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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmfo en commen9ant par la premlAre page qui comporte line empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparaftra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols —► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole y signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmte d des taux de reduction diff6r9ns .1 PAGE 10 15 18 19 2?5 20 28 PREFACE. Professor James Long, the w oU-kiiown agricultural cx-port and writer, visited Canada, but not at the invitation of the Dominion Government, during the summer and anturan of 1893. On his return, the High Com- missioner asked him to prepare a Keport of his impressions, based upon the observations he had made during his travels. It is now presented to t!ie pubhc, and the High Commissioner feels that it will be interesting and valuable, not only to British agriculturists, but to those engaged in farming in the Dominion. It is generally kno\\n that a number of tenant farmers from the different parts of the United Kingdom were invited to visit Canada last autumn, with a vieAv to rejiort upon the agricultural resources of the country, and the advantages it offers for the settlement of farmers and farm labourers, and the other classes for which there is a demand. The following are the names of the gentlemen in question: — Mr. A. J. Dnvies, Upper IloUiiigs, Pensax, Teiibury, Worcestershire ; Mr. W. H. Dempster, Millbrook Lodge, Clarbeston Road, South Wales; Mr. Alexander Fraser, Balloch, Culioden, Inverness, Scotland ; Mr. R. H. Faulks, Langham, Oak- ham. Rutland; Mr. J. T. Franklin, Ilandley, near Towcester, Northamptonehire ; I Mr. J. J.Gniry, reppardstown.Fethard.Clonmel, Ireland j Mr.TomPitt,Oburnford, ■^ Cullompton, Devon ; Mr. John Roberts, Flag Ileaton Farm, Trefnant, North Wales ; Mr. Reuben Shelton, Grange Farm, Iluddington, Nottinahamshire ; Mr. ' Joseph Smith, 2, Mowbray Terrace, SoAverby, Thirsk, Yorkshire ; Mr. John Steven, Purroch Farm, Hurlford, Ayrshire, Scotland; Mr. Booth Waddington, Bolehill Farm, Wingerworth, Chesterfield; and Mr. William Weeks, Cleverton Farm, |. Chippenham, Wiltshire. I In addition, two other farmers— Mr. John Cook, of Birch Hill, Neen Sollars, Cleobuiy Mortimer, Shropshire^ ; and Mr. C. E. Wright, f of Briiikhill, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire— visited the Dominion, under ,'. their own auspices, diu'ing 1893; and they have also been good enough flto prepare Reports of their impressions. i) The 'Reports, if published together, would make a bulky volume. ,lThey have therefore been divided into the following parts: — .i Part 1— The Reports of Messrs. Shelton, Waddington, Cook, and Smith. Part 2— The Reports of Messrs. Franklin, Faulks, and Wright. Part 3— The Reports of Messrs. Weeks, Pitt, and Davies. Part 4— The Reports of Mes«rs. Roberts and Dempster. Part — The Reports of Messrs. Steven and Fraser. *; Part 6— The Report of Mr. Guiry. *i Part 1 will be circulated in the follov:ing counties : — Northumber- §aiud, Cumberland, Durham, Westmoreland, York, Lancashire, Shrop- ihire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derby, and Nottingham. Part 2, in Lincoln, Rutland, Leicester, Northampton, Huntingdon, lambridge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertford, Bedford, Bucks, Oxford, ■■Berks, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. '■< Part 3, in Warwick, Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester, Wiltshire, '•Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. ■* Part 4, in Wales ; Part 5, in Scotland ; and Part 6, in Ireland. Professor Robert Wallace, who holds the Chair of Agriculture ;and Rural Economy in tlie University of Edinburgh, and k the author -of '"The Farm Live Stock of Great Britnin," ''Indian Agriculture," tt^ .1 tji^O^i _'ii 4 Preface. M-mJ"'^f' ?/ '^"T'"^ -"-'"^ Agriculture of Australia aud NVw orrb*.uliatr/?' ' ''f to Canada in 1893. at the invitation a'ricdtur t M^:" '7"fr^' ""^^ ^""^ '"•''l'*'^^'^"^ * «^M>ort upon th. dilution "^ *^' '■'""''•'^' "^'^^ ^■'^ "°- -VHihlble for Frmi tvhom Pam/jhiefs obtaiaahh. tll\} ""• T^ P^71^^^]^^t,s, as well as otlier illustrated ; W 1 '""'"''^ ^^' t^". P*^^-^''-""i^'nt. maty be obtained, 7? *,^,*^V^^«-.Su- Charles Tupper, Bart., G.C.M.G., London, S.W to'£^ J r'r'r"''r"^"r^n"^^''"' ^'^ ^^^^^"^ ^^^-^'^^ ^ N^l^a!; Sh^- ^STh^^fdi:!:^?;;!:^-^; 40 St PnnPl. 4 ^^^t«^;^ Street, Liverpool; Mr. Thomas Grahamo w, ot. iliuoch Square, G asnow ; Mr E T W.w.rl 'tq it ^ t> V Birminfrh'un • Af.. P i.^i -^ ',,•.•,•'• *^"^"> '^. -ILigley Eoad, G St nri^ N^^^^^^^ k'] T^' ■^^' "^^'^^^ Street, Dundee T Mr. W VT. ouuair, i\etny Bridge, Inverness- nnrl Mp n r iir u- 180 acres are ofEeieil to elii»!lilo «.,ki..,.. ; i i-m, iiee giants ol and female, «ho are the tea 1, o fo ,m ^ ' f .f ""'' '*/':''" "' "S"' purchased either from heSerl^TrtLT^'' ''r",""°? "^I ^' companie,, at prices ^^^^'IC:^"^!^^^, Mand Government land may be purchased at from 4s 2d an acre T L£e:;!^t^2rre Zd.^i^'i^;;sx^ In the Hah y Eive di" LV o he wrofl^'f '«" '''"■*•"'" J"'"""™-"' are ah:o given from 120 4 160 acl w fi, tl T""'! '''"'' S™'"' an additional quantity In BiiiLh'r„ll v" T"}"'^" " I'«'-<^l'--'»i''S hoth fron. the l-rovinc^i^l ^^^^S^^^^^^^ ^m't' "Id' per acre, on certain conditions of settlemenolSoveiTn^s 1^,: JBi'hisli Comliti not bee and to praetica concern bimself, British to anot before 1 inspecti a view c soil, its it has ey a,v largely co,„posed° are 'to hirin tkirtZ.f 't''' word, the position of the Canadian farmer is onenf .1? ? ! '-■ ^ ° " dence-an indepj.ndence which is asTango to he arm" ' of vtT"] m are the condit bus under which tliev f.>,?,. ..™ '°-™^'0™tiy nho rehsh, or pivleas to ^ieii_u (»b.ch ,„ perhaps not quite the same thing), the wretched .j-stem G Cuiimliuii . ti/n'cii/lin-e. whic'li, Makes tlioin si.l.ject to the oaprlfo of their Jandlords, and ^^ hich _. . binds them to condilions whieh ou-ht never to exist. 'f*''''^'!. fiU (^ . ^f "f '^'' '"''^'^ 'J"".*'''' ivspeetivo advantiii^'es and dis-J'^^. ^'^ (M Louatry- advantages attached to Old Country and Canadian^ ^^? Advantages. urnunff. The English farmer cultivates tlie soil in th,. f 'T^'*^' land ol his birth— a land \> ith an ancient, some people sa\ '" , 7"- glorious, history-- a history, however, which, like that of its European f'"^ '''"' neighbours, has been tarnished by unrighteous uar and bloodshed J"""^ which we hayo no reason to feel proud. He is among bis friends. Th. l"'I'^\-« comforts ot life are wit uii his reach, nay, at his ver/door. Labour . ^^^ '^J cheap and plentiful. His life is a comparatively eas3 one and if he Ls *^^ '^'"^« no seiitn.iental views upon liberty and independence, he may pass jus®"*'!"^,^*' daysin comparative peace and quietness, although he may be unable iJ^?, ^" acquire provision for his old age, or sulKcient means to (.nable him to gi ! "^f "^ his family a good start in lifV. It appears, then, that the chief comiSn ^'^^'^^nt Miting advantages which the English farmer possesses are senlimenta! T'^ T nevertheless, then3 is something substantial. In the case of a man w o f*^'" ^'^^ has reached or who is approaching, middle age. the abrupt termination ]^}''^^ ° of home and family ties is m many cases unendurable; but the yoim-^H^^ T men the fanners ot the future, rapidly overcome cverv difficulty ,,7^'*^^'^''!^ ^ this kind, identifying themselves with the country of their adoptio.i f^"'^"''!!^ am learmng to despise the servile conditions which obtain in the lan,i **™'^' ^' of their birth, although they never forget or cease to resi)ect it expenses The life of th- Canadian farmer is a great " contra.^t I?''t^^ ^ (amnhan to that to wnich wo have just refm-ed £t j'^^^^o^'^e (>,>l>o>-lnnitus. associated with labour and liberty, hardship an.I ?"' ^''^" independence. The payment of rent and taxes, ami •,? v"" the restrictions imposed by the landlord, are replaced by absolut, '''*^'' ^'""^ ownership of the soil- .an ownership which is as well defined ?V ^^P as that of a king in his castle-a sovereignty which is indi.>"r^^ putable. In exchange for a life in the Old Laud, the farmer*^"*''!'*''' ixes his abode among men who, like himself, have struck out ,,1^}'"'^^, bold line, and who, although under difficulties, are onlv too anxious t.. *^'%»?^y promote happiness, good fellowship, and comfort. lA En-laud th.'^'*^' ' c imax of enjoyment of many of our farmers is a day at market, dinino ^ , . at the market ordinary, with the merry conversation in the sinokino^**'''''"' room during the succeeding afternoon. Tlie farmers of the West haAr .- . . lew such opportunities, but they are not so far apart as to prevent .^If'" *" ^ similar social en.ioyment at each others homes, and gatherings in the ^*^'^'^ '7$ towns and villages on rarer occasions. To a large extent, the conten ^^^^^^'^^t^j and happiness of man is centred in his achievement of success ir th.-j'^!,'' ^^^ business he follows If that is prospering, he asks for little more ; and ;,«^!-l1' 'I' It IS largely m the fact that the Canadian farmer is striving to build u, ^T*}^ ^' w^'&ot!"'''' ""' ^""^ " P™^''^'' ^'''* ^'^ '''^'''^' '^^'^^fTZm ., ^ . Are there comforts in the log cabin on the "^T'i'P^'*"' i:>ome Questmis AVestern prairie, or within its reach? So fu'"*^' ""i Ansivered. as my own observation is concerned, they aretTthifrrn What Ts the ,, ,. ., , unlimited as regards food and clothing, while they are limited as regards the size and convenience of the home- illords, and whicl J'rojV«)ii)r Lot)f/'« Itijm't. [lvanfiii,'cs and dis- ry and Canadian itcs the soil in the it, some people sav it of its Europeuii xnd bloodshed, ol bis friends. The door. Labour is me, and, if he lia^ lie may pass hi> may be unable iu nable liim to give the chief compen- aro senlimental : ise of a man who I'upt lenninatioii S hut the youiiu ery diflleulty oi f their adoption. )tain in the land spect it. a ifreat contrast ■ef erred. It is hardship and and taxes, and •ed by absolute s well defined ^liich is indis- id, the farmer 3 struck out !( V too anxious to 1 England, the : market, dining in the smoking :' the West hav( i as to prevent itherings in the nt, the content success in the ttle more ; and ing to build u]i. ?mains satisfied' ^abin on the ach? So far led, they arc lothing, while of the home- gyad the distance from a railway, and oftentimes from nei.d.bour, «id towns. J,s labour plentiful and cheap? We shall sm •f'^^'ist ;;ss.^oS' t>. ^ ^ r -^^Sii il m te ' Th 'l}r^r\?^'^'r'^ ''^"^'^ '^ -ouldb.fol y to u K 1^ kjbit of the individual. Canadians born know no otiun- cl int ' equanimity the climatic conditions of their own hinrl. Th,. r:l r farmer reaps the advantages which a farm 1 f^ fW d« to tie f S ir' these reports have teen pictures m„,tr™T • '" T°>' ™''™ stimulated an innuirin ",„ made in (lilforent parts nt deep rich the West of Canada, and from statomonts expressed bttt usual by the farmers and other settlors whose experienclfcrrina tl 1 * . ii'" ^''^''"« ^. *^*'''I^r«te opini(m. Althou^di tho physical in all dir character of the country ,s much less varied than in En^^land, where, less for- hils Mid vallpys afford a greater range of variation, tiie quality of thoother tim soil, as ^yo 1 as its adaptibility for farming, .lilfors to a cnsidorablo^d railu extent, riujre are enormous areas which are h>ss suitable than others fiirms shr wm blT '^.n r';''- ^' ^\^r^^^ that in time this difficulty occupied t nill be net, but just now a settler is wise to avoid troubles which now reapi ul.r^ .r'lT u- ""r*"' '^""Z' ''' ^^"P ^' '""'• ^-^^^ he obtained in other p uhe.e such_ clifhculties do not e.-nst. I was infornuKl by Mr. Johnson, their turn he Dominion Statistician, that since 1890 over a million acres of appears t< land have been brought under cultivation in Manitoba and the North- fnutable d \Vest and that a prodigious area in the North of tho Dominion livery stal hitherto be leved to be useless for agricultural purposo.s is now found to aggrecratio soHo'lnT-^'"' V ""''■' ;^l^i<^l^. «r^«daptable for settlement. That ^obably c settlement is pending in the direction of this region is shown bv Setthu- is ( the success which has attended the etf, rts of those who have bought must pav 'Ilr 7u f.u^ ^'.?'' '^^^"''?' E^''"^'^^""' Hattleford, and loim plan L tc distances north of hese three settlements. It is extremely easy to possible, a vh^;l^" "'^"'K^r"^.*"'^''^ ""^^'^ ^^ '^'^ land through Lgi:3hma which one passes west of Winnipeg is; nor is it necessary in order ago! and to form an opinion upon this point to inspect and .-stimate the cro])s aScustome^ which are grown. In a large degree they bonr no relation to tl c way, keep soil which produces them. The Ked River vall.^y is composed of a " " deep, rich vegetable soil, which grows abundance of whei^t throuo-jjout its limited area. Apparently the great bulk of this valley is occupied : but the great State of Dakota, in which the larger part of it i. situated, IS as poor as its favoured valley is rich. When we cross, v^ry best however, from D.kota through the miserable bit of scrub, and ove; times good the insiginhcant stTcam which forms the boundary between Canada price, whic and the Uinted States, we are at once in a position to recoo-nise that for some unexplained reason, the Canadians have not taken the same He was in important occupier, i upon whic advantage of the land they possess which has been taken by the peonle on the other side. .From the frontier right ui) to Winnipeir L piuirio on either side of the line of rail is i.ractically unbroken^' and from Winnipeg west, by the side of the railway, the4 are thousand^ perhaps hundreds of thousands, of acres which are in the same primitive condition. I was informed that this was owing to the fact that tl^e has enhan it is bette always rei land of V countries, of populal prepared t following 1 I Professor TMiXijs Ih i^orU UihI Iiad b(HMi purclmsetl by speculators (from tlio Imlf-lin'oJs lo whom II nd otlier crops, tht^ lands w^ro ori^'iimlly fj;nint(^d), \\ho were holding over tV)r better pviccs. Most of this land is not only admirably adapted For i'arin- , for stock and^iT of the highest class, but is well watered, and contirt store cattle for finishing off in Ipners hiiin. •' . ^?' ""S'l ^'^P^"^"^^^ of Western butchers and o the ckS s^.rllT "T^*ir island, gave me full particulars Bri h marl et ri ' ?^. ^ !'" ^^"^^ ^^ ^'^"^d^^n beef upon the tint, neither the British farmer nor the Colonial iWmer receives Professor Lonf/^s Ifejwi'l. 15 ever, is perhaps ^e\v towns are exists between He lias thus be can produce At the present take a leading 'oducts of the of the exhibits Dairy Parraers' )vernment and e power of the ice a iiniforiii and recognised the advantage ory, is one of Puture of their lis cause: but iii'ly 1o devote •e in the very going out to ent they need is absolutely i)ngland. The lot months of anufacture of ng months of ?et with little provided with pe during the cow, although ur breeds, was e were in tjje all our chief as suitable as ageous to use s'sity, can be idustry is to Fsteiu of the ion of cattle • 'ut to collect lishing off in butchers and ill particulars leel" upon the b a profitable West could •es of meat .'Stive of the mer receives anything like his just share of the pi'ofits. In due course this matter will need overhauling, and it will be the fault of the Canadicn if h(? does not control the marketing of his own produce, and obtain a price wliich will enable him to profit by the transaction. (ATll.K IN THE QL' APl'ELr.K VAl.l.KK Witli regard to the climate, numerous observations hnve CJiindU. been made by the Gt)vernment authorities, from whos(^ reports I have obtained the following data. The mean summer temperatures are from observations taken ])etween July and September, and the mean winter temperatures between .lanuavy and March. I'hUT. Brancilon Winnipeg Kapid City ... Miuucdosii Russpll Portajre-la-Prairif Kfgina Medicine Hat Oalgarv ... ,.- „, J^attleford Kdmontou... ... It will be noticed that Battleford and Edmonton, like Prinf'e Albeit (another popular settlement), are considerably north of both Manitoba and As,siiiiboia, the former settlement being in [Saskatchewan. As a matter Mhiiii T(?iii n'V.iture. Smimicr. Winter. 58-1 . —1-8 60-3 10 (52-2 2-7 .■>5-3 . —2-0 "yti . —3-8 (51-.S . — 2-G o9-2 . —2-4 02-9 13-2 .'.iVr. 12'2 (lOO 12-5 .■">iV2 11-3 IQ of Canadian Agriculture. 3f fact, whereas tJio latitude of WinniDeir is 49-^'? n^^ Af; j . favourite settlements ^Oin H,ffi p j -^-.^ .V ' *'^" Mmnedosa (a In., ■•._. Calgary Winnipet; C»lgary Jan. , — S-4 14 5 July. G7-2 59-9 Feb. i-r> lG-3 Aua-. G3-4 57-8 March. 18-0 2y-7 Sept. 53 50-4 April. 32rating the ily in this ?ard to it. er known, their first have gone 3on, while s than in ■ating and ) or three people, neither of whom were farmers, who hy no means appreciated the \s inter season. It is ])robable that the fact was owing in a great measure to their occupation, which was sedentary, and to the difficulty — which the farmer does not experience in the same degree- of keeping themselves thoroughly warm. I believe that some of the poorer farmers, whose means do not permit of their obtaining some of the absolute necessaries of winter life, have great reason to complain of the cold; but if a man lives in a wooden shanty, badly built, and incapable ol' keeping out the cold,— if, moreover, he is provided with an insignificant stove, in which he burns A\ood, and with insufficient clothing, — he can scarcely expect to feel that degree of comfort for which the Esquhnaux -provide by a more careful if less elaborate arrangement. Summing u]) the opinions expressed for and against the ^^ inter climate, I am bound to believe what the thermometer alone indicates — that it is a quantity to be reckoned with, but that, if as careful provision is made by the fi(;ttler as is made by the inhabitants of Eastern Canada and the United States, who thoroughly warm their houses, and provide special clothing for a special season, they need be under no apprehension. One of my acquaintances spoke of his 20-inile drives across the prairie in a sleigh to skating parties with absolute delight, although an occasional trouble is experienced in finding the way home. We in England h.ave ])lenty of experience of the difficulties of keeping warm during long drives in our own winter season ; but I was unable to gatlier that there was any a])preciable difference in the two cases, for in one case provision is made, whereas in the other there is very little. It is practically unnecessary to discuss the question The Comforts whether the comforts of life are easily obtainable or of Life. not. The Canadian Pacific Eailway, with daily trains from West to East, and from East to AVest, carries to every settlement along its route whatever the people require ; and if the storekeepers at the smaller settlements do not — as I found to be the case — keep such commodities as we Easterns look upon as necessaries, it is only because their customers regard them as luxuries which they can very well do without. Necessaries are comparative. Inspecting the leading shops of Montreal and Toronto, I could not fail to notice a difference as compared w'ith the shops of London, Paris, and Berlin. Similarly, the shops of AVinnipeg were less perfectly equipped than those of the two leading Canadian cities, and yet almost everything that is necessary is obtainable. The shops of Brandon, small as it is, were more numerous and generally superior to those in towns of similar size in England ; and it is almost impossible to conceive that Brandon is so absolutely new. Eegina and Calgary are sufficiently well equipped with stores for the supply of the Xorth-A\^estern Territories. Schools are common, and if occasionally they are a little more distant from home than they might be, the difficulty is not confined to Canada : farmers' children often have as far to go in England. A great deal is being done in the erection of churches, and in the provision of services on Sundays ; yet buildings erected for the worship of God are not absolutely essential to the success of the physical or spiritual life. Medical men are to be found wherever there are settlements, and, if m Canadian Ayriciilture, ^C^:^rl±^r »"" -'"^■""' '" '".' -' C-. their CiilEBOH's l-AKM, IJu'iPl-ELLS. y*. ile„ ,0 West 'InrltaW ^l"""' """'^'r? "f f""" liFo in the inga comfortable liveLod i^l^"™*^-^^ ^^^^^^^^ the means of obtain- ;i^ at home, and o^Sll? Sewl^^aS^^ir 'r^Tl^™ with thoroughness ASr^*;:^^^J^:,^° "'leo V"^' ^T?l^ which Avould soon be ab.sohitelvliis nun nffc r u? ''•'''" ^^ ^^"^' tlie opportunity and ir.eans f l.e L 1,?' '^^^^'^^^^^ ^."^ '" due course bettei- positions. ThrstrucrHi . "" ''/'''" '°"« "^ '^^^"^'"- ^r still both ends „.eet in conZfen ? Till ^''f^^^^/^^^^^'ly "We to make England, and the co nZXeT/l^ll/ nfl??^^ *^'"', '''^^'^^ ^" same amount of capital probabv tt ... n'^ *'''^'^'' '^'"^^ ^^'^t^' ^he or 640 acres, which in tl course of time J ui;'"'^' f ''^'''^' «^^^i°"' sum of mon(>y ; while it wouM ?i 1 i !^l^^ ''^"^^ '"^ considerable ing a respecl;ble Ip^^^^^^^ l^nn the means of achiev- only for ml-n who intend oHv;bA^r^^^^^^ is a country fitted out thew and sinew, or for t ose « l.n '' "" '' "'^ ^'^^ "^"^ «'i«i - but men who We the soil wh^ T%T ^^P^'-^'^^nee of farm life ; object is to v^^^^^,::!^"^^^^^^^ -^ -'-- agnculturallii., with its Ln, ^i:rtT^itl^^^^^ l*ru^'c>fSur Louija Meinn-t. 1» own case, their I'm Jlfo in the lappiness and t' _ it deijends pii-ations, hi.s t'()r the pur- 'on "making ns of obtain- easier terms riie labourer could in the orit through •e.s of land, I due course lilar or still ble to make i-eturns in Id with the lole section, considerable s of achiev- intry fitted ' men with- f farm life ; and whose tnent of an lal troubles and vexations, will find many parts of the West ^ell adapted for thtnr purpose. I am acquainted with several young men who have gone out to work upon the farms of ])rosperous settlers. Their life is no easier than that of the English agricultural labourer. Preferring a farmer's career, they had no means of entering upon it at home for want of capi- tal. In Canada, having acquired a knowledge of the system followed, and of the best means of obtaining land likely to suit them, they will in due course take up famns, and equip them out of their savings. These lads will soon become thorough-going Canadians, but they arc just the fellows who would have succec'ded on farms at home, had they been possessed of sufficient means. Huch is the eurioiis state of affairs that it costs infinitely less to buy and equip a farm in Canada, than to take a farm in England. Still, I would not recommend well-educated and energ(.'tie young uum to adopt the life I liavo described, unless they arc entirely unable to find employment at home. EXPEKIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA. With the object of showing exactly what is done by The Experimental the Government for the beiiefit of the farmer, I Farm at Ottawa, visited three of the five experimental farms which are now in full working order in the Dominion — tliose of Ottawa, which is the chief, Brandon, and Indian Head. The Ottawa farm is between one and two miles from the city. Formerly a swamp, it is now a fertile and handsome domain, growing, at the time of my visit, crops of all des' '^ions under plans which have been 20 Cauihliiiii Aiificultni-i', well tl,onr the Uominion l(j,900 ba^s of se^d j^riin ^i 000 ex ensivenlan AVp. i'^^^^ , "" *'"''''•'' ^^^^'^ "P^^^ '^ ^ery at a ind '^nd Z °,V^";"^P'^'^'^''^ ^'^'^^^ ^^^^^ practically no trees sev™, d flW° ™^''T*'''f„'^'''-<''''="*'f The tre<. are grown in .and in oil,,™ 10 ft aLf sZ r'" """^ "''" S:"'™ « "• "Part. thorougluiess Than T W ^ '/'^"^ ''^'^'. " "'"'''^^^ «"* ^^'^^^^ S^eat. r farms \ a 4 ] ^j occasion T"' "' ^"•■- "^ '^'' "^^"^ Government countries ff I ^'^f ''°" ^^ ^^^Pect m several of our European count, u.. It does not, however, stop at the growth of plants: cS J^'oftmior Love's Bejiort, 21 '. In a new ihat vnrit'lit's la tho ^V^'st is therefore ic \arietie.s of fit to harvest y lo crops of quently made s, and phmts i fanner with 5(j0 acres in lize and sun- cows upon ninion, but it n economical i Dairy C'oni- vhich is ricli hich tliore is ition to the he milk-pro- irley, b{\ins, » varieties of ])otatoes, a ) detail in a distributed grain, 5,000 while 1,;370 Further, the iho have by tant of the i]jon a very illy no trees sential that e thousands y nature to r, Professor i5 ft. A\ide. le extensive ^ grown in > ft. apart, 10 ft., and "eties. So 3t. I have irance they f the most eration the 'ith greater overnment European its: cattle. Bwino, poultry, and dairying are handled with equal skill and thorough- .ness; and it is impossible to visit the farm at Ottawa, or at either of ^'the other «tatioiis, without recognising that the Government is doing its very best to promote tho prosperity of those Mho settle in the Dominion, and that it is especially fortunate in obtaining tho co- operation of such competent and earnest olHcials. Tiiis farm, which coJisists of 625 acres of land of varied The Manilnba soil, extends from the banks of the river Assiniboini^ Kvi>enmcnl(il to the brow of the " hills," as they are termed— though J'\u'm. it requires a powerful iinaginafon to estimate them as such -and faces the thriving town oi: Brandon. Although there is plenty of land equally as good as the best of that of which tbe farm is composed, its j)osition— facing the south— and well watered as it is, is perhaps better than the inajority of farms in tlu; neighbourhood, or even in the provinces. Here work of a similar character to that conducted at Ottawa is carried out, uiuler the dir(>ction of ]Mr. Bedford, a Sussex man of considerable experience as a farmer in the West, who was on this account selected for the important post be- holds. I do not believe that Mr. Bedford owes anything beyond the farm itself and its appliances to the territorial Government which he serves so well, for the splendid results be yearly obtains. If, therefore, one farmer can do s(j well for the Government, w by not another farmer for himself? Making eveiy allowance for the condition of such an occupation, I think every competent man, with good soil and sufiicient capital to equip his farm*, has as much right to expect the same lesiilts as Mr. Bedford himself. The crops included all the cereals, grasses, roots, potatoes, fruits, and trees likely to assist or interest the farmers of the provinces, together with a' capital lot of stock, including Galloways, Shorthorns, Ayrshires, and Dutch, stabled in an excel- lent barn, well equipped with stalls and every necessary convenience. The collections of trees grown in the form of hedges and wind- breaks are most interesting, although less instructive. At Otta\\a some 20 hedges of considerable length were growing side by side, each composed of different varieties of shrub or tree. Mr. Bedford informed me that the land near him was worth £4 an acre, but that a few miles awny it was not so valuabl(% realising from £1 12s. to £3 an acre. I have, up to the date of writing these remarks, received no details of the crops which I saw growing; but in 1892 45 varieties of oats were tested on clay loam soil, after summer fallow, 9 pecks of seed having been sown with the drill, two varieties only yielding less than 50 bushels to the acre; the remainder varying from 51 to 91 bushels, 16 varieties growing more than 70 bushels, ripening in from DO to 100 days. In 1891, a similar test with a small number of varieties produced crops vaiying from 58 bushels to 87 bushels. In the same year — 1892— of 18 varieties of barley sown with the drill on suuuiier- f allowed laud at the rate of 2 bushels to the acre, two varieties only produced less than 40 bushels, tho highest reaching 57 ; but Mr. Bedford informed rae that he had reached 75 bushels, tho test crops affording no exact idea of the actual yield upon the farm. In testing varieties of grain for tho benefit of the farmers, there were no less ^m f 22 Viiiuidluii . If/flcoltni'e. timn 100 plt,ts of wh.'at, h)2 of oair, and 86 of l,arl..y. Doas &o a.Munff 01 u.rs Ho.ne tosts were made upon black loam, othms mm cla;' h 'L? " '^"•^'.T'"' "I"'" upland' prairio; tho heavy land gil:' h best results, wlulo tho samo varieti.-s did not always ivacl. ho ton"^ ■OtluT .vsts vvero nmdo vith cmss-bred wh,.ats, with Vd^VIV "fi' ^M-owu by ho a.d of farm-yard manure, buth fresh and r , ed tT Manure tadn.y to n.creaso tho yield; and with iheaid of su erpho .mt.. of iMue and «alt, both of which 8lif,d.fly incrensc-d t liell Ihere were also tests on spring and aut".mn-pl,.uohed land Irm^ sununer tallow . the fallow giving ;jS busln-ls, ^tins 28 S.ols Z ^pnn^-plou.hed and, and 16 bushels on autunul.don.d Id huu^ 1 r vu.Jd. he Superior drdi, perhaps the best machine in tlu' market uus p.tted against the press drill, the common clrill a 1 I, b,w^^^ ^ "n.u::rS-aer ''-'''irt ^'^ ^^^'^ oxceeded-iO b^ls"?^. en los Mr If \-"''"° *''' ^'f '''''^^'' ^^'^ ^'^'^""^ ^oo stron.K uuloihe Mi J3,df()rds recommendation that in Rrowin.^ barlev Lhe and selected sho.dd be thoroughly clean, and t1>e se 5 s'nn[ and n'^ f^ ^w *- •'''^'"'^" Juno ,.,wi„g. Ca,.,.o., .„„■„ i., M^ T-kI-J,!^ ^-i d t, ,"71 "ton: 4.U' j-iugianu, tree nuit is not so far a supcpco onrl 4'^« this reason many varieties are beiii- tested at iH. Pnoli ' 5 .u I crops, TrrxDacvTrascafci^r ...^ -. Pi'oft89of Lotifja lu'i'ort. 33 It'y, pons, iVc, hv.i'H upon clu\ y land gi villi; vacli tlio toj). J Fyl'c wheat J rotted, the of Kiiporphos- 'd tli<> yic'lil. I luiid versus ''S hii.sliels on land. Other u, aft'et'ted the 1 tlje market, d the hroad- hu.shel.s; the too stron;';l\ r, barley the I sown and r<'C()iiimendis use of stiff- rnier not to similar tests bushels per der, as much best native 3ns per acre, ps, mangels, 3wn in drills 14 i tons to ills, yielded 5 tons after ftl-o been employed to show visitors and others the great capabilities of the country for successfiJ settlement. On the other hand, I was ti»J(l '1 oni 7i tons eties having ome idea of Jmperator, 3onum 256 and Early out and out bough Lush ue fruit as 'ss, and for L and other r thousands from the '• very larg(> force ujion it a person ad in that failed, had OIIAIX JBLBVATOK, IJUANDOK. by an old settler that his fellow-Scotchmen, who had been compelled to put up witli skim-millc in their own country, were now having creaui with their porridge. This was his method of explaining the improvements in their material position. The fair at Brandon was excellently arranged, and was a replica of Winnipeg on a smaller scal me which have grown splendid crops in the past in the times wiien prices were better. Mr. Xirl^cM, who thoroughly believes in imi)roving the present system, admits that he is himself in searcii of plants adapted for summer fallowing, such as he can plough in with success. Ho has tried rape ; clovers are killed by the winter frosts ; potatoes do not realise sufficiently higli prices in the market ; and roots art^ costly to hoe. I suggested mustard, which will surely grow wherever maize can be produced. He admitted that farmers could do well witii pigs to consume their barley, and there is little doubt that thoroughly weU-managed bacon factories would succeed if the farmeis would take- HYDE rARlI, QU'AITKLLE. to bacon-production, feeding their pigs upon barley and potatoes, which mi^ht be utilised in summer fallowing. I also suggested sheep, which. mi^ht be folded, or run over a root crop such as might be grown upon fairly clean land without the necessity of hand hoeing; and these wi undoubtedly be tried in this district. It struck me that had Mi. MchoU and his relatives-for there are four families in the neighbourhood - built their houses close together, as is the case in some ot the colonies occupied by Germans and Swedes, life would be more pleasant, and actual assistance might be rendered with much greater ease. This farmer, who left Scotland as a boy of eight years, insists that English and Scotch working farmers succeed much better than educated men, or labourers who are not trustworthy— better, in fact, than any ot those 26 Catimlian Afjrtcultiirc. settlers wbo insist upon following the English system when they make a start. In his experience Ontario men achieved the best results. We pass on to the settlement at Indian Head, which is near the wreat Bell and Brassey Farms. Here I spent a couple of days, upon one of which a deputation came from a large body of farmers in the United States, with the object of exploring the country and ascertain ing whether suitable land could be obtained for a numerous settlement. Here is situated the experimental farm of the North-AVest Territories. The farm covers 6S0 acres, and is about 100 miles beyond the western boundary of Manitoba. The soil varies considerably in quality. In some cases it is heavy clay; in others it approaches a sandy loam, which blows in suiiiiner when the wind is high. There is plenty of water, the railway is near, and there are numerous thriving settlements. In no wav so advantageously placed, however, as the other farms described, the director has, nevertheless, been able to produce crops which, to me, were of a marvellous description, and which are alone sufficient to suggest the great capacity of the district. There were crops of wheat, barley, and oats which were as fine as anything to be seen at home. The oat crops, however, were the most i*emarkable of all, exceed- ing 70 bushels per acre in a large number of instances. The straw was also remarkably fine, reaching to the shoulders of a tall man. 1 have, however, already referred to the yield of the respective crops. Tlie various experiments with cereals, grasses, fodder crops, roots, clovers, flax, potatoes, beans, peas, cabbages, carrots, and various garden plants, fruit trees, forest trees, and cattle, swine, and poultry were similar to those to which reference has been made already. Sixty-five varieties of potatoes were tried, the yields varying, with one exception, between 240 and 532 bushels per acre. Swedes yielded from 365 to 852 bushels per acre. Maize did not do so well as at Brandon. Bush fruit is a great success, but fruit trees have so far not succeeded ; and yet tomatoes ripen. The cattle included Shorthorns, Angus, and Dutch, and are of good quality. From this station, 17,700 seedling trees were distributed in 1892, in addition to a large number of fruit bushes and garden plants of various kinds. Ensilage is made, and succeeds in .spite of the very low winter temperature. At this station the rainfall in 1892 amounted to 6-02 inches between Ajiril and September, June being by far the wettest month. Between May and September thei'e were 1,346 hours of sunshine. The minimum teni- ])eratures were considerably below zero in each of the five winter juonths, November to March, on pai'tieular days ; and, curiously, with one exception — a single day in December — it reached from 32 degrees to 59 degrees on different dates in the same month. There were frosty days in April, May, September, and October, but none in the summer months ; while the highest tismperatures reached were 96 degrees on the 6th of July, and 98 degrees on the 1st of August. In this part of the Territory there is a most destructive Westc.vn weed, known as " tumblino' " weed which was shown me Settlements. by Mr. Mackay. He remarked that on a single stalk half a million seeds have been found. It was very prevalent •on the Bell Farm, but scarcely noticeable on the Brassey Farms, which JVoffusof Loiiffs liej'orl. 27 were excellently arranged, and were growing handsome crops, although I fear they have not yielded so well as they promised to do. I drove round each farm, and was much pleased with the manner in which they are cultivated, although there can be little doubt that the work would be more economically performed by working settlers than by the some- what expensive system which is conducted. There are plenty of farms in this neighbourhood which in 1 893 exceeded 40 bushels, and in some cases 45 bushels ; almost every farmer having individual fields which exceeded 40 bushels per aero. Upon the Bel 1 Farm the averages are quoted at from 30 bushels to 35 bushels, and in one field of 100 acres the crop has reached 45 bushels per acre. The best wheat land does not extend far west of this settlement. The farther west we go, the more adapted is the land to ranching ; and the same remark applies to the popular settlements further north at Prince Albert, Edmonton, and Battleford. There is ple'^ty of land in these parts of the Territories which will grow wheat, but the frost has to be reckoned with, and one settler re- marked that with him there was always a certain amount of uncertainty, which is increased tlireefold in Prince Albert and other districts. In addition to this fact, the farmers have to contend v^ith the greater distance from markets. As, however, the population increases, an out- let will be found on the Pacific Coast, and stock, for which this countrj' is adapted, will be more generally produced. My belief is that the difficulty of cereal production is not important. Splendid crops could be grown for fodder, and in this way a large amount of stock could be kept throut^hout the year, as well for the production of butter and cheese as fo°- meat. These settlements are but a day's journey from the main line at llegina and Calgary, and both are in direct communicatioii with Winnipeg and the Pacific. ^ . , , . ^ „ ^ ^ , Before leaving the country I paid a bnet— untortunately, Gaelph a too brief- visit to Guelph, where very excellent worlc College Farm, is being performed in the growth of experimental crops, and in the instruction of the young farmers of the future. I was shown o\ev the crops by Mr. Zavitz, BSc who, I believe, has now succeeded Professor Shaw m the management of the farm. The crops were in process of being harvested; some were actually being threshed. In all there were several hundred plots, including 81 of oats, 87 ot wheat, 78 of barlev, 93 of maize, with large numbers of swedes, turnips, mandrels, carrots, millet, beans, clover, grasses, rape, potatoes (163), and several other kinds. AVhen it has been ascertained which varieties suit the soil best, the plots are increased in size, and their selection is continued over two or three acres every year. Selections are made of the best varieties of each kiud of crop, and lists are sent to the farmers from which they are entitled to choose. One hundred and eighty farmers, for example, grew six kinds of oats, and an average was taken of the results. Tests are made with crops grown by the aid ot fertilisers and in these experiments farmers in large numbers also assist The soil is chiefly a clay loam. It is splendidly managed aiid is a credit to the college, which is perhaps more perfectly equipped for atrricultural instruction than any institution we have m this country. 28 Canadian Ayrieulture, Looking back upon a trip Avhich was as exciting — nay, almost as fascinating — as it was instructife, I regret most or all that I could not see more. Time, as it is allocated to us mortals, is too short to permit of busy men thoroughly doing a big country. I should have liked to explore the lant^ north and west of the latest settlements, as well as the fertile valleys of British Columbia. Young settlers have great opportunities for sport and adventure before them in the Buckles —a new range of Alps little known as yet — on the giant lakes, which are scarcely explored, and the great rivers and their tributaries, which are as wonderful as they are beneficial. A country so vast and so liberally endowed by Nature cannot fail to attract the hardier and more adventurous of her sons, and thus with time the Western farmers Y\ill increase and multiply, and they are destined to become the progenitors of a great nation of the world. !-''lHi!piJ!i'^r!iiaH*!-iiMifaM!!H'!fei!WiWj.iH.nf!J!;IH^ ,1 'J! , AN ostar:o farm. \ ilmost as b I could short to )uld have tlements, tiers have 3 Euckies es, which 3S, which vast and rdier and 1 farmers come the , i