»aafi-'-*-wi-fisa^-^>Bj
,s.S* -e.JiL]l>>fj.« ' }'imi ■U^^-'^-^J^.--.
-;'?«i!ti;
16
Mr. ir. P. Cubitt'a FeiM-t.
cattle-trade with Kngland. In addition to this distillery refuse, each animal has a liberal supply
of hay. Messrs. Gooderham and Worts are also largely engaged in banking, being the chief
proprietors of the linnk of Toronto, one of the most flourishing monetary institutions of the
countrj'. The Nipisriing Railway is also largely owned by them, with no inconsiderable benefit
to both citizens and agiiculturists. Mr. Worts does not forget his native county, as many pic-
tures in his mansion testify ; nor is he forgetful of our old I^nglish siH>rts, being himself
master of the Toronto foxhounds. In connection with agriculture there are large maltings anfl
breweries. One that I inspected is carried on by a company, mider the manr.gement of Mr.
David Walker, proprietor of the Walker Hotel. Both the nialthouso and the bitiwery are
splendid buildings, and their pale ale is scarcely surpassed by the Burton brewers ; nor ia this
KiM'iirihing, when such fine-coloured and thin-skinned barley is produced in the .surrounding
districts.
THE LAKK.S. — THE Tn.\NSPOHT OF WIIK.VT AMI CATTI-E.
I left Toronto by train to Samia, en route to Winnipeg, rid Lakes Huron and Superior, and
had a splendid run of 800 miles. Towards the end of Lake Huron, the scenery is fine, especially
»t the narrow channel separating the islands of Manitouliti niid Cockburn. We also passed a
inimber of rocky islands, covered with dwarf pine, larch and fir. They rise abruptly from the
lake, and are so close to each other as to afford but a narrow passage for vessels. Leaving Lake
Huron we entered the river Sault St. Marie, (known as the Soo the pronunciation of Sault),
dividing Canada from the States. Here are the rapids from Lake Superior, to avoid which we
passed through a canal capable of floating vessels of considerable burthen ; the rif* of the locks
being sixteen feet, bringing us to a level -..ith Lake Superior, After 200 or 300 miles' sailing,
We reached Thunder Bay, the proposed terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which is to
be the route for conveying grain and other produce from Manitoba and the North-West Territory,
at li-ast till such time as the contemplated line on the north of Lake .Superior to Lake Nipissing
l)e rHinpleted, the latter link being necessary to form a continuous line fitim the Atlantic to the
Pacific. I may here state that when the line to Thunder Bay from Winnipeg is finished — in
the year 18S2, according to the contract — it is the opinion of Mr. Joseph Hickson, the general
manager of the Grank Trunk Kailway, 'also a large farmer an'i breeder, that wheat can be
landed in London or Liverpool from Manitoba at from 32s. to 30s. per quarter, leaving a fair
profit to both producer, merchant, and carrier. It is also the opinion of Mr. Hickson and others
cou' i-rsant with the vi.ide, that a considerable profit has been realised upon cattle at the prices
they have recently made in Englantl. I take the following figures presented to me from reliable
nuthonties : BuUook at Chicago, 1200 lb. live weight, at 4 cents perib. (outside prica), 48 dollars;
onn\eyance by rail t« sealward, 6 dollars ; conveyance to London or Liverpool, 25 dollars ;
total, 79 dollar'-, equal to £16 9s. 2d. ; shrinkage and offal on 1200 lb., 440 lb. ; thus leaving a
balance of T*"' U> , which at 7d. per lb. realises £22 3s. 4d., showing a profit (sinking the hide,
etc.) of £5 1*. 2d., which compensates the importer for trouble, commission, and food, etc.,
during the vi-yage. In charging the cost of thv animal 4 cents per lb. live weight, I ought to
stiit« that " cents is the more usual figure, sa\e for animals of the very primest quali.y,
Froir rinoe Arthur landing we steamed to Duluth, a rough straggling town of some 2000
or 3000 inhabitants, whence a train takes us to Winnipeg ; the first portiim of the journey being
of the most rugged description, after which we reached the Minnesota prairie, and travelled some
OOO miles along a perfectly level surface. Portions of the land are being cultivated, but tens of
thoUfionds of ac-es are yet uu;,roken. Concluding a run of 1200 miles by rail and about 800 by
lake we were in the city of Winnipeg, contaii'i.ig about 12,000 inhabitants. It has some good
shops and public buildings and the peL.plc seem to be driving a profitable trade. We took up
our quarters at the Queen'o Hotei ; but the weather was wet and the country was not seen to
advantage. For miles round Winnipeg and along the Hue of the Canadian Pacific it was, with
few excLjitioiw, wet and «wampy, the season having been an exceptionally wet oie. The soil,
kkowevei-, i» ivch, but will require thorough drainage before it can be successfull' cultivated in
Mueh seasons. We drove out some twenty miles to Hea^ingley to look over a farLi of more than
2000 acres, belonging to the brothers Boyle, conveniently sito.aled on the banks if the Assini-
boine and a stream called Sturgeon Creek, This firm has oponed an office at Winnipeg with
the intention of looking after young men desirous of settling in the country. They will give
them the benefit of their advice and experience, and thus jireveut their being victimised by land-
shark', who have bought up large tracts of land oi> speculation in the hope of making fortunes
at the expt.ise of the emigi-ants. Messrs. Boyle intend taking pupils, for whom they will pur-
cliase land, end are open to act .is b"y"rs for other parties in England. Wt '"'d the pleasure of
cio-ising the Atlanti' with Mr. Henry Boyle, on his way from New Zealand, ana t„n recommend
the.'." 'uun;,' Ei,,,li.shnien to any requiring advice and assistance. Upon examination of their
farm we found three f^et of rich black soil before touching solid clay, but it struck us that
thorough drainage would improve it very much. On our return to Winnip<?g we found the
mayor, the raihv:i\ contractor, and other kind friends, had organised a shootii g expedition, and
took us the following day some 40 miles up the prairie for a day's sport among the wild-ducki
'*
has A liberal supply
ng, being the chief
institutions of the
lonsiduiable benefit
ounty, as many pic-
jortH, being himHelf
large inaltings and
nanr.gement of Mr.
iJ the bitiwery are
)rewcrs ; nor ia thi.i
in the .surrounding
n arid Superior, and
ry is fine, especially
We also passed a
se abruptly from the
sels. Leaving Lake
^unciation of Sault),
r, to avoid which we
the ri!.e of the locks
or 300 miles' sailing,
Hailway, vihich is to
Torth-West Territory,
ior to Lake Nipissing
Ti the Atlantic to the
iiiipeg is finished — in
Hickson, the general
', that wheat can be
luarter, leaving a fair
-. Hickson and others
un cattle at the prices
xl to me from reliable
side price), 48 dollars;
!jiverpool, 25 dollars ;
10 lb. ; thus leaving a
■ofit (sinking the hide,
lission, and food, etc.,
ive weight, I ought to
mest quali.y,
ng town of some 2000
)n of the journey being
•ie, and travelled some
cultivated, but tens of
lail and about 800 by
its. It has gome good
Ie trade. We took up
luntry was not seen to
in Pacific it was, with
ly wet oie. The soil,
:cessfully cultivated in
3r a fari.^ of more than
le banks 4 the Assini-
(fice at Winnipeg with
intry. They will give
ng victimised by land-
ipe of making fortunes
r whom they will pur-
Vi. '"'d the pleasure of
d, ana en vecommend
examination of their
, but it struck us that
innipeg we found the
lootii pj expedition, and
among the wild-ducks
Jfr. W. P. CidUrs lifport.
7D
and prairie chickoin, tlic ui.ij'iritv of the party cmipini,' nut for the nii.'iit. Some of ii-, ho\vt;\c<-,
preferred rcturniMj,' to visit the Winiiipjv; >liow of ^'niin and ve^otablis the day fnllMwiii;^. Thi;
wheat wu saw was excuodiii'^ly fine, and is valued by millers far and near. Sumo of thi:
swedes weighi'd over 22 lb. eacli, eabb.iges averaging \\ feet in circinnferenco, potatoes exeoudiii,.;
■Jib. each, and squash 1;)8 lb. There were also onions, carrots, parsnips, and other vegetables
shown of considerable merit.
.W .\l'iOl NT Ol'
SlTllKUI.AXIi .S JOfitNKV IN' TlIK NOl;TH-\VKs.T.
Tile ilay after wi' prepared for a journey of about 300 miles up the einmtry as far as Turtle
Mountain, intendinj,' to return by way of Pembina Mountain. We provided o\uselves witli all
necessary c.Tupini; ei|uipa;4e, includia;; guns fur duck and pr.tirie birds ; but finding the roads so
l)ad and in places almost impassablo from tlie heavy rains —owing to the excepti<mally wet season,
such ft one not havinjj been experienced for thirty years I was told — I only proceeded a day's
drive beyond Portaije la Piairie. I found arouncl this place a good farming district, the land
being much drier and more vnuhilatin;,'. My friend and his companion pushed onwards, but I
returned to Wiuuiiie;^-, wlu^re I met witli Afr. Fraser Kae, one of the Tinu't correspondents, also
the Lieutenant-ljovernor of the North- West Territory (Mr. Laird), from whom I received valu-
able information. I also gained much knowledge of the country from Dr. Sutherland, of Toronto,
and a practical farmer from Niagara, the former of whom accompanied the latter in a journey of
1600 miles — the details of which are so interesting and so well authenticated by those who had
travelled thro, gh the sau\e district, that, in the interest of my readers, I give them verbatim :
'The route usuiiUy taken in journeys of this description is to enter the country by way of
Manitoba, and proceed westward by one of the principal trails. For various rea.sons I reverse(i
this course, en'ering the country through the Territory of Montana, at a point some fifty miles
east of the Kooky >!outitain<, proceeding northward as far as the Sa'ikatchewan River and then
cast and south-east for a thousand miles to M.mitoba. The entire distance travelled in the
Xorth-West Territory, and Manitoba was abouo 1000 miles. I left Toronto on tho 21st of
June, and travelled by rail, rii'i Chica^'o and St. Paul, to U'.siuarck, in Dakota. This part of
the j<jurney occ..^ied less tliau four days. 1 then prt)ceeded by steamer up the Alissouri River
to Fort IJenton, in I.fontar.a Territory, a distance of 1200 miles, which occupied ten days. From
this point the journey w.os made with horses and waggons. The distance from ]3enton to the
internationil boundary line (United States ter»itory), by the trail usually followed, is reckoned
at about 275 wiles. The cuntry is a vast treeless prairie, with a hard and somewhat arid soil,
much of it strongly impregii. ted with alkali, which also taints the waters in the streams and
poi "'lo herb.^^e is short and r.ither scanty, and seems to indicate an iusulHcient rainfall.
Th' 'u i'K -'.id to be vast tracts in Montana suitable for bi>th stock-raising and agriculture ; but
cert. '>iU ueh is not the character of that part of the territory through which I passed. When
we reached the international boundary line (Canada), change for the better was at once obsurved.
The water was mure abundant ai:d of better quality, the pasturage rich and plentiful, and instead
of the short dry grass of the Montana plains, vetches of excellent quality became abundant.
The valley of Slilk Kiver, which we forded soon after crossing the Ix)unilary line, struck me as
a good location for stock-raising, at least in so far as pasLuragc and water are concerned ; but
as there is an entire absence of timber, as there are no deep valleys, it probably wouM not afford
the shelter lio>- stock which is desirable during the winter season. I have no doubt, however,
that abundant shelter could bo found fiftj' or sixty miles westward, among the foothills of the
Kocky Mountains. Experiment alone can prove whether agriculture can be successfully followed
in this reifion. The chief drawback to stock-raising in the nearness of Milk River to the boundary
line, and the coiis((|uent danger of raids by American Indians.
' As we procoedi'd northward there was a steail' improvement in the (piality of the soil, as
sh(!wn by tho rich and luxuri3.nt vegetation, and this continued, with btit little iutei mission, all
the way to the Xortli Saskatchewan, a distance from the boundary line of some 100 miles by the
trail. In fact, throughout this entire region there is scarcely an ni-re that couhl not be utilised
either for fanning or stock-raising. And even in those parts of the country where it would be
necessary to house the stock during winter, hay is so abundant that a sufficient sujiply could be
•ibtained at a trilling cost.
' After passing Fort McLeod (about .')00 miles in a direct line from the boimd.ary) our course
lay parallel with tho Porcupine Hills, and a short distance to the east of the range. Here also
we found magnificent stretches of rich prairie waiting for the plough ; and I ^-a." infcrmed on
i;ood authority that between the Porcupine Hills and the Rocky MountaiuM there is a tract of
country, say, speaking rouuhly, 60 to 100 miles in extent, which for stock-raising U un.iarpiv;<Kod
en the Continent, and which, it is believed, would be found equally valuable for agriculture.
'Some ei^'hty miles nortli of Fort McLeod we crossed Sheep Creek, on the banks of which
we found the richest soil and the most luxuriant pastui-age that we had met with up to that point,
Not only on the level bottoms of the valley, but over the hills to the north, tho rich black soil was
of great depth, and where thrown up l.iy the badgers, was as mellow as the soil of a thoroughly
v.xrked garden. Timber also, is /ound on the banks of this stream, not in lar^
Titities, but
i
80
^fl■. w. i\ (.'"''itt'.' h''j>oH.
NVlc.lli.'r UiJ si'ii""" will
nil i\n(l water are couccnioJ
iiUiiil, 111 f.vtci;css{iil ngri-
11 iiini-c iiUractive loca-
Mi(l!(i< ill f"i- IpiiiUIiiit,' mul fcncin- ynvy
culture, rL'iu.iiii.s to bo Jici'ii ; but an U\v
i o wil ' Ta ky . tl IVnv, "ud on tho adjarcnt billn, thc.o . an iuexhanst.bo supP ,v " «
in iulmediate proximity to the stream ; but at certain pon.ts wl>e re « e Icle 1 '^"C^ "^ ^^^ ^ '^^
and ]5attlcfor<l, wc found that barley produced a f,'ood harvest, and that tl.c ^,...ous kUKls
uavdon vegetables, even the more tender sorts, grew hixnriantly. p„;„o~ AlbPi-t
'The next locality that I exan.incd with any degree of care i. known as the Pr.nco Albeit
Settlemer It itslt the con«uence of the north and sonth ^-^^^^'^'f^^^^^^^:^
cMeudH npthe south ba..k of the former stream for some .10 '"''^"^- , J', ' ;\\'?"y"°: "^t J 5 S
of the latitude of Winnipeg, and k dist.ant from the latter place, by the u.-,ual tiail, almut J.)U
il "il a «orth-west...ly'li^rection. The soil throughout the sOttlen.ent -, f "ij;- ,^J ^J^'
summer has been unusually wet, and in some cases the crops were touched by early frosts befoic
'^'^iT'eS;" vlnjbkwcen the crossing of the South Saskatchewan and the western boundary
of the province- of Manitoba I n.ed not .lescribe in detail. Su(i ce .t to say " l-f^"* ^''^ ^ ' *5
the exJeptiou of an alkali l.lain of considerable extent the land .s of good M"!^^l't ■ We passed
through some teautiful plains, where signs of successful farnnng were '^'."''if •' "' V^'!"'; . ^^"
portions deserving of especial mention lie lietween F.nt Ellice, on tho Assnnbome nvei, and the
western boundary of Manitoba. , ., . . «,:.,*.. ..»
' As these notes may meet tho eve of some one contemplating a similar journey, s^mc hints as
to outfit and mcKio of travel may not be devoid of interest. • or two P'^'-^'ir,?;'''!:?,^^,, ..^'1 V!k
«hea.lv indicated, tho following may be considered indispensable :-A good Luckboard whiUl
I
is the best vehicle for prairie travel ; a pair
of native horses, which can usually V)s purchased at
is tie best veluc e lor rirairie irave; ; a pao 01 n.iniv. i.'...-%", •■■ • , '
■.ton, at prhes rang ng fr.mi oO to 100 dollars each ; a cart or spring waggon to carry camping
ap ut'us, La one 0? two hor.es for tne same ; several spare horses, as on such a journey s,vme
n IV get sick <,r be lost ; one or two competent men to act as gnidcs, look a'ter the nrses, hid
suitaUo cami.ing-places, cook, etc., etc. ; a lent, blankets, and pillows (a rubber blaiket ind is-
pensable), camphig-l^ox containing a few di.hes ("grauito ironware ' are the best) recepacles
for tea, sugar, etc!^ an axe, ><pare rope, etc.. etc., and a store of provisions sMificient to last for at
least a fortnight, or until the' traveller can reach the next place where supplKS m..y bo ontained.
As to oh-thing' provisic.n should be made for cold nights and rainy days, btflut tweed for the
outer garments is be:,t. A pair of stout riding-boots, and water-proof coat and cap, will bo found
useful. A b-eech-loader gun, revolver, and hunting-knife should also be carried
' In travelling, tho usual custom is to start very early in the morning, drive for two or three
hours, li-ht hre.'-aud halt for breakfast, and allow the horses to feed and rest for atle.ist two
hours Then drive for, sav, three hours more, another rest, and then drivo till it is time to
eamp for the night. The s'i.Ie food of the native horse = is the gr.ass of the prairie, and it seems
to be all they need. On the route from Benton to Kdnnmton there aro numerous nvevs to be
crossed. None of these are bridged, but -mio or two have ferries, and on one or two more boats
can be obtained. At certain seasons some of these rivors can bo forded, but at other seasons this
fs imp..ssible. The usual way, when reaching a stream the depth of which is unknown, is for
.ome one to mount a horse and try for a ford. Tfa practicable crossing is found, the vehicles ar,.
driven across ; but if not, a temporary boat or raft has to be .instructed on which waggons and
their contents are ferried over, while the hor-es are made U swim to the other side. Crossing
some of the.,e streams is attended with a good deal of dange/, and can only be managed succcsa-
(uUy by thofcc who have had experience in such matters.'
1
lit, (il ^ucLc.-sfiil a;^ii'
iiinre :iUi';\ctive loca-
lio valley (if tlio Tjuw
a diicct line nnrtli of
isteily direction, and
E tbo mountains. In
mstibli! supply of tliu
aV)nndant, and of tliu
nt protection diui'ig
try, that the winters
and will be found in
tod .scale; but enonuh
eat, barley, oats, niid
mr.o of 100 miles, the
I ([uality. Troni K'lc
rowth oif poplar, with
arming purposes. In
ed ; but the supply of
some 500 miles, 1 can-
iver, and hence I had
fif the country except
led, such 08 Fort Pitt
the. vr.vious kinds of
as the Princo Albert
he Saskatchewan, and
(bout 200 niiloa north
usual trail, about 5y0
s Kciod ; but the past
. by early frosts before
1 the western boundary
\y at jnescnt that witll
l" i|uality. We passed
ready api)arent. The
niboinc river, and the
journey, some hints as
ons !j;'oin.tf by the route
1 " BucUboard," which
isually Xyi purchased at
(gcjon to carry camping
n isuch a journey home
k after the horses, find
1 rubber blai ket indis-
e the best), receptacles
s'lfficient to last for at
iplK-s may be obtained.
Stout tweed for the
b and cap, will be fuund
carried.
, drive for two or three
id rest for at least two
Irivo till it is time to
le prairie, and it seems
i numerous rivers to be
one or two more boats
ut at other seasons this
hich is unknown, is for
foinid, the vehicles are
on wliieh wagirons and
other side. Crossing
ly be managed suctcss-
W. P. CurifC- n<t>ri.
Tu;: i-nosi-ECTs of clltiv.vtion in this tekritokt.
81
'I
T further obtained much information from Donald A. Smith, E^q., formerly resident Governor
of the Hud'on> Bav Company, and for several years one of the repre.,entat,ve« ^or M^n-toba -
the Dominion Parliament. He says-' Manit)ba proper contams an area of about 9,000,000
acrerranableTr a^'ricultural purposes. The North-West Territory, in connection w.th Mam-
toTa eKtendinVfronTthe Rocky Mountain, eastw.ard and from the international boundary on
lu r.frin fiftv siv or fiftv-seven decrees n'.rth latitude, contains considerably over 100,000,000
aSerbyfarthflai^rpS^^^^^^^^
and other Krain! The northern portion, known a.s the Peace Kiver district, owing tothodepres-
S ate pit of the Kockv kountains, is .piite equal in cH-ate to the more —ern pad
These immense territories, in the course of a very tew years, will indoubtedly be under cltiv.
tion as aTnain railwav is being constructod-with stneral branch li.ies-to connect the Canadian
Smn of ai a s with the Pacific coast. When this arrangement >« '^"jnpl^'^' ^PJ^^^f '"^^
a'nount of wheat' and other grain will be exported. Even --'''-^Pf f.^Jf, ^ishe " Tl "
provinces can already be grown at a cost not exceeding 10 cents, or Is. 8d. per tmsnel. ine
SuauTyls very flir; and will make Buperior flour ; indeed, it i.s eagerly selected by the miUer. of
the Western States."
USEFUL ADVICE TO FRESH COLONISTS.
Having thus given the opinion of men bo thoroughly and practically acquainted ^'ith tji«';
Jn^n^nsllw nces I venture to make a few remarks of my own on so im^x.itant a topic. \\ hilst
XoXd'^g th:'nalu!^l Litiiity of the ..il of Manitoba a.id the NorthAVest territor,.^ I am
constrl ined to say that it will not be possible to colonise them rapidly, especially by those who
have lo" enjoyed the civilisation and comforts of England until thoy become «'™-^ 7^" jf J^ .
railwav communication. The men to face such a country shou d be yunng and h«;>^);^^' ''">
amoj^^t ofT^hick and perseverance. Many such are aUeady there and ^^ ' "-V ^f ^^ , ^4^'
fnfnre but I think there is misapprehension as to tlie capital required. It has been s.vul in.w ii
mt. mi ah- y start upon a section of 160 acres with a capital of lo.s than £1.0. In "^,"1:™;'"
muoh^nme tan that ainount will lie necessary. Shelter will bo required for lumself .and cattle,
mucn inoit. in.ui V... u ^^ ^^^^ .^ _^ ^,,,^ beginning ; still,
and also f<«J ' ^ '.e «' > •,, J^^^^^j ;, „,,^ ^, elsc-wherc. and the more one has the sooner
he'w'li inake -nty. l' ' "1=" if a man start with about £20U0 he could purcha.se and bring
f r ,.!tis fm vearTto come The straw .slvn.hl not be burned, as is now customary ; but st^icke
l^ttH. little or nothin'^ back. The one system leads to ultimate poverty, the other to wealth.
I resrlet to t e reeg"Snto lands and purchase of additional quantities, all particulars may be
Sta ri fnnnthXvenmient agents, ^ut a word of caution ^^ -^^^IXTSIX:^
si:,-.' ~:r.a?.l;i-;:i:l,-iT- - .^ ~^« - -5
89
.V): r. P. Ci'ilft's /Report.
iiccnimui'irlatidn nvc c^d. I o.iiiiii>t pii.^ fVuiii tliin snl)Ject without expies.siiif; my dbllnati'iiis to
Mr. Dipiinldnii, Ihu iiimiigi\tliiin Huviit at 'rmoiito, niul Mr. iro«iii'ltr, tht; iigont lit Winiiiiiog,
for tho kind asMstance thov rendered niu in the iiro.ieciition of my iiKniiriuR.
My VL'luin was thnniiih a portion of the United Staten, niakinjr whort KtayH in the variouH
towns through which the rail passes. AVhili' passini; throngh tlie St;ite of Minnesota, I noticed
that tlie Mjlaioil was not .^o ^^ood as in Manitoba— .so lar an 1 conld Hoe from an exaniination I'f
the outtinfl;» alonj{ the r.^ilwav — and I do not think tliin part of tliu States ko well adapted for
wheat-growing as tlio Canadian Territory. Tlic a^'cnts of tho .Ameiican railway companies arc
very energetic in their endeavour.s to .sell their lands, and do their utmo.st to divert settlers going
to Canada ; but instead of listenin;_' to them, people should make their way to their destination
and see the British lands for themselves. It is also said by Americans that lar^e numbers of
Canadians are leaving their cipuntry and .settling' in tho States, but I did not find this to be the
caNo. I passed by St. Paul's and Aiilwaukee, and stayed two days in Chicajjo, one of the most
extraordinary business cities in the world.
C'.\N.M1I.\N CnAH.\C'TEHISTlC"^ : IWRMKHH .\KU C'.UILK R.\IS1\.;, I:TC.
I was not prej-.ared to ilnd it a country of .such an eu irnious area, v. Im. j ii.laud .s-oas Cc.uld
easily swallow \ip tho British Isles. Tlic^-e v.'iiti.-rs abound with li-!i of vjaious kin<ls, and tho
navigable rivers afford the cheapest transport fur the produce of the land. There i.s every facility
for its becoming a great trading nation. From the mouth of the St. Lawrence rW lakes and
rivers its water communication extends beyond 'JOOO miles, whilst tho traveller may proceed liy
land from the Atlantic to the Pacilic, ineludiug M:iuitoba and the NortliAVest Territory, a
di.stance exceeding .3000 miles. Its climate is too well-known to need any i'c.-cripli"n. SuJRee
it to say. I found tho autumn most lovely. The peojile, in h.ibits and manuors, nnuh resendjlc
the Knglish ; they are charitatilf, kind, and ho-pitablo. It is a genuine hospitality, and there is
no ajiologising — if one by chance !ioks in— that they have nothing liettur to offer, but a true
Canadian weh-oine t'p tlie be.st the hi tise affords. Agriculturally speaking, the soil, as in most;
other big countries, is of j^oi'd, b:\d, i.nd indill'ercut rpialitics, Ijut with a large propoilion of the
good. It is wilih regret thiit T e;Minot s]ieak well ot the general eukivatio)). In ,a foruver portion
of this report I alluded to many of tlie early pinneers who had gri>wii eonip:ivatively j'ich. They
were those who had, some tifty or sixty years .iljo, selected the richest lands from .among.st the
forests, and by .ilmo.st superhuman Inbourand eeonomy n alised a compp'teuev. But i,'ooi.l es the
soil may be, the coiiseeuti\ii cereal cropping must tell its tale. I'^verything taken off, .and
nothing added to, will deteriorate the bet land in the world. To a great extent this h.as been
the course pursueil throucfa a part of the Dominion. The younger nn u have more or less followed
in the steps of their f.^tliers, .and the results need not be told — the farmers are not so well off n^
they might have been had they fanned in a different manner. Hence tho desire of so many to
sell and go westward or elsewhere, and. liy tho way, no class of men are so calculated as these
native Canadi.-ns to ,i[ien out a new country. Brought up fmui bovhood to habits of strict
industry, hardy, athletic, and skilled im tho use of tools, but few JCuglishuien can compete
with them. In telling my brother farmers that previously to the introduction of leapiuu"
machines, it was not one Tn.tmion for some of the.se men to cradle (that is, to nunv with a long
scythe with ii craille attach'-?! five acres of fair standing wheat between sunri.';e and .sunset, they
may well exprp«> suriir>j. tc s.-emed at first incrcdililo to me, but I found hundreds could
testify to the fa.rc. But hov. is it these industrious men are drifting into difficulties? It is
from the continued .system 'f ;::rain cropping, .and the ab.seiiee of root cultiire, which would enable
them to feed more cattle, =nd cnnvurt their strav.- into vabnble maiiure ; and whilst .so much
good clay-loam aliounds — and intlicr land with a str.mj sub oil— why is it more land is not laid
down to pejTiment pasture, tb-uts le.-^seuing tho est of tillage, ospocinlly as Labour Ls .so scarce
and ti.-ar? SinLrle men are mn^tly employed as la'i.uirers, and they are boarded in tho farm-
houses. If there wore more cr'ttages seinered throTigh the ajrricultr.ral districts as homes for
married men, a resident peasantry might l.e estalj'ddvl, so much more reli.ible than this nonmdie
labour, and recn]ierative -n-itlial. TIio fanners .s,ay, AVhat are we to do with men in winter?
I say, with so much of thr jr Und s.i v,-ell adapt^'d for root-cultiue, they -hould go in for beef-
raising by st,i!I-lVeding. I do not, ho-ws?ver, wish it to be understood that I am pas'^ing a sweeping
condemnation upon all the Ontario farmers or farming. Far from it ; for I had the pleasure of
visjtincrm.my farms e.=;p^'>ir'l!y on those rich soils we-t of Toronto, where agiicult'irists were
quito »H->c t-i the neces-^itv of cattle-raising and feedin., .and are making great strides in that
direntior.. Bnt these wer^^ not tho m-n dc:-ir^us of r.-^Ping their fn i m-,. It"i.: =crirc:lv nece,s?-iry
fcr me to say th.it thi^-e rmiarks do not apjily to Mnnitob.a and the \orth-West Territory.
VarmerR jjfiing into the iirtter proxinces, where the -il is virgin, nted not follow the nnwi.sp
••ystem pumied in tiie older parts of Canada, and there is no reason why they should not succeed,
if they are 'lot afraid rf hard work, anri are pos>essed of sonu capilf.l.
The filh^wing U a conversation T had in tli Toronto cittle-yard.s with Messrs. Franklin and
Co., bntcl'ir''':, paelo-rs, .and cattle exporters to England. In lookin.g over the bullocks they were.
pr-parin- ■ ■ shiimient, th"v iuforui' .1 me that during the pre\!'pus four weeks tliey had pur-
I
Mr. W. r. CithitCs llepnyl.
83
in.c,' my (iMinnti'iiis t<i
irgcu't lit Wiunilicg,
t.
t KtnyH ill the various
MiniusotiV, I noticed
om an examination of
OS BO well adapted foi'
iiilwav companies arc
;o divert settler^ going
yy to thieir destination
tiiat larpe numbers of
not find tiiis to be the
icago, one of the most
;,-;, i:tc'.
■.!in. ii.laiid souH tovild
viaioiis kinds, and tlic
Tliere is every facility
Lawrence rtd lakes and
ive'iler may proceed liy
ovth-West' Territory, ft
:iv ('c.-criplion. SvifRc.-
laniiors, much resemble
hospitality, and there is
tter to offer, but a true
rifj, the soil, as in most
liil '"■ propovlioii of the
n. "in a foiuier i)ortion
iip;ivatively rich. They
lands from amoiic;st the
aUcv. But ttood PS the
■rythintr taUen olf, and
eat extent this has been
ave more or less followed
lers are not so well olf a^i
ho desire of so many to
,-e so calculated as these
bood to habits of strict
;uglislmien can compete
introduction of leapiu;,"
it is, to mow with a long
sunri:;e and sunset, they
[ f.iuud huiuireds could
into difficulties ? It is
Uure, which would enable
>n-e ; and whilst so much
i it more land is not laid
illy as labour is so scarce
w'c boarded in the farm-
■al districts as homes f(>r
reliable than this nomadic
do with men in winter ?
icy ;-hoidd .eo in for bcef-
it'l am passing a sweeping
for I had the pkas\ire of
where ngiicultnrista wero
ing great strides in that
,. It'i.: =c;>vc:ly necesf-iry
ie North-West Territory.
L'd not follow the unwise
IV they bhould not .succeed,
with ^lessrs. Franklin andl
)ver the bullocks they were
four weeks tiiev had pur-
They were bought by the owners ni "^ /^*" ^''^.^^ f , ;;";;,t,,n ,,art of Ontario can he .levoted to
f,n„. £13 to £l.i per head. Much of the f" ;, ^^, "^',,;, ...led in the counties.of Wellington, .
grazing purposes. Tl.M^n-l-H-^- < -^^J ;:^ ^j.;^':;,;,^ They agrevd with ine
(iuelph, Klora, T-ergus, .alt, ^^ •'''"V '.^ ' ' " „f /i,„^,,,,i ,.,^Ue, both on lh<. grass and .u the folds,
that if cattle were M.ppl';-'! "'■th '^^^^ 'n^ " ^.^^ . j .".";; tj, ...st b. borne in n.ind th .t the ex,.ort
it would be protital.l.. \^ ^^ ^''""''-J^X onl v itho , ul hea.l had been shipped to ( Ireat Uritain
„..de is only of recent date. | [v^; >^^^-'^ V''£: ^ , New York ; but the outrageous duty of
Our markets preM..u..iy had I'f-". )'' ^^''>;,' , . , 'r,ve stock, au.l their own inereasin,^ supplies
20 per cent, laid u.-n us by the Ameiicns tm an ' ,,,,.,.ivfd no encouragement. But
l,,clented the trade proving v.ry 7:"':* '^^ ,;; '^''t, :^ ",; ^^I^t has been rapid, an<l we aro
!.,w that they have an assured ^I'^^^l^t^'-^^'- "'^1' ^''-^ .lem:,nd,'has caused our
vcarlv increasiu;; our exports. V". '".''' ,[. ' ,, the Canadian (ioverunvut hav<. established
iumersto take a .l.eper .uteres >n their « ;'^, •,;;^^ i^^.^'^I ^ „, f„,,iish information of such
an Agricultural C'omnu.s.,ion, ^vh.ch nmII o '^^^ .'^^ ' ."; " ,^ .-J.^.^t.,.,,,,,,,,,! animals in Canada, and
a character tl. -t must result lu J^.^-'-t',':^;^^ ' f,,^,,,^,;,, he second to none in the worhl.' It
with strict atl.mtie.u and more l.l.erahty "\f'=^;' "\^', "^''V , ;, ",^0 fact that raiding more cattle
will thus be se«n that Messrs. I' ••;'''\'\" :;^''"^"J,,.7,, L^^ they wish to improve
must henceforth b,3 the paiamonnt object of Canadian '=^ "^ ' ^ ;^ ,; ^^^ ,„i, „{ ,vhicU
U:.ir position. It is larnentable th.at m X^:^::^^^^^:^^ be anxious to dispose
is equal to anything on this side . f the A Ua <. ^^ \"> , f,,^ increa.scd outlay. If
<,f their land which, with nmre l''"'^ *'^'^^'",^ ' /^ ,^"''J " ^5 fj,, v farming. With good roots,
the necessary ca,,ital can ^-''l^ ;'^""'' ^^ ' Tl^i^t iu»^o^^ county at such
abundant hav, cheap cr-rn -^."'^ 'i"^f '^■^\'-/ u. d atnom a pd^ and bran, which possesses so
reasonable rates, with miller's olfal to 'f;;'*^^"' /f ~'^;,':.\:°tone, there can be no excuse for
many nutritive ])roperties, selling at le. s uem . . v.,,AUh. land were cultiv.atod upon so
farmers not keeping more stock upon lie.r fa lus " f i^j^^''^^^;";, '7^an with 100 acres in
penurious a lu-inciplo general Yf;':^f^Z^£.S^C^£iS-^^'-^, «!-" ^^^^^ "' -'^'<=1'
lillage wm.l.l be expected t.> s ".b-fc- 1 f^' ' '"^'^t ,,„\';\., tT) upon artificial feeding. It is not
he would spend some £. < r ^J };;'^^:^^^^^^^ hou d be for sale in Ontario, and now
snrpri^iug that with such '"•"^•"■^"^.^.''."'^^^Vr" which cost the e.arly pioneer little or nothmg.
olieriug at prices raugtug from £10 .0 ilo [iOi ^"'j' ) ^^^" . . 'J^^, prospects would scorn
In favoure.1 localities it m ght F-'^^n'^ o..un.a d u.h^' .>t , bu p e.ent p ^l^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^
to denote a further n.luction. I\7-;> l^,^,f ^^ VL in t raffirmativo, provided that two or thi^o
.neeuhition for ^f^^^^^.^^^^^^l^^^^^^'^-^^^-^ ' -ted at from two to five
occupations could be laid toyethu. in i. iu,i u., . ,,„or-rato. From Is. to 2s. per acre
dollars per acre, but they are "<;•' ^- ^ 'f ^ Cnctedvih ho question of tithes is the fact
would cover e;ducat,ional_and "^^f^^^ F Xd b.dld churches (many F.pisco-
that poor as Canada is in '^<™1'"''-"" '^'t^,,,;'" ■';'„;.,"" through any of her country
on board the Allan steamship SanUman on Saturday, Octoba .)th.
TiiK nrrruN' voyace.
among.st whom were Sir Hugh Ali.in.tlie pi null ai lyj; ^nnie Alarr.herson of
the Iteformed National Church. Another of ^'^^^^^^J^^J]^^^^^ „, j,,,t ^at
Spitaltields, Loudon, who intereste<l me in her Y' :/Y ! ;,,*tve Val tlous^^^ f <:hildren%nd
city. Buring the past ten years .she has ^-^ '^'^^^'^^i^^^-'l^i^^^^/.f/, ' ".^^^^.^e with her to her
inhumanity of drunken parents. She .^ssured me f ^^ ^,\^",f '^ 'l 'j;;,, ,' Hucipal v pUced with
these waifs, and that OS oijt of -very 100 were d-,nH^w..^^^^T^^^^
farmers, who agree to keep them gning them 'l'*^''\f ' '"''7'"'.' .,^„ . ,„ that at seventeen or'
vear. They get 25 dollars for their services w.th ."" ;^"" 'f ^^^ ^^^'-rf,;" ,„Hs enables Mis.
eigheen young men are ab e to lure ^^"^^ ^e.s , t at g^;^' ];'^^' ^j^^^^^q",,)^^ ,„i t,,,„ work -
Macpherson to rescue another life and ^ivo It a stint »u Uanaaa. iviay -.t. 1 ^_^
THE REPORT OF MR. PETER IMHIE.
O/CawJer-CuiU, -Vurjiilll, Luiuak:
Tl.K first remark it (.ccurs to me to make to sucl. aa may be thinkin-: of cmisratins to Canada is
that e\'^'aK'e across tl.u Atlantic (at lea«t in an Allan Lino stuauinh,,.) .s enUrely |.lo:vsant.
In the -iloon yon have a high degroo of luxury, in the inter.neaiate cabn. a con«.<Ierablu de-reo
S'SmflTna in the steerage v^ry tolerable accnnno.lalion with ,lenty of gorul pla.n food I
made it a point to look into these matters for myself, I'.nd also uonverKed w»th the diffeient
clauses of passengers on the subject. . , n „ i.. „ „*. »t, . „„,i
But I fancy there will be few emigrants of any class who wdl consider themselves at the end
of th^i • journey when they leave their Atlantic liner at Point Levi. There ,s "'f ^'"S ,° f j^'^^'
the emiurant, or at all events the agricultural emigrant, n. the neighbourhood ol ont Lev.,
i fan y "'any a one n.ight d,. worse than take a look at the Eastern Townships o ^ '«/ rrm"^'
of Q«ebcc. before proccn-diMj,' further westward. These townships arc easily reached b> Grand
Trunk Ralwayfnn. I'oiat Levi, vhl Kichmon.l and Sherbrooke, the last namedtown being
«h™c.iiUl of \he Townships, and situated at the junction of the railways running eastward
throrh the new Kettlen.enls of Scolstown and I^ke Meganic and sonth-east to the United
States throniih the older settlements of Compton, T.aton, htanstedd, etc., etc.
Goverm:.ent land in the E,v.stern Townships is to bo had at 00 cents jK-r acre I' '-" J-"
forest • and in many socti.uis the roads are few, and bad and far between. I could not le
•ormenranreini 'rant from Scotland to go in for these lands. Better buy a partially improved
^t Such Zy be had in any district at little more than the GO cents per acre, ,./».. actual cos
•f imnroveSs effected. Of such improvements the first is that of road making, the cost of
^Weh s law Sn all adjoining lands in the form of a tax. But the most important of cm.rHe.
rthocuttingdownand burning of the timber, or of such portion of it as "'^ ""» be wortl,
^vL Unless in unfavourably situated localities, I believe it pays to market all the cedar,
Tie and sp uce hat may be upon these lauds, and perhaps one or two varieties besides these
&! Kther wood (and that will be the great bulk of forest in most cases) « fit or nothing but
rSmes. If near a large town, however, such as Sherbrool.e, portions o ^l^<^-ir;^^^l
wood may be sold at fairly remunerative rates as firewood. In fact, m a ^'''^y '="'';,V"*^'' '
xmdmvUnd any industrious man may make 2 dollars 3 cents per day of e ear proht at th'^ wik;
and i he employ men be,sides himself his profits may, of course, be relatively increased. Bnt rough
^rteit l3 in such favoured localities cannot be purchased under «;^^»-« ,-"--;; ^ *,^^^;
abouts The cost of cutting and burning the wood, so as to leave the land ht for r'""S'""f • ^"^ , ^;^
.omewhat aifoordin"- to circumstances, but I believe may be set down g.n.ral ly at about 15 dolhus
pe^^re Of c<mi" e the stumps are left in the ground for several years, to allow them the neces-
^'jS:^^fi:^^^^^iT^ooAU6<n.e.i^. and any large stones ^moved, it is
usuMtVpou.htelad roughly! and to take ..if a crop of whe.t or potatoes or both, afterwards
who will do the work by contract at the figure named, or even less ; and the fiist c^°P °y^f';-^|
JSre of thl soil, and very much also on the number and character of the stumps, b.x dollars
«v, 1.
J
Mi: I'eiiv linric'fi liqiuii.
m
RIE,
'Vfttins t" Canada is
is uiitifL-ly iiluasaiit.
cimtiiderablu du^jico
■ gone! plain food. I
I with the different
lemselves at the end
is nothing to attriict
ihood of Point Levi,
iliips of the Provinco
y reached by Orand
'named town buiiy
ys running eastward
li-east to the United
iC.
acre. It is all dense
m. I could not re-
a partially improved
ncre, plus actual cost
. makinij, the cost of
important, of courne,
s may not be worth
larket all the cedar,
ietios bcsidoH these ;
is fit for nothing but
the otherwise useless)
a very cold winter I
ir profit at this work,
increased, lint rough
rs an acre, or there-
, for ploughing, vavius
lly at about 15 dollars
lUow them the neccs-
stoncs removed, it is
3, or both, afterwards
stumps are leady for
a state of re.adiness
are plenty of Frenoh-
!ses in forest clearing,
lie first crop of wheat,
pon to yield 20 or 25
ly good market, it ia
ing, thus leaving the
r be high, and which,
ea for extracting the
itlay of capital neocs-
end very much on the
3 stumps. Six dollars
t)cr acre was about the fi-.nc monti-ned to me in more than one (|uarter, fts a fair .|Uotation f..r
this description I. f work, but 1 am bound to say I would incline to thmk the job hard at the
money' Ten dollars, or two pounds per .icre, would probably not bo too much to pay to get the
workiiroperly carried throu.,'h. and even at that 1 cannot but think the farmer Would have hi»
perfectly cleared laud at a price ..f which he could have little reason to comp ail.
In Home parts of the Townships the forest is not the only obstacle that hat to bo dealt with,
huce boulders being also rather too plentiful. There are some stones even on the most choice
Bcctions : of that no one would complain, but I saw some other sections where these bonlilers
were so numerous as to render the land pnactieally woitbloss. Parties who think of purcha-sing
land in these townships should therefore he careful to find out before they do so that they aro
reallv nurchasiim land, and not merely stones. A good deal of inspection may be necessary on
this Doint, as, where there is a rank forest growth covering up everything, a merely cursory glance
in pi.<sinK through the forest may detect no stones at all-no matter how plentiful they may
actnallv be— except of course the very large stones, which no amount of vegetation will suthce ti.
hide "Another point worthy of being kept in mind by the intending settler is, that in the case of
lands under cultivation, much of what is offered for sale is completely run out. Where this is
the case I am told that it will often cost more to put the land in good heart than it does to
brine wild land into cultivation. Oreat care must therefore be exercised by parties purchasing.
Purchasers should also be careful to employ a respectable solicitor, so as to make sure of getting
a good title before paying away any money. I heard of several cases of great hardship through
neglect of this necessary precaution. , , , . ^u w i w .,
Speakiu" generally, I think 1 might venture to say of the cleared land in the Eastern Town-
ships of Quebec Province that it is probablv about eipiid in fpiality to the average run of laud m
Ontario (a province which I have also visited), and I must say th;it I think the Town.ships have
several very material advantages over the more popular province referred to. In the hrst place,
land is much cheaper in the Eastern Townships than in Ontario : I think I might venture to
say 30 per cent, lens, for eipial qualities of land and housing. For a home market tliey are
probably about equally good ; and, for an export market, the Townships have the great advantage
of being in close pr6ximity to several first-rate seaports. The flat lands in the Kastern Townships
are of really high quality. These lands are of course worth a good deal luore than the cost ot
clearing them. In fact I believe some of them may run as high as 70 dollars per acre. But that
would mean very fine land, and favourably situated. The same land in the neighbourhood of
Glasgow would be worth £3 per acre, or thereabouts, to rent. The hillv land (which is much
more plentiful than the flat land, in the sections of the Townships with which I happened to make
most acquaintance) is not of the same value by any means, being generally too light and sandy,
and I think perhaps fully as badly affected Ivith rocks and stones. But ot course it is relatively
cheaper On the whole, I would incline to think that an industrious man, with a fev hundred
povinds of capital, might reckon on being able to make a living in these Eastern Townships without
much risk of ruination— certainlv much less risk of that than at homo. And he might also find
himself growing gradually richer, in a manner, through tlie increasing value of his farm. But
it is no place for any man who wants to grow rich in a hurry ; at least for the present it is
not so, 1 feel very sure. . , ^ ■, . . it, -i
There can be little doubt that this is a healthy and good country for stock-raising—the soil
bein"- mostly dry, the air clear and invigorating, and the entire country well watered. I saw
many youno' beasts grazing .among the stumps, and thriving well. Disease ia, I believe, unknown,
in its more serious forma at all events. Horses also do very well. I do not know whether it i:)
the clear bracin'^ air that favours them, but I think they are generally longer winded t lan the
driving horses we have at home. Sheep aliso thrive well, and good sorts are frequently to be
met with. . ^ c /i i
If stock-rearing (without fattening) for the English market will pay in any part of Canaria,
I incline to think the Eastern Townships of the I'rovince of (Jnebec may be as likely a locality
for it as any I had the privilege of coming across. And I believe it is a trade that will pay
fairly well, so long at least as the colony may retain the good fortune of being exempt from
contagious diseases. , . , ,•
I will close my remarks on the Townships with the following extract from my diary, \n.. :
' Drove from Scotstown to Compton, and thence to Lennexville, a very long day's driving. Tlie
country improves all the way, and at Compton there are many really fine farms— especially ,thof.e
in the valley. Visited the Hillhurat farm, belonging '.o the Hon. Mr. Cochrane, and saw his
famous Duchess cow, now twelve years old, and the i.Kither of ten calves, tWQ of which I saw.
The other eight realised 130,600 doU.ars, or an averago of oyer £3000 a head. Saw also a pure
Duke bull, and two others of the purest Bates blocr', Mr. Cochrane is just starting a herd of
pure Herefords, which ho thinks will be the best bre*! for the great North-West ; has got fifty.
cows to begin with. Visited also the Hon. J. H. F ae's farm. The apparent comfort of tli.
farmers hereabouts wouW seem to indicate that the charing and subsequent farming of land m
this quarter .ire not bv any means discouraging occupat. )ns. , -n i.
' Learned that there are always plenty of paiv'all; cleared farmn, for sale in the Eastern
Townships, owing to Iilanitoba fever (which means ;he tendency to emigrate to Jlanitoba) aad
_».',. »* L. -'■ "-o^Jm
!ifr. Viler Imrie's Rijiort.
8('.
t„ ,„dina.y Jomcstlc cau..^, f.un., ., huo thinki..i{ about iU. littl. uf .cUing their Umm aa tl.o.a
iuuniov oluvanlH to Montreal. Tho i.itorvciinK cm.try i.- Ht.ll cl.atl.V m th.. ImmU . f I'leuoh
' " "iK r. Itivutlon, l>..w...v.r. ■^VV^V. t- improve soiuewluvt from tl.o moment Quebec .« le t
Ik nlno liiiiuowbat more u.'vtLii.iivflv' iliiiroil. , ,. ■ i ..t ,„ ti, .t .,f
•iVavJiliiii! wclward from Woulual, wo l.'av« tho i.r..vii>co ..f Quel>eo uu.i enUn- that of
Oiilario.
'^r: a.^>u^ at OUaw. I ...n.., |.. lea.. U>. in^^^eU'^of OntaHo ^to ,^^^-;,^-- ;::;;;
Ciutia ; MY. lUodenek ami m\sell jirou
!
Uiiv at ouce to Mauitolia. On my icturn journoy,
l=lipsiliiliiil
smsmmmmssm
t a„ iL ii.i 11.0 1,..,» ..( 11.. t.„,...«.>. ..( ;)..i»i.. »i;i-'"; ;;, " ' /S' ^,^;'i, , .iun-i
;;rc;il:;:;tr^s;;;:;::,'5.S£;:;r:'CK;.^";i/Ki:;;vM»
yce liow their -ri.eral prosjiecls can bo satisfae'.ory. -. . ■ n„.,.i,.vear-oia ox cannot bn
^vherc con.ideral>le los.scs are m. inevitable. 'J ho VV^^:'^^ M^rn etSr A'S thin ho luu
a di.sa.lvantayo of il 1 per head as compare.l with \m ^:^'^^.^"'^^^;,^^fXU : thi. would
(1) a lower rent to tho extent of about iJ per acre m tho ca>,o f" ' •'^;' fS;;^^^^^^^^^^ t,,„ ,.^t ^t
come to XO. ,ir .ay i7, of the eost ot rulMMg a Ihreo-yoar-o d ni '^J ^ >'';/„ t^^^^,, h.^« i^
pvoducin, fodder and other feed is nearly a. u^. as a^t lorn o^ but ( - ^^ j,:,,4ish«,»n
a .malL prolit, and if he h.d disease to -"tend w^h ho c, U n do ^- ,,,JV^Vdistinctlv.less
really preearions conHiderat.on, 1 venture to nay f'^^ c. U e .a . ^^ j_|^^^^_
l.r.-li al,lo ooeupati,.u in Ontario than in J.njand, u tl u.^. o ^^ ■ti" n in Kmdand ; and In-
ore, how land' is to maintain its i.reseut vah.e .n \>"'^^"'Xy.^^'^S;^Z.^^^^d thore will
deed, if they como to have ealtlo lii^oa^^es to couLend with, tho fad m tile value
bo by so nu.ch the .a^oater than with ourselves ^,^ „f tho
In point of fact, I KU.pect that Ma mt-i -a and tic \'' ,;;',.; ,,i ..f {,,,,,, ,jr,,duce at
Ontarians themselves are emiKratin^O wi drive elovvn he f "^ f J;"^:;^'' ..^/^ tliero would be
• least u. seriously in Ontario as in real irita.n, so th.>t ^^ '^> ^ \ t'eu rent prices of land in
any advantage in emigrating to that part of Canada. O c ; ^ >' ' .'J- <;''^ , ^,^^,„ i ^„„id
Ontario be further re.luced, w tliout any corraspondmg [^ ' ^^^^ ,,!;' ^o, ,io' seems as un-
believo in emigration to Ontario ; bu , for he l^'^'r-f • ' . "vasi v' facilities of transport
willing as the Knglish landlord to v , d to the '^^ ,^^1 , r';^^;' j^ '':^'" ^^.J^ „f available g^in
have practically aUded the vast fertile plains of tho -' ;\_';;;,;\^"4,,,i;.,i tlie demand that
and c'lttlo producing land, thus rendering that suppl> ho > "^'' \^,^ '^^ .^.j,
l,riees must conio down and down with every "-'--;''•; ;;;'j>J,t' ianada and the United
The only way to stop ih.s decline would be o f « / ^ ^-"f ^^ , ,,,i ,,vo„t settlers thereon
States to place such a puce on tlu.r u..pe,.,.led l^' >' '"^ ''^ '' y, i/,„„ ^„ there is «o price
from producing more cheaplytl.au ll'^* >''''" '^'''f '"^^' ";;';: ;,ii,„; .t olforod to all man-
l,ut upon these va.t and most fertile reg,ons-so '-'"^ ^;,^^'-,>,; '' ' j'.?, ,i,li ^nd elsewhore, bo
kind jor/,o(/- ->.'/--«" 1"".^. I«»y,nni..t the value ot '•'"^'•/ "'!/',„',,, ^,^, ^ost of transporta-
go<-en.ed strictly by the cost of production in t— '-^ ^^ ;"" ^^ Xso expenses of trans-
tion to Ontario, or Knglan.l, ov el,..ewlie.v, as the case " l'^,^^^;, .;;:;; .'^^.^^......u/and with every
portation must necessarily decrease with every new no ^^^^" 'j^ii^^^^ther Cana.la or tho
new invention in the locomotive powers, and as there is no V l^^:^ f > \ ^^ ^^ ,^,,,,„n that
States altering the present policy with respect to «"^y"k^ to mtones, t sia ^^^ ^^^^^^
the value of land cannot fail to decliue to that l''''''\ ^'^'^^''T ', J^f.rtlyVpud to rout plus
production in the nov,- country plus transportation to *' *• ^^^^ • " ;; t^, ^And if wo assume
cost of production in tho old country There is no '^•■'_'^ ^l^*^. ''" " ^li'^j^^'^i.iativcly pretty much
that the coit of production iu the old aud tko new couutrioi may iviuam ieia«v j v j
their fuviiis as tliobO
Tmiilt Uivilway, wu
hi) hamU i>f l''n)iioh
inieiit Qiii-'liec in left
dually buUtir, ami it
1 and cnUn- th^it of
) Ml tsi-H. ^a.iM ttiul
my icturii jin\rm)y,
;li"!i U ii"t siillicient
wliich ai!t!mt<l to mo
'(II- iiirtl:iuc(', from ttU
1 fill im-rrt thiiiisulvrt!,
DUey. ( )iiii iiiiin, who
lit of tlu:ir capital, on
-prohtalilo is tlie un-
tlie HftniD conclusion
to lio chiutly in tho
;, cannot be reckoned
:)riiiuct,l tun uuiiblo to
ear-iilil ox cannot bo
iiiwi.mt hiui from tho
■1 £11 clo«H not iiicludo
lit leant in ft businesH
ma ai)i)ear to work (it
• A^'aiiiHl tliirf he Ikaa
agolaml ; this would
ur nspuct tho cost ot
tlv! Ontariau ha« less
laviis tlio Kuglishman
t riiks from Uiaoase ;
■raisiiig by working ftt
lu short,' but for thii
1,1 be a distinctly* less
I cannot aec, there-
in Englantl ; and In-
■ahic of laud there will
vhich Ko many of tho
md of farm ijroduce at
where theio would be
nrent prices of land in
at home, then I would
Ontario iseems as un-
1,' facilities of transport
rpply of available tfrain
ss of the demand that
[iort.
Janada and tho United
.revent settlers thereon
iv^ as there is no price
, be olfured to all man-
land and elsewhere, bo
mere cost of transporta-
tliese expenses of trans-
ilwards, and with every
if either Canaila or tho
it stands to reason that
lie) at whicli the cost of
a.tly t'lual to rent plus
,w. And if wo assume
I relatively pretty much
Mi: P'I'f lifvii'.-i l!it«'fl.
§t
\
t .v,„.V,« ■■...U b.iv ind the r>ic<H of famm in Ontario cnnn..t possibly
"""z;;,;,i„B .« .»». .>,*..i» '"»'; "»>■ ■««■ '"';;;; ';',,i;".ir;":';':,i' '"';"'':" ,;!.";:;
|,1..«. I W....1.I .Link U.c tli... (,.. r..r .." ;' " " '"S.L" "1 , S' r«. .li. .vu. Ui"
!,. ll.ll o( Se..lla...l, ..r «v«n 1.. tl..ii .•! l...:il.....l l.."l...W>- l"' '"> """ "'
A.t.. tl.. l..i..i .1 i. >uj .....;■!. 1.1..; ".'_'""" „';"'., ... tl... .".» i.. "I.i'l. It i> ''™>'J'
s. the. i, iiHi. .... i«iki..s .i-..t 1 1... .. ...1.. ■•;;'':,, ; t, , .i...:..iiv. n .i...vti.i..s
theashasand scraping tho lantl with <» ^ 1^'>"''^^' "^^^yf^l^^''^ ■;'''' V^H^ffUo tin.Lr is of
per acre the first year, the Soil l-ein. well manured .^^ th^.,,=^: ^^ ;„ Cin 'h Q.iick.ut gets
course reserved for fencing. H"^ '^y-^^^- f'^'""' i" ''> ''" ^'"- ' "^''V \ ,1; , ' ,.,„.^i|. for Lottinu'
tuU u , by mice in >yintu.. and sUid^.t fencn^ is cx,....ve ,,w>,,K ^^ ^ , "^ ;;„;"I,|j';{,;::^
the posts in very deep ,sa,v ihi'.e fc.: , .so as to l"^^^"t/7^' , ":- ,,i" ^„,, f,,,,;,,,.. „„ ,,,,„, in
sets in. Dairy strck pays pre Uy well : can draw '''^'^ ,;'■'"■' .j^' ^ ^^^;, ,^, i^admitted on
■-^si;;;"K;3ir^tir,;;-.f f ;ss ri *^^
fairly proliuUe, specially f^.it..vo^unK ;.^^heat <a y. Mamiul uUl m m^ .^ ^.^
ninehnsthirlydivo bu.l.els per 'J^- ' "^'^ ^''^ ^ f^^ ^iCara^ prcUy sand!; thinks
rotation, with one year fallow, llis l,.-.nd, lii.o all '""'^ "*:?„,:,:"'. t], ,' . 10 per e.nt. under
fruit.,rowin, pro.,H:rs best near the lake.. A ^l^^^^^^^Z, :?be w^i th 100 dollars
fi-uit-trccs. and with L'ood hoUMn;., is stat'^d b, the t'\""^ ' ' „\' ' ' . ,,; ,,,^,i „t 00 dollars per
per aero overhead ; Vit farms without any coiisiderablo :'\' '. ^' " J > JV ,,,., .f^a and libe'ial
licro, even if of bloh quality othenv .e^ Ih- ^f:^^^'::^^!^^ its ownei-. a:„l
^x^:^v;:^^-Jr^i^:^^^^ r -rf 'SS^iho t-. own^abour bem.
thrown in ^vainst the board iind lo.luin- of '"'"'^'^^■'^"'V':;'"^,^' , fj,, 's byres at Toronto, where
27//..SV,,<.m/,r..-Went throu;,ii '-i, '';V.\1'*''\1' '"7", ^""j'" ,,„,;: co ,nnenein.4 alnmt tho
about 4000 bun..ck.s are fed on d.^t.devv .lop for ^2^}^^y-,'^^^^^:^^,,,^rm[^
],t November. The .bip i. (o.ced Unou.h 1"1'- ^7'";^;'"^^^^ l^r U J a^m This with a
oft, and is run riyht into the cattle Iroudis, "^/fS .^^ 'Lntli: d oi.r Vnen attex.d to 510
little hay, is the only lood they ^et. \\ '1' the facilities >°''",'^-;;;,\,^ Liverpool to make the
cattle. I learned that the.o cattle mns clear Oo.. l'^"^ ,7 • ". 3 '" , f^j, , xX.
trade nay though if there -^'-/^-/""t';^,'':^ "''^^^i^tost are^ho^ hich have been grass
r.d"::::^\he;;":!S'j^\S::;^:!t£:';j;:tSoJi!ji::^
as they would be wft, and would lo^o f^eriously on thov.ivi'ye.
I am told good store stock i.. ^M\^^^, rather scarce "' taua-.a now . „^,^
mh S,:,ta,J.r.-^t an _ intelli^eul lainicr fri.u l^^^:''^^^^^ I ^ell as many
-rttin.v very i-xarcc there, owin.!- to the em.giation to J^-" -'tob.'. 1 '""'•''", ; ... ....eratro for a
othenrvvitl^yhoiB I have cuversod, inclines to na,t.e OO dc^.vs V-^J^ ^ ^.Je'.^L To
b-ood farm iu Ont.iio, if without any special ud^antat;e, such .ib pioximit, to
u. MKh a f,u. 1 .toeu It wouM ,.^.j>iv n.t - ^S;^:---;^ -;;;;:;;Kii tu^S'l. J^
re. nire-l n.o.vly t.. rent ftn.l sto.k a .mil.v, '> '' 7'';' , ' ; i'; '^ „i ,,iti, „„ bott.T pHvpfotH n(
griator over a t.rn> nf y..:uH pr..l>a My '^ «''': ,;'' 'r^vo . wh 'imi; "^ lu.wovoi'. dockleaiy
•ciin,' o„t to „;lvaMta,o ThV"';; 'f ,: w th 1 W h^ ui- 'nt cr.pit'vl to carry .m tluir
fewer in Outariotl.an at homo; «o t lat '' ' ' , /, ,'^, ''^ , f, .^ thr,.. IrnVmasonn, h.icI. as (Ir.at
business, and unable on that a..;oMnt to „t: n.l ''' 'o) "' ,," ,,i„i,,,ltv in Ontario for a llfr
Britain i. oocasionMly viMtcd vvuh. "I'f ^r^;^:'^^, ,,^^ V "^n, 'it of tl>o calling in tl,at
tin«o. which, so far i. a (^""'I'^'V'^ 'l' '' a ;,^' a , ( o h 'r^^ c'"'l''»o.l with a.ricul-
r^-Lt£t:r;\;"u:tr-S:^..S);:;.n"^
-i,sr:;rtfft,!:fr-£c^^^^^^^
man who«o pleasure in tho occupal.on is n. asv u 1 ^ '>,':,, ;;'',Xip are prefcraUle to OnUuio
to think m«l.Ul, jr .*.v.3«ntl, of '" r" "'' ■' 'J° , ™ S,;^ t„ll.,™ whl.l, tl.-
o„J:..^;,f^s,,",?;ff.»3tr.4E ™J.;-i
weU-f.rrmed land in Ontario w,ll i;™'"^,";,^: .;•: £^^^^^ 35... «o that the rent
England, from, nay Toronto, wil, under or IM ^^^^^^^ ^^ ,^^ ^,^,.
of the land ought to be S.h. les.s nr Ontaun ha n ^"^ " » '• ,„^^ „f ,a.,ut «ix acre.
MAMTOIIA AND THE NORTH-WKST.
The imnrense territory indicated by these titles i. of , Jo "-J-';^;j;;2;:dowi;'::!; '^'iSv
„re barren and worthless-vast tracts '^'-^^^^y^^^' ,tft "ve v li no p'eoe of lan,l nun-
to any particular h.cality, it wil bo found, ju t as ■ -'™;^;J; ';;\ " .;^,;. ,• i,t ,, to be found in
i.e alnni,side a very middliu, p,eco ^^^^ ^^^t^; ;;" ^^^^i i^rmd the .oil much thinner
very fr.Miuent cont.gu.ty. So al.o ^ ° s.ai^^e h ,c . . j ^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^,^ ^^,„
at one place thatj at another ^^' ' ' ^';^^ "' , . ;';^ , '.naterially affect the agricultural pi<,-
necessarily varieties of clm.ate, which ^^ =""', ^ . w"''e therefore, it is not safe to indnl-.^
perties of the h>caUties.n which hey™ ^^^ ^;\ U 1 ot u" hand it is beyond the bounds
n general statements regarding Un. 1 ^" 't^^ > • „;," ' '," ,1"' ^e will tliorefore attempt to treat
of l!racticability for us *" t-^U, .-f everv <^a^. y ^ .^ „ot neccs'sary to d"
of a small part only ; and, indeed toi all P'^;"''"' P " .,, ,,„t„i'allv settle either aniong:^t thofe
unytWng more. th>ui t^t, - -.giants g^^^^^^^^^ ^,i„,,,, ^,,,,,,,^,, Uio.e
X'f°ttStth:\^t dre.:!; ::SeS, and a little way beyond. This will not carry us
-CK^Sv:ft:Kij^|n..egis..^
looking Htiiff, but ^f'-^^y^^^'^/'^^::]^^^^::;!^:^^ to the ext!^en.^ly level
£::!j^-l.?n^::aiS: "l fS ^SS SiSh^tS dl^U. wiU not do at all e.ents, both because
tl;at the ce=t of liviu? is clK-apcv tlvin ni F.ii J'li.l.
i:
J
^v%*,
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
1.0
I.I
1.25
I us 112.0
1.8
U il.6
/."
Photographic
Sciences
Coiporation
•y
^
\
«■
23 WEST MAN STREET
WEBSTER, I^.Y. 14530
(716) 875 '^03
iP
<>
V** ^^%. '^O
;\
CIHM/ICMH
Microfiche
Series.
CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.
Canadian institute for Historicai IVIicroreproductions / institu' Canadian de microreproductions historiques
■■ T;yy%.j; ' ^jV. " P ^v"^ " ' "^"" '■'
Mr. VtUr Lnrlcs tlop^rt. »»
.f there l.ein« too IRHo fall, and b.ea..e "J "j-^^^^ ^Sf ' S^SiS^:"
the tiles could be ^ut, and would 1 .e_ certain to_ ^ stmb th m ser. .. si> . ^, j-\, ,,,,. o„, ernment.
drainage is the only kind P^-'f ^^'f '• -"' Jd- zerSct a^ S^^"^ to'the rivers, and to
The plan of th» Government w to cut K°"'l"'^'^„^',,f '\,,v,cdi furrows, or shallow open drains,
let the settlers drain their ■;"d><, "f ' 1^ ' t^, "ofXa nte tr it has been found that once a
fortunately the sod » well ;"''-i^to th s .oit of dia a ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^
.litch is cut and .et running, it /^"^^ »» ^^^'^fj^^yhe will no doubt become small rivers. These
and wider, so that in time these ^"^'?\»";^"* '^';?,,,^' of tax .t^on. If the Red lUver A^alley land
.litehes will of course require o be I'^^ » Jy \"^h ^ no d m . " would pay t,> do it even ju«t
can be drained at «">\'""=; ^'^^i,;', "^ bes lea 1 nd^ the Americin'c.mtinent. In any
r:: \i ^^^^^^^^^-{j^z^ ti^^ttt; t:^y^^p:nditr!i^t
SSiithif^X— ^e^^Sr Si^ff^Sod ^^^ dry a>^l r..l d the plough in
tlie immediate neighbourhood. Manitoba, all I can s.iy is that
As for the naturally 'H]*:,!'^",?,,";^^^? iSclV t prlldLes do n,>t, it is true, show such an
there is nothing like it. ihe ^>'^^'^;^* "."P^,) ,"' „j . , „t tu.it is not the fault of the land. I
tionally late and wet seeding-time. But ^^^ .r'^^" y. X a' ,„,,j. .^.heat-yield of dry land in
is strong enough. Ponlar Toint to Portajje la Prairie, or, say,
There is a large tract of generally dry land ^^^^^^\^^^^\^,^,^^^ „{ that city. I would almost
that, or even les3. Phis di.stiict '^. 'J''^^^'^'^y P" '?"„ i„„j,i/,,^,,,e so that it may not suit eraigrante
Of course there is no ^'•'^"-S"^"^^; ,oo „wa^^^^^^^ I incline to think it is worthy
of small means ; but, for men with ±.1000 or "1" ;^« ';," .^'^P"; '' y j^^ i^^ ^ore v.-vluable than
of attention. Its better situation and its l»f ^^'^'•,: " f y ~ efsitv , rocuraW hereabouts. As a
the lands of the Far West. Wood and water ^^ V^';'' P'^"f,„''^'^'^ Y^' "i^';^^^^ at 2s. per bushel
result of a good deal of inquiry I ^^'^^J^'^' ^^^^l^fm^y^^^^ become practicable to
ks "^tXSSd-Ssh:;: 'X:::p:p^^r^ ..h .et agom. it is ^.. to
see how wheat in England is to '^^y'Jf ''^'=i,;;^;£- P^Jsent fannen, in Manitoba have so little
But it will take time to come to that * "^l,*' ,'' P[^'^"'^^ triflin<T areas get put under
capital in comparison with the extent of ^l'-^'^'^" ' ^J^^* ","^^£^'1^ c u ry for wheat-growing,
crop. There can be no mistake, however as to the mtr ts <> ^lu^ co»j^^ y »- ^^^^
No part of the United States (■^-/-r-s I have seen " .»-^ \' ° ,£ litaud in these other places
^:^:^1:;S: :^c!rS^iSwi!:;;c^='^ ^lanitol. a. extensively utiUsed.
-N^^^:^dt^^KS'iSV:dK:S^^^
as mu:h as it would bring if far from, Winnipeg «; J--^ - -^ ^^^ ,, re.o...tlou, ho.y.
=!S ILK wiK;^33i££^
us that from Poplar Point to Portage la 1^,^'"«' ^" ' I also an X 1' "■ as it ensures ap
9.0
Miy'liini,' 1 knipv
I'llir Iiuric'ti 7u, oii.
tl.'.l lliiy will I'.-.I; more. At t!mt prico, an enortrotlo m.iii of fair means— say
X-J. per acr.j-would be al.!o to cloar uff tlie cost of liis land the vovv first viMr.^so that ho would
ever* aftLrwards he as well nlF as if he liad taken up fr.c grant hvu.l, and he would, of course, have
hi« iu.niediate market, and otherwise advantageous situation all to the g-,.Hl Km.,,'rantH wi h
means .hould certainly keep these cirenn.stanecs in vi.^-. Jf thev 1:0 away 1-ar West, ^v he re there
is n.. railwav, nor oavket for pr ..luce, they mu4 sit still till such arnve. If_, on the .nhor han<l,
they spend 5 to lo dollars an aoe in the ,.urchase of (irst eLs. lan>! nnmod.ate ly accessd.le to a
ma ket or to a railway, thev may clear uA all the purelKise n,..ney the while the sett'.r 01 the
free-tjrant lands further we.t is waiting for the railway to ainve, before he can bcgn. operations
"' "'il'n'Hun.'t Uie Eod River Valley (and it is larger than all Scotland) the,-e -.re many tracts
of tine land besides the two T have referred to. An,l th.'n there arc also n.any sections, winch
ure partly dry and partly w. t ; but for the pre.unt the.se need not bo particularly referred to
except to say that anvoue whose fancy li-.s towards a place of that kind, would re<in.re to be
e.ir, 'ill where' he planted hi.s house, so as to ensure lor him-elf a dry road to the outer world at
uU seasons. ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^^_^^ ^^^ ^^^^ j,^ ^ River Valley is in thehan.lg
of .s,cc.lat,niwl. bought it upVrou. the Half-breeds. The c Half-breeds had ],40O,u0O acres
allotted to th^m by tlovx-.nnu.it, a great deal of which h:'.;. fr-.t ...to the hands of various «pe|cu.
lators in Winnipeg an.l elsewh. re. In m.ny ..uch cases a b.-tde of whisky w^^s syft ■:> nt ..by
Then ag"un, all the land, for two to four mili.'S back, along the banks of the lied Kuei
thoULJrtheTe are few places in which water ni;-.y n..t be had by moans of wells.
-jt is w.ll e.iou.di 1 lUAvn that the river water is not very good, and that the well water even
is rot all u-..od ; ir^fact, much of it is very middling, and plenty of it very_l.ad._ Ihere seems
little reason to doubt, however, that g.iod water will be found in ample quantities m all localiues
by moans of deeper wells than can be conveniently .sunk by settle.'s generally just now.
In concluding my remarks on the soil (.f this nu.st splenuid valley, I have to say that, for the
present at least, it is disagreeable in wet wea,ther. The mud is soniething jiuite incomparable m
Lint of stickiness, and the rain brings f..ith small frogs in millions. The settle.-s make soup
fi-ou. the hind-legs of these crcature.s, and declare it t.. be very hne I neverta.ted it.
There is n.^t such a thin- as a hard road in the country, so that th« mud is a hmg that can-
not be escaped if one goes out of doors at all in wet weather. Even the streets-f \\ mnipeg arc
Mill innocent of all hard material, except the footpaths so that, after a day s rain, the horses are
„p bevond their knees and the carts to their axles. Things, however, will no doubt gradually
urow right in all these respects ; for it is really ineonceu able that a countjiy- so_ extr>;mely capable
of furnishing forth the necessaries of life, should remain for ever d.sagreeaole 1.1 any respect that
admita of being mended bv the inhabitants. Of cour.-e it w.ll take tmic to bring about the.se
improvements, but probably not a long time.* '■ I.ere are abundant supplies of gravel and road-
metal now obtainable f(U' Winnipeg by means of the railway. In the country districts, hovsevcr,
metal roads may remain scarce for many a day ; and, in fact, Mith the exception of two or three
months in the year, they are not wanted; for in th ■ dry weaUiur the and .self makes an
exceptionally good road, tit to stand any amount of trallic ; and then, in the winter months, the
whole country is as h'-rd as iron. , 1 , i • 1 11.
Another momentary drawback to Manitoba is the presence of so many blackb.rda ; there a.e
millions of them. Unless something is .tone to keep them <lown, they will_ practically diminish
the yield of wheat to a serious extent. However, a.s they are good for eatnig, 1 have no doubt
they wiU bo kept duly down by-and-by. The mosquitoea are also a little troublesome, but not
^'''of all the drawback,s t.) ^Tanitoba, however, the most material one, and in ray humble
opinion the only one worth calling a drawback, is an ocea^ioiud plague of locusts, or some such
insects, which eat up every green thing. 1 believe that, on an average of ye.irs, their ravages
do not amount to anything in.suffeiablo ; but if they were to happen to come for twoor thieo
Vi.ars in close succession, they might leave very little food for man or beast. Judging from
l.ast experience, however, the thances of so calaudtous a vi.-it:a.ion are not great. During the
{.resent century they have appeared in devast^ding nundiers only three or four times, and that
at long intervals. So, if they be no worse in the future than they have been m the past, no one
m^ed hhuu the country on their account. . „, , . . 1 • » r
'J'he long wi.iter is also a'lhing to be cons.dcred. The country is as hard as iron for five
months, and the temperature much lower than wo know anything at all about in bcotlanU. It
♦ Not.: --Slanitobai Is now l.eii.i; iliviilod into municipal districts ; anl ma of the first duties of tUoso cor-
.por.Ui'jiis will tie iu rcijur-l to roaUs in Uio rruviucj.
i
of fair menus — say
v, so that lie would
luM, of ODurso.have
1. l';nvij,'i'antH with
r West, wliore there
nil the (lihorhand,
ittly accessililc to a
the sett' ;r on tho
au begin opcratioun
D)-e ^re many tracts
laiiy Rcctioui), wliich
icularly referred to,
v.<iuli.l ro(|Mire to be
J tlu; outer world at
alley is in thehnn'ls
had ],10il,<iOi) acres
lis of variniis specu-
rs siifli'iint to buy
ks of the Ked Ivivev
\nts of the HuJ.on's
lly willing' to sell at
uipiirtant ad\ antage
iii;_;ht huvo, so as to
where in Manitoba,
s al:.i) an advantage,
Is.
tlie well water even
,• l)ad. There seems
titles in all localities
y just now.
i to say that, for the
iiite incomparable in
e settlers make soup
r Uistud it.
1 is a thing that can-
eets of Winnipeg arc
■I rain, the horses are
no doubt gradually
so extri;mely capalile
e in any respect that
,0 liring about these
s of gravel and road-
ry districts, however,
ption of two or three
iud itself m.akea an
c winter months, the
jlackbirda ; there are
, practically diminish
lug, 1 have no doubt
troublesome, but not
!, and in ray humble
locusts, or some such
' ye.irs, their ravages
jine for two or thiec
least. Judging from
)t great. During the
four times, and that
en in the past, no one
s hard as iron for five
,bout in Scotland. It
J first duties of tlioao cor-
^^l•. Pckr Imric's Ni/Kji-t.
^
ig not unbearable, however. People who have lived through it fur years look riuite w.ll ; and,
indeed, they de.:lare it to be ijy no nuans so .lisi.gr.'e-.ble as thr raw ^-.-'l wn.tr.y weather of tho
l" tUI Isl UKls. It is seld.m. that one catches cold out tlu're. The dry clear air seems to
prevent thai, in wet and cold weather alike. I niyself have slept in damp clothes, w, h the
wind whistling through the tent about my ears, and still awuke in the m.,rning fresh and w,!!
rnd without a vestige of culd. If you expnse yourself thnughtlessly ,n wmtor, you m.ay f^et
frozen to death , but vou won't catch cold. The cliu.ate i., in fact, undeniably healthy , but
care must l)e taken in winter not t-. go f.-.r from tho house without ample precantiona, in tho
Bhaue of buffiilo rubos or other w.irm clothing. ,, i i. t-n ■ i ,l«„l
Of course nothing can be done on the land during the.e winter months ; but still a good deal
of employment maybe found in putting up housing, hauling wood, threshing and taking grain to
marki t or railway station, attending to cattle, etc. , ., .. , ^
Sneakiii" of cattle, I may saN' that I doubt if they will ever be other than a seo^ondary cnn-
«ideration in the lied River Valley. The lung winter, and the necessity f|>rhou.e f;'-"l'";-^ ;;;•»
always m.ake it dear to raise Uicni there, in cmpari.-.on, at all events with the eo.^t of laismg
them away ui the Far We.t, near the base of the lloeky Mountains, where, the winters are
preatly milder, and the cattle never re,,uiro to be honied at r,ll. At the same tune it is the fact -
that there is a decided scarcity of cattle in the country at present ; and so long , as that may
happen to continue, the rearing of them caunot fail to be prol table. Looking beyond the accidents
o the moment, Iwwever, wheat is the thing tliat is to make the countrv rich. Tha is the product
with which it can defy the comi.etit'on of tho rest r,f the world. '1 hat and potatoes ; but they,
of course, are not so well suited for export. I never .aw su-.:h a country for pr.tatocs-tcn tons
to the acre-with no manure, and no cultivati.m worthy ,.l the name T^rn,p^ carrots, and
other vegetables also very str.mg. I saw no beans growing but I cannot help thinking it migh.
be a good country for them, and that they would be a good crop to .altern.ate oocasionaly w. h
the wheat. Oats gr.iw healthy an<l strong, and heavy to the acre, but not lea.y to he bushel ;
they ripen too fas^ 15v-and-by it is very likely that a variety better suited to h. climate may
be found So also with wheat ; it would be a great thing for the country if they couUlhnd a
variety that would stand through the winter : at present, spring wheiit is the only sort cultl-
rated. It w.mld diviJe the work much belter if the wheat sowing Cuuld be got over in aut- ■ ,n,
and no doubt it would help to lead to heavier crops as well.
The labour iiue. tion is one tliat has not yet presented .any difficulty. _ Labourers, it is true,
are not iilentiful, but the demand f<.r them is not great either. AVere capital poured at all fredy
into tb" cuntry, I have little doubt labourers would also turn np. ]• rom away far south in the
United States, lar-e numbers of men set out amiually to reap the harvest northwards, and north-
wards through Dakota. Thev will no doubt go over the br.r,!-r into .Mauit<,ba as soon as tlu-y
are wanted. Then there are Meunonites, aiul Indians, and llalf-bree.N wh-, thuogh lazy,^ are
fond of dollars, and will doubtless grow gra.lually willing to do a good deal to got them. 1 or a
long time there will rdso be a stream of fresh imiuigiants annually, many of whom will probably
incline to hire themselves out for a season before settling down. . ^ ^ . i.
We shall now proceed to the North-West Territ.uy, where th.ise emigrants must go who want
to take up the free gr.Mit lands. Before leaving the Ited Kiyer Valley, however, I would like to
Bay that if, by the time this report gets published, it should happen that the unsettled Mennonite
lands, already referred to, arc offered by the Government as free grants, rather than for sale, it
would. I think, be morj immediately profitable to settle on them, rather than go further west.
The point will no doubt be decided shortly, so that anyone going out next season will easily
obtain the information from any of the emigration agents. , -n ■ , nnr„;i,=
Leaving the Red River Valley about 20 miles to the west of Portage la Praii-ie, or 00 miles
to the west of Winnipeg, we pass through a section of rising sandy land which would incbno one to
think that the Red River Valley may at on,., time have been a great lake, and this its margin.
The character of the country is now very different from what we have been accustomed to since
we entered the Red River Valley,at Glyndon, in Minnesota. Ironi then till now, all the land wo
have seen has been as flat as a table, and in many places not a tree nor a hut to be seen -nothing
but grass, as far as the eye could reach. We felt the monotony of the scene somewhat oppressive
at tirsi^ but soon got used to it. xXow, however, that we have got out of the Red River Va ley,
we are away from all that ; and on these sandy ridges we feel as if we wore at homo, except for
the scarcity of houses and of population. This sort of land extends from the Red River Valley
to the Big Plain, a distance of perhaps 1 5 miles. There are odd bits of very good land .amongst
these ridges-sandier than inlhe Red River Valley, and will not stand such heav^- cropping but
still very good, deep, black laud. I stayed overn.gnt with a gentleman wlio had purchased - 30
acres of it, at kbout two dollars per acre, with abundance of wood and water of h^t .p.allty.
He hivs also the advantage of being surrounded by that saiuly land, which is not likely to get ,
settled up for many a day, and s.) he may have the use of it gratis. ,,.,•♦ , ,„„j
The Big Plain, which we enter after half a day's journey .Aer the mixed stretch just referred
to, is almost as monotonous as the Red River Valley. No trees and no streams but «t>ll plenty
of good X uter in wells. There are a good many sett ew on the plain, and room '-^^^ H-^f'' '"'" f
nwi-e The land is nice dry reliable lookinR stuff, but just a trifle too snudy. The black soil,
P
J
92
;/■/•. rdev Imr!r\'i Pqm-t.
' 1 i„ii>, iQ innl.,.« ,,n nn ■ivoi-p"o. aivl tho croii^ nvo hr-altliy nml of fair
however, is <k.,>, I..0I.M.I.V S i'^^^' , ^, V ..• a' •-. 0,a.. do., not pw .trong hure ; the
"t'*^o7d?;^\^''Ha^V^•r H^ S ti ti^li. I tl>ink, about a t£.u.andsrp,ave miles in
'°f nt T dd ml'co n ch wet lan.l'on it--c.rtainly not nu.re tlian enough for hay On
t'he wlKdo it i,! ?a IdcvatSgood i-lacu to B.ttlo. But, of cour.o, its a«ahfos wdl not last so
'"^^acT'kilvlS'SBilrr;:;;. wo pa. through a region of ponds -^ bvushw^l f;,r
wsmmmmmmM
S5 kind Tte „»t tew n.ilo. arc to„ l.,„ lying .«■; n vt tor pl.ush.ng ; nnd thon Sh»l Lnk.
r;.nfsh™l iX «4 t»U I. il.. .llhe. ol Eirtk, on 1!W T«ll ?[" VI ™iv. Lion
'^' I" k- fir; :rr~,;\lrsr^^^^^^^
beams W on I was there the land was not all surveyed, and in.migrants then arriving were
n sSJ diffioul"yU:.e to squat, as, if they happened to settle on 'and ha w- noUree-grant
and they nught subsequently be oomi.elled cither to remove or pay a price for it. Next season
^flSiSe^^ 1f^:t t:^^ ihSirS: if r \0 mil. from WinnJ,.. and^that
,mtn the C-anadian Pacific Railway is exten.led this length, there will be no reliable market for
S flS S™Uf« BoSS 1.1. 111? c..(.«.W. .lr=u„.t.n.« Th. w»k«.. «,B.g.d ,n
makinsr the railway will want a lot of farni produce. , . ^ . ■ ^ „-.f .M» «f Bird
In travelling from Birtle to Fort Ellice, I went a round-about way, by the east side of Bird
Tail Creek a uUh'-ough an Indian reserve. Ou this route I passe.T over son.e of the very fines
£^ , i/'liS- viihin an ace of being as strong as the Red River land, with natural grass that
lou Id notC pa ed, abundance of fine water and wood, and a suffidently diversified landscape
I cannot conceive any immigrant to this quarter ever regretting his choice of a home Hero the
ir,^t River Assiniboine flows very tortuously through an immense gorge about half a m le wide
and 200 to 300 eet down below the level of the surrounding prairie. For tv,-o or three miles back
fiiX river, on cither bank, the land is quite too light and sandy, but after that it is mostly good
TTrnevinrnorthwards from Fort EUiCe to Shell River, we pass over, first two or three miles
'o S a^d-1 the next ten miles the land is stronger, soil two feet deep, with -^ "'=« n';;«»f ™te ^
Htr nrsubsoil-all fit for ploughing, except a few large hay marshes, which could be very eas.ly
Sd, but they are pribaHy more u'cful as thev arc. Boj-ond this the land grows stall
\
Dfi: Peter Imrie's liipnrf.
93
■aU.liy .inrl of fair
strong Iiorc ; tho
nd Brpiare miles in
iiiTh for hay. On
tios will not last so
nd bnishw.ioil for
n tho Littlo Sus-
1(1 is of aecidcdly
nago. That, how-
ffiazing it is fine as
) try stock farming,
onds arc alive with
Hcvpral good stores
owan is a consider-
or 10 miles west of
re is rilling prairie,
ly sn; table for hay.
roes, and very few
ssencc of too much
licate something of
id then Shoal Lako
a mnst comfortable
:iding Mountain, is
sr>ttler3, though the
lorth it is abundant,
a jilace of superior
otiona of tho latter
tho south of Shoal
ng still further west
inches deep, resting
ich wanted at Shoal
p free-grant land.
:, 20 miles, the land
It is not yet cctcn-
lod deal of first-class
them admit of easy
er. In this tract of
ce of free-grant land
nd the gentlemen in
and pleasant to look
it is a decidedly good
i then arriving were
t was not free-grant
for it. Next season
Winnipeg, and that
reliable market for
rnment may possibly
ts can be considered
[ starving in such a
lat the settlers might
workmen engaged in
the east side of Bird
ome of the very finest
ith natural grass that
diversified landscape,
of a home. Hero the
bout half a mile wide
vo or three miles back
that it is mostly good.
5t, two or three miles
vith a nice moderately
1 could be very easily
the land grows still
stronger as vo get north lowavds Shell Kiver, but U a s'""' deal niovo brolien, more pond.-i, more
wood?more bush. As a rule, in this \orth- We.-it Territory, it has seemed t^i me that the strongest
lands are almost all encumbered a good deal with ponds and brusliwood ; which indeed is only
natural, as tho li-liter, sandier land, will neither hold water nor grow rubbish (or anything else)
so well as the stronger soils. Consetpiently anyono who is bent upon having the very best clas<
of soil must, as a rule, make up his mind to some extra preliminary labour at clearing and
draining before he can have the irlioltui his land re.\dy for the plough. On all sections, however,
there is a large proportion of immediately plougliable land. Very little of tho large tract
l)mmded on tli'e west and south by tho Assiniboino, on the nortl)-west l)y Shell llivor, and o»
the east by Bird Tail Creek, is yet occupied, except along tho banks ot Uird-Tail Creek, and
abotit thirty families at Sliell River settlement. All of the settlers in these paj:t.s to whom I
spoke appeared to be re.ally che -rful anil satir<fied ; ami I incline to think they well may. As
"ood a farm can be got here as to the east of Bird Tail Creek, to which I have already referred ;
and a better one may be had in eiflier of those localities tlian at any point for many miles
further west, l)evond the As:iinil)oine. In fact, once tliis S!r11 Biver district and all e.-vst of
it gets taken upilit is not unlikely that immigrants to tho Xorth-Weat may pass over more i-han
100 miles of poor or middling country so as to ^et to the neighbourhood ot the Touch\yood Hills,
where tho best class of land is said to be (piite plentiful. Away up here in the North-West
there is one consi'lirable drawback, as compared with the Bed Kivci Valley, and that is that
the seasons for seeding and reaping are shorter by several day.i— perhaps even a week or ten
days sometimes. Settlers uj) here wouUl therefore probably do \yell not to go in too exclusively
for croppin". A liner district for dairy-farming could hardly be im.aginod.
29//' Aii'ju.^.—Drovo from Fort ICllice with Air. McDonald, Hudson's Bay Company's tactor,
ten miles north-east, to see Mr. Dausou fr^uii Liiicolnshiie, wlio settled hero last year ; passed
over a large tract of most desiral)le land. Mr. Dawson is on the west bank ot Snake Creek, and
has good crops and a splendid farm. He has just purchased eight or nine very fine Galloway
cattfo. Mr. McDonald (who knows all this country well) informs me that away to the south of
Bort EUice the lai.d is good, but destitute of timber, except along the river bank. Mr. McDonald
thinks highly of the land away westwards by the Qu'appelle, and in tho Touchwood Hill district,
although for the first eighteen miles we»t of the Assiniboine it is not good. This js also the
report of Mr. McLean, tlie Hudson's 15ay factor from Fort Qu'appelle, whom I had the pleasure
of meeting at Fort KUice. Mr. McDomild also informs me that to the north-north-west of Shell
Eiver the country generally is only suitable for cattle, being a good deal broken, and the seasons
rather uncertain. The wood region does not begin till north of Fort Pelly, which is 120 miles
north of Fort EUico. Mr. Marcus Smith, of tho Canadian Pacific Railway Survey, called at
Fort EUice to-day. He has been up and down the country surveying for nine years, and gave
much valuable and reliable information, which is interwoven here and there throughout this
report. We now turn homewards, with a feeling that we shall look in vain for any finer farms
than are to be found on the l)est sections (jf the Bird Tail Creek and Shell River districts ; and
as there is comparatively little of it yet taken up, I have no doubt all immigrants for the next
year or two may find lots to their mind.
Driving south-east from Fort Elliec, along the north bank of the Assiniboine, we hnd the
first sixty miles to be rolling treeless prairie— much of the soil rather too light, but still here and
there a piece satisfactorilv strong : very .jw settlers on all this. On one of the Indian ressrves
I saw some really good "crops, and most creditably managed ; in fact, I did not see any more
tidy farming in Canada. I am sorry to s.iy, however, that the Indians are not bo industrious
throughout the entire country as they seem to be on this reserve. The land composing the
reserve referred to is pretty sandy, and of course easier to man.age than the stronger soils ; in that
respect it is well suited for beginners, like the Indians ; and I would almost venture to suggest
to the Dominion Government the propriety of seeing that .all the Indian reserves shwild be
composed of land of that class. On other reserves, where tho land was immensely stronger, but
of course loss easy to manage, I found a much less satisfactory result. At the mouth of the Oak
River there is one of these reserves, on low-lying alluvial soil of aquiility equal to the Red River
Valley ; but not nearly so suitable for Indian farming as the lighter lands on the plains.
From that onwards towards Rapid City the treeless prairie continues for twelve or fourteen
miles— soil still rather sandy generally— black, say fifteen inches, with rather a sandy loam for
tubsoil. None of the grass on this light land is heavy ; but it is nice grass, and, in the course of
time, this may come to be a fine sheep country. Water seldom seen, but said to be eivsily pro-
curable by means of wells. Saw one settler (an Ontarian), who said he rather preferred this
light sharp land to the stronger scils further north, owing to the shortness of the seasons for
sowing and reaping. In this he is so far right, though, on the whole, I would rather have the
stronger land, and not crop more than I could easily overtake In even the shortest of aewons,
devoting the rest of the land to dairy or stock farming, as already indicated. On noaring Rapid
City the soil gets stronger, and also (as a consequence, I suppose) more broken by ponds and
scrub. A-ll the good bits of tho Little Saskatchewan district no.ar Rapid City appear to be
scrub. All the good
taken up. Rapid Cil^ „ „ „ , ^ , .
Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie. Plasterers here are getting 14s. per day, and carpenters »s,
taken up. Rajjid City is growing quickly. It is a nicely situated place— not too flat, like
04
Mr. r<
II:
U.:^.:rt.
■Vf IS
aiiil
.-nlri')
An n,'noiiltiiMl r.'T:-,'"' i-i li ■in- i .(;i'.li^li''l in tli • immjlivte vit"u;ly oj Wv:M f'ify, similar
to thiit at (JiK'lpli, inlliitario, wIumico Mi'vrf.vl pi- .f.'^'nvt av • i-)iain;,'. Tlv! < l.vli.li ^i;v: i< sflf-
Hiipiiartiii", J nm told, timm'^'li ida.l"iitlalv,ur, and ttiis onu U oxpoct-'d to prMVO ho too. It
poHsciwoH 1000 acr.-a of land. I tlioii-ht f saw a d^al of piilili.' spint and uiit-rpn <c about Itapid
Citv. (-Jond land, within two m ihvvx'. inil-s of Kani 1 City, sells at 10 to 20 dnllaiM p -r a;n'o ;
furthur nut, alio it :? to T. dclli-M. Away to tht; souMi of liipid Citv, on the T.;' I'lain, th ■
a Rood d.'al of rcullv fin.> Ifind. Cropi lon\- w.'ll ; a pn;"li of alkali h r.^ and there ; wood
watov both Kparcf, tii>ii\'li it is not donbt'? I th ■ latt jr niiy be had anywhorc by in;An^ of w.
As we pasK on to tin: south-east wo find a !,'ood iinny sonvwhat ,L,-.-avc;lly plaots, v ith
stony, also a few pond-holos all dried up at pn-s;nt, and yielding heavy er,-ps of hay.
natural !'r.ass on this plain ;:niiTallv is not so li','ht .as it is on more elevated plains of e(pi,a
quality of soil. There is still pi -ntv of free grant hand available on this plain, ami, thou :h it is
not nil first rate, there .are many lirst-rate sections to be had for the lookint; for. TSut it is about
as ntt-vly shelterless ns .any part of the lied Uiver ValU y. Withal, if woo(l for buildini; and fuel
were oidy a little easier to \'et, I have no doubt the proximity of K.apid City and the navi,!,'ab!o
wateifl of the Assiniboine, and also its own considerable agricultural merits, would soon lead
to this plain being all taken up. The Assiniboine b.anks hero are low— no great gorge^.asat
Fort Ellioo— anil the Land .adjoining them is of superior quality. The ferryman at l!ap;d.-l
Crossing has good crops of whe.at, oats, and potatoes. Tlie wheat looks like 30 bushels to the
acre, bul; the bbvckbirds will soon make it less. At five miles south of the Assini'ioine we find
black sandy loam 18 inches, with )irett.v stilF subs lil ; .also nunvrous patches of gravid; roo.I
water siqiji'ly ; wood at Brandon Hills, three miles off. The laud gfner.ally inqnoves as wo get
nearer these" hills. A good many settlers in this part, but jileuty (jf good Land still nnoecupied.
The land here is rather stronger than it is on the open, trivless prairies wc; have been i)assing
over, but not si> strong as in the broken pondy district of the T,ittle Saskaleliewan, or in the
diBtr'iclsof Bird Tail Creek ahd Shell ]?ivcr. " On the uhole, tliis Brandon Hill (luarter is a
decidedly desirable one ; b\it, of course, all the best free-grant seetions in it have been t.aken \\\>.
I am assured, however, that pretty good ones are still to be had in the iieighbourliood, and of
course there arc plenty of unoccuiiicd r.ailway sections of the best quality for K.ale; and Iho
price will probably not bo high, thougli at present it is not possible, I believe, to speak with
certainty on that jioint.*
Wo now pass through the Crand Valley, where there is much fine land pretty well taken up,
and a good deal of ratlier gravelly land not nuich talcon up,
Office, we leanicd from the agent' that immigrants to his d
go twenty miles southwards to the Souris Plain, and westwards into the Plum Creek ui ighbour
hood, where he liays there is good timber and better land than any previously surveyed in this
part of the country. I am sorry to say that, owing- to an accident to one of the horses, it was
impossible for lue'to go west to see this Plum Creek district ; liut T incline to believe the report
of the land agent respecting it may possibly be correct, as I heard fn.m another relLable gentle-
man, while at Fort Ellice, that tlie land about t)ak Lake (out of which Plum Creek flows into
the Souris) is of higli quality. I would be doubtful, however, if any of it is as strong or good as
the best lands in the region of the Bird Tail and the Shell Paver.
We stayed over the night at Jlilford, a rising town of two stores, a smithy, a saw-miU, and
the prospect of a grist-mill next year. Called next day on ISIessrs. Callander and Roid, five miles
south-east of Milford, on the banks of Oak Creek : firic water, plenty of timber, beautiful situa-
tion, and a decidedly good farm. If the land .agent's paradise at Plum Creek is as good as this,
I can recommend it. But there is no fir,st-clas.-) free-grant land just hereabouts now— none til
we get up to about Lang's Valley, where the Souris, coming from the west, bends northwards.
From Callander and Roid's towa'rds Lang's Valley the land for the first seven or eight miles
is pretty good prairie, then a largo tract of somewhat hilly land, s.ay five miles north and south,
by fifteen''east and west. In this hilly quarter there are sev, ri'.l lino lakes, and plenty of good
grazing and h,ay land ; also some timber and evidently some heavy game. I saw a bear, and
plenty of foxes, also a few deer. A finer country than this for hunting in could hardly be
imagined. In this clear, exhilarating atmosphere good horses can hardly bo tired out.
Lang's Valley, at f-e bend of the Souris, is quite a dip down from the level of the surrounding
prairie ; it is not an extensive tract. There is a nice little stream of water running through it,
the last we shall see for a good while. Most of the land in the valley is good liay land ; some of
it dry enough to plough. Mr. Lang praises the land away west by Plum Creek.
Lea\-ing Lang's Valley we enter on a vast expanse of slightly rolling prairie, which extends
southwards for tvecntv miles or so to the Turtle Moimtains, and westwards hundreds of miles.
On th^! bonlers of this plain, adjoining Lang's Valley, there is some timber, and the only settler
<in it told mo ho found good water bv digging an eight-foot woll. A large tract of the land just
hero is worthy of special attenti<m. Where the well above referred to was sunk the black soil is two
feet deep, with layers of clay and s.and underneath. The black soil is a sandy loam of medium
* Note.— TIio manimum price of the railway lauds .along tha routo •jt the Canadwu Pacific Railway is ,'5
dola. (£1) per aere. . . . - , •
On .arriving .at the Souris Land
to his district next sea'DU will bo ail vised to
i
;vii(l ("'Ify, simil:ir
1 :.i 'li.!! -in': i< self-
|U'uVO Nl) too, (t
viinic. abipiit ItajiM
'.() t]n\]M--i ]) 'V .i;;i'j ;
r.';r I'laiii, til i'.- u
1 tlioro ; woo 1 and
)_V lll;Ans of \\A\-<.
■ plaotN, V ith i-nm'j
r.'ps of li:iy. Tlj(i!
,tu(l plains (if (!i(ii,il
II, ami, tliim rti it in
'or. But it is ii'ionfc
n-lniililitiLf aiil fiiol
ami the iiavi!,'al)!o
l^j, would siioii load
Ki'ciit K"''>i'^ •■''' "■''
^nyuian at I'ap'ild
« !!0 liii.-^lifls to Ihti
iV.-isIiiilioiiio we fiiul
,fs of f^ravi'l ; good
iiiiluMVes as wu !,";t
nd still uiiocciipieil.
havo bfun i)assinir
alcluAvan, or iu llio
n Hill (iiiartcr is a
lavo been taken up.
i^libourliood, and of
f for sale; and tlio
ovo, to speak witli
retty well taken up,
it the Souris Land
n will be a<\ vised to
m Creek ui iKhbonr-
i.sly surveyed in this
! the hor.se.s, it was
;n believe tlie report
her reliable gentle-
im Creek flowH into
as strong or good aa
;hy, a saw-mill, and
and Roid, five miles
iber, beautiful situa-
-■k ia as good as this,
bouts now — none til
;, bends northwards,
iven or eight miles
les north and south,
, and plenty of good
I saw a bear, and
in could hardly be
irdly be tired out.
[ of the surrounding
running through it,
1 hay land ; some of
■eek.
fairie, which extends
I Iniiidreds of miles.
I and the only settler
iract of the land just
c the black soil is two
idy loam of medium
»a Paciflo Railway is 5
Air. rjn-
Iiiiric'ti Hi licit.
n.'i
,,, . 1 ... ..'- V,i ,b-iina-i' v.lli be n'-'ee,,;ay lieri'-
.trength -really useful lan<l, and w> U '- ;;^;;;y ;; ^^ ^ ,,,^ ...a.shes, luH not more th,m will be
.bouts, nor any elearin- away .;f bu-h. '• .'• J^^j^ 'l„„.hiM.'. Alon- the banks of the Sour.s
wanted ; and every oUur acre u ";'" -:',.,'^i, ',':,,;. ; and wlieu it runs down there w. 1,
there is sutheient timber for ."'\'\';:''''^'f ,:!';";,,, .a the Milf-rd s^w-miU. On the whole,
1 believe, "l^vav. be a p..xeueab>bty . i,^tt j, ^ ^^ ^„ ^he attenti.m of any nu-
L?,:l'.r.t. :ri'Zy';;,.;i;r.t''ir*-a ., .ho i ..a ua.„,- ... .h. .„...,..
l.vnds up about the W'.ell raver._ ■■ • '- >
,.1 viiu ....." t, .'■ - ,,,,,„'l \M • and of course anyone fjoinji
therewith, one al., c.unes "cro.s ...any g-d bit a^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ .^ _._^,^ ^^^^^^ ,„„ ^,
next veav or two will have ";V^''"'-"'l' .^'Vthi U^ willmut en. mnterin- a human Ix-.n-, or
most there yet I travelled for ''^^n - ^ .^ ! ^^^^ with ue.thin- on it n,.w but a stray fox, or doer,
T£r.r:lw b.;ir;;:bou;r ^i;e;it'n: b„ifalo hereabouts now ; at one time there
-^^TS^f;it:?:i^wefw„ocha^^^^
southwards, away frou. the "f Shb<;"vh-'. ;f * «oim ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^,^ „„nu.rous and
of line land. The prairie gets to be mme rol JV- ''^ am doubtful if this vast Sour.s 1 an.
some of tiiem very large. «" ^l'"^ ,^^^^ 1^\ ^t^^^ phnv^^hable land. Rut in saymg ha
contains more tlian thirty or forty pore., t. ot ;";;,'^ ' \y,,'=„f ^ M,vnitoban. and so condemn
I n "ht to explain that I amspeakmg wi h ^^o /^^ ' ".^^t' p L^.hable and fertile-a doctrine
all hand that re.,uires money to ^«/XSther is s u h /auHlcs" land to be had for nothing
which is quite correct in a country ^^he.e ^^^'^'t^^/^ J^f „„„taius whicli neces^aates our crossing
or thereabouts. We now steer ^' "•;:'= f-^J^'^^ „ Xr 40 srpiare miles. I would rather g.> a good
a terrible marsh, whoso area cannot be much ""^^"^ *" j.jj^ „f jt u White Lake, where here
bit round about than cross that marsh '-^^Xcls f w Id "eose ; and, out on the Souris Plain here
are innumerable ducks; we also saw 1=^ K" * '7;;" ' VX^rnuartor-altogether an eKtraordin.-vry
• ■ fowl than we encountered in ay otl cr /P'; ^^^ ^^^^ United States ; and,
are more prtiirie
.... ;han we encountered in any o e q--- ^ " United States ; and.
LVmy "for wildfowl. .The Tui^tie Mountains be .don ^^^^ ^^^^.^^ ,^ ^
for r, or 6 miles north of thein. there extend t.acts^ot^rca^^y ^^^._^^^^ ^^^.^^ here should leave
■Tor 6 miles north of them there extend ^^;:^^^^^ ^^',f .Jttling here should leave
goo many settlers, but still plenty of 7"" •.]""=^^^*,1,,,. desirable locality. There is abun-
the train at Kmer.^on. In many respects this is a P* "'='*; > f snlendid water flow from these
dance of tmber on the Turtle Mountains, and ""™^^ ^^^^ ' .^^ ^xt year or two at lei.st, all
mo, nta ns northwards. The soil is of various ".;! '«^ _^_^ ; ^^ ^^^^le Souris Plain soil-perhap. a
ta^ini 'rants m.ay easily obtain a S'^o'^''^ q • u 1 .s or . cX Js 2 feet in some places; subs.nl pretty
sh dJ'stronger-black sandy loam, ^'^t" IS'.uhe pe.lu p^ - t- ^ ^^^ ,i,^^ i„ the dis-
s?hf, but nol more so than the;, I'^e '^ ""' ":;;i^ 't.t too much mar.ih or hay-land, some parts
trio . There is but little scrub, and on *« J^^*' ;;' j,\, ,. I am told th'-"'\^7.""7^Ve
too litouv, but no immigrant need settle on tlic. e '" >■ ' ,j,, j ,j onice is at White Lake.
uS the district, but there is stiH r,.on. or ^^^^ ]ZLn.io prospect of a railway ,
The greatest drawback to th^ distnct is Uut^theic^^^^^^^ .^ ^^^ ^^^^^._^ ^.^^
wood
The greatest drawback to this 'i'''^" '«J, t ^ l;'; country is to remain either unsetttea or
but for my part, I cannot see how so hue a ti. tt o cou ^^^^_^^^^^ j^^_^ ^^, t,,^,„,,
Slv^^ed a^ aiiV gveat. length of mie j, ^ ^ ,^^' ^V^" Al'-gether, with its :d,uiidant w
moderate market from 'f '"".'V^" 1 b s ot t. itch lo-ub P-ud there is plenty of room._ 1
and water, this is a ccimfortable-loMu g s ; to itu^ ^,^_^^^ ^^^^^^, .^_ ^^ ^,^^ «t.^.ams whic
liiii-
therc are'lSO settlers 'already. ,.,>o^h.lookin't countrv, to Clearwater village, we
potatoes. Thi
but it is not to h<i
,,icr to i\ ...» "~ f ■« ?r>'" "„,T J :, -t ;-• «™ ». " "' '"■ i*"'i'""B .
^
J
86
Mi: Vela' f nine's liri'orl.
fe,v inilfH enst .,f fVi..l Ina lliv. . Ci-sMnj,'. Aricr that th : hu,\ ^lI, cvcu Utt.r, l.iit Ihso bocg.y
and Hcn.bl,y that ..i.ly a m.u.11 pr..i.oili..n of it h fit for i.louKhing. I asHintf on t.. w.tl.in
five miles ..f Alountain City wu niter ..ii a tract .,f as usiful h.ml ts wc have Bern anywliere.
Saw a man who came from Oiitari,. thri e joai« a-., with r,00 dollarn, and took up .t^O acre.-., for
There are to be three cattle shoWB hereabouts within the next thieoor four weekH. _ Many of the
Hottlers are now in course of getting nice frame li.niHeH erected in front of their origmul lo-
Hhanties. Churclieri and scliools lire in progreKs, and in some in . t;uice» completed , and aUogethei-
the country is a»Huming a look of comfort whieh, consideriiiK that it ih only three or four yeav^
o,it of i.rariehood, may well cheer and encouraK-' settlers in the further west A few mdes east
of Mountain City we dip again into the lied Jiiver Valley, with its dead-level magnificent
wheat land, little good water to bo seen, and IreeH only in the .listance. ,. , . , ,.,
I have now done. In concluding I merely want to say that, notwithstanding the kigh <iunlity
of the soil, Manitoba is not a country fur every K,rt of liersun t.. go to. Ah Uailie Nicc.l Jarvie
would remark, it i« far awav from all the ' comforts o' the Saut Market, bo, any person to whom
these are ^ necessity had be'tter delay coming to Manitoba, for a few years at least. ]t is in many
icspectH a Hort of agricultural paradi>;e, but for the present it is rather a dreary one. 1 hat dreari -
nesM, however, is just the price which present immigrants have to pay for their estates, and 1 really
cannot think them dear at the cost, The feeling of l.meliness must be worse m winter tinie ; and
to combat it, I would almost venture to suggest that every m.aii t;onig out there should take
^ wife with him, and that two or three should go together, and build their huts alongside
each other. It is grievous to see so many bachelors as there are in Manitoba wasting half
their time upon household work, and wearying for want of society, when both evils might have
W'cn iirevented by a little forethought and eounvge. No (hnibt one cannot but hivve a feeling of
nnwillingness to ask a woman to enter on a life of even temporary roughness ; but after some
little experience of it myself, both in tent and shanty, I feel safe to say that no one need shrink
from the experiment : in my humble opinion it is neither ilisagroeable nor dangerous. _
I close with the following sketch by a gentleman who has been three years settled near Morris,
on the Red River, where he has 500 acres (,f fine strong lan.l, viz. : Consider lliat a settler wit i
a yoke of oxen shouhl raise 30 acres of wheat, besiiles siillicient vegetables for his own use ; with
two horses he could probably do 40 acres; expenses of living, say U) dollars a year, it done
economically. After three years a man startin- with no spare capital ought to be in a position
- V-: man, and so double his crop ; but to accomplish this reipiires diligence aii.l economy.
ily i-2U0. He may do with half that, but Ins progrcss^will
be " ~ ■ ■ '
To begin rightlv, a man requires nearly iiUO. He may do with halt t.liat. hut us progress wm
be slower, and his .liscomforts greater. This gentleman recently purchased 210 acres of first-
clas4 land, all arable, on the east side of the Red River, at three dollars per .acre._ Consulers it
even Btronger than <m the west side of the river, but re<iuires more careful cultivation ; considers
that monovis most certainly to bo made by growing wheat in the Red River Valley, but not
^vithout r.atience and perseverance as well as capital Considers the conditions of life hard, both
as to weathor and work, and circumstances, but still not intoler.ible. He hinisL-lf works out all
wintsr, hauling wood, buihllng stables, etc., eU., a*id wears no underclothing. If the man liad
a wife, I cannot see but that he and she would be as well off as Adam and Lvc.
n
ttcr, liilt IsSdboCgy
i>Hing (in til witliiii
we BtM.n anywliLTp.
ik up .'t'-O acrt'M, for
ry and well-woddeil,
w that we have Been
in district. Wheat
If incline '. > licliovo.
celiH. Many of tlio
if thi'ir oiigint.1 lo;,'
ted , and allii),'otlioi'
three or four yeav^
. A few miltH eii.st
,d-luvel magniflcent
iiig the liigh quality
Hailie Nicol Jiirvie
any person to wlmni
least. ]t in ill many
y one. That dreavi-
e.states, and 1 re:dly
in winter time ; and
t there should take
lieir huts almiyside
nitolia, wanting half
)th evils might iiave
nit have a feeling of
less ; but after some
no one need shrink
angorons.
i settled near Morris,
r that a settler with
ir liis own use ; with
ollars a year, if done
it to be in a position
igcnce and economy.
i)\it his progress will
id 210 acres of first-
r .acre. Consiilers it
iltivatiou ; considers
{iver Valley, but not
ons of life hard, both
fiiniself works out all
ig. If the uiau had
live.
VAIVOUT OF MR. JESSE SPARKONY,
Woo(l!ai>'.h Farm, Doi/nb^ii, Bath.
TTvviVG been s.-licted as tho del gate from the county of Glouce-.tev, at the invltatirin of Iho
! WL. U ov ei'Muieut. to visit the Dominion and to report upon its Mutab.hty as a hold for «.e
settlement of agriculturists, I now r''''^^'^;' '" J";;'"' „7;, ;;;/^;';^- j-,„ v,oard the stean.(.r Peruvku,
I started on my n>issK,n on ^,^"«"f, V| ij^f^.r' wbof WM^ board I was introduce.! to
fitt !l , w th c U t 1 s e U ^^^^^ yards capable of accommodating over "200 head of cattle. There
Em "iAir^er: ■£ Ui£ibieS'df'«heep, comprising Cot:.vold, Shropshires, and
^'"weTen ..rove back, and crossed the river St. Lawrence to Quebec, the river being little
''^^"^"^ik'SirSainthe same night for Montreal and. I availed -y!:^f,;^;- -^^'^
ltdW&d"Tir=i^bS:ii-^^
.unLteS Kr occiild by I'rei* C.n».ll..». Th.re mr. mmc ««ry 6« J .rm. ground
swedes.' He has had it well fenced.
on
j\[i: Jrnnf Spiirrcif'n licp'iil.
On Aii-iiM, -^.'i I 1. ri OlUuvik liv ■.L.miuIm, it f.ir M alrcul. \\\' l.i I l< chun^'.! ami ti
tniiii fur iU).iut Iwclvo iiiilrs, iiwiii.; t. hmiih^ full* in tlir riv,:r ; tli a toi.k t.i beat a,':
wiTc Hcion cmt ill till' St. I/iur -lifo liivor, ipn.i-uil tliioviyli tliu LachiiHi l!a[iii.l s uiuUr llu;
liriil;,'!', anil anlvi il at Muiitv .il.
I driivi' inlii tho I'Diiiilry al.in:; th(! \\l\\h-v T.arljiiK^ I'mail tu Kfo Mr. IViitiur s fann.
not at huiii.s HO wi) aid iiiii p) over llio wlml- 'if it. Tiirr,' an: aliniit 'iOO aiMv... II.
vcrv ^'()H(l .Ayr-liiro coWH^'ia/.iic^' in oiiu uf tli.' Iii'l,l:< ; tlvy lunkol hrallliy. irisiuui
nwriU:n |.nlm'i,^^ll a -."1,1 ciHi, ; tlu' iiutatocs W(;ro also ■(oml, m w.'ll a-< li.aiis and liialz.- (..
c.ni), an<l, liv llu' appoiiranci; of tl.o kIuIiIiK', ho Illll^t havu liad Hi.lin.li.l c'rn]w of oaw ami
wli.'at. Around ilii.s nei-lilioniliood Uhm'.^ aro hplmdid orcliaids in lull liLMi'in',' ; tlio trues aro
iillowod to luad nrar llio ni''"ind. Tliry looU.'d wry lir;dl.liy, and m^st of tli.ni wtim ho ladi'll
with choice fruit that many of tlifir .iiiini'h''M di'oi
Mr. .losi'iih llicl.son's, Cot.' St. I'aul. l.' Irn ju^t ini
)i.illH, or (.iall.iwayrt, nnJ lia.s a fiw k"<"1 i^h.'rtlr
Uin.N. . , , , ,,
Wo next went t.i ShiTl.rookc. On Ihr. way t,|u'r.' ar.' K..nu' v.Ty i;n„<\ farniH, cMpocially
butwi'cn Montreal ami Ael.m stations, farni.;il |irineii.:illy liy Kreneli f 'auii.liansi. Sherbro.vko in
a nieu city of ah.iut OOOn inhal-itants, (•..nlaininK' cloth ami oth.^r niilU. I «tayeil th.^ro two
h.Mir.i, then t.i.ik Ih.' train f..r lOaton. Tlu' lan.l in tlii.-i .lislriet ii rather rou-h, inurh (.f it ni a
wil.l or forest i-tatv. S.-niu ..f the tinilier - siiru.'.', cr.lar, lienil..c;k, an.l majile -is lir •. On our
'.1 to tlie i^T'Mn.l. We al.H.) dr.)ve to
! Le.l soni'. v.ry line ir.:r<for.l.'S Aberdeen
also an ux.:..!lont .diow of imnlliy of Hoveral
•avel hy
cor
lin, ami
l'i«
Vitt.n-ia
1 cai
' C.lV
lie was
I"i
■ h.'ul -M
Hel
M'ls and
XI
r [ndiiiM
1
II,
way we met a j^'entleinan fr.>ni T..i to, wh.i has just iiurehased lOlU ace: ^i timber land
mar I,.ako M-vijantic. lie Heenied niiiuh idjascl with his ha.yaiii. He was formerly from Y.)rk-
shire, Kn,\'lan I. „„..,.,
Wo left Katon the Bam.^ aftornnon f.ir Lake Megantic. Ihis w a n.'W line, and _pa:wos
through a (len.-e fore.st, which seems soiiietimcs to darken tlu' road. Seti'umunts occasionally
uimear : on.' was call.jd J^ury, an I'ln^jlish se-ltlcnunt ; and an..ther SeoU'ht.iwii, a Scotch settle-
ne.mt; and I n.iticcl s.Miie otlKr.s. The t..wn at th^; f.i..t of Lake Me-antic is called A^'nes.
'I'w.i years a;;o it was bu.-h laud ; ii.iw it cutains f.mr hotels, two stores, and fleveral hnnsos.
'Die lako is" all. mt 1-2 miles lonLf by 2 wide. Most of the laivl is tak.n up by suttlors and
HiKculators. I believe tills place will bee.ime a great resort for visitors during the Bummor
iii.mlhs. The lako aboumls with tish, ami, at certain seasons of the year, with wild duck.
We rcmaine.l there over Sunday, and then returned to Kat.ui, in the c.mnty of Compton,
where the Hon. .T, H. Top.', the Minister of Agriculture, resides. He was in England at the
time, resjiecting the comiiltion of the Cana.lian Paeific Itailway. He has a splendid farm of
about 1000 acres, and capital barns and other buililings. I was introduced to his .s.m, who drove
me over the farm. I wa-s shown lands that a few years ai;.i w. le in a rough and wiM state, and
was surprise.! to sec lio'.v .piiekly tliey can be brought int.i cultivation. Tho stumps of trees are
n.it drawn until they bee.mie decayt.l (fr.mi six t.i eight years), when they can easily be got up.
Meantime the lands grow g.iod feed :"..r cattle, and are called pastures, ih; called my attention
to .1110 of these pieces. After clearing away the stumps and "ince pl..ughing, it was put to oats
last spring, and a yield of from 00 t.i C.'i bu.-livls p.r aeie is expected. It was put down to clover
au.l timothy, and hioks very pr.unisiug for a ^.lod crop next year. Tivo to throe t.ins per
acre, I have often been told, grow in this coin. ; ; the s.-cuid crop averaging from 1 to IJ ton
per acre. He has 'JOO hundred oxen and lieife. , ami generally brings out i'.O by the 1st of May,
and l.'iO by the 1st of August. It is very surprising, I was "told, liow ipiiekly they fatten on
the clover pastur f during the summer inunths, I noticed some very line yokes of working ox<;n
on this farm, and sunie good horses. ^ . , ,
I was Lbiven around tho c.aintry ami shown s.mie cheap farms f.ir sale. Farms in this
part can be bought from .Co 10s. to ,€G per .acre, with dwelling-house, barns, and otlv-r buildings,
an. 1 g'.iod water aecanm.idation. I^ach farm lias its ' bush ' ami maple grove. The ' bush ' is
R por'ti.iu of the forest left for flre-w.uid an.l f.u- building ami repairing purpiwcs. Sugar ia
extiaeti,'d from the maple-tree, which grows in this country. They tap the tree.i in the spring of
the year by boring a hole into the stem, and hang a buekut or similar vessel under it to catch
the sap.
We IcftP-at.mby rail for Shcrbrooko, and drove to the Hon. J. Cochrane's estate, at Comp-
ton. This is one of the protfiesi; viil.i^es I have seen in this part of the country. We halted at
Compton a short tinie, and visited the blacksmith's shop an.l tho carpeiitei's and wheelwright's
shop. The blacksmiths' anvils are erected on highi.r bl.jeks than in Kngland, and the men
stand more erect at their work ; at the carpenter's sli.ip a new farmer's wagg.m was being made.
Tho carriage and wheels were put together very well ; the weight was ab.iut half a ton. _ About
a mile further and wo cam.' to Mr. Cuclirane's farm, situated on one of the ranges of hills that
ab.aind in thi.s part of tho country ; the hills .seem as fertile as the plains— in.leed, the apple
trees thrive much better on the hills than in the jilains. We drin\, in through a fine gateway.
He has a pretty villa-shaped hous.% the lawn being on" our left hand and tho conserv.atory and
garden on our right ; then through another gate an.l we came uiuin the barns, stables, cattle-
sheds, and other buililings, ar..un.l a largo yard. The fann is called ' Ilillhurst,' and some of
the cattle take their namt* from it. It was purchased by Mr. Cochrane about 16 years ago, and
^
antfo and travel liv
to bcmt H,Min, tni'l
1, unikr lliu Victoria
icii'rt faiui. Til! wim
J aciv.-. Ml' liiiJ -M
His 111 iii'.;i'lf< ami
,11(1 liiaizi' (iir Iiiilian
I i'rn]H (if oatM ami
trill',' ; tlicj trufH aru
til' 111 Wi'i'ii HO la<li'll
Wi! uIho (liovi; to
lliirfiii'ilM, Abui'il.'iin
of iFinilii-y of Huvi'ial
oil farmH, oHpocIally
,ian:i. Shi'i'lii'ooko i^
I (ftaytil tlii'i'o two
ixvxh, iiiiich of it ill a
[Ac — is li'! '. On our
,c'.'(!. ui tiiulicr liiiul
fonnt'i'ly from York-
i.'W lini', and paiisbs
i'uniuntH oci'aHlonally
own, a Scott'li scttlu-
iitio 13 calk'd A^'Ht's.
and several hnuBCB.
11 up liy Huttlors and
durinj,' tlio tmmmiir
ith wild duck.
county of Compton,
IS in England at tho
XH a splendid farm of
to liin son, who drove
li and will! state, and
10 stumps of trees are
can easily bo got up.
i; called my attention
ijj, it was put to oata
IS put down to clover
■o to three tons per
yiiig from 1 to li ton
'.() bj the 1st of May,
liekly they fatten on
oked of working oxen
sale. Farms in this
, and othi'r buildinjfs,
rove. The ' bush ' is
; purposes. Sugar is
trees in the spring of
ssel under it to catch
ne's estate, at Comp-
iiitry. We halted at
v's and wheelwright's
nglund, and the men
X^um was being made,
lit half a ton. About
le rnnges of hills that
ins — indeed, the apple
rough a fine g.ateway.
tho conservatory and
liiirns, stables, cattlo-
illhurst,' and some of
out 16 years ago, and
,V/'. Jnifi f^i>nn\.ic'it ni^'iii't.
M
cnntaluK abou.'. ItOO acren
pigs, etc. 'I'llC) cattle iicei
Mr. Ooelirane reeclvud uh, and wo iiiHp.d-d his c;.t;l.', sheep,
no ooiiiiueiit from mo. They aru will liiiuvui, aiM Mi'.v.- what
U'lH, done in this .'omitiv. 1 took a ii'ile of ^oii.o of tlie auiiiulH. .\ dark loaii ^b',i> horn
) I niU, iwlu'ssof Midiic, isa.iuuMilicciitcicalMi-. aii'l was puicl.ased by .Mr. I och-aiic frmu
'•I'l in a , c . .1 ■ '; '0 uincas, but ba. '.i^.i. lii.u good retiM-i... In tl.o aulun,,. o, .,? he
l.uglana, at co i x ,, i;„;|:,„d, wli.i.i Ihcv were Hold by .Mr. Thoiiiloii for
:;lo:^:;'r'''rn'iill;;i;'ti:'ly..ioagu ;a,,d4;lU0uin.i..as,tholaUer,,i.ieebeingpaid
^?h KaiioflVcti^eforthcLl. l.iiehos.ofllilll,urAa^
lin..li,.ss of IliUliuist Thr^ii two COWS Wore dc.-e.'ud.d lioiu ihe cel,:br.it.'.i c w, IDJi limli..sH
KuX - -U. a spUndld enatu,..'. dirk loau, clvul April .Itli. l^SO- weigh.
OOIb e ; a Duke of Oiuilla. lie has many other luie animals, parlKulaily two bulls,
:'^dark;oan...uke,,fC,m.i,U..h,o^
Sfo:iastf::ihu; 'for '.;;'';:,;■;;; V :•.: u ..d to .i..d this ..luabie 1.1,1 ^...1..^ ..u u.
J^ . ^ .Uld but little high fee'lin. iudul,'.'d ill. The im.t -'-"'-l;';' --;^;;- '" ^ ^ J ,
the L'ood healtli maiiitaiiiod. The svjiM'"-* '^'"1 ""»»S'' "" ,^'"' ^"" '"," '^'* ^""'- vr .." 1, Tl "
lad iu.t thruslied s.,iae of his win at" which yielded nearly;;.) busliels per acre. Afto.d.iviig
i^ o H la'brooUe, a distance of 1« mUus, wo took the .ail to Stai.stead ^-^ ^^'-^ g^;',"! ^
S. ;"i;.;, E'st™ ,1;::; v/uS :;;'•;::; '..l .i..' ;™- , ^-s^r'-t :;,;=
i,.i;f;l »a« .«.''i'-.'f>-™W''''''V'''i':v''"Vrr*;''';.'7r'tr,i'Ni r",'
Hon. .Ml. ' chiaiic, .iml '"■''> ^^ •-'■,,' ^ inebi.iin" tho necessary buiUlings, can be purchased
JllSu'^irclotr'^iaiTi.sKmrcan'bo'Coi^t from thi Covcrnllient of tb" .roviaco
at from Is !)d to |s l'«J "^f^;;; . j , rj., ^^^ , ,i.^, .,f ' „uario, distant from Montreal
-• s" SHiS S&s;:ivf s:^i^:s;r ,:^:'a:'i^i ?|:
4t±fi:^£s^J^4rc;trs:;r5;u3;^^^^^^
partYculars of the exhibits, were prepared and sold, as m t.'s country.
1
100
Mr. Jesse S2>nirov)'s IJe^mrl,
While at the show I was invited ti) inspect a farm about twcnty-eiyht milus awav. It was
about 400 ncifs in extent, nearly all clenred, well fenced, nnd with nhnnt twenty acres of
young orchard. The f<oil ifi a rich sandy loam. There in an excellent dwellin;^-hou.-ic on tho
farm and goo<l out-buiMir.i.;.^, one barn fitted up for tyin;^ fifty he.id of cattle, an<i there in also
stable-room for nine horses. The fi>rm i.s .'situated only one-and-a-half mile from a railway
station, and two mileH from Lake Ontario. The price asked i.s £14 an acre.
I also visited anotl... farm, four miles from Toronto. The owner came from Kn^Iand some
forty years ago with another gentleman; when they arrived at Toronto one had ill, while
the other had to borrow money to carry him to the end of his journey. Now one has two farms
of 180 acres each, in a good state of cultivation, and has just purch.ased a little property near
Toronto, and eructed a nice villa-residunce, where he intends to spend tho remainder of his days ;
tlie other owns a farm of 100 acres.
Wliilo at Toronto I of cours? took an opportunity of visiting the Niagara Kails, which form a
very grand sight.
From Toi(mto I went on to Hamilton, a city of about 3r>,000 inhabitants. Wiiilu at this
place I came across a relation of one of my neighbours, who was very pleased to see me.
While driving throuch this district f was much struck \(|ith the abundance of fruit grown, and
its excellent tpiality. The ni)ple trade is rapidly becoming an important industry in the Province
of Ontario, and large quantities are shipped every year to fCngland, and I am told yield a very
good profit.
I also visited a farm in the neighbourhood of Tjurlington .and Oakville, containing 100 acres
of land, including 12 acres of buiih and I'i acres of young orchard. There is a good residence on
the land, and the price asked is "0 dollars an acre.
TVom Hamilton I took tho train to Paris, County Brantford, and then drove for about nine
miles through a beautiful farming caimtry. There are many sheep kept in this district, and they
looked reniarkablj' well. There is plenty of water, and the Grand Kiver runs through Paris.
About two miles from Barford, ^^r. Townscnd, Deputy Sheriff of Hamilton, has a nice farm for
sale. There are about 200 acres, and a small river runs through a portion of the farm. The
price is 60 dollars an acre.
I also went through the districts of Chatham, Woodstock, Ingorsoll, and London, all splendid
farming di-^tricts, and in fact called by some the garden of Canada. The price of land ranges
from .t'lO to £14 an acre, including the building and fencing. This country produces excellent
crops of cereals, as well as roots of a larger kind than are grown here ; and while mentioning this
I cannot do better than quote an article I recently ni\\v in the Iriih Fanner bearing on the
question :
E.\lllBITd OF CANADIAN FKODCCE AT THE SMlTHKIKtr. CLUB SHOW.
' There was not, perhaps, at the late great annual show at Smithfield a more interesting
exhibit than that of the Canadian produce to be seen on the stand of Messrs. Sutton and Sons.
In our opiinon, it went further than vohnnes written by travellers and farmers' delegates towards
indicating the capabilities of Canada, and its newly-acquired North-Western Territory
(Manitoba), which has been so much spoken of the past two or three years, and completely
refuted the statements one occasionally sees in print made by interested parties, that it is not a
desirable colony for the ]'>ritish farmer to go to with a view to settlement. Having repeatedly in
tljese cohimns and elsewhere advocated the advantages British North America possesses over
other English colonies for farmers and others of both largo and small means to emigrate to, we
were naturally pleased to see our statements receive such positive confirmation in th(! display
made on this occasion. The samples included in this collection were gathered for Mr. .John
Dyke, the Canadian Government Agent at Liverpool, who made a tour through the Dominion
last autumn, by the Winnipeg (Manitoba) Agricultural Society, and the Ontario Root Growers'
Associatii* (Toronto), and included some of the most wonderful specimens of agricultural pro-
duce ever exhibited on this side of the Atlantic.
' The most remarkable exhibits in this collection were some Long Red nangels, the heaviest of
which weighed 73 lb. ; Yellow Globe ditto, 68 lb. ; citrons, 33 lb. ; field pumpkins, 37 lb. ; and
•mammoth squash, 313 lb. I The latter was sown on Ist May, and cut on 6th of October,
thus showing an average growth of something about 2 lb. per day. We have taken some trouble
to learn how this weight compares with some of the heaviest squashes or pumpkins grown in
England, or even on the Continent, and find that it is more than 100 lb. heavier
than the largest grown in Britain that we have any published record of, and 70J lb. heavier than
any grown on the Continent. Loudon's Magazine contains the record of tho heaviest grown in
England, this was produced in the gardtns of Lord Rodney, in the year 1834, and weighed
212 lb. On the Continent we find that -- market gardener near Orleans showed in 1861 a larger
and heavier one than this, which weighed 242J lb.'
'The mangels were the most wonderful specimens, as regards size, over seen at any exhibition,
and in all probability were also the hcaWest roots overgrown. Tliey were wonderfully symmutri-
cal in growth, and, considering their ( reat size, exhibited very little of that coarseness usually
y-eiyht miles nwav. It was
with Blimtt twenty acres of
limit ihvolling-houso on tho
(1 of cattle, an<l there is also
•a-half niilo from a railway
. an acre.
ner came from Enfrland pome
Toronto one had £11, while
ey. Now one haa two farms
rehased a little property near
lid the remainder of his days ;
Niagara Falls, which form a
inhabitants. AVhilu at this
ry pleaRcd to see nie.
vbnndanceof fruit <,'rown, and
rtaiit industry in the Province
id, and I am told yield a very
Jakville, containing ICO acres
There is a good residence on
md then drove for about nine
kept in this district, and they
1 Kiver runs throngh Paris,
j-ramilton, has a nice farm for
h a portion of the farm. The
soil, anil London, all splendid
da. The price of land ranges
ins country produces excellent
; and while mentioning this
i Irish Farmer bearing on the
[.r. CLUB SHOW.
imithfield a more interesting
of Messrs. Sutton and Sons.
,nd farmers' delegjites towards
;d North-Western Territory
ir three years, and completely
Tested parties, that it is not a
enient. Having repeatedly in
N'orth America possesses over
mall means to emigrate to, we
ve confirmation in tho display
n were g.athered for Mr. .Tohn
a tour through the Dominion
nd the Ontario Root Growora'
specimens of agricultural pro-
j Red nangels, the heaviest of
; field pumpkins, 37 lb. ; and
f, and cut on 6th of October,
We have taken some trouble
uashes or pumpkins grown in
more than 100 lb. heavier
ird of, and 70J lb. heavier than
cord of tho heaviest grown in
the year 1834, and weighed
rleans showed in 1861 a larger
7,e, over seen at any exhibition,
!y were wonderfully symmotvi-
ble of that coarseness usually
n
Ii[r. J(sse S2)arrow'8 Report.
101
.oon in large roots. S.ne of the ^-^-^^S^Z,^ ^.:^:t. ^nitSoj:;!;;"!?
grown. 1 n addition to the foregoing there we. e also on uewp-i.ni ^ ^ ^ ^^^^.^^^^
Lgo, and of prime quality, pot.atons =vnd g.^>n Ml "^ ^ '^^ m bc,a ^ i ^^^^^^ ^^^^
ma^irnrthe wonderful fort lity of the "^'^ '^^^^ ^ ^ .l^'- ^ " '^ ' f ^„„ possibly bo
adapted the climate is to bring t^*l^^„^'i^';.'^'\ 1™' „ ,^^^^^^ us-.ally cultivated here.
attained by the best .ystem of farming "^,f ''^"^^^^'^l^itfsiTeh a s^ such a climate within
an,l many besides which we cannot attempt o^ow.W^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^,_.
a little over a week's ^'-^'l f''™? "X;,''';;^^;:::^:" ^^ p.rt of it? and thus freed themselves
TSSZ KIXiy^"Xnr :;l^^a^;S^heir produce as arranged at Smith-
field by Messrs Sutton and H""^- . .„„ „„jh ^^ exhibition to be made ; and
•The Canadian Government at dws^ ^^^^ ^_^^^^^^ .^^ ^^^^ ^^
proved, beyond doubt, to the thousanas ' ' »o ,,. . -^ ; ^ot necessary to go beyond the
fully, and grow as fine crops as it ,s possible *" ^""'!^\«' " " "^ ' , :„„„,■ f^om home.'
protection of British rule, "-■•^•••'^^•-'l *"'•*''" ^^'^.^J^^'^.L of^ D"^'"^
^ While at Chatham I went to see ^^^rj.l h n red »'^«;"f.r'™rar purposes but it has been
West. It was recently regarded as .luite "^^^'^'^./"''^ ^^ij.t'''^^^ ' b, t the soil, a rich black
bought up and drained. The spot ^vaH;>rmerly nothing ^>* f ^J^^P' ^^'..j^,, ^i^^; There are
loam, turned out t^' b° "^ ">^P-:'"S ^g' "whieh the propr etoi-s moan to farm themselves and
about 2700 acres of it altogether, 1200 «;;^ '"" ^^^ P^ l^ ^^^ to Messrs Fuller and White,
the remaining 1500 they waivt to Pell. f PP''^^*'"^ •=^,'^^';"^^ „ ,„„eh newer country than
barristers, St. .Tames Street Hamiltom J^^^^J' '" very Hch and conserpiontly they grow
Xlttrt vS^ySin Juctli^" indiar^orrl;: thrives well. Farms can be bought at
n^S^SSlJtr ^mtry is ve.,1;^. ^^^,^- rich ,^tnr. Tli.
SS r C =r£i.;:;=i;tiKLS:^.S;i this wm no doubt be do,, before
very long. Anderson's farm, situate on tho banks of Lake Erie. Ho
At Deal Town we called at Blr. Anaerson » , v 'a,^^*- Ho his a beautiful apple orch.ird
t:L:f^^K::;/^orSrS^:^hp^rih!^S^ Vetrees^re planted
IbST^feSt ^P^l-ji^XrinV^inlSh:^^^^^^^^^ a swamp near I.ke St. Clair
said^o Kotf ares''Krnt:which wUl doubtless be drained in «ome future tune, and will
'TretiTdl: niiltonto have a l-o^ ^t^J'^-f'S rS^^^^^^^^
resembled the Toronto show very ^f]:''^;''^'^;^?.^^^^^^^^ of peopfe, trains
places. The show, as well as that at T->[;"to was visaed bv^ neighbourhood either drove or
coming in from all parts of ^^o country, but the farmers m^^ ^^^^ .^^.^
rode to the exhibition. I noticed ""«J*™™':".'^"',";"f 'j "houc-ht if some of our farmers
driving a pair of splendid d-^ grey, w^h -"- ^J^J'^^f ,„/,d ,Ut a bit, and probably get
iheXrard rimrrhe g;U? numb^rofSei-s in gan.ada are their own landlords, .nd have
"" ■:?;;:;:i^t;^rdistress in t c.intry an. ev.ryb.ly seer^^^ on ^J
course there are some poor pe.ye, but ";*^ "^^^^ J,°^i*f^\t the school-tax, but this is very light
':i:^::^Z^Z;!^^^i!^^^i^'^^^' f-of cost, and mdeed receive
a very useful and thowugh ^diication. , overslept myself, and was carried past my
Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince I?-! ward Island Macph^rson, is widely known in
\02
Jfr. Jcr.se SjHirrotr's Rfj;if<rf.
Thov are pent out to the Ilnme at Clalt, in Ontnvio, where thoy receive a good education and are
brcmtihl up aa farni-laliourcin und domestic HcrvautH. Her work deserves every cncouragciiieut.
On nur way we jiasnedthrou-li the I'roviuceof Quebec, chiefly occupied by French Caiiaihans.
The Hceneiy was very grand, tlio aiituinnal tints of tlie maple Ituinij gorf^eous, and mixed with
tlie dark -greon foliage \>£ the piueg and tipmce, form a very attractive feature in a Canadian
landscape. . , , , , . ^i ,.
At lein,'lh wo arrived at Moncton, in Now Brunswick, and after atayinc; tliere we went on
to Shediac^ wlurc we eiiibmked on board a steamboat f(jr I'linco Edward Island, distant iib-ut
forty miles. We laud.ilat .Summer.sido the siimc day, and owiiii,' to an a^nicuItiu-.U «how that
wiis'bfiii'' held we had much ditticulty in -ettin^' aco >miiio.l.vLiou for the night.
The iicKt mornini,' wo dn)ve to Mr. I.-iiid's f.iini, one of the liirgcjt in the island. It con-
tains about 400 acres wl-U .■■lUivaled. He statod that his wheat crop was not m good as last
voar, l)ut averRKed forty-tivo bushels \WT acre ; oats grow exceedingly well in the idand, and
often woiih 44 ib. and over to the bu^liel. We then went over the laiia of one t)f his neigh-
bours, and were shown his wheat and oats. I a^ked him what profits a farmer eouUl make off
100 acres, and he took mo on one side and puiiile I out three cvmages. One w.-vs a light
carriage for two passengers, a heavier one for f.uir, and tlio other a overed one. There were
also throe sleighs very nicely g..t up. I remarked that th^y seemed to eat and drmk well and
enjov themselves, and he ieplie>l that they did s,>, having the opjiortunity.
We Icit Siimmeiside for Charlott. town, the principal town in the island. Its population is
12 000. I sujipose thr-ru are not many ijlaees without a disadv.aiitage, and this v> ill apply to
rrincn Edward Island. If it month were laken off the winter sea:- .ii and plac.-d on the summer,
it would, 1 think, be one of the iinest places in the contiii.'iit of America. The climate does
not, however, seem to make much dilfereuoe in the gro\>th of t'.iu crops and vegetables, neither
docs it interfere with the bioedinv and faUenins; of the cattle.
While at f 'havl..tl.towii an a-iieulti\ial .show was takiiitr place; and eomo of the cattlo
were very good, but (jthers were hardly fit for public exhloitiori. 8heep evidently do
well in tile island, ami somo fine .specimens were shown. It is iMt.d for horses, ;,ii.I some fine
anim.als were on view. The clim.ate s.ems to be a very healtliy one, judging by the ajipear-
anc^'of the people whom 1 met. We had o,ilv intended to stay a .lay or two in the island, but
prolon.'od our vi.sit at the ro(|nest of several of the leading people. 1 went to Soiiris, a quiet
little town on the east side of the island. I passed through several hundreds of acres of
imtilled lands, consisting, seomingly, of very rich soil. . „, . , ., , , ,
I'rince I'Mward Island is tlia nearest land to England. The rivers and the coast .abound
with fish, and there are plenty of wild-fowl ; shell-tiah also abound, and arc sold at very low
rates. The soil thron<,d»out the i:-!aud seemed to bu of one kiml— a red sandy loam— and tho
country resembles iMmlami more than any ollior part of Canada I visited. It is about 140 niile3
Ion", and varies in width from 8 to 40 miles. Largo nnmb.'is i>f sheep and cattle are ex-
iwrtad to England, .ind also oats, (jovernmeiit lands, of which there are only a limited 'piaiitity,
can be obtained at from 2 to 4 dollars {ler acre, while improved farms cost from 20 to tJO dolhirs
per acre. So far as I could ascertain, the taxes amount to from .'"> to 15 cents per acre. In
tho beds of most of tho rivers and bays there are great quantities (»f decomposed sliell matter,
varying from 4 to 15 feet in depth ; it is called mussel-mud, and has, no doubt, accumulated for
cen'turfes. The farmers got it in the winter-time and put it on the land, its value as a ferti-
liser being very great. ^ tt i-r t, • t
We t/.ok tli(^ steiimboat to Pictou, and went by tram fnmi there to Halifax, Province of
Nova Scotia. For tho principal part of the jourmy tho country loo];ed very rough and sterile,
but the fact of the district beinga uiiner.i! one will proljably account for this. Large <iuaiitities
of coal are raised in the neighbourhood of Pictou, and are shipped to other parts of Canada and
the United States. Koiind Truro the country looked better, and at \\'iiidsor I noticed some
very excellent farms. Halifax is a fair-sized town, and is tiio winter port of the Dominion of
Canada. There is said to be much gold in the province, and we were shown large blocks of
quartz, which seemed to be very rich in the precious metal.
Frouk Halifax wo went to Keiitville, jiassing through a romantic country, some of it as wild
as nature-had left it. Arrived at Kentville, which is situated in the fanious Annapolis Valley,
we drove to Cornwallis, and .passed through some rich gra;iing land. Cornwallis is situated on
a range of hdls stretching out to the sea. Each farm slopes down to the valley, and lias its
Khare of what are called dvke-lands, i.e., lands which have been reclaimed from the sea. These
dyke-lands are exceedingly valuable, and the deposit which is left upon them each year by tho
overflow adds greatly to their value. I was told that they yhdd wonderful crops of hay. After
it is mown the farm.ors turn their cattle out into these me ulows to feed, the numbers being
settled by the (piantity of land they own. This .listrict is tlu' great apjilc growing country of
Nova Scotia, and I was surprised to see such splemlid orohar.ls— equal to any I had seen in
Onta'-io, several hundreds of miles away. The apples are largely exported to the English
market, and fetch a very good price, ,»,.■..., *v ^
.<Vfter leaving Kentville we went on to Annap 'lis. the centre oi tho district of that name,
id education and are
ixiy ciicoiiragcmt'iit.
y Fiencli Canadians.
OU3, and niixid with
vtuiu in a Canadian
ic; tliero wo went on
^filaiul, dii-Unt a'vut
[licuiturrii wliow that
■ht.
the island. It ciin-
not Fo goiid as last
^11 ill thu i-land, and
if one ol his nei;^h-
niur cDiiUi make off
<. Ou8 was a light
id one. Tlicro wtio
t and drink wuU and
1. Its jioimlalion is
id tills will apply to
aoxl on tlio i^iinnih'i',
. Tlifj climate ihtvi
I vejj'etablen, neither
some of the cattle
i-'iheiip evidently do
horses, jiii.I s.'iiie fine
ilyiiij;- liy the ajjpear-
.•o in tlie islaiul, but
\i 1,0 Soiiris, a quiet
unihods of acres i>f
nd the coast abound
ire sold at very low
iaii.ly loam — and the
It i-: about 110 miles
p and cattle are ex-
y a limited 'inaiitity,
from '.iO to t>0 dollars
5 cents per acre. In
nposed sliell matter,
iil)t, accumulated for
I its value a.s a ferti-
Hi'.lifax, Province of
;ry rough and sterile,
is. Large ([uantities
parts of Canada and
dsor I noticed some
of the Dominion of
lown large blocks of
ry, some of it ns wild
PUS Ann.apolis Valley,
iwallis is situated on
e valley, and has its
from the sea. Thc.«
lem each year by the
crops of hay. After
id, tiic nnmljers being
egrowiiig country of
o any I had seen in
orted to the English
listrict of that name,
Mr. J(-ii( S^Mi'foir
Fifcij-I.
103
,,0-essin.' con.iderablo rop-..t.,ati.,n on ace .unt of the_ fertu.ty o .t.s "'" ' ^' Vr.f '" ^/"V'! ?
cereals and sield of fruits. Annai.olis is a -luiei liiUe town, but is sp eiididly situated and
1 c- 1110^0 ce. a better place for gentlemen ,.f means, who may be wishing to retire from
is iae abounds, such ..s woodcock, snipe, plover, and duck wnle ."oose-foxes and
har"s so netimes alford g .od sp..rt. In addition, there is cxeell.nt hslnn.,-. Ihere.s much
m 1^1 Cnivae land in this locality, and I m-ticed many stack, of h.ay, containing frmn
one to two tons each upon .tugos. under whieli the water would of course run when the lands
one to two tons uicn up. " " = • _^ , ^. lUun-wiek. There is a very fine market-
;K<:7;^"iritv 4 ot^V2;;Ct,'.;'ldd; iJSt^b it was suppHedwith bcef/;nntto„.poH..
poultry a d i sh in .abundance, be.id.s gan.e.nd vegetables, (.'uarters of lanib ht for any table
W s ellin ' at (1 cents per lb. Ne'.v Jbunswiek is famed for the flavour of its mutton The
Wis 11 ^sogo,,d, being rather tough, alth.mgh I camiot see any reason why bee should not
be lasel in New Brunswick, and other parts of Canada, e,p,a! to any in •'■'•^^'."' ;„^.^ ?,.'^ ^
w",s nearly totallv destroyed by a (ire in 1877, but the greater proportion of it is now built up
iu-ui\ and is a strikiiK' evidence of the energy of the people. , j -.i n
• i Cl an introduction to the American Consul at St. John, who wa, verypleased with the
poiintw iind hill an intention of buving some land in the province.
NVhil at it John we took a trip up the Grand lliver to Fredericton. We p-asscd a large
extent of' the rieli intervale lands whieh receive the ov«rlknv of the river every spring, and con-
~nt ■ g.t 1 e benelit of the rich alluvial deposit which it left behind _ The uplands too are
ve, V V tile principallv of sandy loam. I noticed several farm-houses wlrch had a good appear-
ance a 1 t i ' a'ed that apple-, pear, and plum tives are being extensiveiy cul ivated. larnis,
whbdhv;., fencings, et^.c.:,J be' purchase,! very cheaply, and at iu:iees whu.. would seem
■idiculouslv i ,w in this countrv, namel ;, from 1^^ to 10 ,lollars per acre (rem £4 to £S).
While at Frider'eton wo IkuI the p.' .isure of an introduction to tne Lieutenant-Governor
°' 'Kad'r;wo£lt^tf^d;iS"a-- to Gibsontown. Wc saw Mr. Gil.on (after whom
the Li s au\ d), who is the pi^prietor of lar;;-e saw-niiUs situated on a r-ver which iloWH
i to the St John. This gentleman is a self-made m.an, like many others I met As the
s inc. is he n se om nolhb.g. Now he has a splendid house for his own use, another for Ins
soi vad'a lit e av off .are"lwcl!ings for his foremen and clerks, and cottages for us work^
men slvn-iu-' that he does not forget his employes in his own sueee.s. A new gnst-mill has
ust be 1 e eited whiehis turning r,ut large .,uantities of Hour every day. Mr. <;> •«'» l';^;' ;-'«;'
■re'tedachurchat his own expense. Mr. Gibson started work with no capital but an axe,
and has "up f.'ona an on! n.ary workman to his present p.sltion. To give an idea of his
wealth and to show wl,at may be done in the country, I was told he recently sold his u.tercst
ii. the New Brunswick Kailwav for 800,000 dollars, or illbO.OUO.
-rom th "^ce we took the train to the Oand Falls, passing many nice farms, and at timeB
throutd dense forests. There w,u. an agrieulti.ral show the day before we reached there, but the
£ rdetained the productions'until our arrival in order that we -'f >t ^-^^o to orm
L„ id;^i of the exhibits. I cannot speak in disadvantageous terms of any ''f "^» ^ V^" *" ;;'^
HO trood. I was especially struck with the enormous size of the vegetables, paitiuilaily the
pot.'^to:!, and cabbale. I also noticed some specimens of blankets, ^C woven 1^'^';'^^;^™ -
wives and dau^ditevs ; and the butter 1 s.aw was also exceedingly good. While at the
Or.nd Falls we visited the new Danish settlement, about twelve miles dis ant. ^fZw
hS their little show, too, on the day of our visit ; but it was -^^^V P^^' '^VcJ"! Fach
These people settled here some years ago, most of ^'''-'"^^Vi ' '^ ^ M n 1 Whert it timW
familv or adult obtained a Government grant of 100 .acres of tins forest land When he timber
is cleared they plant .and grow their cr.,ps between the stumps, anu the soil being a iich sandy
Wm 1^1 vewlltile, givli^ excellent cr.'.ps. The cattle on ^l^^^ -ere tied o the .^tu^^^
trees and the sheen and pigs in peculiar sort of pens. Insi.lo the shed which had bten put up
were ex b of pro luce. The exhibitors were continually calling me aside to look at the wheat
Iriev oats carrots, and cucumbers, some of which were six feet lonp, and many kinds of
S ett^ble nmiro V In fact, thev seemed verv pnaid of their exluhition, .and considering the way
1 w Sthi 1-d started, mul the ground they had ^^^V""' ^Tt^ "^Nvoo/rck
it must \<e admitted that they have done very well. We next took ti'^n'f'' Woodstock,
ind on our way vi-ited a large farm, which was for sale. It contains about 800 aeios, with
over half a ini . f n'ntnge of tlfe river, and 200 acres .^it are cleared. The farm-house ,s emidl
and th^re me tw , bai-nl I walke.l over it and inspected the land, which was very rich, being a
nice lieht oan wi h very little sand in it. I thought it would make a magnihcent arni when
airwa' eS'e;:eci:ily'conside,ing the facilities for transport 'J^'^V/rbTht auSs
I took a tour tlirough this .li.fcrict and found that fann. general y could be bought at fiom 15
to '20 dollars per .acre ; the soil is deep and good, and is we.l wate.-ed.
Round Jacksonville orchards are very numerous, every cottage haMUg /^"''.^'^^-y.^^.*!
m..re or less. We were informed that theie are thousands o acroi; of land in New Brunswick
iust as good as that which I have described, waiting for people to cultivate it.
^ Antviil at \Voodstock we went to inspect the ironworks, which it is expected will be a sue
I
Mr. Jease Spanouh liqiorl.
104
cesH The aiKliict of \\'...Kl.sl„ck is much notcil for the ai.pks and ph.n.s which l.'••'^^v theio.
UVthen u.a<le our way back i,.. Fredenctciu. to look at anotlier farm for s-alc about 9 n.ile.
JiL tatpW U wan about GOO acres in extent with Bomo rich pas ure,,, Rome of
w U^h I thouBht was as food aa any I had seen in iCngland. A portion of it is nitervale and.
•Sore L no fam.hm>se L this farm, but good barn accommodation. I was told ,t was to be
Hol.l at a very low price, but I did not ascertam the hgure.
We wentVn to St. John, and thence started for Sussex, on October 25th. It was rather col.l,
l,ut the weather was brilliant. Nearin.r Rothsay we came in view of the nver K«n->ebeca.H^
wWch the preat oarsman Eenforth died a few years a;;.;. It is a noble river, a.id has great
f oiHtk^s for NacltiuK. bo.-vting, and the like. Upon the pictuies,,ue hills which line its banks
■ e many P^^ resideitles and rich intervale lands. While at Susse. we visited Mr^
Alton's farm • he h■^a 30 cows in milk. We also saw Mr. McMon.kalo's Ayrshirgs. He has
;^ Ihie mie.ye'ar old Jersey bull, and .-v stud of 22 horses. We also inspected the farms of
''1;^^Cut:n^otSm:t£;gh the Tamramar Marsh It is about nine miles h,ngl^
four Idles wide and there are other.s'adjo;ning it. The land onus very rich pasture and yields
n me le cro s of hav, and seemed to be'well adapted for grazing purpa^es. Ihe value of these
ands(and I do . ot tl ink I have suen better in Canada) varies from oO to I.IO collars per acre.
At Fort C^.mbeXnd we inspected Mr. Ettcr's farm, in Westmoreland parish Wc were shown
fpair of stTeis bml fiou. the Governmont-imported bull ' Barrington '; they weighed about
.t!^rs in one herd and said he was going to buy 40 more for winter gra/.iiig. While ,n this
nSb<^^hood we went to see Mr. Woodman's farm. Mr. Woodman isalso one of the larges
totrTerchanU in the country, but is also a practical farmer. His piggenes were very well
^""wTSA'^II: oui w:;t'SE and took passage for homo on board the steam-ship
^foraviat^Ahc Allan Line. The trip was a very enjoyable one, the accommedation being
excellent.
co!»cr.vsios.
In coneluding my report I wish to say that from my experience and from what I was told on
cood authority, the climate of Canada is hotter in summer and colder m winter than that of
] nMand Th^ people seem to be very healthy and temperate in their habits, and I consider the
c mate to be a very suitable one for Englishmen. The inducements to a British farmer to
set le in Canada are far greater than they used to be for they need not now go through the
hardship of clearing the forest, as improved farms can be bought at such moderate prices, ior
those who wish to make their own farms, free-grant lands can still be obtained in Ontario, Quebec,
New Brunswick, Manitoba, and the North- West Territories. Government lands can also be
boucht in these districts for small sums. The number of farms for sale is accounted for
by the fact that most of the owners obtained the land practically for nothing, and by hard work
have made them to be of considerable value ; and they think there is a better chance o providing
a competency for themselves and a good income for their sons m the fertile prov.nees of Manitoba
and the North- West Territories, which are now being opened up. It may be said that the same
thine will apply to the British farmer also : but it seems to me that Canadian fanners are more
suited for pioneer life than Englishmen and the latter, in taking up lands m the older provinces,
will find the life more like that thev have been accustomed to, and they are suited to bring the
soil into a proT)cr state of cultivation which has in many cases been neglected. _
I saw some exceedingly tine cattle in Canada, and some have fetched very high prices, par-
ticularly tho.se raised in the province of Quebec by Mr. Cochrane, and those from the Bow Park
Farm at Brantford, Ontario. The cattle trade is becoming a very important one m the older
provinces of Canada, and if proper care ia taken in improving the stock-and this appears to be
iecoiving attention— I see no reason wiiy she, with her large extent of land, should not step into
the front rank as a cattle-exporting country. , , , , j.- ,. • i •,
My impression is that a farmer, wittowilling sons and daughters, wanting to improve his
position, could make more in Canada iiiTwo or three yeai-s than he would all his lifetime under
tlie present state of things in England. I do not mean to say he would get rich, hut he would
be able to live comfortably and get something that is valued quite as much, t.e., independence.
He would provide a home for his wife and family that is not likely to be taken away from them,
and there is no question of r.aising rents or tithes. What I have s.aid applies, of course, more
particularly to the older provinces. Manitoba and the North-West I have not seen, and I leave
liny remarks on that district to my fellow-delegates. ^ , ,
Large quantities of cheese, butter, cattle, cereals, fniits, and eggs are being exported, and
my reader will have noticed the quantity of honey one man ha.3 been able to sell.
; which (;i'ow thelO.
sale, nbout 9 miles
1 ptistures, some of
it is intervale laiul.
18 told it was to bo
It was rather cold,
river Ken-iebccassL-f,
river, and has {jreat
vhich line its banks
isex we visited Mr.
Ayr.-ihirgs. lie has
pccted the farms of
t nine miles long by
h pasture and yields
The value of these
ITiO dollars per acre.
,h. We were shown
they weighed about
has about 350 acres
icted to havo 10,000
apital three-year-old
;ing. While in this
Iso one of the largest
jories were very well
loard the steam-ship
ccommodation being
n what 1 was told on
1 winter than that of
ts, and I consider the
a a Uritish farmer to
; now go through the
loderate prices. For
d in Ontario, Quebec,
:nt lands can also be
sale is accoimted for
ng, and by hard work
;r chance of providing
jrovinces of Manitoba
be said that the same
ian fanners are more
in the older provinces,
re suited to bring the
;ted.
very high prices, par-
se from the IJow Park
rtant one in the older
and this appears to be
i, 8bould not step into
inting to improve his
. all his lifetime under
ret rich, but he would
3h, i.e., independence,
vken away from them,
ipHfis, of course, more
} not seen, and I leave
! being exported, and
to sell.
Mr. Jcfsr Ffpdrrou-'^ H'/iinf.
105
Canada c,u, truly ^^^^toj,o a c^.n^O^ o^peace a.d V^^^^-:;^^: ]::^.^::,Z
!-;^S:r i^!^W:;:.Knt^^a ^t ext Jf of .and, ^^1,^-^ -'hold ^0,000,000 of people.
There can ^^ "°,'^"7,*,,^*'^f^,^^^^^^^^^ su.cee.led under the circumstances ; but it shows
tit\irsTircSa{:re .:;; a^cU^hi'S dtate cnu,. be injurious in its e.fcct upon the agri-
culture of the cm"'t'>-- conclude my report wii;> an extract from an account ot a tour m.yle
thrJu^h' cli some tl'irV-one it^a^ol and whicl. has h. part been fulfilled, and is beiu,
'""''Vco.narr2'\ua.Sent. a soil so prolific, w.atcr couununication so abundant and a pc-nplc,
V r,. wl .'" veins liitish blood (lows, and who are iu the possession of the principles,
dm and la Tof j'""j^lan.l safely planted in their soil, nmst rise to S'eutuess a.y^ power.
W CC^e our totiti^ions, and our religion will prevail. A «i .hty empire wil rise 1^;,
InrlhXith knowle.lge and possessed of all the appliances of political power ami weal h ^\ e
• w\;.,n w .11 t ev are our ihiUlren, an.l in all future time an.l coutin-onc.ts they will be n,u
briren VliJy Si can; out .nd pVrpetuato all that is valuable in our system, and plant Old
El gland on a now soil.'
'i
TJIE 1:EP0UT of mi;. OEor.GE r.RODERlCK,
■ = t
Of Ilaiijcs, WentilrijJalr, Yorkulure.
' On Tiio,-ii!:iy (.'vouir.t;- ut tho T.iiiiil Scho.il it'iimi, 1 ra\vc.=i, a crowilud iiU'otini^ wna held to rec'"ivo
ii rfji'i-t ficiin Mr. DiMiloiiok, in ic;,:ud tn thu vi-^it ho ]):uil to Canachi, ;is tho delegate of llic
fiiMiieiii of Wcnslevda'iO, to iiniuiiu into the snitiibility of tho Dominion for emigration. Tho
111. liter is one of alj.'iorbing moment, as was shown by the extromo interest evinced on Tiic^ilay
ni-l,'t.
' Aiuongst the audience were a Iar;,'o nnmlicr of young men, who perhaps considered the
occasion as concerning th 'ni ci|nally as nineh as tho f:'.nners, and rapt attention was i.ifiwn
tlirougliout to tlio remarks of Mr. Broderick. \iU nput goes into minute details, which are
ve.i-y Viilu.dile indeed to all tho.,e who canncjt make headway in the mother country, while agri-
cuitiirists of all clashes will i:,lean information of a very serviceable character by a perULal of the
report, which We proihice til I'.rli ;/'"0.
'The chair was taken Viy Mr. ^V'illis, who in the c nu'-fc of the evening took occision to refer
to the (pu-.tiiin of i mignition. They would lie, he felt us-ur.d, Ihoroughlv grati'fid to Mr.
IjroiKi'ieU for the |iains ho had ltd,, ti in j^dviiig Iheui coirf ct infnvmalion in regard to emigration.
Cerlaiidy all wnuid feel that fal .ilieati'in was given to the Malihn-ian theoiy that the world
is ovei'-pop.d.iled, and woiiid lie convinced, ho mielit almost say, t'lat there was no danger ot
this over-]"'pulatiun-of-the- world theoi-y lieiiig corroliorated by fa''ts for thousands of years to
come, while there were such large traeLs of cNCellent land in Canada and other parts of the
world to fall back nj)un. Jfe had li;id some little conver.-ation v.ilh ?dr. Briuleriek liefore they
entered th:-.t roem. and had a.^kod that g( ntleman whethei' he was Kati-lied with what he had
seen, and the reply was tiial he was i'..'ri\etly .'^ati-f.-d with the country he liad visited, and was
well ])li\ased at the coiu'se that had l.ieeii taken to secure imbiassed iufoiuiation. Lord Bolton's
agent had a!:;o been out, and had gone over some of the ]iarts of the country travelled by Mr.
IJroderick, and he said, " If you ha\e a, good situation in I'jnglaud, a cumfortable farm, and are
doing well, 1 would not advise you to go ; but if pt-opde cannot get on iu Kngland, there is a
very good prospect of doing well there." JSfr. (Ir.diame, the represeiitiitive of the Canadi.an
Government at Ciasgow, Wuuld always be glad to give infornuition to any one inclined to
emigrate, and he (the chairman) would conclude by s.aying, "Look at the pr.pulation we have in
I'-ngland, and the way in which peo]ile have to stiuggle to get on, while there is an txce'deni
opening in Canada fernien of spirit and enterprise, with a strong right arm and willing to work." —
JJurluijtoH nnd Slorlion Tiinvf, IJecember •!'', IfcSO.
Mr. I'mderick, who was received with immense cheering, then said : — I have come to tho
most difHcult part of the task I undertook some live or six months ago, when you ajiiiointed mo
yotir delegate to go out and view the Dondnii.n of Can.ada, and draw up an unbiassed report
upon its fitness as a Held for emigration. Before entering on my leport, I wLsh Id to bo undcr-
Btood that I am reporting solely on liehalf of your, ehes and the British faimers generally, and not,
as may possibly be imagined by sonie, for and in the interests of the Canadian tJovermnent or
people. That (lovernment invited the English farmers to send out delegates from among them-
selves to report for their own benefit and intere:-cs, and as sueh I have understood my mission.
I may further state that there was no attempt on the part, of the tjiovernment to inliMeiice my
judgment. On the contrr.ry, I was allowed the freeitt choite of the parts I should visit, and I
just went where I liked. I uu be this stattniont because T have seen the Government accused by
detractors of Canada f.f showing the delegates only the lx.st parts and the snug side of everything.
On account of the short time and spaco at my (lisjiosal in which to deal with so laiie a subject,
J .shall endeavour, as far as pos,ible, to drop all personal narrative, and to disniiss description of
the kind and hospitable manner in uhich I wai eVi.rywheie received and treaieil, as irielevanO to
the object of my repi>rt. I shall describe (everything as near as I. can, just as I saw it, good or
bad.
I sailed from Livcrpuol on a beautiful evening, the l!2ud ot July, in tiie good H\i\\t >iana(itian.
KRICK,
: wna held to rec"ivo
i tho dL'le(,'ate of llic
r oniigratiim. The
evinced on Tucsilay
hnpa considered the
ttetitinn was Mfivcix
ie details, vhieli are
CdUiilrv, whilo aj;Ti-
r by a pe niLal of the
ok occasion to rcfor
dv !;rati'fid to Mr.
vj^nril til c'lni^ratioii.
I'ory tluit tho world
was no diui;,'or ot
>ii<!nids of year.s to
1 othtr parts of tho
rodoiii'u lioforo they
d witli what he had
lad visited, and was
ion. Lord Bolton'.s
try travelli.'d by Mr.
rtable farm, and aro
Kngliind, there is a
Live of the Canadian
any one inclined to
ijiulation wo have in
.hero is an txce'deni
i willing to Work." —
I have conio to tho
m you a|)iiointed mo
■in unbiassed report
wish iD to be undcr-
rs generally, and not,
dian tJoverninent or
s from amon;^ them-
lerstood my mission,
nent to iulliience my
I should visit, and I
vernment accused by
il; side of everything,
li so laiie a subject,
lisnn-is desoviption of
aied, as iru-levani, to
', as I saw it, good ot
;ood ship i^iannatian,
Mr. Gmnjc Bn.da-lik's Nqxni.
107
of the -Mian Line, and early on the 29lh wo pa^wd tho lone roclc, Pe lo Tslo, and thi.^uh the
8 ra tB hioh lie between it and Newfoundland, and during' the <lay saded down he f-'-'f" f ^t;
Lawrence The weather change<l rapidly from a wintry ooldnesfi amonj; the icebergs off Belle
Set., extreme heat on th« St.' Lawr'encl which we reached the fyl>-v.ng day. The scenery
alomr tho banks of the St. Lawrence up to Quebec is very fiue in places, but there is not much
SSandra preat deal being hilly, roeky, and covered with sn.all wood, mostly hr. Vo
&d»tthe'historicandni.lnre»queOityof Quebec on tho nist, an.l on the 2nd c August
tiokt'io train on the (Iran- Tmnk Hailw.w for Ottawa. On our way from Quebec to ll.ohmond
cTn the south o? the St. Lawrence wo pas,cKl a gre..t de.d of very mddiereut land, coinpo ed
mostly of a thin soil on a llght-col.a.red Handy subsoil, wooded with .n.all spruce, la>ch etc.,
wHh a good deal of scrubby underwood and a great abuu.lance of wild raspbenies. I did not
Teo much rttleinent till we passe.1 Kiohmoud, between which plneo ami M.utrea the land i.s
Bom' what beth' '. It is owned and cultivated by a ].-rench populaUon. ^^ e arrived at Montreal
about ei'ht in the evening, and started n-^ain at ten o clock tor Ottawa. . , •* ^ i
Ottawa is the capital of the Donuni.m and tho se.at of government. It is a nicely situated
city mUly built of brick and stone. It is surroun.led by a fairly good agricultural country
and' there are imn and phosphate mines in the vicinity. At Ottawa the delegates all met
M Lowo the .secretary of the Department of Agriculture and . was there arrange.
thatM. ^agar and Mr. Curtis shoul.l stay in Ontari,., and that Mr. Irvine, Mr. Anderson and
mysel sl^mk go ,m to MauitoV,a and the North-West Territories, which we did My report
wU theXv refer mostiv to that p.rt of the country, as I spent the larger part of my time
here Wo arranged to go by ,.teimlx,at through tho lakes, but on arriving at Toronto wo
f und that we hada day nr two to wait, ho we Idled in tho time by going to Niag.ira falls
The h mil a go.,d way along tho north shore of Lake llnron is se tied, and is, I should
say fail -,.d laud, but we could n.,t see much of it. At the north end there are a great many
I'nl .m.e of th^ni verv prettv, mostly wooded. We passed from Lake Huron through
i e Kiver St Marie passing the rapids into Lake Superior. The north shore of this lake pro-
nts a hillocky ap,.elrauce: not very high, but rocky, and almost dev..id " «- O-j --"seem^s
small nine-wood which appears to grow in the crevices of the rock. Phis class of cuuntry seems
rinev^rn^ the entie length of the lake except around Thunder May. where the hills are
mueh h 'her, b'.t still roeky and wooded. In Thunder Bay we ca led at Prince Arthur 8
Lmulingra I nail toun,, and Fort William, the terminus of the Canadi.an Pacihc Railway now
Tn J oc^s of coustructic'.n. There is some fair land about here, and there seenis »»;r prospect
of a town growing up. as it is tho nearest shij.iang port to W innipeg on the now railway.
We n^^rfved at Duluth, an American town at the extreme western pomt «f Lake Superior, and
took the train th.at evening on the Northern Pacific Hallway. It was a mild warm evening,
and before da"k we pass,.,f some very tine and rugged scenery, through piue-c ad valleys, over
S^tcraking wooden bridges, and roeky streams, the rocks set on edge >"'<tea,l of honzon-
taUv ^\'e then got to a level country, and came t.. s.,me swan.py fl, t land rather peaty,
but gene Ml covered with small fir and' poplar. SomeUmes iu the wettest parts he hr trees
were not more than five or six feet high, with only a little bit of green on the to^ and the
branel cs hun^ with grev moss. Whole the land is .Irier the wood is heavier. Thera were
"inal laVes, some with swampv shores, others closely fringed and overhung with wood.
Wp travelled all night, .and in the morning I had my first experience of prairie land. Wo
changed at Gvndon on t,. the Manitoba lUilway. and in an hour or tw,> got fairly out upon tho
rrdrL> Lo k where I wo,dd, there was nothing but an almost track ess extent of land almost as
flat as a sea stretchin-' away to the horizon, which formed a true circle all round us There were
a few settlements sc.attered all along: fields of con. and patches of ploughing without fences
rouTd the r Oeca fon:d y we crossed a sluggish <.reek, its course marked out by a wnding belt
ofTees s etching aw.ay into the distance. I was told that we were ,i. the Hed lUver
VaUev, and the St.ate of Minnesota. The railway runs in a straight line, and .s fonned
by cvntin" a ditch on either side ; the soil from the ditches is thrown into t'.o middle,
and on il arc laid the sleepers and rails. The ditches show a section of the soil,
w"iich although o good quality, is not cp.al to that of Manitoba. During the whole of hat
dav we tri veUed over this unbr,.ken Hat. At night the sun set red in the west, and «eemed to
s^nk below us bef..re it disappeared, and we appeare.l to be on the highest part of the land
though b.rea-aty it was cpiiVe flat. We arrived at f'>t. 13oniface about eleven o'clock at night.
and Crossed the Ked River by ferry to Winnipeg. , , , , ;.„ jt U situated at tho
The next day I devoted to an inspection of that now world-f.amed city. It is situate I at tno
junction^ the Assiniboinn River with the Red Paver. Ten years ag,. there were on y a few
1 nd ed people sonatted on the place ; now its inhabitants number ten or twelve th'ms.i^d J
n 1 r eoes on as fast as it is doing at present, it pn.mises fairly to bee.ime a second Chicago
be ore !on^ There are many very fine brick and stone buildings, and private houses A
g Z. ry"f<irtnn"s have been^nade already, an,l there are many weak ly c.ti.ens. 1 udcUng.
frou.Kat was ten vears ago bought for a mere trifio per acre, is now .selhng by the font at hig
f,rlces Thus'u ten Vears .a^'town has sprvtng up bigger and with more capital .nested than aU
the towns of .Wensleydale put together.
1U8
^f|•. Gcvfi/f linnkviik'.i liqi'iil,
Before going further, it nviy bu well to f;ivf a brief gt'ograiihical de.scri|iti(iii of tlio Dimiiiiu'ii.
As you know, it consists of tlio nurthern li:ilf of the Kruat Aiiiurican Coulincnt. The e;iatci ii
part, or the provinces of Quebec, Noviv Scotia, New Brunswicli, and Ontario, lias been protf y
well Hcttled upon for a lonj,' time. Huttltnu'iit wont on to the west of Ontario till it was stoppod
by a great barren rocliy tract of land wiiich stretclios from about the oast end of Lake Superior
north towards the Hudson's Hay ; and reaches westward periuips a thousand miles, till it in cut
off by the fertile UudKiver Valley, of which I have spoken. This valley is, perh»p.<i, 200 miles
wide in Home places. It reaches from the great water divide of tlje continent which crosses
Minnesota and Dacota to the Hudson's Bay, it is almost a dead level, and is suppr led to have
been an old sea or lake Iwttom. West of tllis again for nearly 200 miles, to the Tacific Ocean,
lies a more or less fertile tract of prairie land, almost untoucliod by white men. Thus, you see,
the country is, agriculturally speaking, divided into two distinct parts.
From the older jjrovincea of Canada, as well as from the Kastern States, for various reasons,
there has been for along time past a constant tendency on the part of many of the settlers to
emigrate to the great Western prairies, and, us the great fertile prairies of North-V^est Canada
were not generally known or accessible to the i)ublic, they were obliged to go to the Western
States. And hence the idea got abroad that the Canadians were dissatisfied with this country,
«nd were going to the f4tate3 ; but in reality there were ivs many leaving the Kastern States for
tlie s.-vme reason. It is only within the last ten years that the British North- West has
been brought prominently before public notice, and since that time ([uite a new state of
things has set in. Numbers of Canadians are selling their farms and going there instead of
to the States. A great many are going from England and Scotland, and even from the United
States themselves. A railway has been made from the Northern Pacific Hallway to Winni|)eg,
ami another great railway, called the Canadian Pucitic, ia in process of construction, and will
soon bo made through to the Pacific coast, thoroughly opening up an immense tract of
country ; several branch railways are also being surveyed. The result is, and is likely to bu for
a long time to come, an impiense influx of ininiigration.
To return to my travels. I first went down the new Canadian Pacific Railway to Cross Lake
—the end of the line opened about 100 miles east of Winnipeg. I'or a good distance the
land is good, but rather wet. Before we arrived at Cross Lake, we had got right into the barren
locky country I have before referred to. It is not absolutely barren. There are patclies of fair
land tliat may at some future time be sought out. There is a good deal of timber, and, it is
supposed, a great deal of ndneral wealth.
At Winnipeg, Mr. Hespoler provided u.s with a team of horses and spring waggon, driver, and
camping equiiments, and we sat out for the West. We went by the Portage road along the
north bank of the Assiniboine Uiver. About Headingly, and for a distance of about thirty miles
west, there is some veiy good dry laud under fair cultivation. It is a thick black loam on a clay
subsoil, an<l is drained "by the Aasisdboine and the numerous creeks that intersect it. After this
we passed some twenty miles of swampy land, till we came to Poplar I'oint ; and from there to
Portage-la-Prairie, a distance of twenty or thirty miles, is, I think, about the best land I saw.
It is no thicker or better soil, but is drier than most of the Red River land. ^ It is mostly pretty
fairly cultivated, and there were some really good crops of wheat and oats. We called and looked
over the farm of Mr. Brown, a very nice man, who came from Ontario about eight years ago.
He said one of his fields had been cropped seventeen years when he bought it. He grew the
eighteenth crop, and it yielded 40 bushels of wheat per acre. The same field has not yet been
manured, and this year liad a fair crop of wheat. But he does not think his wheat has averaged
quite 30 bushels per acre since he came. He thinks that by manuring, .-vnd with the high culti-
vation as practised in England, there would be no difficulty in averaging 10 bushels of wheat
per acre. He had a few good roots, and a patch of clover which he sowed when he first came,
and which has grown ever since ; he thinks clover and timothy (our foxtail) will stand the
climate very well. His soil is from afoot to two feet thick
We went on to Portage-la-Prairie, and then on to Mr. McKenzie's at Burnside, where we
staved a day and a night. Portage-la-Prairie is a growing town on the AssiniUnne, next in size
to "Winnipeg and Emerson, and is surrounded by very good Jand. Mr. McKenzie has sonie
good crops, and keeps a hirgc herd of cattle. They feed on prairie grass in summer and prairie
hay in winter, and most of them were nearly fat. lie has sometimes had as many as 200 cattle at
a time, but has not lost a beast since he came. One spring he sold twelve fat bullocks that had
been fed on nothing but prairie hay all winter. Speaking of prairie hay leads me to a description
of it. My first impression of the wild prairie grass of the Re<l River Valley was that it was
rather coarse, and what we should call sour. Where the land is dry it looks rather shorty but
on closer inspection it proved to have a considerable amount of good herbage amongst it. There
is generally a great deal of yellow flower, giving it the appearance of a meadow full of butter-
cups. On" the swamps and wet land it is certainly coarse, yet many people mow it for hay
because the yield is heavier, but I did not think it nearly so good as hay off drier land, and in
this opinion I was supported by most of the best farmers. The (juantity and cpiality vary very
much in different parts. That part of McKenzie's farm wiiieh I saw is mostly dry, siud on it thei u
were some very jjood meadows, which might yield two tons of hay per acre. Cattle turusd out
1
-«. ■■ ";^:x3p ■■'
:iiiii ot' tho D'niiiiiii'ii.
ilinciit. The e;istci II
urio, lias been protf v
rio till it was stoppiMl
nd of Laku Siiperioi'
id inileH, till it in cut
Ih, perhaps), 200 inilen
ntinunt which crDsscs
d u Buppr led to have
to the racific Ocean,
ueii. Thus, you Hee,
i, for various reasons,
uiy of the Hettlors to
North-V^est Canada
to go to the Western
cd with this country,
he Eastern i^tates for
ish North-West has
lite a new state of
Aug there instead of
'Veil from the United
lidlway to Winni|x;(,',
:on.strucli<>n, and will
n iuiiueiisu tract of
and is likely to be for
vailway to Cross Lake
a good distance the
right into the barren
:re are patches of fair
1 of timber, and, it is
ig waggon, driver, and
irtage road along the
: of about thirty miles
: black loam on a clay
tersect it. After this
it ; and from there to
the best land I saw.
. It is mostly pretty
We called and looked
bout eight years ago.
ht it. He grew the
u'ld has not yet been
IS wheat has averaged
d with the high culti-
g 40 bushels of wheat
d when he first came,
ixtail) will stand the
; Bumside, where we
siniboine, next in size
McICenzie has some
1 summer and prairie
many as 200 cattle at
fat bullocks thiit had
ids me to a description
'^alley was that it was
oks rather short, but
»e amongat it. There
leadow full of butter-
eople mow it for hay
[)ff drier land, and in
md <iuulity vary very
ly dry, and on it the) u
u. Cuttle turuud out
I
.1/;-. (iionji; linnU ink's liij"
Id'.t
ll.l., tilese natural meadows have plentv to .„ at, and boin- ■■o,h1 ji.d-es of laiKl, clK.ose tlie best
^ra r iCli "vitcc-naitforthelr doinu so wr-ll. Cuws also -ive large .juanti i-s of very
, ic rn k and b S on prairie grass. Mr. McKen/.io .ells most of his cattle to imm..T,mts
ll^I^dttlyeiSf heifers, he says, are worth from .C5 to ^0. Cows from ilO to £W each. Beef
"''"m tere'sSl in what is considered tho Eed T?iver ValUy, but aftor going about HO miles
west of McKonzie's, or about 100 mil.>s west of WinniiH^g, and crossing some swamp li.nd, full
Tf pond an will. w scrub, and poplar, and over a bad road, wc .'ame to an abrupt rise,
r^rrnt g everj "ppearanc^ of a sea beaeh. some 60 to 100 feet high; behind and lunnhM,
rral"el with this, s a Mt of sand-hills, irregular in form, supporting very 1. tie grass but
'^Hh a f Jw stnnte. oaks and pine, often half burnt through by F'"' ■•,•."■-•. 1" 'l^ ^'l^^^^^
lM.twt«n these hills are occasional bits of good land covered witli poplar, birch, hazel, etc. There
iTe arj numlLr of hazel-nuts, wild cherries, wild rasps, and strawberries in h«.r-^''>'. Among
the bni«hwo.Kl wild hops and clematis twine in givat profusion. <>" one of the.« patches Ml.
Snow, a son of one of the delegates who went out la-t yeai, has settled. , , , „i.
ii:>"md this we crosse.1 wlut is known as the I«g I'lain. It is of more or less sandy black
s..il s.m"rrting very little grass; it is ratli.r too dry, I should si.y, though it grows fair good
..ps or::Cand Ls. lM.ere U hero a good .leal of free-giant land n,vt taken up yet A tor
crossing some foitv miles of this plain we came to what ''' 1>''''^^'\'V^ '"v'^;'"' '?,,*,^: ' ul, ,1^
any point of whieli can be had an extensive view ; it presents a kind of tuiiiulUio ,s, bilhnvj
apLaranc." In s,.me places it is very hiUoeky and irregular. In others it is formed of gently
X^iig hills and hollows, ranging from a few hundred yards to several miles m extent, very 1 ke
slune of ilie midland counties of Kngland ; but through all its unevenncss it maint..ins a kind ..t
''"■"TlmScular part to which I am now referring, tliat between the Rig Plain ,-ind the Little
Saskatchewan River, about thirty miles across, is broken by an ""'"^"■'t' ''""^'i'-^'l^V" ;^^ ;..,nn
could scarcely get a mile section without half a dozen pon.ls on it. 1 he ridges arc genei.,11.
ricrbl^k iLu, supporting f..irly good gr.-iss ; the '';•'''-"^r,•''''''^^^':^;ra^n l±\h
nonds which could Lenerally be drained one into another. I l>elieve a single <lrain int. the
ffom J .fsleS' -0..1.1 .n/the whole of it, and if drv it would be alnu-st uivnirpassable land
ivs the fertility of the hillsides has been filtering into it for agc^. Ar..und the pomls there is
™a{lywillmv scrub, and scattere.l ab.mt are small w.,ods and clumps "f.P"I>/"'-- e'v>"K the
c.iuntrv a park-like appe.ar.inco. On the ponds are almost innumerable wild-.lucks. 1 have
smetVLes counted on mall p.mds two or three hundre.l, an.l T coui.l scarcely ever look up w.tl.^
orsecTng some in the air. They are generally very tame, and 1 could have shot scores out of
our wacifon as we went along. . . , , i i i ...
We next came to Miunedosa, a small place consisting of a few log-houses an.l stores, a st.^.-
ping-house, a blacksmith's sli.ip, and a saw an.l grist mill. It is about a year ol.l. If the 1 ..eil.c
Kailwav passes thr..ugh it, .%s its people hope, it may become a big t..wn. Ihere is a rival town
called Odaiiah .about a mile off. i i i!,.„ i .,„i
From here we i,as,„.d some fairly go.xl lan.l .and pastures, then s.ime widely undulating laud,
till wc came to Little Shoal Lakes where we stayed all night. ,.
Our road p.issed through a shallow corner of the lake, ..ut of which .a policeman wa>. puU.ng
large jack fish with a verv rude lishing-rod. Around Shoal Lake there is some very good land,
though rather broken by p-nds and marshes. The scenery is very pntty and pavkhke.
Fr.m. here wo went west again ..ver some veryg.Hui lan.l to lJortle,.u. the Bird T.a.lCre..k.
a young town in a r.ather deep vallry. but surrounded by very go.ul land, of which most of th.i
best fi^-grant sections were taken up last summer. I saw here a cat le-dealer who h.a.l ab.,u
ei 'hty cattle for sale. He had nine pure-biv.! Galloways, a y.mng bull, and eight cows and
heifers, for which he ask.;d tl to. He was seUing cows at about ilO ea<3li.
We next went forwar.l t.. Ko. t Ellice, a Hudson's Bay Cnipany station, on the Assiniboino
Valley, about iM miles west of Winnipeg. It is about the hea.l ..f navig it.on on the Assinihoine
River The valley is here about iiOO feet deep, a »nile an.l a half or tw.. miles .across ; the sicle.s
are stMp, the b..ttom flat an.l very fertile, but apt to hv. wet There is n., rock m P"^^*^^«'"" "'
the sides • the full depth seems to be cut thn.ugh a be.l of glacial drift cunposed ni..stly of
r'umied gr.a'.L bmldlrs an.l gravelly day. Tli. country all the way from Winnipeg is thinly
settled ami there is a gooil de.il of free-grant hind not taken up. , ,r t%
We t^Jok a .hive with Mr. McDonakCthe chief factor of the fort, to the farm of Mr. D.awson,
a few miles to the north. Mr. Dawson went out from Lincolnshire last year ; he has taken up
two mile secti.ms ..f land, ..r 12,S0 acres, and splen.lid land it is. It is hue friable bl.ack oa.i
two or three feet thick, g.mtly undulating, an.l there is a great dea of ^^'^'f tar-^-^ <'r v^tehw
am..ng the >'ra«s which makes splendid f.^ed. We went back to 1' ..rt Llhce, an.l there met Mi.
Marcus Smith, the chief survey.lr of the Paciflc Railway. He has '•-'" «>x or eight tunes acr..KS
to the Pacific Coast, and .lescrihes the land as being very fertile ne.-.rlv all the way. and fV^'-^^^^
in the n.irth and Peace River district. The climate, he says, is much milder toward? the %V est
Coast. Snow seldom lies long in the \\ inter.
1
110 Mr. (lorije Dvodrlih'A fiipurt.
From Fort Klllce wo went imrth t<> tho Shi'll liivi r, a trilmtary of tlio AsHiiiilminc. Th.
liiii.l nil the wny mtor wu lufl tlio liiiiikrt of the AHsiiiil)iiiiii! Viill.'y in V( ry K""*'- 'J"'"'''' '" ^'''' *
fiiio niaHH iiiid n ^vvnt dt.ul «>f wild tiiicH nil the way. 'J'huio wum an ulmijsl coiiliniial (li)WiiiM«ir
of ruin nil thu day, md it wiw boniiinini; to get diirk when wo cnniu u\m\ tho canip iif Air.
Uifoumtinu's company of Innd-siirvi^yor.s, nenr ft Hniall ntrfani, ho wo pituhcd our tout Inside them.
The ro.'k had sui>l"'i- rciidy for thcni, and th.-y pi'Wt iitly made their ai'iicaranco, nil druiichod.
Mr. Hifonstine usUod unto havo Hii]i|Kr \\ itli tlu^ni, mid 1 tjot, mouk! of «hi) Ijoi>1 wiup 1 think I
evor tasted. Tiioy dL-tcribed tlio land to Iho north a.s oxcoUont, and naid ihoy had boon anion-
wild taruH that day tliionnh which it was dimoult to walk. Al)out tifty ianiilios sottlcd
there lant ."prinx, lli-n-li il in not yot mirvovid. TIiIh traot of land which may bo dswcribod
U!i IviiiK betwoon thu A.srtinil)oino, tho Shell Uivi r, and tho llird Tail (jp ok, in im tho whol.
e.xtruiuily ;;oid. It is of rich lihick loiini, from one to throe foot thick, and Konorally dry, but
with oooat'loiial poiidts. Thoro in a fair amount of popl.M-wood ^cattorl■d about, mllicient fcjr fuc 1
and buildiii),' purpo.4<jH. Its rich nicaduwa niid Ikldj of t.iros make it a likely placo frr
cnlllo-rniHinj;, 1 si. )uld nav. , . ., .
Wo camo biick bv I'ort i;ilicc, and tlioii down by a trail tli.it runn noaror to the Asxinibduii-
than thuono by which wo wmt. Tins.- trails are nioioly tr.u-lis nvcrtho praiiion, made by tho
jias'iafio of cart!< and wa,iji,'onH, and aro in .some places very fjooil and in otlioiH very bad. _ We
inado tho aoi|uaintanco of Mr. lleivlnuor, a f,'oiitl-hian (ui,-inally fri^ni Knuland. Ho is tho
Govoiiinioit Indian a«ent. We wont with him thiou-h two of tho Indian lioHorvoH. The*.'
Indians are of llir .Sioux trilio, and tho (iiivernnieiit have ),'ivun tlieni rosorvcs of laiul, pro
vidcd thoni willi oxen and a:;riouIlural iiiipUnnuts, and arc tryinK to toach tliein to fanii. Homo
liavp redly nice jilots of wiioat, Indian corn, an i all kinds of j,'ardon produce- bomu take ex-
troo'o paiiis with their ^ar(U■ns, aiiil liave them very neat. Mr. llerchmor upeaks highly of the
hoiii-^U of tin,' Indians whvii faiilv tiviUd. Thoy are very loyal, and iu\-irly always ui-kcd after
the tjueon. Wo camped ono nij^h't near tho lower resorvo, and next day Mr. Jlerchmor loft hi-
tent and e.iuipmonts till he camo back at ni;.dit. 'I hero were Indi.aiis all round, and thoy nii(;ht
ca.silv have (,'ono with tho whole thinjr ; l)ut ho said lie was in the haljit of leaviiii^ it there, and
ho had never lost anvthin'.r, and .-aid thoy wore ipiite safe as hmg as there Were no white men
about. The land for .^ovoral miles back from tho valley is sandy aiul gravelly— liable todronght.
On the alluvial bottom of tho valley it is very good land, but mostly wot.
Our next stoppinn-i>laco was Itipid City, a thriving young town about two yoarn old, on tho
little Kivskatohewaii, lower dov.n than Miniuidosa and Ddaiiah. There is good lanil all around,
but rather broken. Mo.-st of the froo grants aro taken up. We next cro.s.sod the AsMniboino .
liivcr at tho Kajiids, through tirand \ idlev. a tract of good land south went of the river, and
liaK.sod the I'.randon Hills - some low wooilo.l bills, but which cr.n be soon fn.in a great distance.
M'o wont onto Millfoid, a small pl.io" on tho Souris River, a rivt^r that runs from the south west
to the Assiniboino, then up the south side of the Hoiiris, and called o.i Messrs. (Jalondar and
•Koed, two young gentlemen from K.liuli'.ugh, with whom Mr. Inirie was acipiainted. They
havo taken" a]i some good land on Oak Crook. Fioiii there wo went forward over some uneven
hilly connliv, and pa.st some very pretty lakes till we caino to L.-uig's Valley. It is along deepish
valioy withtlat bottom, but not veiy much good land in it. There is only one sottlonuiit, that of
ISlr. LauL', after whom it is named. Ininiodiately south of this valley is some very good land.
Wo left the trail .ind went west over tho trackle.-s prairie on tho Sourij I'lain. This country, as
its name implies, is verv level, and there is a largo .luantity of good land. 1 reincmber one piece
belw(;en two creek.s, a litlle beyond Lang's Valioy, .some six or eight miles scpiare, or twenty or
thirty thousand acres— good sui'i supporting good meadow-grass nearly knoo-doep, and the whole
of itmieht have boon mov.n with a maohino— or machines, I sh(mld say, .as one machine would
havo boon worn out long Utoro it conld havo got through it all. Tho grass here is more like our
coarser moailow-grasses without many flowers, or weeds as thoy are called out there.
After going w.st into the lieiid of tho Siuiris, we turned south to tho Turtle Mountains, and
crossed ail immoiiso trooliss plain of variable laud. 1 noticed tlie deserted tracks of the buffalo
worn deep in the soil bv tho foot of many generations of these bovine animals. The granite
boulders, too, were polished on the corners by the bulValoes rul)bing thoniselves, and there is a
trench around tlioin, worn bv the tramping nS their feet. The biilfaloes are nearly killed out
now, and their bone ; are plentifully scattered over the phdns. Before we reached the TurtU J
MiMi'ntaiiis we crossed an imnienso marsh, which surnuinds White L.ake at the foot of that hill.
Th(' Turtle Mountain is a luiig, gently .sloping ridge rather than a mouutain, but it can be seen
a long way over the plains, 'i'hore is so;no very good land on the .slopes, and some good wood on
the top. "a great ma.nv settlers have gone into this district during the summer.
From here we wont east bv a trail lunning a little north of the United States boundary ; we
passed through th<! Rock hake and I'emliina Mountain districts, where thoro is a vast iiuantity
of very goodland, ami many settlers. Wo got into the Red River Valioy again, .-.iid passed
througli"aiMeunoniteResor\e— very good land— and then on to Kmei'son, a thriving little town
on the Red River, where it crosses the liileinational IJoundarv. From there we went north,
alon" tho west bank of the river, over a groat dtal of very rich land of deep black I am, tolerably
ifi: Gconji'. BmlcriVx Rq'orl.
Ill
if tho A«Hitiil"'Iiic. Til.
try«oi)il. Tlii'ii^ ii< vn v
mint c'liiiliniial (liisvii|Hnii'
lu uiion thu camp of Mr.
led iiiir tout lifHide them.
I'lKiiraiice, uU drenched.
f (ht) \iv»\. xoiip 1 think I
dil ihey had born unniiiL;
it t'dty Ii\niiUes 8ettKil
which may Iju describnl
I Ci' eli, in oil the wholi
i, and Kelit^rally dry, but
about, t-ntlicietit fur flic I
e it a likely placo frr
Tarer to the AsKinilxiiin^
.ho inaiiiefi, niude by th.'
1 othoiH very bad. We
>\\\ Enjiland, Ho w the
Indian lie«erv(H. Thci<i'
in roservoM of land, pro
ich lliein to fanii. Bonir ,
jirodiiee — biinio take ex-
nor upeaks liijjhly of tlir
loaily ahvayH asked after
ly Mr. Jlerchnior loft hi'
jl round, and thoy iiiiyht
1, of leaving it thore, and
there Wire no white men
ivelly — liable to drought.
it.
lilt two yojirH old, on th.i
is (;ood land all nroiind,
b cni.s.sed tlie AH^iniboino ,
til wint of the river, and
en from a cr<at distance.
, runs from the Houth weist
Oil MesHrs. (Calendar and
was aciinaiiited. They
iirward over soiiin uneven
diov. It ill a kin^,' deepish
ly one sottlenient, that of
is Koniu very good land.
o I'Ldii. This country, as
lid. 1 remember one piece
idles scpiare, or twenty or
knee-deep, and the whole
ay, as one machine would '
trass here is more like our
lied out there.
lie Turtle Mountains, and
U'ted tiaoks of the buffalo
iiie oiiimals. The granite
lenisilves, and there is a
lues are nearly killed out
•e we reached the Tui-tU
ie at the foot of that hill,
iintain, but it can be seen
s, and foine good wood on
e suninier.
ited States boundary ; We
■e there is a viwt quontity
Valley au'ain, r.nd passeil
son, a, thriving little town
roni there we went noitli,
deep black \< lUii, tolerably
1 , , ♦„ Winnio ■ ■ ^Ve I'ad thus accc^mpllHhrd a journey of about
dry and growhig pood crop., to ^\lnull.^,.
800 miles. v .„„ <5,>oliL and I accented an Invitation from tho mayor
Mr. Imrie left next day to «"/>' ^;7» ^" .^'V^ ' ,' i;^^^!, ;,„d Mr. W.lk.r, to go with a
„f Winnipeg and the preiiiier o the l''''^'"^^'^. ';'.;, i,,„,',,f- the ra.ifie Itailwny. Our party
.hnotingUty to .Nleadow Lea the hell we, ein t,^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
hudanpecial train placed at Us .lispu.al, ;'»"''^ '^'l ^ ' , f.,i,'',p„rt. On the way the road
the courtesy of Mr. Uyan, the '■•"""■''f';,,,^^ ,' ,, 1 „,t Mr. (•■••.vlard, who went
c osses some good ,lry land and a f •-;',' ..''t,';,, .boiit eight y,:ns. He considcrn
out from Cornwall, England -"■ V'^^; 'j' ,^ ', ' ' 't^^ 1 he summer, and put it down n pails ;
that catile-f^irmiMg pays best. \1^ ''X,' ; \ " it' ,,,f,„.eh,.nd for Is. Old. per lb. Not so bad
he was taking it to \N inn.pe. where he ad s I ^ ^^^^ ,,,^, , „^, ,,,
I thought, where good laud ca o ad ■ ,.f„, i ,,,,, „„t time hero to go into a
t^Z i£:; lit! sS'u:;t K^K^i I.ut ro.wa.d at the rate of nearly a nn.e a day
with comparatively few men.
Without nianure-vms i ,iuiw oeiievuo, .... ;r',,;rj,K.,.aUs sprke last yea.-, showed me a field
Mr.McBeth. a genUeni.an of ^''V'" ^;f,^',,.'"^tl which sUl cMiUiuu d p.oduetive, b« ho
otf which he had taken r-O crops wuli. . t '^^^^^^^^^ Ur.t. Ho ^aid he oi.ce rcpod 4$
admitted that it would not :,'>o^. Uie uci* 1^
bushels of wheat per acre oil his f.i.n. ,. , , 4_i,,,„„i,K,red the V.cd Kivcr land the '"" ' f'"^;
Tosumuptheii, liefoiel.aviugt.nsili.-tiici i' " ' ....,„«„,,.„.., ,.ne iv.nnot
Verv .0.1 i-e .lone bv pii^ate i-livi;b,:ds. a., the Oov..n...^ a;^ 'llini^^^SVS: wlu
dia nive works. AVI,, ,. th,. so. .s too wet Y'.' , 'h vo.ks u'ry li^^ht and friuble. I'.ut I must
clean itself, but when it is in prop.^^ '^■"' '" " ^l^ an n.^r ei. ■!:h, it really camv.t be
s V tl ■ t wh.m he land is dry, as it h alou- the "^-' :"'! "^", ,,,i„„ „f f,u-ming th.TO would
':ZX^U. production. . I •;;^'-':St;::^^:fl^ \;;riir^.ow.ver, ^dlen all th 1^
be little difFicultv in growing 10 ' > -^ ''(^''J^V , praiiie-s where you can J.ek l.xnd -.f "'1 ^^^^
consi.ler.:d I think 1 should r'V ;'^\'''' ,\\ ; u .' a , and ciui be worked in any k-ui "f ^"-^^^''^
»-" *- ^\S::^^ ^iS-Stll;: u", iiof ^Jtter .piality ^^ ^„^^
""'■; K;:^- ar^w::;:^ ai tub .s tha.. a,, hun.ig.aut --^i-'j ;^;;:;;u l:;;. p.np.es.'^ tw^
♦t„„,..h this is cenerallv onlv local, the water i.s »"-""';•" '.^ ^,.,„,,.,. ,,„„Is have dried that were
I^nS?^ u^^ the lied Kivor ^•..llev. 1 l>^-,seei phv.^» , X fair water ca,. behad by
^r em^iUdwith alkali h.oking "'- ^""Y;^'^-,,,^'^,^ ^. go.^l spriup,.. Woc^is scarce
0"'.™ ™'- ,. ^ ---Ttwelv^^fc(t.UM;p,and...M..'K>pK.u^^^^ phu.is, but along tho nycrs
:a;iU:^.:^mi„;onthenat,.al,.airi.u.^,a.Kl^
;:! SSe:ja^S,^d tl^ idS..o tS i^..n v^> ^,0 1 ^-y-::^^r:;St^TL
' "^f ,;rr.:'e.,s,,i that this br.uich IS '^'^^l'^^''^""'-/,,, „, f„ ,,l,.u"hiru4, as it does not
nnn^ ,1^ aii ml^^Uhout .rnicU oapU.l Tuey ^'^^^ .^^.^ l^eji... hovse. wonldp, y
hoi.ies Used m most pavt'' ot J.n Jaiia
lis
Mr. (ir"ii/r Hr'ilir!'!.'* Ih jnfL
\\\\ i-ivu v.'.n u list of nricoMof cnttlo «hich wbn provMcil n'u by Mr. rurt. a hor«c anr
[leaWrof Winnim- : I'nir (jia.lo twn.yoivroM helfor-, from £4 to £5 cnch ; f»Ir Kra^i'
contlnuo for a luny tin..j L. oinc, there will pruU.ibly lio ii htrontf d.-mand for horoo.«, which will
kfop up thi.' pi icu.
I will
three year-old hriforn, .p.inR down, i;r, to iT ; cows m calf, or with calves ninnii.K with the .,
Xti tr. £10 ; workiii',' oxen, il'io to inn per -i^in ; ffiir Kood horses, i20 to X.W each ; r<"«ii;»:i5
to Xl5-au.rft.;e al.ont ,tlO. iV.f i. worth IM. to .Id. per 11.. in the eareane ; mutton, abjMit r.d.
rei lb. ; butter and rh.<xe, i)e;tilv a-^ much a., tlu-v are here ; milk selln in the towns at 2jd, per
'mart. ' Thene prices a.^ree with tlio.e ^iven me by mo'^t of the farmers.
(Jovernnunt land (i.e. Itailwav laud.) can be bought at from Is. 'id. to i.1 per aero, accordlni{
to distance from the I'Hcifie Uidhvny. Ooud laud near Winnipeg, Lmerson, IVrtagoda-lVairie,
horse.-, and Is. a ohoe for resettins. All th.^ l;d,..urers I talked with say that good men have
no ditlicidty in Rtttinj; work, but tiiey have to work hard. . ,, . „ :i i
With riard to the capital reipured to make a start in farminj,'. it if. Rcnerally con. dered
that a man with a clear £100 when he gets there can make a g.-,.d start on the free-«rant lands,
and instanccB are not unknown where men have started without anything-they hava takeu up
grants, built, houses and cultivated a little to keep up their ehiuu and have worked for wai;cs
in the meantime. But I should certainly advise anyone to take all the capital he can Uy hold
of, the more the better, and if th-iy have more than they wish to invest in farming, it can be
let on L'ood l.ind seouritv at S or 10 per cent, interest. . „ ,. ,, ku
A settler will find .rillieulties to cuteiul with during the first two or three ye.ara. After
that, and when he has f;ot aivu.tomed to the Country and its ways, ho may live as comfortably
as he can here. If he be a man uiihoul much capital and takes up frec-^rant land, no natter
how L'ood that land is, it is in the natural state without house or fences, and as t .ere ,s
reuUv no money actually scattered about on it, it staiuls to re.-.son that he cannot cet a;iy hins
out of it witlirmt spending a considerable amount of labour. Ihcro is a hoiue to budd, but this
at first is built of w.,..d, and is put up very quickly, especially if he can Ret a native Ca.ia|^^ian or
two to help him, which they are always ready to do j they understand buildiiiL' ood house.s
and if they have the wood got to the placu thoy will erect a decent house in a '■ <. The hr.,t
year he does not yet much crop off his land, ami lie spends it principally m king, that is
JCUI lie >"to /,. n, _ I „•„., „„.l l.onUaott nrr n iilllk fliin les ( eel) 111
and backsettinff ab(uit foui
t
is
lies deep in
pre-eui
£1 or £1
three
plouL'hins' the sod up two ini lus thick in the spijn,L,', - - . ,
the m.tuiiin if he is going in fur ploughing. If he is goinc! to rai.e catt e he will be building b. ds,
Btackiu'- hav. etc. But when he has been on his farm three years, got a neat house and cnltle-
sheds, with'a good stock or a lot of land under crop, he mav live very eoinfortably, and wil have
no harder to xvoik than hero. His 160 acres of li.id that he got or a £2 fee, aivl his lt,0 aerc
ntion that he got for ei-ht or ten shillings per acre, will in all probability bo worth
tl 10- per acre, and thus ho will have made £320 or more, indejiemlont of his crops, in
years Ills land is his own abiiolutclv, he has no runt to j.ay, and very light taxes.
Aiuai'i with m,n-e capital, of course, can ,lo greater things. All this depends "po" *''«
mail himself. If he is not prepared to face a few hardships and a little isolation at (list, ho
will never like the North-West; but perhaps he would never like anywhere. _ A reui.isite
iiuality to fit a man for emigr.ition to Canada is the power of adaptability to circumstances.
Everything is a little different to what it is at home, and there arc inany new things to learn.
The best idan for an imiuigr.aut is to make the acquaintance of a few old farmers, who will teach
'""oli7*of'tL''w3'\ufficuUies the immigrant has to contend with at first is the bad roads
which in spring are very soft, and in some places almost impassable ; but it must be borne m
rnind that there are no highway rates, and that as the countiy gets settled arid divided into
municipalities, the ro.ids are suio to be seen to-iiow it is nobody s business. There >" » S^^it
difference of opinion as t<. which is the beet time of the year to go ; early spring would be the
best but for the difficulty of trinait : but on the whole I think August is the best, at any rate for
^'^^ThVoccaTionTwiits of locusts is a thing that requires mentioning, but there were none when
I was there, and there have not been for about five years, and the farmers who have expericucetl
them do not appear to fear them much, as their ravages are generally only local, and at the worst
are not near so bad as thev are in the Western States of America, their natural breeding-place.
They are not at present troubled by the Colorado potato beetle, the weevil in wheat, and the pea
beetle, which is found in the United State.s and Eastern Canada.
The weather, while I w.-vs there, was very pleasant on the whole, though the settlers all said
it was miusually wet for that season of the year. The air was generally very dry, and I never
enjoyed better health in my life. I was told that the winter commences in November and ends
fiboxit the middle of April or beginning of May ; it is generally continuous frost all .hrough, aivl
J.
1
fi.r horso*, uli!--!) will
Ml-. Turt, a hnrnc iml
£5 t\-ich ; fttir ^farlo
BH ruimiiiK with them,
jC'HO I'.ich ; poiiii's .t'tj
inuttiiii, iibfiiit r><|.
thi' towtiH nt 2J(I, iHT
1.1 per acip, nccorilin:,'
'11, rnrtagflnl'riiiric,
inniith, with hoaiil all
wipikn thpy pay Om, to
H'h. per day. (IdoJ
•1(1. ft shoe for Bhiiciiiy
that good men have
H pcncrally coiwiderud
ti till! free-grant hindd,
;— they hava tnkru tip
lavo worked for wiiijtN
.•apital he can lay hold
in farming, it can be
r throo years. After
ay live us comfortably
•fjrant land, no riatter
ce-<, and as t'leio is
c cannot Ret anythinji!;
oiui! to build, but thin
t a native Caaadian or
liuildiiu' lod hoiisL'.s,
a ill a ■ <. The first
lly in l^inff, that in
lit foiu lie.s deop in
: will 1)0 building phedg,
neat houeo and c.illle-
iforlably, and will hivvo
2 fee, and his IGO atro
1 probability bo worth
eiulont of hi.-i crops, in
.•iiid very light ta.\<>>,.
his depends upon Mio
le isolation at iii'Kt, hu
lywhere. A re(|iii..iito
ility to circumstances.
y new things to learn,
farmers, who will teach
it first i.s the bad roads
jut it must be l)orne in
ettled and divided into
ness. There is a great
ly spring would be the
he best, at any rate fur
; there wore none when
who have experienced
local, and at the worst
latural breeding-place.
1 in wheat, and the pea
igh the settlers idl said
T very dry, and I never
in November and ends
8 frost all ihroush, au'.l
.'i/r. ( II 1)1 If' lln'ifcrirk'A J{ip<)il.
ll.»
ooc.inlonally reachen an cvtivnie d''','rro of cold. During' last wiiitrr, wlileh wan exceptionally
Huvere, the Ihi rinomi.ter oiici' or twice pot il-wii to about 18' or fiiV below zero ; but I saw a
re;{i.<ter which ;,'<'iier.illy ran^'ed from 10 above to lo ImIow zero, Til" summer comes nn very
i|iiii.kly, and is hot enough to grow any kind of grain an 1 ro.itei'.>p-i, and will ripen tom.atoos.
I find that I shall have to cut my mport much sh'>rtcr than [ had intended. I iiitonded to
have gone into the details of sheip. breeding, which I Is'lieve might be made to pay r.xtrem'ly
well. I might have spoken of the wild deer, the prairie eliicken.n, and immenne amount of game
that I saw, ami have described the lleil Uiver carts, which are niaile of wood, witlioiit a particle
of iron about them. 15ut I must proceed with my journey. I left Winnipeg on the "^th Sept ,
tA alniiit sovun o'clock in the morning ; and to give you some ide.-t of the vast extent of the lie I
Uiver Valley, I travelled all that d ly and night, and well into thi- next in irniiig, (n almost a
Htraight lino without noticing a rise of three feet all the way. I came by way of Ciiicago to
Toronto In Ontario, where I stayed a few days.
I visited Hamilton, lirantford, and the How Park farm ; there is Komu good Innil about
there, which is nearly all cultivati'd. The land around ISrantfoi-d and Uow I'aik es]H;cially is
good. The Chii'f feature of interest alxiiit Uow Park is the world-famed herd of shorthorns,
about 300 in number. I think we hava as good cattle in England, an<l perhaps in Wensleydale,
ns any they have, liut the special feature of the Mow Park herd is their uniform high cjuality.
Looking through their large and commodious sheds is like going through a show-yard. They
have scarcely a failure in the whole herd. Their system of cultiv ation, too, is an example to
the surrounding farmers, and shows what Canailian land can do. I believe good land with
buildings can be bought in Ontario for from jCO to .t'15 per aero. I shall not diviOl long on th^
part of the country, as Kome of the other delegites have been so thorouj;hly over it. '' '*'
I next wont on to ItcUi-ville, a small t«wn on the Bay of Qiiiiite on Lake Ontario, ai ; was
there shown over a cheese factory l>y Mr. (Jrahum, the pre'-idciitof th(! Ilairy .Vtsoeiulion. They
make some excellent eheose there, and it was selling ut 65s, per cwt. Mr, (iraham thoroughly
understands cheese-making. They have Dairy Associations in Canada, and each factory sub-
scribes a certain sum of money, augmented by a subsidy from Oovcrnmont, with which they
engage men to study the procfss of cheenemaking, and go through the factories to give Instruc-
tion. The factory at I'elleville is worked on the co-operative principle ; each farmer's milk is
measured, and he receives a proportionate share of the profits of the cheese. The expenses of
manufacturing amount to Jd, per 1' ., and the collection of the milk lays on another \A. per lb,,
making the total cost Id. Chec.-making at 05s. pays very well.
I next went on to Kingston, a town built principally of limest(me, at the lower end of Lake
Ontario. From there I went by boat down the St. Lawrence to Montreal. T went this way for
the purpose of seeing the Thousand Islands and the scenery of the river. The Thousand I.-dands
are at the head "f the river or the foot of the lake . but their number is more like two or tliico
thousand. Thi .ire mostly covered with trees, the foliage of which were in their bright autumn
colours ; some •■! the smaller ii-lands looked like pots of (lowers set in the water. Some of them
are rocky, and the effect was very exquihito as wo went winding amongst them.
Montreal is a city of about 150,000 inhabitants. It has some very fine limestone residences
and buildings. The V'iudsor Hotel is almost equal in finish to any in the world. One of the
chief features of Montreal is Mount Royal, a high hill that st.ands up almost perpondioularly
behind the town. From the top a view in every direction for 100 milos can be had ; it is a
public park.
I went on to Compton, in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. It is rather a pretty country,
and there is some good land. I visited Senator Cix;hrane's farm, and saw his celebrated herd of
shorthorns. He has some very good cattle. Ho has one cow the progeny of which has biought
him jfc:20,000. Ho has some very good Shropshire Down sheep, and r.ays ne likes this breed of
sheep the best of any he has tried. I noticed some good turnip^, and he says he can grow three
tons of hay to the acre. I came back to Sherbrooku, still in the East.^in Townships. It is a
prettily situated town, with some good residences. I was shown round by Lieuteii.ant-Coloncl
Ibbotson. Good farms can be bmi«,ht in tho Kastern Townships at from i'l to jEC jier acre.
I ne.xt went to Halifax, Nova Scotia. I visited the districts of Windsor, the Annapolis
Valley, and the districts around Truro and Colchester. All these are large valleys, up the bottom
of vi-hich the tide rises a long way. There has been a great deal of land reclaimed from the sea,
which is known as d> kc land. It lies below high-water mark. The tide hivs been banked out.
The soil is composed of a very fine reddish silt of indefinite thiekne:<s, which has beet) deposited
by the tide. It is perhaps equal to any land in Amcricr- for production. The tides come up the
river with great force, and bring up a great deal of mud. Many farmers cart the mud into tl'eir
higher land for manure. Adjoining the dykes is generally a belt of good dry land known as
intervale. It is of a sandy red soil, very similar to tho red land in the Eden Valley of West-
moreland. Above this, on the mountains, is red sandy land, not so good, and generally covc^d
%vith wood. Cohmcl Blair, Mr. Longworth, and others, at thr mstig.ition of Dr. Clay, called a
meeting of fanners at Truro, for the purpose of giving me 'lie opportunity of asking questions
and hearing their ophii(ms about farming in the district, and the prospects of immigr.'xnts.
There were n great many conflicting statements made, from which I drew the general conclusion
it
Ill
Mr, George Broderich't Report.
tliat the soiling,' juice of Jyko land U from £10 to £60 per acre, and in n few instancen it had
Hi.UI as hiyh um .tSO. The intervale land could be bo\ight for from £2 to £1G or £20 per acre,
according to (piality, and uncleared wood land from 28. to £1 per acre.
It was generally agreed that dyke land will grow from twr) to four tons of hay per aero, and
has done it in noino cases for generations without manure. COO to 1000 bushels of turnips, and
from 200 to 430 bushels of potatoes can be grown to the acre, and fair crops of cereals. Apples
grow to great perfection in some parts of the province — as to this I can add my own testimony,
having seen the trees almost laden down and the ground strewn with their fruit. They were
selling at from 4s. t(j Ss. per barrel of 2^ bushels. It was generally agreed that n man should
have considerable capital to start farming in Nova Scotia, as it dcjes not pay to borrow money at
oi- 8 jier cent. It is considered tlint cattle-farming pays best, especially sinco the English
ir.arket has become available for tlieir b<f-f. In this rcispect they have a groat advantage over
Oiitniic) and the Western States, tlie inland carriage being lighter. Ik'et sells in Nova Scotia
at 4d. to 5d. per lb. in the carcase. I spent a few days witli Air. Simpson, the manager of the
Drunimond Colliery, at Westville, Nova Scotia. I went through the colliery ; the seam is 16
feet lliick of the very best coal, and it looks more like a quarry than a coal-mine. There arc
other two seams liel<i\v, one 10 feet and the other 6 feet thick. I was told that the Albion mine
close by is 32 feet thick. Mr. Simpson drove me round by Pictou Harbour in sight of Green
Hill, where there is some very good land. Of the Eastern provinces I think Ontario and Nova
Scotia are the best farmed. I was favourably impressed with the Eastern Townships, where I
believe good lanil is the cheapest. Nova Scotia certainly has a great advantage in being nearest
the English market. I noticed especially that the fann-houaes of Canada generally are decidedly
better than the farm-houses in England. I have met scores of farmers in Ontario and the lower
provinces who went out originally from England or Scotland v/ith scarcely anything, who have
( loared and cultivated perhaps 200 or 300 acres of land, and are now living in houses equal to any
in Hawea. Society is a little different in Canada to what it is here. There is not nearly so
much caste as in ^ 'land. The Canadian people are very sociable. A man takes a position
tliere according to n.s personal merits and conduct rather than to his wealth, though I should bo
far from saying that wealth has no influence. The Canadians are very loyal to the English
Crown, in fact, far more so than the English themselves, and I never met a man who advocated
Bccession from tlie Empire. A story was told me at Belleville of an American who came into
an hotel there, the Dafoe House, and proposed a toast not very coniplimcntary to her Majesty
the Queen, lie was allowed to drink his toast in silence, but he shortly afterwards left the
house minus many fr '.gmt.its of clothing, and has not been seen around there since.
Though I have in many cases given my own opinion, I wish you to rely upon the facts and
informati ■'n I have jiven, and your own judgment, rather than be guided by mine, as people
don't all think alike ; but if I had to give any advice as to the class of people best suited to
emigrate, I shoidd say the farmer's son who has been brought \ip with a good knowledge of
fanning, is not unaciiuuinted with work, and can get together a little capital, might improve his
jM.-^iticm by guing to C'anaela, and stand a good chance of becoming wealthy. His occupation at
Imme too frequently is siiemling the first half of his life in making repeated applications for
faiiiiK, and not getting one till his best days are spent, and when ho luvs got one perhaps he only
makes a bare living tlie rest of his life. In Canada he can certainly get one any day. The
labourer may dn well, but hi; will have to go out to the North-West, where he can get free-grant
lands and where wages arj much higher than in the older provinces. A man with capital can
Well either in the North-West or in the older pro\inces. Middle-aged men, of this class
especially, will probably like the older and more settled provinces best, and I should not advi
null with mciiiey, unless they wish to make more very fast or are fond of a rough life, to go
the Noitli-West. However, to make anything out in the older provinces certainly requires
good (leal <if capital, and a man who has not got this will make more money and live easier '
the North-West. (ientlemen's sons who may have had a good education but have no acquaint
aiiee with business or work, and are without money, are not of much use in Canada ; nor ar«
l;idglo\ed farmers, unless they have a sr.perabiiiidance of wits, which is not always the case.
The best guarantee .'<f success is the fact that so many have already succeeded. I cou
instance scores who started with scarcely anything, who faced the forest and had to almost he
a farm out of Wood, as it were, Init who are now well off. How much better chance the
has a man going out into the prairies now, where ho may drive a plough for miles withou
obstiiieti...!, and where tlie land is better than ever it was in the forest? There is yet auothei
consideration in his favour— nearly all the good wild land of the United States is taken np,
that the great emigration that is going from Kuropc, and the natural increase of the fifty million
of people of America, will be driven into the fertile fields of the North-West of Canada. Th
result will probably be such a rush and an enterprise as was never before known on the continen
of America ; and it is (piite possible that young men who buy land now at a few dollars an acr(
may live to see it worth £10 or £20 per ncre.
I strongly deprecate the statements that have been made by many, that the land in Canad
will bear cropjiing for ever without n"".nure ; that in fact in Manitoba 'i\ is altogether iinnecei
aary, aud would be foolish to npp'" manure to the laud. l\'ow, notbing can be more absurd tha
iaa
mm
and in a few instances it had
in £2 to £16 or £20 per aero,
3re.
four tons of hay per acre, and
1000 bushels of turnips, and
fair crops of cereals. Apples
I can add my own testimony,
1 with their fruit. They were
vlly agreed that a man should
;'s not pay to borrow money at
;, cKpcciaily since the English
liavu a !,'rcat advantage over
er. Boof sells in Nova Scotia
Simpson, the manager of the
li the colliery ; the seam is 16
than a coal-mine. There are
was told that the Albion mine
ou Havbiivir in sight of Green
nces I think Ontario and Nova
le Eastern Townships, where I
•eat advantage in being nearest
Canada generally are decidedly
rmers in Ontario and the lower
;h scarcely anything, who have
)w living in houses equal to any
here. There is not nearly so
liable. A man takes a position
his wealth, though I should bo
are very loyal to the English
.ever mot a man who advocated
of an American wlio came into
complimentary to her Majesty
he shortly afterwards left the
arouiid there since.
you to roly upon the facta and
. be guided by mine, as peojilc
;he class of people best suited to
t up with a good knowledge of
little capital, might improve his
iig wealthy. His occupation at
aidng repeated applications for
1 he has got one perhaps he only
ert.iinly got one any day. The
'est, where he can get free-grant
CCS. A man with capital can do
Middle-aged men, of this class
ea best, and I should not advise
ire fond of a rough life, to go to
jr provinces certainly requires a
:e more money and live easier in
education but have no acquaint-
much use in Canada ; nor are
which is not always the case.
Lvc already succeeded. I could
he forest and had to almost hew
How much better chance then
rive a plough for miles without
lie forest ? There is yet another
he United States is taken up, so
tural increase of the fifty millions
he North-West of Canada. The
er before known on the continent
land now at a few dollars an acre,
y manv, that the land in Canada
.lanitoba i* is altogether unnoceS"
uutl'ing can be more absurd thau
r
Ml'. Gennje Brndcrkk's liqwyf.
115
thi.. It is apparent everywhere in the older provinces of Canad.i ,nnd 'he L n.t^d States that
the land is being ruined by this s.v..tcm. There is a great deal of land that at fust grow f,m
30 to 40 bushels of who.it per acre, but will not now grow a crop sufficionl to pay expense, .< id
artificial manures k- e now to be reso.-ted to. I believe the wheat crops in the Eastern Stales
of America do not average 15 bushels per acre. . , ^t- i ♦!,, irh, »,.,>;„„
I Bailed from Quebec on the 6th November, and arrived at Liverpool on the 16th, haMUg
been away nearly four months. . .,,..■ i. i u , , r, o,.
I was not sick either wav, .ind I can assure you that crossing the Atlantic .s imt half so f<a..
ful as many suppose ; in. ed, it is really a pleasure. 1 looked thio.iHh ll'o s t. , n.^o '!"•'> ''■;;;
the ship, the Sarmalkni, of the Allan Lino, mid T thought the accolumudation, the food, .uiU
the treatment of the pas&cngcrs very good for the luoiuy.
SIR. nnoiiKnicK on tanapa.
' I nni told th.it it was a most interosting gathering wliloli the oilier ni-ht n.scniMed at
Hawes, crowding the lartjost room in the villnge, to hear the report of Mr. Lindeiiok. Tins
gentleman, some months'ago, was i-.ppointed the delegate of the Weiisleydale farmers, to go and
inspect Canada with a view of ascertaining its fitness for emigration. So many f.ilsphoods liavo
been concocted and promulgated in regard to various parts of the Dominion, that the independent
testimony of an able man like ISIr. Brodcrick should be extremely acceptable and valuable.
Indeed, irrespective of opinion, the facts and figures embodied in the report (which this paper
publishes) shoidd be carefully perused bv all interested in agriculture. TJic question is returning
to public notice with great force. Ws are likely to have m.any comments upon it in the future,
and any opportunity of increasing our store of information upon the subject should not bu
neglected, especially when the weakness as well as the strength of the country is so ably dene.n-
strated. The figures in regard to the value of stock, the price ' .' moat, wnges, etc., will
surprise many of 'our humdrum tillers of the soil.'—DarUnfifon and t- oclUon Times, January 1,
1881.
TllK KF.rORT OF MR. JOHN SAGAR,
0/ WiuhUwjhn, near Clithcroc, Lancashire.
f f Atr ^n.rar of WaiUliiiirton, the gentleman who in May last went to CanaJa m
farmers.'— P/e««OH Giianlian, December 18th, IbbO.
Tri°Si:i'of"rhe^'anner?:fTf district held in Clithcroe, in May last, at the instance
of th^So'^tSof^C^i, Ihad the honour of being ^ele^ted^a^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^
*^?^rh7"rmC teUlrnXc^'mv'^^^^^^^
p"4!,rtS7 whicf^'l^not ihc'united SUte«f To account for this, several causes have
^"'r-rtirfiit Place many people have gone out to join their friends ; and I have heard it
,8 solarge, our paity had tobe^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^.^^ ^j ^^^^^ 200,000 square nnle.,
puMiKhed with my own, so that anyone interested can obtain copies at the Canaoian uo%eiu
•"'"T'n\w'nr>i;e!^'Vn"'hxM-ou my idea, about Ontar o. I may here say that I was allowed
Pn- the c^VaS^lfs^^^i-of ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^Jl^tnTr^ir- e°n]<J:;:ii
s TiT^dVt^r^rrs^mrof^t^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^•>«/— ^^ ^^^ '-
"•^^'S :^t:^:T:^:^tu^:^. m ..1. bow Quebec, did not s.em to m.
J
.GAR,
i.st went to Canada ai
of farmers and others,
tliure were about fifty
•apes Lane, who, aftur
t of which it treated.
Rev. W. L. Roberts,
raharae, Agent of the
leeting concluded with
legate of the Clithuroo
!ay last, at the instance
nir delegate to proceed
lity for the settlement
ition the circumstances
i. For many years a
i Ireland, the greater
his, 8e\eral causes have
1 ; and I have heard it
lassages of a very largo
1 of the idea that the
3 almost always wintry
ere opened up recently,
;ate9 of America. But
airios greater in u;:tent
Americans themselves,
ribe Canada— in which
light before those who
I farmers to visit the
sition and capabilities,
lei-sonally, as I did not
fined our inspection to
irts ; but as the country
horoughly investigated ;
Lit 200,000 square miles,
:ratand that the reports
68 will be printed and
; the Canadian Govern-
say that I was allowed
■iccution of my iiujuiries.
o the Allan Royal Mail
lays of the voyage being
iccommodation on board
every way an enjoyable
rd. They neemcd to be
bee, did not seeiti to mi
.M'l: John Sn'jai'.i Hiiiorf.
117
to ])(i-!sc'SH any attraptiv
(Jneb'-'C it a-ioiniiL.l a 1
althou-h I oniM oiily j
• t.atuiLS for the cvo of the agriculturist, but about 30 uiiks from
It r aiM.Laranco, ii'nd I should say there is some fair land there,
1.V thn view obtained from the deck of the steamer. Wc stajod
nltliniiTh I CdUl' o'! V 111! "■.' hvtie View ouuuiieu uuiu mu nv^vi^ >-. „..«.. — .. — .. _^ - -.- Y
fi Q ie ot.;; the S-^n^.y a.vl th.n went „.n to Montreal, the largest city >" the Domm.on
witli a population of ab.i.t 150,000. It is picturesquely situated on an sland on the t^t.
Lawrence, and at the b;uk of it rises INlount R.-yal, from which a beautiful view of the oily
and he Hv T I obtaiu..l. I do not know a plnce <■( its size which contains so many hne busm.^s
Mings ami h:uidson.o residences. The quays and wharves are considerably over a 'nde lo u.
and L'reat ocean-Roing steamers of -1000 tons burden can be moored alongsi,le. I am to M
that duriiV 1879, 289%teamers arrived at the port, and 323 sa ling vessels, and that dun,,.,
the present year the numbers have largely increased. Indeed, the people .are hoping tlv .
whcn'^the present system .,f canals is enlargJd (tlie woric is now in oper.i lou) a large proiM^rtm,
of L L^n^rand ^ther produce will find "its way from the Western states of America and
of &«ia<la through this p.nt, f,>r not only is tlie distance from Chicago to Mon «al less o>
r,0 mi •Tthan fT-om Ch cam to New York, but there are Iti more locks and SO \ feet more
l.Kia"ebv thTlaUer route Urm the former; and the distance from Montreal to Liverpool is
MOmiles'less than from New York, which should mean cheaper transit.
'° Wo we, t t!, Ottawa, the apital ol the Dominion, and saw Mr. }'-y'-^^^^\r^''^^ ° ,, \^
Deuartment of A.'riculture. After some conversation, it was decided that Mr. Curtis and 1
3d?e'^rt u;',n ()ntario. as l,efore stated; Mr. Broderlck of Wensleydalo, and Mr. Inirie
nf (Jl.is.'ow (loin" Manitoba and tin; Nortll-West.
Fn,m O a a 4 proceeded westward, and visited a large number of townships towns,
II 111 vjiuiu.v , _ .. jj purpose to
and villages in
the dilTerent counties. I do nol
think it will servo any good purpose t'l
de<cr irfn do .il each farm and e.ach district I visit 1. I m.y eay that we made loronto,
liam Li and Lnnlm our headquarters, and journey, d into tlie country from these centres,
ip^opose'io live a short description of each, and to finish with a few general remarks, more
or less amilicalilo to the whole province. i .■ « „i ,i. en r\r-n
Toronto is the m'incipal city in the west of Old Canada, and has a population of about 80,000.
It is rb "v tlid h " lace, possesses many fine buildings, schools, colleges, and a public parlc,
am the inh'ab lants%di.'' principally Ei.dish by birth or by descent it is more British m it.
v^sit was o M^s Le ie and Sons' Nursery at Leslieville. Unfortunately the proprietors were
f iwi home but under Mr. Kennie's pilotage we examined the orchard and ^^rubbeiy near the
oiiso There was a magnificent collection of dahli.as ; the pear-trees were loaded 'l»vn with
fru t the e M.t of whicli was actually breaking the branches ; a magnificent sr.ruco hedge to
he we't of the house intercstea me 'very much. The next Toint of into-est was Mr Sim
Beattie's farm on the Kennedy Road, where a fine crop of m="'o«l« ^"^^ t^^" «' itnttieTs know
turnips and other root crops indicated the breeder and f^^^'/V V'!, t^'";.,,^ He ;im orted ^
all over Canada and the United States as an importer of high-class cattle He impnittd som s
o the incsrcattlTand sheep at the Royal Agricultural .Show at Carlisle this year tor breeding
purtsi M ' J u2n's fan on tlie same road also called forth favourable comment, a nice
vZ°. chard with a spruce hedge along the west side as a windbreak, being espcci.ally
Sabe at next^a . was that of Mr. Glendinning, the champion quoiter '^'^1 Innvler.
Onto" oiir pari remarked that superiority at these games did no malce a Perfect arnu
^me roo s with'more than tlie aveiuge quantity of ^^l^^'^'^-'^^'^fj^-^':^^^^^
scufftin- at the proper season; however, on the whole, this farm lad not ' ''^^ .-'l;,' ^'\'^"^^;
and s' defects lould not have been bo noticeable but for its P'"^f "Y, '" ""1 in ood con
farms of Scarboro', that of Mr. Andrew Young. The l^'-f''tl"^f '' , J^te 1 Jhe ca're ul and
dition,good orchard slielteied with a handsome pine wind-break, al '^™°*';|,;''° ^* ^'7, ,,^^f
entorpi^ing fanner. Mr. Y..iiv nakcs spec ahlics of,Ayr.lnre catUu and C^ l^dak o^
1
, Idi and building! of Ml'. Andrew Hood, the pn^e plougliman.
wV^l, levelled a Dortion of his woods a few vears since, bro.iglit up the subjeet .i oxui._ -Ml.
ugly team of o.xen, obstim.lj .and hard to manage, and said to hini :
' I'rienil vou aiehavinsja hard time wilii your oxoii .' , ,
The dH;ei saUl w\lh a'si.h, ' Yes, I cam. out here a religion, man, but I am now persuaded
that no man car. remain religious and driveoxcu. ^.,rc<^^< ;it
:Mr. R.-unie, who !iui much exiierieiice with oxr.i, and w.is at one time note..! toi u,. s.icc,-
.. ar.nnri >■■ i
U'
J!-i
1'
j^g ilfr. John Sagar's Report.
wore very finoljin.".!^^^ be 275 lb, before they st-i. growing, ko
;r« !i.r.,S:t;r:'ihrLrtri%.-i Ml -nd., '„.>;.* a. .. much d.,»g« ...
'^"^VVet:lTon:e"J4- rt^MflU^^^^^^^^ where we viewed his flock of South Dow^
Hhorthoin., with 'Driti^h Statesman,' ar> nnported bu U^ "M^l^u sel luasSOO ^ e. here anS
ZtZ^^t^'^::i'X^^'^ lot of animal. Son. of the calve. ..ro very
r'o f!:!^^^^s(^i^^£^l^^'^^ "f^ the Dn,nini.,n, whieh gives an idea o.' what can
!::d",t:t"t£w:v;';fg;owiS roots m II m-ovince. I «haU have to mal-.e some ren.a^ks on tins
subject later m : Cix^.,y,^n farmiiw which astonishes agriculturist.^ from the old country
th. raising of fine root-crops for feeding ^atUe ^v, '1 l^^' - ''■■^'^'^'-^ '^^;„^.i ,^„,,,i g„ ^r beets.
"™-M. i;. Stock, „, E'.*£,t'lr" r"sf cs.: ~&r"» sS*, TS'sr^
lo»g red mangels, one of ^^'' ^"^ ;;,Vl, '.:'.; , f Jl kh is ilS lb.; six swede turnips, two of
"^^a^l^/SZ&y ^^f:^:^',:::;::^n:l^^ turnip, white and red carrot.
Kt
Mr. John 8ugai-\s Hipoii.
119
1
a mistaVe to Biipposo
nn. By uniform kind-
1 horses.
(linnoi. This farm is
of the honne, in what
t of tlie routs which he
beet, etc, growing here
nil fp-owth), mammoth
; they 8t(i> growing, ho
t can be done in fancy
iinary cultivation, gave
ill my life.
lU bred sow. He con-
do grain crop is stowed
it in 17 years' fai-ming
ho had one year an
orth of the honso, is
i, which will not only
io so much damage to
k. hedge of wild apple-
Gibson, a g<iod farmer
luod, jun., whoso farm
copy ; of Mr. William
hole way romid his 120
his flock of South Down
ms and principally from
pure Ijred. Mr. Marsh
rich land it might be cut
cniting. He took nine
izes last year,
m llussell. Mr. James
as the best anim.al, male
^h, one bronze, and one
hoithorns. Ho has now
ition at its head ; also 35
le herd. Also some'very
has 300 acres here and
lent condition. Some of
ewe, 345 lb. ; 3-year-old
eds of sheep, and it was
iv;t for the best wool and
turned out into 'he yard
e of the calvea .■. trc very
be out of pla'ie for me to
the Toronto \\'<ekhj Mail
,fivcs an idea oi' what can
lalio some remaiks on this
rists from the old country
if good farming consists in
tliore are no fanners like
-igcl wiirzels, sugar beets,
!y have ever seen before.
lis fact, and knowing that
)ots, instituted some years
iiibition of roots as well as
1 the whole exhibit is now
to be placed on exhibi-
which may be mentioned
ht on record ; red globe
ix swede turnips, two of
s, white and red carrots,
,vd wbito, and vellow onions, and parsnips. He also showed nome long red mangels, which
skiii^^faLSr^l r w,ri,!n ^^i^iSe ; i^^:^^&
■ >g ^, rtrpumpL; SghinTar lU ; and. to cap ari. a mammoth s,uash, we.gh.ug
*f5lw ;^S s^X:"i;>;i^o'u.;ups, wei,l>mg 10 lb. ^neco. Messr. George Le.ho
:S„s. of Toronto Nurs^i;^ exhibit^-^nev^ "^^^TS^Ao the c.mtry. One of the
During our stay at Hamilton >vt I ad ^l^erai j ca " ^ ^ j ; j j^ Cariock
first places we visited was the -"eyard of Mr. 2^'"f^^^'*^;'=^tho pri^riotor. vLious kinds of
Lodge-and -ore shown ove^ the mjadand^ ^P ^1 ,^^^
grapes weTo ^^'V'^^'' ' f^, *^^ .^v I had o idea that Canada was capable of growing the grapoto
laden with fruit, and I must ^as \ ' f 4 " 'V'' ^,,„,t 4^ de-rees north. This does not pomt
Huch per e=t ion -■-'j-;''i'\*J ;\\,i\^:J.: * X^^ that these grapes grow and ripen i«
to the climate Ijoiog such a toi'iwi- aiiair wiiei. . remark also applies to the
the opon air and are left unprotected '!"""« thentr. Aho^^"^';' ^^ travelling along
fniit\rees apples and X^^y^' ::^^'Z^^i^ far better than the
'^'^^?Sf -t visited Mr. Jardino. at Vin^V^e Farm^ where ^ fi-^^>;J^ J ^yrj;-^
were lot out for inspection, ami, t'^k.ng a n „a foi anm^^ ,^,,^^ ^^.j^^,^ ^^,.j
find very few to equal it. Two or three of t e an ina s ^ e o e^p y ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^
„f about forty arc-, with one ^^.^'^l'^^""' '^l^'^'^^'^^f/^.'^^'^^ .'^;Mr^'^^^^^^^ hophouse, and saw
diiTerent fairs. After viewing the cattle we ^^ tit shown "_^^'. ^ '^ j „ ,, , i,„p.j,atlierer»
some of the hops which were just ^^'-'i-' <="{;';Jj., .^f^^-^^^.X-t Mr 'jar^^ was ahead this year,
ES' puS^l:^«e 1^ttt£TS^. last of this season's produce he
harvested during the first week in August. bordorincr on I-ako Ontario, in the
Burlington, the attractive feature be"^^ an extcn no culti at^^ n ot tim .^^^^ ^ _
I^d"^r,SS^e^i^^""£r$'st:okliflg;^ltc^^ The
'-i^t^^^^:0?^%^:^ there was an orchard of
^°°KH:r^;i:cSS^o the farm. JM.^^^^
and one of the finest intli.s part o ^^"t'^""; .1*^'^"^^^ .nivhi-r at the farm, we were mot by Mr.
nearly all tlio remainder being under *'^^';^"j J,^„."";;^'^ti;st inspected the stock, of which
Fothergill i"Pf-«>^"'^^'''''fr,;f,J' ''s me 25 head of cattle wore shown, all thorough-brods,
Mr. Futlicrgill has a fine => "fctum. Some ^;' "^^^ j, ;„ .tod animals. We were then
mostly of the sliortliorn I>-"''^am breod, Z^^^-^"-'^^'' .^i, wore generally commendable,
escorted over the farm to view the grain aiul ^''''t "'1'-"' ;\"i^ ,„ the acre, while the root crops
There wore fine fields of oats and barley, P'-';":;»;"e ''::;;y \„ J't^nt, iJ^^rv^ed special attention,
were also very good. One fiel.l of t"""I'^- ff2/„",^f„ ";/;.;'; Cd, in addition, 400 lb. of
The ground had been "'-roug dy H,a„ rod .^ ^^'^ SdeKec of tliis fertiliser was seen in the
Kingston phosphate per acre liad been applied, ^l^" fe"\'i\"\^t iu value. Two rows which
resuH of an Jxrerimont wliich Mr. ]A,thergill had ";* Jj * ^^^^^^ J ^i^e e were unmistakable
had been left ^vithout the phosphate we easily ^^^^,^^^^
•^^^ur next visit was to inspect the woHd-fW Bow ^rk B^gig J^^^^
were m,t by Mr. Hope, the manager "[^\\lXvm ^mtu^U im aeils-idiich is under the
us by tlie courteous manager to inspect the ;arm--cor ipm.n^ ^.j^^jj, ^^d the produc
highest state of cultivation and "'"'fd principally v t ho veuoso^ ^^^
tion of roots for winter. The "?P " ^^"^'^ ' t,e the vide y of its families, and the purity and
1
..-,0 Mr. John Sugar's Iiq<url.
cultural CommisBion Aericultural College ami Model Fam at th.vt place,
to perRons who intend to aaopi lariiiiiife, »u « ^„„.. „i Ji .. „,,ci, so that an extension of tho
■What strikes one here is the repetition of the "?;'"f«.°f ° "/^ ^^^;';^P°'";d t^^ bridgCB ako
Park and Kensington ; the river running th^m-gh it is ^^';^„V^,\^^.'^Xtct?an;? severed fann.
^:srz^^ st:^z^s^$^^^^i--^^ ^>--^'eor p..
*""vWr"ent to thellob.onsettlemcnt and .aw good herd, of f..t -!,J.^,,; "XJ^rr/irt
acres there were 80 head, and on another 50, '"^-^--y 8;°-^^„«""t'5,'i''",;,H,^'a d'Lm thl o'st
dmmmmmmsm
'^V:T^iS'u:S^:io:::^olli^t .^ v..... There are a good many French
settSnerntlsdfshct? where the land was fairly good, though the farnnug d.*! not conie up
f n nWh standard There is some better land at Colchester, about eight miles from Kingsv He
to a high »™ ; • ,^""^^ orchards and good farm-buildings meet the eye, and I also noticed
:S good h rds At iLrpe 1 we inspected a fine farm owned by Mr. Gardiner, consisting of
m nK Booa neras. iAb ^ , ^.^^ considered a poor one. and the
tl L fovmc owne s omld not liv on it. but by proper farming it has been bn>ught i^nto good
SinJ^^timHruses salt largely as a fertiliser. Ho'has some good -,attle, some of them imported
'"'"wlT'-dso went to the farm of Colonel Desmond. 245 aero., which is in still better order
haWng alwa^rbecn well farmed. It ha.^ been in the colonel's possession over sixty years. He
'' N^tSCrr; ':i;^C£.Tir:^y of Ken, which is the centre of a fine
fanning dilrotTh"s tovvn is situated on the River Thames. We visited the farm of Mr
Kdsm which is in excellent condition and well drained. There are 26 --^cres of orehurd
Attached to the farm, and fruit was so plentiful as to be rotting on the ground. I think tho
"'"K *SS*S Kr rtS l:Z!: K"province.for its fertility or tho^anety of Us
products It stands perhaps first as a fruit-growing district, apples, pears, P^^ches Plums,
cheniesquincos, .in d grapes being produced in vast quantities. Grape culture is made a spe-
cialily by Bome persons. Svhile all the cereals grow well, Kent is one of the few counties
where a considerable area is devoted to the growth of Indian corn.
On the Lake Krie front the soil is a gravelly loam further '^•'^^k<day loam s met w.th^ and
in the northerly and easterly parts of the county a sandy loam prevails. There is a good dea of
'ery fine stoc/in the county, much attention having been P'-'iV," *''' *'p?i^:^^,f faZTrv
animals durinc lat>? Ye.^rs ; this applies to horses, cattle, sheep, .-vnd hogs. Fiicos of fauns \ary
?n m Ss i2) to 100 dollarr^£20) per acre, depending mai.dy on •""'^"^y. f ^ Vf J^^^^^^^^
of improvements effected. The lake supplies ample water navigation '^^'^ t»"\ ;\''"r; '^'^'^/f^!^
bv the Great Western and the Canada Southern EaiUvays, which cross the county trom
»orth ' .S to \outKc"t. and a liuQ is now being c.-nstructed from Eoud Eau to Chatham, theag«
.1/c. Juliii t%jar'it liqwt.
131
.IV, lheresi(ient shart-
e' British Koyal Agri-
It 1 Farm at th>it place,
jid U presided ovcrby
agricultural education
h uiay tend to the ad-
lat an extensimi of the
ur on the larm, and it
this way ; the tuition
1 town in the county of
to become a large city.
)oli9. It has its Hyde
13, and the bridges also
,rict, and several farina
itablu for arable or pas-
lo ; on one farm of 200
■DUgh the western part
.nd from there to St.
■ farms throughout this
them might almost be
4iip of Ennisliillon, the
s refined, and is already
10 mayor, Mr. Kerr, and
is true ; but in connec-
llars per acre. A good
a I was told that the
I good place for grazing
is -• -reat fniit-growing
(iry eiieap. During our '
ities to land in Canada,
a transfer is very small,
ire a good many French
irming did not come up
; miles from Kingsville,
; eye, and I also noticed
, Gardiner, consisting of
;red a poor one, and the
been brought into good
, some of them imported
is in still better order,
m over sixty years. He
2h is the centre of a fine
visited the farm of Mr.
ire 26 acres of orchard
he ground. I think the
ility or the variety of its
, pearfl, peaches, plums,
[10 culliu'o is made a spe-
one of the few counties
ly loam is met with, and
There is a good deal of
;he breeding of improved
Ts. Fricos of farms vary
n locality and t'le extent
and this is supplemented
cross the county from
I Eiui to Chatham, then«8
nurlhsvmd to IUohI.mi, and finally to S:u-nia, not only :..tci.-ectin;^ m its cuurio the two main
linos alrealy lefumd to, but v.h> oMiieeting at Sarnia with the Grand Trunk system.
On our way b.ick from Chatham to Loudon wo passed through a very fine farming di«f"ct,
tho land in the last f.u-ty miles, nearing London, being especially good. I may sUto that the
soil varies from a heavy clay to a sandy lo.im, and can ba bought at (mm i7 to 4.20 per acre,
including buildings. Tho averago production of cereals and roots is said to be as follows :
Wheat, 20 bushels ; barley, 30 ; peas, 12 ; oats, Sb ; potatoes, 100 ; turnips, 300 ; hay, IJ ton
rer acre. Tho rent of farms varies from JCiO to £80 per 100 acres. . m, . «
We next inspected the district between London and Wingliam, Huron county. The view of
the land one geuorally gets from a railway car is not very good, as the lines seem to pass through
the worst land, but in our present journey this will not apply, .-is the cmntry wo pa.ssed through
seemed to be a fertile district. We were driven around Winghain by the mayor, Mr. «. Wilson,
and Dr. Tarulin, an old resident in this part of the country. Tho land on our way to reeHwater
has only recently been cleared, as we were told, but it appeared very good l.wd. We visited the
Teeswator Rutter Factory. The butter, it was said, commands a very high price in the British
markets. We were shown a large number of packages, ready for shipinent, for which Is. 2d. per
lb. had been refused. Tho butter is not touched by the hands during its manufacture. We also
Tisited a cheese factory at this place controlled by Mr. Wilson. The cheese wa« of a very good
and uniform quality, and ought to bring a good price.
During my stay at Toronto a large agricultural exhibition was held, which I visited The
exhibits of cattle were very creditable indeed, some of the animals being e-iual to anything I
have seen in this country. A white ox and a roan one particularly attracted my attention. Iho
show of sheep also was exc.Uent, and notwithstanding the winter, which necessitates housing,
they seem to do very well. X.^ disease is found amongst them : no scab, foot-rot, or maggot ;
and this remark api^ies also to the cattle, which are allowed to enter Kigland alivo, while those
ointho United Hiates liave to be slaughtered at tho po/t "f 'l«bar.k«t.on-certainly a great
advantage to the Canadian dealers. The pigs also were of good quality. The show of cereals
niits, and roots I have rarely seen equalled. Implements also formed an attractive feature at
this show. They are lighter than those of Knglish make, and easier to work. I went to see a
S of a binder and reaj^-r, worked separately, and although it did not seem to act as .^11 as was
expected, it was considere,l to be satisfactory, and will doubt c^s be heard of ^'^o'^'n-lh" maker
was John Watson, of Avr. The mowing machines seemed to mo to be better t'^n those wo
hv.o; they are used both for hay and clover. As stated previously, I did "'.'* •'^f ^"^ "IP""
?ui ity o 4iting Manitoba, but I must not .m.it to mention the ' Manitoba Exhibit «* this show.
It gave a good idea of what that district can produce, and I shall be '"'''"'^en if my fellow-
delegates have not something surprising to say about it. I h'^i' ''^"''iy^,""''?.^ i**";* ^^
climate was something to b- avoided, but there cannot bo much the matter if tho countiy can
produce such wheat, barley, oats, and roots as I saw in Toronto. T^rnntn
I flls,. visited an agricultural show at Hamilton, which was very much like that at Toronto,
the exhibits of fruit and implements being larger, if anything. „,„„;„,„ „. nrinr*
As regards the price of lan.l, improved farms can be bought throughout the provmco at prices
ranging from 40 to 100 dollars per acre, according to the quality o he soil an.l the «tate of the
Imildings. Free-grant lauds are also obtainable ; and as to these, full information can be obtained
from tlfc Canadian Uoveinment offices in this country.
To start farming on cleared and improved land, I think a man ought to have from £700 to
£2000-tl-.e more tho better. In some of the best districts farms of 100 acres *'« Fi-jch^sable or
from £1000 to £1200, such as would cost treble the price, or more, in Eng and ; but I should
eco nmend anyone to rent a farm in the first place, until ho has time to look a''out him No
one should be in a hurry to buy. Of course, on a free grant of lan.l a very much ™f /e-^ «"«»
thafl that I have named w.miW suffice. I may mention here, as an instance of what can bo done,
t lie case of Mr. Coward, of Maple Grove, Brantferd. He has an excellent f!^-?'"- "J"^ "f joo'l a
stock of cattle as I saw in Ontario; he has twelve acres of orchard from which he realised 60
dollars in 1879 ; and grows good wheat and fine thin-skinned barley. _ He is now well off, b.^
started n a very smaU scale Mr. Stock, of Hamilton, too, started without means. Ho now
ownt a fi,^ farmfwhich his sons work ; he himself has retired These are only a sample of many
case-> I came across : but of course this success is not obtained without hard work.
ImSquiryas to why so many farms were for sale, and found that many reasons were
assigned Many of the fanners are the pioneers in their districts, and some, having a liking for
th t'sor ofWwishto sell their fanns'and go with their grown-up families to new d.stru^^
(many make their way to Manitoba), where they can get a larger tract of land at a lower cost,
mdemX their capital in developing new properties. Others have got up in years, and wish
to retT Others, Tgai", have their lands heavily mortg.aged. and owing .to he high rates o
interest charged for money, have to sell out; while others have impoverished the soil, and Jj
not care for the trouble of recuperating it. , ^ r . i t., h,« «™cf f»,o
While on this subject, I may say a few words .about the system of fai-n.ing. In the past, the
idea seems to have been 'to get'as much out of the soil a, possible, and t" I'lJ* ""^^"'K J'.^^J:
Pucgessive croj.pii.gs of wheat have been resorted to, and have naturally had tho effect of
J22 ifr. John Sagar's Report.
and stable manurohaHcv^lny^K^^^^^ Ontario f.nner.
Belf-Buppcrrting, and cnnsc-iuuntly there are no tithe...
Thfroads are good, Kcncrally al.out 66 oct w... a>
ovinco is very much lilce a district of l.ngland, village
province is very
and the niarkcta arc easily reached The
„,.< mill towns nciittered aliont ; init HtiU it
li like a (listrici m r.iigiiimi, .....vgi-H ami i,o«iin -l.h-l ,
cannot l,e said to be thickly i^pulat.!. ^^^£^;:;^'^,::::i'^f:i:t^t^t £30 to
36 to 40 ; barley, abmit the name ; In;l>^» ^-"n '0 ^ J.^^^ t, ; .v ce of wlieat ranged iL. 90
up some roots on which there were from 10 t 13 t^'^^- ^ |^ 1 ,^,.f ^"^j ^„tton,
to 95 cents per bushel ; butter, 2o cents per »'; ' ^S^^',^ [.™f ^P,,, ,,,, .t,,,.,; „£ Canadian stuffs,
24d. to r.d. per lb. Liv ng is certainly chc ,ur ^^J^ "^J' >K ; ^ '■ -^^^ ^ ,;,,,., .;,„ ,,,, to
are about the same price ; of course, if one umiuulb J.n„ii»n „ooa , „ i
'"*'?"'''• . .. X i- „ ™„ ,.;.;f tn the ATuskoka district, which Is now being
longer than we are accustomed to, and nunc seVLre ' '^ * "'^•', .^j"™ '!"," _^j^i„„ that the season is
no tnpleasant feelings. They say that the air •^,;; '' '.f.^'j^'^'t^Xe ttk and s^^^^ to be
most ixhilarating and enjoyable The worst feature ''^ " * '^JjJ'X.ck ^^.^e "^^^^ this need
carefully housed ; but when roots^re e["J"'- ^"'^ ^^^/j, *^^'i"^,^ ^ ^t J^^ syndicate have
aie^^aranSl anSbeing,- tlxrlS, Reliable, I quote portions of it, as it may be of interest
to my readers.
From a BriCish Farmer in Ontario lo British Famera.
hority onthis subject is a twenty-years' daily professional inter-
ei<'ht years' one as practical and as intimate with Canadian
speciality of addressing a particular class of agriculturists, so 1
«... My claim to be an authority
course among yourselves, and an eight
flin wPiithpr I 85° in the shade is— 85° ; and zero is unquestionably .
•The whiat of OntartoTs, at present,' from about equal surfaces of winter and Bpnng/owmg,
and wth a tendency t« an i-crease in the latter, producing 25 and 15 bushels respect^ ely with
JoorJarmrnLands'eldom under 40 and 25 ^^yS'-d n.anagcment Straw and 1^^^^^^^^
Law as with Yourselves, because growth is pushed too much ; but quality is superior oy reason
. of the samecause The over-clearance of fojest has mad^ wheat-grow.ng more precarious by the
J in fact, the straw
Iwni.'fit. I am glad
If. Ontario fiirniem
Kiro r(M)t« anil green
productive of good
is free. Taxes are
,tf3. Tl). cluncli is
Msi\' readied The
1 alwiut ; init still it
It 1,800,000.
r>a. a (lay, or £30_ to
•dspect before liiia.
p(;r' annum,
sliols per acre ; oatu,
excellent. I pulloil
beat ranged fron. 90
; lx;ef and mutton,
«, of Canadian stuffs,
higher price has to
which is now being
arts being rooky. It
iving country and for
ir this out.
ig the summer, or tho
is not felt to so groat
he dryness of the air,
xpect. The winter is
ok forward to it with
\g that the season is
and sheep have to be
re practised, this need
ironto syndicate have
the Englibh markets
oks recently published
n) of the Agiicultural
it may be of interest
lily professional inter-
timate with Canadian
I of agriculturists, so I
.... Two-thirds of
np, pasture, and water.
; during the last half
I Ontario ; neither can
elling-housea of stone
Men from England,
proprietors here were
Ulster ditchers, and
r, or representing their
tell of your spring and
il. The health of tho
sre is no mistake about
ter and spring sowing,
ishels respectively with
w and head are not so
y is superior by reason
more precarious by the
Mr. John Sttyur'n Ji<i>"ri. W8
want of immediate .bolter, .now n^t lying on the expose.i i-V',,^"*,:;!;i:''{::''::i\,:;i'',r :':;::;:!
Mitural L'rowth nf liuiber are in pio-jross. Ue have nev.r iiad what m.iy be t.ilk,! a mm.- i
fXe in the wheat crops, even with all our carelessness , so you may judge what skdl «..l
"^'•I hll'v^^'intv own experience, proved that what is called exhausted land can bo tl^>r,mghly
rocuneratixlin f.mr vears, by liberal treatment and syst.-n.alie mimagemeut at actua ly no cost m
rSge of sua as r for the sin>plo reason that much of this poor condit.on has '^'-■--;» l>'-" K ''
a m^ by'one class of crops, and. not' a variety in any forn, Lan, sjck "f - !-\- -.! ."^ri S
exhausted ; we have but to deal proporly with present unava.l.ible fertility to bimt, out l..ri,o
'"■"SSu'hivarlablv asureerop, and is always a valuable one wh^her for nmltlngor aninna
food. From 30 to 40 IJushels per acre is eoun.ion Oats, in .,u:il.ty .;f ""^f ;, ' " " 'to'^' ^' '
own but li.'bter per bu.shel, being thicker-skinned, as the result of rapid p-owth ; -10 tn M .usl. s
X icre A» a n.le, the st aw of the cereals is g,.t at the rate of 3000 lb. p;T acre. Coin (uu. e
snot c^uenvUy a CO nuion crop f,,r production of grain, though very plentiful and vah able
Lr"™ f^ddm as elsewhere noted Peas and beans are important farm crops the gr n
ami straw of the former being first-class food for sheep ; the yield is usually 2. bushels per
''"'"■in the improved system of breeding and fattening stock, green f';''^^'-''^^:^, "["T-'.^^^^^^i,'^^^
Important place. The clim .te is particularly su table for successive rus he of ^^^ s i W
one season. XInder liberal -.reatment they can be so arranged as to alfoid a conlmuous supply
from middle of April to Ist of November. Thus :
1. Lucerne, four cuttings ^'0 T..us jier Aiw.
'2. Winter Tlye, two cuttings 4 i.
3. Ked Clov'sr, two cuttings [> ii
4. Tares and Oats, one cutting '■^ n
f). Jiillet, two cuttings 4 „
C. Maize, one cutting 30 „
7. Eape, one cutting •.•VVV. r ' u" ■ ^
8. The thousand-headed Kale and I'riekly Comfrey have ]usS
been introduced with success.
•In the cultivation of root., Ontario has already ma.le lu-rs..1f a name in the w_rM even uncW
tho dillieuUi,.. of more heat and the sb-rtness of her autumn, in compirisou with Lutain. Wo
are rZ\ k- r.ulising the facts that for a thorough cleaning and manuring, ..long with a cop
meSd for a winter suj-plv of health and ieeJIng to all animals, turnii.s, n.angels, and
c3h are now ulispensablJ. For si.e .and ..uality they are almost e.p.alo your ow„
grown.'. Potatoes ma'y be included in this character, in wbi. b we are superior, both m .plant y
andquSiity. Swedes, 18 tons; mangel,., 22 tons; carrots, 15 tons; and potatoes, 8 t.ms per
'^"■'We'^havrdlmcultv !n establishing a variety of grasses, either for rotation "■• r^"";'"';"*
p.astures; but persistent trials are gradually adding to tho nuniber of those able to w th.t. id
th^ winters Cultivated pastures invariably tax our best .listributiou of animals to "ve.tak.^ bo
1 xu bnce of growth, and tlu.ugh the same stamp of beef as yours ,s not always to l^« '■« f ' "
CTass we ahN^iys find our st.^Iik in improved flesh as autumn comes. 1 ay is a «t'".'^l-^ '' /•
Hrcc v.alue, as it is often a cause of misinanagement, by reason of its prol.t,cness--m inducing
anTver-c mtinuance of the crop in the hands of the lazy and incautious, not realising, as they
sho Id do at grasses propcT i.re about as ev.haustive as the other grasses called wheat oats and
bar ev Fr<ni. 3000 t.. 5000 lb. of hay per acre is c.m.mon. The clovers, separately and m
assocfation with hav, are most luxuriant and valuable, both as a crupi>er, a restorative of ex-
hautted soils, and an improver of poor ones. We look t.. root and clover cultivation as tho
means of making good the past mismanagement m excessive wlieat-growing.
•We can grow^first-class beef and mutton with the products of our own soil, as fast and for
1..SS tlian you can do. We can take a Durham or Hereford cross-bred steer from its milk v ben
six months old, put it upon green and dry fodders, according to the season of the year with br. n
^^I'^a^^o^conr-miaU,! within 21^iionthsi,laeeitouourseaboard
of 1400 lb., and at a cost not exceeding £14. In this and all its connections theie neces..uily
'''"■ You^im-e Teid of the woodlands of this country, and the difficulty in many cases of clearing
and getting rid of the stumps and roots. This is true to tl.ose new to the axe, a.ul .as tnxe that
our hard-wooded lands give more choice of site and soil than praines,aml certainly arc more
reliable for alternate f.a.ining ami im.re valuable as an investment The ti-ee crop its.Cf in
Ontado is as costly as the best arable, so that, when you come to purchase the desire will be or
more tree surface than is genorally to be had. 15e sur.> of the long and dear-bought experience
Sour plnee^ that no land on this continent is so safe and so kindly as from the primeval
forests Then again, few Qovernment. arc so liberal as ours in th« encouragement to agriculture
J 21 Afr. Jiilin fiiiyir's lieport.
iiiid laU. Our townnliii., cniitv, and iimvlncisil .xliiliitidi^ iwe a, m....i •••ulxutanl and tiitcrcHtiti,'
f,.iitiin> ill ci.niicoticm with iU' juLureHH (if nurlciiUiiriil imlii.^tiv.
•Wo hiiv.' nlso t.. <.tV..r vou variations in yuiir |.i-..fi.-<ion tlmt now roniiniin.l the att.'Uli..u of
our moHt cnUnrrisinK fapilaliHt.-. I rffcT t.. frmt K^'win- ftiid dair.yin:;. < I"';;;'' n'''" •'"tl.'"-
nmkin.' In cnnau<'t..(l \wT,^ on a seal..' and l.y niutho.lH unknown to tli.; av, ra-e Hritish fannrr-a
l,iantirof our rural cconon.v charactorincd by inuncdiato returns on wod,;rato cai-.tal. It aipponrs aij
most ..nncc'cssary to note "that th. txeellencc in bulk and varioty of our fruits tak.- no «.'Con,l
i.lace in tho world'H competition. The fami.r'H orchar.l here uieauH onesutli of the laniily koq..
' While a very laiL'o eouiitrv, dntnrio U not vet thickly populated. ( i.ilarK, all over has only
from l.SOO.OOO to !2,000,000 minis, and as we plouyh Home l(J,(MiiyiO(i aens, an estimate ..f <,ur
Hurulua may bo made. That suti-lus, thou;;h not bo large as it ond.t to be, will ere Ion- be an
iminen.se one, even on the do,,),lluK of population. Our Hour is well known in your own n.mlots
as of Huperior rpiality. The United States prnde our ^o. 2 barley as equal to their ^o. 1
(cause, Hoil and climate), an.l take all we can alb-rd to neiul them. 'J he herds and (locks o
Ontario are now looked up to by all on this continent as fouut.iiii-ieads of excellence, purity and
healthfulness. We arc at the present moment unable to supply the demand for t otswold she.
an,l Hereford cattle, and thus all .)ver we are desirous ot al lin- to our we:.lth and skilful
management by the accession to our ranks of those who have the pluck to endure '^\f';»- )';"•;
personal labour wiU. the certainty of success in tlie end. I purchased •22) acres f'.^ J-f"\ ' ' •
fl 18s. Cd. per acre) ; beautifully situated upon tlie shores of a navi-ablo lake withm Anc mile.s
of atrtwn, which is the centre of a rising district of a mi.lland .ounty of Ontario, that soon
became the junction of two railways. Soil, a rich clay loam, '';>,V";'l l)' '''.V. f "-'q't ten aeit^, and
about fifteen very stony ; has beeii very poorly cultivated is w. 1 shel er. d lake, south and eas.
excepted) by one third of the area which is under a maple, be.-h, and birch bush ; g.-xid-.n a J
small orchar.1 indifferent, fences old and poor, h.x.ses fair ro.y Is j;ood ; a stream runs - 'a«;'"^^ly
through the farm, an.l there existed uc dilliculty t., a good title and a well-surveyed l"'""! ">•
Here I considere.l that ju.liciouslv lai.l-out money in permai.eut impr..vements, witli better
fannini', and stea.lv self-application t.. lalj.)iir, would bring aViout a e.i.ing.'.
'1 shall place in juxtap..sition t.. the Ontari,. case that •■' a farm many years ,n my own
hands in a n'i.lland county ..f Scotland, which c.nsisted ..f l(.(i .ures arable, 10 acres of meiuL.w
pasture, and 8UU acres of liiU-gra/.iu-, and which come, m well in ni.Kst respects as a fair, cm.-
parative example. The case of botli was f.ir a husband, wife, ami tivc children :-
'Ontario Pco/>nV,/o)-.'<;i;;).— Taxes, Including road-money, Bcliool-ratea, railway bonus, and
a.uinty rate, 55 dollars, or i'll (is. 4d. i>o/> . i,;ii
'Scotch nm.nlMp.-llout ami taxes : Ar.able, 30s. per acre. £\r,0 : meadow, ISs., £^r, hill
pasture, £40; poor-ratcs (half), tl ICs. ; r..ad-tax (half). £2 18s. ; hre in.suranee on buildings.
1^ 2s.; cartages for pr..priet..r, £1 Us. ; "Kan," 15s. j interest on fence pr..tecting from game,
'"'''SHi^vf'M^ract.-Ontano ProprHorMp : Sum invested, £21.^,2 ; taxes, £12 •
annual maintenance of farm, iUM ; ^-»''>^^''^^ ^^i>'^}r%'^^^^ ' ^':-t-T'"fj^T^nM'-
surplus revenue during five years, £303 ; real sation after hve years, ^ff-J'^^^.{'Z^^A
Hum invested, £2600 ; rent and taxes, £2.55; annual maiuteuauce "' /''" \^' ;;' • 'r~a
expenses, £265 ; gross annual rentals, £1308 ; surplus revenue during live years, £30j ; reabsa-
tion after five years, £2400.
•It apnoar.s, then, that a capital of £2600 invested in British farming takes fully one-third
of itself for annual si pp,>rt, of which one-fourth is household ; an.l that there is an annual gross
revenuo ejmal io halV the' invested sum, which sum d.,es not always increase n va ue bu may
be considerably lessened under certain conditions. It also appears that £21., 2 invest.', in the
purcha e o land and the farming of it. in Ontario, re.p.ires .,ne-fourth of .tself for '^"""a ";•;;«»■
tenanco, of which .me-half is household ; and that there is a gr.vss annual j-evenue e.iual t.. nearly
Xthii'd of the invested sum, which sum increases 22 per cent .. value .luring years under
sm hil conditions. The return per acre is much larger in Britain ; living is not so dilfeicnt froni
j^ur cli^s as .nay be supposed, iiid the great difference ot annual maintenance is largely m rent
""'^'I^^couid say much more that would be of interest to old countrymen and colonists, but a
letter having to"be a letter only, I must defer until a better opportunity for details. I trust very
manyof you will at once take advantage of the present condition of thing.s, that .s (1) your own
difficulties, and (2) the fact of land here being 25 per cent, lower m price than four years ago.
And now just a few words as to Canada, and particularly Ontari.. .as a field for emigration.
Thif a ques i,>n which I approach with some caution. The country .s und.,ubtedly 'v fine one
and 1 wal verv nearly buying some land for myself there. I V^ '"'"7^°' l";^ buTfn^f all ?
every place must have. In the first place, its winters an,- nearly five months 1. ng ; but, f"«r" » I
hea?d. the principal inconvenience is that the sheep, as we 1 as cattle, have o be h..u e,I . u g
• that season. Then, the yields are not so great as on our r.nglish farms, and wages aie higher ,
-J
irtanl and liitcrcntiii;^
liunl tho atti'utiiiii i)f
("li(i»i> nn<l Imtli'i'-
i;,'u liritisli fiiniiiT -iv
Nipitftl. Itaippe.irrt !1H
fruits take im sicniid
til of tliu iaiiiily koej).
alio all ovor lm^^ only
(», ai! ostiinato of our
c, will iTe Idiii; 111,' ail
ill your own iimrl;it:(
Lijual to tluir No. 1
; liiTds and (locks of
■xoi'llenof, jiurity, and
d for CotswoM sliLM p
ir wo.'iltli and skilful
o (-■iiduru a fow yt ars'
aorort for fi280 dollars
lake within five inik'S
of Oiitiirio, tliat i-oon
, cxcupt ten acic.i, and
(lake, Houth and oast,
:h bush ; gardni a:)J
tifani runs diaj,'oiially
11 surveyed liouiidary.
voiiioiits, with better
laiiy years in my own
L', id iieres of luoadoW
espects as a fair, com-
Iren : —
I, railway bonus, and
?adow, IRs., £30; hill
isurnneo on buildinj,'.s,
protecting from garao,
iiC2irp2 ; taxca, i'12 ;
niiual returns, £635 ;
I). Scotch Tcnanlxhip :
inn, i;7il ; household
J years, £305 ; realisa-
•,' takes fully one-third
lere is an annual gross
•oa.sc' in value, but may
i;2ir.2 invested in the
itself for annual inain-
revenne u(pial to nearly
lue during years under
is not so diifeicnt from
aance is largely in rent
ion and colonists, but a
ir details. I trust very
js, that is (1) your own
than four years ago.'
s a field for emigration,
undoubtedly a fine one,
e, has its drawbacks, as
hs long ; but, from all I
avo to be housed iliiring
, and wages are higher ;
.''Jr. John Sinjin'n Report.
12.">
1, It to counterbalance this, neither the est .,f land nor the rent and t.ixe. aro m> high a- in ll.i<
::;. ;;;':,! eat.-c and the ^st of Hvlng are ^'''-^.-.^ 'Hk-' «nud y ie ds, o..,je m
eiHC'M accounted for by bad farming, an err.r a new settler nee., not fall into i an.l. as It n.is
riTl lec I tl e I i e of laid, and as m.-Tnure is cheap, it is not altogether a great disadvantage fr m
! , K. 3lsh He er's point of view. My a.lvice i.s, to people who are getting on well ... Kngla .
' wl o h irfo better tim..s and can hang on, ' Stay where you are but for .iien «»;;'''['; "^f'"
new iehls in which to employ their capital and farming k.iowle<lgo,. vn.U'spc'Cially thoso who
^^vo L vn-up families. I bJlieVe that Canada offers an ope.iing which is seco..d to ..one. Ono
-a, re>« ?a. .ula .nuch cheaper tha.i any other colony, and land is at a l-wer price, w . h a bato.
■ha..ce of sellinrthe products to advantage. There are ...any me,. .» «^.|M"d'v ^^••"' /'^''^
as ;!io..eers year: ago 'with no capital but an axe, but are now well off. This cannot but b.,
''"Tivc'nJ wiu!''a Kn.all capital need not, however, go through the hardships of a back-woods-
mai? iifrn-i that cleared iLid is so co...pa.-.ativeIy cheap and can be rente, at -'^ > 'I '-^P";^";
A ric.dtur'd labourers get go.,d wages, a.id, 1 c.nsi.ler, have a go.i.l prosp.c . Hut the O.ta.io
^n,.s i Ug. a W'tte.-^^^ satisfactory system of labour if they woul.i •--;'''»">' •^^^^"X
resident lalmrers .m their lan.l, simikir t.. those wo have i.. K..gla..d, pruv.d...g cottages foi
them with small uarden l.its, which could easily bo done. ... i i n .„ „..,i
I 'imve 1^ ■ asked, if ciinada is s,. ti.ie a cou.itry. why the people wd.o »>^vv« '^"^:: *' ""^ ^
iret on so well do not write for their friends, in the same way as .s done in the States ? X<^
f <T\. ^\.U \n the first nlace it must bo re.i.e.nbored that the L'..ited States of An.er.ca has n
S£ iS';^.o: A;i£rii.:!es .. peat as Canada, so th.vt it is -^ -t,mis,ung that^cm.gr^^
ti.m should Ih.' LTcatcr than to the latter country. I <iu.)to the f.dlow.iig hguios taken ii.mi
iCliariltarv return's, wdiieh show the relative emigratio,. (British origin only) to both cou.»tr.e3
from 18G9 to 1S73 :
C';inadn. T'nite.l Stiitoa.
■Jt,(t21 . . •'•''' '"'
! . 27,1CS . . . l.-',100
o| 051 , . . ITioJSS
2I,;!28 . . . I'll, 782
>2fi))J,') . , . li!ij,730
1 Pi'.O
1S70
1S71
1S72
187;l
T-xc 1,11m' la.st year (1870-80), the cmiuiati.m during these periods has boon tho largest ow r
r,u!vii and it wi 1 be seen tliat, accor.liug to tho rospoetive populations Cana.l.a has secured .
Me ,r m-ouo-ti . of British emigrants ti.au the United Slat.'s. 15ut she .,..t u..re.aso..ab >
^ i t, get siiYl .....re t., oecup; d.e large tracts of c.,u..t,v which are yet only very part.ally
inhal-itod, a...l thinks, as a British colony, she has a greater claim to thorn.
I .low co..clude my rop.ut.
1
I
A PATER
CONTlllLH-TKU
IW MU. JAMES RID I) ELL,
OJ Miami, Manitoba, fonnrrhf "f irnnfl,., .hdharf, Scotland, tfho is temporarihj
•' daijimj at the latter uddrtss.
Tr liaH been miL-ostcd bv the. Hinh Cmini^omrH ..f the Dmnininn of OanftJa that I ini, ' '
U.i:^;;:r^Jn'. (Lanzas J c..^
m-.uler.ulvanU.K.sif "''■'' '''l,'^''^*!^'';.'^^; '[,■/" .,wn with little tnmblo ; still, uhen farmed
'*"""7i, - t '^h'!'SC.^ «" a ir y" Ml^'repayH all extra thue and care ,iven to it,
H t '„ 1 fol IvH H CO. a nty that the liritii farmer U, a. a rule, capable of working
'. .?. f AU^te Ca.u la to the bit advanta,'e to hii„»elf and to the country. . .
'H b sti mo for „ • s to arrive depend, on their proposed line of action. 15y nrnv.ng m tho
• T.vw.lv rises throiv'h the absence of good roads, but this want i:* nosv beniK removed
jprni-adilhedty an.cs turn nine aae V. . .^, , i„t„ ,„„nicii.alitieH, which
hCS'i;.:;v r^'a^: t il S l£ lie ^::;:tn;ction o^" roadB and brid^^. ,Tl.e an.ount of
^ ^llSZ T-Vm ^Ixo U,xm ranL'es from to 8 dollar, a year, and if judiciously ex-
r:;ri .m wi bin a few v^^^^^^ M.b.tantial roadn. To enter nu rmimproved lan.l and
: ; t k in n ' ately J^^ the pWpo.o of cropping the following year, spring (notwithstanding
hfswl of th roads) i^ certainly the best time. The roads becmegond m June, and remain «o
1 h : t'e lin i ' ly duri .^ the winter llu y arc of course excellent IJut any Beason would bo
:!.£.,-^n,^,;^^;iof>^ungrr.n^..o^^
^nSlil: Snd" who'":::l:: J^al '^l^^ui^l'dlow "the Bummer to bo pretty well advanced before
^'""'ri,ere^Jr"iino'of Bteamship, to Canada, Bailing fron. London, Bristol Liverpool Ola.gow,
lliere ■■^i-'-l" '^ p,^''^", ,' r „„,, ^,„.,,k as to the comforts and attention to be obtained on
?r;'£lI:er;:i.Sliuiw ^^^^ Through tickets can be had to Winnipeg, the entire
*"^Wn'^!^" by mil 'in Can..da are allowed a ce,ta!n amount of baggage about 3001b. wx.ight ;
atuel!^krni.re.n^^^
lS,:y;:!";!;£:':;n:1^::ica:^n.:ukind of a... ..ado of dieted moo.e and buifalo hide, are
'"'iJirkaT'!^' any of tho povtH, there are h. waiting a Rtaff of CH.toms officials who do their
d.itv "• rcea ly Lt7all m,.de-„p clothing for pe, .o.>.l us., and settle,s effects, are pa.sed rcc o
tv Wht^ once your bn .Jo \* into the hands of the railway othc.als, yoi. .-xrc relieved froi.i
.lutj . \\ litn once } ^'7 "''^ . • , j,.], i,.^^ i,een found to work satisfactorily. J'-very
:STm™bc;:ra^d:ik^^:l^"Vd,Slll;;^e m.mber is given to the owner, and on presenting
.etth.-rto mike for. O.^ arrival, ample accommodation can.-a.ily be found at moderate charges
sSe« Zdd be on their guLrd Igain.t persons who. have land to wll, and on no account
A Pitjicr ContrihutCfl hi/ Mr. Jamen tiidJdi
127
Imporarllii
lat I mil' '
ay r .k»
' • into
. .<,ton, l)nt
iliilicuItiuH
ill tii'dt tulvu
Vi-ritory aro
rtcniM liavo
n nc'ccssiiiy.
iii'ii faiiui'd
t'ivun tn its
of woikiiij;
•iving in tho
ill},' rtiiKived
litit'H, which
u niiKiunt of
iciimsly ex-
ed land and
I'ith.stiuulinjf
id rumnin ah
on woidd be
nsclvos, and
Those with
lucud before
jI, Cilasgow,
obtained on
ji the entiro
lb. weiglit ;
h as twecdH
light house-
: prices. A
' in summer
ilu liide, are
\Q do their
sscd free of
li(^ved from
rily. ]Cvery
1 presenting
t centre for
vte charges.
no account
tihoiiM thny mako ft purehaHo until tho land ha.t l)uen viewed, ah m!\ny lmv« heon "pappolntiil
u.iili r the einiMMsta-iU'''s.
The Helecli.iii of a location depends on the inclinntlon of the dettlor, fts well a'* the ninouiit of
money at IiIh diiipoHal. It Ih nect'iiHory to tind out the prieii of land in the ditfiriiit diitriet-i,
which can be obtained on application at the tJovrrnnient Land OMlces at WimiipeLf, and il.<cwlii n-,
or from the Land Hcgulations issued by the Department of the Interior. The Canadian (Jovi rn-
jnent have made provision for the nalo of huuU extetidint! 1 10 miles <\n each side nf the propo<i(|
Canadian IVcilic Kailway, throii^;h Manitoba and tlie N'ortji West Trrritorii s ; and until Hiial
Hurviy they have assunnd a line runnim,' in a westerly direction from m ar \Viniiipi'g. This
flistrict is diviib il into lults. The first belt of U mil'S on each side of the line is c;ill ■(! A, and
1m sold at Ti dollars per aen; ; a Inlt of LI mili^s l\',) on inch side ailjuiniu',' bilt A, at \ dollars ;
(V belt of 20 mill's adjoinini,' belt 1', at 11 dollars per acre, and so on iMitil the 110 mill's aie din-
poed of, the pr' 'e decn asin;; tile further tlie land lii s finm the rivihvav. Tile above re;;iil.'ilionM
n])ply to about • 'e half of the area taken in, which is to reimburse! the ciwt of eon^^tnlctilll; tho
railway, the other half biiii^,' open for homesteads (free-j.'r:int lands) luel pre-em;'lioiis (...ijd it
half the price of railway lands) of 100 acres each, exeeipliie,' school mei lluds.ij.'s liay (''Piiipanv ><
lands, for which -t stpian miles are retained out of every township (:!ti si|ii:ii'e mih s). It is usu.,I
for those who wish for more than IJ'Jd acres of liomest' ad and pir (iiipliou to Imy a piec(,' of tho
adjoining railway b.iul The railway lands adjacent to tlx' liii'', alllioiiL;li li'ld atrMlollais p,r acre,
in many cases are not so valuabli' as some So or tJO mile, away, for the reason that unless tho
land M dry and loamy it is not so easy to work. Those who settle at a distance from tho
Conadian I'acitic JIallway may bo f(>rtiinate enough to be within easy reach of some of tho
Colonisation IJaihvay lines, which are i'uing nu'do to act as fied rs to the main line.
The plan of snr\ey in so simple, th.-it when anyone meets with land on which he mny desiro
to locate, its position is easily determined. The whole country is di\ ideil into townships of six
miles mpiaro, each of these i.s divided into squares of ono mile, which are again diviiled into four
Hipiares of 1(30 acres. Aroimd every H(piaru mile a rord is laid ol about 100 fcot wide. All
Burveys Rtftrt and aro nuniliered from the International boundary line.
The land along thu Ked and Assiniboino Hivci-s is heavy, strong Ciay, and In wet seasons \n
difficult to work ; but with a dry spring and summer good crops can bo grown. It is unlike thu
rolling prairie to tho West, witV 'ts rose-bush and buffalo grass — unfailing marks of good
dry, loamy land — where tho soil is from 2 to 4 feet deep and is neither more nor less than
decayed vegetable niattci", resting on ft layer of sand, with a, subsoil of heavy blue clay. Tluso
dry prairies aro naturally drained by shallow ravines and small streams, which iiow.and again
spread themselviisont, forming a marsh or hay meadow. On land as di'scribed timber Is generally
deficient, but tho Government has taken thu precaution to reserve timber lands with a view to
sell to settlers on homesteads and pre-emptions to the extent of ten to twenty acres, according to
quality. This arrangement has been a great boon to the community.
It must be admitted that there is a deficiency of spring-water on tho surface, but by sinking
wells from ten to twelve feet a plentiful supply can ho vibtained. In the neighbourhood of run-
ning streams wells are not necessary, as the stream water is wholesome and pure. Thise dry lands
are most preferable for settlement, and settlers would do well to locate there. A f; id deal has
been written about tho wet lands in Manitoba ; and, no doubt, up to the present tiuio they have
formeil a hindrance to settlers along tho Ked River Valley, but now that tho Government aro
undertaking the drainage it will be to a great extent remedied, and tho richness of the soil and
the cheapness of thu land will make it to tho settlers' advantage to conlinuo in tho sami'.
direction.
Keeping in view that this paper is designed for tho guidance of parties intending to settle in
Manitoba or tho North-W^st Territory, it may be necessary to allude to tho mode of starting on
a homestead. If the location is entered upon in spring, the party ought either to board with
some noighbour, or, as is often done, tent out for the summer. 'I'liis arrangement causes no delay
in preparing the prairie for the following year's crop. The erection of house and other buildin',')
can be left till the fall. As a rule, oxen are employed for the first year or two, until oats are
grown for tho keep of horses. It does not reipiire a large capital to commence farming comfort-
ably on a free-grant claim with the inteiitiou of gr.adually reclaiming it ; the following ii tlw
usual outlay ;
Two yoke of oxen ... ... ... ... S2C0-00
Ono waggon ... ... ... ... 80'00
Two ploughs and harrow ... ... ... 5S00
Chains, axes, shovels, etc. ... ... ... 30'00
Stoves, beds, etc. ... ... ... ... GOOO
II0U.SO and stables ... ... ... ... 200-00
Mowing-machine ... ... ... ... !?000
Cow ... ... ... ..._ ... 3000
Provisions for one yi. ur, pay ,,, ..." ... loO'OO
§!)23'00 - ^£193
us
A Paper Conlributed
Of conr-ic innny men slnrt on a Kniallcr Bcale than this, with ono yoke of oxon, ono plough,
nnd withiMit a luowiiicr-inachinc.
If land is purchased from the Government or private parties tho price paid will require to bo
added to the above. Wild lamls can be bcjught from private parties at from 2 to 5 dolhirn per acre,
iiceordinj; to location. Those with larger capital wipuld do well t. "-.ly some improved farm with
00 or 100 acres ready for crop, with dwellinj,' house and stabling. In this way a retiun is got at
onea for the outlay, and at the same time saves many of the hardships one must naturally m' <t
with in settling on a bare prairie. These improved farms can often be bought for less than the
cost of improvements.
On an improved land tho following is the mode of preparing for cro]) : The grass must he
.'dlowed to grow for some time, say till the middle of May, then plough about two inches dec]),
anil ploughing can be continued till about the beginning of July. This is allowed to lie until
tho end of Septi;mber, when it is turned back with an inoh or two of extra soil. In this state it
is ready for seeding with wheat or other crops. Care shoidd be taken not to plo\igh too dee])
cither the first or second time — a mistake farmers from the OM Country invariably make, and
thereby cause an excessive growth of straw. Linseed is grown with great success on the first
ploughing in June, the seed being of much imi)ortanco in stock-rearing. The land being dry, as
soon as tho snow melts ami the frost is a few inches out of tho ground the following . pring, wheat
.■should be sown ; barley and oats in sticce-sion. Broadcast machines, eight or nine foot wide,
with light cultivators attached, are chiefly in use, and have been found to make a great saving
in seed. The quantities sown with this seeiler are: Wheat, 1 Ijushel and 1 peck per acre;
oats, 2 bushels ; and barley, 1 >, bushel. Vegetatiun is rapid, and harvest is generally begun
about the middle of August. Tiie reajwrs in use are all self-binding or self-delivering. They
are lighter than tho English make, but are cajiablo of doing a deal of heavy work. Wheat
requires to be bound almost as soon as cut, the straw being dry and brittle ; but oats are usually
allowed to lie a day before lifting. The Canadian system of lifting and binding is a decided
improvement on tho English or Scotch stylo : one man makes the baud, lifts and binds his own
fhcaf. On a good average crop of wheat (say 25 bushels per acre), four men can lift and bind
to a self-delivering machine, cutting 10 to 12 acres per day. After June or July almost no rain
falls, consequently grain stacks are not thatched, but are thrashed as soon as ploughing is stopped
by frost. Travelling machines, with horse or steam-power, are for hire, and are paid by tho
bushel or the acre. Owing to the number of emigrants coming into the eomitry, the towns and
villages springing up, and the construction of railways, the market for wheat is local ; but by
the time there is a surplus, railway communication will be opened so as to admit of its being
s«nt to Great Britain and tlsewiicre. Wheat at 7.'> cents per bushel would amply repay the
grower in Manitoba, and, at present prices in London or Glasgow for American wheat, would
leave a large margin for freight and other expenses.
I will hero state the cost o.' raising wheat per acre on our own land for the years 1879 and
1880, likewise the average amoi-nt of produce for these two crops.
Eirst, the cost, which I shall give at contract prices :
Ploughing . . .
Seed ......
Sowing and harrowiiiy ....
! Reaping ....
SS"l ; : : :
Carrying ,ind stacking
Thrashing .....
Average of crops for 1879-SO, 28 bush, per .acre at ".' c.
§2'00
•90
■50
■(!.- )
■85 (
■35 (
2-95
MO )
1'70
SS-05-£l 1:3 1
21-00 = £4 G 3
.?12'95 = i;2 13 3
Cost of production i)er bushel, Is. 3d., leaving a margin of nesvrly 13 dollars per acre.
Thi:i certainly is above an average yield for 5lanitoba at the present time, but I believe thaf
i I'l with good management and fair seasons, tho average will come up to this or even more.
If I mistake not, tho two lioyal Commissioners, Messrs Head and Pell, stated that wheal
could not be s«nt from Manitoba to Liverpool to pay the grower below 47s. per quarter ; I havt
been unable to get a definite quotation of freight* from Winnipeg to Liverpool or Glasgow, but
tb*! following is an approximate :
Wheat has already been sunt from Winnipeg to Montreal — by rail to Duluth, thence b)
steamer to Montreal —at 30 cents per bushel. Erom Montreal to Glasgow freights for wheal
have r.ingcd from 08 cents to 1 dollar 14 cents per quarter, s.ay on an avc-.-ige 1 dollar G cents
This gives
I one yuko of oxun, one ploutfh,
the price paid will reriiiiro to be
I at from 2 to 5 dolliirs per aero,
^ ''-..y some improved farm with
In this way a return is got at
isliips one must naturally meet
ten be bought for leas than the
g for crop : The grass must be
plough about two inches deep,
ly. This is allowed to lie until
J of extra soil. In this state it
taken not to phmgh too due))
Country invariably make, and
with great success on the 11 rat
iaring. The land being dry, as
imd the following spring, wheat
:hine», eight or nine foot wide,
I found to make a great saving
[ bushel and 1 peck per acre;
nd harvest is generally begun
iding or self-delivering. They
I deal of heavy work. Wheat
nd brittle ; but oats arc usually
fting and binding is a decided
e band, lifts and binds his own
ere), four men can lift and bind
ter June or July almost no rain
il as soon ns ploughing is stopped
for hire, and are paid by the
into the country, the towns and
rket for wheat is local ; but by
id BO as to admit of its being
• bushel would amply repay the
jow for American wheat, would
iwn land for the years 1879 and
$2-00
•90
■50
(5,-i )
S5(
35 f
205
10)
170
$8-05 = £1 1:3 1
21-00 = £4 (5 3
§1205 = £2 13 3
iarly 13 dollars per acre,
present time, but I believe that
ip to this or even more,
ead and Pell, stated that wheat
' below 4"d. per (juarter ; I have
ieg to Liverpool or Glasgow, but
1 — by rail to Duluth, thence by
1 to Glasgow freights for wheat
! on an average 1 dollar C gents,
hy Mr. Jamca liuhhll.
120
I'rom Winnipeg to Montreal 30 cents pir bushel
„ Montreal to (ilasgnw
Insurance, landinj.
for shorts .
charges, etc., including wt
and iillowance
.'?2'40 per cjuartcr.
lOG
•36
?3-82 =
Cost of production per quarter
Total cost per quarter
15s.
10
9d.
25s. 9d.
If these rates are corrcct--and I have every reason to believe they arc -it is evident Messrs.
Read and Pell have been led into error in their statements. American wheat at the present
time is worth 533. per quarter in Glasgow, which shows a large margin for the growers' profit in
Manitoba. As soon as the Canadian Pacific llailway and the Hudson's Bay routes are open,
there cannot be a doubt that the cost of transit will be reduced. _
Cattle-renr.ng is likely to pay well, as it is attended with little expense. They keep their
condition through the winter (where wind-brakes are provided) on marsh hay, and this can bo
had in abundance in almost any kind of season. It is cut in July or Augiist, the earlier the
better fodder it makes. The marshes are level, and mowing machines make good work in the
cutting. The expense of making this hay docs not exceed 1 dollar per ton, and the usual winter
allowance per head of various ages is 2i t(jn8. At present, cattle are allowed to graze on any
unfenced land during the summer, and find any amount of feed, such as wild tares, peas, and
grasses. The best season for cows to calve is about the end of April. Young cows are worth
35 dollars \kt head ; a three-year-old steer ready for work, 50 to 60 dollars.
Sheep can also be raised with profit. They can be kept during the winter without covering,
and get fat on h.iy grown on dry prairie, this being finer than the marsh hay. A cross between
the Lincoln and Cotswold will be found as profitable as any. Mutton is worth 12 cents per lb.,
and wool 30 to 35 cents. _ . a -n 1
The climate h.-vs been represented as being almost impossible to live in. It must be admitted
that the winters are more severe than in Britain, but the air is so clear and dry that the cold is
not much felt. .
Writers on Iowa and other States seem to attach much importance to the seventy of our wmters,
but it must be borne in mind that most of them have never experienced a winter in Manitoba.
I have noticed a letter in a Scotch newspaper from a Mr. Lauder, Dunfermline, giving a most
.alarming account of the climate and soil of Manitoba. I find that many of the statements he
makes are quite incorrect, and no wonder, as he was only there for a very short time during
summ pr on a hunting expedition. As an instance of his inaccuracy, he states that there are
eight months of winter and only four of summer, instead of this there are four and a half months
of winter, and the rest spring, summer and .autumn 1
I have no idea of entering into the comparative merits of Manitoba with Iowa, or any other
country, but it would be an injustice if I did not add my testimony to the advantages of Manitoba
as a field for emigration. It has been said that Manitoba and the North-West Territory will bo
the granary of the world, and its rapid development, the amount of capital and skill which
is being expended on the cultivation of its soil, and the towns and villages that have sprung up,
are all strong evidences of the progress that has been made.
Winnipeg, in 1874, had a population of only 5,000 inhabitants, while now it is fully more than
double. , .,. 1.
Emmerson, Portage la Prairie, NelsonvlUe, and Rapid City, and many other villages, have
also become places of importance.
With the privileges otfered in Manitoba and the North-West Territory, where free grants of
land are offered to the agriculturist, where land can be purchased for less than is paid in Britain
for merely occupying it, where all improvements are one's own, where education is free, and, in
fact, where nearly all the comforts of the Old Country are to bo had, it is surprising, at this time
of continued depression in British farming, how ftw have availed themselves of such a favourable
opening.
8i
SKNTKiT i'O BOTH ilOUsiw 01,' rAULlAMENT BY COMMANJJ OK UEK
MAJESTY, IN ALGUfcJT, 1880.
CANADA.
TT..(.v the arrival of the CH'i of Mmlmil at Now York, v.'o v.vvo wailcJ upon by the lion.
S ^rt LT onat" , with .,i iuvit:.ti,>n fn,n..tl>o Canadian G ,vo>n,ncnt to v,-,a (HUw.. am
make a n . n -ed to. r in the Nonunion. We were conii^elled to dec In.e the grea er pa.t of this
kind inviuS but Mr. 11. Read courteously as.sisted u. in our investigations n, New York, and
rpin-ini(>d our L'uide and coninanion till we left lomnto. „ . ri j. »„ i
Manv o the general agricultural remarks that have hoen made apply f l"""y *? Ca, ^J^f j
»l,pTTniid States It wUl be only possible now to say a few special words upon the fanning of
Se SSon of Canfda! We had not time to visit Lower Canada, nor did we see very much
f.:^« ..f fh.. Old World there is no forest to subdue, or scrub t» uproot. The whole is one
vrpbinmot^lIeHile which can be converted into a grain-iield by the simple opera ion
Ttwo s allTploughing,. The soil around Portage la Prairie is a rich black loam, light o
HlKrye uffiSly tt;ntive to withstar.d severe drought. In many places there appeared
v!;n n/nn vacation to the depth of three feet. In some spots the land is swampy and low, but
LfcwmatTvtolud^^^^^^ '^°-^. =^"<t -"^ a Boil so friable, no <i-'-Se ^-J
EI3^ ^s^ ^p Jthj^oS^i-^ -- r ""%^-{HHH
JriSal rreholderfof the pioUr railroads of the States are »- f^^f ^e de'^ ot]' S I
^% aUoSir tha" oTt^ U;SSsT»^;D
rapidity approaching that of the unKeaoiaie anticip.'tte eventual profits from
SSg^ n^^tlSl'^holih rtch';;:r,Ue;jha"n expect iiiinediate payment from the
*"'^li'l?i: wS^iSSJJ? aZ::r ^^'i::! Manitoba. No doubt the cold is
i„tc?r and t i."t for veU-nigh five months in the year all field-work is Buspended. 15ut it .s a
'"'Nrma"rZl"lit'To\"'tke Far West who is not prepared to work hard and live h.an-
Honmy s"ccS^^ E"S"«b family into thi.s ro.ion of ' rude a jundanc.-, but he
canuot exject ^ take with him the comforts of au English home. For years ail n«w settlers, but
caa
'm.
t.-M
BxtradH from Messrs. 2t,a,J ami PeU's llepoyt.
181
;k\vell tj^.vd and
it i'm) sta-.;s, i'rk-
COMMAND Ob' llEU
iv.-vUccl iipnn by tlio Ilnn,
xnent to vi-.it (Ht.iwa, anil
iiie tho greater pait of this
gations in New York, and
ply equally to Cannda and
words upon the favniing of
nor dill we see very much
ince of anything we saw in
n<;land, and for cleanliness!
districts. The soil is de»p
neval forest, and the laboru-
is, must have been no easy
lied to the over-populated
uproot. The whole is one
eld by t!\e simple operation
, rich black loam, light of
lany places there appeared
nd is swampy and low, but
10 friable, no drainage for
jy some ' the future wheat
ea of any railway. In tliis
I in the latter country rail-
ntry almost unpopulated in
a population on or laeyond
' lino. It m.iy be that the
sacrificed, and their line is
is to be developed with a
(lent must spread its railway
pate eventual profits from
imudiatc payment from the
toba. No doubt the cold is
k is suspended. But it is a
it and fall of snow thi roads
age of timber and of grain.
t iic few cereal crops of tho
nfidontly oxpocted that with
ributcd over a much larger
ian-corn cau be produced in
tie and of sheep. Certainly
omo kind must be grown to
aaon why abundant crop^ of
and lliuignrian millet shoidd
IS well adapted for tho culti-
to work hard, and live hnrc'.
of ' rud(! aliinidance,' but ho
for veai's all nuw settlers, but
e.pecla..y th. females, mu.t expect to rj^h it ^he Jl tl. sickj^nd Uje famtd^^
never emigrate, however poor and sad their lot m.vy '''; '" ^J^^^^i/i^ ^„ England, Manitoba
the vigorous, and the courage.nw >vh>' cannot get a c >" o>tab e U m fe ^^^^
tt,:^i^.Su^r=SisST^^^
i^^^^tiS;::u^SS-^^^S 'EEE^ ^n theAp.ndi.ashort
account'of fhe land system of the different proWnces o the Dom n on ^^ ^^^
To those who could not endure the ro.jgh ^'^^^^^^^f^}' Mt^^^^^^^^ a<:re. The n- farms
acres to be bought in Ontario and Lower Canada at f.on ;^" * ^^"j tjentfan and suit-
may Ix^ncara good town or railway, a.>d are weli ^"'^"f '/'''^^"I'^^i^^^,^^^ farms to let .at
able buildings have been erected. There are ^l^!' ' .^.^"''^J'^h^f ^'^^/nC^^^^^ the rent in kind
from 3 dollars to 5 dollars an acre ; or they can be hncd by^^^^'.^^nn shares, the landlord
by a fixed portion of the produce, wh.Ie -'^;^"':'"j^!;y ^'*'^, f,"^" ^i^'^„t,,y .nean^ for a far.aer
S:^^^^^^"^^^^^^^ *° a^ype^man^t friendly relations
^^'^^S^Kr;wS':^ot.>descri,.morefu^^
modified by the fact that. n the autumnj^^ ^^nd JJve 1 "ce Sen a seHes of r.>ost useful
.and the north of England visited theUomiinon and have sue ^ „ ^^^^ntof Agiicul-
,,..»" «!»» tl.i. .ubi^ct, »hich will be found id tl.. M'l"'^"-
Tlio loltavins I. . .M SfWAK .1 tbo !.».■> Svstj- .1 Ita diS=™. r«o-..KOi» ot Ih.
Dominion of Canada : . t.,„,i
In Manitoba and the North-West To-ltories f..e giants J WO^a^^^^^^^ SionTtK
Xl^ ^'^ S Jf iati,:ns, f--i.nun. pri. b.^^ ^J^!^U
n^"\S^a;r;f Stob. in^
addition to exempting from se./ui^ for ^ebt tl.e k»^^ j .
f.rm im,i!»cnl. in use, one «-^-:,t;^''"^,«|;'";j^7fih; extent 60 icils' shall be free from
■ J^ir'':.^ S:.: t h^e, i;i::^:^:l!:rii^ t S ^e. m tbeca. of aU wntsissued by
on re=Uk.,:i:.L '■ .tid-.tion., .ind they aUo have V' "','';; t,,^;\?'"V,i„cM at reasonable rates.
Columbia on . .,, reasonable terms.
i
I
EXTRACTS FROM THE CHAPTER OF THE
'COLONIZATION CIRCULAR' RELATING TO CANADA.
Issued by the Imperial Colonial Office,
r.maflii ;
(lusiiiption,
t'Xtullt,
diiiiLito, etc.
Local
(luvorn-
UlCllt.
EJiicition.
ronuUtion.
T,-.>do
CllMUto.
DOMIXIOX OF CANADA.
The Territory coiii;)vi^i.'il in the Domini ii of Canada contains about 3,500,000 K;(uartj
mile,', extending' fronx tlie Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and at its southern point
rcacliing the ' ; Mi parallel of latitude, It pos.sesaes thousand.s of square nitles of the
finest forests .... .) ' Co- tinont ; widely spread coal-fields, exten.sive and productive
firilieries ; its ri e lakes are among the largest and most remarkable in the
World, and the mii.: acres of prairie lands in the newly opened-up North-West
territories are report '. . heirig am lUj; tlio most fertile on the continent of America.
Canada is divided inco seven Provinces. Each Province is divided into Counties
and Townsliiiis, having their own Local Boards, and Councils, for regulating local
taxation for roads, Kchools, and other municipal purposes.
Jtuligious liberty prevails.
The Educational system is under the control of the Oovernments cf tiio various
Provincts. Free schools are provided, and facilities are afforded to successful pupils
for .ibtaining the highest education.
The population at the last census (in 1S71) was 3,602,.'J96. Among its inhabitants
there were 219,451 natives of Ireland, 144,999 of England and W.ale.,;, 121,074 of
Se,)tl.ind, (it, 447 natives of the I'nited States, .and 24,iG2 n.atives of Germany. The
cen-ius will l)e taken agi>'.n in 1881, when the population will no doubt bo found to
have much incrca-sed.
Tlie following figures show the imports and exports for the fiscal year endinjr
.Tune 30th, 1880, and also the value of the u.'cportj to, and imports from, *he United
Kingdom during the same period.
Value of Imports ... ... ... ... .'■•SC),4S9,747
V.alue of Exjxirts ... ... ... ... ,^7,911,458
Exports to the United Kingdom ... ... 4.\8 1(),062
Imports from the United Kingdom ... ... 01,401,224
An cx.aminatiou of thaw figures, compare,! with tho.^e of the United St.ates, sliows
that the imports of Canada from tlreat Britain, in proportion to the population,
represent 32s. per head, as against Ss. 4d. per head in the United States.
In a country like tlie Dotninioii of Canada, extending northward from the 44° of
latitude, the climate is naturally varialile ; but sjieaking generally, the sommers are
liotter than in England and the winters colder. However, if the climate of a country
Is to be measured by its productions, then Canada, in the (luality of her timber, grains,
fruits, plants, and animals, must be accorded a front rank.
The extremes of cold, tiiough of sh(U't dur.ation, and the winter covering of snow,
have given Canada the reputation of having an extremely severe climate, and atten-
tion has not been sufficiently directed to the cii-cum-ftance that by the warmth of the
isunnner months, tlie range of production is extended, in grains, from cats and barley
to wheat and maize ; in fruits, from apjiles to peaclics, grapes, melons, nectarines, and
apricots ; in vegetables, from turniiJS, carrots, and cabb.ages, to the egg-plant and
tomatoes.
Snow and ice arc no drawback to the Canadian winter. To Canada they mean
lint only protection to her cultivated acres, ahiiost .as valuable as a covering of manure,
but the conversion of whole areas, during several months in the year, to a surfivce ujHin
which every man may make his own road ciiual to a turnpike, in any tlirection, over
Extracts from the ' Colonhation Chcular' Ittlath.j h Canwlu.
i;5;i
DP THE
TO CANADA.
joul 3,500,000 Kiiuare
at its southern point
f square mtlos of the
iisive and productive
jt remarkable in the
)ened-up Nortli-West
ontinent of America,
divided into Counties
I for regulating local
rtmeuts c.f the various
d to successful pupik
imong its inhabitants
,nd W.alos, 121,074 of
es of Germany. The
doubt bo found to
he fiscal year endinjf
irts from, ♦^he United
,'■•80,480,747
tr,!t 11,458
4.'i,81(5,Oe2
31,401,224
Fiiitjd States, show.n
1 to the population,
id States.
iward from the 44° of
illy, the siunmers are
i climate of a country
of her timber, grains,
ter covering of snow,
re climate, and ntten-
t)y the warmth of the
from cats and barley
lelons, nectarines, and
to the egg-plant and
Po Canada tlicy mean
a coveiiiig of manure,
rear, to a surface ujion
in any tlircctii.in, over
Melius o(
ciiiiimiinioa-
tiun.
vation is arrested by frost. a,rric>iUure of a country except
Intensity of winter cold has little '^?°'=V 1 ' .Vn.o^f Hi.'h si.riu" and summer
sx»;srrsS"j's.'isr;;c*r5i ;&;;.."; o. ».:» ... .,..
melon m Canadn,. fomnerature of the Atlantic and Tacifio
SKi'i;" s^ !.v,:t .r|.fK^;:Jr:.t,i',; £., ..... ...... «...
fevers of every tyi.c, and the cou,»try ^-^''«f;^'">' '" ™ tj,. Territories is c<.mpara-
the western portions of ^"t'''";\*" "r' ' \"i':,,,,^'l durin'' the summer nionths
Bnmswick, while its rivers and lakes form a laglitt.iy aunu„
from the interior to the ocean. , . ^p-fect system of inland
It may be mentioned that Canada possesses the '""f^^l^", ""^X.m Chica-o to
navigatio'n in the world. At the present ^^ ^-^^f^^^ ^ ^J'^ ^f.,^ .
Montreal by way of Lakes Michigan, I^^^^^^^
^r^.^d"S:f a^K^-on^he St. Law^c. Jiver .. h^ -^^,^5
i:sbii^;irS^«eet?fS^t£^^^^^^^ --^ - --- -^
'''%!e:S:^efromChica.otoMo,..aU^^
can be moored alongside the ;i«'^y«)- ^J*'^,^ fh pErie clnaland there are 10 more
from Chicago to New York vui B«ff-jlo and th° J."c f ana^^ ^^ .^ ^^^^^^
lucks and 89i feet more lockage by the Latter J« «e * ,an y ^^^_^ ^^^_^,^
fore expected that upc.nthecompetion of the enlarged America,
of the grain from Western Canada, as ^^f^f,f'^"'"i\'^;'„''Yt/ other advantages, the
will find its way to Europe ri,i Montreal, as >" ^d, Uon to ^^^ ^o^,^.
distance from Montreal to Liverpoo is abo i 300 n .1 s ^e- than f. m^^.^ ^^^^^^^^ .^
alnSt/^iS:.^" e^lfl^i'iS.ance i. Unccted with the electric
^^•'^Stst time to arrive in NoHh An>oriea is early in ^V- -;:;:;:^- ^I^L^^^t
""Thet^igo to Quebec occupies on an average about ten days by steamer, and the
^""irC'li^S-^t^'o^S^SrkBoneach of the d liferent provinces of
wliich the Dominion of Canada is composed.
MANITOBA
AM)
THE NORTH-WEST TEllUITOlUES.
The c<mntry now known as Manitoba and the North-We.t Ten Itories wa. g^ant.^ M.n.bM
by Si^r^:^e Hudson B^ Company, j^ 1 070^ dunng «j. ^^^^:^^ N^^h-W^t
a hunting and trading ground, and was P^'\' 'f " ^"'^"ig^o ^..^en their rights were
trade of the company which controlled it for so many years.
Tost.al ami
Ti;logr.ai>li
arrivugc*
mciits.
Time t.>
eiuigralc.
Time of
tmnsit.
Extent of
ManiliiU
ami ttio
NorthWcHt
I'urrltorlos.
Free ((ranta
(if laixl.
Mniiltotia
tiii<l ttie
Niirtli-Wcst
Tcrritovica.
GuiJoti.
raritui
rciiuiicd.
Cost of
1>rcakiiig
11J) t.-ilid.
Iniiirovod
farm^.
FucL
Canadian
l*acifio
Haiiway.
134 E.rlriict.< from the ^ Culonhalion Oiiuuhtr'' Hi luting to CamuJa,
Mtthiloba, a lU'ovinco which has been made out of the North West Territory, U
iiituateJ bttv.eeii the paralluU 49^—50' 2' north ktitiule ami 0(5'— 99^ west longitude,
in the very heart of the continent of Aniuriea. It in 1:35 miles lon^; and 105 niiloii
wide, and contains in round niiniberM 1 1.000 srmarc miles, or 9,000,000 acres of land.
Koii}fhly Hpeaking, the North-West TerritorioH belonging to (Canada cover about
2,500,000 Ki|uare miles, and contain about 200,000,000 acres of fertile kind, which are
now waiting Kcttleinent.
Any male or female who is the head of a family, or any person who has attained
the age of 18 years, can obtain a free grant of a (juarter section of IGO acres ; and
can also make an entry for jireeinption rights to the adjoining <iu;,rt«r L'cciuin, at
the (jovernniunt prico ranging from one dollar per acre iipwards.
Lands can also be purchased along the line of the Canadian P"- '"i T?nilway at
prices ranging from 48. to £\ per acre, according to distance from thu . ......j.
Intending settlers should go at once to the Land Office in the district where they
intend to settle : and guides will bo sent with them free of charge to point out vacant
lands available for settlement.
The following is the amount of capit.il considered necessary for a man with a family
to start farming on a free grant of pniiiie laud. It 1ms been compiled from various
works that have b.en published on Manitoba and the North-West Territory, and may
be accepted as reliatilc.
Provisions for one year ... ... ... ... S200
One yoke of oxen .,. ... ... ... ••• 1^0
One cow 30
One waggon ... ... ... ... ... ... 80
Breaking plough and harmw ... ... ... 30
Chains, shovels, spades, luniks, etc. ... ... 20
Cooking stove and furniture ... ... ... 30
Seeds 20
Puikling contingencies, etc. 60
§000 or £120.
It is of cour.-jo ba.'icd upon the assumption that all payments for goods are to be
m.adu on delivery, but as a settler could obtain many of his recpiirenuiuts on credit
until such time as his fiist crops are harvested, it is fair to assume that a nuich lower
HU a than that named above would really suffice, especially a.s a settler and his family
v\ ho have not much capital would be able to command a good price f(ir their own
labour during harvest time, and thus add to their capital until they have a sufficient
quantity of their own land under cultivation to keep them fully occupied.
It may be added that an energetic man landing in Canada with only a pound or
two in his pocket is able to look at the future cheerfully. Many such men ha\e taken
up the free grants, and then have hire<l themsilvcs out to labour, cultivating their
own laml during spare time, and employing a man at h.arvest or when necessary. By
this means they are nbie U- stock ami ciiltiv.ate their farms in a few years, with the
resvdts of their own labour and the protits of their harvests, and there are many men
in Canada now in po.4l-ion3 of independence who commenced in the way above
described. ,
It will bo uuderstnod that the figures named above do not mcludo the passage of
the settler and his family from England to :\lanitoba and the -North -West.
The cost of breaking up the prairie laud is estimated at 3 dollars per acre, and the
ploughing, sowing, harvesting, and thrashing, the second year, 4 dollars per uci-e.
Improved farms can be purchased from £1 per acre upwards.
There is not sonuK-h woodland in tlie prairir districts as in other parts of Canad.a,
but there is enough for the puqiosos of fuil and fencing, and timber for building pur-
po.ses can be purchased in the larger Unvns and settlements.
This line of railwav, which is to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is now
in course of construction by the Govermiient of the Doudnion, and is expected to
cost from 75 to 80 nuUions of dollars. Two hundred and sisty miles of the line are
now in operation. This will be increased by about live hundred in 1881, and m 1882
over seven hundred miles will be open, extending from Lake Supe.icr through Mani-
toba and westward through the Territories to near Fort ElUce, thus effecting a saving
in thedistanee from Manitoba and the North-West Territory to the ports of- shipment
for Europe of about four hundred miles, as compared with the existing route from
the Western States of America, vid New York. This railway will pass through uk-
tensive coal-fields, which will ensure an unlimited supply of fuel.
'o CamuUl,
I West Teiritory, is
99^ west loTisitiido,
lonj; ami 105 milo.s
1,000 acres of land,
"anada cover about
tile Land, which arc
1 who has attained
of 100 acroH ; and
qii:-,rt«r L'cciiun, at
P'.' '"•{•. Pailway at
thu . ......J.
district where they
to point out vacant
a man with a family
upilt'd from various!
Territory, and may
$200
130
30
80
30
20
30
20
GO
§000 or £120.
or floods are to be
liruiiUiiiU on credit
: that a much lower
ttler and his family
jrico tiir their own
>y have a sufficient
ccupiod.
th only a pound or
ich men ha\e taken
ir, cultivating their
vhen necessary. By
few years, with the
thoro are many men
in the way above
lude the passage of
•th-West.
irs per acri', and tho
loUars per acre.
icr parts of Canada,
jer for building pur-
;ific Oceans, is now
and is expected to
lilcs of the line are
in 18S1, and in 1882
M.icr through Mani-
us elfecting a saving
lie porta at' shipment
existint; route from
ill pass through ex-
Extracts fr,.n tl>e ^ O.l"nta0o. Circular' n.U>r.O to Onuula.
135
It may be mentio^d that ^r^^^::^^-JS^ ^^^ S.o.
vay wUi n. -mp.et.d fn.n TlauiJr^Bay La.^^^^^^
westward. It will pass ontncly ^ "'I'-al* f J "^^^ , ,;, t,; 't ,„ost of the rivers and
newand..lds.Uorsw,lbevep g .at. Itma .^^^ _^_^j ^,_^^^ ^^^ j,,y
lakes in Manitoba and the ^''^^'■■^*;'^,^^,^^^^^^ and Kan>..u ;.n. ^
.luring tho season on the ^ ':" .'T'^^:;^^' ^^^.m scng. rs and freight, calliug at I'ruK'e
distance by water of about 1200 "'''''•• '^''^^^ ,;, steamers also n.n regt -
Albert, Carlton. Battkfonl and other 1^ f« " ;',,;^ f, the lied Kivet. There .s
S':!^:ri:2zi^ ---- ^-'^^'"- ""''
^tfeba is situated in the tl^^JfCSc ot^^ ViS!^- ^^^'^ "'""'
Pole and 'be ICquator, and the Atl^;"t>c a d 1 a .^^^ The snow goes aw.ay, an. .
diti..n» of .cide<i heat in sun.mer ""l^'^^ '','5^ '=';,, ^Vhne as in the older provinces of
ploughing begins in Apnl, "'hl^'h '^ f ">"■ ,'m, Atlantic seaboard, an.l the Xorth-
Canada and the Northern United ^1;^^ " ^'^"rh^'' '^S^ are harvested in August.
Western States of Minnesota "^"/IW ™"ii„ J,(^ all orts to rapid maturity. Tho
The long sunny days of sununer bring vegetation ot au sori,
days are warm and the nights cool. . „^„_ ...a K,ts till the end of November,
Autumn begins about the '^^^^'^l^^'^^;:^ compXts^rmonths of December
when the regular frosts set in. int winn r !«> i<c 1 summer months
January, February, and March. «l'""g '^/^''^'^j'^e^t/X^^ J winter ihe ther-
Sparfof M.ay,^Juno. July, ^^^^^^^.^t^uit £. ^^,r.e .i cold in
mometer sinks to 30 and «';^,"^t '"(^ *^ S not prod. ice any unpleasant sensatmn-i.
the dry atmosphere of the ^'"•"VW'^f. , nTn the nrv nee of Quebec, nor so cold as
Tho weather is not felt to be colder ban " ^h^rov mce <^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ j^,^^^_ .^
milder winters in climates where *»>« '" ' '^^;„'^" ^ ^^ersfl on this point. ,
accompanied with damp or wind. Tho t..stimony is u eighteen ir chcs ;
liUlfctorJ, t.»e«h i.ua.lh .J Ita )«•" ™*"8 ■'"'?• "''■
Tor.'Utn.
00-38
58'18
4.5'8t
August
September
October
3600
25-78
22-80
2-2-74
28-93
40-72
61-74
01-85
07-49
WiiiniiicK-
07-31
52-18
35-81
30-06
1197
—0-10
-12-32
1414
39-10
.f)3-13
63-20
08-19
Brtttlofonl.
67-79
47-10
31 -.52
28-60
6-48
0-45
— 10--25
10-80
40-70
03-35
00-45
63-95
November ••• ••■ --••.
December
January
February ... :
March ...
April •••
May
Juno ...
It '^^. noticed th:jt from To.;^ wosUv^d^^^^ ^
summer months, and as '^^^.^'j "S'^ . '^^ of jheat r ^^^ ._^ ^^.^^^
North-West is etpially as large (if notlarguj ooin ui i -f .tjiity of the soil, this
United States, it would seem that in ^^^l ' Vhff-vS of sn w is also less in the
temperature is very favourable o cereal crops. ^^^^^^/J^^ 1^76 it wa.,
Western portbn of the K;;""-'"-^ ]^^^l'^. J i^'thesnow is no drawback to tho
^J,i;;^':T\;;:'^::pt!'^Srare^^,^?i:trU'-a May. and harvested in August
jind September.
l.^ii Exlnii ^^ /rum the ' Cnhiit'iMtiou Ciivuhir ' Hclatiii^ In Cun^dlo.
.•,;i. The soil is a deep alluvial ilrpnsit of unsurii.i'sed ricliness. It is mostly ]ira!rIo,
nnil covered with f,'ra,4H. It producuH bomitifid crops of ccrcalo, grasses, ro.'t^ and
vuKctablon. So rich is the soil that wheat has been cropped (iff the same place for
fortv vears without manure, nud withotit showini; Hij,'iis of exhaustion.
'ri'ii! foUowinj; extracts from tlio reports of the Eni,'li.ih and Scotch farxicrfi,
elected by the farnierH in their rcHpectivu dlHtricts, who went out to ('iUiada ill 1879
to report upon the country, are inlcrer^tin;,' and reliable on this subject :
Mn. BiciOAH, The (Uramjc, Dolhfattii:
'As afield for whent-raisiuK. T ^^■'"'•'1 much jirefer Manitoba to Dakota. The
first cost of the land is less ; the soil is deeper, and will stand more croppiii;< ; the
Kiimi'le of wlieat is better, and the produce live t<i ten bushels per acre more, all of
which is ]>roKt.'
Mn. Geoiioe Cow.v.v, Amian,
speaking of Mr. Mackenzie's farm, at Ibn-nside, says : ' I was certainly mu-prised
lit the wonderful fertility of the soil, which is a rich black loam, averaKins abr)ut
18 inches of surface soil, on friable clay subsoil, ,1 and tj feet in.depth, beneath which
is a thin layer of sand, lyin;^ on a stiff clay. The land is ipiite dry, and is well
watennl by ti fine stream which flows tlirough it.'
' The land biitweon Kiipid City and the' As'<iniboino, which lies to the so\ithward,
2.') miles distant, is a nice loam with clay subsoil on top of gravel. I w.as very highly
ttuiiressed w ith the fertilitv of the soil, some of it l)ein<,' without exception the richest
I have ever seen, and I liaVe little doubt it will continue for many years to proiiueo
excellent crops of grain without any manure, and with very little expense in culti-
vation,' .
Mb. .John Locan, EnrUton, Dcnnck, says :
•All the land round this district (Assiniboine) is very good, being 4 feet deep of
black loam, ns we saw from a sandpit.'
Mb. John Snow, MhUothhtn.
•Along the Red River and about Winnipeg the soil is very strong black vegetable
mould, and I have no doubt most of it would carry paying crops of wheat for thirty
years ; but it is very flat, and I must say that I like the country better west of Win-
inpeg, and the furthest point we reached, 150 miles west of Winnipeg, best of all.
You have here the Little Saskatchewan River, with fine sloping ground on each side ;
the soil, and what it produced, was good, iis you will see from the samples of each I
now show yovi. I also show you samples from other parts ; and, as I will show you
further on, the Americans themselves admit that wo have ground better adapted for
LTOwintr wheat and raising cattle than they have.'
f' ^ t "* » » • • *
'We saw that a black vegetable mould covered the surface from 18 inches to 2,
i; or 4 feet deep.'
lilB. Robert Pkat, SUloth, Cumberland.
< ,90(7.— Contrary to my expectations, instead of finding a wet swamp, as I i)ictured
to my own mind, I fomid a deep black loamy soil, varying in depth from -iV to 3 i feet ;
and in some places where it has been cut through on the banks of some rivers, it has
l)ecn found to the depth oi 10 to 12 feet, and is specially adapted for the growing of
wheat, being preferred by the millers to almost cny other on account of it bemg so
dry and thin skinned. It has been known to grow wheat for many years in succession,
without manure. If the report was correct, the soil I havo sent down to you has
grown wheat for thirty years, and the last crop yielded 35 bu-shels per acre.'
Mr. John Maxwell, Carlinlf.
'The soil throughout the country is a rich black loam, 6 inches to 6 feet deep,
almost entirely free from stones, and varying in nuality in different districts, on a
subsoil of strong or friable clay or sand.'
Avcriige The average wheat-yield in Manitoba and the Xorth-West would appear to range
i-r'n<». f,,„„j 20 to 30 bushels per acre, and the weight from 00 to 63 lb. per bushel. Barley
and oats yield good averages, as also potatoes and other root crops.
The following figures, taken from the reports of the delegates of the English and
Scotch tc'iant farmers, may also be found intere4ting on this point :
Mil. James Biggab, of The Grange, Dalhmtl'n; s.iys ;
'We heard very different statements of the yi'dd of wheat, varying from 25 to 10
t is mostly prairio,
grasses, riiot^, nnd
thu samo jilivcc for
iion.
ul Scotch furHicra,
t,o<'iUiaiIiiiii 1879
ijoct :
t to Dakota.
Kini cropping
Tlie
; tho
ur ocru inuru, all of
certainly Biirprisecl
Ti, avcraKiiiS about
plh, benuatli which
to dry, and U wu 11
B to tho so\ithwar(l,
I wan very hiuhly
Tcoption thu richest
ly years to proiiuco
expense in culti-
being 4 feet deep of
ong black vegetable
of wheat for thirty
x-'ttcr w(!st of Win-
niiipeg, best of all.
round on e.ich side ;
e samples of each I
aa I will hIiow you
1 better adapted for
• *
rom IS inche.-i to 2,
wamp, as I iticturcd
from i\ to 'i\ feet;
siMne rivers, it has
. for tho growing of
ount of it being so
years in succession,
t down to you has
1 per acre.'
ihes to 6 feet deep,
ireut districts, on a
luld appear to range
ler bushel. Barley
i,
of the English and
t:
nys ;
trying from 25 to 10
iL;ru<-h fnnu the ' C'lour.tiiwu Virntlar' I,', lullii;/ h dnui'lit. 1.(7
U h.U. McLean, ft farmer near Portage, hnd 1230 bnshols of Fife wheat oft 40 acres.
Another man, ft native of Uoss-shirc, who was ploughing his own lar.d, told us he had
cropped it for seventeen years in succession, his last crop yiehllug 35 bushels per njiv.
Mr Ryan, ISI.!'., a good authority, said the average of wheat nnght safely In; taken
at 25 ti. aO bushels, and of oats 60 bushels. . . . Next day we drove over Messrs.
Kiddle's farm ; their wheat has averoged fully 30 b\mhels per acre.
Mb. Gkobok Cowan, Glenluce, WUjtown, says ;
' Mr. Mackenzie's farm is at Burnsidc, about 9 miles from Voyage la rrairie. . . .
He favo-irod me with his average for the seasons of 1877 nnd 18,8, and his estimate
"r the present year. Wheat 'crop, 1877. 41 bushels ; 1878 3fl bushels ; th.s year
(1879) he expects it to be ch.se on 40 bushels, average «''"«lit <30 *<' 62 »>•.: » "' ''«
has grown it as high as 64 lb. per bushel. Oats hvst year (18/8 he had a y.eld of 88
bushels from two bushels of seed sown on one acre ; this year (1879) h.s estimate s
from 75 t.> 80 bushels per acre. Mr. M. also grows excellent root crops his swede
turnips averaging 30 to 35 tons ; and potatoes without any civre in cultivation, soiuu- .
tines even not 'being moulded up, yield between 300 and 400 bushels of GO lb.
Onions when cultivate:i are also very pi'olific, yiel.ling as much as 300 bushels per acre.
Mangel also grows very heavy crops.^but 1 did not see any on the gri.und. ^
' We spent a shoi-t time on the farm of Mr. McBeth, and walkeil over a field whi.Ii
I was infurmed had been continuously under crop for fifty-four years. . . . 1 was told
it would average 28 or 30 bushels per acre.'
Mb. R. W. Gobdov, AHnan.
' Wheat may safely be estimated to yield with reasonable cultivation 30 bushels of
60 lb., and oats 60 bushels of 32 lb.'
Mb. Lor,.\N, E'irl-:ton,
gpepki.i- of the vield about High Bluff, says: 'The land here has grown wheat
for forty years in' succession, yielding from 25 up to 40 bush(^ s per acre. There are
not manv- oats sown here, but tho general produce is 70 bu^shels per acre.
•Wo arrived at Portage on Saturday afternoon. ... He told us he had grown
g.wd crops at an average of 32 bushels per acre of CO lb. weight."
Mb. Snow, Fountain Hall, MitUothkin.
'I consider I keep safely within the mark when I say that, taking a good piece of
land, it will produce 10 bushels the first year, and an average of 30 bushels for thirty
years, without manure.' „ ,. ,
•' Mb. John Maxwei.i., Carlisle
•I L'ive .an estimate of the cost of wheat crop in Dakota. The same sysl.'m may
be uJ.4.ted in tho Canadian North- West to advantage .as the average yield, m. far as
can be le.arned ,;n present inform.ati m, will be 8 to 10 bnshe s per acre higher than the
Yield in Dakota, United States Territory, and every extra bushel produced tends to
reduce tho first cost per bushel to the producer."
All tho other delegates confirm these figures. ,.,„.„,., .,
In Manitob-a, a homestead exemption law was passed in 18,2, which exempts from
seizure for debt 460 acres of land, house, stable, barns, furniture, tools, farm implo-
ments in use, one cow, two cxen, one horse, four sheep, two pigs, and thirty days pro-
vender for same. . , . , . i
Any person, male or female, having attained tho ago of eighteen years, can enter a
claim for a (luarter section (ICO acres) of unappropriated Dominion lands, a« a claim
for forest-tree planting, and will receive a patent on certain si.ecihed conditions and
..roof of cultivation. The fee for the necessary documents is 10 dollars. No person
can take up both a tree-planting grant and a pre-emption ; but either one or the other
can be secured in conjunction with the free grunts.
rarm labourers can obtain from X'30 to £40 a year and board. 1' emale domestic
servants 20s. to 243. per mouth with board. Mechanics earn from 8s. to l^s.
'^'Thc'foUowing are the prices of horses, cattle, farming implements, and commodities
^""llSos per pair, about £G0 ; oxen per yoke, £2G to £30 ; cow, £G to £7 eych ;
wa-gons, £16 to £18 each ; ox cart, £3 to £4 ; breaking plough and harrow from
K £8* common ploughs, about £3 12s. ; reapers, £20 to £:30 ; mov.ers, A14 o
£■26 ; spades 4s. 6d. ; shovels, 5s. ; hay-forks, 3s. ; nianure-for):s 4s Beef, od. to
7d. per pound ; pork, 5d. per pound ; flour, 21s. per barrel ; uitter, Is per ponn^l ,
Is per do^cii; broad, 4>d. to 5d. per 4 lb. loat. ; salt, 7d. io SJ. per lb. ;
Itmncstciid
Kxoiiii>tU<ii
1a\,w.
Tree
culture.
I'rico o(
Liljciiir.
Prices,
138 l-J.rhaclHj'rom the ' VoIonLatwn Ciriular ' JleUttoKj to Caiiailit.
,,„tftto.«, 1.. M. to Z>. r>T l...M,.l i t.uv. 2.-. to 2.. n,l JUT II.. ; mwvr, 1.1. to (U. ;
|.oflo.., lOcl. to U. (i.l. : tolmcoo, 2h. to 2h. .1.1. Cat oil, U. M. i-.t jta I-m I .i.Ih.
thrcc-lmoi., iH. :!.!. each. Stout Huit of .L.tljin^ for a man, i:2 to iJ ; folt hats, fi«iii
<i. ; boolH, bs, to l-irf. ; grey blankut?, Sh. to 12«. jiur i>air.
Proc gmiitn
111 Outurio.
rrice of
liiiids.
Imiirovod
{ari»!«.
Siiil.
CUiiiato.
Mo.ins of
cciniiiiuulca'
tioii.
Education.
Cities imJ
tuwim.
Miiioralii.
Jliiiiiifac-
lures Hiid
vxj>orts.
Frno gmiils
in ijucbmc.
Crown land*
Iluitiosteiid
law.
Soil.
Minus and
Fiulierius.
CiHcg.
Wages,
prices, ma-
)>uiu«t\>rs8<
oNT.vnio.
Kverv hea.J of a familv can oMaiii u fr^v h'ra.it of 200 ncrcs of land and any
pornou 18 years of ago may obtain ino auivs in tli.; froo-iirant districts. llio chm-
llitioiw aro : -15 aoron in uacli grant of 100 acror. t.. Us cleared and under crop in livu
years- a liaWtal.le hoiHo at kant 16 fftt l.y 20 l.uilt ; and ix'swlcnco on tliu land at
lai.st six months in oach year. Tliu patent is issued at the end of live years.
Uncleared lands can also be purcliused at i-rices varying from is. to 40b. ih-t
'"'"cleared and improved faniH with buil.lin<'s can bo b.J«-ht at from £» to £10 per
acre The money can nearly always bo pai.l in instalments coverniK' sevral years.
The soil of the country varies in uiiruiciit localities, but a largo proportion Is of
the very best descripti.>li for agricultural purposes. , ,, „ . . , „. „■, •„,
Tlie cliniat<i is much the same a.s in some other parts of tlie Dominion ; but milder
in the winter than in Quebec. . i„„,.
Cereals, urasses, and roots produce large croj.s, and fruits grow in great abundance ,
hemp, tobacco, and sugar beet are also profitable crops ; mai/.e and tomatoes ripen
well, and peaches and grapes come ti> perfection in the open air.
Tho province possesses excellent means of communication both by railways, ana
by water through the lakes, and the river St. Lawrence, with aU parts of the Dominion
and to the Atlantic ports. . , ^ , ., i i ».„,„„
Th'.- public schools are all free and non-sectarian. All resident children between
the ages of 5 and 21 are allowed to attend them. ,. m *
There are several large cities and towns in this province, among others Toronto,
Ottawa, Ilainilton, London, Kingston, etc. , . . , i •i,,.-
In mineral wealth it has great resources, producing iron, copper, ead, silver,
marble, petroleum, salt, etc. Its immense forests of pine timber are well known.
Its prineii.al manufactures are cloth, linen, clothing, leather, furniture, sawn
timber, llax, iron and hardware, paper, soap, cotton, and woollen goods, steam c»g'nes
and locomotives, woodenwan; of all descriptions, agricultural implements, etc. Cattle,
sheep, and pigs, dairy and agricultural produce, and fruit are exported largely from
this ii'rovince, and the trade is increasing rapidly.
The rates of wages for farm labourers are from 403. to 60a. per month, with
board and lodging ; for common labourer from about 3s to 4s. 2d. a day, without
board and lodging; and for female domestic servants from 148. to £1 48. per montn,
all found. Good cooks get lalhiT more. ,,.,.,„.. -n t i
Provisions are much cheaper thanin England or m the Lnitcd States. Beef, vcal,
and muttcm are from 3d. to Gd. per lb. ; pork, 4d. to 5d ; bacon, 6d to 8d. ; bread
(best), 4ld. to M. per 4 lb. loaf ! butter (fre-sh). Is. ; salt (Utto, id. to 8d. per lb. ,
potiitoes. Is. M. to 2s. i.er bushel ; tea, 2s. per lb. ; sugar (brown), 4d. to 4 id. per lb.;
iiiilk, 3d. per quart ; beer, la. 2d. to Is. Cd. per gaUon ; and tobacco, Is. to 28.
^'^''- QUEBEC.
Upon elL'ht of the great colonisation roads, every m.ale colonist and emigrant
being 18 years of age may obtain a free grr.nt of 100 acres. The conditions are that
at tlie end of the fourth year a dwelling n.ust have been erected on the laud, ftnd
twelve acres be under cultivation. Letters patent are then granted.
Crown lands can also be purchased at 30 cents to 60 cents an .acre.
The province h.ia a homestead law exempting from seizure, under certain con-
ditions, the property of emigrants. . ., ^ ., t n, >
The soil is of very good (juality, and its productions are similar to those of other
parts of Canada. ,,.... ., .^
CJold, lead, silver, iron, copper, platinum, etc., etc., aro found ; but mining in this
province is only yet in its infancy. I'ho.sphate mining is becoming an important
Industry. Its value as a fertiliser is recognised in England anu Irauce, and largo
quantities are being exported. . « nn7 pt't
The fisheries are abuudant, and in 1876 the yield was of the value of 2,097,677
The principal cities are Quebec and Montreal, and there are many large towns.
The reiuwks uwUu in the case of the pruviuce of Ontaiio 111 apply to QuwOeo
also.
tu Vuiiadtt.
Rill^ar, 111. to <'i'I. ;
j)iT Kalli'M. Vh'iU,
X'<i ; full liats, fi«iii
■s of land and ftny
Jixtiicts. Tlio fi.n-
id under cmi) in livu
;nco on tliu land at
live yoarrt.
From 2». to 40«. Ih-T
from £i to £10 per
ini; sc'Vi'ial ytars.
rgu proportion is of
iminiun ; but milder
r in i;roat alxindanco ;
and toniatovs ripen
ith by railways, and
>artB u{ thu Dominion
L^nt children between
long others Toronto,
copper, lead, silver,
are well known.
her, furniture, sawn
floods, Bteanj engines
)lfineutH, etc. Cattle,
xported largely from
iOa. per month, with
s. 2d. a day, without
bo £1 4s. per month,
2d States. Beef, veal,
n. Oil. to 8d. ; bread
1, 7d. to 8d. per lb. ;
ii), 4d. to4id. per lb.;
d tobacco, Is. to 2s.
;olonist and emigrant
he Conditions are that
ted on the laud, and
[ited.
1 .acre.
e, under certain con-
ilar to those of other
;1 ; but mining in this
jconiing an important
md France, and largo
the value of 2,097,677
i many large towns.
111 apply to Qutibeo
Eu-lracti from Uir. ' Colonhatinn Ciirulnr' Urhilhic, In Camuhi.
139
T
Thi, is afforded by railway, and by the river St /'''V'^^"^- /.'''" 'Xh^ve --^n"'"'-
cont 1 the two ^-roat port, of .hipn.ont -Montreal and t^-HlH.^ '"'J '"' ^J'^'J^ •';^ cation,
extensive wh.ufi.«e accomui.Klalion, and ocean-go.ni,' vessels of 4000 tons ran bo
moored alongr,idB the quayo.
NK.W imUNSWTCK.
Ttt* (rrnnf%
New
Bran6wii.k.
"^''o"'r..vin-nt ..f 20 dollar, cash i<i aid in eonstr.Kli.m of n-ads and hedges, or
luhour .if "ll.o valuoof 10 d-llar-i pcrviar forthrco vi/ars. ,,.,.,•
A hoose to in. Ivnit willdn tvvo N.ar.. Ten acrt« to be chared and cultivated m
lline v« ars. I'roof of resiilviii n the laml. ,,,,,, \v\ »t
Tl e 'i U fertile, and prod.uv. all the fruit, generally found n I'.n^lam. Wlea
nven es a .out UO, blulov -I'.K oats .'A, laulnvh-at Hit, vy 'JO, In.han eorn 41, po a -es
"20, t^irnips ■\M Imshelsto the acre. Tl.e i-otatoe. and fruits omn.and good prices
'" 'ShilSung'i^o^^^^^ the.taple induHtries of the province, but ^ nmnufactures
,ene a ly are increasing rapidlv.' There are manufaet„rKS of w ' n and co t^i
goodH, boot, and Hhoes, leather, carria-es, wooden ware, paper, soap, hard-
ware, etc., 'jti;.
NOVA SCOTIA. •
(Ir.antsof laml in this p'-"vinco can be obtained fm- 44 dollars per hundred acres
^''"'rhe'^soii produces good crops of cereals and roots, and large quantities of apples
are grown ^ or expm^ fisheries in Xova .^cntia in 1870 was upwards of £1,000,000
sterling, consisting of covl-llsli, mackerel, haddock, h^^irin;,', lobsters, etc.
Nova Scotia contains largo tracts of woodland which produce timber for ship-
building and lumber chiefly for export. Minerals.
Gold, iron, coal, and gypsum are found in larg« quantities. Zm^^^
There are several railways in the province, giving it communication with other Hallway..
'"'^ Kalifax.'which is the chief city of the province, is the winter port of the Dominion.
It possesses a line harbour, and is connected by railways with all parts of thu cojitl-
ncnt.
riUNCE EDV/AKD ISLAND.
Most of the lands in this province .arc taken up, but improved fanu.s can be
obtained from about £4 per acre. . ^ , ct , 1 • 1.
A full description of this province will be found in Trofessor Sheldon s report.
Boll and
I>rutluctlo!i.
Mitnufao-
turo.
Tjand in
Nova ycotlik
Soil.
FUhcrlcs,
rriro ol
lauds.
BRITISH COLUMBIA.
This province, which includes V.incouver-s Island, is the most western of the
provinces which constitute the Dominion of Canada, its boundaries being the
llocky Mountains on the e.ost, and the Pacific Ocean on the vvest.
It possesses many fine harbours, one of which (15urrnrd Inlet will probably form
the terminus of the Canadian B.acific Kailway when completed j and Via miles of
the line in this province are now under contract. . . , . c. j* , a
Uca.ls of families, widows, or single nun, can obtain free grants of land from Land.
ICO to 320 acres according to locality ; the fee is about 7 dollars.
Surveyed lands can be purchivseU at 1 dollar per acre, p.iyablo over two years ;
and improved farms cost from £1 to £8 per .acre. , .. r u •
nriti«h Columbia has a large extent of valuable timber land, productive fisheries,
which are increasing in value yearly ; gold and coal are also f;'""^! |" '''^.^'l 'l"'^"'''
ties. The yield of gold fixjui 1858 to 187(5 was equal to about 40,000,000 dollars.
Ooncral
Description.
ADDENDA.
rYTPATT FnOAI A MKMORAXDUM PREPARED BY LIEUTLNAN T-
^ r^nAVvi'T T S WxNJs" UKi'UTY MINISTER OF THE INTEIUOR
OF StP fJOVERNMl-i^sTm ON THE SUBJECT OF FIIEI
ORANtI O^IaND i?D OTHER INFORMATION REARING OX THE
PRICE OF LANDS, ltc, etc.
Canada offers to actual settlers, aiul beads of families or male persons over llie ago
of 18 f rue lands on the following terms: . , , , i i „. r ..
Ky such i-crson Las tho choice of all unoccupied lands surveyed and open for
'""oTre'lectins the quarter section or 100 acres .vhich ho dc.irci to settlo on as a home
stcaOe aiicfrs Ht\he nearest land ollice. and has hi. name «»tcre'» for .t payj a
the ti^me a fee of ,£2, as ovidcuco of his intention to settle n the land, cost of the
Srvejs! and necessary documents, etc., ^vhich is all the land costs Inm, ««, by rc.u m,
on an^d culv.vating tho same to a reasonable extent, accor.l.ng to ';•%"«=»"«•, ^h'^"
years, ho becomes entitled to, and receivesaconvcyance in tec simple ^^^ • « 'a" 1 1 "".
tlio Crown. 1 lo is allowed a period of two months (which is counted part of tho thuo
years' occupation), after having his name entered and paying tho £2 ^co, within wh.cl
^"Td^s'rLfby'^hrseUlirrhc will be permitted at tho time of getting his namo
entered at the hind office for his homestead or free grant, to have his name entered a i o
for a second quarter section or tract of IGO acres adjoining his homes cad ; ihis is called
his nre-emotion land. He pays on this also at tho time a fee of 12, winch is all tlio
mXre^S of him on account of the same till he has fulfilled his three years'
vesidcnce on his homestead, when he will have to make a payment on his pre-emption
h.nd of four-tenths of the price tncreof, together with three years interest on tho
price, at 6 per cent, per annum, after which he pays at the rate of one-tenth each ^ac .r
f. f six yeail, with interest at the above rato, when ho will receive a conveyance ui too
s'inple of the land from the Grown. ,....,! •* i „ * „,
The orice of tiie pre-emption land vanes according to the distance it may be fioni
railway accommodation. For instance, if the settler chooses his homestead within f ui ty
miles of tho railway the price will bo 10s. per acre ; but if between forty and sixty
miles, 8s. ; and if more than sixty miles distant, 48. per aero. , - „„r, t
The settler therefore has it within his power to obtain a property of 320 acres of
the best farming land for (in any case^ the maximum sum of 184 the payment ot wh'eli
is purposely arranged to meet the circumstancee of persons of limited means (only 1 1
havin.' to be paid at the time of entry), and may be shortly stated as follows :
To he paiil ill ruKh at the time of entcriiKj for Inn land
At the end of ifire( years from that time
Leaving due, payment of which is mado in ax subsequent
annual inslithnents of £8 each
Total
£1
■62
48
£81
J
LIEUTENANT-
rHE INTEIUOll
JECT OF fih;h
\1UNG ON 'I'llH
orsons over tlie ago
fcycd and open for
lettlo on as u homc-
cd for it, payin<; id
land, cost of the
him, us, by rcwidiii;,'
lis nieana, for tbicu
le for the land from
id part of tliQ tlirco
'.2 fee, within whicl
: getting his naniu
9 name entered also
stead ; this iscallud
;2, which is all tlic
Hod his three years'
on his pre-emption
ars' interest on the
one-tenth each jcir
a, conveyance in feu
ince it may be from
nestead within f 01 ty
een forty and sixty
erty of 320 aoro-s of
e payment of whi^li
.ted means (only I" t
as follows :
ill
■62
.qucnt
48
£81
14t
Adiliiiihi.
s, M n» ..c «ui.«i. i., ;;.« v.,« sunii., ,M., ivo ™u,, „t u.c ...c, ...
Bccuro his J-JO aoics would stand thus : ^ ^
To bo paid in cash as abovo ... ... j., j,- ,)
M the end ..f three years fr;Mn t'-^^J ''.l'-^, .-^,„, '-f ,,. .V
lAMvi.r-' d'le, to l.e paid in >ix aiiT.uil iii-t lUntnis . r .. . . .
ca.:
T'.til
U is to bo nnder.ood th.it n..th.r ..o . beforo^^^^
S'::.;^li^err^.:"i;^/^^it;:^tJin.c unpaid
The mode of «"rvoy of the lands is nmfmm^ oach-that is. six miles on each
The Townships are aid ont '"/^^'.^.^'f^.'^J^J.^X sections, which are in turn sub-
,ido-the«o are divided into single .^'i^.-X?, 'res ,o taininu 100 acres each,
divided into .pmrter sections "'• h'''^'^''^ ^^IJ''^^;";^)'';'^^^^^ numbered fromtho
SoS£!^^;\Xi^^^^^'' M. «tc.. etc.. etc.. making .6 section.
•" '^he Government l^o declared i^at ij-^^"^-';:^ ^!^ ^^oJi ?i velii^
- etc.. etc.. ^^^-!i^'-::izS::^^^s:4^^^^^^
?*^;mdV-pav-for the eon^tn^ctu^ C3f tj. C^-^^ ,1
;;^r "'Fo^i^octli/li Ivm^S: ;!^;8 and 20. Ivro reserved in .ich rownsliu>
J ono-twentietn oi ino uuma •» v..« >
.Twin b, .-„ .h.. p.»i j™ », n?..Svt:'^r,iS;s\4^"
a fund to pav for the
pre-emptions, r our »octioiii, 1 1 f '^^,[!;,"";J,,^,^"'J„^,',' t 'fin- 'sdiools--'and"the latter re
Bay Company, ' " ' ^
By this it
equal number .
leaving an equal area of railway -, •■■•-' „„„.:-,,,«
£ ocLpier^ of adjoining ^^-ScVrtSn "t"K ' within 5 miles of the railway,
The railwav lands arc «";<i„** ^"'^.^ /Si/ 1 acre, and the payment of the
to 8s. at 60 niilos,outside of which the price IS 4^p ..^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^,
purchase money is spread over nine jcars, wiin u p
maining from time to time ""!>»•"• j^^out a scheme to settle commiinitics on
Should it be considered cs^^ntu in carryin oui j;^ , T^e undersigned
homestead lands, provision could "° ^^^^^V'ana^a has nvoved beyond question that
would however observe, that f P"';S"i„'*J ff rom tL older provinces are found
those settlements succeed best on ^Xl^^J^P3,'',ro practical and self-reliant and
intermixed w th the »7;,"=°"^, f;,,,\S tliKlplc furnished by even a few of such
educated in the ways of the "^^^ "t^y-^"!^J^° U Seat value to the latter in showing
^art^bSird SL^'anf sS^^^^^ up^laud, to provide for stock through
tho winter, etc., etc. j^j ^ received by agents specially ap-
,oLX:^r,i.l''2'X^^^^^ Sui^o them to the funds which may have
^-J^^DSiSnKernmentsome,yea.ago^
gration, by which it was provided ^bf * P^ ''""^ '^"J^'^^J'/i ^^ng^, to furnish them also with
immigrknts and place tUem on honiestcads to eieU bu,_Kung ^^.^^^ ^^
tho necessary fainu ^Pl^"^^" ^.'"^J.^^.^J ^'^ ad be recuvcd in each case to the extent
over till they were able tVilwlihferrt thereon at the rate of per cent, per
of 2U0 dollars, equal to 140 with "'"i^^^f * ;, '""ti^^ homestead of tho immigrant,
annum till paid, by the same be"'g |"^<1° j^ j ^'^ J by the Crown till such sum and
and that no patent for the land ^b°"^^„°^ Srantea oy i advantage of to any
:_* * 1,,^ l>onn naid. This provision was nowcver uou nin.fimnt on
'■■■^■■w
i^T;x;;rhad been paid . Thu'piUln w^^^^^^^^^ h^t"t:trandTr:-emptip>
extent, and upon the adoption of ^]^°^,^^X the proposal to assist settlers on th.ir
lands ind railway lands, it was [ff^J^J" lta^Sir ?n England, the Canadian Govern-
142
AchleivJa.
provisions of the repealed Act ao as to secure repayment of any moneys advanced for
tL'o purposes above mentioned. ,. , .• i i ut
There is no reason wbatcvtr, solonR as people are sober and indnstnons, to UouOt
of their success. The productive character of the land, the ff cilitv v-lth which it may
bo placed under crop, there being no forest to be cleared, and no other difficulty in
case the emigrant arrives on the land early enough in the season, in taking oil a crop
the samo year, and finally the certainty of being able to get remunerative prices for
everything ho can raise, tiirough he l^cal demand caused by the constant and rapid
influx of popr.ktion and the construction of public works in the Territories, all con-
■.ribiito to render certain a measure of success to the emigrant, co-oxtoiisivo with hia
personal thrift and industry. • , . ., rx
The climate of tho territories is undoubtedly healthy and congenial to the conutitu-
tions of the inhabitants of Europe. ,•,,.,• r -r
The prospects of married men, wl»o, without means, are placed with their families
on homesteads, are rendered all tho better from tho fact that for some years tho
demand for labour in connection with the construction of railways now pvogresaii..^,
and of others contemplated, will afford tlicm opportunities after tho crops arc put in,
and then again in the autumn after harvest, and through tho winter, of Kupplemcnting
tho profits of the farm by earnings which will enable them the sooner to make their
families comfortable, and to pay o£E tho moneys which may have been advanced for
their benefit. . , ,. ^ o . i •
Under the conditions of the Homestead Law three years occupation of the land is
required in order to entitle the settler to the full ownership of the same, but the settler
may be absent from his homestead for si-K months in each year of the said period, and
where the man's family remain on tho land and work it to a reasonable extent (which
may well be done where there are children of sufTicient age), the head of the faiiiily
may if he chooses, work -way from home throughout the whole of each year.
The avcags wa^es paid at the present time to men working on railway construc-
tion in that country are 63. per day, out of which they pay for board 2s. per day or
r2s. per week, leaving them nett 4s. per day for their labour.
With regard to the amount of money which would bo necessary to pay the emigra-
tion expenses cf an average family of tho poorest class, and place them on land in
the North-Wcst, under circumstances wuich would ensure their subsistencij till they
obtained a crop, it is safe to say that from ^80 to £i'M judiciously expended would
cover tho e cpe..se. A portion of this sum would require to be spent for actual neces-
saries of a character such as outfit, household requirements, and clothing, which people
able to pay their own way would already have in possession. A family of the class
last referred to, therefore, going out independently, could, by careful management,
place themselves comfortably on land at a considerably less cost than tho sum meu-
tioned.
of any moneys advanced for
lor and industrious, to doubt
10 ff cility vlth which it may
d, and no other difficulty in
season, in taking oft a crop
get remunerative prices for
by tlio constant and rapid
B in the Territories, all con-
ijj'rant, co-oxtoasivo with his
nd congenial to the conutitu-
10 placed with their families
.ct that for some years the
)f railways now pvogresaii.^,
!S after the crops arc put in,
ho winter, of Kupplemcnting
em the sooner to make their
nay have been advanced for ^-
irs' occupation of the land is
p of the same, but the settler
year of the said period, and
3 a reasonable extent (which
ige), the head of the family
e whole of each year,
vorking on railway construc-
lay for board 2s. per day or
our.
necessary to pay the emigra-
s, and place them m land in
fo their subsistence till they
judicioufily expended would
to be spent for actual neces-
ts, and clothing, which people
sion. A family of the class
Lild, by careful management,
less cost than the sum meu-
INFORMATION FOR INTENDING SETTLERS
IN CANADA.
^
T.IK best t;:.e to start for Canada i. ai^^ S^^^'S^,:;Ji^rLam.hip Lines, whosO
When it has been ^decided to fe^' °"^,,^^y'',,,ould be written to, so as to secure
^:sr^::^:^t^rX^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^-'' «^^^^^^' """'""-
•^^^^:tSrL any of the l^^^^^r'^^"^^^^^'^^^^^^
depends upon the class of passage that - f^^ „^^>°,tt,:;?°„, p,,,age' is .tO Gs.. but
£18 ; the intermediate is £8 8s. , and tne «;<""^ -^ „, j ° ^J ^ate, which can bo
agriculturists and domestic servants ''"■^.^''^^^^'t^the Government offices, who will
£28 the saloon passage. Passengers aie aavisea
*^'HS^ secure a berth in the steamers it is necessary to send a deposit of £5 for a
intermediate, and ten to t.:ch steerage ,.^ ^^ Canada, or upon
any of the Canadian G°J^«™";."Se'bedding and certain utensils for use on board,
Steerage P^^sseMgers have to pi ovule bed^^^^^ Companies. They can be pur-
which are ei^umorated in the ^'?^"*' o^, ^,'1^, ^*^^^^^^^ from some lines-for a few
cha.sed at tbc port of embarkation or laed for the vo> a e^ ^^^ passenger.
Bhillings-leaTing bed covermg on y (a rug »' °^^ ! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ i„ Canada, and they
Government agents are ,«taU. 'led at the pi k^^^^^ ,^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^
should be inquired for on ai^ival They %v 1 1 t «>i m ' ^ districts, farms
and other lands open for Bettlement in ^J^-^ ^^^^P^^^^^^f P;°^el, distances, expenses of
S^^^nSTr^^i^^t^^^-^ 1^- ^^^"-- ''^ -''-" '-' '"' ^"^
^^^^r^'cS^^vf^^d^Tina^^^^
.a^ bS^i^ir^^;^ x^9^^9££- ,s? n.;id Kuh:
remark will apply to any persons ^'1;°^ f th°'^^g\\°J K suffloiei: ^,,^ to euabto
adapt themselves to agricultural pursuits, ana wuo uuyc o
''T Protco ?alrrs and persons with capital, seeking investment.
MB
j^^ AdJenila.
3. Male and female farm labourers, female domestic servants and country
"** TLe'dasses warned against emigration are females above the grade of servants
clerkx shopmen and persons having no particular trade or calling, and unaccustomed
to manual labour. To this class Canada offers but little encouragement.
The following are the Government agencies in Great Bntam and Ireland :
CHIEF OFFICE : 10, Victoria Chambers, London, S.W.,
Mr. J. CoLMEK, Secretary.
LIVERPOOL.. .Mb. John Dyke, 15, Water Street.
GLASGOW Mk. Thomas Gkahame, 40, St.. Enoch Square.
BELFAST Mr. Charles Foy, 2t), Victoria Place.
DUBLIN Mr. Thomas Connolly, Northumberland Houao.
BRISTOL Mr. J. W. Down, Bath Bridge.
Intending settlers should communicate with these officers if in want of any informa-
tion or advice : and should arrange, if sailing from any of the above places, to call
upon the Government Agent before their departure.
The following are the agents of the Canadian Government in Canada :—
OTTAWA Mr. W. J. Wills, St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway Station, Ottawa,
Ontario, . n l ■
TORONTO Mk. J. A. Donaldson, Sfcrachan Avenue, Toronto, Ontario.
MONTREAL... Mr. J. J. Daley, Montreal, Province of Quebec.
KINGSTON ...Mr. R. Macphkrson, William Street, Kingston. •
HAMILTON... Mr. John Smith, Great Western Railway Station, Hamilton.
LONDON Mr. A. G. Smythe, London, Ontario.
HALIFAX Mr. E. Clay, Halifax. Nova Scotia.
ST. JOHN Mr. J. Livingstone, St. John, New Brunswick.
QUEBEC Mr. L. Stafford, Point Levis, Quebec.
WINNIPEG ...Mr. W. Hespeler, Winnipeg, Mauitoba.
DUFFEttIN...MR. J. E. TfiTO, Dulferin, Manitoba.
ROOTS AND VEOETABLES IN CANADA.
The following certificate lias been given by Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Seedsmen, of
Reading, in reference to the Canadian roots and vegetables exhibited on their fctand
at the biniihfield Club Cattle Show in December last.
•Reading, Dec. 21st., 188a.
'We were honoured by the Canadian Government forwarding for oxhibifon on
our stand at the Pniithfield Club Cattle Show, 1880, a collection of roots, etc., grown
in Manitoba and Ontario, of the following weights, when harvested.
Squash ... ... ... 313 lb.
Long Red Mangel ... ... 7j> „
Long Yellow Mangel ... ... CS „
Yellow Globe Mangel... ... <jO „
Field Pumpkin ... ... 37 „
Citron ... ... ■•• 30 „
•These enormous specimens proved objects of great interest to the British farniors,
and we believe the weights far exceed any on record.
• (Signed) ScTioN and Sons.*
%
pu' i-^--
lervants and country
,lie grade of servants,
n^, and unaccustomod
ragcment.
n and Ireland :
BON, S.W.,
180.
n want of any informa-
le above places, to call
in Canada : —
lilway station, Ottawa,
jnto, Ontario.
lec.
n. •
tion, Hamilton.
k.
and Sons, Seedsmen, of
axhibiied on their &tand
ding, Dec. 21st., 1880.
irding for oxhibifon on
ion of roots, etc., grown
vested.
\ lb.
> .»
> .1
) ,,
)"
' II
st to the British fanrors,
roN AND Sons.'
.ft /■)
%'■}
G^^lSr^^lDJi^ IlsT 1880.
E E P O K T S
or
TENANT FARMERS' DELEGATES
ON TBB
DOMINION OF CANADA
A3 A
I
FIELD FOE SETTLEMENT.
SECOND SERIES.
I
It
PuhlisheA hj Authority of the Department of AgrmiUtire of the
Government of Cunada.
1881.
L
isa