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The lands belonging to the Company in each Township within the Railway belt, which extends twenty-four miles from each side of the main line, will be disposed of at prkses ranging FROM S2.S0 PER ACRE UPWARDS. Detailed Frioes of Lands can be obtained from the Land OommiBsloner at Winnipeg. (TketeBegiUatiim$«tre»td>t^iutedjor<»mleancd those hdtherto in f^ If paid for in full at time of purchase, a Deed of Conveyance of the land will be 1^1 given ; but the purchaser may pay one-tenth in cash, and the balance in payments spread over nine years, with interest at six per cent, per annum, payable at the end of the year with each instalment. GhBHTSlRJ^X. 002T£>XXI0XTEL All sales are subject to the following general conditions : — 1. All improvements placed upon knds purchased to be maintained until final payment. 2. All taxes and assessments lawfully imposed upon the land or improvements to be paid by the purchaser. , 3.. The Company reserves from sale, under these r^;ulations, all mineral and coal lands; and land containir ^imber in quantities, stone, i^te and marble quarries, lands with water power thuu^eon, and tracts for town sites and railway purposes. 4. Mineral, coal and timber lands an4 quarries, and lands contromng water power, will be disposed of on very moderate terms to persons giving satisfactory evidence of their intention and ability to utilize the same. The Canadian Govei^meiit ctmtemplates granting bonuses to Bona Fi^s settlers &ora Europe, on lands in the Prpvince of Manitoba and W^item Territories of Camida and British Columbia, and it is recommended that Booking Agents be asked for par- ticulars in regard to tins matter. Liberal rates for settlers and their effects will be granted by the Company over its Bailway. For fwiher partieuian apply to L. A. SAlOLTOir, Land Oonuni«doner, Oanadiaa PAoific Bailway Oo., Winnipeg. SOUTHERN MIANITOBA LANDS. For ttioM ddlfroas ot nw^idng, tli« LAND OBANT of «he HAMITOBA SOUTB-WNtBKN OOLONIZA. Tiom HiKILWAY OOMPpnr. oolv nov plMMd on tho ftMurlMt, often uptOai •ttnottomr Itwiitfateoe ovw LOOOtOOO Mrai ,'■" NDS. Srioultuml mpany in from Moh I. ViTJimipeg. id will be payments t we end mtil final mients to 1 and coal quanieB, «eB. «r power, radence of '« Rettlera of Canada d for par- 17 over its mnip^. OOLOHl; _ MM* lifeylioig HwttAmdid • Bivw and t«ntifal,ud t^aflway 4 r* •*■ — <'C* ^iJR*.^ i __t ■■■'% ..J.. ijS^ \ ('" -^ ,1 ^ — ^— ! _- S ^r .■■•i-^-n-: ' 1 I oy ! >'! :..'T )/• \ ; .^v^s'Ay J r^ ■^ ! •r\^T%;>i.tlTr'&i |S«ii ( - I r\. i \ ;Vr lull ' " -I "'1 ; r-r '• -lr4^TrJ1iJb' — — *■" Ttl i —f I 'i ~i,^v; «* 14 V 1 j..^ £ -9Mr^bSf^l«^i;nt!^ft^ii.2^,^iM,A^jjgy^^;,q|HU»#;^^ '^"■^^m m I <9| i^ k«rj)i te?Si!»N<«.xK ULIJfl fOI 9BS 100 99 98 97 — — ~ __1. -jm |i I — 90 ziz »••••• T, -OF PART OF- MANITOBA 64 \ \ ■i?f»att*^fe ^m^m mk m y-M iy*a I n 1 N E w jllih sis — AND THE- Canadian Jloptl^west TeppitoHes - Liberia - Assiniboia and Saskatche-vNan Shewing sysfem of Land Surrey and the Lines of the CanaMan ipiacifliclRatlwa^ Company 33 31- 7 6 1 4 3 15 ^ 25 k ArsSif m 23 ltd ky^ m 19 2^fcS^\\\*' Wic Cr\:ck, 11 / H hO, n Ih: \nd,. ,,*»•# ^^^ >N^ .-t '#-".. rvi^rau£h.taiiiaix 113 112 III > 'Vi«ik>K».t^. ^ mwwnraun: '!*. . a^»*i»^#6*iftV:«»f- m RUdlt TImOm MtdhTow ■idtof th« DetaUed Upaid giv«n ; but^ »re»d ovtH the year I AUnlc 1. AU payment. be paid bj \ Thel lands; an^ landa with! 4. Mi wiU be di thwrintei The from Si and Britii tiifiulan in] Lib( Railway. For «bo_ HON BAlId 1,000,000 ft dmrtAMM lunbarrat ^MWM'»*-'tr»''* ■ •Hr-^^. ,1 .* •?S(| X\-'' \ ! ! 1 9 *•! :" )■ PS O THE FapmcF IN MANITOBA. ASSINIBOIA, ALBERTA. 1891 NEW AND REVISED EDITION. The Canadian North- West. WHERE FARMING PAYS. (1 4 Actual results have demonstrated beyond dispute that there is no better country than the Canadian North- West for the farmer-immi- grant. Certainly there is no more advantageous territory on the con- tinent of America for the investment of capital in agricultural pur- suits, or for the man without capital to attain independence by intelligently directed industry. The superior quality of the wheat and other cereals grown upon these lands and the greater yield per acre, when compared with any other portions of the continent, is now universally acknowledged, and, while the crops obtained are greater, the amount of labor required to produce them, owing to the nature of the soil, is less than in any other country. The climate and natural pasturage are both highly favorable to stock-raising, and as a result no finer cattle are to-day shipped across the Atlantic to the English market, than those which have matured upon the plains of Manitoba and the North- West territories. The question, then, before the intending emigrant, is not whether it is a good thing to go to the Canadian North- West, but simply in what part of that great country it will be best to make his home ; what particular line of agricultural industry he shall engage in, and how best to prepare for it. The object of this publication is to lay before the intending colonist reliable information concerning the subjects of which it treats, and the better to attain that object a large number of letters and state- ments from farmers and others now residing in the country, are intro- duced. 1 1 r : BEGINNING FARMING IN THE WEST. Colonists from Europe, having arrived in Canada, are able to travel to new homes in Ontario, Manitoba, the North- West, or British Columbia in nearly as great comfort as first-class passengers. [5] The cars devoted to the use of colonists are taken upon the same fast trains with the first-class cars. They are convertible into sleep- ing cars at night, having upper and lower berths constructed on the same principle as those of the first-class sleeping cars, and equally comfortable as to ventilation, etc. They are taken throuyh, iv'dhout change, all the way from Montreal to Manitoba. No other raihuay in America can do this. No extra charge is made for the sleeping accommodation. Second-class passengers, however, must provide their own bedding. If tliey do not bring it with them, a complete outfit of matx'ess, pillow, blanket and curtains will be supplied by the agent of the Company at the point of starting, at a cost of $2.50 — ten shillings. The curtains may be hung around a berth, turning it into a little private room. In addition to this, men travelling alone are cut oft from families by a partition across the car near the middle ; and smoking is not permitted in that part of the car where the women and children are. At short intervals, the train stops at stations where meals are served in refreshment rooms, and where hot coffee and tea, and well- cooked food may be bought at very reasonable prices. The cars are not allowed to become over-crowded, and the saTety and welfare of colonist or second-class passengers are carefully attended to. The baggage arrangements are the same as for first-class passengers, and every possible care is taken that the colonist does not go astray, lose his property or suffer imposition. Where a large number of colonists are going to the west together, special fast trains of colonist sleeping cars are dispatched. No other railway in America offers such good accommodation to second-class, or colonist passengers, as does the Canadian Pacific. The train is met upon its arrival at Winnipeg by the agents of the Government and of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, who take charge of colonists and give them all the assistance and advice they requii'e in regard to their new home. In cases where they have already fixed upon some locality for settlement, where friends are awaiting them, they are shown how to proceed directly to that point. If they have not decided upon such a locality, but intend to seek a home somewhere further west, they should immediately call upon the Land Commissioner *of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The price of the railway lands for sale, their nearne.«s to a railway station or market, the amount of settlement, the nationality of people in the neighborhood, and the exact character of the soil can be learned at his office. Every quarter aection of the whole vast area owned by the Railway Company has been gone over by qfficial inspectors and reported in detail. ■* <■ «>i t All this information is open to the intending settler. If the land of a certain section is unsuitable for a certain class of farming, he is told so ; if it is good land fpr grazing, he learns that ; if it is thoroughly fertile and desirable, this will be pointed out. In short, the whole truth can be learned from the maps and surveyor's notes shown in this office. Most men, nevertheless, naturally wish to examine for themselves the section which seems to them from these reports most suitable, and this is strongly recommended in every case. They are then told what is the quickest and cheapest way to reach it (special facilities being provided for this purpose), and, when necessary, are furnished by the Dominion Government Intelligence Officer with a guide, who either accompanies them all the way from Winnipeg, or meets them at the nearest railway station, and goes with them to the designated locality . If they are pleased (which is usually the case) all the arrangements for taking up the piece of land chosen, or for its purchase, are made at once at the nearest agency, and they can immediately take posses- sion. Only a very few days, therefore, need elapse between the arrival of an immigrant in Winnipeg and his settlement upon the land of his choice. Meanwhile, his family and baggage can remain at the immigrant house in safety and comfort. Providing themselves with food in the city markets, they can cook their own meals upon the stoves in the house ; and, with the bedding which has served them during their journey, they can sleep in comfort in the bunk -bedsteads with which the rooms are fitted. Should they prefer, however, to stop at a hotel, they will find in Winnipeg public houses of all grades, whe-:e the total cost for each person varies from $1 (4s.) to $3 (12s.) a day, accord- ing to accommodation desired. It sometimes happens that the immigrant has not much more than sufficient money to carry him as far as Winnipeg. In that case he will be anxious to begin immediately to earn some money. The Dominion Government has an agency in Winnipeg whose business it is to be informed where labor is needed. Societies representing almost all the nationalities of Europe have been formed in Winnipeg, and will welcome and see to the welfare of their respective countrymen. The arrival of a party of immigrants is always announced in advance, so that contractors who are employing men in building, railway construction, or in some other work in the city of Winnipeg or neighborhood, may take as many of the newcomers as choose to go to work with them. At Portage la Prairie, Carberry, Brandon, Moosomin, and other stations further west, farmers are generally on the lookout for parties of immigrants, in the hope of finding among them one or more able assistants, to whom wages are paid according f /»• to qualifications. The average wages paid to experienced farm hands is about $20.00 per month, with board. Of course much higher wages prevail during the harvest season. Women and girls who are accus- tomed to housework, and of a willing mind, aje always in great demand in Winnipeg and other towns, and can earn $8.00 to $20.00 per month and board. There is no reason, therefore, why honest, indus- trious and capable men or women should not bo able to find steady employment within a very few days after their arrival. Necessauies. The following table will afford a criterion as to the probable cost of necessaries for a family. It will be found that in any centre purchases may be freely made on the figures named : Grey cotton, 36 in per yd. $0 05 to $0 10 White " " " 07 " 15 Duck or drill, oz " 15 " 25 Ticking " 15 " 25 Print or calico, fast colors " 07 " 15 Gingham " 07 " 25 Flannel " 15 " 45 Cottonades " 35 Tweed " 50 " 2 00 Full cloth '• 50 " 85 Men's long boots, strong 2 00 " 5 00 Boys' " " 1 50 " 2 50 Men's lace boots, " 125 " 4 00 Boys' " '• 100 " 2 50 Women's shoes, good and strong 1 00 " 2 00 Men's woolen socks per doz. 2 25 " 3 00 " stockings " 2 00 " 4 00 Men's suits, good, serviceable and warm 10 00 " 15 00 Men's overcoats, good, serviceable and warm 8 00 " 15 00 Sugars per lb. 08 " 11 Teas " 25 " 60 Tobacco " 50 " 60 Coffee " 30 " 50 Flour per 100 lbs. 2 90 " 3 75 Prunes per lb. 08 Currants " 10 Rice " 06 " 07 Raisins " 10" 13 Nails, cut " 04J" 05 Hinges " 10 Building paper 03J Cooking stove, wood or coal, without uteiisils 18 00 " 25 00 " " " with utensils 23 00 "30 00 Parlor stove, " " .-. 5 00 " 35 00 Set dishes, complete From 2 50 Table 2 00 upwards. Chairs per doz. 6 00 to 9 00 10 Bedstead $2 00 to $5 00 Sideboard $12 50 upwards. Lumber per M. 18 00 to 20 00 RoukH boards " 20 00 Dressed lumber " 21 00 Dimension stuff, joists, scantling, etc " 20 00 Siding and flooring " 22 00 to 24 00 Bricks at kiln " 9 00 For those who wish to live in idleness, or expect to get rich in some uncertain way without work, the North-West is no place. CAPITAL REQUIRED. As is shewn by the appended statements, many a man has gone into the west with no money at all, and succeeded in attaining independence by taking up land and working steadily for a few years. But, while a new comer can do all this by thrift and industry, it will prove much easier to accomplish if he has a small capital to begin with. It will also save him valuable time. The question "How much is necessary?" is a difficult one to answer. It depends upon circumstances. Hundreds have succeeded on none at all, others have failed on ten thousand dollars. Good or bad management is the secret. Some statements of what can be done upon a certain capital, say 500 dollars (£100) or 1,000 dollars (£200) or 3,000 dollars (£600) may, nevertheless, be advantageous. This information has been given by many writers, in tables of various kinds and for various localities ; but all amount to about the same conclusion, namely : That 500 dollars (£100) will set a man down upon some western quarter-section, either a free homestead, or one chosen among the cheaper lands belonging to the Railway Company, and enable him to build a hoi;se and stay there until his farm becomes productive and self-supporting. With this capital, however, the purchase of land is not usually advisable if a suitable free grant can be obtained. In this connection a practical farmer of some years residence in Manitoba speaks as follows : " Land can be purchased cheaply here, or it can be had for nothing by homesteading. A single man can start on an outlay of $385, made up as follows : One yoke of oxen and harness $115 ; plow, harrow, etc., $40 ; stove and kitchen furnishings $40 ; bedding, etc., $20 ; lumber, doors windows, etc., for log house $50; provisions $90 ; seed $80. A - 11 farmer with a family of five would have to layout ?'210more, bringing his outlay up to $025. A farmer can come in about the middle of March, select bis land and build his shanty ; he can commence to i)lough about the fifth of April ; he can break ten acres and put it uiulercroi) on the sod ; he can continue breaking for two months after he puts the ten acres under crop, and can break thirty acres, and backset the forty acres in the fall ready for crop in the spring. Ho can raise enough on tiio ten acres to give him a start ; he t-un cut hay enougii for liis oxen juid a cow in July, and it will cost him about §()0 additional to seed the forty acres in the spring. Suppose he puts in 30 acres of wheat, and raises 25 l)ushols to the acre, at 80 cents per bushel, it will be wortli 8(JU0 ; say 5 a(;res of oats at 40 bushels per acre at 35 cents per busliel, S70 ; say 1 acre of potatoes, 200 bushels, at 40 cents, S80 ; 3 acres of barley, 40 bushels per acre, worth 40 cents, $-18; and 1 acre of garden stuff at SI. 20; total $918. After deducting expenses of harvesting and the whole original outlay the farmer will still have something to the good to start with next year." Note. — This pamphlet is one of a most useful series published by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The series comprise the following pamphlets : — " Dairy Farming and Ranching," "A Scotch Farmer's Success," "100 Farmers Testify," "The Manitoba Land Folder," "British Columbia," etc., also publications of a similar nature printed in French and German. These contain mvich valuable information, are handsomely illus- trated, and have been carefully revised and corrected up to the close of 1890. No effort has been spared to make them as complete and reliable as possible, and every intending colonist should have them. Copies of one, or all, of these pamphlets will be mailed free to any address, upon application to any agent of the Canadian Pacific Railway. ■^^^ "^^i^'i. ^^- * //...■ ; &5 o C5 O o < o H [12] ■;i - i Manitoba. ITS SOIL, CLIMATE. PRODUCTIONS AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. ^S Manitoba is naturally divided into four general districts; the valley of the Red River, which wends northward near the eastern border and is the well known country populated by the fur-traders, their half-breed employees and Lord Selkirk's colonists a century ago ; second, the southern portion drained by the Souris and Pembina Rivers and including the Souris Plain ; third, the valley of the Assini- boine and Little Saskatchewan rivers, or western middle oortion traversed bv the main line of the Canadian Pacific ; and fourth, the low, marshy district surrounding lakes Manitoba and Winnipeg, and the timber lands of the northern part of the Province. 1 THE RED RIVER VALLEY This district can be disposed of in a few words, as its extraordinary fertility is sufficiently well known. Actual farming is confined chiefly to the lands along the banks of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers, where, at Silver Heights, St. Boniface, Kildonan, St. Andrew's, Selkirk, and other spots within the limits of the old Scotch and Red River settle- ments, farms were flourishing half a century ago. Away from the river banks, the lands south to Morris, and west to Raeburn, owe their chief value to the nutritious native grasses, which furnish at once most valuable pasturage and an unlimited quantity of choice hay to supply the City of Winnipeg and adjacent towns, and surrounding farms. Still, the richness of the soil has latterly been attracting the attention of in-coming farmers anxious to locate near an important centre like Winnipeg, and as a result neat farm buildings are dotte<5 all over what was only a short time ago an unbroken meadow. 113] 14 SOUTHERN MANITOBA. This district is ponotrated by two railways. The Manitoba South- western runs from Winnipej^ up the Assiniboino Vall(*y (but some distance south of tlmt river) to Carman, Treherne, Holland, and Glenboro its present terminus, a station 105 miles from Winnipeg, and not far from the mouth of the Souris. An extension of this line is now under construction, westward from (ilenhoro to tlie mouth of Plum Creek, a tributary of the Souris. This line will pass tlirou(j;li the centre of a rich tract of territory known as the Elliott settlement. The Pembina ^rountain brunch after crossini; t lie, Assiniboine diverp;es at Rosenfeld from the railway constructed from Winnipeg to Morris and Gretna along the western banks of the Red Uiver, and thence runs westward through the Pembina Valley to Deloraine. distant about 'iftO miles from Winnipeg. Excepting the wooded hills and hollows of the broken and pi(;turesi|ue plateau called Pembina Mountain, tlirough which the river has cut a deep and winding ravine which the railway crosses, and some other limited spots, the whole of this vast region is undulating prairie covered with luxurious grass. There are many living streams, cliief of which are the Pembina and Souris, and in the southern part several large lakes, one of which, Pelican, is the largest of a chain of half a dozen or more strung together in what was once the channel of a powerful river. This lake is thirteen miles long, and bordered by steep and lofty cliffs, Avhich are densely wooded, and the resort of deer and game birds, while the water abounds in fine fish and flocks of wild fowl. These lakes are bordered by a line of eleva- tions called the Tiger Hills, which furnish wood in abundance. The next largest body of water is White-water Lake, near Deloraine, many miles in breadth, shallow, and bordered by marshes that attract count- less flocks of geese, swan, crane, wild duck, etc., etc. Many lesser lakes dot the landscape. These are surrounded by luxuriant grass, affording the .settlers natural hay in abundance and an unfailing supply of water for stock, for which this district is admirably adapted. In many spots, dry during all the summer months, moisture enough gathers to promote a plentiful growth of forage, so that the sowing of hay or other fodder is never thought of. Two tons of this wild hay per acre is not an unusual amount to cut. The Souris Valley is well occupied, and good roads traverse the country in every direction ; though, for that matter, one can drive across the prairie anywhere. Along the lower Souris are many villages, where a post-office, stores, blacksmith shop, school and church, form the centre of a farming community, whose houses dot the surroundingiknolls as far as the J 4 10 I •ye osn reach. These extend all the \vay westward to the Moose Mountain settlements. The climate of this part, which has been appropriately called " the garden of Manitoba," is not greatly different from that of the west, except that its southerly latitude (j;ives an advantage in respect to earlier springs and later autumns. Goveipment lands in this part of Manitoba are almost all taken, but much desirable land remains to be bought from the Railway Company at from $2.50 to $10.00 (lOs. to £2) an acre, aceonling to distance from railway, etc. Improved property can be bought near the railway at from $5 to $15 (£1 to £3) an acre. The soil is deep and of almost inexhaustible richness. The growth of grasses and prairie herbage is remarkable, and astonishing crops of cereals and roots are recorded. Generally speaking, it is a very deep sandy loam, dark with the deposit of centuries of burned herbage, overlying coarse clay. The streams and most of the lakes and slouglis furnish clear and sweet water, and the banks are gravelly. Wells strike excellent water at a moderate depth. Every crop belonging to western Canada or the northern United States can be grown there to advantage. Potatoes and all classes of vegetables grow and reach amazing sizes. On the Pembina Mountain Branch Railway is a long line of flour- ishing villages— Morden Manitou, Pilot Moimd, Cartwright, Killarnej' (by the picturesque lake of that name), Boissevain and Deloraine, with lesser intermediate stations. Morden is a brisk town of 1,000 people, and stands just east of the Pembina Mountain district, that is, on the eastern borders of the second prairie steppe. Fine farms surround it, and one source of its prosperity is in trading with the Mennonite settlements. The Mennonites are a body of emigrants from Russia (though of German origin), who fled from persecution on account of their religion, which is a primitive form of Lutheranism. The Dominion Govern- ment, in 1876, set apart a large reserve for them between Morden and the International boundary, and loaned them sufficient money to make a beginning. They have fully justified the wisdom of this welcome and aid, and have overcome by their industry and persever- ance every obstacle to success. They are a very peaceable, contented and industrious people, and have prospered so well that their settle- ment has now become a very important one, extending over 18 town- ships and including 618 squai-e miles of land, while their numbers have increased to over 9,000 persons. The isolation and almost patriarchal form of local government under which they lived at first is being gradually abandoned, and there being no longer any necessity for the mutual protection, which in the beginning led them to combine 1 k; 17 their property, many individuals uow possess independent homesteads and wealth. They have established among themselves schools, stores and every facility for obtaining supplies from persons of their own nationality ; but latterly the English language is being taught in their schools, where formerly only German was spoken, and this, it is hoped, will lead to a more social intercourse with their fellow Canadians. Manitou is the next important village and has some thirty stores, shops, implement agencies, etc., and two elevators and a flour mill. Pilot Mound takes its name from a mound of earth about 100 feet high, a mile north of the station, which served as a landmark to prairie travellers. It has shops, schools and elevators. Killarney, besides being the market town for its district, is a place of pleasure-resort, due to the prettily wooded.and broken country that environs its lake. Boissevain and Deloraine are flourishing centres, and are the ship- ping and supplying points for Turtle Mountain, the vicinity of White- water and Pelican lakes, and the upper Souris valley. Both have good stores, implement agencies, elevators, hotels, livery stables, and a rapidly increasing population. In September, 1887, u party of some 200 repre.sentative farmers from eastern Canada, notable for their intelligence and wealth, went to Winnipeg, and thence scattered through tlio country on tours of inspection. About seventy went into southern Manitoba, to Deloraine and back. The residents of the towns along the route arranged very creditable displays of produce at the stations, where the train stopped in each case long enough to let the excursionists examine the specimens. A number of farmers and others interested in agriculture, got on board the train at different stations along the route for the purpose of meeting old friends, and describing to them the agricultural resources, fertility and facilities for settlement offered by their respective dis- tricts. Mr. W. Stevenson, one of the largest threshers in southern Manitoba, was one of these, and, on beii;g asked the average yield per acre as shown in the threshing, said that in no case, so far, ihis season, had he threshed less than thirty-two bushels of wheat to the acre. He had threshed for Mr. Samuel Humphrey, at Miama, 670 ' bushels, being the yield of ten acres. This was the highest, althoufb in several years he had threshed fifty busliels off the acre. On the return of the party, many of the principal members gave their opinion of what they had seen, in the iollowing brief way: — A. T. Barnett, Guelph, Ont. "The country is certainly better than I anticipated ; and I find the farmers have made greater advancement than they could possibly have done in a country like Ontario, in the same length of time." 2 18 Henry Jarvis, Brantford, Ont. " The country far surpassed my most sanguine expectations ; I have seen nothing, so far, in tlie natural features objectionable. As to roots, and I may say crops in general, I never saw their equal." David Lambkin, Brantford, Ont. "It is the best district he has ever seen. In fact," he says, " I do not think one could find a finer country. The produce I have seen on this trip could not be beaten." David Nichol, Farquhar, Ont. " I like the appearance of the country very much ; and am of the opinion that the settler has good chances of success." " John Lambkin, Brantford, Ont. " Look at those stacks of grain ; we have lothing to touch them in Ontario." Thomas Prier, Exeter, Ont. " Any man, who has fair health, and is at p11 induptrious,is pretty sure to make a success. I think the soil the blackest and ricnest I have ever seen." ^v» Thomas Shaw, Gainesville, Ont. " My impressions are very favourable; and do not think I could speak too highly of the country. The improvement since I last visited the Province, seven years ago, is wonderful." William Connell, Poole, Ont. "I may begin by saying that I am a native of Scotland, but have lived in Ontario for forty-four years, and could I have beguix m such a country as Manitoba, I am cer^.ain I should be in a far better finan- cial condition to-day." George Perdue, Fenelon Falls, Ont. " I would advise any of my friends, who contemplated moving, to move to southern Manitoba, as I consider the land very suitable for agricultural purposes." »> F. E, AvYS, Seaforth, Ont. " I really think the country we have visited is as fine as any part I have seen. I have travelled tnrough the principal portions of Dakota, bnt, in my estimation, Manitoba beats it." \9 Mr. Kellt, Reeve of Blyth. "Taking southern Manitoba as a whole, I do not think it can be erxcelled for farming purposes, and I have travelled over a large portion of the Northwest." % 9 James Martin, Bruce Agricultural "Works, Teeswater, Ont. ''I think a great deal of the country. I found all the farmers greatly pleased with the change they have made in settling in Manitoba." Archibald Johnson, Eramosa, Ont. " The appearance of the country struck me at once. The ease with which the land can be brough under cultivation is surprising. The small percentage unfit for plow is remarkable ; and the excellent con- dition of the cattle, as seen from the train, gives unmistakable evidence of the strength of Manitoba's grasses. I was surprised at the growth of roots and vegetables." Taking this district as a whole it is one of the most prosperous in Manitoba, and it is not beyond the truth to say that from Red River to Deloraine, a distance of about 140 miles in a straight line, it is almost one continuous wheat field. What promises to be an additional attraction to this district is the recent discovery of coal on the western slope of the Turtle Mountains. This mine is now being developed preparatory to the construction of a railway from Deloraine to the coal, which on completion will assure cheap fuel to the farmers of the entire district. vn THE CENTRAL PRAIRIE REGION. The central prairie region, or "second steppe, " extends from Car- berry, on the Canadian Pacific, westward to Moose Jaw, a distance of nearly 300 miles, and includes the most thickly settled part of the prairie region. The principal towns along the main line of the rail- way are Carberry, Brandon, Griswold, Oak Lake, Virden, Elkhorn, Moosomin, Broadview, Grenfell, Qu'Appelle, Regina, and Moose Jaw. In general it may be said that this region has a lighter soil than that of the Red River Valley and southern Manitoba. It is less sti«ky, not so black, as a rule, dryer, but none the less fertile. There !S«?'*'-*«w«i' I I' are some tracts of sandhills, but these are utilized for grazing, and form but a small percentage out of the vast area of suitable surface. Carberry is a village of some 800 people, and forms the market town and shipping point for the great level tract known as Beautiful Plains, which is almost entirely under cultivation. It has five large elevators, a flour mill, churches, schools, etc., etc. In one year no less than 1,050,000 bushels of grain were marketed at this point. Brandon is the next in size to Winnipeg, and numbers between four and five thousand people. It is gi-owing rapidly, and is one of the pleasantest of western towns. It is located at the crossing of the Assiniboine River, 182 miles west of Winnipeg. The many fine farms and handsome dwellings, and neat school-houses and churchea give the country around the city a long-settled appearance. The city possesses a large grain storage capacity, ^^edifferent mills, elevators and warehouse*;, affording storage for over two hundred thousand bushels. The trade of Brandon extends to a great distance southward. After the Brandon Hills have been crossed, as good a soil as anywhere in the Assiniboine or Souris valleys is found. Five hundred acres in a single field of wheat is not an uncommon sight in this neighborhood. The place of next importance west of Brandon, on the Canadian Pacific Railway, is Moosomin, which is close to the western boundary of Manitoba ; but Griswold, Oak Lake, Elkhorn and Virden, are all railway stations and market centres, approaching it in consequence. In the neighborhood of Virden, particularly, will be seen some of the richest farms and best houses anywhere in the prairie region. This is an exceedingly fertile country, dotted with small lakes, and provided with an abundance of grass and timber. The .soil is of a most excellent character, and houses are within sight of one another in all directions. It is probable that no region of the prairie offers greater inducements at the present time to agricultural immigrants than that tributary to the villages between Brandon and Broadview. The Canada Northwest Land Company owns an extensive tract of land here, which it is offering upon very advantageous terms. The best Government land is pretty well taken up, within a reasonable distance of the railway, but lands owned by the Canadian Pacific can be bought at from $2.60 to $6 an acre. Well improved fai"ms are rarely in the market, but usually bring about $12 an acre. These will have from 30 to 60 acres under crop, with dwellings and stables sufficient for ordinary purposes. The valley of the Pipestone bears a great resemblance to that of the upper Souris, and is largely occupied by Scotch and English people, who have churches and schools, and among whom are scattered many ^> i «p !« 22 families of larg^ means. Moosomin and Grenfell are the stations for these settlements. The former is the most convenient for Moose Mountain, sixty miles southward, at the foot of which lie English settlements numbering several hundred people, who have devoted themselves successfully, not only to farming, but to the raising of cattle. They have postal facilities, stores, mills for grinding flour and sawing lumber, and f oi m the nucleus of what will quickly develop into a populous and wealthy district. The South-western branch of the Canadian Pacific is pointing in that direction, and within two or three years, probably, this fine country will become directly accessible by rail. Much Government land is still free for homesteading in that neighborhood, and other lands can be purchased at very cheap rates. The soil is unusually fertile, and the character of the country makes cattle raising and mixed farming peculiarly advantageous there. At Indian Head, some distance beyond Moosomin, is the great Bell farm, concerning which so much has been written. This farm har- vested enormous crops last year, the average of which, in both quality and yield per acre, was quite as high as that anywhere in the whole region, while the cost of production was somewhat less. The next station beyond Indian Head is Qu'Appelle. This place is peculiarly pleasant, on account of the great number of trees standing in the village and diversifying the surrounding landscape. The vil- lage is provided with excellent churches, schools, shops and factories. This is the station for stages to Fort Qu'Appelle, eighteen miles north- ward, where, around the old Hudson's Bay post, on the banks of the Fishing Lakes, has grown up a village of some 500 people, the centre of a great stock-raising and farming district. The banks of the Qu'Appelle are peculiarly adapted to sheep pasturage and cattle-ranch- ing, and the country northward and westward is an exceedingly fer- tile one, where settlement is progressing rapidly. Around Regina and Moose Jaw there is much less tree growth than on the prairies eastward. The soil, however, is marvellously rich, and is especially adapted to the raising of wheat, of which a great quantity has been produced the present year. Beyond Moose Jaw, except in the neighborhood of Calgary, agriculture has not been tried to any great extent. But this section of country is particularly favor- able for stock-raising in all its branches, and for dairy-farming. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company has published a pamphlet entitled " Dairy Farming and Ranching," which treats more fully of this part of the country and may be obtained upon application to any of the Company's agents. 4 n SYSTEM OP SURVEY. The Provinces of the North- West have now heen accurately surveyed by the Dominion Government, and parcelled out into square and uni- form lots on the following plan :— The land is divided into "town- ships" six miles square, the eastern and western bounds of which are true meridian lines forming the eastern and western boundaries of the ranges, while the northern and southern sides follow parallels of lati- tude. Each township contains thirty-six "sections" o' *^*0 acres, or one square mile each, which are again subdivided into quarter sections of 160 acres. A road allowance, one chain wide, is provided for between each section running north and south, and between every alternate section east and west, making a net-work of public roads crossing at right angles, those north and south, one mile apart, and those east and west two miles apart. In the earlier surveys, road- allowances of one and one-half chains (99 fpet) are left between all sections, so that the roads in both directions are onlj' one mile apart. This system applies to the greater portion of the Province of Mani- toba. It will thus be seen that the sections in each township are appor- tioned as follows :— Open For Homestead and Pre-emptions.— Nos. 2, 4, fi, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36. Canadian Pacific Railway Sections.— Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 33, 35. Nos. 1, 9, 13, 21, 25, 33 along the main line, Winnipeg to Moose Jaw, Canada North-West Land Companj', with some additional sections throughout Manitoba to make up their purchase of 2,200,000 acres. School Sections,— Nos. 11, 29, (reserved by Government solely for school purposes. Hudson's Bay Sections.— Nos. 8 and 26. The survej^ed lands are marked on the ground itself by iron and other kinds of monuments at the corners of the sub-divisions, and so soon as the new cuiner makes himself acquainted with the.se, he can instantly determine the position and extent of his own or any other farm on the prairie. The following diagram illustrates this, and shows how the owner- ship of the land is divided within "the fertile belt,'' which extends (fmivin-*,*^ I t 24 tdong the Canadian Pacific Railway, with a breadth of twenty-four miles on each side of the line : — 640 AcRRa. TOWNSHIP DIAGRAM. N. •J ad -5f W. 31 L.F.K. 18 Gov. C.P.R. Gov. Gov. »9 HcboolH, Gov. 17 C.P.K. 8 II. n. r.iMi. I 33 c.w.w. or c.p.e. 88 Gov. 34 Gov. € PR. 3« Gov. 27 «.P.R. II.B. t.x.w. or <'.P.R. 92 Gov. I« Gov. » C.X.W. or r.p K. 15 ([■.PR. 10 J|3_^ <.IMi. 85 r.N.w. or <.P.K. 24 «iov. 14 (»ov. Gov Gov. 3 <.P.R. .•«i'liools Gov. 13 C.N.W. or <.P.R. i i' ' v.Ji.Vf. or <.PR. S. C. p. R.— Canadian Pacific Railway Company's Lands. GOV.— Government Homestead and Pre-emption Lands. SCHOOLS.— Sections reserved for support of Schools. H. B. — Hudson Bay Company's Lands. C.N. W.— Canada North-West Land Company's Lands for as far west from Winnipeg as Moose Jaw only. Sections 1, 9, 13, 21, 25 and 33, from Moose Jaw westwird, still belong to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The whole plains region is furthermore divided by five "meri- dians," which serve as base-lines for accurate surveying. The first of these is near the true meridian of 97° 30', about 12 miles west of Winnipeg ; the second, a short distance west of the western boundary of Manitoba, in longitude 102° ; the third crosses Assiniboia near Moose Jaw, in longitude 106° ; the fourth passes through the Cypress Hills (long. 110) ; and the fifth is the longitude of Calgary, 114° west of Greenwich. Between these meridians, the ranges are numbered consecutively from east to west ; while the tiers of townships are numbered continuously from the United States boundary northward «!■ i \ i 25 as far as they go. To designate one's exact locality, therefore, it is only necessary to say, for example, that he is in section 23, township 10. range 19, west of the first meridian, which is the site of Brandon. For disposal of the public lands under this system, by free-grant, pre-emption or sale, the Dominion has established the following a{j;en- cies, at which all the business in relation to lands within the district of each must be transacted : — DOMINION LANDS OFFICES. (FiaURES ARE INCLUSIVE). Winnipeg and Dufferin Districts combined. — Includes all surveyed town.ships, Nos. 1 to 25 north ; ranges — all east of 1st meridian., and ranges 1 to 8 west ; also townships 1 to 4, ranges to 14, and town- .ships 5 to 7, ranges 9 to 12 west. Agent, Winnipeg. Souris District.— Township 5, ranges 13 to 18, townships fi and 7, ranges 13 to 2nd meridian, townships 8 to 12, ranges 9 to 2nd meridian. Agent, Brandon. Turtle Mountain District. — Townships 1 to 4, ranges 1.5 to 2nd meridian, township 5, ranges 19 to 2nd meridian. Agent, Deloraine. Little Saskatchewan District. — Townships north of and including 13, ranges 9 to 22 west. Agent, Minnedosa. Birtle District. — Townships north of and including 13, ranges 23 to 2nd meridian. Agent, Birtle. Coteau District. — Townships 1 to 9, ranges 1 to 30 west 2iid meri- dian. Agent, Connington. Qu'Appelle District. — Townships 10 to 23, ranges 1 to 30 west 2nd meridian. Agent, Regina. Touchwood District. — Townships 24 to 31, ranges 1 to BO west 2nd meridian, townships 82 to 36, range 1 west 2nd meridian to range 6 west 3rd meridian, townships 37 and 38, 2nd meridian, to range 5 west 3rd meridian. Agent, Saltcoats. Swift Current District. — Townships 1 to 30, ranges 1 to 30 west 3rd meridian, township CI, ranges 1 to 6 west 3rd meridian. All business transacted at Regina. Calgary District.— Townships 13 to 18, range 24 west 4th to B. C. and townships 19 to 30, range 1 west 4th ; townships 31 to 42, range 8 west 4!:h meridian to B. C. Agent, Calgary. Edmonton District. — Township north and including 43, range 8 west 4th to B. C. Agent, Edmonton. Battleford District.— Townships 31 to 36, range 7 west 3rd meri- dian to 7 west 4th meridian ; townships 37 to 38, range 6 west 3rd meridian to range 7 west 4th meridian ; township 34 northwards, range 11 west 8rd meridian to 7 west 4th meridian, Agent, Battleford. »■'-. o 125 » O H ^ ^1 [261 27 W H P5 a H O M H M Pi ' i'. Prince Albert District.— Township 89 northwards, range 18 west 2nd meridian to 10 west 3rd meridian. Agent, Prince AUjert. Lethbridge District. —Townships 1 to 18, ranges 1 to 21 west 4th meridian, and townships 1 to 12 between westerly limit of range 24 and boundary B. C. Agent. Lethbridge, N. W. T. At the offices in the districts, dotiiilod majis will bo found, showing the exact homestead and ,(re-omptioii lands vacant. The agents are always ready to give every assistance and information in their power. The disposal of Canadian Pacific Railway lands in all parts of the North-West is in cliarge of L. A. Hamilton, the Comi)any's Land Commissionor at Winnipfeg : and spttlers arriving in Wirmipngshould, before going west, call at the Land Doi)artment of the Company, the office of which is in the station, where they can ascertain the location of the Government intolligoncc offices, and otlior information. For the convenience of apidicants, information as to prices and terms of purchase of Railway lands may also bo obtained from all station agents along the Company's main line and branches. When the agent is not supplied with full information upon any particular, point, he will telegraph the Land Commissio!icr. In no case is an agent entitled to receive money in payment for lands. All payments must be remitted directly to the Land Commissioner at Winnipeg. CLIMATE. The seasons in the North-West are well marked. The summer months have briglit. clear, and often very warm weather ; but the nights are cool. The days are very long on account of the high latitude, and grain lias some hours more each day for ripening than in southerly latitudes, tlnis making up for the compara- tively shorter .season. Harvesting begins about the middle of August and ends early in September, all the grains coming pretty well to- gether. The autumn months are considered the finest of the year. The atmosphere is serene and free from moisture, frequently for periods of several weeks. That the winter is cold, there is no doubt, but the atmosphere is buoyant, the sun shines almost every day, and when it is very cold there is seldom any wind ; the air is exti-emely bracing and health- giving. "Blizzai'ds" are scarcelj' known, and cyclones, which peri- odically sweep over the Western and North-W^estern States and Territories of the United States, leaving destruction and desolation in their path, have never visited this portion of Canada. The mean temperature of Winnipeg in June, July and August, is 62.8 F. ; at Penzance, in Cornwall, during the same period, it is 60.90. Summer heat is usually about. 70", although the thermometer occa- sionally rises to 100°, but the nights are cool. In winter, the tempera- ture sometimes falls to 30' or 40" below zero. It is a singular fact, however, that Europeans do not feel the cold as much as Canadians do, and this is most likely in consequence of the dryness of the a .nosphere. Thisdvy. ess of the air is the secret of the degree of comfort experi- enced even v/hen the mercury is very low, for that sensation of pene- trating chill which makes the cold weather of coast regions .so unpleasant and unhealthy, is rarely felt. Snow never falls to a great depth, and the railway trains across the plains have never been seri- ously impeded by it. As this snow is perfectly dry, a person never has wet feet or soaked clothing by it. There is no thawing after win- ter sets in — say the last of November ; only steady, bright frost until March. Men travel with teams everywhere, taking their grain to market, hauling fuel, building and fencing material, and doing all their work. Stock thrive well out of doors, so far as the cold is con- cerned, and along the base of the Rockies, where warm dry Chinook winds from the west absorb the snow rapidly, herds of horses and cattle have hitherto been left out all winter, to shift for themselves. Calves and lambs are born on the open prairie in January and February, and not only live, but grow fat. Everyone unites in testifying to the healthfulness of the country. Ploughing can often ^"^ commenced about the end of March, but generally not before April o. The snow disappears rapidly, and the ground dries quickly. Winter closes promptly and decisively, and does not "linger in the lap of spring." Sowing is done during almost the whole of April, and is finished early in May. FUEL. There is a more or less generous supply of wood throughout the North-West. In addition to this, practically inexhaustible deposits of coal have been found at many points so conveniently situated as to appear almost as though specially designed by nature for distributing oentres. Prominent among these are the following :— In Manitoba, Turtle Mountain, in Southern Assiniboia, the immense deposits dis- tributed along the Souris River ; in Western Assiniboia, the coal measures on the South Saskatchewan River, ntpar Medicine Hat ; in ■ Alberta, the soft coal deposits at Lethbridge, where the output from the mines reaches 1,00() tons per day. Coal of this character can be fount at innumeral points throughout Alberta, and, in addition, this district has the a.thracite coal measures of the Bow lliver Val- ley to draw from. Largt deposits of soft coal are also located on the Rosebud, the Red Deer, the North Saskatchewan, and the other riverv of the northern portion of A'berta, thus insuring to all parts of the North-West an abundance of cheap fuel for all time to come. i 111 ' ' Agricultural Capabilities. WHEAT RAISING. The soil, the climatri and other natural conditions of Manitoba are peculiarly adapted to wheat raising. This is now recognized as a fact of vast importance by those who are interested in the success of the world's bread supply. The future wheat fields on this continent lie north of the International boundary line ; and it is now recognized as a scientific fact that the farther north wheat can be grown and fully matured the better is the quality. That wheat is grown hundreds of miles north of the northern boundary of Manitoba is undoubtedly the fact ; this means that in the magnificent areas of north-western Canada, comprising millions of acres of the most fertile virgin prairie, capable of producing the best quality of wheat the world has ever seen, the wheat fields of America are in the near future to be found. Up to the present the North-West is without a rival in the soil and other conditions it enjoys for wheat culture. The follow- ing figures compiled from the report of the XJuited States Department of Agriculture and other sources clearly demonstrate this. The yield of Spring Wheat in the following places for the years 1882 to 1889 inclusive, is given as follows : Manitoba Nearly 20 bushels Ontario 15.6 " Minnesota .... 14.7 " Dakota 13.0 " Wisconsin 12.5 '* Nebraska 11.8 " Iowa 11.3 " The surface is a rich alluvial deposit, varying from 8 to 20 inches in depth, with a clay subsoil. Very rarely is any difficulty met in bringing the land under cultivation. The absence of trees, stumps, roots, stones, etc., make the cultivation of the land much less laborious than in most other countries. The soil is known to possess those qualities that are requisite to produce the finest sample of wheat. [31] . 'I 32 The berry is af moderate size, of a fine amber color and possesses those qualities that render it most profitable for flour making. The soil is very rich, and with proper hiisbandry yields handsome crops without fertilizers. The annoyance of lodged crops may be said never to occur here. The straw is strong and stiff, often exceeding five feet in height, while the heads are long and plump. It will be easily inferred that a field of 500 or 600 acres of growing wheat is a beautiful sight, and when it promises an average of 30 bushels to the acre (that has often been exceeded) it is to the owner in reality a golden prospect. The general fertility and productiveness of the country is conclusively established ; those people going there now, know exactly what has been done and what they may 'accomplish. They may enjoy the advantages of all the knowledge that has been acquired by thousands of intelligent, energetic farmers, and be in a position to carry on future operations upon the most approved methods as well as to secure land on the most favorable terms. Therefore it may be stated without fear of successful contradiction, that Manitoba can show a higher average yield per acre of wheat, oats, barley and roots than any other portion of the American continent. The wheat is in quality unexcelled. It not infrequently averages 64 pounds to the bushel. It can be raised at a minimum of cost. Such a field for operation should attract the world. As an evidence of the advance the Province is making in the production of grain, official figures may be quoted as follows : The total acreage under crop in 1887 was 663,764, while in 1890 it had increased to 1,082,794 acres, a difference of 419,030 acres. The harvest Ibulletiu for 1890, issued by the Department of Agricul- ture for the Province of Manitoba, shows a yield throughout the Province of an average of 24.6 bushels per acre. The bulletin issued by the Department of Agriculture of the United States, shows for the State of Dakota an average of only nine bushels per acre, for Minnesota 12 bushels and Wisconsin 12J bushels. These are official figures, and from them farmers can draw their own conclusions as to which part of the American continent possesses the best wheat lands. OTHER GRAINS, ETC. In addition to wheat, which is the standard and most largely cultivated grain (Manitoba red Fyfe wheat brings a higher price in Liverpool than that of any bther place on the globe) the soil of the North-West yields bountifully of barley, oats, rye, millet, timothy- grass, lucerne, peas, beans, flax, hops, every sort of root-crop, and all «-*>'^V«» «,« mimmi^- 34 kinds of garden produce ; while the women and children are delighted to find themselves able to cultivate flowers to any extent. Mushrooms are plentiful and often of gigantic size. Barley and r3'e give a magnificent yield, often forty bushels to the acre. Oats are very generally cultivated and often form the first planting of the new settler. They incline to shorter straw and heavier heads than in the east, and produce fifty to seventy bushels per acre. Millet and similar small grains grow excellently ; as, also, do the fodder-plants, though these have been little cultivated, because there has been little need to supplement the natural hay-grasses. Hempen plants are indigenous all over the plains, so that it is not surprising to find that flax does exceedingly well in the North-West, requiring ninety days to mature. In Manitoba the Mennonites planted it with their first crops, and now cultivate it to a large extent, both for fibre and seed ; for the latter there is always a good home market, linseed-oil mills having been built in Winnipeg. Elsewhere flax and hemp are grown in scattered quantities, the total area of which is steadily widening. Wild hops, pronounced biJ- brewers to be of excel lent quality, attain a luxuriant growth in many localities, the soil and climate of Manitoba, in particular, seeming peculiarly well fitted to them. Cultivated vines of this wild stock give as fine large hops as the vines of Kent, and their regular cultivation will prove highly profitable. In respect to root-crops, it probably is not too much to say that no part of the world produces potatoes, turnips, onions and every kind of garden vegetables belonging to the cooler half of the temperate zone, with so great a luxuriance, and of so fine a quality, as the Canadian West. The Department of Agriculture has published a statement respect- ing the suitability of Manitoba as a place for settlement, based upon the answers of 100 farmers, whose names and addresses are given, and to whom reference may at any time be made. A copy of this state- ment in pamphlet form, entitled "100 Farmers Testify," will be furnished post free by any of the agents of the Canadian Pacific Rail- way. These farmers testify, among other things, to the amazing yield of root-crops, ninety-two of them reporting an average crop of 318 bushels of potatoes to the acre. W. H. Swain, of Morris, has produced 800 to 1,000 bushels of turnips to the acre, and sixty bushel of beans have also been raised by him per acre ; S. C. Higginson, of Oakland, has produced cabbages weighing 17J lbs. each ; Allan Bell, of Portage la Prairie, has had cabbages 45 inches round, and turnips weighing 25 lbs. each ; Thos. B. Patterson has realized forty tons of turnips to the acre, some of them weighing as much as 20 lbs. each ; Robt. E. Mitchell, of Cook's Creek, raised a squash of six weeks' growth, measuring 5 feet 6 inches around the centre ; Wm. Moss, of f ▼ High Bluff, has produced carrots weighing 11 pounds each, and turnips measuring 36 inches in circumference ; James Airth, of Stone- wall, states that the common weight of turnips is twelve pounds each, and some of them have gone as high as thirty-two and a half pounds ; Isaac Casson, of Green Ridge, has raised 270 bushels of onions to the acre ; John Geddcs, of Kildonan, states that he has raised 300 bushels of carrots and 800 bushels of turnips per acre ; John Kelly, of Morris, has produced from 800 to 1,000 bushels of turnips to the acre ; Joshua Appleyard, of Stonewall, also states his crops of turnips to have been 1,000 bushels per acre, the common weight being 12 lbs. each ; Ed. Scott, of Portage la Prairie, rai.sed 400 bushels '.1 turnips from half an acre of land. W. H. J. Swain, of Morris, had citrons weighing 18 lbs. each ; Francis Ogletree, of Portage la Prairie,, pro- duced onions measuring 4| inches through the centre ; A. V. Beck- stead, of Emerson, gives his experience as follows : mangel-wurzel weighing 27 lbs. each, beets weighing 23 lbs. each, cabbages weighing 49 lbs, each, onions each IJ lbs. in weight ; W. B. Hall, of Headingly, has raised carrots 3 inches in diameter, beets weighing 20 lbs. each, and gives the weight of his turnips generally at 12 lbs. each ; Philip McKay, of Portage la Prairie, took 200 bushels of turnips from one- quarter of an acre of land, some of them weighing 25 lbs. each ; he has produced carrots 4 inches in diameter and 14 inches long, has had cabbages measuring 2G inches in diameter, solid head, and four feet with the leaves on ; his onions have measured 1(5 inches in circumfer- ence, and cauliflower heads 19 inches in diameter. James Lawrie & Bros., of Morris, have produced turnips 30 inches in circumference, onions 14 inches, and melons BO inches ; they had one squash which measured about the same size as an ordinary flour barrel. James Owens, of Point du Chene, had turnips 30 lbs. each, onions 14 inches around, and cucumbers 18 inches long ; Neil Henderson, of Cook's Creek, has raised 1,000 bushels of turnips to the acre, carrots 5 inches in diameter and 18 inches long, while his onions have frequently measured 5 inches through ; James Bedford, of Emerson, has raised 1,000 bushels of turnips to the acre. It must be remembered, more- over, that none of the farmers mentioned above used any special cultivation to produce the results described, and that the experience further west proves that everywhere from Winnipeg to the Rocky Mountains, garden products of the same kind flourish. Even the less hardy kinds succeed well. You will see tomatoes growing out of doors and ripening well all over the prairies. Farmers of Edmonton and Qu' Appelle grow them as well as they do at Winni- peg or Emerson. Asparagus, tobacco, maize, melons of all kinds, and everything ordinarily in a garden, can be seen wherever a careful attempt has been made to make these more tender plants grow. SWi^S'^^fB^^*'^ li It m 37 03 Q O P4 o a a o H M Wild fruits attain to great perfection in Manitoba, Assiniboia and Alberta. Wild plums, raspberries, cherries, cranberries, and other berries abound, and are of luscious qualitj'. Apiculture is successfully carried on in the North-West, of course, as bees require just such a clear, dry atmosphere and wealth of flowers as they find on the prairies. The honej' secreted solidifies and becomes ready for sealing sooner than in a warm, moist climate, and is conse- quently sweeter. Bee culture will always take an important place among the home industries of the West. It has been said that the natural food products of the Canadian North- West include twenty- one indigenous plants, thirty-two species of animals, eighteen fish and eighty-nine birds. In connection with the farm, the raising of cattle, horses, swine and poultry, can be carried on most advantageously, as all the land not under cultivation is pasture, and there are few quarter-sections unsupplied with good drinking water. Pairs of working oxen weigh- ing 3,500 pounds or more can be seen almost anywhere. The complete absence of any diseases is a point which should not be forgotten ; and every care is taken by the local government to prevent its introduction and to encourage live stock bi-eeding generally. DAIRY FARMING. One special resource which deserves every farmer's attention, is dairying. For milk, there is at present less demand than will come later, when the towns have grown into cities ; but butter and cheese can be made for export with great profit. Cheese factories have been established at several points and are doing very well. The butter of Manitoba is famous for its excellence, and is sent not only to all parts of the prairie region, but shipped east in large quantities, and even to Japan. At the Dominion Exhibition of 1887, in Toronto, the butter of Manitoba took the first prize, in competition with all Canada, greatly to the surprise and chagrin of some of the professional dairymen of Ontario. Items like the following, from a newspaper of Winnipeg are everyday occurrences, and show what butter-making amounts to there : — "James Kelly, of Arnaud, Man., sold 2,149 pounds of butter to the Hudson's Baj' Company, which they pronounced to be the best butter bought by them this season, and for which he got the highest price in the market. He has been in ^Manitoba twelve years, and commenced farming here in 1880 with only one^y'oke of cattle, one log chain, a plow and $1 capital. He has now twenty-two milch cows, and has in all eighty-three head of stock, and has no debts and no incumbrances on his property. He advises all his countrymen to AiovdB and farm in Manitoba." SHWW.*.*^' « MUNICIPAL MATTERS. Manitoba has a provincial government elected by the people. The qualification for voting is practically manhood suffrage, so that every man may have a voice in framing the laws of the country. The people of Assiniboia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Athabasca, manage public affairs through a small representative body, the majority of whom are elected by the people. The Assembly meets once a year at Regina, the capital of the Territories, and is presided over by a Lieutenant-Governor appointed and paid by the Dominion. SCHOOLS. There are most liberal provisions made by the Government for schools. Two sections, making 1,280 acres in each township, are sec apart by the Dominion Government, theproceedsof which, when sold, are applied to the support of schools. There is a superintendent in each district, and teachers are required to pass a rigid examination. The result is that public schools throughout the West are highly creditable and effective. Acarlemies i*nd colleges are found in Winnipeg and several of the larger towns, some of them under the control of religious bodies, others in the form of private enterprise. Thus a thorough practical education is placed within the reach of all. f TAXATION. The matter of taxes is another most important point of difference in favor of the Canadian settler. By the very simple municipal organization of communities (as fast as settlements require any government at all), local affairs are managed at home with but little expense. A reeve and council are elected each year by the people, and this organization takes charge of all local matters, the most important item of which is road building and repairing. There being no turn- pike trusts, each landholder works out his road-tax by his own labor, or the labor of his teams. Government aid has hitherto been given towards the few expensive bridges or other public works called for by the people. Courts aad police are also provided by the Government. These facts and the favorable situation in general, coupled with the extremely simple form of government, naturally make taxation very light. 39 RELIGIOUS MATTERS. Churches are supported by the voluntary contributions of the people. Every man is free to worsliip according to the teaclunRS of his own creed, for places of worship of every denomination are abundant. In fact the number of these bears eloquent testimony to the high regard in which religion is held in this new country. I SOCIAL SURROUNDINGS. No matter from what part of the world the colonist may come, he will have no difficulty in finding and locating among fellow-country- men. Every nationality of Europe is represented among the citizens of the larger centres, and scattered thi'oughout the country are thriv- ing settlements of English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, French, Germans, Austrians, Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Hungarians, Bohemians, Roumanians, Icelanders, Belgians,-. Russians, etc., etc., e^ich forming pleasant little communities of their own, but all working peacefully' and harmoniously for the general good. The toils of these people are not so .severe as to compel them to forego all or any of the little social pleasantries which add so greatly to the enjoyment of life. Game of many varieties is so plentiful that a holiday with the gun will furnish pleasure and a most acceptable addition to the farmer's larder. In the English settlements in par- ticular, the young men, true to the teachings of the uiother land, while farming successfully, yet manage to find time to devote to fox- hunting a la mode, to racing, and shooting chickens, etc., and larger game. The ease with which really good sport may be obtained is fre- quently a powerful inducement to young Englishmen to make their homes in this country. In conclusion, the reader is earnestly recommended to study care- fully the several letters contained in the appendix to this pamphlet. They are from reliable and representative men, and are better evidence of the real condition of things than volumes of descriptive writing. In any case where an intending colonist desires more particular infor- mation about a certain locality, he is further advised to write to one or other of the residents whose names are given. IP^rSW^ftnP'"'**" } i'' The Harvest of 1890. i — o IK 1 4; Prosperity and Contentment— The Farmers Tell the Story. MANITOBA. J. . Houck, Alcester :— ■" The yield of wheat per acre is 25 bushels." W. A. Rouw, Souris: — "Estimated wheat yiehl 25 to 30 biT-Iiels per acre." H. H. Blackwell, Virden : — "Crops are a j^ood average all round. Wheat fully 25 bushels per aci'e." Grant Lanf?, Lanj^valo : — "The average yield of wheat will be 30 bushels per acre. The sample is good." A. H. Soonten, Raven Lake: — "The average yield of wheat per acre will be between 23 and 30 bushels." James Armstrong, Carberry :— "The average yield of wheat in this district will be about 23 bu.shels per acre." Edward Shaw, Heaslip: — "Wheat will average 25 to 30 bushels per aci'e, oats 40 to .50 busnels, barley 35 bushels." J. E. Mayhew, Stratherne :— "The crops in this vicinity are good. The average for wheat is about 30 bushels per acre." W. H. Bennett, West Hall:— "The crop in this district is a very good one, and will average from 25 to 30 bushels per acre." Geo. H. Clark, Two Rivers: — "We have line prospects this year. Our crops are heavy and the yield will be about 30 bushels per acre." Wm. Neevin, Shadeland : — "The average of grain will be : Wheat, between 23 and 25 bushels per acre ; oats, 10 bushels ; bailey, 35 bushels." W. J. Burgess, Minnedosa : — " General prospects good. Average, wheat from 25 to 35 bushels per acre ; oats, 50 to 00 bushels ; barley, 25 to 30 bushels." Thomas Naismith, Woodlands :— "The crops are very good ; wheat will average about 30 bushels per acre, oats aoout 40 bushels, barley about 35 bushels." J. McKelvie and Sons, Cornwallis :—" Wheat will average 25 bushels per acre, oats 50 bushels, barley 40 bushels. Root crops are also abundant." James Stodgill, Woonona : — " Crops never looked better than this year. Average for wheat, about 80 bushels per acre ; on some farms considerably morQ." ^PRTW|Pil^»^» *2 W. O. Onions, Elkhorn :— " All crops in this vicinity are very Rood— above the aven>,>?e. Wheat should average from 26 to 86 bushels per acre." A resident of Oakburn :—" Wheat will average from 2.5 to 80 bushels per acre, oats from 50 to 60 bushels, and barley about 40 bushels. Potatoes are a good crop." Thos. Norquay, St. Andrews :—" The average wheat yield will be about 2rt bushols per acre. The yield in other cereals and roots will also be very large. Tho hay crop is excellent." F. W. Robertson, Erinview :— "There is a very good crop of wheat and oats. The average is about 23 bushels per acre. Barley, it is feared, will be discolored, but there is a good crop." N. Morrison, Oak Bank: — "The crops in this neighborhood are the heaviest that have been known for many years. Wheat wjll yield about 85 to 40 bushels per acre ; oats, 65 to 70 bushels." E. B. Kett, St. Andrews: — "On August 1st I estimated the yield as follows : Wheat, 25 bushels per acre ; oats, 50 bushels, and barley, 35 bushels. T liave every reason to think the yield will be fully up to my estimate." Oliver Nicol, Toddburu : — " In my experience of ten years in Mani- toba I have nevor .seen finer crops than we have this season. I think I am safe in sayingthatwheat will average 3U bushels per acre, oatsfi-om 50 to 60 busliels, and barley 40 busliels." W. D. Drew, Napinka : — " Crops are really good. Wheat will aver- age about 25 bushels per acre, oats fairly good, roots and garden crops splendid. The late rains will leave the land for next season in the best form for growth it has been in for years." Wm. McDonald. Sr.. Rossburn : — "Taken as a whole the crops are good. Wheat will yield over 30 biishels per acre. There are a few places where it will not exceed 25 bushels per acre, but the average may be taken at 30 bushels all round. All other crops are very good." Nepawa, Nov. 7th. "Following is the yield of grain on Robert .Johnston's farm in Glendale. One thousand four hnndred and eighty-five bushels of wheat were threshed off thirty acres, or an average of 49 J bushels to the acre, and 1,100 bushels of oats off twelve acres or an average of 92 bushels to the acre." Tobias Collins, Suthwyn :— " On the whole, the crops are magnifi- cent in this section. Potatoes and vegetables are splendid, and oats and barley good. Wheat will average about twenty bushels per acre, oats sixty, barley foi'ty bushels. I have farmed in Ontario, but must say that crops here are far ahead of anj'thing I ever saw in Ontario. There is abundance of grain, hay and vegetables, thus giving to this vicinity prosperity and contentment." Wheat at Rapid City. ^ " Threshing is proving far more satisfactory than was expected. A yield of 35 bushels of wheat or 70 of oats is quite common. Davidson who lives a few miles west, threshed 3,200 bushels of wheat from 80 acres of land, while Messrs. Sawyer, J. B. Brown, J. Spearin and oumbgrs of others were rewarded with from 85 to 38 bushels to tlje 43 acre. Mr. Jas. Spearin's oat crop turne(1 out an aor© average of 76 bushels. All over this section the vieM is» enormous, and the sample cannot be beacen in the Province. Old settlers and new are more than ever satisfied that they made no mistake when they settled in the Rapid City district." ASSINIBOIA. Henry Dixon, Chickney •- "The average yield of wheat will be about 27 bushels to the acre, oats iO to 50 bushels, barley 30 bushels." Geo. Cook, Hill Farm : — " Wheat will avera>;e 2.5 to 30 bushels per acre, oats .50 to 60 bushels, bttrlov 40 bushels. Potatoes and all other root crops and wild fruits abundant." J. F. Middlomiss, Summerberry :—" Wheat will averaffe at least 20 bushels per acre, and oats between 40 and 50 bushels. All root crops, potatoes, etc., a p;rand crop." J. A. Stutt, Fairmede: — "The avera<;e yield of wheat is about 27 bushels per aci-e, althoup:h the continued wet weather of late may somewhat injure the sample, whii'h is unusual in Eastern Assiniboia. Alec. Duncan. ^loffat : -''Tn tliis district it is mostly mixed farm- ing. Crops of all kinds arc far ahead of aiiytliing we have had here since 1881. Wheat will average about 2.5 to 30 bushels per acre. Pota- toes a fair crop. Gooseberries, strawberries, rasnliorries, saskatoons and choke-cherries, wore all vei\v plentiful. The hay crop was splendid." G. W. Gibson, Hillburn :~"The crop is one of the best, if not the best, ever grown here. Wheat will average 25 to i\0 bushels per acre, oats about .50 bushels or more, barley 30 to 35 bushels. The root crop is extra good and of very superior quality. Wild fruits very abun- dant. Cultivated currants and gooseberries, a very large crop— frui^ large and of fine flavor." ALBERTA. Milton Fierheller, Midnapore : — "We have here the granary of Canada as far as growing wheat is concerned. The average this year is about 30 bushels per acre, No. 1 hard wheat. I helped to thresh 52 bushels per acre la.st year on one farm. All other grains are good in proportion. Roots grow to an enormous size." W. R. Hull, Calgary :—" This year I have under crop 225 acres, principally oats, but liave also barley, ])otatoes and roots, and am pleased to be able to say that mv crops are a splendid lot. I have oats that stand five feet, ten inches, and will average from 45 to 55 bushels per acre, and much of the crop will, I believe, thresh over 65 bushels per acre." 44 Sam. Ray, Pine Creek :--"The crops in the Pine Creek district this year areeijiial to any I ha^-e seen in the North- West, and that is saying a {j;ooil deal. Wheat, barley and oats, potatoes, roots, etc., are extra pood crojis. Oats ai^^ trenerally estimated to yield on an average in our district from .">() to 7.i bushels per acre. Oats too that will weigh from 40 to in lbs. per bushel." Nelson Bebo, Fish Creek, Cal};:ary : — "I have been nine years in the Calvary District, ami have fanned since my arrival. This year 1 had 120 acres under cultivation, includinj; wheat, oats, barley and roots. I have tliis, and every otlier year, suciioeded in growing fii'st-class crops. AVheat has averaged from 85 to 5H bushels per acre. Barley averaged 10 bushels per acre. Oats last year yielded 65 bushels per acre, weighing -12 lbs. per bushel. 'My root crop has been enormous each year." fi IS Ig ra in ;h he ad ts. LSS ley per >us Evidence in Detail. Letters from Practical Men. George Louiisberry, a South Dakota farmor. visited Manitoba during September, 1890, and spent some time inspecting farni'^, etc., of tlio Provinco. Upon his return he took with liim samples of Manitoba's products to show to his friends. Tlio result is best told in his own words : — " Westport, South Dakota, "Sep. 27th, 1890. " My Dear Sir, — I reached home all right. I found lots of my friends to meet me. My trunk was carried to the hotel and there op(Mied. and by the time they were througli looking at tln> exhibit, most of the contents were in other parties' arms, and they all declared that they must take them home and sampltr tliem. "It was a big advertisement for Manitoba and her vegetables, for they could not help believing their own eves ! " Since my return fi'om Manitoba, farmers are coming here every day en.|uiring about Manitolia. 1 have just tiiri'shed niy grain : — wlieat averaged two and a half ('2h) bushels per acre ; oats ami barley one (1) peck to the acre, and that is about the average fortius (Hrown) County. McPherson County is not so good ! " Several are going out to Manitoba fi'om here this fall, and tliero are several families going to start in a few days and drive through." "Gko. LoUiNSllKUUY." REGINA, N. W. T. 'I came to Regina, N.W.T.. ('anada, from England, in September, 1882. For the first two years 1 followed my own trade, building and contracting. In .lanuary. 1881, I took upa lioiuestrad and pre-enH)tiim 820 acres. For tlie last six years 1 liave l)een farming successfully. The farm I liave lias plenty of tiniher for building stables and out- buildings and also plenty of hay and water. F,\ei,\ year 1 have good crops of grain, roots and vegetables. In 18S8 I had a field of oats that yielded 180 bushels per acre and weighed 184 ^^^- to the bushel. 1 have 4'6 a good house, stables and other buildings, and every farm implement required to work the farm. "I believe this to be the best country in the world for cattle, both fo. milk and beef; they are always fat and healthy. Cattle and horses will run out all winter and keep in splendid condition. Pigs and sheep also do very well here, better than I ever saw them do in the old country. " Potatoes and other vegetables grow to perfection ; tomatoes, corn, watermelons, cucumbers, all ripen and grow in abundance. " All this and no rent to pay. What more could a man desire?" "Now in conclusion, I think I have been in this country long enough to give an opinion. I can strongly recommend it as a desir- able place for settlement for farmers, mechanics, laborers and domestic servants, good wages. And I believe it to be the healthiest country in the world. "Thomas Bauton. "Hednesford, " Sept. 21st, 1890." " Sec. 28, 19, 17. From Moosomin, N. W. T. "MoosoMiN, N. W. T. " Oct. 17th, 1890. "Range 30 and 31, Township 14, four miles from station. Came to the country in 1883, and settled in present location. Amount of capital, $12,000. Acreage now owned, 4,000. Under crop in 1887, 600 acres. Present capital, $40,000. Yield per acre, 1887, 30 bushels, average. Live stock, 14 horses. I am pleased to give my experience since I came to this country. My success lias been far beyond my expectations. I am fully convinced for extensive farming, wholly grain or mixed farming, it cannot be surpas.sed. I think Moosomin district is equalled by few and surpassed Tby no other point in Mani- toba or the North- West Territories. Moosomin is a first-class grain market and is growing rapidly in importance. " My operations for the years '88 and '89 were very successful. This year my yield will be about 2.^,000 bushels, 15,0U() wheat, 10,000 oats and barley. My barley will pay all expenses, giving me a hand- some surplus for the year. I think this will shew that farming for a business will give as good results as any other business will shew with same amount of capital. I have no desire to withdraw my capital from N. W. farming. I consider it the safest investment open to me. with good management Yours truly. J. 11. Neff." !i ni> " Grenfell, AssiNinoiA, N. W. T. " Oct. 20th, 1890. "I came to Manitoba from Berkshire, "^ingland, in 1888. Myself and Mr. Try on farm together. Our place c om prises 260 acres and is called ' Ceylon Farm.' This year we had 120 acres under crop, prin- > ( cipally oats, which averaged 60 bushels per acre of fine quality. All the several varieties of garden vegetables, etc., do remarkably well. Currants are of choice quality, but gooseberries are not so good. The usual garden fruits are excelJent. We have some apple trees but they have not borne fruit as yet. "An astonishing quantity of wild fruits flourish in this district, consisting of stx-awberries, saskatoons, cranberries, etc., etc. I con- sider the prospects all that could be desired and am well satisfied with the country. Men as a rule do best, I believe, upon the larger farms. Farm laborers, that is, men accustomed to work upon farms in Eng- land, can do well lienj. Would advise all sucli to start first working for farmers here at 'tandard wages, until they become acquainted with the methods followed in this country, and then begin on their own account. Following this system, intelligent men willing to work should have no difficulty in improving their condition. "Stock pays well in this district. Cattle and horses give good returns, and sneep paid us eighty per cent, profit the first year. ■'R. H. Skrine." "GllENFELL, AssiNinoiA, N. W. T. " October 23rd, 1890. " I came from Hampshire, England, and settled in Manitoba in 1885. I had fifty acres under crop this year. 'l\veuty acres of wheat averaged thirty bushels per acre, and thirty bushels of oats averaged fifty bushels per acre. " Garden products cannot be excelled. One acre of Swede turnips yielded fifteen tons without manure. " At present I have seven cows and seven horses, and find stocks profitable. Sheep pay best of all, from fifty to seventy per cent, profit being the usual return, when they are properly looked after. "My impressions are that there is a great future before tliis coun- try, and that fine openings are available for practical farm hands. "W. H. Ball." 1)0. self d is )rin- *' GUENFELL, A.SSINIJtOIA. N. W. T., " October 28th, 1890. "We came here from Lancashire, England, in 188i}, and secured two sections of land. One hundred and twenty-five acres were cro})ped this year with wheat and oats, both of which were good crops. Garden vegetables, etc., etc., were very good indeed. " Stock raising is. perhaps, the most profitable branch of farming for this district. Cattle and horses pay w^ell, the latter running out all winter without any care. " We like the country immensely and are satisfied that it must succeed. Practical workers, if steady reliable men, could do well here. Good wages are paid, and an honest man starting with no capi- tal and saving carefully from his wages, should find himself fairly upon his feet on his own account, in at most five years. " Col. p. G. B. Lakb. "B. L. Lakh." 4'8 " Grenfbll, Assiniboia. N. W. T., " October 26th, 1890. " This is my first season in the country, and I am located in the Pipestone District, having secured a section and a half of excellent land. This season cnly twenty-seven acres were cropped, and the result was a fine yield of oats of good quality. "I like the country very much ; think it is all right, and have no doubt in regard to its future prosperity. Agricultural laborers are wanted badly, and there are most promising openings awaiting men \^ith sufficient capital to invest extensively. "C. BusHE, M.D." 1:1 if! ,1! "Grbnfell, Assiniboia, N. W. T., " October 25th, 1890. "Icame to Manitoba from Somersetshire, England, in 1882, and secured three sections of land in the Pipestone Valley. This season 1 had 120 acres under crop. Sixty acres under wheat averaged thirty bushels per acre, and the same amount of land under oats yielded forty bushels per acre. Vegetables and all garden produce were excellent. " Cattle, horses and sheep all pay well if properly managed. "Viewing the situation from a purely business point, lam satis- fied with the profits to be made, and I like the covintry and find the climate healthful. Good honest Is ' orers, and men with more or less capital, are wanted, and if they possess a practical knowledge of agriculture, so much the better. "P. Skrine." Broadview Assiniboia, N. W. T., "October 20th, 1890. " I came from County Durham, England, in 1882. When I reached Winnipeg I bad just $2U0 in my pocket. To-day I am worth $3,000. This year I had forty acres under oats and got a fine crop of extra good grain, w'hich averaged 45 bushels to the acre. I had ten acres of wheat which yielded 22 bushels per acre of first-class grain. I consider the chances as most promising. 1 have done well myself, much better than I could ever have done in England, and anyone will- ing to work can do the same. " Charles Dodd." "Gotham, Qu'Appelle Valley, Assiniboia, " October 26th, 1890. " I came to this part of Assiniboia from Staffordshire, England, in 1885, and homesteaded 160 acres. I do not go in for wheat or other cereals, as J think cattle and horses more profitable, the horses paying the best and surest returns. " I could grow splendid grain here, but am so far from a market res I 4« that I prefer to feed everything to stock and make the beasts carry it in the shape of flesh and fat to market. " I had a little capital to start wltli, but only very little, and think that anyone with enough to start npon in n sniiill way can do avoH in this country. At present I liavo i!B Jinad of ratllo and 18 liorse.s, all well-bred animals. I do not cave for inferior stock, as it is just as easy to raise a ^ood besist as a bad one. " I would not rcconunciid this part f'f the country to men utterly without moans, but consider it a lino toii'itory for Eni>;lishmcn of small means who desire to live as jucntlemon fiiriuers. It is a beauti- ful country to look at and a pleasant one to live in ; with a most healthful climate, and ail'ording un.^urpassod opportunities for sport with the ^'in. "In this climatccfittlo iiudlujrses j'cmaiu out in saf(-ty all througli the winter and do \v(?ll. 1 have at ])rosciit one o\, a jvrade Shorthorn, which is the finest animal I have yet seen, lie is lit for Snuthlield :<;■) he si amis, yet ho has never been stabled and has fai- ■ nod solely u]>o i the iiUtritious native grasses. '•E. IvF.N'nnicK.'' "I emigrated from Russia in 1870 ; I now own 480 acres ')f huid ; about the half is hay land; I like mixed farming. I have (i Ihu-m'-; and 4i cattle ; keeping cows nud raising calves piiys well. 1 thresheil this year l.iJOO bushels wheat, 700 bushels oats, 2i)6 bushels ilax-se(>d ; potatoes produce well; I. rniscd from a, (pinrlor of an acre that I measured 95 bushels of potatoes, some weighing two pounds. "When I come here I had §7;?o.O0; now I am at least worth $7,300.00. The climate is healthy ; although the winter is cold, it is dry, that the cold is not so much felt. Spring sowing gensrally commences about the .I5th April " .TEnuAUT) Kliver." "South Euaxdon Distuict, !Ma\., " October 17th, 1890. "Sir, — T came to this country from Toronto in 1880. This year I cropped 120 acres, and obtained a line yield, both wheat and oats Deing good. I think this is the country of c()untri»\s for anyone willina to work, and am perfectly satisfied. '•Geo. H. Halse." " Brandom, Manitoba, " October 11th, 1890. " Gentlemen, — T cnmo to ^Manitoba from Oxford County, Ontario, in 1881, and my sons follow(Ml mo in 18S:1. This year we had 500 acres under crop ; 400 acres of wlu'at averaged from 25 to 80 bushels per acre; 100 acres of oats averaged GO bushels per acre. I consider the outlook good, and am satisfied that anyone willing to work can get along all right in Manitobi , no matter whether they start with or without capital. "Tiios. Meuuitt." ii ^0 "Fish Chkkk, Cakciakv I>istui(;t, Alijekta, "Au<,mst, 29l;li, 1890. " I have hcou nino yfurs iu llic Ciil'^iiiy T)i.sf i-ici luid liuvo fanned siico my arriviil. This year I hud J'JO acri's iiiulcr crops, iiududinfj; V intit, oats, barley and roofs. 1 Jiavo tliis and t-vcry other year .suc- ,0 :ded in f;'ro\vini^ tirst-chiss crops. "AVIieat lias avt'ra,i;('(l i'loni vT) to ');$ hiishels ]ier aciv. IJarley 'ivera,n(;d 10 Imsliels jier acre. Oats la-l yeai- yielded 0") IiusIh/Is \)vv aero, woii^hiiii;' J'J ]1)S. to the bushel, and my jiresent cn^i) is the best I hav<> had. M}^ root crop^- iiave bt'cu enonnoiis eacli ,\ car. " Ni:i.s()\ liKiio." '"Fisii C!iii:i:K, Amuokta. '■ Auji;-nst 'JHth, 1«1»0. '"I liavo been fivo years in Alberta. This yciir \ have for\- -fivo acres under cultivation and T have a lua.ijjniticeut cio|t of wheat-, oats and barle\ . I have every conlidence in the fut\ire of t he Cali^ary Dis- trict as a farniiiii;' country and esjx'cialiy as a \\ heal and barh'\' g'row- in.L!,' country. "Thoso seeking;- a new hoin(; need not be afraid of ( ouiiiii; to Albei'ta. I believe it to be the l)est country en the ( 'onlineut . " KUW AIM" N'lJ.SON." '■ i'lMi Ckekk, Alheuta, '•August 20th, 1S90. "In reply to your request, I am a])leto state that the crops in Pine Creek District this year ari> euual to any 1 have seen in iho North- West, which is sayinii; a ^ood deal. "Wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, roots, etc., etc., are extra t>;ood ci-ops. Oats are generally estinuited to yield on an averau'e in our district, from TiO to 7") busiiels jier acre. Oats, too. that will wei|j;-h from 10 to -10 lbs, per buslicl. " Sa.m. Hay." '"Cai.caiiv, Albkuta, " August 27th, 1890. " This year I have under crop, 22.') acres, jirincipally oats, but have also wheat, barley. ])Otatocs and roots, and am pleased to .state that my crops arc a splendid lot. 1 have oats that stand 5 feet 10 inches, aiid will yield on an avera;^'e from 1") to ,').") bushels ])cr acre, and mucdi of the crox) will I believe, thresh over 0"i bushels jier acre, "AV, R.Hull," " Grieuson P.O., Calgary District, Alberta, "August 2;], 189(t. " I came to Alberta in June, ISSO, and having examined tlu! country thoroughly and being fully converted to its adaptability for graiji and 51 root growing by the crops T siuv, T roiu'liKltHl to sell out luy farm in the east and make iny homo in Alberta. I purchased from the C. P. R. (»()() acres of land, and have never had cause to regret having done so, tlio land all ii round nie having gone u}) in in-ice from SI to SH per acre during tlie past y( ar. "I ])ut up last year about 100 tons of hay, and also brouglit my family out to AUterta. This spring I cleared 8000 out of my hay alone, which was quite a good start, I have three acres of wheat on sod l)reaking ,and I can tell you it is a gvand crop. I iilso put in HO acres of crop on a neighbor's farm, and have good crops of oats, barley and potatoes. "I consider tin's as gooiT a farming country as Ontai-io and the best country in tlie world for stock and dairy farnu'ng. ^Ij' former homo was in Leeds County. Ontario, inid. 1 must say I am glad 1 came West. My family enjoy the best of hciilth and are in love with the country. '•.Every on(! has his choice, but Alberta is good enough, for me. I can't see why a man with even small <'apital sliouM not get on well here, if he is practical and willing to work. If you are an.xious to succeed, come to Albei-ta wlierf; piices for farm produce are good. •K. BriiKE." ■•C.'Al.iiAUV Alukuta. "In reply to your questions relating to the country in (he vicinity of the Rocky Mountain House, having lived at the Hud>uu Day Com- jiany'sFort there for 12 years. I ,im able to speak with experience, ('oming to the !Ni|ualof whi(di I hav«! never seen. From the lied l)eer to the Moiintain Fort, the county resembles old country parks, clum])S of trees and open glades. " .V\(;CS FUASKK," •■ Dlxijow, Amskuia. " As you wisli to have my exjierience in Alberta, as to farming and ranching, I would say that we have harvested good crops for the past four years ; this fall we threshed from the '* Welcome " variety of oats. sixty-tivG (0.">) bushels per acre, weighing for"-nine and a half (40^) lbs. i)er bushel, and of the early 'Eace Horst> ' variety. s(n-enty (7. lbs. per bushel.^ " Chamnlain" wheat, forty (40) bushel per acre, weighing sixty-tivo (0.")) lbs. per bushel. ]lcd Fyfe wheat, tliirty (HiV) Inisliels ])er acre, weighing .sixty- two (02) lbs. per bushel. liarley. forty (KO bushels i)eracre, weighitif^^ lifty-six (.W) lbs. pcM' bushel. Owing to diy season, jjotatoes were below the average ; iiom one anil a, jialf (l^j acres we gathered four 02 hundred bushels of extra flno potatoes. Wo inilkud six cows, and from five months' make, wo sold §175 wortli of butfcr, bosides kocpinp: nil the milk and butter wo lofiuired for our family of oiirht adults. This is ono of the best dairy and cattle districts on the continent ; of course cattle reciuirc proi)er care during tho winter; wo have not lost onu animal since wo settled hero. '' Wl! rcnuiin, yours, 'John Patkkson & Sons. A. HuTcnilN'' -i, of Poplar Lake, caiiy ''-or ..n \ 'lluf^o of New- boro. County of Leeds, Ontario, to the E!; . Mr^ u district in tho fall of 1875, and was en;z;a;:Cod in tiadiiijjj uutii L .f;! ii;', 'fi; of IHHO. Then took up his i)resent farm about six miles n ■! 'idmonton. Now has I'liiO acres of land with iiouse and ontl,i .idinjj; '» acres under cultivation, 10 horned cattit!, (i horses, scH'-binder, u.-.\ -r and rake, waf^gon, plows, harrows and all other nccessai-y farm machinery. Has raised a crop every year since lySo and never liad a failure of oats or barley. Had two partial failures of v.lieat iji ten yeai's. Last season had over 40 bushels of wlu.'at to the acre. His wheat has averaged 30 bushels to tho acn; ois^ht years out of the ten. Has made butter and raised cattlo extensively ever since starting farming. Considers this regJOii far superior for dairviug and stock raising to his native ijlacc in Ontario. There is a longer milking season, a larger flow of milk and it is richer in i)utt,er. Theio is j)lenty of green grass, as a rule, from tho l.")th of May to tho 1st of November. The ground is bare from the l-Jtli o\' April. Hay is abundant and can be put in the stack by contract at .S-2..")(l a ton. Cattlo raising is doubly as profitable liero as in Ontario. Killed 2k year old steers in Septem- ber of last year, an exceptionally dry season, wJilch dressed (3jO pounds. M. McKiNr,.\v, of Sturgeon settlement, Edmonton, was raised at Strathalban, P. E. Island. Came to Edmontim in 1883, and settled on a farm of 320 acres of clear prairie. The onality of the soil is unsurpassed and it is close to timlier and coal. The climate is favor- able for grain and root crops and the yield per acio in wheat, barley. ()ats and potatoes exceei^s that of the most carefuly tilled soil on tlie island. In 1888, Daniel McKinlay (brother of Ma.lcohn) raised 1,100 i)ushelg of oats from 12 acres. Cattle raising in very prolitablo on account of the great growth of wild grass for summer pasturage. Has cut a winter supply of hay from tho same ground over which the cattlo grazed during the sununer. Sowing commences generally in tlie early part of April ; the weather is clear and dry until June which is ;ermed the rainy season, when vegetation makes a rapid growth. Harvesting commences in August ami the ground freezes in Novem- ber, The first sleighing may bo looked for about Christmas. The winter season is more pleasant than that of tho Island on account of its dryness and serenity. Malcolm McLeod, of Edmonton, owns a steam thresher and has thre.shed during tho seasons of '89 '88 '87 and '83 at Edmonton. In '85 and '8 1 threshed at Wolseley, Assiniboia, and in '83 and '82 at Gladstone, Manitoba. Has threshed heavier yields of wheat, barley and oats at Edmonton than at either Wolseley or Gladstone, and the quality of grain ha? been equal to tho best he has seen anywhere. 53 In 1887 threshed for T. G. Hatchings, of Belmont 1,600 bushels of oats from 12 acres of land. In '88 threshed for Geo. Sutherland of the Sturgeon River settlement, 55 bushels of white Fife wheat to an acre from a iieM of five acres. In the same year, threshed for Geo. Hutton of tlie Sturgeon, 125 bushels oats to the acre. Took no account of tlio yields of barley, but some ran over 50 bushels to the acre. In '89 thoyield was liglit but threshed 80 bushels of oats to the aero for T. G. Hutchings and A. McLeod. Jkllet & Orrr-wt^LL, of Clover Bar settlement, soutli side of the Saskatchewan, in tlui season of 18S(>, tlircshed 081^ bushels of oats from six acres, a yield of 11 1 bushels per acre. In 1887 tluy threshed '2,(]yo weighed bushels of oats from 2y, Hexjiy BuriiACiiER. " James Taylor, Jos. Bixgeman, "Matthew DuKRANT, Levi Stauffer, " Henry Hamilton, " W. I. Moody, " Peter W. Glennie, " Alex. A. Glennie, " Solomon Erb, " Jacob E. Clemens, IzAAC Groh, Samiiel Moyek, John Shuh, JosiAH Shantz, Eli Clfmens, E. ZlEGLER, " Agricultural Society of Waterloo. m " Epmontox, Ai.m.iiTA, November 1'2tli, 1880. " I havo lioon fai'iuiiif:: in <^]io Ediuoutoii District for tlio jijist seven J ears, and have, dm-iii^' that time, sucoecdod in }2;ro\vin,c;good cropn of wheat, oats, harloy, jiotatoes, turnii)S, cabhagos and vai'ious other .uardcn voj;etab]os. " ^r.v aviir I ]ii)d a yield of ' ) bushels jjev acre. My nverago cr( j..' of li;irh}y range from 40 to (>*; xusliels jxu' acre ; oats from ')() to (iO biislids I'd' acre, and ])of atocs TiOO biisliels per acre. T had 7ilO cabl)age ])lants ibis year, and '.>oo lioads weiglied 15 Ihs each, audth(^ balance weighed rrciinio to I'J lbs. eacji. I consider tlie district well adapted for mixed fai'ming, daii-ying, etc-. Catllo anar I liave bei^n nnthing clieeso from the niill< of five cows, and luivo sold what I madl^ at 2-2 cents jier jli. ("about 1 Id). ■■ When I established liere I had no < apital other than health, iier- severance and industry. ■' I like the conntrj' and climate ami lia\e succeeded liere. » •iluttu MuKav." "Pink Crkkk. SoitTii OF OAT.aAKY, " 18th Xovember, lasn. " Dt^ak StI!. — After a residence of twelve yea; s in "Nfaiiitoba, Itame to Alberta in IBS'? and took nii a, homestead and pre-emption in the neighborhood of Pine Creek, aliont tAvelve miles .south of (.'algary, and have since been farming there. !My crojis each year have b(>en good, wheat and oats exceptionally wo. In ISS.S Ihad ;■>•") acres nnder cropof oats, wheat, barley, alfalfa, potatoes and garden vegetables. Oats returned a yield of 45 bushels pir acie, wlu'at oO, ])a.rley 30. Iliad under cultivation this year, ISB!), ubout 5o acres of giain and H of roots, and have now l.OdO l)ushels of oats, 5550 bushels of wheat, and (iO bushels of barley. HOO Imshelsof potatoes and 2nu Inishels of Ininiijs. 1 ha re gro^vn alfalfa, for two years and found it a good crop; during .r.'inuary, ]S,s<). it giew ov(>r half an inch, and was grinm fully a month before the native grasses in the &ij)ring. 1 believe the country is well atlapted for its growth, and that it will bo a valualde croj> liere. From my experience of Albei-ta, I consider it the best part of Canada for general farmina;. and think any practical farmer coming here with a litllo capital will i;^ver rcgr(?t the move, as Alberta is liound to be the most ja'ospc rous province in the Dominion, as well as having the most enjoyable climate. "Yours truly, "(Signed), Pktiok Cj.eland." "Edmonton, Albiouta. "T liave resided in the Edmonton d, strict for tlie past eleven years. Afy former home was in Carleton County. Ontario. I have been engaged in mixed farming the gi'eatcr i)art of the time since my 55 avvival hfro, aiifl Tiavf surrooilod in fiio^viii^; frixnl no|.s of wlionf. barley, outs, jxitatoos innl I'oots cvt'ry yt'ur. my wlicat iivf'ianiiijj; l."! Itiislicls ])('!• ui'in ; ]>;irlt'y, AH buslirls \n'V at'i'c ; oiils, from 7*> to V2'> hi.^iliC'ls jici' acre, ami |i()t;i tors, fi to T)!"* Imsliels iicr U(:r<'. I liavo B2 cows. Tliis year I milked 10 of tlieiu, uiid luive hoM over ^liOO woi'tli of butter, besides kccpiiiLC sullicicjif for my fiimily .ise, 1 Imve also H lioi'ses, t i ]>\<^>i, 1 1 sherp, and fowls of di'lVrent kindod in tli(> couiiti'v. and consider that any ]irai'tieiil farmer <'a.ii make a {^ood livIuK lieie, with, say, a('ii,pital of Jjil.oui) to stjiit with. I iim a marrieil man, uiul liavo .six (dnhireu, and they enjoy the advant.'vtxe of atteiidinj:: a srhool oijUiil at least to any country sdiool in Ontario. We huveehurchesof every tleiiomiiiation. and lai'jue stta'csciii ryim;evei'y linoof ynod. . ^\'eliav«!a p;ood cdinnite. jdenty of Liml)er and coiil at one's door, water ami ^^rass ^.jood and iibiindanl everywlioro. I know of no country whiidi offers j^i-e.iter inducements to juactical industrious farmers. My wif*; and my.self couhi noi bo induced to rctnin to Ontario u;4ain. TIk! climate is healthy and Kood, and lifo is in every way enjoyalde. Ihavobeeji eonnccteil A\ith tho District AKi"i*'"dtural Society- since its orf^ani/a- tion, citcht years at;o, and wn have liadeiirlit aiinualexhibli ions. The farm products .shown each year would m.iku a cre(lital)li:,W' •■'./-'■.•*■'"''•' ■