/ / ;■ ,-■ T.'iri WELSH TENANT-FARMERS Hi ;■■■' ON TUB AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES :: OF CANADA, THE REPORTS OJP ... ; V/y.lT:!) ..Iv*?: ' Me. JOHN ROBERTS, C.C., Plas Hkaton Fahm, Tuefnant, R.S.O., i> North Wales; '-< , "• •■ • Mr. W. II. DEMPSTER, Milliirook Lodge, CLARnESTOx Road, R.S.O., C : ... »,. BoL'Tii Wales, , . .^,, ■r;r iir Otf THEIR VISIT TO CANADA IN 1893. \riy. .. ..;'•.,,,.,» ^.-. PuhUslicd hij AuOiwity of the Government of Canada (Department of the Interior). FEBRUARY, 1894. ,. CONTENTS. . , ..,. X uEFAvE ■•• ••• ••• ••• -•• ••• ••• Mr. John Kobebts's Report Mr. W. H. Dempstkr'h Report General Information about Canada (Appendix A) The Canai>ian Exhibits at Chicago (Appendix B) IV1,AP ••• t«» ..t ..t ••# ... ••• ... 1 • •• •• . ■a iii .. 1 31 47 63 ..to f..co 53 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Experimental Farm, Ottawa 3 Parliament Buildings, Ottawa 4 Winnipeg ... ,., ,,, .. ,,. ,,, ., ^_^ g Wheat Stacks, Manitoba 3 A Crofter's Stable and Farm-Yard 9 A Farm-House, Southern Manitoba n Grain Elevator, Bp^ndon ., lo Hvde Farm, Qu'App^llb ,. ; ... 13 Cimeron's Farm, Qu'Appelle I4 Bow River, Calgary 13 Vancouver 10 A Large Tree (Girth, 55 Ft.), Stanley Park, Vancouver 20 Ranch Scene, Alberta Galloway Cattle on a Manitoba Farm ... An Ontario Farm Canadian Pacific Railavay Hotel, Quebec A KiLLAUNEY Crofter Ploughing Crofters Threshing Farm Scene, Manitoba .. Calgary Farm Scene, Ontario .. Toronto ••• •'• ••• oO 30 32 ••• ... ... 35 36 87 •A»\ i ••f » ••• 33 ^^iL^jiv 81) 4t ■■• *•' ••• 4G Cattle in thb 9u'Appe;.le Vaij.ey , ,., , 54^ PREFACE. In July, 1893, the High Commissioner for Canada, by direction of the Minister of the Interior, invited the following gentlemen (who ar« all connected with the agricultural "ndustry in the different parts of the United Kingdom from which they come) to visit the Dominion of Canada, and report upon its agricultural resources, and the advantages the country offers for the settlement of farmers and farm labourers, and the other classes for which there is a great demand : — Mr. A. J. Davies, Upper HoUings, Pensnx, Tenbiiry, Worcpstorsliiro, ; Mr. W. H. Dempster, Millbrook Lodge, Clarbeston itoad, Soutli Wales ; Mr. Alexander Fraser, Balloch, CuUoden, Inverness, Scotland ; Mr. 11. IT. Faulks, Langham, Oak- ham, Rutland ; Mr. J. T. Fmnklin, Handley, near Towcester, Northamptonshire ; Mr. J. J. Guiry, Peppardstown, Fethard, Clonmel, Ireland ; Mr. Tom Pitt, 0 burn- ford, CuUompton, Devon ; Mr. John Koberts, Plas Ileaton Farm, Trefnant, North Wale.s ; Mr. Reuben S';elton, Grange Farm, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire; Mr. Joseph Smith, 2, Mowbray Terrace, Sowerby, Thirsk, Yorkshire; Mr. Jolin Steven, Purroch Farm, Hurlford, Ayrshire, Scotland Mr. Booth Waddington, Bolehiil Farm, Wingerworth, Chesterfield; and Mr. William Weeks, Cleverton Farm, Chippenham, Wiltshire. In addition, two other farmers— Mr. John Cook, of Birch Hill, Neen Sollars, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire ; and Mr. C. E. "Wright, of Brinkhill, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire — visited the Dominion, under their own auspices, during 1893 : and they have been good enough to prepare Reports of their impressions. The Reports, if published together, would make a bulky volume. It has therefore been decided to di'ide them into the following parts :— Part 1 — The Reports of Messrs. Shelton, Waddington, Cook, and Smitk Part 2 — The Reports of Messrs. Franklin, Faulks, and Wriglit. ,..^, ...^ .. ^ ,,,, Part 3 — The Reports of Messrs. Weeks, Pitt, and Davies. / .. . \ j Part 4 — The Reports of Messrs, lioberts and Dempster. , , , ., ); ,,, , ,,;, ,r Part ^ — The Reports of Messrs. Steven and Fraser. , , . ', . • Part & — The Report of Mr. Guiry. , ,.;. ,.) : » ,,v. ' ,.j."^J' Part 1 will be circulated in the following counties: — Northumber- land, Cumberland, Durham, Westmoreland, York, Lancashire, Shrop- shire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derby, and Nottingham. Part 2, in Lincoln, Rutland, Leicester, Northampton, Huntingdon, Cambridge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertford, Bedford, Bucks, Oxford, Berks, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. Part 3, in Warv.ick, Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. ; , '; , ..it Part 4, in Wales ; Part 5, in Scotland ; and Part 6, in Ireland. Any or all of these pamphlets, as well as other illustrated From whom pamphlets issued by the Government, may be obtained, Pamphlets post free, by persons desiring to peruse them, on applica- ohtainahU. tion to the Hon. Sir Charles Tupper, Bart., G.C.M.G., C.B., High Commissioner for Canada, 17, Victoria Street, London, S.W. ; to Mr. J. G. Colmer, C.M.G., Secretary, at the same 1^ Trefttct, address ; or to any of the agents of the Canadian Government in the United Kingdom, whose names and addresses are as follows:— Mr. John Dyke, 15. Water Street, Liverpool; Mr. Thomas Grahame, 40, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow ; Mr. E. J. Wood, 79, Hagley Road, Birmingliam; Mr. P. Fleming, 44, High Street, Dundee; Mr. W. G. Stuart, Netliy Bridge, Inverness ; and Mr. G. Leary, William Street, Kilkenny. Copies may also be obtained from the steamship agent'', who are to be found in every village. As the land regulations of the different Provinces Land, • are frequently referred to in the Reports, they Itefjnlations ill are quoted in detail in the following paragraphs; various Frovinces. but they are, of course, subject to alteration from time to time : — Prince Edzcard Island. — Tlie available uncultivated and vacant Government land is estimated at about 45,000 acres. These consist of forest 'unds of medium quality, the ver}' best having, of course, been taken up by the tenants iu the first instance, and their price averages about one dollar per acre. Parties desiring to settle ui)on them are allowed ten years to pay for their holdings, the purchase- money to bear interest at 5 per cent, and to be payable in ten annnal instalments. iVovrt Scotia. — There are now in Nova Scotia about two millions of acres of ungranted Government Innds, a considerable quantity of which is barren and almost totally unfit for cultivation ; but there is some land in blocks of from 200 to 500 acres of really valuable land, and some of it the best in the province, and quite accessible, being very near present settlements. The price of Crown lands is $40 (4:8 sterling) per 100 acres. New Brunswick. — Crown lands, of which there are some 7,000,000 acres still ungranted, may be acquired as follows : — (1.) Free grants of 100 acres, by settlers over 18 years of age, on the condition of improving the land to the extent of £i in three months ; building a house 16 ft. by 20 ft., and cultivating two acres within one year ; and continuous residence and cultivation of 10 acres Avithin three years. (2.) One hundred acres are given to any settler over 18 years of age who pays £\ in cash, or does work on the public roads, &c.. equal to £2 per annum for three years. Within two years a house Ifi ft. by 20 ft. must be built, and two acres of land cleared. Continuous residence for three years from date of entry, and ten acres cultivated in that time, is also required. (3.) Single applications may bo made for not more than 20O acres of Crown lands without conditions of settleniient. These are put up to public auction at an upset price of 4s. 2d. per acre ; purchase- money to be paid at once ; cost of survey to be paid by purchaser. Quebec. — About 6,000,000 acres of Crown lands have been surveyed for sale. They are to bo purchnsed from the Government, and are paid for in the following manner: — One-fifth of the purchase-money is required to be paid the day of the pale, and the remainder in four equal yearly instalments, bearing interest at (> per cent. The prices at which the lands are sold are merely nominal, ranging from 20 cents to 60 cents per acre (I5d. to 2h. 5id. stg.). The purchnser is reiiuired to take possession of the land sold within six months of the date of the sale, and to occupy it within two yenrs. He must clear, in the course of ten years, ten acres for every hundred held by him, and erect a habitable house of the dimensions of at least 16 ft. by 20 ft. The letters patent are issued free of charge. The. farts of the Province of Qnebec now inviting coloTiisation are the Lake St. John Disti let ; the valleys of the Saguenay, St. Maurice, and the Ottawa Rivers ; the Eastern Townships; the Lower St. Lawrence; and Gaspe. Ontario. — Any head of a family, \Nhether male or female, having children under 18 years of age, can obtain .a grant of 200 acres; and a sinfrle man over 18 years of ngc, or a married man having no children under 18 residing with him, can obtain a grant of 100 acres. This land is mostly covered with fore?t, and is situate in the northern and north-western parts of the province. Such a person may also purchase an additional 100 acres at 50 cents per acre, cash, 'J he settleraeut dnties are — To have 15 acres on each grant cleared and under crop at the Preface. J end of the first five years, of which at least two acres arc to be cleared amnally ; to build a habitable house, at least 1(5 feet by 20 fo(*t in size ; and to reside on the land nt least six months in each ye;■ ,1.. I .:'■(.: / , ■ .1- .(,'': I 'i\: • . f j -.2 .. 31.. .. 32.. ..33... ...34... : ...m... ...30... ...ia.. School ...20.. 1 andH ..28... ...27... H.U. ...26... Lands ...25... W. ...20... ..21... ..16... . 22... ...15... ...io... ..23... ...14.. ...24... ...13... ...12.. ...1... ...18 . ...17... ...7... II.B. ...8... Land 8 ...9... Soiiool ...11... Lands ...(5... ...5... ...i... ...3... ...2... • ;• „.< "Itl'.ll'Tr . G. ■' /* ,iJ.K.';;>j it<:,.i -'■J: ', '■■ ..■'i I ;:•;>' 'r}^n^ .H-fff^ji The right of pre-emption has ceased to exist, having been altogether dlscon* tiiiued since 1st January, 181)0. Infoniialiou respecting timber, mineral, coal, grazing and bay lands, may be vi Preface. obtained from any of tho land apents. Homesteaders in the first year of Bettlemcnt ore entitled to free permits to cut a specified quantity of timber for their own use only, upon jxiymcnt of an ofHce fee of 25 cents. It must be distinctly understood that the land regulations arc subject to varia- tion from time to time. Settlers should take care to obttiin from the Ian', agent, wh?n making their entry, an explanation of the actual regulations in force at that time, and the clause of the Act under which the entry is made endorsed upon the receipt, so that no question or dilKculty may then or thereafter arise. British ('oluiiihia. — In this province any British subject who is the head of ft family, a widow, or a single man over 18 years, or an alien proposing to become a Uritish subject, may acquire the right from the Provincial Government to pre- empt not more than 160 acres of Crown lands west of the Cascade Range, and 320 acres in the oast of the province. The price is 4s. 2d. an acre, payable by four annual instalments. The conditions are — (1) Personal residence of the settler, or his family or agent ; (2) improvements to be made of the value of 10s. (id. an acre. Lauds from KJO to G40 acres may also be bought at from $1 to $5 an acre, ac- cording to class, without conditions of residence or improvements. The Esquimau and Nanaimo Eailway Syndicate have not yet fully arranged the terms upon which they will dispose of their unoccupied lands. They own about 1,500,000 acres, but they are much broken up by rock and mountains. The land belonging to the Dominion Government lies within the " Railway Belt, " a tract 20 miles wide on each side of tho line, which begins near the sea-board, runs through tho New Westminster district, and up the Fraser Valley to Lytton ; thence it runs up the Thompson River valley, jwist Kamloops and through Eagle Pass, across the northern part of Kootenay district to the eastern frontier of British Columbia. The country is laid out in townships in the same way as in Mttu'toba and tho North-Wcst Territories. The lands may be purchased at a price not less than $5 (£1) per acre — free from setthMuent conditions, no sale, except in special cases, toe.xceed (!40 acres to any one person. The lands may bo '• homesteuded " in certain proclaimed districts by settlers who intend to reside on then). A regifctration fee of $10 (£2) is charged at the time of application. Six montlis is allowed in which to take possession, and at the end of three years, on proof of continuous residence of not less than six months annually and cultivation, lie acquires a patent on payment of $1 per acre for the land. In case of illness, or of nccos.«ary absence from the homestead during the three years, additional time will bo granted to the settler to conform to the (iovernment regulations. Any person after IL' months' residence on his homestead, and cultivation of 30 acres, may obtain a ])atent on i)aynient of $2.50 (10a) per acre. These conditions apply to agri- cultural lands. In addition to the free-grant lands available in Manitoba Lands for and the North- West Territories, several companies have Sale. large blocks of land which they offer for disposal at reasonable rates, from $2.50 up to $10 per acre. Among others, the Canadian Pacific Eailway Company (Land Commissioner, Mr. L. A. Hamilton, Winnipeg) has about 14 millions of acres ; and the Hudson Bay Company (Chief Commissioner, Mr. C. C. Chipman, Winnipeg) has also a considerable area. The same remark applies to the Canada North-West Land Company (Land Commissioner, Mr. W. B. Scarth, Winnipeg) and the Manitoba and North- Western Eailway Company; and there are several other com- panies, including the Land Corporation of Canada. The Alberta Coal and Eailway Company also own nearly half a million acres of land in the district of Alberta. The prices of these lands vary according to position, but in most cases the terms of purchase are easy, and arranged in annual instalments, spread over a number of years. Mr. E. Seeman, c/o The Manitoba and North-Western Eailway Company, Winnipeg, has purchased about 80,000 acres of land from Preface, vii that railway company. He is prepared to sell the land at a reasonahle rate per acre, a small sum being paid down, the remainder in annu«l instalments on a graduated scale. Mr. Heeman has already sold about 40,000 acres during the last year. As will be seen from some of the delegates' Eeports, Lord Brassey, Senator Sanford, and others have land for sale. The Cobnisation Board have also land for disposal, under favourable arrangements, particulars of which may be obtained of Mr. Q-. B. Borradaile, Winnipeg. • • ' '" '.'-'■•■• In all the provinces improved farms may be purchased Improved at reasonable prices — that is, farms on which buildings Farms. have been erected and a portion of the land cultivated. ' The following are the average prices in the different provinces, the prices being regulated by the position of the farms, the nature and extent of the buildings, and contiguity to towns and railways: — Prince Edward Island, from £4 to £7 per acre; Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec, from £2 to £10 ; Ontario, from £2 to £20; Manitoba and the North-West Ten'itories, from £1 to £10; and British Columbia, from £2 to £20. These farms become vacant for the reasons which are explained with accuracy in many of the a .-i;.h/. ;.>.,u,n Por general information about Canada, advice to intending Evii- grants, and a deso'iption of the Canadian Agricultural and Dairy Exhibits at Chicago, see Ajypendices {pages 47 to 58). ■ In addt'ion to the liejiorts of the Delegates referred . above, the Jieporls of Professor Long, the ivell-lcnoivn Agricultural Ku^tert, and of Professor Wallace {Professor of Agriculture and Rural Economy), of EdinhurgJi. University — tvJio visited Canada in 1893 -«»•<; also available for distribution, and may be procured from any of the Agents of the Oovernment. , '. - ,\ - ' , , , . it t>i,i).( ^f^Ainui •.•rii ..'".vi I'l-jl -"It ;•> 'ti-Hiri)yu\ •oil .)ji'i>*v,> iVi-.'t-i:' vih Af )j\ • ■■ '■■' t ■■■>»(■!;; .i^nJ t; A '^} ■»-!'i.«.i(;.i.u''-i Ml -lit '♦•ir.f'J'Mj »,|t! l)i1'V5/ ! iff r.iiP.r/j-inii. Jo.i ■'.{. ll int^ .'ttsil'.'-^ ■..:.;:■:. ■■:■ .'.,.:....:.„ ;■•,-. ... ,. ,.i. .. . ^,.i< v. .^......... t ■■ 7;;; THE REPORT OF MR. JOHN ROBERTS, CO, ' '';,'';;'" Plas Heaton Farm, Trefnant, R.8.O., North Wales. "■'"- *' Ix August last I had the honour of being selected by Sir Charles Tapper us a delegate from the tenant farmers of North Wales to visit the Dominion of Canada, with the object of imparting afterwards to my countrymen and others such information as to the places visited, as might prove advantageous to intending emigrants. It is my intention — as I am sure it is the wish of the Canadian Government — to give an unbiassed opinion of the diHerent localities, whether favourable or otherwise, and not, as is too often the case, to draw a beautiful picture depending more upon the imagination than on facts. Naturally, being the only Welshman in a party of six delegates, my remarks will be more directed to Welshmen, and possibly better understood by them than by their English, Irish, and Scotch agricultural brethren. Soon after four o'clock in the afternoon of the The Voyage. 24th of August, we (six of the delegates) started from Liverpool in the Dominion Line oteamer " Vancouver." This noble ship, commanded, as I was very glad to observe, by a countryman of my own — Captain Williams — carried on board over 900 souls (943). Amongst them were representatives of nearly every nation in Europe. The Principality was specially repre- sented, for we had on board two of the most famous amongst the many choirs of Wales, They were the Peurhyn Choir, from the North, and the Bhondda Choir, from the South. To the inspiriting strains of " Codwn Hwyl " (" IJ p with the Sail ") by these united choirs we sailed out of the dock and down the river. These choirs were on their way to the World's Fair at Chicago, and how well they sustained tiie fair fame of their country at that unique Exposition is now a matter of ancient history. A voyage across the Atlantic has so often been described, that I shall only devote a few lines to it. Personally, I was most fortunate, as I did not suffer evon for an hour from that distressing malady mal de mer, either in going or returning. About half of the passengers were more or less sick for a couple of days, but, with that exception, the voyage was an exceedingly pleasant one from beginning to end. My first night at sea having passed off quietly, next morning we had a good look at " Ould Oireland," which we kept in sight all day. AVe called at Moville for mails, and then steamed right out into the Atlantic. The following morning no land was in sight in any direction. A word or two as to life on board an Atlantic liner may be of some benefit to my countrymen, whose greatest " bogey " in the way of emigration is the sea voyage. In these vessels a bedroom is called a " state room," and each one has two beds, one above the other. They are very comfortable, and sleep, when one is " rocked in the cradle of the deep," is just as re- freshing as ^^ hen upon terra Jirma. The meala for the saloon passengers 2 The Agricultural Resources of Canada. were aa f )llows : - Breakfast at eight, lunch at one, and dinner at six. All these were served in the large dining saloon, and the cuisine was as good as could be obtained in any first-class hotel. Between meals each one amused himself in his own way— some reading, some playing various games, some walking en the decks, and others amusing them- selves with conversation or music. The ordinary rules of etiquette are suspended on board ship ; no formal introduction is necessary, but everyone is invited to " make himself at home " with his fellow-passen- gers. The voyage passed over without any incidents worth mentioning. A grand sight was witnessed off Belle Isle, when a large number of enormous icebergs were seen. With the sun shining upon them, the sight was one never to be forgotten. Their presence was also felt, the temperature going at once several degrees lower. The sail up the St. Lawrence was delightful : on each side could be seen the neat and small dwellings of the French Canadians. The mails were landed at a smril town (Bimouski) during the night, and none of the passengers \ve)'e aware of that fact, being sound asleep at the time. The last evening but one of our voyage, we had a concert on board, in which several meml)ers of the Welsh choirs took part ; the playing of the Welsh harpist was specially enjoyable. Our first real stoppage was at Quebec, where we arrived on Quthcc. the 2nd of September, and landed the steerage passen- gers and those who were en route for Chicago. We had only a few hours here, but managed to see many of the principal sights and histprical places, such as the Plains of Abraham, the Wolfo and Montcalm Monuments, the Basilica, and the Citadel. , ; . Next morning at daybreak we left Quebec, still in tHe Montreal. " Vancouver," for Montreal, where we arrived about noon on Sunday, the 3rd of September, tan days after leaving Liverpool. Montreal is a town or 250,000 inhabitants, and is th^ Liverpool of Canada. It contains some magnificent buildings, including some of the most beautiful churches in the world. After dinner, we went to the Notre Dame and listened to the service there. The singiiig was very good. The service was conducted in the French language. The building, both inside and out, is a magnificent one. In the evening we visited the Church of the Jesuits. This is not quite so large, but is more costly, if possible, than the other one ; it contains some very valuable pictures. We also saw the Montreal bridges, and other places of interest. The favourite mode of locomotion is by the electric tram ; indeed, so great is the passion for the service of electricity here, that the poles and wires along the streets are, in my opinioTi, positively ugly. We counted 100 wires together, in groups of tens, on one pole. On Monday we v*"ited the Grand Trunk Railway Station, the Canadian Pacific Eailway Station, the " Windsor " Hotel, and St. Peter's Cathedral, which took 25 years to build, and is said to be built on the plan of St. Peter's Church, Home : it is not yet finished. We also went up Mount Boyal in an elevator, which goes u^ almost perpendicularly, the track being 900 feet in length. Froiu the top we had a lovely view of the town, which seemed to be full of fine trees. We couU also see the courtry on each side the St. Lawrence, Mr. John liohertss Beport, 8 bridge in the world, and the Victoria Bridge — the longest tubular being over a mile and a half long. "We left Montreal by train on Monday afternoon for Ottawa, Ottawa. the seat of the Dominion Government. The journey took us five hours, and we arrived there iate the same even- ing. "We had an interview with Sir Adolphe Caron, the Post- and several Government officials. Next morning Ottawa Experimental Farm, which is situated in to the town. Unfortunately, exceptionally heavy before our arrival hi.i spoiled several ~ crops, so master-General, we visited the close proximity rain the week that we did not see the farm to the best advantage. Mr. "W. Saunders BZPEBIMENTAL FABM, OITAWA. is the director of the farm, and resides on it. There is also a resident staff, including botanist, chemist, entomologist, dairy commissioner, &c., &c. The laboratory is an elegant building, fitted up with the best appliances for testing soils, fertilisers, &c., for making analysis of feeding stuffs, cakes, and agricultural produce generally. This establish- ment is of great value in finding out the most suitable seeds for this comparatively new country, in ascertaining what insects are, and are not, destructive to crops and vegetation, in selecting the most suitable animals for the climate and pasture, and in various other ways. In one year only there were distributed from this farm 16,905 samples of grain, which were sent out in 3-lb. packets to different parts of the Dominion. A very lar;^^ number of fruit trees have also been grown, classified, and reported upon, including several varieties of the vine. 4 The Ayricullural Itcsources of CanacTu. Wo left Ottawa on Tuesday night, September 5th, for Toronto. Toronto. This is a hirge city of some 190,000 in- habitants. It is the capital of Ontario, and the second city in Canada. Unlike Montreal, where the French Canadians predominate, Toronto is inhabited chiefly by English, Scotch, and rXRLIAMENT ISCILDIXGS, OTTAWA. Irish, the English language being almost universally used. It has several large manufacturing industries. Here are made nearly all of the agricultural im|)lements used in Canada ; the principal firm in this line of business being Messrs. Massey-Harris Com])any. An agricultural show was held at Toronto whilst we were there. These Canadian shows are quite different to our agricultural shows ; Ihey are a combination of our shows with flower, fish, and other exhibitions, and country sports. There were also exhibitions of riding liy cowboys, Indians, and several others. Many of their feats of horsemanship were very remarkable; they had a very interesting trotting match, the competitors mounted on very light vehicles^ and standing 20 abreast. There were musical entertainments repre- senting different nations, a tight-rcpe performance, and fireworks. We were too soon to see the animals, and the pick of the province had been sent to Chicago, where, we since ascertained, they gave a very good account of themselves. The implements we saw at this show were lighter than ours. Nearly all the waggons are made for two horses abreast. During all our travels through the different provinces we did not meet a single cart or waggon with the horses in single file, but always two abreast, the teamster invariably riding. On the 6th of September we crossed Lake Ontario in Niaijara Falls. a steamboat to see the Niagara Falls. On our way we had our first experience of a Canadian thunder- s Mr. JoJm Roberis't Report. -:' .• 6 stonn, the rain coming down in torrents. On the banks of the river we saw large orchards of pears, peaches, apples, and other fmits, and some very fine vineyards. These fruits, especially the peaches, are packed by the farmers in small, cheap, and nea<^ -looking baskets, which are covered with ' mslin. They Iook most attractive. Evidently the Ontario farmers have learnt how to entice customers. I am not going to say one word about the Niagara Falls. Thousands of descriptions have been written. Most of them are failures. So would mine be if I attempted it. After seeing the Falls from different points, we returned to Toront . From Toronto we started on the evening of the 7th for Winnipeg. Winnipeg, via North Bay. This was a long railway journey, occupying three nights and two days. Most of the land along the line is not well adapted for settlers, having been at one time a large forest, which some time or other had been destroyed by fire. The charged stumps were to be seen for hundreds of miles. We passed a large number of lakes, all of which seemed to be well ■r, I mmtUiiiriAo ! II', T'a; ■WINNIPEG. .;,):) stocked with fish, as were also the rivers that v/g crossed. In this district many deposits of minerals have been £ound, the nickel at Sudbury being especially deserving of montitm. Canada has the largest deposit of this valuable mineral in the world. The lumber industry is also important. VV^e passed Fort William, where there are large grain elevators. The largest, owned by the Canadian Pacific Eailway, is ten stories in height, and will hold 3,700,000 bushels. The grain is carried in closed trucks, lind these are emptied by zinc cups running on an endless band. We arrived at Winnipeg on Sunday, the 10th of September, and made our headquarters at the "Manitoba" Hotel, which is one of the finest in Canada. The day was very warm, the thermometer registering 90 degrees in the shade. I had experienced the same degree of heat at home a few days before starling, but I did not feel the heat in Winnipeg nearly so oppressive as I had done at home. Such was jH The Ar/rtcuUiiral Resource* of Canada. also the experience of my fellow-delegates. .,innipeg is situated at the conlluence of the Assiniboine and Eed Elvers. In 1871 the population was 400 ; now H is 30,000. It is the capital of Manitoba, and the sect of the Provincial Government. The principal street is a v^ery long one, with four tramway lines running side by side. I could not say that the streets were in good condition — rather the reveiee — pools of stagnant water being the rule, and not the exception. We visited the new pork-packing house, which has a capacity for dealing with 200 hogs a day. It is owned by Messrs. J. T. Griffin & Co., and is a brick building 100 feet by 60 feet, three stories high. The upper story is for cold storage. The pigs are driven up a gangway to the building ; then each hog enters a pen, where a man fastens a " catch " on the hind leg. Piggy is then hauled up till he reaches the overhead railway, where a man stands, and in a few seconds the fatal stab is inflicted. When the bleeding is over the " catch " is released, and the pig is let down to a vat of scalding water. From there he goes along an iron rail, where four men are in waiting, and by them all the hair is taken off. He takes another journey by rail, and three men pounce upon him, and with knives and cold water give poor Mr. Pig his finishing touches, ten minutes after he was ascending the fatal gangway, in full possession of his squealing voice. The pork is left in the cold storage before being cut up and salted. It is then despatched away, among other places, to England, where it figures on many a table as "home-cured bacon." It woidd take too much space to describe how all the parts are utilised. A house of this kind is invaluable in a district like this, which is mostly a wheat-growing district. By its means farmers can turn all their refuse corn into money. The price paid for pigs while we were there was 5 cents, or 2|d., per lb., live weight. On the 11th we drove from Winnipeg along a large Stonewall. tract of flat land (which at one time was the bottom of a lake) to Stonewall. Near the former place we met large herds of cattle, which were called " town herds." Nearly every house- holder in Winnipeg has a cow, which is sent to graj o on the prairie each morning with the herd, and is returned to its owner in the evening. The soil is mostly black loam, and, being near the town, is held by speculators for high prices. On our way we passed several farms, and some very good crops of wheat and oats. It was at Stonewall we for the first time saw a number of native Indians. They live in tents, and are now very docile and harmless. They live principally by shooting and hunting. Whilst here we visited the farm of the Hon. S. J. Jackson, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Basing our expectations upon British ideas, we erroneously expected to find a fine gentleman, in broadcloth and kid gloves. We found nothing of the sort. We came across Mr. Jackson in his wheat-field, helping to fix the thresher ready for the morning. We could hardly recognise him from the other workmen, nor tell whether he was a white or a red man, 1^0 covered he was with dirt and dust. We found that Mr. Speaker svas an energetic farmer, who disdained not to toil with his own hands. He had himself cut, with his own self-binder, 150 acres of grain. He • ' ' .Vr. John Robertas Report. 'f ba('. also ploughed himself 60 acres of land. He works the farm with tld assistance of one regular man, a lad in spring, and the help of another one at harvr t time. He keeps a few cattle, and feeds a large number of pigs. m this he is unlike the majority of Manitoban farmers, who depend wholly on wheat-growing. Now they are beginning to see their mistakfi. A farmer in Manitoba, as in this country, ought to have sometii*r.^ '....^j^^ ;_: :.- : every day.' In the evening, the Speaker entertained us at his house, which was an elegant structure, full of all the comforts of life. In front it bad well-kept croquet and tennis lawns, where, he said, they enjoyed themselves in the evenings. Mrs. Jackson could not give us much of her company, being so much occupied in providing for the hands on the farm. She, like her husband, was, we discovered, not afraid of work. We stopped this evening at the Stonewall Hotel. ; On the 12th we drove out to see the Penitentiary, at ■Che * Stony Mountain. Here were about 100 criminals, one of j^enitmtiary. them (whom we saw) being under sentence of death. The prisoners work on the farm like ordinary labourers. We saw four -or five of them with the teams ploughing: two of them jyere with four oxen, driving; whilst another handled the plough. A guard is always kept near them, with loaded rifles in their hands. There was also a mounted guard in the field. It is very seldom that a f)risoner escapes. The crops on the fann were very good ones. Little 8 sold, as most of all that is grown is consumed on the premises. Colonel Irvine, the governor, is of opinion that the establishment should be self-supporting. I cannot help thinking that this system of dealing with criminals is much better than the home system. The prisoners are kept at rational, useful, and varied work, and not compelled to everlasting oakum-picking or crank-turning. They also keep themselves, and are not a burden on the country whose laws they have broken. From the Penitentiary we drove in the direction of the The SelJcirh Eed Eiver, and visited the Selkirk settlement. Here Settlement. we saw land that had been in cultivation for 70 years, and, although it had never been manured, it would yield this year an average of 30 bushels to the acre. Most of the farmers in this district have gone in for dairying, as they can find a good market lor their butter at Winnipeg. From the Red Eivev v,a drove back to Winnipeg. The horses travel much quicker, and scarcely ever tire here, as compared with the Old Country. The district is flat, and there ftre no roads, simply tracks. The ground, although sufficiently firm, is CPJ>1 and soft for the feet. We have always two horses when driving. r. 7 Our next move was for Killarney, on the 13th. On our Killamei/. way here we passed through an excellent wheat-growing district. We counted from the train 30 sets of wheat stacks, each set being composed of four stacks. We also passed an occasional field of flax. The Mennonite settlement was on our route. The Mennonites went from Germany to Russia because they would not ponform with the military laws. Russia promised them that they would not be required to render any military service for 100 years. At the end of that period they were required to furnish soldiers to the The Aff}'icuttural Resources of Canada. Bussian Army, but, rather than do that, they emigrated to this place, where they have proved themselves veiy good settlersi At first they were vi ly poor, several fai.iilies joining together in one outfit. Tho WHEAT STACKS, UkUlTODK,. "A tit!* whole capital of some of them was ^54, and with this they entered upon their homesteads of 160 acres. Many of them had advances made to them indirectly by the Government through their German friends in Ontario ; and, to their honour be it said, they repaid l)oth principal and interest long ago. Near Killarney, we visited a cheese factory which had only been in existence for a little over a twelve- month. To me this appeared to be as paying a business as any I saw. The cows are sent on the prairie to graze, and this costs them nothing. They pay to the Government for the privilege of cutting hay on vacant land 10 cents, or 5d., per ton. Only two or three farmers as yet work the factory, but others are expected to join, and the larger the number of cows the better. I was informed that one of the partners kept 300 ])igs in the summer; the average price he got was 4^ cents (2^(1.) per lb. He also kept 15 breeding sows. Each cow averaged 25s. per month for six months. Ten pounds of milk made 1 lb. of cheese. They sold their cheese for 10 cents (5d,) per lb., and had a ready sale for it.f The price of a good cow was SS25 (^5). This district is well watered with streams and lakes, and there is an abundance of wild ducks. We visited a farmer, who was a mason by trade, who had been on his farm for 1 1 years. He had started with a very small capital. He gave us the following information : — Mr, John liohertss Re^wrt, , 9 In 1890 he had 120 acres in wheat, which yielded 3,320 bushels, which he sold at 75 cents. In 1891 he had 140 acres, which gave 4,380 bushels, which he sold at 52 cents. In 1892 he had 175 acres, which made 4,800 bushels, which he sold at 55 cents. This year he had 150 acres of wheat and 50 acres of oats, neither of which had he yet threshed. His farm buildings consisted of one stable and imple- ment shed ; the horses, cattle, and fowls were all kept in one building (but in different stalls), which was a great advantage when the cold weather came. He had 40 head of cattle and horses, all being very fair specimens, and including a pure-bred Holstein bull. This breed suits the climate and the country better than any other ; they are easy to fatten, and are possessed of good milking qualities. This farmer works his farm with the assistance of one man, whom he employs all the year round, and pays a salary of $210 (.£42). He employs another man for seven months, and pays him $20 (£4) a month. He also pays $35 (£7) to another man for the harvest month. When he first commenced farming here he had to draw his wheat to Brandon, a distance of 60 rTji h(1 n<\^ fir A cbofteb's stable and FABM-TABD. miles, but now that the Souris Railway has been made lie is within five miles of a railway station. He paid $345 (£69) for his binder, but he could now buy one for $130 (£26). In the evening we met several farmers at our hotel, all of them loud in their praise of their own particular districts. Indeed, I found throughout my journey that every farmer we met tried to convince us that his particular neighbour- hood was the " best in creation." ^i On the 14th we arrived at the Scotch crofter settle- Seotch Crofter ment, and had an interview with some of them. On SettUment. our way Me visited a farm situated in a valley, the owner of which was a man who had commenced life as a bookseller in Liverpool. He had selected a very dcisirable spot for his farm. It was on the banks of a lake, where a large number of trees were growing, affording excellent shelter for his stock. He was now building a new brick house, overlooking the lake. Close to the PABTIT. o 10 The Afjricultxiral lieaources of Canada. watpr lio had a large kik-hen garden, in which some splendid melohs were grown in the open, withont any shelter. He had threshed 2,200 bushels of wheat from 107 acres, and 1,500 bushels of oats from 33 acres. The nearest station to his farm is eight miles off. Near the farm wv. saw a self-binder cutting hay, wliich was afterwards put up in stooks. It was prairie grass, about 5 ft. in height. Between this farm and Belmont, a roadside station, the land was poor, the soil being light and full of alkali. Trom Belmont our party divided into two, one part An Icelandic visiting the Icelandic settlement, which has proved Settlement. a success. The Icelanders make good settlers, being hardy, quiet, and steady workers. " ' As we got near to Glenboro' the land improved, and we Glenhoro\ could see on each side large stacks of wheat ready for thresh- > - ' ' ing. We spent the evening at Glenboro', and next morning — thci loth — visited several farms about three miles off, farmed mostly by young men who in this country had failed to pass their examinations for admission into one or other of the learned professions. They had good houses, and appeared to be comfortable. They, however, com- plained that the harvest had been most disappointing. Up to about a fortnight before the wheat was cut the prospects were most encouraging. It appears that this district had suffered considerably from the drought. Hot winds came and ripened the grain too suddenly. When it was cut the grain fell from the ears and was lost — in some cases from a third to one-half. In some of the fields I could see that the ground was thickly covered with wheat. The wife of ojie of those men who complained was a lady who had been brought up in a large English town. We next visited the " Farmers' Elevator." This had been put up by a number of farmers who were not satisfied with the treatment they had received from the owners of the other elevators— a company of corn dealers, and the Ogilvie Milling Company. At Souris, which was our next stopping place, there Souris DistHct — are three Welsh farmers, whom we visited. Two are Welsh Farmers. brothers from South Wales, whom we found after some difficulty, as they had gone with a party of their neighbours to shoot "prairie hens." That was the second day of the season, and they had made a " bag " of 30 brace. I could not help contrasting my own country and this. In ours, the farmer feeds the game, sees it growing, and then the landlord, or someone else who pays the landlord for the right, comes and enjoys all the fun and all the prodt ! These brothers have a farm between them of 960 acres. They came there with small capital, and now are looked upon as two of the best and most successiul farmers in the district. One of them contested an election for a seat in the Legislative Assembly. He did not succeed, but he very nearly ousted a man who had been in possession for many years. I asked their views upon the question of Welsh settlement in the country. They were of opinion that to start a settlement of new-comers would be a questionable process. Eather they advocated the in^^' ' lual settling of Welshmen in established districts, where they could gi ihe help and the advice o^ the old settlers. We also visited the other Welshman,, a native of North Wales. Before coming to Canada he had been a Mf. lohn liobertss Report. 11 qiiorryman. "Eleven years ago he emigrated. On his way ho caught a severe cold, which developed into inflamnintion of tiie lungs. As soon as he landed he had to take to his bed, which he did not quit for three and a half years ! By that time he had spent all the money he had saved in the Old Country. However, he got better, and home- steaded a farm of 160 acres, starting with only one cow. The fifth year he thought that he was well off, for L had harvested 16 acres of v.heat. He took it over 16 miles to sell, with a pair of oxen ; but ▲ rABM-IIOUSE, SOUTHERN MANlTOBi. another disappointment waited him. The dealers would not buy, because his wheat had been frost-bitten. He now owns 320 acres of land, has as good a house and farm buildings as any I saw in the neighbourhood, and is, as he justifiably exclaimed, "as independent as any man." His wife is a good butter-maker, and always gets a good price for that article. She has made up her mind not to sell under 25 cents (Is.) per lb., and if she does not get that, she keeps tho butter until the winter. The last two years he has rented another farm of 320 acres, which adjoins his own. He has a family of five, all of whom are sliarj), intelligent children. It is his intention, he informed us, to go in more for dairying, as the present price of corn is unprofitable. From Souris we, on the 16th, started to try and find another Welshman ; but, after considerable trouble, we were informed that he had let his farm and gone elsewhere. Some miles before reaching Brandon we saw some very Brandon, fair land, and market gardening was carried on under, apparently, favourable conditions. Beaching Brandon on the Saturday afternoon, we visited several of the stores, and found them much superior to the shops generally found in towns of similar size in the Old Country. The town also boasted a livery stable with 100 horses. Twelve years ago, our guide — Mr. E. P. Leacock — built the first shanty in this place. Now it has a population of 5,400, and the largest grain market in Manitoba. It has five grain elevators, a flour mill, and a saw-mill. Near the town, on elevated ground, stood the lunatic asylum. The town also contained several hotels, a skating 12 The Agncultural Resourcea of Canada. rink, and various places of amusement. Not far from the town is the oxiHTimciital farm, of 625 acres. It is ].artly in the valley of Assiniboine, aiul partly on the adjoining hi^h land. It was com- lufneed in 1888, and since then very rapid progress has been made. When the trees planted along the fside of tlie road have grown a little larger, the farm will present n veiy attractive appearance. Wo were greatly struck by the windmill which has been erected, and by wliich power of from 4 to 14 horse can be generated. It was manag(>d with the utmost ease. They had devoted here 103 plot3 of land to different qualities and kinds of wheat, and they alao ' . ' : GRAIN ALEVATOil, DRANDOX. " ., experimented on different kinds of oats, barley, &c., &c. Experiments were, also made with different kinds of fruit trees, such as apple, pear, plum, currant, gooseberry, &c. As this farm represents in itself the different qualities of land in Manitoba, it must of necessity be of great interest and assistance to farmers in that district. The number of visitors (4,703 recorded their names in the last twelve months) shows that the intei'est taken in it is great. The afternoon of this date wo visited the first sheep farm that we had come across in Manitoba. On our way we passed through a large tract of land, most of which was light and poor. Upon arrival we found a fine flock of ewes, which last year had cost' the proprietor S!900 (£180). He said that he had sold 60 lambs at S5 (,£1) each, and had in stock lambs valued at 85400 (iJSO). He had also 100 acres of ^heat, which had done badly this year. He was of opinion that mixed farming was more likely to pay than any other kind of farming, although the keeping of a stock of sheep in m intej^ Ml', John Itohcrt8*s lieport. 13 was expensive. Thoy must bo housed and fed for five months during wintry weather. In Hiimmer they are turned on the prairie, and this costs nothing. In this district we saw several fields of wheat that hud been destroyed by hail. Tliese hailstorms are a puzzle. They leave, perhaps, one part of the field without being touched, whilst the other part is destroyed. They arc local storms. On the 19th wo left Brandon for Qu'Ap|)elle, a "new" QiCApi)elle. town of DoO inhabitants. On our way \\o pass(>d a large tract of land not yet farmed. This land is held by speculators. These people, I was informed, do not pay as much in rates and taxes as those who actually cultivate the land. In my opinion, it is a great hardship that industrious farmers are compelled to IE!I^^MJH^?^nk!iiL ^^^^^^^^^HP ^^m ,;>.,?:-*'"-■ v«*::5si ^ranuk...^' ^^1 m It'-'r-dJAt-"'^ ti-n> \ \\ ii" ;.-l' HYDE FABM, QU'APPSLLB. })ay higher taxes, while speculators are allowed to go comparatively free. It would be better, I should think, tliat the taxes should be reversed, and put on land that is doing nothing, so as to compel its owners to put it in a state of cultivation, or put it in the market. At present the holding of such land compels farmers to live far away from^ the stations Besides, land left in this state breeds "gophers," a most destructive class of vermin. The land in this district is a rolling prairie, and not so bleak as in some other parts. It is dotted witli poplar bluffs, which afford admirable shelter for stock, and supply the farmer with fuel and rails. All the houses have been built diu'ing the last 10 years. * There are liaptist, Wesleyan, Roman Catholic, and Episcopalian churches, and the last named denomination has also a college, where, among 14 The Ag)-icuUural Resources of Canada. othor Bubj.^cts, farming is taught. The ]ii.shop of the diocese is l^ho principal of the college. „' t" '■»• " " •-.;- Ou the 20th we drove from Qu'Appelle to Indian Indian TTead. Head, where Lord Brassey's farms ara situated. There are also the Bell, Alliance, and Experimental Farms. About two miles from the station we saw, on a farm, the finest crop of wheat that we came across in our travels. The farmer had 280 acres of wheat, which averaged 40 bushels to the acre. The soil here is heavy, and takes three horses to do the work usually performed by two. It so sticks to the moulds of the ploughs that there is great ditliculty in l)loughing. It is a black loam, of tirst-rate quality, the subsoil being clay." This has been able to stand the hot winds and weather, and is tVi^teit"#'^'^'*'jff^ '^^Wffwf,, ,_•***?**** ■■^^« ''fim^ hM^/^MM^M......:.. CAMKKuM S I^AR.V, QU AFPKLLE. not affected by frosts. Fine crops of oats were also grown, averaging from 45 to 55 bushels to the acre. The barley yielded about 30 bushels per acre. Sheep do well here. We saw a nice lot of Shropshire sheep, which had received but very little attention during the winter. They had an open shed to go to, and could help themselves to wheat straw. The cattle that we saw belonging to Lord Brassey looked exceedingly well. They were mostly Durhams. We also saw about 25 Clydesdale colts, looking remarLibly healthy. Most of the crops were on the large fields. These fields are so large that on the Bell Farm (before it was broken up) a ploughman, starting in the morning, ^ould have to be particularly sharp, in taking a furrow, to be able to return to his dinner, doing a furrow each way. These furrows were four miles long. Land is rather dear here, or, at least, it is higher priced It is from $5 (£1) to $15 (^3) per acre. We saw on the Alliance Farm a large number of Indians carrying com. They are paid a dollar a day. and they must have their wages every night. If the hunting fit comes on, Mr. John Roberts 8 Report, 15 awwiy they ffo, even if in the middle of the harvest, and at tbe busiest time. The general wages paid are as follows:— The four winter months, from «1() (£2) to S12 (£2 lOs.) per uwnth ; the other eight months, from iSlo (i,';j) to $20 (^4) per month ; making an avemge of £^0 a year, with board. Servant girls get from SS8 (iJ2) to SIO {£2 10s.) per month. 1 felt sorry at the time, and I feel sorry now, that 1 could not give more time to tiiis interesting district, so as to visit more farms. Prom Indian Head we went, on the 2l8t, to Calgary. On Calgary. our way we passed some very largo farms, including the M'. /. Canadian Agricultural Co.'s farm. We also passed Hcgina, tbe capital of the North- West Territories, with its population of 2,200. From this point a railroad goes northward to Prince Albert. This town is the headquai-ters of the Mounted Police — a body of men 1,000 .yV .,.1) iw.,|,.j; h,. ,. sti'ong. We reached Calgary on the 22nd. This is a fine town, with some substantial buildings. It has a population of 4,500. It Is the centre of the ranching district, and charmingly situat a or; the Bow River. We visited a saddler's store, and inspected the sadc'.les of the cowboys. The whole "rig-out" of a cowboy will cost £20. Some of the saddles and trappings are decidedly ornamental, and all of them very strong. , We left Calgary by the new railway for Edmonton, about Edmoiiton. ^ 190 miles due north. We arrived at Edmonton late aj; . .^,r> .„., |- night, tbe concluding portion of the journey being ft two-mile drive with a four-horse team. We drove through such steep places that we certainly thought we would be upset. On our way from Calgary we passed a large traci of land which had not been taken up. We also passed an Indian reserve, close to the railway. The Govern- ment instructor's house was pointed ouii to us. His duty is to teach the IndjuiQS how to f^rm. The Indians here have a large number of 10 Th: Agricultural liesources of Canada. cattle, and grow some crops. In this district were several sheep farms. My personal impression is that splendid sheep-walks could be made h(»re. A fivnnor who was our fellow-travelh^r for some distance, and who had a cattle ranch and a horse ranch, told us that, in his oninion, sheep had better prospects than any other animal in this district. Another farmer, who hu,d been sheep-farming in New Zealand, told us that he considered this place better for making money than New Zealand. A young man could start a sheep ranch with very small capital. A good class of sheep could be bought for about flB3 or i$4 (128. to 16s.) each, and a stock of 500 would be a fair start. AVool, owing to the McKinley tariff in the States, is not high at present, 11 cents (5|d.) per lb. being the average price. Wolves are the only dangerous animals in this neighbourhood, but they do not run in packs. The town of Edmonton is situated on the banks of the Saskatchewan liiver. The river is 1,000 ft. wide, with banks rising 200 ft. high. The town is in two parts, the oldest being on the north bank of the river, and the new part on the south side, where also is the railway station. There seems to be much rivalry between the two parts of the town. There is some gold found by the river side in the form of dust. The gold-washers earn from $2 to SB4 a day. Seams of coal can also be seen cropping out of the ground on the river banks. We went to see a coal mine near the town. We walked about 100 yards along a level to see the coal before it was mined. There seems to be any quantity of it, and it is sold in the town for $2^ (10s.) per ton. There are four or five coal mines near the town. There are also brickworks there, and some very good bricks are manufactured, and used on some of the best buildings. On the 22nd we drove along a circuitous route to St. St. Albert, Albert. On our way were some of the heaviest crops of oats and barley that I ever saw. The barley was of excellent colour. In the village of St. Albeit we found a large number of farmers — mostly half-breeds — horse-racing. They could find time to do this, although most of their grain was in the fields, not beinc: carried. On the bank of the river Sturgeon is situated the Roman Catholic cathedral, together with the Bishop's palace. We were received by the Vicar-Ger'eral, his Lordship being away from home. The land in this district seems to be very rich ; it has a depth of several feet of black mould, under which are several feet more of marly clay. There have been some very heavy yields of oats — as much as 1()0 bushels to tiie acre; of barley, 65 bushels; and of wheat, about 40 bushels. , On the 23rd we drove to Fort Saskatchewan, 20 Fori miles down the river. This is the headquarters of Saskatchewan, the Mounted Polict^ of the district. Travelling back by the south side of the river, wo had our first experience of the trouble the fencing in of the land makes 1/ shutting up the trail. We completely lost our way. We passed several new settlers ; and as we got nearer Edmonton we saw many old settlers, several of whom had good and well-made houses. I am of opinion that this district has a splendid future, on account of its rich soil. It will grow all kinds of corn and vegetables. It Mr. John Roberts" 8 Report. "^■'"^ 17 has an unlimited supply of coal and good clay. No doubt with these advantages some works will be developed before long. The great drawback is the distance to a good market. It would be better for the farmers to put their produce into as condensed a form as possible, such as cheese, butter, Ac. A great acquisition to this district would be an oatmeal mill, in addition to the corn mill they already have ; a brewery or distillery, as the quality of the barley is so good; a pork-packing factory, and a woollen factory. We were struck with the condition of the cattle here — chey were all so fat, although most of them had been wintered out, as we saw no accommo- dation for them. During our stay at Edmonton we had some bad weather, including frost and snow, but the day we left was bright, warm, and sunny. Prices in this neighbourhood were as follows : — Best quality hay, $5 a ton ; beef, 3 cents to 4| cents per lb., live weight; mutton, veal, and lamb, 10 cents per lb., dead weight; pigs, 7 to 8 cents per lb., dead weight. Leaving Edmonton on the 25th, we drove to Leduc, Wetaslciwin. and from there to Wetaskiwin. This is a rising little village, surrounded by picturesque lakes that harbour a large number of wild ducks. We w^nt to see the store, for the purpose of getting the prices of different articles. It was the most complete country store that I ever saw. Everything necessary for the house could be procured there. Clothing made ui imported cloth is dearer than in this country. Sugar was 4|d. and 5d. per lb. ; the other groceries seemed to be about the same in price as in the Old Country. Twelve months prior to our visit there was not a single house built in this village; now it has several shops, a nice hotel of some 20 beds, a livery stable, an office of the Dominion land agent, and a railway station. We were informed that there was some veiy good land taken up some few miles out of the station. We stayed this night at our old quarters in Calgary, and The Rocky the next morning — the 26th — we started to cross over the Mountains. Eocky Mountains — no doubt the grandest journey in Canada. We could see tae " Eockies" from Calgary, and their lofty peaks seemed to reach the clouds. On our way we passed several large ranches, where the cowboys found plenty of employment. A description of the journey over the Eocky Mountai'^ ' is not part of my work, and I shall not attempt it. Sufficient to say that " its grandeur is indescribable." It would be an impossibility to describe it properly. It must be seen to be appreciated. From Banff — situated in the Eocky Mountain Park, a natural reserve, where there are several hot springs — we could see the Peechee, which is a mountain peak 10,000 feet high, or nearly as high as three Snowdons piled one above the other. I could not help admiring the engineering skill exhibited in the construction of the railway. Sometimes it climbs up the steepest gradients, and soon after it descends into the very bottonl of the mountains, till it can find a place to cross some mighty mountain torrent. As we got through the Eockies we could no^' difprence in the climate. It showed itsrl directly in the in the herbage and the grass. 18 Tlie Agricultural Resources of Canada. On our train we had several gentlemen farmers from New Westminster, who informed us that an agricultural show was being held there. We at once decided to go to that town, and extend our visit in British Columbia. tH? ol ^TO«r).til odi "rvi wlJ^xl We arrived at New Westminster on the 28th, in the New evening, and it was with some difficulty that we secured Westminster. beds, the town being so full of visitors. We went to If, uH v^io see the exhibition buildings, and were invited by the Mayor to atten ^ the distribution of prizes, but, unfortunately, we were too hite to witness that event. The show, or exhibition, building was lighted up with electricity. This mode of lighting and travelling is much more common in Canada than in our country ; they are far ahead of us in this respect. In the centre of the building was a raised plat- form, on which the New Westminster City Band, composed of young men from the town, was playing some very good music. A large number of people were listening attentively to them. This show was called the " lioyal Agricultural and Industrial Society of British Columbia." It combined instruction with pleasure. The exhibits embraced every variety of vegetable, including some very good specimens of cabbage, cauliflowers, potatoes, peas, «&c., and there were alsd splendid a])ples and melons. There were shown some very fine samples of the timber of the district. The corn we did not consider to be so good as what we had seen in the North-West ; the butter was of a very good quality, and tastefully made. The fruit of British Columbia is one of its best productions. One of the first duties of a settler here is to plant an orchard, the soil and the climate being most favourable to the growth of fruit trees of all kinds. The following morning we again visited the show. The fowls penned were of an average quality. The cattle were mostly Holsteins, but there were a few Shorthorns. In such a new country as this we did not expect to see extra good stock. There were a few good cart horses. In connection with the show, they had Eugby football matches, lacrosse, canoe races, Indian canoe races, rifle match, bicycle races, running, trotting, cowboy riding feats, and a log-chopping contest. They had a riding competition for ladies, and also an Indian brass band. After dinner we were taken in a steamboat up the river. Wo bad a good view of the town, which is situated on an elevated position on the Eraser Eiver. We visited the Brunette Saw-Mills, and saw how easily the great logs are dealt with. They are floated from the forest, and kept in an enclosed part of the river until called for. They are then brought up from the river on an endless chain, supplied with a liberal quantity of hooks. It is surprising with what ease they pre hauled up. One saw is in reality 30 saws working upright, cutting the log into boards at one operation. Sailing up the river, we passed several salmon canneries, but they were not working, the ,son being over. There was any quantity of salmon to be seen t.i\ the river. Pitt's Meadows, to which we were taken, has an area of 12,500 acres. It is flat land, and in its original state was quite useless, as the river flooded it in June and July, when the snow melted on the mountains. A company bought it, and at a great cost procured what is called Mr. John Boberta's Repwt. 19 ** dyking plant," consisting of a steam navvy and other appliances. They have put up a dyke round it from 5 ft. to 6 ft. high, and 31^ ft. wide at the base ; at the lowest point a pumping station has been erected, to be used when the water cannot be got off in any other way. I'or this land the company expect to get $50 an acre ; and, if the scheme succeeds, it will bo well worth that. On the other side of the river, a piece of land in the same condition is similarly treated. This company must be a very plucky one, to cope with such work. Land is high in New Westminster, ranging from $15 (£3) per acre upwards. From New Westminster we went to Vancouver, Vancouver. travelling by the electric tram for 12 miles through a forest of pines and cedars of enormous size. At Vancouver we were received by the Mayor, and taken to see some of the principal buildings of the town. The President of the Board of Trade ,i > VASCOUVEB. , also acdortipahled us. There seems to be a large trade carried on at this ])lace. ^r What Montreal is to Eastern Canada, Vancouver is to Western Canada. The shipping business is done principally with China, Japan, ^ Australia, and the Californian and Canadian coasts. We inspected one of the Canadian Pacific Bailway Company's steamers which plied between Vancouver and China. It was a magnificent boat, well fitted, and apparently most comfortable.**^»-^w tl'*'^ " ft-,ii*)i't The strides which this city has made since so recent a time as 1885 is wonderful. In that year the whole town was represented by one saw-mill. In 1886 the population had increased to 600. In 1893 20 The AfjrictiUural Resources of Canada. we find a large town of 20,000 inhabitants, with every prospect of further rapid increase. We visited Stanley Park, so called after the present Lord Derby, m ho was a few years ago Q-overnor-General of Canada. It has an area of 1 ,000 acres, and is reserved for public uses and recreation. A zoological collection has already been started. The largest trees here are of enormous size We saw one that had a girth of 55 ft. Others were from 35 ft. to 40 ft., and would be 200 ft. to 300 ft. high. On the very top if" a tree (the actual top being broken off), about 200 ft. from the giound, we saw an eagle's nest. A LAKGE TREE (gIKTH, 55 FT.;, STANLEY PARK, VASCOCVEB. On Saturday night we started for Victoria, arriving there Victoria. at one o'clock on Sunday morning. Victoria is the chief tow n of IJritish Columbia, built on eldvated ground over- looking the Gulf of Georgia. Erom the Park, which also overlooks the Gulf, we could see the State of Washington. On Sunday morning we were invited to attend divine service on board the *' Eoyal Arthur," the flagship of the Paeitic Squadron (which consisted of eight men-o'- war). The " Koyal Arthur " had 642 men on board, most of whom attended the service. We also inspected the guns, machinery, &c. A large percentage of the population of the city of Victoria is made up of Chinese. There are at least 3,000 of them there. "Johnny Chinaman " makes a very useful servant, and, owing to the scarcity of female servants, he is invaluable as a laundryman. He is also an adept at all kinds of household work. They are brought over by companies, who contract to take them back dead or alive. They inhabit a district Mr. John Roherisa liepori. Si of the city by themselves. They spend but very little money, and most of their trade is done with one another. On Monday, through the kindness of Mr. Dunsmuir, Nanaimo and a special train was placed at our service, to enable us Wellington. to go and see the coal mines at Nanaimo and Wellington, about 90 miles north. We stopped the train at several points, and drove up the country to inspect the land. The Indians have some very fine land on their reservation ground. We also saw a lot of good sheep. Eeaching Wellington, we visited several of the collieries which are owned and worked by the Dunsmuir Colliery Co. They started working in 1871, and now they have an output of 350,000 tons annually, most of which is shipped for San Francisco. Returning to Nanaimo, we visited the works of the Nanaimo Colliery Co. They have five or six pits about three miles apart. The coal is worked under the Gulf, but the colliers are never troubled with water. The Mayor of Nanaimo — A. Haslam, Esq., M.P. — kindly drove us round, and entertained us. We left Nanaimo at 6 a.m., and crossed back to Vancouver, which we reached by 11. The climate of Vancouver is said to be delightful, and very much like the climate of the South of England. They have but very little snow at Vancouver, and when it comes it soon melts away. We started on our return journey by taking the train to a Harrison, small station called Harrison. There we had an experience that none of us wanted repeated. In a small canoe, seven of us were taken some four miles up the Eraser Kiver. We had to cross several whirlpools, and to do this with our overladen and frail boat was full of real peril. However, we got to land safe, and drove to Chilliwack, Chilliwack. a little town about a mile from the river, in a valley, surrounded on all sides by high and towering mountains. We inspected several farms, among them being a hop farm, where the crop had just been picked. It averaged a ton to thj acre. The pasture in this neighbourhood seemed to be very rich and strong. In one dairy farm that we visited all the milk was made into Cheddar cheese. We tasted it, and found it to be of excellent quality — quite as good, if not better than some made in England. This farmer's plan was to stop making cheese when butter got to be worth more than 25 cents (Is.) per lb. He informed us that his cows averaged him .£12 per head per year. He had sold from his farm 300 tons of timothy hay, which was of excel- lent quality and well harvested. He had pressed it by horse power, and sold it to go by boat to Vancouver. I his man has grown hay on the same field, unmanured, for 18 years, and his crops average 3 to 4 tons an acre. On this farm we saw a grand crop of green corn, which was estimated to weigh 35 tons to the acre. It was from 8 ft. to 0 ft. in height. This crop was put through a chaff-cutter and cut into inch lengths, and made into ensilage for the cattle. This farm, in my opinion, looked more like a paying concern than any that I saw. It \Yas 400 acres in extent, 50 of which had not yet been cleared. Land is rather high in this district. They ask as J4ucli as JS150 (iJ30^an acre, but no doubt it can be bought for less 22 The Agricultural Ilesourcea of Canada. than that. This district has a heavy rainfall, which makes it more suitablo for dairying than for growing corn. .1: On Wednesday, October 4th, we left Chilliwack and drove Agassiz. to Agassiz. Owing to the heavy rain, the roads — if roads they may be called — were nearly impassable ; so much so, that one of our party was thrown clean out of the car into a pool of water. After reaching the river side, we crossed, and " footed it '' through the Indian reservation for about three miles, along a rough footpath, till we got to Agassi/,. The land seemed to be very fertile. The Indians had cleared portions of some fields, and had planted orchards. We visited the experimental farm, the superintendent of which is Mr. T. A. Sharpe ; it is 300 acres in extent, and situated near the railway station. Part of it is in the valley, and other portions rise somewhat suddenly to a height of 800 ft. At that elevation orchards have been planted, and the experiment is watched with much interest. The expense of clearing this land must have been very he:ivy — quite $75 (<£15> an acre. It was formerly covered with heavy timber. The climate is mild ; the lowest reading of the thermo- meter last winter was seven degrees above zero. On the side of the mountain a large orchard has been planted, containing 887 varieties of fruit. This, we were told, is the largest collection of fruit on the continent. Although only three years have elapsed since the trees were planted, their growth is something wonderful. The value of these experimental farms must be rery great to this province in finding out the most suitable fruit trees for the district. If this had been left to individuals, it would have taken many years to acquire the knowledge that is now obtained free, and without trouble. We left Agassiz about 3 p.m. on Wednesday to re-cross the Eocky Mountains. jj J. f By Saturday morning we reached Winnipeg, having j;^f'^ . travelled 1,411 miles on the same train. On our way ^ •^' we saw several crops of wheat out, not yet carried, especially at Qu'Appelle and Indian Head districts. On Saturday, at noon, we started by train for Chicago, Chicago. arriving there on Sunday night. We passed through a large tract of land in North Dakota, most of which is similar to Manitoba. St. Paul and Minneapolis, which we passed through, are thickly populated districts. Arriving late on Sunday night, with the newspapers reporting that no bed coidd be had upon any consideration, was everything but pleasant. However, we soon found a place to lie down, and enjoyed our rest to the utmost. On Monday morning we started to see the World's I'air. It being " Chicago Day," with 742,000 persons visiting the Show, it could not be the most advantageous day to see things. However, I soon met several Welshmen froui my own neighbourhood, one of whom had lived at the next farm to me. From him and from others I got a full account of the " Eisteddfod " that was held there. We were told that 80,000 Welshmen attended it from different parts of the world. The Eisteddfod week was the one in which the largest number of persons visited the Fair since its opening. ■'^''' Mr. John Boberi^*8 Report. '^'^ 23 Having been over the different provinces of Canada, we were naturally anxious to see how Canadip.n stock and Canadian products had succeeded in competition with the rest of the world. The " big cheese" of Canada is by this tin e well known. It weighed 22,000 lbs. It has not yet " walked away," as some said that it would, but keeps in perfectly good condition. The judges, reporting on it, said that " its excellence of quality was a source of surprise and wonder." I understand that it is going to be taken to England. •'; "'■'^ '."i/;-' _ -'' Canada, as an old Ontario farmer said, had on thi^ occasion ♦* beaten the world." No doubt it secured more prizes than any other part of the world, for its population. In the cheese competition Canada has been remarkably successful. This I was not at all surprised at, as the cheese we had tasted on our journey was of specially good quality, and contrasted most tjavourably with what is sold in this country as " American cheese." "''•'"'! ^ In cattle Canada was very successful, taking with 180 entries S6,045. Ontario breeders took the bulk, and the best of the prizes for Hackneys. In Thoroughbreds they secured all the prizes open to them. They also carried off several prizes for trotters. In all their other exhibits Canada came also off with flying colours. (See Appendix.) Our programme having now been concluded, I shall pro- Oeneral ceed to offer a few remarks about the Dominion of Canada Remarks, generally, and the different territories visited, in the hope that they will be of assistance to some who are desirous of emigrating, informing them of what they may expect in the New World. The Dominion of Canada has an area of 3,470,257 square miles, and a population of 5,000,000, being equal to the population of London. A train starting from Montreal will not reach Vancouver, on the West Coast, until five days, travelling night and day. The Government of Canada is Federal. Each province has its local legislature — a kind of a Home Kule Parliament — and these have each their Prime Minister, Speaker, &c., &c. The present Governor-General, who represents the Queen, is the Earl of Aberdeen. There are two Houses of Parliament, but no hereditary legislators. In the Senate, or Upper House, are 80 members, who are elected for life. The House of Commons consistsof 215 members. The education of the country is in the hands of the Provincial Governments. The schools are managed by trustees, and the expenses paid by local rates, and by grants from the Provincial Treasuries. No religious instruction is allowed in any school before three o'clock in the afternoon. After that time such instruction as will be permitted by the trustees is given ; but parents have the option of withdrawing their children, if they so desire, before the religious instruction is given. There are at present a million persons — quite one-fifth of the whole population — receiving instruction in these schools. All the children receive their education free, rich and poor being educated together. An English journalist who accompanied us for some time, paid a visit to a higher grade school. He said " there was no distinction of class; the daughter of the Chief Justice sat by the side of the daughter of a common labourer; by the side of the Mayor's son sat the son 24 The Agricultural Itesoureet of Canada. of a Jewish pedlar." In Canada every child, if he has brains and determination, has an equal chance to climb the ladder of life, and is given exactly the same assistance. Beyond the elementary schools are higher grade schools — where education is wonderfully cheap — colleges, and universitieL;. Over 9,000 students attend these schools. There is no established religion in Canada. With the exception of the province of Quebec — where the Eomau Catholics are allowed to enjoy the same privileges as they had before the country was ceded to Great Britain — no religion is in any way State-aided. The Koman Catholics are the most numerous body, their adherents number- ing about 2,000,000. The principal other denominations are the Wesleyan Methodists, 809,637; Presbyterians, 754,142; Church of England, 644,259; and Baptists, 257,449. There are also Congrega- tionalists, Lutherans, Salvation Army, and other denominations. The distinction of classes, so general in this country, is unknown there. There are no Poor Laws in Canada, and therefore there are no paupers. The expensive parochial system in our country creates paupers, and multiplies them. The fact that there are no poor in Canada is a splendid testimonial to the country. The Canadian farmer is independent of everyone. This con- sciousness of independence makes the farmers a better, nobler, and more honourable class of men. Over there the farmer is not expected to be the catspaw of his landlord, and obliged to think, speak, and vote as that master thinks lit. Canadians now enjoy most of the reforms which have yet to be granted in Great Britain. The law of primogeni- ture does not exist. After certain formalities have been complied with, any city or county may put in force the Canada Temperance Act. This Act is very stringent, and provides that no person shall expose for sale any intoxicating liquors. They have also Sunday closing, although in some places the police authorities are not over-sharp. In Ontario the public-houses close at seven o'clock on Saturday evenings. As to the franchise, every person over 21 years ol agCj if a British subject — and persons going from this country to Canada have the same rights as* the Canadians — can ^ ote. In the United States, all persons arriving from other countries must be naturalised before they can vote. The qualification is to rent or on ii a place value £60, or being the son of a farmer, or a fisherman, &c., *fec. In some parts the Indians have votes, provided they have the necessary qualification. Parliamentary life is never longer than five years;. Each Senator receives an indemnity of $1,000 (£200) a year. Members of the House of Commons receive SIO (£2) \>eT day whilst in session, but not exceeding 881,000 (£200) per session. In the Dominion, marriage with a deceased wife's sister is allowed and sanctioned. With some few exceptions, the laws are everything that could be desired. In the matter of railways and canals Canada is specially blessed, There is a natural waterway from the Straits of Belle Isle to the head of Lake Superior, a distance of 2,260 miles, along which there is uninterrupted navigation. The Government have spent on canals alone as much as £11,957,114. These works are of the greatest importance. The railways, except the Intercolonial Kailway, are owned Mr. John lioberts'a Ee2>ort, 25 « f by private companies, and not by the country. Many of them, however, have been largely subsidised, and 43,377,422 acres of land have been granted to them. The principal railways are the Canadian Pacific Eailway and the Grand Trunk Eailway. There are 14,588 miles of railways in the Dominion. The province of Ontario has an area of 182,000 square Ontario. miles, and a population of 2,000,000. We, as delngates, had but a very short stay in Ontario, as we were given to understand that our mission was more in Manitoba and the North- West Territories. That being so, my remarks will necessarily be brief. The work that the pioneers in this country did was something wonderful, and well have they and their successors reaped the fruit. What was once a forest has now been converted into orchards and fields. Ontario is now an old settlement, and land is fairly dear. In favourite localities t^lOO (£20) per acre is given for the best improved farms, but others can be bought as low ns ►^lO (.£2). The average price is $50 (£10) per acre. A family from the Old Country would soon feel at home in Ontario, as they have easily accessible and good markets, and excellent educational and other facilities. The climate is said to be very pleasant ; but it is much warmer there in summer, and much colder in winter, than in this country. Their mode of farming is more like our own, being mixed husbandry. This was the only province where we saw autumn-sown wheat. A large number of farmers and farmers' sons from Ontario have gone to the West. If we found a Canadian in the North- West, he invariably turned out to be an Ontario man. Undoubtedly he is the best man to go there ; he knows how to build his o\^ n house, and he can fix his own land. In fact, an Ontario farmer is an all- round man — well-educated, hard-working, industrious, and plucky. In Ontario the average yield of fall wheat is 20 bushels, and spring wheat 15 bushels ; barley, 25 bushels ; oats, 35 bushels ; peas, 20 bushels; hay and clover, a little over a ton; potatoes, 118 bushels; mangolds, 440 bushels ; carrots, 554 bushels; turnips, 418 bushels, per acre. Besides the above-named products, they also grow hemp, flax, and tobacco. Maize and tomatoes ripen well, and peaches and grapes are easily grown in the open air. An old settler told us that now the Ontario farmer turns more of his attention to stock, and consumes most of his products at home, converting it into beef, mutton, &c., &c. A good deal of cheese is also manufactured there; and Ontario cheese is considered as good as English cheese. The province of Manitoba has an area of 74,000,000 acres, Manitoba. and a population of 150,000. It is mostly prairie land, with hills and valleys, several belts of timber, and some large lakes. The latter are well stocked with fish, and at seasons with ducks and geese. The surface water is not always good, as it sometimes contains a large percentage of saline matter ; but good wat 3r is obtain- able by sinking. The favourite mode of pumping is by a windmill. The climate is cold in winter, and warm in summer. In winter the thermometer falls occasionally to 40 degrees below zero, and in summer it averages from 65 to 75 dei^rees. Although the winter temperature is very cold, measured in the usual way, it is claimed for it that the TAUT IV. Q 20 The AgrlcuUural Jtesourcea of Canada. dryness of the atmosphere, and the almost continuous cloudless sky, render it much easier to bear than equal temperature on the Atlantic coast. Judging from the appearance of the inhabitants, the climate must be a h(!althy one, the children especially looking remarkably well. Its drawbacks are storms and bli/zards, and summer frosts. Hail- storms in some parts diimage the wheat crops ; but most of the farmers insure against such a loss, which they can do for a small sum. This aummer hot winds came, and ripened the crops too soon, and caused oonsidi^rable losses. Snow falls in November, covering the earth to a depth of about 18 inches. It remains continually on the ground, without thunderstorms, thaws, rain, or fog, until March, or the beginning of April, wlien it goes away. .4J1 day the sun shines brightly. There are no cyclones in Manitoba. The rainfall is sniall, and is lieavier in May and June than in other months. The favourite mode of travelling in winter "s by means of sleighs. ; t/,( i As soon as the snow clears comes the busy time of the farmer. He must then put in his wheat crop. It is wonderful how cheap they can sow their wheat per acre. It is difficult there, as here, to say what cultivating land costs, as it depends so much on the condition of the land previously. If summer fallowed, a good deal more expense is incurred. Breaking prairie is also more expensive ; but if it is oidy ploughing stubble, the cost is very little. The following particulars were given to me by a farmer in whom I had every confidence :— .,;. i Breaking prnirio _ ,,f, ... Ty, ' .;. IGs. to 20s. per acre. '•■''' '"•,,. Ploughiug stubble ''..,''' ;..'■' "... ... 58. to Gs. „ . ■ ;» ' ]*'■ Harrowing 7-^d. to lOd. „ > '• .ii, /,' '.!( Reeding -2 bushels at 56 cents 4^. „ ..ijfj bowing — galling or broadcast drill, which can sow .1 80 acres per day «. ^ .., ' ,», r ••• , •••• 3W. ,, "' •'•>' Harvesting— -^^ ,?_i.«iyf:07W)';.;>! .:i',.Jji:,^i;; ■* ''.i h !!)-.■ i lii'vi: TvfiuQiH.y^ "-L-'^'-d^ il'ii..'i-^ ^.ivb. '''^r^l ' about £1 Ss. 4d. „ cI .•>'i-H<, ^ The wheat harvesting is nearly all done by the self-binder. These machines will cut and bind about 10 acres a day. It takes two men to stook the whi at after one machine. Tiiey place from 15 to 20 sheaves in each stook. The wheat is cut from 9 inches to a foot high, as straw is of no consideration there^ On threshing days the straw is burned to raise steam. The rest is drawn into the fields and burnt. To me this api>eared to be a great waste, in view of the great scarcity of straw in this country. They make their stacks in groups of four on the fields, and place the thresher between them. A good deal is threshed straight from the stooks. Two men cut the ties and attend to the feeder, one on each side. The straw being short, it is no wonder they can thresh such an enormous quantity in a day. At Indian Head, a machine threshed 2,260 bushels in eight hours, the week before we were tb.ere. It is easy to calculate how much corn is threshed, as it is put in 2-bushel bags or sacks. The average day's work is from 1,600 f. Mr. Joltn JleherUi't Re^i. 27 to 2,000 bushiils. The farmers are not in a hurry to carry their wheat, as there is no danger of rain at that time of the year. They do not thatch their fitaclcs, and no trouble is taken for the sake of Appearance. The wheat is carried straij^ht from the Mtooks and the thresher to the elevator, where it is cleaned and htort'd, to the Iwi^ht of about 70 foet. If our wheat was carried in the same miinnrr, arid stored, it would only be fit for the manure heap. The qu:iUty of the Manitoba No. 1 hard is so well known that it does not i*equ;re any praise. It is always in demand at Liverpool and other corn markets, and commands the high- est price. These territories are situated west and north-west of The Nortli-Weitt Manitoba, the chief town Iwing Kegina. In Alberta Territories. the climate is not so cold as in Manitoba. Tiie "chinook" winds — that is, warm winds from the Pacific — blow over the country, and soon melt away the snow and ice. It is in this district that the large cattle, horse, and sheep ranches are situated. The animals do not require much winter shelter, nor much winter keep ; but no farmer is safe who does not provide for a possible exceptional winter. The cattle in the Edmonton district wore in very good con- dition. We also saw in the same neighbourhood very fine lots of sheep. In my opinion, this district is eminently suitable for sheep, being a rolling prairie, with plenty of good water. Up to the present time sheep-ranching has not received the attention it deserves — at all events, in the districts we visited. The crops we saw in the Territories were the best we saw in our travels. The wheat crops at Indian Head, and the oats and barley at Edmonton, were far superior to anything we saw elsewhere. The wheat is said to have yielded in some cases as high as 65 bushels per acre, oats 100 bushels, and barley 46 bushels. These, of course, would bo exceptionally fine crops, and the average would be under this. The great drawback of the country is the distance from good markets. Of course, as the district gets better populated, this will bo partly remedied. The best course at present is to put the produce in as condensed a form as possible, such as cheese, beef, wool, &c., &c. Owing to the quantity of coal to bo found, no doubt many manufactures will spring up, the development of the country being only a question of time. irl.'Tf )';'.-L W'ii-f-lii%on OiH 10 ift T'>ri ii-i rri neiit m:v\ Land can be secured at a very cheap irate from either the C'ana(''ian Pacific Eailway Company — who are large holdeis of land, and whose prices vary from 8s. an acre upwards — or from the Dominion agents. If the purchaser pays cash, he gets his deeds at once ; but payment may be spread over nine years by paying one-tenth clown, and paying interest for the remainder at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum. Free lands, consisting of a quarter-section — 160 acres — may be obtained by any person who is the head of a family, or by anyone over 18 years of age, by paying SSIO, and complying with the conditions as to building and cropping. Full particulars of terms, &c., can be obtained from any of the Dominion land agents. My advice to new-comers to these Ter- ritories, as well as to other parts, is not to rush to buy a farm as soon as they get there. It would be much better for them to work on 28 The Agricultural llesottrces of Canada, 8om(»one elso'-i farm for a year, or keep their money in their pockets for a 8iniiliir term, till they get to know the country. This rushing for land has been the cause of endless failures. It is also just as well to ke<>p an eye open for "land sharks," who are rather plentiful. The taxes in the North- West Territories are very light. In an old district they are about $12 on a quarter-section of 160 acres. In newer districts they would only be about $2. The attention of the Canadians has of late years been turned to the production of beef. In lh02 they exported to Great Britain cattle to the value of S7,48 1,613. A small part of this represents store cattle exported to Scotland and England, where they have competed with Welsh runts in the markets. This has been partly the cause of the present low prices of cattle here. Bullocks weighing 180 lbs, per quarter can be bought on the ranches for 3d. per lb. It is estimated that the cost by rail and watei*, and other charges, to this country, amount to 2d. per lb. Thus these animals can be sold in this country at a profit for a little over 5d. per lb. The fact that as fioon as the St. Lawrence becomes navigable, in May, we have for the last two or three years experienced a drop, at a time when we used to make the highest prices in the year, proves conclusively that M'e must look to Canada — and especially these ranches — as formidable rivals. If this competition develops in the next few years as it has done in tile last year or two— and in my opinion this Canadian cattle trade is yet but in its infancy — agriculturists on this side, with heavy rents, tithes, taxes, and other charges to pay, will be compelled to emigrate, or *' give it up." This '• Far West " province is situated on the Pacific Coast, liriiisli and includes several islands, such as Vancouver, Queen Columbia. Charlotte, &c., &c. The climate is more uniform than that of the other provinces, the summer not being so warm, and in winter snow seldom remains on the ground. The appearance and complexion of the inhabitants indicate that the climate is not unlike that of the Old Country. It is recommended by medical men as being very salubrious and healthy. Vegetation is green nearly all the year round. They have in British Columbia a great deal more rain than in either Manitoba or the North-West Territories. Unlike other parts of Canada, the principal resources of British Columbia are its minerals, such as gold, silver, iron, copper, coal, galena, mercury, platinum, plumbago, mica, slate, salt, &c., &c. Most of these minerals give employment to a large number of men ; and so does the timber trade of this province. A visit to the large timber mills proves the enormous richness of its timber yield. The Douglas fir, spruce, cedar, and hemlock gi-ow to an enormous size. Much of the food of British Columbia — luilike the other Canadian provinces — is imported. They get their flour from the North-West : this fact proves that there is a demand, and where there is a demand there is a price. I am convinced that more money can be made from an acre of land there than in this country. There is a good market for hay, cheese, batter, eggs, &c. The rich lands in the valleys and along the river banks are admirably adapted to produce the articles Mr. John Itoheriss lieiwt. 20 that T Iiavo named as b«Mn;^ in (Icinutid. Tlie p;razliifj land is ri(!l), and yield.) 3 tons to 4 tons to tlio acre. Hops are Muccu.ssl.ully groun there, and most of the crop is sent to the British market. Starting on a farm in Brilish Columbia nnist be rather expensive. Good land sidls there a.s hip;h as j£30 pen* acre. Of course land can l)(j bought cheaper than that, but it has to be cleared of tUe large trees that grow upon it. lij i-ii^ ^{vjuiib* ti* '.-.,. Tn conclusion, I venture to tell my fellow-countrymen Conclusions, that if they emigrate to Canad.i they will be more inde- pendent than most of them can ever hope to be in the Old Country. They will have to work hard — if they don't, it is no use their emigrating — but they will in all probability reap the fruit of their labours sooner than in their old homes. In this country a large outlay on the land is the first requisit«», owing to its exhausted condition. In Canada it is virgin soil, and no manure of any kind is necessary. Again, the land in this country is expected to maintain the landlord, agents, parsons, farmer, labourers, and the poor ; besides having, in addition, to bear heavy burdens ia connection with the roads, police, sanitation, education, and oth(T matters. The rates, tithes, and taxes in this country amount, on an average, to 88. per acre. It is not surprising, therefore, that the land in many instances fails to do this. In Canada all the land has to do is lo pay for its own cultivation, keep the farmer and his family,' and pay about 6d. per acre of rates. In the matter of wheat-growing there is no comparison between Canada and this coimtry. Our land, exhausted as it is, cannot now, and never will be able to compete successfully with the rich virgin soil of Manitoba. Besides the difference in the soil, there is the difference in the charges on the land, already, alluded to. Farmers, therefore, who wish to be corn-growers will have to emigrate from this country to such a country as we have described, where the conditions are more favourable. At the same time, it is quite evident that, even in Canada, wheat-farming cannot be profitably carried on at the present low prices. To those whose forfe is the rearing of stock, Canada offers many inducements. Its large open prairies, its rich pastures, and its climate, especially in the North- West, are most advantageous to the rearing of stock, especially cattle, sheep, and horses, and also for dairying purposes. Farmers who are comfortable in their present position should not emigrate, neither should those who are not adapted for outdoor, rough work. But it is possible, and even probable, that those hard-working farmers who cannot, despite their utmost industry, gain a competency on their farms, would be better off in Canada, and more certain of ultimate success. As to agricultural labourers, the best thing is to inform them that there are at tlie pi-esent time in Canada a large number of farmers who commenced life in that country zh labourer?', but who have, by their own indu&try and perseverance, workea them- selves up, till they are now the proud possessors of their own farms, Already in this Keport several tables of wages have been given, and these will enable labourers who, having no capital, wish to ."It '.'it 30 The Agricultural Resources of Canada. emigrate, to determine whether it is worth their while to do eo or not. The wages of domestic and other servants have also been given. It only remains iov me to return my most sincere thanks to the hospitable Canadians for all their warm-hearted kindness and assist- ance, so willingly and continuously given. .?, jj.^s^u wj-.- jll;,; a". BANCfl 80BNE, ALBEKTA. ^^<* *»^' »''?|'««-J '-•itJ iC iililliiiili!ll!!g!iNi|l'!:'::';:!;!:,^|J!:y'r::lJJ::J:,j!a GALLOWAY ■ TILE CM A IIANITUUA FAllM. \1; \ SI V ''u THE REPORT OF MR. W. H. DEMPSTER, ui>^ '•"''! Millbrook Lodge, Clarbeston Road, R.8.O., South Wales. lo.B In response to an invitation from Sir Charles Tupper, Bart., G.C.M.G., C.B., Higlx Commissioner for Canada, to report on the agricultural resources of Canada, I have visited nearly all the principal territories, chiefly in the North-West ; and after travelling a distance of 10,000 miles, I think one is justified in giving an opinion as to the present and future prospects of that great country. Taking into consideration tlie Union Jack flying in the air, and the Word of God represented by ministers of all denominations, a new settler cannot but feel — which is also my candid and unbiassed opinion — that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, have already established themselves in that land. / After going carefully through the different methods Gram-Growing. of farming, I find that grain-growing alone no longer occupies the position it did, and if the farmers are well advised they will turn their attention more to mixed farming, especially dairying and hog-raising. The useful hints that may be obtained by visiting the Government Experimental Farms leave no doubt on the minds of farmers as to what is best suited for the soil : the different branches of agriculture are carefully studied and worked by very competent men for the benefit of the farming community. In many parts of the North-West I noticed the majority of Farming farmers hardly work their farms in a melhodical mpnner — Methods. that is, from our point of view. Where they waste their manure and small grain, burn their straw, and buy their hogs ready fattened, a man would tell us that farming is not pros- porous, whereas his neighbour, with a fine lot of poultry and about 50 fat hogs, a good lot of cattle, and nothing going to waste, seems to be doing wonderfully well, — and what wonder? he has no rent to pay, no rates or tithes, and only very nominal school taxes. Then, again, his crops are raised by one ploughing, with no manure bills, and an excellent harvest may be expected. Unfortunately, there are a number of young English Unsuccessful gentlemen, brought up in the lap of luxury, who perhaps Farmers. first turned their attention to Army, Law, Church, or other professions ; and then, not being successful, went in for farming in the North- West, with perhaps £1,000 capital, thinking that it required no skill or practical knowledge — which is a great mistake. The result is, they get into tht; hands o^ confidential friends (as they term themselves), and get fleeced in all shapes — simply ruined; and, in nine cases out of ten, the country is blamed. Unless a man is ])repar('d to turn up his sleeves and go to work in right earnest, ho had belter it-maiu !fhe Agricultural llesovrces of Canada. at liome ; there is no one to do the work for him, and the result is, it will be loft undone. ,,,,.. . ^i 1 1 Gentlemen farmers would do better in the older Farmeramth settled parts of the country, such as Ontario. Im- Cainlal. proved farms may be bought or rented on reasonable terms ; there need be no unnecessary expense ; and there is good society, with all the usual home comforts. Children may be educated at a very small cost. This, I may say, is the most AX OXTAIUO FARM. •*) I '.',^•11' 1 Manitoba and the West. delightful country I have ever seen ; magnificent fruit of all kinds is grown, and its scenery — hills, valleys, and lakes — is all that can be desired. In writing of Ontario I do not by any means insinuate anything derogatory to the province of Manitoba — another charming coiuitry — or to the country all along to Regina — the capital of the province of Assiniboia, where the North-West Mounted Police have their head- quarters. The good discipline and smartness of the men are admirable. AVe are, indeed, deeply indebted to Colonel Herchmer for the assistance he rendered us during our tour, by means of men and horses ; also to Major Steele, at McLeod : here, again, both men and horses were at our disposal. Calgary and other places we cannot speak too much in praise of. About 200 miles north of Calgary is the rising town of Edmonton, in the Alberta district, where there is an abundance of coal ; it is also a very rich farming country. We took three days to survey this place, so as to see the produce of fii«-Si^'i 'f'>-.r5'>«l iMj'i »i'i lUvi-iltin* iJ'^:i Hi A;\;.V > .■ ( i)iii: ■■':..• /'J'-iil 'in r.jM in ii* Mr. W. H. Demj) iters liepjrt. 33 the beautiful soil we were walking and driving over. Among tho fine samples brought to us were wheat, oats, barley, turnips, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, &c., the size and quality of which we were agreeably surprised to see, grown as they were without manure. Thinking, perhaps, that they were picked samples, 1 examined stooks in diEEerent fields, and actually found a better sample of barley than that brought to us ; another sample I found equal to it— and that was grown on Birtle Side Farm, near Birtle, Manitoba, the property of Major-Gen. H. C. Wilkinson, O.B. I do not consider roots a successful crop to be raised for fodder in the North-West. In Silver Creek, Manitoba, however, a fine sample was seen — by far the best to the east of tlie Rocky Mountains. In all the provinces farmers seem thoroughly satisfied with their farms, each one declaring that he had struck upon the Garden of Canada — which proves contentment. I do not mean to say that there are no exceptions, but the complaints usually come from persons who had not had any, or much, experience of farming before emigrating. . (,\ All along the Canadian Pacific Railway, Nature in The Canadian all its gi-andeur and variety is seen. The "Rockies"' Pacific Railway. are indescribable. Suffice it to say that the four seasons of the year may be observed at one glance. At the foot, the sheltered valleys and warm sulphur springs give the spectator an idea of early summer ; then, again, a little higher may be seen the beautiful autumn tints; the maple trees, with their leaves quite crimson, dotted among green and yellow ferns and white rocks, make a lovely scene; and, to complete the picture, the tops of the " Rockies " are oft^n coated with ice and snow. Also, the clearness of the different mountain streams which flow into the Fraser River was very noticeable. It has been said by some people that the United Canada and the States are more prosperous and successful in agri- United States. cultural pursuits than Canada, but I beg to dih'er very much with them. The following figures (which I took notes of) will bear me out : — '>'■■■ Cheese (June and October), "World's Fair, Chicago. ' ' • United States . . . . Out of 598 exhibits, 54 awards. *; i Canada ,,687 „ 607 „ I "li 50 per cent, of all money prizes were taken by Canada. ": j'-ui *-! At New Westminster (British Columbia) we were much New impressed with the agricultural exhibition (which we vvei-e Westminster, fortunate enough to witness) ; every branch of industry . .' was represented by specimensof an excellent kind. When on the island of Vancouver, we were again surprised to see the wealth of the land — fine rich soil, first-class fruit, very fine trees, and plenty of good coal : but in conversation with an officer in Her Majesty's Navy, I was told that the coal is not equal to that of South Wales for naval requirements — that is, for steaming purposes — although its quality for ordinary purposes is praised. In case of war, this coast may prove advantageous to England for embarkation of troops to the East, «fcc., should the Sue/ Canal become blocked. 34 The Agricultural Besourcu of Canada. ^I^^'t fHUH f'- /!'•¥*> Tiny i !7 'I'l-l-J/ «'f/ ' |.TI^'•u^ >^i'ft ,-!.>c)nUK\ , So far, I have written of the beauties of Canada an4 Jh-awhaclc8 of British Columbia, and the fertility of the soil, but have Canada. said nothing of the drav/backs, which are comparatively- few, and these to a certain extent may be remedied. Ist. Prairie fires are great enemies which farmers have to contend with. The Mounted Police are very active in helping to subdue them, and also wharp in compelling farmers to attend to their lire guards, which is the only remedy for overcoming that devouring element. It would be an advantage, too, if fire guards along the lines of railway were compulsory, as sparks from the engines are a frequent source of prairie fires. 2nd. Prost is also tletrimental to the grain crops. Wheat sometimes gets frozen, and becomes unsaleable for grinding. We find that crops sown and harvested in proper time are seldom troubled in that way; and even should the wheat get frozen, it will do for fattening hogs, and is good feed for cattle. 3rd. Sheep pay very well, but care must be taken of them on account of wolves, which, however, are not very numerous. The Government is offering a reward for their heads, and the probability is they will shortly become extinct. The Dominion Government has done, and is doing, a great deal for the sons of the Canadian soil ; they are conscious of the fact that the success of farmers is good for the country, as all industries must depend more or less upon the tillers of the land. Our travels were as follows: — We left Liverpool on board the s.s. "Vancouver" on the 24th of August last, and, after a very pleasant chat with Mr. Dyke, the Government agent, who kindly assisted us in every way, we steamed out of the harbour about 8.30 p.m. The number of passengers on board was 850. We were fortunate in having two choirs on board bound for the World's Eair. We all enjoyed the healthy sea brec.ie, and the weather throughout was delight- ful. With such a fine ship, fitted with every comfort, and with the good attention of officers and c 3W, one could enjoy the sights of the great Atlantic, viz., large icebergs, whales, &c. On Augu 31st, at 8.30 a.m., we sighted Labrador and the Arrival in north coahb of ^newfoundland. On September 1st wo were Canada. in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; then on to Quebec, where we remained about 3| hours. On September 3rd we landed at Montreal, our voyage having taken a little over nine days. On September 4th, after arranging our transports, we had a look around this magnifi- cent city. We ascended Mount Koyal by means of an elevator ; and a fine tract of country there was to view. Harvesting was the chief opera- tion with farmers, and, judging from the stooks, pretty good crops were sure. Mount Eoyal is 900 ft. above the level of the rivers St. Lawrence and Ottawa. Montreal, the chief city of Canada, has a population of 250,000. Leaving the city about 4 p.m., we got to Ottawa at 10.1 5 p.m. Here we were fortunate enough to again meet General Laurie, who had previously assisted us. He spared no trouble in taking us to the principal places, and introducing us to Sir Adolphe Caron, Postmaster- General, and most of the Government officials, including Mr. Lowe, Deputy-Minister of Agriculture. The General has the welfare of Canada fetill at heart, and, judging by the respect shown to his name in the country, he must have served his constituency well. Mr. W. H. Dempster's Report. 85 -io.ui {jiiHuvyC In company with General Laurie, Mr. Hall (of tho Expermenlal Department of the Interior), Professor Eobertson, and Farm, Ottawa, others, we visited the (government Experimental Farm, M here, I am sorry to say, crops of an excellent quality had been inundated by rain. Roots were not at all good; grapes fairly good ; the wine, made under Professor Robertson's supervision, was very good. Ottawa is the capital of the Dominion, and has a iwpulation of 48,000. CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY HOTEL, QUEBEC ' ' '" " We next proceeded to Toronto, arriving there on Sep- Toronto to tember 6th, at 9 a.m. We saw the exhibition, but, Wimiipeg and unfortunately, it was the wrong day for the cattle show, the West. but we inspected many kinds of improved agricultural machinery. On September 7th, after paying a short visit to the Falls of Niagara, we returned at 8 p.m., and left for Winnipeg by K .;30 p.m. train, via North Bay. On September lOtli, at 7 a.m., we got to the well-kno"\\n pi'airie city (populatiom, 30,000), the cajiital of the province of Manitoba, situated at the junction of tho Red and Assiniboine Rivers, both of which are navigable by steamboats. Winnipeg commands the trade of the vast regions to the nortli and west. From here we visited Stonewall and Wavy Bank. We had a con- versation with Mr. Shipley, who formerly lived in Ontario, l)ut came here some years ago, and has done exceedingly well. Mr. Gibbon (Mr. Sliipley's neighbour), who is a native of Pembrokeshire, South Wales, had just arrived, and is delighted with his farm. Land seems to be a rich black loam, well suited for mixed farming. Mr. Sliipley's stock and 3d TJie Aaricullural Resources of Canada. crops are looking well. Tliis woukl be a good country for a now settler. We returned to Winnipeg, and on our way visited the Provincial tiaol. 1 thouglit everything most satisfactory. We were met very kindly by the Governor, Lieut.-Col. Irvine. On Wednesday, the ] 3th, we started by train for Killarney, a very useful mixed country. We saw the dairy factory, but thought there was rooin for improvement. We left Killarney at 8 a.m. on the 14th, and first called at Crofters. the crofters' settlement, about 10 miles north. They have suffered very much from hailstorms ; these are local, but the crops in several places in this district are ruined. The farmer can insure against these storms which sometimes visit Manitoba ; Is. per acre will A KIM-AKStY CltOFSrU PLOLOHIXG. recover 25s., in case their crops are destroyed by hail. I think that the crofters commenced rather injudiciously, getting expensive implements, and otherwise getting into debt. I am told that the interest charged on implements is from 18 per cent, to 24 per cent.— a very good reason for not getting into debt. All crofters are not alike. Those who came out on their own resources have done well, which the following figures will prove, and there is no reason why the others should not do the eame: — Skttlgrs in 1881 and 1882. Started with ... $G0O L. McLean ... Clmrlcs McLean 400 John McLean 400 lluflh Lnmont and famly ... 800 ■William Carles ... ' ... 1,000 John Campbell, Slioal L'ike... 000 Kiel Lament, ,, ... (iOO Captain McLean, 1,000 John McPhail, „ ... 500 John McPhail, ,, ,.,. 500 (jointly) Now worth $8,000 7.0C0 (),00O 10,000 8,000 G.OOO G.OOO 80,000 0,000 G,000 rr Mr. W. II. Dempsters lieport. 37 ' ' ~ ^■'.M. ■(>;•. :*#Hr*^. »/>/V CBOFTEB3 TUBESHINO. to assist us in every way they could. Mr. James Duncan, who came here 13 years ago, with a capital of £100, was the only settler within GO miles at that time. He homesteaded a quarter- section (160 acres). In a short time he bought 300 acres, which were added to his farm. He is now a man of good means. Glenboro' has a population of 600, with a railway passing through it. The land is chiefly under grain, to the west, and well suited for mixed farming. "We next visited Souris, and called upon several Welsh people. WelsJi Mr. E. J. Jones, who came from North Wales 12 years ago, Settlers, with a capital of $700, was taken ill at Montreal when he landed, and it cost him all he had; but, notwithstanding his misfortune, he now owns a half-section, and rents another half- section, on which the stock and crops looked very promising. About 25 miles' drive north-east brings us to Brandon (population, 5,400) ; tho largest grain market in Manitoba. On Monday, the 18th, we visited the Brandon Experimental Farm, and saw much to be admired there ; the cattle were first-rate, and the machinery was also a great att)'action : all brunches of farm work were methodically carried on. We next came to Q,a'Appelle (population, 950), which is some distance west of Brandon. We drove to Indian Head. Mr. William Dixon, who farms 640 acres, says that he expects his wheat to turn out about 35 bushels per acre. Land was a clean black loam, evidently with grain-growing properties — as the return of this farm is above tho average of tho Assiniboine district; quality of grain, No. 1 hard, Shropshire Down sheep, he says, will do well here, only they must bo 36 T.ie AfjricuUiiral Uvaouixcs of Caiw.la, housed in winter. Cattle will do out with care even at the ex- ceptional t(!Uiperature of 30° below zero. He arranges the straw so a8 to give shelter "s well ;is fodder. We then went tlirough the experimental farm, wliich is worthy of praise. The wheat crop at uy^'il i, til-;^ Ij;m'»*'j,: >■ i:': '■' •■'•.. -'41''. .\' > >:; ,^11.'!'.." ik\} .','- ^ ■ FARM SCENE, MANITOBA. Lord Brassey's farm was quite a show in itself, which proves what good tilling can do. This extensive place is managed by Mr. Sheppard, from whom we received the greatest kindness and hospitality. On getting to Calgary, on the 22nd, we were greeted with a snowstorm. We, however, only remained here half an Itour, as our train was leaving for Edmonton, where Ave arrived about 8.30 p.m. the same evening. • " Edmonton is a rising town (population, 500, taken in 1891). Edmonton. We were all very much pleased with this district ; the fact of its being so far from market is its only drawback ; but no doubt much of its produce will find an outlet in British Columbia. Heavy crops of grain and roots are raised in this locality. In addition to plenty of good coal, gold is found in the bed of the river Saskatchewan in the form of fine dust; last season between $15,000 and SB20,000 worth was obtained, chiefly by settlers living along its banks. Traces of petroleum have been found in various parts, but no satisfactory developments have been made. In journeying northwards, in the direction of Fort Saskatchewan, a fine tract of country, with nice clumps of trees and plenty of water, could be seen — a great ])art of this may be homesteaded. St. Albert, nine miles north-west of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon Itiver, is a little village with shops, post oflice, and telephone eonnoction with Edmonton. The cathedral :(^-a iiiH Mr. W. h. Dempsters Report. 39 church of the Koinan Catholic diocese is situated there, with the residence of the bishop and a convent of sisters of charity, who conduct a hospital and orphanage. The winter is not so severe here as in many other parts, so it is said. ,,r .. i • We left Edmonton September 25th, and drove to Wetaski- Bed Deer win, in the Red Deer district. A good country ; plenty and Calgary, of sport : wild geese, ducks, chickens, &c., in abundance. Here, I may say, we received valuable assistance from a aovemment guide, Mr. Hayes, who speaks in enthusiastic praise of that part of the country. "We got back to Calgary at 7.30 p.m. on Y .'vi-jj-vj; !'■•: ;^nir)o i;u.«ii;;i /ii^vi^"; CALGARY, the 26th. On the 27th, with police teams, we started to view the country around the town. We saw nothing specially good in the way of farming lands in the immediate vicinity. Population, 4,500. It is the handsomest town between Brandon and Vancouver, and in the distance the white peaks of the " liockies " can be seen ; it is also the centre of the ranching country, and is situated on the river Bow. We next took train for the coast, and arrived at New British Westminster, on the river Eraser (population, 8,000), at Oolumhia. 8 p.m. on September 28th. Here the salmon-canning industry is carried on largely ; there are about a dozen extensive establishments in the town ; also very large saw-mills, the produce of which is shipped to China and Australia. In company with local gentlemen we visited a place called Pitt's Meadow, which has been reclaimed, and is owned by a com])any. I shall be interested to see if it will ever pay ; the soil when thoroughly dried will undoubtedly be exceedingly fertile. We also saw the exhibition which was held at that time. The vegetation is by far the best I have seen in Canada. Animals are not so good ; it would be well to import some of the best sires from Ontario. Vancouver (population, 18,000) was our next stop ; i^ \8 the Paci6c terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Until May, 40 The Ayricultural liesources of Canada. 1886, its site was covered with a dense forest. In July of that vear a (ire, spreadinj a';i!* :o y;uh,;-r.r The Mormons are an industrious people, and are doing Mormons, very well ; they turn out a quantity of butter and cheese, and they also raise good grain. Wheat averages 20 bushels per acre. The settlement is composed of 100 families, and coijimands 50,000 acres of land ; 400 cows are milked, and the total return of cheese this year is 35,000 lbs. They have a milk factory, and buy milk at 8 cents (4d.) per gallon. These people originally came from Salt Lake, but they do not practise polygamy. Mr. Card •'^ Mr. W. H. Dempttei-'s Report. ■ 41 strongly ndvocates immigration. We returned to McTieod, which wns named after Colonel (now Judge) McLeod. Getting back to Calgury via Mosquito Creek and the ranches, we saw thousands of fine cattle and horses. They are collected twice a year to brand the young ones and sell the fat ones — which are magnificent animals from three years and upwards ; they are quite fit for the butcher. AVe find that in this part of the country experimental irrigation is the order of the day. Leaving Calgary for the last time, we got to liegina Calgary (population, 2,200) on October 13th. We did not care toRegina. very much for the country near the town. It is rather heavy land, but yields good returns in favourable seasons. Wo were much pleased with the Indian Industrial School, where Indian children are taken charge of and taught all kinds of trades. It contains at present 40 girls and 70 boys, who are turning out very well. On our way to Duck Lake, which is 23 miles from RegiuA, we came across several successful farmers. Most of them complain of hot winds this year, which made the crops below the average, Mr. Curruthers has farmed his place three years, and has done remarkably well. Mr. Bratt has lived five years on his section of land ; the lake near his house swarms with wild ducks, geese, and other birds. Undoubtedly he has well feathered his nest. On 17th October we arrived at a little town called Grenfell, about 50 miles east of Regina, and were received by several local gentlemen, who appeared to be happy and energetic. Mr. and Mrs. Peel, with whom I had the pleasure of staying, were not only hospitable in their house, but assisted me by way of information, &c., and in driving me round the country. I much admired a farm belonging to Mr. Skrine, v/ith a nice house, buildings, «fcc., complete, which he is now offering for sale at 8812 per acre (1,840 acres). The country around is picturesque, and is dotted with bluffs of wood and a chain of lakes. We visited Mr. Skilita, Pipestone Farm, and saw some fine Shorthorn cattle, also a particularly good heifer. I measured a bull, which was a very tine beast — 7 ft. 9| in. behind shoulder, 6 ft. from point of shoulder to rump, 5 ft. 3 in. from top of shoulder to dewlap, and 1 ft. 4| in. from dewlap to ground. Mr. Bennett, Grenfell, farms 940 acres : barley, 40 bushels per acre ; oats (poor crop), only 30 bushels per acre. He keeps a number of pigs, and says that sheep will do well in that neighbourhood. We proceeded to Brandon again, and thence to Rapid City Rapid City (population, 700). On inquiry of Mr. and District. Haffer, we find that wheat is far below the usual returns — only 17 bushels to the acre — and oats 40 bushels per acre. Some fairly good mixed land may be purchased here at S5 per acre. We examined the elevator (managed by Mr. Duncan), which is capable of holding 4,000 bushels of grain. The woollen factory was next inspected. Wool was bought at 8 cents, 9 cents, and 10 cents per lb., unwashed ; washed, 14 cents to 16 cents (7d. to 8d.) per lb. There is also in this place a large grist mill, which is a paying concern. Mr. Peter James, of Ashdale Farm, has 480 acres ; he came here eiglit years ago from Milford Haven, South Wales. His children, he says, enjoy better health than when they were in Wales. He is making PAKT IV. 4 48 The AgncttJ ral liesotircfs of Canada. money, and hopes to be able to induce other members of his family to come out next spring. This year he has a very poor return of grain. Mr. James is in tavour of mixed farming. At 2 p.m. we started for Minnedosa. After a drive of 15 miles north-east of Bapid City, we took the Manitoba and North-West train to Yo' uton. The land here rather resembles that of Edmonton. This town is the terminus of the Manitoba and North -West Railway. Eeturning to Binscarth, we drove to Theodora Farm, Mr. Seeman't the property of Mr. Seeman, who only came here Farm, ^j v .a year ago. He bought 8,140 acres at SI per acre — but has sold some since. He employs 18 men, and he has made in this short time a marvellous improvement. He intends this winter feeding 100 head of cattle. He cultivates 490 acres. Croi)s are most excellent, but roots are not so good. He seems to have paid a great deal for cleaning, which in most parts is put out as contract work at from ft-'i to $5 per acre. His ac. mnt for the summer of 1 803 .iu'vi Midi tchiun jtiii Liabilities. ' runs as follows : Assets. »» Sundry debtors ... Value of animals .. buildings utensils... goods ... ... Cost of 1,920 acres, at $:) per acre „ preparing acres .. „ fencings.. Value of crop Cash on band .. 490 ■tf tn-m ••'I: l.-MJfi/ ,!!f)! ',MVt 516.7G 12,310.76 2,88r).G4 2,217.78 2,178.28 5,760.00 4,fl73.00 700 00 5,536.00 105.54 $37,184.75 Sundry creditors ... .mimi 1,087.92 Capital account ... ,^ »yjr. 86,096.88 r> '1'.) '»•»!' -C'n.) -nii hrui • •'1.1 Lfj* ■ • -'f ■liT . . ■4!-',! I 'I'.-u- t: $37,184.75 vn;:UiiU'l('.i.| h!Jin| ( .uvvi .;•• i) .■ijJ,^S^?»'' -^«° ^^^!.^°!?!^-T.--.:t.iiHi 1 ._ . ,. I ., I ..^11. ( . To feed oats „ seed grain ,, binder twine ,, sundry expenses ,, food account ,, wages account ,, depreciation of utensils ,, profit "at: ■ii,i ••f •:!:h':I iui.i; •m^)- (.<■< $ 150.00 490.00 131.65 382.41 326,10 1,546.46 222.60 2,286.78 ii.), 'J. :- k .536.00 t> By produce of 20b acres oats, at 70 bush, per acre = 14,000 bush., less 60 i:>Ji<)4'.' bush, sold = 18,940 bush., at 15 cents ... 2,0i>l 00 „ 100 acres barley, at 45 bush, per acre = 4,500 bush., at 25 cents ... 1,126.00 ,, ISO acres wheat, at 25 bush, per acre =» 3,250 bush., at 40 cents ... 1,300.00 ,, 10 acres potatoes, at 150 bush, per acre = 1,500 bush., at 20 cents ... SOaOO , , 14 acres roots, at 300 bush. / £j£j {i^>^ per acre = 4,200 bush , at 10 cents 490.00 ,, 800 tons hay ,,; .'?00.00 i ."-if ■ iitji>l!j; if! fitL«j: «>§« f^u $5,536,00 .71 T*i,._ .1 Mr. W. If. Diwpster'g Ifeport. v 43 '>i/in..ii! >i(>>/-i I' The district between Theodora ami Bin.scnrlh did not Dr. Bamardo'g please me so nuKjli as some others, there b.'ing a hick Farm. of water, and I also observed a quantity cf alkah in the soil, more or less. We called at Dr. Barnardo's Home Farm, an institution munaj^ed by Mr. Struthcrs. All the grain crop3 were poor, due to the hot winds. There were 000 acres under cultivation — 100 acres ot wheat; 180 acres oats, producing 25 busliels per acre; 114 acres of barley, producing 25 busiiel.s i)cr acre. The creamery is worked to advantage, taking in luilk during August and September. The ekim-milk is returned to fiirniers. The stock looked fairly well, but the pigs, though a good sort, were much neglected and kept dirty ; there also appeared to be a great waste of food. The roots were small. I believe " kolil-rabi " to be best suited to this country, and feel sure that if roots were grown with the aid of manure they could be raised to a better advantage. We next drove to Eussell, and back to Binscarth. This country seems good for mixed farming. Binscarth "Parm was worthy of inspection. It consists ot 1,600 acres, with a fine dwelling-house, twt» cottages, barn, and sheds measuring 250 ft. by 50 ft., and calculated to hold 250 head of stock. It is situated 2^ miles from a railway station. This farm is offered for sale at S8 per acre, 1,000 acres being fenced in. On the 24th we started for Silver Creek, to see Mr. Keating's farm. The wheat averages 25 bushels. Barley M'as a very poor sample. Mr. Keating does not complain, neither does he speak in good terms of his arm. Mr. Crearer, also of Silver Creek, farms 320 acres, mixed, but keeps no sheep, on account of wolves being troublesome. H e has good cattle, horset!, and pigs. Mr. Baker, of Seaborn district, who with his brother farms half a section, speaks highly of the returns of his farm, which is also mixed land. Sheep do very well on this place, but the crops of grain were rather poor. The total amount of taxes on this farm for the year was S12. We came to Birtle on October 25th. This town has saw- mills where a quantity of lumbering is carried on. There is also a grist mill, which is worked by steam power. We also visited a fine building which is nearly completed, an Indian Industrial School, chiefly si >porte(l by Unitarians, with the assistance of the Government. The heating apparatus will consume six cords of wood per month, at, $1| per cord. In conversation with a carpenter from the Old Country, he told me he earns flS2| per day, and is shortly going in for farming, hoping to have a better return. The Prohibition Law is in force in this neighbourhood. The Mayor, who is much respected, took great pains in showing us all that there was to be seen, and giving us all the assistance he could. Birtle is near Bird-Tail Creek, which empties into the Assiniboine Eiver. There are many successful farmers who give very in- Successful teresting accounts of their boginning. Mr. Spalding, Farmers. of Beulah, an Irishman, who tame to his farm nine years ago, with nine children, complains of crops being light this year. He has brought up his family in a way that is a credit to himself and his country. Mr. Doyle, also of Beulah, showed us a first-class crip of roots, nearly equal to those of British 44 The J(/ricuUural lleaoiircca of Canada. Columbia. IIo is one of the farmers who use the farm-yard manure with a good result. Mr. Drunimond, who is a practical, intelligent fanner, and manages for Major-Gen. ]I. C. Wilkinson, C.B., showed us fine samples of grain, especially barley, which I considered fit for malting. He has some good pedigree sheep, and is in favour of raising stock to make farming successful. On the 27th we took train for Portage-la-Prairie, where a flat, grain- farming country could be seen ; fine rich-looking soil, nearly all arable land. Wheat yielded 22 bushels per acre, and was selling at 58 cents per bushel for No. 1 hard. Farmers seem very reckless about their machinery ; it is k'ft where last u^cd. We now returned to Winnipeg, and remained OA'er Winnipeg to Sunday. On Afon ,y we made a trip to St. Paul's and Ontario. Chicago, which too.: us about three days, and then back to the charming province of Ontario. Woodstock was our first stop. Here many gentlemen met us, from whom we received every kindness. After looking round the market place and other ])ublic buildings, in company with Mr, Charles (with his grand pair <-,f horses), the President of the Board of Trade, and Vice-President Karn, we visited Mr. W. Donaldson at ] I unt ingford. South Yorra, and taw a beautiful herd of Shorthorn cattle. This gentleman farms 400 acres, but very little of it is under grain. Wheat averages 95 bushels per acre. He has farmed for 37 years, and has been very saccessful. He farms most methodically ; roots fairly good. Strath- allan Cheese Factory was our next call, and we were told that it pays well. Milk is received daily from May until October. Fan lerj " Ml'. W. II. Dei)>p3ler*s BepoH. 45 receive 1 cent per lb. for their milk ; the quantity from nu average cow being 30 lbs. per day. There is also an allowance iiiado to farmers for whey and washing up of utensils. Mr. Charles, of Ponuybrook, who is a good specimen of a true-born Irish gentle- man, took us to see the farm he had just purchased; and, with the improvements he is now making, no doubt it w ill turn out a capital investment. The quality of the land is all that can be desired. lie also took us to Vansittart House, the residence of Mr. T. C. Patteson, where we were again hospitably received. This place is beautifully situated in a park, with natural clumps of trees, sur- rounded by a fine forest which makes the scenery most picturesque. On November 10th we left this delightful district by the Grand Trunk Kailway for Grimsby, where we found ourselves in a fruit district. Many acres of grapes, apples, and pears, &c., &c, ; the; fruit is most abundant, and pays well. Mr. Kerman, who is a Lincolnshire man, has gone in largely for hot-houses, and raises a quantity of tomatoes; getting them out in winter, they command a high price — 30 cents per lb. This pretty little village has a beautiful temple, with about 300 summer-houses, which induces numbers of families to spend the season (July, August, and September) here. The land is fertile, and suitable for all kinds of farming and gardening pur[)o.se3, and worth, near town, i$150 per acre. The town is charm- ingly situated, and commands an extensive view of Lake Ontario. -^ ". Leaving Grimsby at 6.15 p.m., we passed through Grhnshj/ to Gait a fine tract of country, with many flourishing- ami Gael'jyli. looking little towns and villages, including Gait, containing about 1,500 inhabitants. Trom a con- versation with Mr. Thomas Hunt, of Hespeler, I find that the district is considered good for grain, the average being above that of the North-West, viz. : wheat, 25 to 30 bushels per acre ; butter sells at 25 cents per lb. Land is worth SB35 to $40 per acre ; the farming is of a much better class here than in many other parts. On November 6th, at 9.15 p.m., we got to Guelph. We visited the Ontario Agricultural College and Experimental Farm, which is under the control of the Minister of Agriculture— President : Mr. James Mills ; Mr. G. E. Day, Professor of Agriculture and iarm superintendent; Mr. A. E. Shuttleworth, B.A., Sc, Professor of Chemistry; Mr. A. H. Panton, M.A., F.G.S., Professor of Natural History and Geology ; Mr. J. H. Eeed, V.C., Professor of Veterinary Science ; Mr. H. H. Dean, B.S.A., Professor of Dairy Husbandry ; Mr. J. B. Reynolds, assistant resident master ; Cajitain Walter Clark, instructor in drill and gymnastics ; Mr. C. A. Zavetz, B.S.A., experimentalist-, ; Mr. A. McCallum, bursar ; Mr. Wm. Kennel, farm superintendent. With this efficient stalf it is unnecessary to say that each department was admirably conducted, and we acquired many useful wrinkles ourselves. We found an improvement in almost every branch of farming operations, especially the manner in which animals are fed. It would well pay some North- Western farmers to take a day at this magnificent institution. The neatness and cleanliness were admirable, and we spent a most enjoyable day. 46 The Ar/ricultuml .Resources of Canada. The same evening we arrived at Toronto. On tiie 8th, Toronto. in company with Alderman Hallam and Lieutenant. >. * Laurie (after being kindly received at Government House by the Lieut.-Governor), we drove to see Messrs. Davies and Co 's bacon factory— where 17C pigs were killed and dressed m an lunr. It was interesting to see how well each man mastered his work. Pigs were bought at this establishment at 5| cents per lb., live weight, from 160 lbs. to 220 lbs. The same gentlemen kindly accompanied us to Tkornclille IStock 3^'arm, where we had tho . I'-n ..•J TORONTO. pleasure of seeing tho champion thorougiibred stallion of America, "Mikado." Standing ]6,| hands high, and weighing in stud condition l,JiOO lbs., with fine quality and substance, a more perfect animal cannot be seen. Next came a Clydesdale stallion named "Energy," another grand specimen of its class. Besides some fine colts and young stock, we also saw a magnificent red Durham bull ; and I must confess, [aking into consideration size and quality, 1 have never seen one to equal it. We here completed our task, and prepared to return Conclusion. to England. We were unanimously of the opinion that Canada is a great but undeveloped country, with unbounded wealth bcjth in minerals and agriculture. It undoubtedly has a great future before it. Many thousands of families who are striving against the tide of fortune in Great Britain will obtain in Canada what they never can expect to where they are, viz., the privilege of being their own landlords, with, as I have before said, the law and liberty of the Old Country. hnn ,H«.io:ia orii I, ho ' ■ nj,! >.H-a.r. . ■ ^diu-u[ ^.APPENDIX A. ■Ahf]L \ ' ,1 to " — — — GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CANADA. '" The Dominion of Canada includes the whole of British General North America to the north of the United States, and Information* has an area of nearly 3,500,000 square miles. It is divided into eight separate provinces, and the population at the last census was 4,829,411 — viz.: Prince Edward Island, 109,088; Nova Scotia, 450,523; New Brunswick, 321,294 ; Quebec, 1,488,686 ; Ontario, 2,112,989; Manitoba, 154,472; the North-West Territories, 67,554; British Columbia, 92,767 ; and unorganised Territories, 32,168. The extent of the countiy will be better understood by stating that it is larger than the United States mtliout Alaska, and nearly as large as the whole of Europe. The government of the country has at its head Constitution and the Governor-General, the representative of Her Government. Majesty. The Dominion Parliament consists of the Senate and of the House of Commons, and the government of the day is in the hands of the majority, from whom the Privy Council, or the Cabinet, who act as the advisers of the Governor- General, are taken. The members of the Senate are nominated for life by the Governor-General, and the duration of the House of Commons is fixed by the Act as five years. Each province has also its local Parliament, in some cases of two Houses, as in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec, and in others of only one, as in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. The head of the Provincial Government is known as the Lieutenant-Governor, and is appointed by the Governor-General. The constitution of Canada is contained in the British North America Act, 1867, which defines the powers both of the federal and of the local Legislatures. It may be said, generally, that the former deals with matters concerning the community as a whole, and the latter with subjects of local interest. Twenty-seven years' experience has demonstrated that the country has made great progress under the existing institutions, and the prin- ciple of union is recognised by all political parties as the sure foundation on which the future of the Dominion depends. There is a free and liberal franchise in operation, both for the Provincial and Dominion Parliaments, which gives most men the benefit of a vote. In the provinces there are county and township councils for regulating local afPairs, such as roads, schools, and other municipal purposes, so that the government of the Dominion is decentralised as far as practicable, in the spirit of the Imperial legislation before mentioned. Nothing connected with Canada is so much misrepresented Climate, and misunderstood as its climate, but it has only to be uj jjtJixuu experienced to be thoroughly appreciated. It is warmer in Buniiner and much colder in winter than in Great Britain ; but 48 General Information about Canada, the heat is favourable to tho growth of fruit ani the crops, and .n every way pleasant and beneficial, and tlie cold is not prejudicial to health or life. In fact, Canada is one of the healthiest countries in the world. The winter lasts from the end of November or the b^giiiuing of December to the end of March or middle of April ; sp.^ing from April to May; summer fmm June to September; and autumn from Oc':ober to the end of November. The seasons vary sometimes, but the above is the average duration of the different periods. The nature of the climate of a country may be measured by its products. In winter most of the trades and manufactures are carried on as usual, and, as regards farming, much the same work is done on a Canadian farm in autumn and in winter as on English, Scotch, or Irish homesteads. Ploughing is not possible, of course, in the depth of winter, but it is done in the autumn and early spring, and in the winter months cattle have to be fed, the dairy attended to, cereals threshed, machinery put in order, buildings repairea, carting done, and wood-cutting, and preparations made for the spring work, so that it is by no means an idle season. One thing is perfectly certain — that the country would not have developed so rapidly as it has done, and the population would not have grown to its present proportions, had the climate been unfavourable to the health, pros- perity, and progress of the community. Of course there are good and liad seasons in Canada, as everywhere else, but, taken altogether, the climate will compare very favourably with other countries in similar latitudes. As the temperature in Manitoba and the North-West Temperature. Territories is frequently referred to, it is desirable to quote official statistics bearing on the question. The mean temperature at Winnipeg in the summer is 00*3°, and during the winter 1°; Brandon, 58-1° and -1-8°; Sapid City, 62-2° and 27°; Portage-la-Prairie, 61-8° and 12-6°. In the North-West Territories, the summer and winter mean temperatures at the specified places are as follows:— Kegina, 59-2° and -2-4°; Calgary, 55-6° and 12-2"; Edmon- ton, o5'2*' and 11*3°. It is very evident the temperature only very occasionally reaches the various extreme limits that are sometimes Taentioned, or the mean winter temperatures could aot be anything liko the figures above quoted.. .•■--»,. ,,^.... J. .,.. ; -.■..;„...., ',.-, p lieference has been made elsewhere to the agricultural Products of products of Canada. Tho countr} also possesses great Canada, wealth in the timber contained in the immense forests, and m»inifrh>(' in the minerals of all kinds, including coal, gold, silver, iron, copper, &c. Then, again, the fisheries along the extensive coasts, both on the Atlantic side and on the Pacific, and in the inland waters, are most valuable and varied, and are valued annually at several millions sterling. The principal fishes are salmon, trout, cod, herring, mackerel, halibut, and haddock. Oysters and lobsters are also most nume- rous. The manufacturing industry already occupies a most important ])Osition, and is growing more extensive every year. Almost every kind of manufacture is carried on. This activity is not confined to any one part of Canada, but is apparent in all the older provinces, General Information about Canada, 49 and will no doubt in time extend to the western parts oi" Iho Dominion also. Reference is sometimes made to some Canadian farms Mortgages. being mortgaged. It should be borne in mind, however, ..* /. that a proportion of the Canadian farmers start willi little or no capital. In order to provide capital in such cases, the farm is mortgaged, but the loan companies, as a rule, do not advance more than half the value of the properties. The interest paid bears no com- parison to the rent of similar-sized farms in the United Kingdom, and the fact of the existence of a mortgage, in these circumstances, is not detrimental to the position of the farmer. Not only is the interest invariably paid, but the experience is that the loans are paid off as they mature. The losses of the Canadian, companies arc comparatively small, and the investment, therefore, is a good one to the lender, and an adyanl-'age to the farmer. r, "", ' ^ u Canada's trade — import and export— amounts to nearly Trade Imports ^50,000,000 per annum, and is largely with GIreat and Exports, Britain and the United States, the balance being exchanged with European countries, the "West Indies, South America, Australasia, China, and Japan. The figures given above only include the outside trade, and do not embrace that done between the various provinces. Free trade, in its entirety, exists within the boundaries of the Dominion, and the local business is very large, as the tonnage carried on the railways and canals and on the coasting vessels will show. It may be stated that the revenua now amounts to about $36,000,000 per annum, of which about i?20,000,000 — equal to 17s. per head of the population — is obtained from customs duties on goods imported into Canada. Markets, either within or without the Dominion, exist Markets. for all the products of the country, and no difficulty ,^„.,», i!, is found in this respect. New markets have been pro- vided by the establishment of lines of steamers to the West Indies, Australasia, China, and Japan, which are now in operation. Canada is well servf.d with railway and water communication, and tho shipping owned in Canada is so large that it occupies a high place in tlie list of ship-owning countries of the world. A railway extends from tho Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and each province possesses excellent railway accommodation; in fact, there are over 15,000 miles of line in operation at the present time. The rivers and canals have been so much improved of late years, that the largest ocean-going steamers can moor alongside the wharves at Quebec and Montreal, and it is possible for a vessel of 500 tons burden to pass from tho iVtlantic into the great lakes. The enlargement of the canals now in progress, w^hich is to be completed in 1895, will permit ocean V(;ssels of 2,000 tons gross burden to pass to the head of Lakf> Navigation without breaking bulk. The distinctions of class do not exist in Canada to the Social same extent as in the mother country. There is no law Distinctions, of primogeniture, and there are no paupers ; a feeling of healthy independence pervades all classe?, which no doubt 60 General Information about Canada. arises from the fact that every farmer is the owner of his acres, is his own master, and is free to do as he wills — a state of things conducive to a condition of freedom unknown in older countries. Then, again, taxation is comparatively light, and many social difficulties, still under discussion in Great Britain, were grappled with in Canada years ago. Beligious liberty prevails ; there is practically free and unsectarian education; a free and liberal franchise exists; local option in regard to the liquor traffic is in operation ; the duration of the Parliament does not exceed five years, and the Diembers are paid for their services ; marriage with a deceased wife's sister has been legalised ; and there is no poor law system, although orplians and the helpless and aged of both sexes are not neglected, being cared for under the municipal system. And, again, a good system of local government is at work in every province. The system of education in force — under the super- vision and guidance of the Provincial Governments — enables the best education to be obtained at a trifling cost, and therefore the poor, as well as the ri'ih, can make themselves eligible for the highest positions in the country. In principle the system in operation is the same in the different provinces, although the details may differ somewhat. In each school district trustees are elected to manage the schools for the inhabitants, who pay a small rate towards their support, the balance being met by considerable grants from the local governments. British subjects settling in Canada do not require to be naturalised. They are entitled to all the same rights and privileges as their fellow British subjects who may have been born there ; indeed, the removal of a family to Canada makes no more difference in their position, as British subjects, than if they had gone instead to any city, town, or village in the United Kingdom. Of course it is a different thing if they go to the United States or any other foreign country, In that case they must renounce their birthright, and their allegiance to their sovereign and their flag, before they can enjoy any of the political advantages of citizenship ; and in many parts of the United States land cannot be bought, or sold, or transferred, excepting by naturalised persons. Intending settlers in Canada are strongly advised Government ""'-to communicate, either personally or by letter. Agents in the with the nearest agent of the Canadian Govern- United Kingdom, ment in Great Britain (see Preface) before they leave, so as to obtain the fullest and latest advice applicable to their cases. Cards of introduction to the Govern- luent Agents in Canada are also supplied to desirable persons. Any information supplied by these gentlemen may b( thoroughly relied upon. Then, again, on reaching Canada, or at any time afterwards, the nearest (3}overnment Agent should be consulted, as they are in a ])osition to furnish accurate particulars on all matters of interest to the new arrival. The Dominion Government has agents at Quebec, Mon- Government treal, Halifax, and St. John, the principal ports of landing Agents in in Canada ; and the various Provincial Governments also Canada. supervise immigration as far as possible. At Toronto, Ontario, the Superintendent of Immigration is Mr. D. Thos. Anderson Edmonton, N.W.T. C. E, Phippb ... Oxbow, '/ii'"'. E. Brokovski ... Battleford, " „ Geo. Yodno ... Lethbridge, ,, T. B. Ferguson Saltcoats, ,, John McKenzie New Westminster, B.C. E. A. Nash ... Kamloops, B.C. General Information about Canada. "^ Spence, 65, Siincoe Street; and in Victoria, British Columbia, Mr. Jessop, the Provincial Government Agent, should be consulted. Tha following is a list of the various Immigration Agencies under the supervisioa of the Department of the Interior: — {Commissioner of Dominion Lands, "> in charge of Outside Service in Manitoba > Mr. 11. H. Smith. and the Nortli-West Territories ) Agents at Ports of Call for Steamships in Canada: — Mr. E. M. Clay ... Halifax, N.S. I Mr. P. Dovle Quebec, Q. " ,, S.Gardner ... St. John, N.B. | ,, J. Hoolahan ... Montreal, Q. Dominion Lands At/ents in Canada who act as Immigration A(hing over 150 lbs, weight. The Canadian Pacitic Kailway carry '300 lbs. free for emigrants proceeding to Manitoba and the Nortli-West Territories. Care should be exercised in deciding what had better be taken to Canada, furniture, and heavy and bulky goods of that description, had better be left behind, as the freight charged for extra baggage makes it an expensive luxury ; all household requirements can be purchased in the country. Agricultural implements and tools should not be taken out, as the most improved articles of this desci'iption adapted to tiie country can bo purchased in any village in Canada. (Skilled mechanics and artisans, when recommended to go out, may take their tools, but they must remember what is stated above, a,nd also that in the Dominion all these things can bo bought at reasonable prices. Emigrants may be safely advised to take a good supply of underclothing, heavy and light, for winter and summer wear, house and table linen, blankets, bed-ticks, and any other articles of special value which do not take up much room. Settlers' effects are admitted free of customs duty if Settlers' Ejects tbey come within the terms of the following clause of free of the customs tariff : — Customs Duti/. Settlers' Effects, r/z. .-—Wearing npparcl, household fur- ^ , ,, I nitare, professional hooks, implcinents and tools of trade, occripntion, or employment, which the cettler has had in actnal nse for at least six months before removal to Canada, musical instru- ments, domestic sewing machines, live stock, carts, and other vehicle*i and agricultural implements in nse by the settler for at least one year before his removal to Canada, not to include machinery or articles imported for use in any manufacturing establishment or for sale : j)rovided that any dutiable article entered as settlers' effects may not be so entered unless bronjjht with the settler on his first arrival, and shall not bo sold or otherwise disposed of Avithout payment of duty until after two years' actual use in Canada ; provided also that, under regulations made by the Minister of Customs, live stock, when imported into Manitoba or the Korth-West Territory by intending settlers, sliall be free, until otherwise ordered by the Governor in Council. Wages — which, of course, vary from time to time — are, Wa(jes. as a general rule, from a quarter to one-half higher than in Great Britain, but in some trades they are even more. The cost of living is lower, upon the whole, and an average family will, with proper care, be much better off in Canada than at home. There are very good openings in Canada for the classes of persons recommended to go out, but it must be borne in mind that hard work, energy, enterprise, and steadiness of character are as essential there as in any other country. Indeed, perhaps they are more necessary ; but, on the other hand, there is a much better chance of success for any persons possessing these qualities, and who are able and willing to adapt themselves to the conditions of life obtaining in Canada. Persons with capital to invest will find many openings Capitalists. in Canada. They can engage in agricultural pursuits, taking up the free-grant lands or purchasing the improved farms to be found in every province, or in mining, or in the manufacturing industries. Again, a settled income will be found General Information about Canada, 58 to go much farther in Canada, and whilo tho cliinato is healthy and the scenery magnificent, there are abundant opportunities for sport; and the facilities for education are nob to be excelled anywhere. Young men should go to Manitoba, the North-West, Where to go. or British Columbia. Older men, with capital and <.!• young families, should go to one of the older provinces, and cither buy or rent an improved farm. This, however, is only a general statement, and individual cases mu t be decided by tho special circumstances of each. In Manitoba and the North- West, and in some parts of British Columbia, pioneer life on free grants,or away from railways, is attended with a certain amount of inconvenience, and an absence of those social surroundings which may be obtained in the older settled parts of these and other provinces, and this fact sliould be borne in mind by those who are considering the subject. But even in these districts improved farms may be purchased at reasonable rates. It is difficult to lay down a hard-and-fast rule as to the Capital amount of capital necessary for farm work. The answer necessary, depends on the energy, experience, judgment, and enter- prise of the person who is to spend the money, tho province selected, whether free-grant land is to be taken up or an improved farm rented or purchased, and many other details. It may safely be said, however, that if a man has from ^100 to £200 clear on landing, and some knowledge of farming, he is in a position to make a fair start on the free-grant land in Manitoba and the North-West; but it is generally advisable to obtain some experience of tho country before commencing on one's own account. There is a large and growing demand for mah? and Farm female farm servants in every part of the Dominion. Servants. Machinei»y of various kinds is in daily use, but labour is scarce notwithstanding, and good hands can in the proper seasons find constant employment. Many persons of this class who started as labourers nov/ have farms of their own in some of the finest parts of the Dominion. Market gardeners, gardeners, and persons understanding the care of horses, cattle, and sheep, may also be advised to go out. So far as numbers are concerned, perhaps the largest demand Domestic of all is for female domestic servants. The wages are good. Servants, the conditions of service are not irksome, and comfortable homes are assured. Domestic servants should go at once on their arrival to the nearest Government Agent. These gentlemen often have in their offices a list of vacant situations, and will refer applicants to the local ladies' committees, so that they may have the benefit of supervision and guidance, until they are satisfactorily placed. Servants should, however, take their characters with them, and must bear in mind that good records are just as indispensable in Canada as elsewhere. They may safely go out at any time of the year. There is little or no demand for females other than OtJier Classes domestic servants. Governesses, shop assistants, nurses, of Labour. &c., should not go out unless proceeding to join friends able and willing to aid them in getting M Oerural Tnfotinatiun about CaniuXa. employrrteut. JNEcchanics, general labourers, and navvies are advised to obtain special information as to their respective trades before going out. The demand is not now so great as it was a few years ago, and such men, especially with large families, are not encouraged to set out on the chance of finding employment. They may be safely advised to start when going to join friends who advise tiiem to do so, or if they have , the inclination and the knowledge to enable them to change their callings and become agriculturists. Clerks, draftsmen, shop assistants, and railway employSs uro not advised to emigrate unless proceeding to appointments already assured. Any demand for labour of these kinds is fully met on the spot. No encouragement is held out to members of the l(5gal and medical and other professions, schoolmasters, and j^ersons desiring to enter the military and civil services, to go to the Dominion, especially in cases where immediate employment is necessary. 'J.'here are always openiags and opportunities for men of exceptional al^ilities with a little capital ; but, generally speaking, the professional and so-called ligliter callings in Canada are in very much the same position as they are in the United Kingdom, the local supply being equal lo, if not greater than, the demand. ;i.!ij hi ')'.i;i;i'r :.h'))h%.,' ^ ■ v''v ■ ■ u ' APPENDIX B. ' :.«J 111 .'r- *',"''-f THE CANADIAN EXHIBITS AT CHICAGO. »i,-.li,'. v-<.irc.,,. -.,. , — ..,.,1 ,. ,.; 'the Canadian exhibits at the Chicago Exhibition iiaving boon referred to in several of the delegate's Reports, it has been considered desirable to publish such facts as are available as to the success which the Dominion obtained on that occasion in competition with the world. The American Press are unanimous in conceding that Canada will reap a greater benefit from the "World's Fair than any other country. The variety of the vegetable products of Canada served to illustrate in a manner, hardly to be shown in any other way, the climate and the fertility of its soil ; while the exhibits of mineral wealth, of its fisheries, and of its manufacturing industries demonstrated the possibili- ties of future development. It may be said that Canada was unrepresented on many of the juries connected with several of the groups of exhibits, and on others the Canadian members were of course in a minority. It is eminently satisfactory to find, therefore, that the awards in all classes of exhibits have been so numerous, and frequently coupled with remarks of a flattering nature. The following is an extract frcm the report of the British Consul at Chicago to the Earl of Kosebery, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on the Chicago Exhibition : — Canada has been brought prominently forward in a manner which can scarcely ■ fail to assnre permanent benefit. Its chief exhibits were natural pro- ducts, though the colony was represented in every department except electricity. Its cheese and butter exhibits were remarkable, and gained a disproportionately large number of awards, beating all competitors ; Japan is understood to have sent a special commission to examine and report on the methods adopted by the colony in these matters. The show of animals, especially sheep, met with great approval. The quality of Canadian fruit was generally recognised. The exhibit of grain and other products of the north-western provinces has shown what can be gr»:>wn, and as a result many inquiries nave been made with a view to settlement in those parts. The same applies to British Columbia, regarding which province overtures have been made by quite a colony of Austrian subjects for settlement, with a view to fruit-gr wing and general farming. '"' The Canadian exhibits in this important department Agriculture, were excelled by none in quality and appearance. The excellence of the wheat was the subject of general com- ment, and a considerable demand has already arisen on the part of United States farmers for seed grain from Manitoba and the North- West Territories. Canada obtained 1,016 awards in this group, including 776 awards for cheese and butter. This does not comprise the awards obtained by Manitoba, which have not yet been received. It is understood that in the tests for quality, made under chemical analysis on behalf of the Exhibition authorities, Manitoba No. 1 Hard Red Fyfe wheat gave the very best results. ti$. The Canadian Exhibits at Chicagn. Tho exhibitions of cheese and butter wore the largest of Cheese and their kind ever made on the North American continent. Butler, Two competitions were arranged for Cheddar or factory cheese, in the months of Juno and October. In the first named, the Unit<>d States entries numl)ered OOS, and the Canadian 162. Th(jro were 138 prizes awarded, of which Canada took 129, and tho United States 9. Thirty-one exhibits of Canadian cheese also Bcored higlier points than the best United States cheese. In the October competition for the same cbss of cheese, made previous tc 1893, there were 82 entries from the United States, and 524 from Canada. There were 110 prizes offered, and Canada secured them all. There were also 414 awards for cheese made in 1893. Of these, Canada obtained 369, and the United States 45. In these two com- petitions, therefore, the United States entered 587 exhibits and took 51 prizes, as against Canada's 686 entries and 608 prizes. There were three judges for cheese, two for the United States, and one for Canada. The significance of this result is enhanced when considered in conjunction with the differer.ce in the population of the two countries — 65 millions against 5 millions. Canada now exports several millions of pounds of cheese ])er annnm more than the United States to the English market, her exports to the mother country having risen from 30,889,353 lbs. in 1875 to 127,843,632 lbs. in 1892. In the butter competition, Canada took 27 awards. The great development of the cheese industry in recent years has interfered, no doubt, with the expansion of tho butter trade. The steps, however, that have been taken of late years to encourage this industry are having effect; and the Dairy Commis- sioner of the Dominion has expressed an opinion that within five years' time the manufacture of butter in Canada will be equal to that of cheese, bo:^ in quality and quantity. In 1893 Canada exported 43,193 cwts. of butter to Great Britain. .'!'.' '.'"','* The absence of a\^a^ds for Canadian agricidtural Arjriev.ltural machinery is explained by the withdrawal or the Machinery, exhibits from competition, it having been decided ,i that machines adapted to field work should be judgid by field tests. As this would have necessitated bringing duplicate machines to Chicago at great expense, or the spoiling of the actual exhibits for show purposes during the remainder of the Fair, the greater number of Canadian and United States exhibitors withdrew from competition. Professor Thuiston, the chairman of the jurors on agricultural implements, and consvdting mechanical engineer to the Exposition, stated that in design, finish, and smoothness of operation the Canadian machinery was equal to anything in the Exhibition. Canada obtained 65 awards. The list included seven Horticulture, different awards for Canadian grapes — a valuable tribute to the climate of the country. The small number of awards is due to the fact that awards were only given to collective exhibits,, and not to individual exhibitors, or for each variety of fruit shown. With regard to the vegetable display, it was admitted that tho Canadian exhibit was greatly superior to any other. Both fruit and The Canadian Ki'hibiis at Chicago. Bff vegotables won tho highest praise from the jurors for variety, excel- lence, and tjiiality; and in this connection the report of the British Consul is especially interesting. Canada more than sustained at Chicago her splendid Live Stock, record at Philadelphia in 1870 in this department, the live stock and poultry exhibited having secured more than one-half of the total prizes offered. In cattle, with 184 entries, Canada took 104 prizes, 17 medals, and 8 diplomas; against 532 entries of tho United States, and 306 prizes and 13 medals. In horses, Canada had 96 entries, and 44 prizes, 2 gold medals, 10 medals, and 3 diplomas ; the United States, 446 entries, 257 prizes, 6 gold medals, 12 medals, and 4 diplomat. In sheep, Canada, with 352 entries, secured 250 prizes, 5 silver cups, and 8 diplomas ; against tho United States' 478 entries and 193 prizes. In swine, Canada's 68 entries obtained 64 prizes, and th(5 United States' 96 entries 67 prizes. In poultry and pet stock, Canada was awarded 501 prizes with 1,147 entries, and the United States 671 prizes with 2,453 entries. Tho grand totals were : Canada, 1,847 entries and 1,175 prizes; the United States, 4,005 entries and 1,494 prizes. This must be regarded as a very great success especially when the populations of the United States and Canada are taken into account. All the Canadian sheep and swine were bought by the Commissioner for Costa Eica. The committee of jurors considered the Canadian fish Fish and exhibit the best and most complete in the Ex- Fisheries* position. Twenty-four individual exhibitors also obtained medals. No single exhibit in the mining building attracted Mines and more attention, and came in for more favourable Mining. comment, than the Canadian display ; and the fact that there were 67 collective exhibits which took gold medals and diplomas in competition with other countries, speaks highly for the variety and richness of the mineral resources of the Dominion. The collections of ornament."^ and precious stones were much admired, and orders were subsequenny received from two of the leading manu- facturing jewellers of New York. The nickel ore exhibits were mentioned as being higher in grade than any other shown at the Pair. Canadian copper also obtained a flattering award ; and the fine exhibit of anthracite and bituminous coal from all the mines in the North- West Territories, now being worked, attracted a great deal of interest. The machinery exhibit was a small one, but almost Machinery, every exhibit took a prize, 43 gold medals and diplomas falling to the Dominion. Professor Thurston , chairman of the jurors, and consulting mechanical engineer to the Exposition, stated, in an address, that in design, finish, and smoothness of work- ing tho general machinery shown by Canada was equal to anything shown; and that, as compared with the exhibit made in 1876 at Philadelphia, Canada had made greater relative progress in manufac- turing, since that time, than any other nation taking part in the Exhibition. PART IV. ^ 58- The Canadian Rvhihits at Chicago. ' In this dc^partiuont Canada obtained 30 medals and Transportation, diplomas.. The Canadian Pacific llailway train was referred to as the finest and most complete on exhi- bition, which reflects great credit on the position manufacturing enterprise has reached in Canada. . The great development in the industries of the Manufactures. Dominion is illustrated very aptly by the following return, taken from the census ot 1891 : — rrr: ..... ,■;—-—■■: ;: : 1881. 1891. Increase. Per Cent. Number of establishments ... 49,923 75,7(18 25,845 51-8 Capital invested $1G5,302,(;2.S $353,83(;,bl7 $188,534,194 1140 'Suniher ot employifs 254,935 367,865 112,930 44-43 Wages paid $59,429,002 $99,702,441 $40,333,439 67-86 Cost of raw material $179,918,593 $255,983,219 $70,064,026 42-3 Valne of products $309,67G,0r.8 $475,44.''),705 $105,709,637 63-5 Canada had a most interesting exhibit of manufactures, which secured 124 awards, and drew an appreciative statement from the president of the jurors on textiles — a member of the Austrian Commission, and him- self a manufacturer of high-grade cloths in Austria — to the effect that the progress made by textile manufacturers in Canada had been more rapid during the last five years than that of any other country show- ing industrial products. It will be remembered by many readers of these pamphlets that Canada's display of manufactured articles at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in 1886 attracted much attention. The ef^ cational system of the Dominion has a world-wide reputa- tion, and tu(3 exhibits in that department were naturally, tlierefore, an object of sustained interest throughout the course of the Exhibition. 191 awards were obtained by Canada. No better evidence of the excellence of the display can be had than tliat in a section supposed to be the smallest among the Canadian exhibits, such a large number of awards should have been secured. ;•,: f!;?^ i;tcmo '\o fef'oiJvJ{»;'/nirj' ■'I, •>:iT AuK 'jili da n7/Oil3 loxfio ytn: mull iii\ A A'i paW in\i Imv. \,^^ r i:'}! -ilhuVToili nj v')n\ 1o kub ^!-:>T'> d«M //I r I'm 1 1 ft if-'IV> ft .'K'.IiI i; T2fi:/iiihj:l JJu ll 1 1 i;n ! f-. a hyao / lu-'trri ■1 ^qqoo fl;*!!.icaij'J 'Wffh'd lj;us''^tioflnt!ln« *iv. .ly^ii'^hii .*».. PRAIRIE CHICKENR. .YI Tdt.'i