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DOimON OP CANADA

Aft A -■*

HEID JOE SETTLEMENT.

h:*-,

SECOND AND tOMPLETE EDITION.

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1880.

SCALE OF MILES

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EEPORTS

OF

TENANT FAMIEBS' DELEGATES

OS UK

DOMOIOI OF CANADA

AS A

riELD FOR SETTLEMENT.

A 1

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PDBLISHEt) BY AUTHOUtTY OF THE DePAKTMENT 01' AoniCULTURK OF THl

Government op Canada.

TTTBNEB AND DUNNKTT, PEINTERS, LIVKTtPOOL.
1880.

*^^' ■se

I I

Introductory...

Mr. Jamks liiodAh's (Kirkcudbrightsliire)

Mr. (tkokgk Cowan's (VVij^'toiisliire)

Mr. K. W. Gordon's (Dumfriesshire)

Mr. Walikr Elliot's (Galashiels)

Mr. .John Logan's (Berwickshire)

Mr. John Snow's (Midlothian)

Mr. Georgk Hutchinson's (Cuinherland)

Mr. KoBKRT Peat's (Cumberluud)

Mr. Thomas Irvino's (Carlisle)

Mr. Thomas Johnston's (Cumberland)

Mr. Gborgk Wilkkn's (Al^erdeenshire)

Mr. Jambs Bruce's (Abordeenshiro)

Mr. Kobbbt Wallaob's (Nithsdale)

Mr. Welsh's (Eskdale)

Mr. Jambs Palmer's (Sumersetsliii-e)

Mr. John Maxwell's (Carlisle)

Mr. Chambub'b (Tyrone)

Oath of Allbqianck to Unitkd States

LaKD KUOULATIONS

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MONEY.

Sterling into Dollars and Centn.

I cts,

Ad. Sterling is 0 01

Id. „ „ 0 02

18. „ „ 0 24

^i „ „ I S7

Dollars aitd GeiUs iiito SUrUny.

& H. d.

0 O.V

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0 6i

1 cent is 0

1 dollar is 0

4 „ „ 0

O II •• 1

Fur small change the halfpenny sterling is one cent, and the penny
sterling is two cents. For arriving roughly at the approximate value of
lavi^er iigures, the pound Hterling may be counted at live dollars. The sign
($1 is used to iudicate the dollar.

I

INTRODUCTORY.

The Hon. J. H. Popb, tlie Minister of Agriculture of the Government
of Canada, caused a number of Delegates representing Tenant Farmers
in the United Kngdom to be invited to visit the Uoniinion in th«
autumn of 1879, for the purpose of examining its resources, and reporting
on its suitability as a field for settlement.

In accordance with such invitation, the following Pelegates visited
Canada : —

Mr. BiOQAR, The Grange, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire,
a Mr. Cowan, Mains of Park, Glenluce, Wigtownshire.

Mr. Gordon, Comlongon Mains, Annan, Dumfriesshire.

Mr. Elliot, HoUybush, Galashiels.

Mr. Logan, Legerwood, Earlston, Berwickshire.

Mr. Snow, Pirntaton, Fountain Hall, Midlothian.

Mr. Hutchinson, Brougham Castle, Penrith, Cumberland.

Mr. Peat, Lees House, Silloth, Cumberland.

Mr. Irving, Bowness-on-Solway, Carlisle.

Mr. Johnstone, Low Bumthwaite, near Carlisle.

Mr. WiLKEN, Waterside of Forbes, Aberdeenshire.

Mr. Bruce, Aberdeenshire.

Mr. Wallace, Nithsdale.

Mr. Welsh, Eskdale.

These gentlemen were, in the first place, clearly informed H was
•of all things desired that their own judgment should ba ireely exer-
cised and entirely unfettered ; and that it was simply desired to obtain
from them the results of their own personal observations, as well with
ro.spect to drawbiuks as advantages, to shade as well as brightness.
But it may bo added that even this injunction was unnecessary for
iiion of the character of those who were sent to Canada, and their con-
f^lituents do not require to be informed of it.

The motive for thus inviting Delegates and affording them facili-
iics to see every ])art and Province of the Dominion, in so far as prac-
ti<'able within the limit of time at their disposal, was to obtain testimony
a^^ respects the objects stated, which should not be open to the kind of
((iicstion that might attach to any statements whatever coming from
CanaAa, no matter on wliat authority they might be made.

Th»', Reports now puljlished have been mttde by the Delegates to their
respective constituents, and have been handed to Mr. John Lowe, the
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture of the Government of
i'anada, who has visited this country for the purpose of receiving and
jiublishing them This has only been done after careful revision by the
Delegate responsible for each.

The Reports of two gentlemen who did not visit the Dominion as
] leiegates, namely, Mr. John Maxwell, of Carlisle, and Mr. Chambr(5, from
Ihe County of Tyrone, in Ireland, but who accompanied parties of the
l)elcgates as simple observers, are apjiended to this publication.

198647

Tt iR not thought necessary to make in this place any attempt to
summarise tlic Keport.s of tlie Dekjratea, as they will ho read with very
great and special interest by many in the United Kingdom. It may, how-
ever, be generally stated that those who went to Manitoba and contiguous
parts of the adjoining territory, found the land to he of extraordinary
richness, and specially adapted to the growth of wheat; while in
the older Provinces of the Dominion they found the conditions
of mixed farming very much the same as in the United Kingdom,
One of the Delegates, Mr Elliot, stated that, in the parts of the
Dominion he visited, he did not find that cattle required to be housed
longer than in Scotland.

Several of the Delegates refer to the question why farms may be
bought in the older Provinces, and why the land is so cheap. In so far as
respects price, in the last-named portion of tlie Dominion, it is to bo
observed that the value of occupied land in the older parts of a new
country like Canada, must necessarily, to a great extent, be governed —
first, by the cost of clearing new forest land in the wooded parts ; and,
second, by the facility with which Prairie land can he obtained free,
to the ex'jcnt of 160 acres, on the simple condition of continuous sottlo-
ment for three years. It must be plain to all men that the f.iot of vn^t
areas b'jing open to settlement on such conditions Mill largely atfcft;
prices of (iccupied land a few hundred miles distant, to which there is
connection botli by water and rail.

A fact to be remarked is that the farmer who migrates from tlio
Brit'sh Islands to any part of Canada does not change his flag ; nor docs
he, except to very slight degree, change his mode of life or his companion-
ship. He goes among his own people, to conditions of life and society
the same as those he leaves behind. He is not obliged to swear — beforo
he can exercise the rights of citizenship, or in some States hold land —
that he " renounces for ever all allegiance and fidelity" to his Sovereign
and the land of his birth.

The farmer Avho migrates from these Islands, moreover, has the satisfaction
of feeling that he is assisting to l)uild up a great British Empire, liaving for
its seat the northern half of the Continent of North America, occupying a
space as large as the whole of Europe, and containing agricultural, mineral,
and commercial resources to be developed in the immediate future of almost
illimitable extent ; and, as the reports of the Delegates will show, certainly
beyond popular conception in this country.

Tlic public lands of Manitoba, Keewatin, and the North-west Territory,
are in the hands of the Dominion Governments ; and those of the older
Provinces, in the hands of the Provincial Governments. The regulations,
as respects the Dominion lands, stating the conditions on which homesteads
arc given to settlers, and the prices at which other lands are sold, including
the Railway lands, are appended to this publication. Any further
particulars on any point may be obtained by correspondence with a
Govornment Agent.

fIV

cairn.

r^aaei

REPORTS

OF

fr

TENANT FARMERS' DELEGATES.

REPOKT OF MR. JAMES BIG GAR, DELEGATE FROM THE
STEWARTRY OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT.

A Meeting of the farmers of the
Stewartry of Kirkcudbright was held in
the Towu Hall, Castle Douglas, on the
22nd Decemjcr, 1879, to hear the report
of Mr. James Biggar, Grange Farm,
the Delegate sent to Canada by the
Stewartry to report on that country
us a field for the settlement of agricul-
turists. The hall was crowded in
every part, a large number being unable
to find even standing room. Among
those on or near the platform were — Mr.
Jas. Biggar, Grange Farm ; Mr. Maxwell
of Munches ; Mr, Murray Stewart of
Cally ; Col. Maitland of Glenlochai- ;
Capt. Hume of .iuchendoUy ; Mr. W. J.
Maxwell, Jun., of Munches ; Mr. Thomas
Biggar of Chapcltou ; Mr. M'Queen of
Crofts ; Mr. Lusk, Howwell ; Mr. A. J.
Milroy, factor for the Earl of Selkirk ;
Mr. Robt. Stewart of CulgruflE ; Mr.
MofEat of Ken Ervie ; Mr. Skirving of
Croys; Mr. Hutchison of Balmaghie;
Capt. Clark of Dunmuir ; Mr. Fergussoa
of Kilquhanity ; Mr. George Oswan,
Mains of Park (the delegate from Wig-
townshire) ; Mr. Grahame j Mr. Irring,
Blackerne; }fr. Gibbons, late of Bumfoot,
Carlisle ; Kev. Mr. Stark of Kirkpatrick-
Durham ; Kev. Mr, Wark of Auohen-
cairn, Sec, &c. ^

On the motion of Mr. M'QuKEK, Mr.
Skirving of Croys was calle-' to the
chair.

The Chaiiuian mentioned the circum-
btances under which Mr. Jas. Biggar had
been sent out to Canada as the Delegate
from the farmers of the Stewartry, and
said he did not think they could have
selected a more qualified man. (Applause).
He was a man with his eyes all about him,
,nd he had returned safe and sound to
tell them what he saw in Canada, and
whether it would be worth their while to
go out and settle there.

Mi. BiaaAB, who was warmly received,
then proceeded to deliver his re^iort a:*
follows : —

I THINK it may be well to explain the
footing on which the Delegates from
other districts and myself recently visited
Canada. You are no doubt aware that
of late agents of the various Land and
Railway Companies in the United States
]ivre been making extraordinary efforts
to induce settlers to purchase and take
up the large extent of unoccupied
lands which they possess. Canada has
lately discovered that she possesses in her
North- West ar immense extent of fertile
country fit for settlement, and conse-
quently invites a share of emigration,
more especially from this countiy — partly
to settle thesft new lands and partly to
take the places of those farmers in
Ontario and othar older settled Provinces
who aie moving to the North- West. So
many people have been deceived by over-
drawn and highly coloured pictures of
the Western States, published by land
companies, railway companies, specu-
lators, and others, that much sus-
picion and distrust of these agents
generally has arisen. The Canadian
Government therefore decided on
asking the farmers of this country to
send delegates from amongst themsiclves
whose reports would be received at home
with more confidence than the statements,
however true, of their agents who were
strangers. The idea I believe originated
with the Hon. J, H. Pope, Minister of
Agriculture, a gentleman of whom 1 can-
not speak too highly, and has been gener-
ally approved of both here and in .\raerica,
The result was, as you know, my appoint-
ment here some three months ago, and I
have now to give you my report. We
landed at Quebec on Sundav, 2Ui Sep.,
and proceeded to Montreal The Banks

I

of the St. Lawrence below Quebec, and
for a considerable distance towards
Montreal, are largely settled by French
Canadians whose houses look neat and
comfortable, but whose holdings are
much subdivided, and there is nothing
in tliis district whiih makes it a desirable
one for Scolch settlers. Some of the
land is marshy, and some stony and a
good deal still uncleared. On our way to
Montreal we saw a number of people
gathered together to witness what proved
to be a trotUng match, a sport of which
French Canadians are very fond.
Mc>ntreal is the finest city in Canada and
the farmers in the neighbourhood grow
considerable quantities of potatoes for
that market, which realise about £10 per
acre. They also find a good market for
hay, butter, and other produce. From
Montreal to Ottawa we went by steamer
on the Ottawa river, the scenery of which
is very fine. The farms along this river
vary from 100 to 160 acres, two-thirds
cleared, and depend for their markets
very much on the lumber trade, the
greatest industry in this district. On
the steamer we met a good many farmers
who had come from Scotland 25 to .SOyears
ago, poor men, but who now owned farms
of 80 to 1 60 acres. They spoke of their
success with pride and satisfaction, and
were evidently comfortable and inde-
pendent. We visited for several days
the Dominion Show at Ottawa, which,
after the custom of the Highland Society,
visits the principal cities in rotation.
Considering that Ottawa is not situated
in a good agricultural district and that
most of the stock lywi been brought
several hundred miles from Ontario, the
show was a great succms. Some of the
arrangements appeared to me capable
of improvement. Entries are received
up till date of show, and there is
therefore no time to prepare proper
catalogues. The stock are not arranged
in classes according to age and sex as we
do, and there is not only some confusion
in judging, but a difficulty in finding
out the animals and comparing their
merits. The cattle classes were exceed-
ingly good, especially shorthorns, the
animals from the Bow Park herd being
fine and carrying ofE a large share of
prizes. Ayi-shiies where also good ,
especitdly the cows and bulls ; the latter
were, we think, equal to any we have
seen. Devons ranked next ; and Here-
fords were good, but not numerous.
There were fully 40 entries of Gallo-
way cattle, including a fair aged bull
and throe good cows, lliere was nothing
of merit in the younge* classes, hard
t)lain heads, narrow shonlderfl, and
high hooks, being the general defects.

Sheep were a fair show, and there was »-
large and very excellent show of pi^s.

Draught horses were not a large or im-
portant class, few showing any Clydcsdalo
character, but were more after the type of
van horses in England. The Canadian
general purpose horse is required to com-
bine activity and pace with draught, and
is similar to the general run of .'vish horsin.
The Canaiiians go in strongly for fast
harness horses, and the exhibition of I'i
or 16 in the ring yoked to light carriages
was quite a feature of the show. These
roadsters are remarkably free, clever
movers, and are very hardy, but they laek
the style and substance of English horses,
and are rather leggy and weak in their
loins. The machinery and implement
department contained many articles of
novelty and interest, and displayed
throughout those qualities of ingenuity,
lightness of material, and good construc-
tion, which characterise American ma-
chinery. A large variety of harvesting
and thrashing machines was exhibited,
the chief novelty being a machine to lift
and bind grain laid off either in swathe or
sheaf from a side-delivery reaper, but not
yet quite'perfecteti. The smaller articles,
such as forks, scythes, kc, were exquisitely
finished, ami far ahead of English made
tools. There was a large show of grain ;
wheat and pease were very fine, barley
and oats fair ; mangolds and potatoes
were good, but turnips rather coarse. The
show of fruit was exceedingly fine. The
exhibition also included specimens of fur,
minerals, native wines, and other pro-
ductions of the country. A very inter-
esting collection of Manitoba products
was shown in a separate building, and
was much admired. Sections of the soil,
three to four feet deep, were sh , ,
and specimens of its productions, in-
clnding grain, hay, vegetables, andtumips,
which were very good. We made a care-
ful inspection of the dairy department,
along with Mr. Graham, President of the
Ontario Daiiymen's Association. Tliero
was an excellent show of cheese, mary of
the lots being nearly equal to finest
Scotch Cheddars. The butter was also
fine. Mr. Graham is connected with .i7
cheese factories in the neighbourhood c t
Belleville, all of which are conducted
on the joint stock system. They have
gone into the improverient of their
cheese for our market wi much enter-
prise and success. They have not only
secured the services of the best American
makers as instructors at a cost of £200
to £250 for the season, but Mr. Grahani
has paid several visits to England in order
thoroughly to understand the English tasita
and prepare their goods to fit our market.
The farmers own these factories, and, alter

a?

paying all expenses, diTule the proceeds I
according to the proportioa of milk
■upplied by each. The average yield of
cheese per cow is about 300 lbs. The
cost of manufacture is about id. per lb.,
and of collecting the milk about 5s. per
cow for the season. Mr. Oraham considers
6d. per lb. the lowest price at which it
pays them to make fine cheese ; and as
prices have of late been far under that
figure, many factories have stopped
making.

There are very large deposits of phos-
phate of lime in, this district, a good deal
of which has been exported to this
country. We drove into the country and
visited some of the mines where it is
found. We also visited a chemical work
where it is manufactured, and where they
succeeded in overcoming the difliculties
of dissolving it which have made it un-
popular in this country. The deposits of
this phosphate are very large, and are
likely not only to be an important source
of wealth to the country for export, but
also of great use to the farmers when
they have learnt their value.

On our way from Ottawa to Toronto,
we called at Brockville and met Mr.
Stagg, a butcher, who owns 300 acres of
land close to the town, and goes in for
cattle feeding on a larger scale than
almost any one we met in Canada. He
feeds 100 head annually, buying three-
year-old steers in spring at about £6 per
head. He gives the cattle when on grass
about 100 lbs. each of meal mixed with
salt, and considers that £3 a head pays
him for grazing. He ties up the cattle
at Ist November and feeds till May; buys
Indian corn, and chops and steams all the
food. Hf allows daily about 8 lbs. meal
per head, and increases it to 16 lbs. at
the finish. We saw about 60 cattle in a
Held of good clover, about a fourth of
which were bulls. The bulls cost £4 each
in spring, and some bullocks bought
recently £9. The bullocks were strong
and in good condition, but lacked quality.
I valued them at £13 a head in our
market. If they had been better bred,
they would have been worth Sds. more.
Mr. Stagg could have bought better bred
cattle in Ontario, but prices are so much
higher there that he preferred buying in
his own district. He expected to make
his cattle worth £16 to £17 in May, and
estimated cost of sending to England at
£7 lOs. each. Since the exportation of
fat cattle to England began prices had
advanced — stirks costing 60s. to £3; two-
year-olds, fiA to £6 ; and three-year-olds,
£6 to £7. A considerable number of
store cattle have been sent to the States
from this district, but as this trade is now
shut out they will be fed off at home.

We saw a good class of driving horses In
and around Brockville, which seemed
suitable for the English market, and
were worth there £16 to £30 each. We
left Toronto for Manitoba on the 30th
September, taking steamer at Samia for
Duluth — a sail of five days on Lake Huron
and Lake Superior, which are part of that
magnificent chain of lakes which stretch
nearly to the centre of the continent and
connect it with the Atlantic seaboard.
Some of our party stayed two days at
Thunder Bay along with the Hon. Mr.
Aikins, the Secretary of State, and the
Hon. Mr. Mackenzie Bowell, Minister
of Customs, to inspect the section
of the Canada Pacific Railway which
terminates here, and which is ex-
pected to be opened ere long as far aa
Winnipeg, in Manitoba. As I was
anxious to visit the famous Dalrymple
Farms, as well as the Maple Farm ad-
joining it, in which we have an interest,
I pushed on to Duluth — the terminus of
the Northern Pacific Railway, on Lake
Superior — where much of the western
wheat of Dakota and Minnesota is
shipped. There are already two large
elevators here, in which wheat is received,
cleaned, stored, and re-shipped at a charge
of f d per bushel. As most of the grain
is hastily thrashed off in the field, it comes
to hand rather rough, and there is con-
siderable inleak in cleaning. In our
voyage over these lakes we were more
than once delayed by fogs, and once run
a-ground, but got off again without much
difficulty. From Duluth westwards the
railway for some miles follows the valley
of the St. Lnuis River, a finely-wooded
and rugged glen almost like the pass of
Killycrankie. The rapids and falls of the
river, lit up first by the setting sun and
then by the moon, was one ftf the finest
scenes we saw in America, A hot wind
prevailed during the night, which made
the cars very close and uncomfortable. At
daylight in the morning we were passing
through a rather poor, rolling prairie,
covered with low scrub and full of marshy
places. It gradually improved, and v/aa
under cultivation in a rude way till we
reached Qlyndon, where we entered the
famous valley of the Red River, contain-
ing many hundreds of square miles of the
finest land in the world. We crossed the
Red River at Fargo ; a rising place, and 12
miles farther alighted atMnpleton Station,
situated on the Maple Farm and sur-
rounded by boundless prairie as far as
the eye could rench. We found our visit
to thepo farms vf ry useful, as we there
got detailsof the costof cultivating wheat
on a large scale, which we could nnt havo
got on as good authority in Manitoba,
but which are applicable to that province.

8

We had about liXM) acres la crop last yeai-,
part ol it raised on shaiiis and part by
our uwu cultiratiou. Farming on bhares
we pay the tenant cout uf iiist breaking —
Hi to 3 dollai's pur acre— (dollar, equal
4s. L'd ; aud cents., equal {d, or 100 cents,
dollar) ; ilud seed, one aud a half
buuliels per acre, lend steam thrasher,
aud pay taxes — receiving one-half of
the produce; the rent paid by a 20
bushels crop being about 4 doUais per
acre. We ulso calculated cost of pro-
duciug au acre of wheat and value of
produce as follows, the faim being close
to railway station : —

Produce, say 20busliels at 70 cents $11.00
Ploughing, sowing, harvest-
ing, &,c $6.60

8ccd 1.60

Kent charge, 8 per cent. ... 1.00

Interest on plant 1.00

10.00

Profit.

$4.00

Our crops for 3 yeai's have averaged fully
'M bushels. We also made up a statement
of capital uecessai-y to purchase aud cul-
tivate a sectiou of laud iu this ucighbour-
hood, as follows: —

640 acres at $9

Breaking 600 acres, say $2i

llousu aud buildings

13 horses

Harness

5 waggons ... ...

4 sulky ploughs

4 pairs harrows

H seeders

'J. rollers (?)

4 self 'binding reapers
1 hay mower ...

1 hay rakje

bundiies

Total

... $5760

... ]-'50

... l.>00

... 1!»50

1(U)

H75

... Ij20

60

las

80

1200

90

40

1000

...$13,980

Or £2796.

The above does not include thrashing

luachine, which may be hired. The first

coat of laud may seem high at nine dollars,

as plenty of laud can be bought for four

Ol' five, or even less, but not so near a

railway, aad as we have sold some at 10|

dollars, we h:. ^ taken above sum in our

calculations. The above calculation is on

a basis of 450 acres in wheat annually,

50 acres in oats for horses, and 140 acres

in grass aud hay ; for though at present

plenty of hay may be cut on the prairie,

the country is being so rapidly settled,

that by-and-by the settler would be con-

fined to his own laud. Of course a settler

could begin on a section of land with

ftiuch less capital by restricting his oper-

atioub at firat, bat, in that case, part of

the laud would be idle. 70 cents may
be considered rather a low price for
wheat, as we have sold this year at 75
cents to 77 cents; and some who waited
longer got 90 cent.'* to 100 cents for No. 1
wheat, but we prefer taking a minimum,
figure as a basis. The soil here consists
of a rich black vegetable mould, 12 to 14
inches deep, on u friable clay subsoil,
rather of a marly character. Next day
we drove over the Dahymple farms, which
consists of 70,000 acres in difEe; ent places.
On this division they had about 12000
acres in crop last year, yielding on au
average about 19 bushels per acre. We
first saw on tlie horizon a dark line which
as we approached proved to be a gang of
thirteen double ploughs, each drawn by
four horses, and turning 2 furrows, 15
inches each in width, and 3 to 4 inches
deep, going after each other on a furrow
a mile long. On another sectiou seven
double aud six single ploughs were at
work, aud on another eleven double
ploughs drawn by four mules each. Tlie
horses were similar to second-class 'bus
horses and shewed signs of work; but
the mules were in fine condition and
seemed to stand the work much better
than horses. The sight was one not
easy to be forgotten. In surveying the
vast unbroken prairie there was a sense of
lonliness and a doubt of its value as an
agricultural subjecf, but the rich black
soil being turned up, the strung clean
stubble of the former crop and the fact of
its suitability for cropping being thus prac-
tically demonstrated dispelled the idea of
wilduess aud brought back a feeling of
admiration for the enterprise and system
of that style of farming. There are four
or five steadings on the farm, with excel-
lent accommodation for men and horses.
The implements were also put past in
capital order. In one shed we saw four-
teen self-binders and four or five steam
thrashers. In another nineteen seed drills
and a pile of harrows; in others, spare
parts for reapers, ploughs, &c., aud a row
of waggons outside. Each of these
double ploughs travels from 18 to 20 miles
a day, and turns over about 5 acres daily.
The crop is cut down by self-binding
reapers, cutting down 12 acres a day, aud
attended by a driver and two stookers.
It is thrashed out in the field, the straw
burned, and the wheat taken straight
to the cars on a special siding. Each ma-
chine thrashea about 1,000 bushels daily.
Wages for ploughmen are 18 to 20 Jollars
a month aud board. We were told that
analysis of the sub-soil showed that it
coutaincd all the elements necessary for
growing wheat, should the surface soil
become cxhaueted, but the latter is ex-
i pccted to last many years- In returr'ng

way.

*■ ;■?

to tiic siatiou we saw tbe train appiuacli-
<;uite halfau-bour before it reached us,
u« the track is perfectly straight for 60
miles W. On our way back to Glyudou |
we saw extensive prairie Ihesragiug to the
northwards, but Ihey were fortunately
i-xtinguisbed by heavy rains during the
ni^'ht. We met the rest of the party at
the station next morning, and proceeded
by rail to Winnipeg, which wc reached in
18 buurs.

At Maplcton Station a special train
with 300 Montana cattle passed cm route
lor (Jbicago. They were the lops of a lot
of 900, which had walked several hundred
miles from Montana to Bigniark, and
were large, heavy cattle, in good condition.
We afterwards heard they weighed
about 1600 lb». live weight, and that
some of them were sent to New York.
From Glyndon the railway traverses the
great wheat State of Minnesota, and
onters Canadian territory at Emerson.
Near to Glyndon the prairie is rather
low and marshy, but we gradually
emerged on the dry prairie, which had
been swept by fire, and was black and
bare. In places we saw patches of low
willow, but no timber except along the
banks of the rivers. We saw a good
many homesteads along the line of rail-
way, some being on a very rude and
small scale, and a few evidently belonging
to men of some capital. We were nmch
struck with the gross nejjlect of 'expen-
sive implements. Self-binding reaping
machines, costing £60 each, and other
implements were lying about where they
had last been used ; occasionally three or
four of these binders had been drawn
together, and two or three furiows
ploughed round them to protect them
from the prairie fires. The houses weie
all of wood and the stables a rude frame
of logs covered and sometimes surrounded
by a pile of straw. We saw a fair number
of cattle and a number of stacks of prniric
bay. The surface soil seemed lighter
than in Dakota, and we did not think so
nmch of the country. We were very
kindly received in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg (formerly Fort Garry) is
situated at the confluence of the Assini-
boine and Red Rivers, both of which are
navigable by steamers for many hundred
milen, and is increasing very rapidly in
impoi'tauce. For some years prior to
1871 the population was stationary at
about 400. It is now stated to contain
12,000 inhabitants, though it did not look
to us like a city of more than ie,000. In
order to see as much of Manitoba as pos-
sible our party divide !, part going west
as far as Rapid City, on the Little
Saskatchewan. 1 only went as far west
as Portage-la- I'rairie, 66 miles, and after-

wards went to the district on Tobacco
Creek, at the foot of the Pembina moun-
tains, about 90 miles south-west of
WinnijHJg. The first journey took nearly
four days, the latter five. We travelled
in spring waggons holding four persons
and some baggage, drawn by a pair of
horses, costing us about 24s. a-day. The
road from Winnipeg to I'orrage-la- Prairie
is about equal to a fair peat roud, and
innocent of Macadam. The larger creeks
are bridged over, and some of the smailer
filled with bundles of willows, which
make them fairly passable. The road is
tbj great highway of the north-west, and
is traversed daily by trains of Red River
carts carrying goods to the North-West
and bringing back furs and other produce.
These carts are constructed entirely of
wood and drawn by oxen or ponies.
They carry a load of 800 to 1000 lbs.,
and some go 1000 miles to the foot of the
Rocky Mountains. The trail frequently
shifts 60 to 100 yards to avoid places
which become bad ; and in the rainy
season, June, the roads are very heavy,
and no travelling is done which can be
avoided. In some places a corduroy
road has been made and covered with
earth from the ditches on each side, but
as a rule there has been little attempt at
road-making, the trail winding over the
open prairie or through clumps of willow
and scrub oaks. Near Winnipeg we
parsed some good farms of dry land
belonging to Mi D. A. Smith, the Uon.
James McKay, and others. Mr. McKay
has a small herd of tame buffaloes and
some buffalo crosses. Some tei; iiii'''«out
we passed the copse "vood mentioned,
but there is no heavy timber except along
the banks of the Aisiniboine on the left.
There are a good many half-bred settlers
on the banks of this river, their claims
being very narrow, but extending back
from two to four miles. AVe stayed all
night at an inn at Pigeon Creek. Part
of the district beyond this is low and
marshy, but at Poplai* Point we find good
dry land, thickly settled ; and at High
Bluff, some 6 or 8 miles from the Poriage,
is some of the most desirable land w«
saw in N.W. It was rich dry soil, settled
and fenced. The crop was stacked in
the fields, and on somc^ farms thrashing
was goincf on. We called on some
farmers from Ontario who settled here
some years ago and are doing well. The
stubble was clean and strong, and we
took samples of the wheat, which was
very good. We heard very different
statenients of theyi«ld of wheat, varying
from 25 to 40 bushels. M 'Lean, a farmer
near Portage, had 1230 bushels Fife wheat
off 40 acres. Another man, a native of
Ross-shire, who was ploughing his own

^Jl

w

land, told us that he bad cropped it for
17 ;Tears in succession, hia last crop yield-
ing :^5 bushels peracrc. Mr. Uyan, M.P.,
A good authority, said the arerage of
wheat might safely he tnlten at 25 to 30
bushels 6() lbs., and of oats at 60 bushels
34 to 38 lbs. We also saw an Ontario
farmer, who came here some years ago
and bought ^(M) acres of land at $10 per
»cre. He had 300 acres of arable and 200
under timber, the latter being probably
the most valuable portion. There is a
saw mill at the Portage, the timber being
floated down the Assiniboine a distance
of 3C9 miles. The price of wheat at the
time of our Tisit was 55 cents at the
Portage and 65 at Winnipeg, but it soon
after advanced 10 cents to 15 cents. The
rate of freight to Montreal is about 34
cents per bushel, but as soon as the rail-
way is opened to Thunder Bay, which is
exi ected in less than two years, the rate
will not exceed 26 cents ; and is put by
some as low as 17 cents per bushel. As a
field for wheat-raising I would much pre-
fer Manitoba to Dakota. The first cost
of land is less ; the soil is deeper and
will stand more cropping ; the sample of
wheat is better, and the produce 5 to 10
bushels per acre more, all of which is
profit ; and as soon as the n«w railway is
opened the cost of delivering it at the sea-
board wi 11 be the same or less. I have not
before referred to the grasshoppers, a
scourge which has visited the country
several times and destroyed the crops. The
settlers do not seem to fear them much,
aa they only appear at considerable
intervals and disappear altogether when
the country is cultivated. With regard
to the competition of this Western
wheat in our markets, wheat sold at 70
cents in Manitoba leaves a good profit to
the grower, and will cost, delivered in
England, about 4s. 6d. per bushel,
a price which does not pay the Eng-
lish fanners. It is e^^ident, however,
that this western grain is affect-
inj? the Eastern States of America
quite as much as this country. The
average crop of the United States is sur-
prisingly low, the returns for a good
many States being as low as 12 to 14
bushels per acre; this evidently does not
pay the grower, and many are therefore
giving up wheat, and going in more for
other br.nnches of farming. Much of the
wheat-producing land in the east being
thus, for a time at least, exhausted, sup-
plies will have to come from the virgin
soils of the west, and as these are rapidly
undergoing tbo same piocess, thcfarmers
of the United States will, before very
many years, bo very much on a level with
the farmers of this country. The virgin
soils of Canada are, however^ much more

extensive, and will probably bo able to
send us wheat when the United States
have ceased to be an exporting country.
In returning to Winnipeg we mudi; a
detour of some miles to the north of
High HhifF. and found it all good, <lry
prairie, pretty well settled. Returning
to the main road, night (^ame on, and we
travellcil at a walk for two weary hours
before reaching our halting place. We
passed the tents and fires of many of the
cart trains encamped for the night, and
could hear the bells on their horses and
their cattle feeding around, though wo
could not see tlieni in the darkness. We
had some difficulty in keeping the track ;
and in crossing some of the slcugha or
ditches had to light matches and show
the way over the willow bridges. We
were heartily glad to reach the first inn.
Next day we met many emigrants going
west, and conversed with several. One,
a native of Lanarkshire, hail first heard
of the fertility of Manitoba from an old
Hudson's Ray man in Glasgow 30 years
ago. He had been over most of the
United States as a mechanic, and was
now going to land he had taken up,
20 miles west of the Portage. Wo
also met Mr. John Henry, a brother
of Mr. Henry, Bogfoot, in the Stewartry,
going west with his family. He had sold
his Ontario farm of 200 at 47 dollars per
acre, and taken up 320 acres of land for
himself, and the same for each of his five
sons, on the Government terms — in whole,
1920 acres of fine land, eight miles west
of Rapid City ; and was highly pleased
with his prospects. This is agood illustra-
tion of an anecdote Lord Dufferin related
in one of his speeches. When Lord
Dufferin was on his way to Canada to
enter on the office of Governor-General
he visited the .steerage and addressed the
emigrants, numbering some 400, who
were in the ship. One man complained
that he had too large a family. Lord
Dufferin, in the cour.se of his remarks,
referred to this, and said that in the old
country it was possible sometimes for a
man to be burdened by too large a family,
but in the country to which they weru
gding a man could hardly have too many
children. Whereupon a stalwart young
fellow slnpped his Lordship on the back
and exclaimed, " Right you are, sir ; that'.<»
just what I have been telling Emily.'
These Ontario settlers are evidently the
best for Manitoba. They have had some
experience of the country, and are well
piepared for the difficulties of pioneer
life, Nenrcr Winnipeg we met a large
party of Einigrants from England, vvith.
their tr.ain of waggons and Red River
carts. Thtiy had come out in connection
with the Dopiinioii S.S. Company to settle

sill

l.lc to
states
luntry.
mile a
rth of

d, <lry
uining
and we
J hours

e. We
' of the
bt, and
ses and
ugh we
88. We
i track ;
ugh a (<i
id show
;b. We
irst inn.
ts going
,1. One,
it heard
1 an old
30 years
t of the
and was
iken up,
je. We

brother
tewartry,
Ej had sold
ollars per
: laud for
at his fire
-in whole,
niles west
y pleased
id illustra-
■in related
hen liOTd
Janiula to
ar-Oeneral
lres?ed the
400, who
omplained
ily. Lord
s remarks,
in the old
iiraes for a
re a family,
they werij
?, too many
fart young
m the back
.., sir ; that's
i|r Emily."'
ridently the
e bad some
nd are well
of pioneer
oet a large
gland, ■vy^ith.
Red River
connection
any tp petti«

n

on the Company's lands. They were
halted for their mid-day meal, and as the
weather was flnu, accepting the situation
cheerfully. Many of them were fashion-
ably dressed and evidently new to the
life they were adopting, and as they had
a journey of 14 days before them, we fear,
should bad weather set in, things would
not continue so pleasant. They would
hare houses to build and many prepara-
tions to make ; and were going west far
too late in the season. These trains were
not without an element of sadness. We
met a stalwart, quiet looking Yorkshire
man with three nice-looking, but evidently
motherless girls, from 10 to 14 years of
age. Beaten at home, he was entering a
new country to try again. His span of
oxen were jaded and evidently infe/ior,
and he had already fallen behind the
main party. He would require a change
of oxen to get over the ICO milei of road
to Rapid City. The old man's prospects
were not bright, but the girls will doubt-
less soon tlud homes of their own.

Winnipeg is the best place to bay
waggons, cattle, implements, &c.; but
settlers should take advantage of the
competition in trade which exists. We
found that soma settlers had paid con-
siderably more than they should have
done for some of their waggons, kc. It
is a great mistake for emigrants to take
heavy or bulky articles with them — the
carriage costs more than they are worth.

Next day we started for the Pembina
district. Crossing the Assiniboine our
road lay for 40 miles south along the
bank of the Red Ilivcr. For 10 miles or
so to the La Salle river the road passes
through a rather low and wooded country,
most of the timber being small copse.
Wc then emerge on open prairie, most of
the river lots being settled and under
cultivation. This continued, with in-
tervals of unbroken prairie, all the way
to Morris, which we reached at dusk.
The prairie west of the road was mostly
unbroken, and had been swept by fire.
Wc saw a good many stacks of prairie hay
aud some cattle. Prairie grouse were pretty
numerous, $ind we shot 25 brace on this
journey. The land at Morris is hardly so
liciivy as nearer Winnipeg. Crops were
reported to average 18 to 22 bushels per
acre. Next day we struck west along the
base line, and ten miles out reached the
Lowe farm, the only house for 25 miles.
We were kindly entert aincd by Mr. Lowe,
junr., on our rtiturn. This farm consists
of 19,000 acres, which Messrs. Lowe in-
tend farmiufj ou a scaic similar to the
Dalrymple farms. They have erected a.
line house .and buildings, and have 500
acres broken for next. crop. They have
iiiad some loss among tl^eir horses, the.

work of breaking being serero, and too
hay and water not suiting horses from
Ontario at first. Oxen or mules do better
for breaking. They have also had some
difficulty in getting good water, and havo
put down a bore of 90 f c«t to the rock,whcre
they hope to find a good supply. Mean-
time they have to draw supplies soma
distance. Water is one of the first con-
siderations with the settler. It is rare
that water is so difficult to get as in the
case we have mentioned. The water of
the creeks is good ; and we made a point
of tasting the well water at a good aany
places we visited. Sometimes it was
sweet, and sometimes it had an alkaline
or sulphurous taste, but stock take it
readily enough. The Lowe farm is all
level prairie, with a little marsh, on which
you might drive a plough for miles in any
direction. It is intersected here and there
by small channels or cooleys, which carry
off the water in spring, but do not impede
a plough or reaper. The soil is a rich,
black mould, 18 inches deep on a clay
subsoil. Our trail for several miles lay
through the south corner of the big marsh,
consisting of many thousand acres, which
is flooded by the Boyne river in the rainy
seasons, but could be drained with little
difficulty. It was covered with most
luxuriant grass, in some places three to
four feet high. In some places it was still
soft, and the horses went up to their knees
and pulled as through with difficulty.
We travelled over 40 miles, and reached
Messrs . Riddel's farm on Tobacco Creek
just in time. We were hardly well inside
when a thunderstorm, with heavy rain
came on, and 'a very dark night. Next
day we drove over Messrs. Riddel's farm,
and some of the surrounding country.
Messrs. Riddel have several thousand
acres of nice, dry land, well situated on
the Creek, along which there is simiefair
timber. They have not yet cultivated
much wheat, as they are some distance
from a market, but they expect ere long
to have communication with Winnipeg
by the Pembina Railw.iy Branch, which
will add greatly to the value of their land.
Their wheat has averaged fully thirty
bushels per acre, This and the Pembina
Mountain district is considered one of the
finest parts of the Province of Manitoba.
The Pembina Mountains are terraces
200 to 300 feet high, well clad with
timber, their summits being an immense
plateau of level prairie, which is thickly
settled nearly as far west as Rock Lake.
This district is fairly well-wooded and
grows the wild dog rose, a sign of good
dry land. Wo re-crossed the Atlantic
with a young man who had bought
.S20 acres there, with a log-houye and some
improvements, for 500 dollars. We

Ifl2

had fine weatlier for our return to
Winnipeg. We drove out to Mr.
Oerrie's farm on Sturgeon Creek, eight
rules norlh-wcst of Winnipeg. Mr.
Gerrie owns 40,000 acres in different parts
of the proTince, and has here a block of
B.OOO acres, nearly all dry and well
situated. The soil is a black loam of 12
to 18 inches deep on a friable clay loam.
A crop of oats, sown on breaking, had
been very bulky ; but the quality of the
oats grown on new land is generally poor.
Mr. Gerrie had sold a part of this block
at £1 an acre. Returning to Winnipeg
we ])as8ed through a considerable breadth
of lower laud on which hay had been cut.
We saw loads goiug into town, where it
sells from 6 to 8 dollars a ton in quantity.
Kix dollars is about the lowest price ; and
as the cost of cutting, stacking, and de-
livering in town does not exceed S to 3J
dollars per ton, it seems to be a profit-
able business on land which yields two
tons per acre, and which can bo bought
at less than 6 dollars. We also drove out
with Mayor Logan and some other gentle-
men to Bird Hill, east of the Ked Itiver,
from which we had a fine view. The
country cast of the river is more rolling
and broken than on the west side, and
more wooded. We saw prairie fires to the
■outh and west. The railway from Winni-
peg to Selkirk is now finished, and we saw
here soms large deposits of gravel, which,
by-the-bye, will be of great use in road
making. We passed through the settle-
ment of Kildonan, which skirts both
banks of the Red River, north of Winni-
peg. It was settled by Highlanders from
Sutherlandshire in 1812. The claims are
from 5 to 12 chains wide, and go four miles
back. Only a small portion along the
river is cultivated, the rest being used for
hay and pasture. We saw land which
had been in wheat from 35 to CO years,
and took samples of the wheat soil and
Bubsoil. We also saw some first-rate
turnips. We did not see any signs of
manure being applied, though we saw
manure heaps, the accumulation of 20
years. As there is no decrease of crops
the natives do not think it necessary to
use manure yet ; indeed, it has been cus-
tomary to draw the manure on to the ice
of the river in winter and allow it to go off
in ths spring freshets. Others, who had
not this facility, had found it necessary
to remove their barns rather than remove
the manure heap. 'I'he cultivated land
was clean, and seemed in good condition.
On the banks of the river we could see
a depth of 12 to 14 feet of soil, all an
alluvial deposit. The settlement of Sel-
kirk, farther down the river, was settled
in the same way, and is similar to Kil-
donan. Returning to Winnijwg, we saw

a start being made on the first section of
the Canada-Pacific Railway, west of
this point. The construction nf this sec-
tion is contracted for at $6000 per mile,
being little more than the cost of rails,
sleepers, and ballasting. The cost of
working will also be light, as the sleepcjit
gradient from Lake Sui)orior to the
Rocky Mountains does not exceed liu 100.
When in Winnipeg a banquet was given to
the Ministers Aikins and 15owcll, to which
the dclcgfltes were invited, and at which a
great future for the Canadian North-Wcst
was confidently predicted. Mr. Cowan,
from Wigtownshire, who visited the dis-
trict west of the Portage, as far as Rapid
City, describes that country in his report.
Mr. M'Kenzic, who came from Ontario
eleven years ago, gave Mr. Cowan some
useful information. He owns about
18,000 acres of land, selected very judi-
ciously in various parts of the Province.
One of hie sons is on a farm of 1700
acres on the beautiful plaiu, and has 300
acres under crop. He has also a grazing
farm, 60 miles north-west of the Portage,
on which he says 800 acres would yield
enough hay to winter 2000 cattle. He
lives on a farm of 2400 acres, 9 miles
west of Portagc-la- Prairie, some of which
he has cultivated for nine consecutive
years. His wheat yielded 41 bushels per
acre in 1877, 36 bushels last year, and he
expects 40 bushels from this year's crop,
all of the Fife variety, and 60 to 62 lbs.
per bushel. He sows wheat from 15th
April to 12th May, and reaps in August.
Oats may be sown till 20th May, and
barley as late as 10th Jime. Oats yield
75 to 80 bushels per acre, 34 to 36 lbs. ;
barley, 40 to 45 bushels, 50 to 52 lbs. He
drills in about 2 bushels of each. His
land is a good black loam, 18 inches deep,
on a subsoil of 3 or 4 feet of loamy clay,
and grows excellent crops of roots of all
kinds. Potatoes, with very rude cultiva-
tion, grow 7 to 10 tons per acre, and
turnips as high as 30 tons without manure,
Swedes frequently weigh 1 6 to 20 lbs. One
exhibited last year weighed 36 lbs. Good
water is found at 16 feet, and stock do
well. Mr. M'Kenzie hasa stock of very useful
well-bred cattle, the best in the Province.
He finds a ready mai'ket for all his pro-
duce in settlerR coming in, and expects to
need no other for some yean. He pays
£40 a year and board for white labour, and
2s. per day and board for Indian labour.
He had an Indian ploughing one of his
fields. Mr. M'Kenzic must be considered a
good authority on the matter of crops, but
his results are evidently considerably
better than the average, and it would not be
safe to calculate on his figi^res. Though
we spent nearly four weeks on
our Manitoba journey, we saw

13

1

only A Tcry smaU proportion of the i
9,000,000 acres it contftins ; ami ns Mani-
toba is only the beginning o£ the immense
extent of fertile countiy which extenrls to
the foot of the Rocky MountainH, wo can
hardly do more than say that we have had
our foot in the north-west. Tlio British
possessions in North America are larger
tiian thf wiiole of Europe, and larger than
the United States, without Alaska; and
as the wheat region through which the
Canada Pacific Railway will pass is esti-
mated to contain 160 million acres, the
Canadians may svcll be enthusiastic over
their possessions. None of the Delegates
went west of Rapid City, but the country
south to the Assiniboino is reported good
dry land, water good, and timber scarce.
At Shoal Lake, 40 miles N.W., the land is
similar, and on to Fort Ellico and the
Touchwood Hills. At Edmonton, 850
miles, the land is said to be undulating
and of the finest description, and those who
have visited the Peace River describe it as
the finest country of the whole, and say
that notwithstanding its high latitude it
grows wheat well, while owing to its situa-
tion on the east slope of the Rocky ikloun-
tains, the climate is much milder than in
much lower latitudes. A reference to a
map, on which isothcnnal lines of winter
and summer are marked, will illustrate
this. But I may s.ay that whilo it is in the
same latitude as Scotland, the summer is
similar to that of Belgium. Jlost of the
land in the province of Manitoba is now
taken up, and emigration is flowing west-
ward to the free grant lands. The land is
surveyed in sections of a mile square, or
640 acres — half of these sections, corres-
ponding to the white squares of a draught
board, arc reserved as railway lands, and
sold at fixed prices according to distance
from the line of railway. The sections cor-
responding to the black squares arc reserved
as free grant lands — each settler receiving
1 60 acres on pay ment of a nominal sum, and
with power to buy 160 acres more on easy
terms, the price varying from 1 to 2^ dol-
lars per acre. The policy of the Govern-
ment is, if possible, to build the railway
ahead of settlement, but we hardly think
it will succeed. The Government also wish
to prevent speculators getting possession
of large breadths of land to hold on specu-
lation, but in this they have hitherto failed,
as many men own from 10 to 40 thousand
acres within 100 miles of Winnipeg. These
lands at present bring in no revenue to the
owners ; indeed it is probable that some
»ra paying interest on the purchase money
at ingh rates. These lands are all for sale
at prices from 1 to 5 dollars per acre for
unbroken land, and in some ewes improved
lots might be bought for the higher sum.
There arc many men who have taken

up homcitoads and pre-empttons who will
sell their rights for a small profit ; so
there is no likelihood of land being Ecarco
for many years to come, and settlers who
can pay the prices I have named do not
require to go far west unless they choose.
On the whole, I was favourably impressed
with Maniti^a, and the other delegate*
whom I met expressed the same opinion.
No one who sees the immense extent of
fertile soil and the excellence of its pro-
ducts can doubt for a moment that there
is a great future before that country.
Nearly every one we met who had seen
.inything of the North-west spoke of it in
glowing terms ; and though it is necessary
to allow considerable discounts on the
statements of those who have not much
experience in agriculture, we were satis-
fied that settlers with industry, experience,
.and some capital could not fail to do
well. A man with *100 cm make a start
on a homestead ; a man with £200 to
£300 can start well; but as a rule men
with more capital have the best chance.
Stock do well, but require shelter and bay
in winter. There is a good home trade
in cattle, large numbers being imported
at present from Minnesota. The cattle
wo saw in Manitoba were good and strong,
rather short of breeding, but infinitely
superior to the Texas and native Colorado
cattle we afterwards saw in the Chicago
markets. We think Galloway cattle would
suit the country well. Yearling cattle
wore selling at i2 to 10 dollars; two-year-
olds at 20 tc 26 doll.ars ; and three-year-
olds at 40 to 4ij dollars. Draught oxen
bring 90 to ISOdollars per pair according to
size, condition, and training. Most of the
settlers at present are avoiding the low
lands and taking up the dry lands for
wheat-growing, which gives a quicker
return than cattle ; but as soon as stock
raising is more general, we think these
lands will be found very valuable. We
saw soma few flocks of 50 to 100 sheep.
In some districts a spear grass grows,
which gets into the wool, pierces the skin,
and kills the animal ; butthis only occurs
at one part of the year, and when the
land is cultivated this grass disappears.
Like cattle, sheep require shelter and hay
in winter. The disadvantages of Manitoba
arc at present bad roads, especially in the
rainy season — the long winter of fully five
months, the scarcity of wood and of water
in some parts, the mosquitoes and black
flies, which for a couple of months in sum-
mer, and especially in marshy places, are
very annoying to man and beast, and
particularly to new settlers. The opening
of the railway will help to get over the
first difficulty, and also bring in supplies
of timber where needed. Care is required
in selecting land where good water can

M

J 4

be had. The winter it lonfi; an<i tlic lem-
pcrature often vi ry low ; but we were
usured by Governor Morris nnd others
that tlic cold is not Muvcrc, as the nir Ik
generallj' still mid clear, and that even
invalids with weak lungs find the climate
healthy and pleasant, Ihcro is no cure
for the insect plat^uei, which, however,
disappear as the lan<l is dniinod and
cultivated. It is well for the emigrant to
be prepared for these difficulties, which
we would be careful neither to exaggerate
oor conceal.

As a field for moncT-making and enter-
prise we consider the Nortb-Westdocidedly
the bent part of the Dominion ; and those
who are willing to face these difficulties
and disadvantages of pioneer life-
difficulties and disadvantages which will
be rapidly overcome, and which are
nothing to those which the early settlers
in Ontario bad to contend with — have
every prospect of success and independ-
ence. It would be a great mistake to
suppose that I recommend Manitoba to
all who think of emigrating. The pro-
priety of going there depends very much |
on the means and habits of the emigrant. ;
There are many whom I could not re i
commend to make a change, which would !
involve the loss of a good many of their I
present life comforts, and which might be |
especially hard on the female members of i
thefamily; but young people with health, '
energy, and some means, accustomed to
work, would certainly improve their
position and do well. There are many
families, too, who may be working as bard
here, without making things any better,
as they would have to do there, for whom
the change would be a good one. Men
of capital might also, by residing in Win-
nipeg, secure for their families and them-
selves all the advantages of city life until
they chose to remove to their farms. We
left Winnipeg on Tuesday, 21st October,
and, travelling night and day, reached
Chicago in 48 hours. We passed over St.
Paul and Pacific, Chicago, Milwaukie,
and St. Paul, and Michigan Central
Railways, a distance of 1 200 miles, on free
passes. These railways carry most of the
emigrants who go to the north-west at
present, and the arrangements are very
satisfactory. During the whole of the
first day we traversed the expanse of
burned prairie we have already described,
which often stretched away for miles to
the horizon unbroken by a house or tree,
but strewn withnumerousbones of buffalo,
deer, and other animals, scattered over
the surface, or half buried in the soil.

Near Emerson and Cookson we saw
some farms of considerable si«e ; on one
there were excellent buildings, and five
or six t%ams were returning from work.

On anoth >r we saw ten horses at work
driving a thrashing machine. There were
laorc than 100 large stacks of wheat in
the fields and in the buildings, and it
struck UH that there was work enough for
a Hteani thrasher, and that the horses
would have been bet tor employed plough-
ing. At night we nassed some extensive
praiiio fires, whioii were tearing alonq
iwfore a brisk wind and, where the grass
was high, Iciping to a great height. It
was a grand sight. We heard that many
settlers had lui>t hoHses and crops by
recent fires

We spent two weeks in Ontario, which
was not sufficient to see it thoroughly, but
our visit was cut short by an early fall of
snow. We visited pome farms near
Toronto, on one of which we saw stumps
extracted by an ingenious machine. Two
men and n ' oy and a pair of light horsea
were pul' ^ up large pine stumps ex-
peditious These stumps are not ripe
for pulling ior seven or eight years after
the trees are cut, and in passing through
the Province the patches of land under
stumps and the snake or rail fences were
the strangest features. We visited Guel j>h
and were kindly entertained by Messrs.
M'Crea, natives of Balmaghie, and several
other gentlemen. This is one of the best
farmed districts ii Canada, the stock of
cattle on several farms being exception-
ally good The chief attraction here was
the Ontario ISchool of Agriculture and
Model Farm, an excellent institution,
partly supported by Government. They
have at present 88 pupils, and have had
to refuse many applications for want of
accommodation. The pupils study and
work half time. They arc paid for their
labour according to industry and ability,
and it is possible for an active lad to
make payments for work nearly cover
the charges of the school. We were
shown over the farm by the Professor
of Agriculture, Mr. Brown, a Scotchman.
We saw a fine field of turnips tested
to average 20 tons per imperial acre —
10 or 12 sorts of swedes had been tried.
Experiments were also being made with
different varieties of wheat. The pastures
were sown out with clover and Timothj',
.and were fairly good, but rather patchy
in places. The land is a good, deep,
gravelly loam, heavier than similar land
I here, and not so red in colour ; some parts
seemed rather soft and heavy. It was clean
and in good order. The stock included
good specimens of Shorthorn, Hereford,
Devon, Polled Angus, Galloway, and Ayr-
shire cattle ; and of Southdown, Cotawold,
and Leicester sheep ; a good many of the
animals having been imported from this
country. Several of the horses were very
nearly pure Clydesdale. They are at

15

f^:'

Iirc8«!nt carrying on experimenU In eattle-
uediii^ with aiiimali of rlifferniit breedn,
aud tcul the increase uf live wuii^ht on the
•calci from time to time. Professor Brown
expect! each nniraal to gain 2 l\»i. per head
daily. He has found it profilablu to reduce
the allowance of roots to 30 or 4Ulb8. daily,
ami allow a larger t|uantity of grain, &e. —
4 lbs. to 10 Ib.s.,accordiugtocircum4lance8.
He hiui tried Hteamiug and chopping all
the food, but found the stock do eijually
well on the raw food. In experimenting
with various formu and kinds of foo'l, he
found that pi^s miide most progress on
peas supplied whole, although a consider-
able proportion seemed to pass through the
animals undigested. The results of these
experiments, as well as a general report
ol the oilairs of the school and farm arc
published annually, and form an interest-
ing and instructive volume. We saw
])artie8 j. students engaged on various
farm work, attending stock, and thrashing
out experimental lots of grain. Wo think
this is a valuable institution, and worthy
of imitation in this country. We visited
several farms in this district. At Mr.
Stone's we saw some very good shorthorn
(stock and Cotswold sheep. At Mr. M'Crae's
we siivf good turnips, and a nice herd of
Galloways, including some of the principal
\nvM winners at Ottawa. At Mr. Hob«on's
farm wo saw some excellent shorthorns.
Mr. Hobson feeds a good many cattle,
buying half fat cattle in December and
January and feeding till June. He allows
1 i lbs. to 16 lbs. meal daily and 60 lbs. roots.
lie also feeds off 400 lambs on rape, buying
them in August at 10s. to 12s. each, and
making them worth 22s. to 24s. by middle
of December. The rape is sown in drills
and worked same as turnips. On this
farm of .SOD acres, 240 cleared, four men
are employed in summer and two in winter,
with some extra help at busy .leasons. Mr.
Hobson estimates the necessary capital for
such a farm at £3 per acre. Of course
where pedigree stock is kept it is much
higher We visited a farm of 1 80 acres,
all good land except 20 acres which
was for sale at about £13 per acre. It
was a nice place, near a railway
station. The house was new — had cost
£800 ; and the buildings fair. Another
farm of 200 acres let at 12s. nn acre was
considered too dear. The soil was a fair
saudy loam on a clay subsoil, intersected
with a gravelly ridge. The turnips were
a very good crop. The divisions of crop
on this farm were as follows: — 70 acres
hay, 60 acres pasture, 15 turnips, 90 fal
wheats 20 peas, 20 oats. The taxes pay-
able by the tenant were £13, in addition
to eight days' bi.atuto road labour. This
farm was part of a block of 600 acres for
Bale at £ 12 pei- acre, l^ear Q uelph we

saw two farms of 4uO acres frfrmcd by two
sons of the late Mr. Oerraud RUrchlield.
Th«y pay about £200 a year rent and
taxes, Riid arc said to be doing well.
These seemed very desirable farms, in a
good situation, and were for xale, price £12
to £13 per acre. Wc passed through part of
the Taisiey block, adistiiot seined a good
many years ago by emigrants from
Paisley, few of whom had beeu brought
up to farming. "^ In-y have in nearly all
cases been successful, and iiuSNess very
comfortable residences, and tidy, well-
managed farms. We next visited Ualt,
where a large proportion of the pi:ople
are of Scotch descent. Mr. Cowan, a
native of Dumfriesshire, has a good farm
of 640 acres in the neighbourhood. Mr.
Cowan is a member of Parliament, and
well-known aj a breeder of l^picester
sheep. We saw afirst-iateilock of ewes.
He also breeds shorthorns. The land is
mostly rolling— a deep sandy loam, and
free from stones. We went to Bow
Park, near Brautford where we met an old
acquaintance, Mr. John Cl.iy, juiir., of
Kerchesters. Bow Park belongs to the
Hon. Qeorpt; Brown, of Toronto, a gentle-
man of much spirit and enterprise, who
founded the splendid herd of shorthorn
cattle there. Mr. Clay had just returned
from Chicago, where he had sold 40 head
of shortborni at au average of CO guineas
each, and some Clydesdale horses at
handsome prices. After luncheon we
inspected the splendid buildings and
the stock they contained. There are at
present about 340 head of shorthorns and
one or two Clydesdale horses on the farm.
We first saw a very fine lot of one and
two-year-old heifers, including some very
stylish anim.ils. We then passed through
the stable for 24 horses, the immense
barn tilled with crop and hay, and
root-bouse undcrueatb. In a rbed
containing 44 loose boxes we found
a splendid collection of cows and
heifers of the Oxford, Princess, Duchess,
and other famous tribes. Many of the
animals were very fine and had been
imi)ortcd from England at great expense.
Some had just returned from a round of
shows, where they had carried all before
them. In other sheds we found more
cows and heifers and Fifth Duke of
Clarence, a magnificent bull of great
style and sub.stance. Mr. Clay informed
us that they found a ready market for their
young stock, chiefly in the United States.
Now that Canadian cattle are shut out
they will have to find a market in Canada;
but judging from the impetus which has
been given to cattle-breeding by theexport
trade to England, we would exj-ect the
home trade to increase and by-and-by pay
the proprietors. The importation and

*

le

breediug of wich a class of cattle is calcu-
lated to be of untold benefit to the
province, and indeed the whole Dominion,
Bow Park estate contains 900 acres of fine
•andy land, situated in a loop of the Grand
RlTer, and grows excellent crops of Indian
corn, rye, barley and oats. A large
breadth is cut for bay and the 150 acres
of Indian corn are also cut green and
stand in the field in stock till required
for stock. The stock consume all the
produce of the farm. We drove from
Brantford to Paris through a very nice
country. On the way we visited a very
nice farm of 540 acres, 80 acres in wood,
nicely situated and well laid out. The
house was fine but buildinp;s inferior. The
land was a deep sandy loam, easily culti-
vated but not in good order. We saw a
60 acre field of grass sown down five or
six yearftago, which was the best sole of
grass we saw in Canada. This was a most
desirable farm, and was for sale. We
went from Paris to Woodstock in Oxford
County, and visited Mr Donaldson's farm
of 300 acres at Zorra, Mr. Donaldson is
a native of Cumberland and had excellent
farm buildings and very good turnips, he
feeds a good many cattle and gave ns
some details of expenses and returns. He
allowed 60 to 70. lbs. turnips, and 8 to 10
lbs. meal and bran daily, vhith he esti-
mated rather low we thought at 3s. per
week. His cattle paid 13s. per month for
graz.ing without cake, and from 22s. to
30fl. per month for house feeding. He
estimates graring sheep at 3d. per week,
and wintering at ejd, or 208. 6d. per
annum. Ewes kept in this way should pay
nearly SOs. each in wool and lambs. He
estimates cost of fattening sheep in winter
at 7jd. per week, including an allowance
of grain. Sheep, like cattle, require to be
housed in winter, and do well, if not too
crowded— 10 in a lot being anffioient.
Sheep in Canada are not .nfFected by
scab, fnot-rot, or murrain. We stayed a
night with Mr, Dunlop, a native of Ayr-
shire. 5Ir, Dunlop h.T* his farms let at
about 12^5. ptT acre, he also owns land in
Dakota, and furnished us with useful in-
formation. Ho estimat'js the necessary
working capital for a farm of 200 acres
in Oxford county, where 1,5 to 20 per
cent, of the land is still under timber at
433. to ."iOs. per acre, but of course many
start with much less. The annu.^l labour
bill would amount to Ifis, to 209, per
sere if hired, but on such farms the
farmer takci an active part in the work.
He estimaten the cost of raising fall
wheat, including rent and taxes, at 75r.
p«r acre, and of spring wheat at 50.s,
Barley soriietiraes pays as well as wheat,
but prices arc more fluctuating, Oats
are only grown for home consumption.

We visited a large chece factory at
Stiathallan Station recently erected on
the best principles. The storing room is
placed some 20 feet from the making-
room, and is connected with it by a tram-
way. The piggeries are about 80 yards
off. The balance of cheese on hand had
been sold at GJd. per lb. At Stratford
we met Mr. Ballantyne, and visited hi.»
factfuy at Black Creek, eight miles off.
This factory was started in 1864, and
was one of the first in the neighbour-
hood. Mr. Ballantyne is largely engaged
in the cheese trade, is connected with a
good many factories, and is probably as
good an authority on cheese-making and
the cheese trade as we could have met
with. He has devoted grest attention to
the scieiitiflc principles of cheese-making
and overcome the main difWnulties which
American makers have to contend with»
He is of opinion that in many cases the
milk is tainted before it is drawn from
the cow, owing to water pasture or other
subtle causes which affect an article so
susceptible of taint as milk. In dealing
with such milk (which is indicated by
floating gasey curd), Mr. Ballantyne sets
at a temperature of 90 deg., he maintains
this temperature and draws off the whey
as soon as possible, even at the loss of a
little curd— as he holc1^l that be gets rid of
much of the taint in ttie v/hey — and that
allowing the whey to remain on the curd
simply fixes and increases the taint.

He allows the curd to ripen well before
going to press, during a period of from
I to 5 hours, during which the oxygen of
the air brings the curd into proper con-
dition. The fitness of the curd for press
is tested on a moderately hot iron. If it
is -aiflSciently ripe it should adhere to the
iron and draw out in a stringy fashion.
I do not knovr enough of cheece-making
to make any remarks of my own on these
points, but no doubt many of you can
appreciate these hinti, which l' simply
repeat as Mr, Ballantyne Ptated them.
July and August, when the weather is
hot, is the most criticnl season with
('anadian cheese makers, and we saw
som<^ August cheese made on these princi-
ples from tainted milk, which were per-
fectly sweet. At this factory they receive
the milk of 1000 cows, and m.ikc fully a
ton of cheese daily, The cows yield most
milk in .Tune, some 26,000 lbs, daily, pro-
ducing 2600 to 2700 lbs. cheese. The
worst yield is in July, The milk is
richest in October, when 8i lbs, milk will
yield 1 lb. of cheese. Farmers sending
milk to the factories do not as a rule
feed their cows highly, and consider £6
per cow a fair return for the season. Mr,
Ballantyne said it would not pay them to
make good cheese under 5d, per lb,, and

Dairy

Brockvill

factories

We me I

porting c;

during

latterly

lot of f

£13 5s. a

head forfi

them to h

balily hai

in spring

briskest.'

01 Quebec

A7

iry at
cd on
lom is
iking-
, trani-
yardft
id had
•atford
ed his
lea off.
4, and
;hbour-
nfrasred
with a
sbly M
ingatid
ive met
niV'Ti to
making
s which
id with»
ases the
vn from
or othei"
rtide so
dealing
lated by
tjnp set«
laintnlns
;he whey
loss of a
etsrid of
-and that
the curd
lint.

•cU before
i of from
'Xygon of
iper con-
fer press
on. If It
crc to the
J fashion,
p.making
1 on these
t you can
I simply
ted them,
weather is
i«on with

we saw
lOse princi-
I were per-
hoy receive
akc fully a
yield most
daily, pro-
cese. The
milk is
. . milk ■will
rs sending

as a rule
jonsider £6
'ason. Mr,
5 ay them to
per lb., and

that in consequence of the low pricea
prevailing for some time, many had fed
off their cows. The make of American
cheese was vherefore short, and would
probably continue so for some time. He
expected to see prices maintained, and
did not think makers of line English
cheese would be affected as they had been
by American competition for a good few
years to come.

We visited Niagara, and were much
impressed with the grandeur and magni-
ficence of the falls. The surrounding
country is very fine and largely devoted
to the growing of fruit. The neighbour-
hood of Grimsby and St. Catherin.^'i are
also famous for apples, some ^.-.rmers
growing 2000 to 4000 barrels, wo'th 6s per
barrel. The whole of the western penin-
sula of Ontp,rio is line, and we would have
liked to visit the counties of Kent, Huron,
Wellington, Grey, and Bruce, all of which
are fine lands, but the ground being
covered with an early fall, of snow, we had
to give up that idea. A fine stretch
of land lies all the way from Kent to
Lake Huron ; the County of Huron being
recently si'trled, land is cheaper than in
other districts, and very good land can
be bought at £6 to £10 per acre. East of
Toronto, along Lake Ontario, there is some
good land, especially in the neighbourhood
of MarlvhaiT., Whitby, and Port Hope,
prices reacliing si 16 to £20 per acre;
farther back round Peterborough the land
is laoit; 'roken and about half these prices.
The lar^ri round the Bay of Quinte, is con-
sidf^ifd the llnest barley soil in Canada,
anil 1 uge qn entities of barley are grown
and exported to the United States. Some
farmers hero grow barley on half their
farm, and keep very little stock. The
crop ran.^('s from 30 to 60 bushels per acre,
worth 5i) to 70 cents. The land around
Kingston lies on a limestone formation,
and is li;j;hi and broken. We drove 12
miles east along the St. Lawrence, and
saw some f ai r' farms, but were not very
favourably impressed with the district.
Belleville and Prince Edward's County
arc good, anil contain many cheese factories.
Dairy farming is also general around
Biockville. butter being made at many
factories in that district.

We met here a dealer who had been ex-
porting cattle to Bn;,'land. He was paid
during spring and early summer, but
latterly had lost money, especially on a
lot of grass-fiid cattle, which sold for
£1.S 6s. a head. He had paid 4 dollars a
head forfeit on 70 cattle rather than ship
them to England, where they would pro-
bably have lost 10 dollars each. i'>eights
in spring and summer, when shipping was
briskest" were £6 to £6 lOs. Montreal
or Quebec to Liverpool, imi' came down

in autumn, as insurance increastd
and shipments fell off, tc £3 l^s.
This gentleman said tho farmer was ni^p
paid for feeding cattle on corn for le^p
than five cents per lb. live weight, and
said nothing but such cattle would stand
the voyage, and pay to send here. Ho
estimated the cost of cattle fed in Ontario
and sold here as under —

Bullock. 1,600 Ibi., at 5 cents

£16

9

0

Freight and expenses to

shipping port

1

0

0

Ocean freight

5

(1

0

Insurance, 2^ per cent.

0

10

0

Keep and attendance on

-voyage

0

10

u

Commiasiou and expenses

in England

i

0

0

£34

y

0

Estimated to dress 900

lbs. beef, 6id

24

7

0

Loss 0

•>

0

900 lbs. beef at 7d., £26 4 s. 6d.

Gain 1

15

6

Bullock, 1,400 lbs., at $4.65

per 100

£1.3

S

0

JExpenaes as above ...

8

0

0

£21

8

0

Sold, aay 784 lbs. beef, S^d.

•21

4

1

Loss

0

8

II

Or7841b8.beefat7d.£22 ITs. 4d.

Gain

)

9

4

This statement agrees very closely with
our Chicago calculations, and seems to
show that beef cannot be sent here to pay
much under 7d. per lb. 2^ per cent, is a
low rate of insurance, applicable to con-
tracts from Ist May to 1st September ;
from Ist September to 15th September it
is 3^ per cent., and increases to 7 per
cent, in November and 8 per cent.
December and January, This party also
said that he thought fully one-third more
cattle were being stall fed in Canada this
winter, but that at present the stock of
shipping cattle was cleared out, and
though he had been offered freight at
£3 lUs. he did not know where to tiud a
waggon load of suitable cattle.

We paid a rather hurried visit to the
mariti.ie provinces of New Brunswick
and Nov* Scotia, going by rail from
Boston to St. John's. From Bangor, in
the State of Maine, to St. John's we travel-
led all day through a thickly-wooded
counti-y of no agricultural value. We
saw numerous saw-mills, but often passed
for hours through forest without seeing a
house. In many places the heavy timber
had been cleared off -in ithera it wailoo

w

18

Biuall for cuttinq-. Much of it was second
growth spi'iice iin'l taraaraOy and in some
places scnibhv birch. Some parts of the
forest bad been swnpt by fire, and the
reniuins of giant U'ees were lying in
indescribable confusion. Here and there
a giant pine towered above the muler-
fjfowth naked and dead, the top broiten
off by storm or lightning and the trunk
blackened by fire. Some of the heaviest
timber had grown where the land was
oov'jred by granite bouKler.s, and seemed
incapable of supporting vegetation.
Where the land was low and niar.shy, the
timber was poor and stunted. During
the whole day's journt} we did not sec
500 acres of cultivated Innd. Mr. I.iving-
.stone, Government Agent at St. .lohn'.^,
informed us that up the River St. John,
too miles between Frederickton and
Wooilntock, there is a good agricultural
district being rapidly settled, but time
diiT not permit us to vis't it. We saw
.some of t he country round St.John'a, but it
is not well adapted for cropping, the early
summer months being damp and foggy.
We saib.'.l across the Bay of Fundy to
Annfipolis, in Nova Scoti;i. and travelled
through the Annapolis Valley, which is
about 90 miles long autl four to eiglu |
miles wide. At the lower end there are
extensive meadows reclaimed from the
sea. and we saw hundreds of small hay
ricks perch'^d on circular .'*tando offtakes
:J or I feet high. The soil of this valley
varied from heavy clay to sandy loam,
.«vnd in some places weic iow and peaty.
There was not much under cultivation,
I ho most of it being in pasture or meadow.
We saw a good many orchards, the valley
beirig famous for apples. The hills along
each side ai-e more or i ^sb covered with
timber, and resembled somewhat the
shores of Loch Ness or Iioch Lochy, but
are not so high or rugged The farm
houses seemed neat and comfortable, but
we did not see much sign of agricultural
enterprise. Crops there are sown in
May and reaped in August. On 18th
November we went by mil from Halifax
to Amherst, and saw no :T"od agricultural
land till we reached Truro, which is

Sleaaantly situated, and here we saw the
rst of the famous gra^s marshes of the
district. These mar.shes are flat at the
npper end of the Bay of t'undy. They
Are formed by the alluvial deposits of
hil^h tides, and are similar to the warp
Ihnds of Lincolnshire. They are protected
by dykes and sluices, and a.e very rich,
jiroilucing crops of two to three tons hay
per acre year after year without manure
or decrease. The tidal deposit is large,
•omctimes reaching two inches in high
tides. These lands are valued .at from

rated lands are good red soil, We drove
from Amherst to Sackville, ten miles
through these marches. The hay is of
two kinds; broad leaved hay, a coarse
grass 2 to 2J feet long, and resembling
prairie hay ; the other, called English
hay, is a mixture of timothy and (>th("r
sown grasses, and resenibling strong im a-
dow or lea hay. The furmer was put up
in ricks of about a ton each, and we saw
thousands scattered over these mcado\>-3 ;
the latter was stored in numerous wooden
sheds. These meadows were qui to a new
feature to us, and were the richest grazing
lands we saw in Canada. Mr. .1. fi.
lilack, M.P., and some other g'juilc-
men, met us at Sackville. we diove
Co Mr. Wood's farm, nnd saw some
twenty good large bullockn just put
up to feed. We also saw some very
good one and two year old cattle,
which were above the average? of our store
cattle in respect to quality. Mr. Wood
and his neighbour, Mr. Humphrey, are
putting up 60 cattle each to be ready for
our market in spring. Having only
begun, they could not give us any exact
details of t heir system or expense of feed-
ing, but we think they have good facilities
for raising cattle in this district, and are
nearer the winter ports of shipment than
any other part of Canada. The Counties
of Picton, Colchester, and Cumberland are
the best agricultural districts ; and Grand
Vxk (the scene of Longfellow's poem) is
called the Garden of Nova Scotia ; West-
moreland in New Brunswick is similar to
Cumberland ; Prince Edward's Lslnnd,
which we had not time to visit, contains'
a considerable proportion of good farm-
ing land. The southern coast of Nova
Scotia is rocky and wild, but in the
south-west a good many sheet) are kept,
the winter climate being modified by the
Gulf Stream. The sea fisheries of Nwva
Scotia are valuable and worth 6,000,1)00
dollars a year ; and the salmon fishing in
the rivers of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick are .splendid. They belong to
novernment, and some are leased to
English gentlemen, but on many streams
a fly has never been thrown. June and
July are the best months for rod fishing.
On one river, last year, three rods kilted
an average of 2000 lbs. salmon per day
for several .successive dayh. We travelled
to Quebec by the Inter-Colonial Railway.
The north of New Brunswick is a hilly
and thickly-wooded country, and we saw
almost no attumpt at cultivation till we
reached Rimouski, on the St. Lawrence.
From this point to Quebec the bank of
the river is settled by French Canadians.
In some places we saw considerable
stretches of level land, but much of it ij

A16 to £25 pei acre. The adjoining ele- | stony and all subdiviiled into narrow

19

ft ■

1

We drove
ten milea
hay is of
a coarse ■,
eseinbling j
1 English
and oilier
roiigiiM .'!•
ran put ui>
nd we saw
mcadowa ;
us wooden
nile a new
>,st grazing;
Mr. .1. f..
cr guuilo-
we diove
saw some

just put
Kouio very
lid caUlo,
■f our store
Mr. Wood
phrey, are
e ready for
.ving only
s any exact
Qse of feed-
ad facilities
ict, and are
pment than
be Counties
bcrland are
and Grand
's poem) is
otia ; Wcat-
s similar to
•d's Island,
it, contains'
good farm-
,9t of Nova
but in the
ep arc kept,
ificd by the
ies of Nuva
th 6,000,000
on fishing in
. and New
ey belong to
leased to
lany streams
June and

rod fishing.
» rods killed
lion per day
We travelled
lial Railway,
ck is a hilly

and we saw

111 ion till we
t. Lawrence.

the bank of
h C'anadians,

considerable
nuch of it iJ

into narrow

strips on the French fashion. The class
of cattle we saw were jioor. We also
visited some of the Eastern Townships of
Quebec, viz., Compton and Hherbrooke,
We drove to Mr. Cochraue's farm at Hill-
hurst and saw his fine herd of shorthorns
iucluding some very jjromising calves
from the same cows as the heifers lately
sold in England at over 4000 guineas
each, and which are probably the most
valuable cattle in Canada. The produce
of one cow has brought Mr. Cochrane
£27,000. This farm conaist* of 1000 acres
nice dry undulatiiig land— not unlike
Galloway land. The soil is a dry loam,
with a fair mixture of stones, rather
heavier than similar land here. It evi-
dently grows good roots, as Mr. Cochrane's
turnips were large and fine, and averaged
fully2;', tons per imperial acre. The streams
were clear and running over a stony
channel. The valley of St. Francis River
which flows past Sherbrooke, resembles the
valley of the Dee opposite Barstibly. The
laiid does not seem adapted for growing
wheat, but it grows good crops of oats,
barley, and hay, and grazes well. Cattle
may be put to grass early in May, and
sometimes in April ; and Mr. Cochrane
had only put up his fer:diug cattle at the
beginning of November. We drove some
miles into the country around Sherbrooke,
and regretted we had not time to see
more ; but as winter was setting in, and
snow falling, we returned to Quebec. This
country seemed well adapted for stock
jaising, and is more like the arable valleys
of Galloway than any part of Canada we
Paw. We were told that good cleared farms
of 100 to 300 acres, with good fair build-
ings, could be bought for £6 to £6 per acre,
and £10 per acre would buy a very choice
farm. At these prices it seemed cheap,
and we would advise any who visit Canada
with a view to settling to see this district
for themselves.

In offering you these remarks on what
we saw in Canada, I must ask you to re-
member that we have only seen it for a
period of nine weeks at one season of the
year, and though in that time we travelled
between 8,000 and 9,000 miles— often
travelling night and day — we saw only a
very small portion of the vast territory
comprised in the Dominion of Canada.
We endeavoured, however, to see as much
as the short season would admit of, and
found every one ready to give us informa-
tion. We were not biassed or influenced in
any way, but we were allowedevery facility
to see what we likefl and how we liked.
We found the Canadian people exceed-
ingly kind, hospitable, and attentive, and
warmly attached to the motlier country.
There was, however, a misapprehension
among many with regard to our visit

to Canada, They thought that the move-
ment had arisen in this country instead
of from their own Government, and ac-
cepted it as an outcome of the depres-
sion in this country. We met many
Canadians and Americans too who believed
that the old country was " played out" in
consequence of American competition,
and failed to recognise bad trade and bad
season as factors in the agricultural depres-
sion here. We also found that for at least
five years, owing to these same causes, the
farmers of Canada had anything but good
times. Many admitted that i'or several
years they had not done more than pay
expenses. We met some who made very
broad statements, but on the other hand
we came in contact with many of the best
men in Canada, whose statements could be
implicitly relied on, and who frankly gave
us both sides of the question. We have
already noticed Manitoba, and may now
confine our remarks to the older provinces.
Of these Ontario and the Eastern Town-
ships of Quebec impressed us very favour-
ably. A great deal of Western Ontario
would compare very favourably with some
parts of England. The land is good and
fairly managed, there is a nice proportion
of timber, and the fanners' houses are in
many cases exceedingly neat and comfort-
able. They have, in fact, an air of refine-
ment and prosperity beyond what we ex-
pected in a comparatively new country.
We believe it would be hard to find in any
country of similar size so many men who
have done as well as Ontario farmers. Many
who went out 30 to 40 years ago vrith
nothing, now own farms and stock worth
£2000 to £6000. There are, however, a
good many who have mortga^^es on their
farms to a considerable amount, for which
they pay 7 or 8 per cent, interest. This,
together with bad seasons and emigration
to the north-west, accounts for the large
number of farms which are at present for
sale. I may here remark that the custom
of letting land is not so common as in thia
country. Farms are only let from year
to year, and as the tenant in these circum-
stances is supposed to take out what he
can, owners are more ready to sell than
let. At the same time, it is possible to get
farms on rent, and emigrants from this
country would do well to rent a farm for
a year or two until they have time to look
around.

I have stated the prices at which land
in different districts can be bought, and
at these prices it could lie let to pay from
4 to 6 per cent, on the purchase, witli
every prospect of an increase of valuB.
In a statement drawn up for us by a
committee of practical farmers, the
interest on farming capital is shown at
G per cent, on an average of the last five

I;

no

seasons, which have not been favourable
ones.

Wo saw a good deal of land badly
farmed, no exact system of rotation has
been followed, but successive grain crops
have been grown too long till wheal is in
many cases not a paying crop. Farming
in Ontario may be said to be ia a transition
state from crop to stock raising, as the
farmers are beginning to see that they
must pay more attention to green crops
and stock.

The pastures of Ontario did not come
up to our expectations, they were generally
thin and patchy, but a better system of
farming and manuring would no doubt
improve them as the land is naturally good.
Very few use artificial manures, yet by-
and-by they arc likely to come into more
general use. A large buyer of barley
told us that a few farmers who used
superphosphate sent him barley as much
as 5 and 6 lbs. per bushel heavier than
their neighbours. Labour in Ontario is
about 15 per cent, dearer than in this
country, but the farms are evidently
worked with fewer hands. We Vk-ere told
again and again that no farmer should go
there who did not intend to work, but
taking the whole year round we think we
know many farmers here who work as
hard as farmers seemed to do there.

We now come to the question of cmigra-
tic n. I feel that there is much responsibil-
ity on answering that question 1 am sat-
istied that men with some capital could
make more of it in Canada than in this
country. I think there is most money to be
madeinthenorth-west, buteven in Ontario
and the other provinces I think prospects
arc good. I do not advise people who
are doing well here, with a prospect of
providing for their families, to change ;
but those who are working for nothing,
and especially those who have a working
fiiir.ily, need have no hesitation in going
to Canada. They wili tiiui in many parts
of it as goud farmers, as good houses, as
good schools, and as good neighbours as
tliey have here. They will also remain
inukr the British flag, I met many
A iaoric:ins who did not hesitate tu say that
bume day they expected Canada to be
part of the United btat'^s ; but I have very
much mistaken the foclii ;;sof Canadians
if there is any such feeliug on their side
of the line. They are proud of their
t<'rritory u^ the North-Wcst, proud of

their connection wi.'h this country, and
somewhat jealous of thf^ii neighbours.
Of course you will see that considerable
capital is required to purchase one of the
improved Ontario farms, but in the
Eastern Townships, and in many other
parts, there is plenty of land at lower
prices, which can be bought for less than
it would nave cost a few years ago. In
short, young men and men with grown-up
families and small ca})ital should go to
Slanitoba. Men with sufficient capital
and young families ghould settle in the
older Provinces, or, should they ])iefer
Manitoba, they might leave their fjunilies
in town for a year or two, as before sug-
gested. With regard to working men
without any capital, 1 think ordinary
labourers are as well off at home ; but
skilled workmen are well paid, and intel-
ligent men with rising families could
improve their position and give their
children a better start in lite. In alL
classes i ndustry, economy, and intelligence
are essential to success.
■ I feel that in this report 1 have
gone a good deal into detail. 1 have
done so because, though I may have
stated my views on some points, I wish
any who thiuk of emigrating to be guided
by the iri^ormatiou I have been able to
gather, rather than by any opinions I
have e^},re.ssed. I have been careful to
avoid evtn the ap|)earance of exaggera-
tion. 1 may possibly have been too
cautious, but I wish all 1 have said in
favour of Canada to be taken in its fullest
sense.

At the conclusion oi' Mr. Biggar's ad-
dress, which was warmly applauded,

The Chaihman invited questions, but
none were asked.

Mr. LusK proposed a vote of thanks
to Mr. Biggar for his very able, com-
prehensive, and interesting account of
Canada. (Ap])lause.) They could have
found no man more fitted for the position,
and they must feel highly gratified at
their choice. Mr. Biggar had left his
native country at great personal incon-
venience, and had made excellent use
of his time iind abilities. They had
listened to his rejjort that day with great
pleasure and profit. His report was
i thoroughly satisfactory, and he hoped it
I would do good to all parties interested.
1 (Applause.)

away

Cowan

met

Mr.

and

Rank!

Ralstot

Stroyai

include

Bart.

Bart.,

Campb

Mr. Gi

Mr.

Newtc

hame ;

Rev.

Fergu3(

Nish,

Frederi

M'Mast

J. Got

parks; ]

Balyetl

solus ;

Gurthla

Martin,

Milroy,

ragit;

■on, K

21

intry, and
iplibours.
isideiable
one of the
t in the
any other

at lower
• less than
i ago. In

gvo\vn-up
juld go to
nt capital
Ltle in the
hey ])iefer
2if families
aefoie sug-
rking men
i ordinary
home ; but
, and intel-
ilies could

give their
ite. In all
intelligence

)rt 1 have
1. 1 have

may have
ints, I wish
to be guided
)een able to

opinions I
n careful to
)f exaggera-
[c been too

ave said in

in its fullest

Biggar's ad-

auded,
'ucbtions, but

te of thanks
y able, oom-

account of

could liave
the position,

gratified at

had left hia

sonal incon-

cxcelleut use

They had

ay with great

report was
d he hoped it
es interested.

■1
i

REPORT OF MR. GEORGE COWAN, THE DELEGATE FROM

WIGTOWNSHIRE.

One of the largest meetings of farmers
ever held in Wigtownshire took place
on December 19th, in the New Town
Hall, Stranraer, the object being to hear
from Mr. George Cowan, the popular and
genial tenant of Mains of Park, Glen luce,
his report on Canada. Mr. Cowan, whose
judgment on agricultural matters is
always looked up to with respect, was
no doubt eminently fitted from his
experience for the important task with
which hia colleagues entrusted him, and
it will be seen from the abhi and lengthy
report he made at the meeting yesterday
that the confidence reposed in him was
by no means misplaced. To- welcome
him home, and hear his account, came
farmers from every part of Wigtownshire,
and as a result, great as the accommoda-
tion the Town Hall can undoubtedly
afford, the room was much too small.
Before two o'clock every available inch
of standing and sitting room was taken
up, and those who came later had
to be content with a peep in at the
door. The gallery, too, was filled to
overflowing, and at length it was found
that those who came late had to go
away disappointed. At two o'clock Mr.
Cowan appeared on the platform and
met with a most cordial reception.
Mr. A. H. M'Lean, Auchneel, presided,
and on the platform were Messrs.
Rankin, Aird ; Murdoch, Glenside ;
Ralston, Milmain ; Whyte, Kirkmabreck ;
Stroyan, Dindinnio, &c. The audience
included the Right Hon, Sir John Hay,
Bart., C.B., M.P.; Sir Herbert Maxwell,
Bart., Mr. Mark Stewart, M.P.; Provost
Campbell ; Rev. Mr. Robertson, Lesvvalt :
Mr. Greig, factor to the Earl of Stair ;
Mr. M'Caig, Kilhilt; Captain Picken,
Newton-Stewart; Mr. Nicholson, Penning-
hame; Mr. W, Agnew, Newton-Stewart;
Rev. Geo. Fisher, Glenluce ; Messrs.
Ferguson, Cults ; Symington, Glenluce ;
Nish, Glenluce; Frederick, Cairnhandy;
Frederick, Clendrie ; Hunter, Whiteleys ;
M' Master, Currochtrie ; Paterscn, Colfin ;
J. Gordon, Stranraer ; Parker, Inch-
parks; M'William, Craichmore;M'Lelland,
Balyett ; Agnew, Mark ; Gunion, Bar-
solus ; Fowler, Castle-Kennedy ; Hunter,
Qarthland ; McDowall, Auchtralure ;
Martin, Larbrax ; Wallace, Banker ;
Milroy, Balgregan, Campbell, Dun-
ragit; M'Meikan, Enocknean; Steven-
ton, Knocknean ; Maclean, Solicitor ;

Robertson, Clendry ; T. H. Dalrymple,
Stranraer ; M'Ciev/, Dinvin ; Dunsmore,
Solicitor ; M'Credie, Grocer, Stranraer,
M'Master, Three Mark; M'Master, Culhorn
Mains; Bailie Taylor. Stranraer ; M'Camon,
Kirronrae; John Todd, Merchant; Cochran
Portencallie, Park, Architect; M'Conchie,
Mains of Penninghame ; M'llwraitb,
Barwhannie, &c., &c.

On the motion of Mb. Ralston, Mr.
A. H. M'Lean (Auchneel) was called to
the chair.

The Chairman said — Gentlemen, on
taking the chair on this interesting
occasion, I have to thank you very
sincerely for the honour you have con-
ferred upon me. You are not, however,
to imagine that I myself have any inten-
tion to emigrate, or that I am tired of my
own native land. I am too old to be
transplanted — (hear, hear) — but I know
that the subject of our present meeting is
deeply interesting to many of our younger
men who are anxious to know the pros-
pects held out to them in the new country.
(Applause.) I think the first duty that
devolves on me is to ask you to give a
cordial welcome to our friend Mr. Cowan
— loud applause — who we are all glad to
see back amongst us, not looking much the
worse, but rather some people say the
better of his great fatigue on the other
side of the Atlantic. (Applause.) He is
before you to give an account of his trip
and the views he entertains of the great
territory over which he has passed as a field
for emigration. I have no doubt that
the report, the interesting report, and
also I may say the instructive report, he
will give you, will justify your choice in
electing him as the delegate from this
district — (applause) — and the confidence
you reposed in him as an honest, im-
partial, intslligent observer of what came
under his review. (Applause.) Without
further remarks I beg to call on Mr.
Cowan. (Loud applause)

Mr. Cowan on rising to address the
meeting met with an ovation. When
the cheering had subsided he said : Mr.
Chairman and gentlemen, it gives me
great pleasure to find myself amongst
you again, and the time seems very short
indeed since, in this very hall, you
honoured me so highly by appointing me
your Delegate to go out to the Dominion
of Canada, to report on the capacitiei

22

of that great country, in su far ;vs its
agricultural resources are concerned. On
that occasion, gentlemen, I promised, to
the best of my ability, to bring hoine an
' authentic account of its fitness as a field
of eminnvtion lorthe farming population
of this country, and now it will be for
yoa to deciile, whether or no, I have in
any degi'ee fulfilled the promise I then
made. At the same time, I must ask
you, in forming an opinion about my
report, to remember at the time I
left these shores, the season was pretty
far advanced, and there wiis only a
limited time at my disposal before the
advent of winter in Canada ; I must also
aik you to bear in mind the vast extent
of territory in the Dominion, containing
as it does 3,600,000 square miles of land.
Or, by way of comparison, that it is as
large as the whole of Europe, and
larger than the United States of America,
leaving out Alask.?. Gentlemen, I had
barely eight weeks to spend in that
country, during which time I travelled
many thousands of miles, averaging fully
1000 miles per week, and I journeyed as
frequently as possible during the night to
economise time, but with all that, the
time at my disposal was much too short
to enable mo to do anything like jurtice
to the country ; and I feel that it is
somewhat presumptuous on my part,
to venture to offer an opinion on its
agricultural resources, which from the
foregoing explanation you will readily
understand must necessarily be very in-
complete and superficial. Having said
80 much, I will now state to you the
manner in which I propose to proceed.
On looking over my notes, I found they
were too voluminous to write out fully, I
would occupy too much of your time, and
become wearisome, were 1 to attempt to
bring a'i ray observations before you, I
have therefore thought it best to con-
dense them considerably, and should
any one wish for information on any
particular subject or with respect to any
particular district which I have visited, it
will give me great pleasure to give it at
some future time. I have endeavoured
as much as possibl'e to confine myself to
a strict narrative of the facta I was able
to glean from ray own observation, and
from gentlemen with whom I came in
contact, and on whose judgment I had
good reason to rely, about the different
systems of farming, descriptions of crops
r 'sed, and the most luitable kinds of
stock, &c„ for the various districts I
visited day after day during my hurried
journey through the different provinces
of the Dominion, and at the close of the
report I will venture to gireyou the imprea-
■ions made upon me during my visit,

with respect to the country, its people,
soil, and climate. Gentlemen, in a very
few days after my appointment as your
delegate, I sailed in one of the Allan
Royal Mail Steamer.s from Liverpool
to Quebec, where I arrived after a very
pleasant passai,'e on the 28th Septpmber
last. Immediately after landing, we took
the cars for Montreal and Ottawa. On
reaching the Capital, I lost uo time in
reporting myself to the Hon. J. H. Pope,
the Minister of Agriculture, who received
me courteously, and informed me that
every facility would be afforded me to see
all that I wished in any part of the Dom-
inion. Mr. Pope impressed me as being
a very shrewd, clever, pr.actical man of
business, thoroughly acquainted with all
matters pertaining to agi 'cultural affairs,
and desirous that the gioat resources
I <!essed by the Dominio.i should be
made known to the farming population of
England or Great Britian. Having ex-
pressed a desire to visit the Province
of Mailitoba, and the North- West
Territory. I was at once provided
with passes over the various railways
between Ottawa and Winnipeg, the dis-
tance between the two cities, via Chicago
and St. Paul's, being something like 1,7()0
miles, entailing a night and day journey
of upwards of 90 hours, or nearly four
days. I was so fortunate as to have for
travelling companions during most of the
journey, Mr. Logan, the Mayor of Winni-
peg, and the Hon. Mr. Gait, M.P. for
Montreal, and from both of these gentle-
men I received much kindness, and also
useful and valuable information. On our
journey we passed through several of the
large Western States of the Union, the
scenery of wl-.ich in many places was
very grand. We were also the witnesses
of one of the largest prairie fires that has
occurred in Minnesota for many years, in
which unfortunatly, two or more people
lost their lives, and a large amount of
property was destroyed. I trust I may
be excused referring to this as it is
somewhat foreign to ray subject, but
being the first thing of the kind I had
ever seen, I was very much impressed
with the magnificence of the sight,
especially after nightfall, when the train
was at one time almost encircled with the
flames, which every now and again rose
to a great heirrht, rolling on before a
strong gale of wind at the rate of many
miles per hour. At one place during the
night we found the tr.nck had been burned
through, and a little further on a culvert
burned down, the repairing of which
caused a detention of nearly 12 hours.
At length, however, we reached Winni-
peg in safety, and very shortly afterwards
the Mayor drove me through the town

58

f

! people,
in a very
t as your
he AUau
Liverpool
;er a very
cptpinber
r, we took
ivvii. On
3 time in
, H. Pope,
3 received
. me that
L me to see
the Dom-
e as being
il man of
i(i with all
ral affairs,
resources
should be
pulation of
Javing cx-
B Province.
S^orth-West
provided
IS railways
eg, the dis-
via Chicago
g like 1,700
Lay journey
nearly four
to have for
most of the
Dr of Winni-
It, M.P. for
hese gentle-
ss, and also
on. On our
jveral of the
Union, the
places was
he witnesses
ires that has
iny years, in
more people
amount of
trust I may
his iis it is
subject, but
B kind I had
ih impressed
• the sight,
icn the train
rcled with the
d again rose
on before a
rate of many
ce during the
i been burned
r on a culvert
ng of which
irly 12 hours,
■ached Winni-
tly afterward!
iigh the town

and introduced me to the Hon. Mr.
Noiqiiay, the Premier of Manitoba, ari'l
sevci;i'i other influential gentlemen be-
longing to the city. Mr. Norqnay in-
formed me that the Provineinl show was
to bo opened at Port.Tg- La Prairie tho
following day for the exliitjition of stock,
grain, and roots, that ho propo.sed start-
ing for it that evening, and a«ked me to
accompany hira, I gladly av.'iile(i myself
of his kindnes.'i, and got my first ex-
porienei! of travnlling over the prairi'^
under his guidance. I found Mr. Norquay
a most genial companion, and was greatly
indebted to him for much valuable infor-
mation respecting the past and pi-csent
history of the province, and its prospects
in thi; near fiiturc. The first half of our
journey was after nightfall, so I did not
see anything of the country through
which we passed. The roads being in
good order, aJid having a good team of
horses, we reached our destination for the
night at 11 p.m., having accomplished
our journey of 25 miles in three hours,
although we got off the trail once or
twice owing to the dai-kness of the night.
During the remaining part of our journey
the following morning, we passed through
a very fertile district, and it was a
pleasant sight to see comfortable-looking
farm h 'uscs to the right and left, sur-
rounded bj' large stackyards, which, with
the appearance of the stubbles, spoke
well for the abundance of the season's
wiiile crop. On our ariival at the Port-
sige we found that the exhibition,
wliich was to continue for a couple
of days, had been opened. We at once
commenced our inspection, and I had
reason to congratulate myself in having,
reached the Portage in time to see it. I
was greatly pleased with the samples of
the grain and rootn exhibited ; they were
all of excellent quality, and of the latter,
the specimens of potatoes, cabbage, and
oi i ions were superior in size to anything
I Had ever previously seen. Turnips and
mangohl wurzel, &c., were also very good,
as well as the wheat and barley, several
samples of which I secured to bring home
with me. I also visited the Ladies' show
of fancy and other work, which was very
interesting, and was highly patronised by
the gentlemen as well as the ladies them-
eelves. In the course of the day, I was
introduced to a great many of the leading
a;;riculturists of the Province, who seemed
to be a body of very intelligent gentlemen,
all very sanguine about the great future
of their comparatively new country, and
very kind in giving me infoi'mation about
it. Amongst others I was introduced to
Mr. Kennetli Mackenzie, M.P.P.. a gentle-
man well-known throughout the d 'ovince
of Manitoba and the vast Noi"t!;- West Ter-

litory us one oi its largest, mo.st ontcr-
;)rising, and successful farnn'V-:. Mr.
Mackenzie was so kind as to invite nie to
.accompany him to his home at Puniside.
al?nu< nine miles from the Portage, which
I did, an<l tlien^ '■pent a conph' of days
under hi^ hospitable loof. I was greatly'
mdebted to Mr. Mackenzie for much
information about the management of the
latid, ckc, in the newly-.=cttled districts,
and the yield of the various crops, as well
as with regard to the stock kept in
lifferent parts of the Province, and wliich
I was afterwards able to get corrobmaled
witli respect to most of the (Uffcri'nt
branches alluded to, from other relialjlc
sources. As Mr. 'Mackenzie is quite a
representative man in the North-West, I
propose now to give you a brief history
of hishitliorto very successful career as a
tiller of tlic soil.

Originally from Scotland, ^Ir. Mackenzie
.settled early in life in the Township
of Guelph, Province of Ontario, where
he remained for a period of a quarter
of a century, and being highly skilled
as an agriculturist, and particularly
with respect to the rearing and manage-
msnt of stock ; he was very successfvtl in
his farming pursuits, and eventusflly
became the o\vner of a considerable portion
of land. Mr. Mackenzie would probably
have en<led his days in peace in Ontario,
but about eleven years ago, for the sake
of his large and rising family of sons, he
determined to see for himself the Great
North-West, and find out whether the
country was as fertile as it was reported
to be. At the date already mentioned it
was a much more ilitticult matter to reach
Winnipeg (then a small town with only a
few hundred inhabitants) than it is now,
and Mr. Mackenzie had to buy a team of
horses and Red Paver cart at St, Paul's, in
the State of Minnesota, to travel a distance
of nearly 600 miles to the new province.
He remained in the province about a year,
and at last was so thoroughly satisfied with
the richness of the soil, its capability to
produce heavy g'-ain crops with very little
expense, and the great future that awaited
the country, that he finally determined to
return to Ontario, sell off his land, and
migrate with his whole fjimily to the new
land of his adoption, and he informed me
(what I could well believe) that he never
since had reason to regret the decision he
then arrived at. At that time, in the year
1 868, there were comparatively few sett lers
in Manitoba, and Mr. Mackenzie had the
length and breadth of the land to choose
from, and from what I was able to see of
his difijrent pos.sessions, he had certainly
di'^j.iayed great judgment in fixingon most
desirable sites, where the land was dry and
good, with plenty of timbT, and last,

's

N

24

thouRh far from least, on the borders of
running streams. Mr. Mackcntie at
present owns about 18,000 acres of fii-st-
class land in various parts of the province
and territory. He resides on the Burnsidc
Farm, containing 2400 acres, and his sons
(four of whom I had the pleasure of
becoming acquainted with, and who are
all very enterprising and intelligent young
men) are in possession of his other
farms. Mr. Mackeneie, during n-y stay
at Bumside, took me over his farm,
showed me his stock, and readily gare me
all the information I wished. I was
certainly surprised at the wonderful fer-
tility of the soil, which is a rich black
loam, averaging about 18 inches of sur-
face soil, on friable clay subsoil, 6 and 6
feet in depth, beneath which is a thin
layer of sand, lying on a stiff clay. The
land is quite dry, and is well watered by
a fine stream which flows through it. Of
course every one cannot have the same
advantage with respect to running waters,
but he informed me that a plentiful
supply could always be obtained in that
part of the country by digging wells to a
depth of 16 or 17 feet. I went over a
large field of 180 acres on which had been
grown this year a heavy crop of wheat
and barley, this season's crop was the
ninth in succession without any manure ;
indeed it appeared to me that it would
act require any for many years to come,
and that its fertility could be renewed at
any time by bringing up an inch or so of
new soil. On a portion of this field where
some store stock had been getting straw,
the previous winter, the crop had been
much too heavy and gone down. It was
quite a sight, and would gladden the
heart of any farmer, to have seen the
various stackyards on the farm, taking into
account the comparatively limited quan-
tity of land at present broken up. Mr. Mac-
kenzie, when turning over the Tirgin soil
in the early summer, merely pares the
surface, he then backsets the furrow after
harvest, ploughing about a depth of three
inches, turning over a Tery broad
furrow varying from 12 to 16 inches in
wid th, and so far he has not yet exceeded
a depth of four inches on any of his land.
He considers the fertility of his land is
practically inexhanstible, as in his opinion
the friable clay underneath the surface
soil, after a little exposure to the action
of the atmosphere will be as fertile as
that above it. With respect to the yield
of his crop, he favoured me with his aver-
age for the seasons of 1877 and 1878, and
his estimate for the present year, these
were aa follow : — Wheat crop, 1877,
averaged 41 bushels; 1878, 36 bushels ;
this year he expects it to be close on 40
bushela per acre. The. varietj grown is

called Fife wheat, which hasaliard, fiintyf
plump kernel, reddish in colour. The
average weight is from 60 to 62 lbs., but
has grown it as high as 64 lbs. per bushel.
His estimate of the oat crop for this year
is from 76 to 80 bushels per acre, weighing
from 34 to 36 lbs. ; last year he had a
yield of 88 bushols from two bushels of
seed sown on an acre ; has grown potato
oats of 42 lbs. and upwards, but considers
ho is better paid by the extra yield from
the black Tartarian. HiH barley this year
he expects will be from 40 to 46 bushels,
of from 60 to 52 lbs. ; the variety sown is
6-rowed. He drills his seed in as follows : —
li( to 2 bushels wheat, 2 bushels of oats,
and 2 of barley per acre. The wheat is
sown from 15th April to 12th May, oats
up to 20th May, and barley from 24th May
to 8th and 10th June. Heaping generally
takes place in August. The Manitoba
wheat is much prized by millers in the
United States for its superior quality, and
brings the highest price in the market. Mr.
M., at the time of my visit, expected to re-
ceive from 2s. 9d. to 3s. per bushel for his
wheat, delivered at the Portage; for oats
from Is. 6d. to Is. 8d., and for his barley
from Is. lOd. to 2s. The latter crop is at
present mostly used fo-' horse feeding.
The freight on wheat per steamer to Win-
nipeg is now Sid., and thence to Montreal
Is. lid., in all Is. 5d. ; but in the course
of a short time, when the Canada Pacific
reaches this district, the cost of transport
to Montreal, via Thunder Bay, will not ex-
ceed Is. per bushel, all expenses included.
Mr. Mackenzie also grows excellent root
crops, his swede turnips averaging from
30 to 36 tons, and potatoes, without any
care in cultivation, sometimes even not
being moulded up, will yield between 300
and 400 bushels of 601bs., and sell from Is. to
2s.per bushel, Onions,whore cultivated, are
also very prolific, yielding as much as
300 bushels per acre, and sell from 3s. to
4s. per bushel, according to the season of
the year when sold. Mangold also grows
heavy crops, but I did not see any on the
ground. The butter produced in the dis-
trict is of excellent quality, but very little
cheese has yet been made, and what I saw
was only of very middling quality ; so that
any of our first-class cheese makers going to
the Far West shortly, will have a capital
opportunity of distinguishing themselvesj
and figuring highly in the prize lists at
the provincial as well as at the local shows,
Mr. M. told me that both cattle and sheep
thrive well,keep healthy throughoiit the ex-
tremes of temperatiue, and that no disease
is yet known in the Province. With regard
to labour, he hai never had any difficulty
hitherto in securing it, and does not an-
ticipate any, at least in the immediate
future, as many of the new aettleri on

(Mi
20

n\, flinty^
ur. Tlie

5 lbs., but
iir bushel.

this year
weighing
he hixd a
bushels of
tvn potato

conaiilcrs
rield from
,' this year

6 bushels,
ty sown is
follows : —
lis of oats,
13 wheat is

May, oats

I 24 th May
J generally

Manitoba
ors in the
aality, and
larket. Mr.
;cted to re-
3hcl for his
a ; for oats
• his barley
r crop is at
30 feeding.
ler to Wiu-
to Montreal

the course
ad a Pacific
)f transport
will not ex-
3S included,
cellent root
aging from
without any
;s even not
)etween 300

II from Is. to
Itivated, are
kS much as
I from 3s. to
he season' of
i also grows
J any on the
d in the di.s-
it very little
I what I saw
lity ; so that
kers going to
ave a capital
r themselveSf
prize lists at
! local shows,
ble and sheep
ighouttheex-
iiat no disease

With regard
any difficulty
does not an-
le immediate-
y Hettlert on

first entering the country, find it to their
advantage in gaining experience, to
hire themselves out for the first year.
Meantime labour can bo had for £40 per
annum with board, or for the summer
season at aV)out £5 per month, and Inilinn
labour at the rate of 2s. per day. Mr.
Mackenzie meantime lets a portion of his
land on the following terms: he provides
Iiis tenant with one-half of the seed sown,
and receives in return one-third of the
yield of grain, no rent being charged for
the ground used for pasturage or green
cropping. The land all around the Port-
age, and which I may here state I con-
sidered as ft whoic the best of the
Province which I visited, is all well
settled, but can be bought from .SOs. to
50s. per acre, partly housed and snake
fenced ; a wooden dwelling-house of fair
dimensions can be built at a cost of from
£50 to £60, exclusive of the expense of
hauling the wood. After spending a couple
of days at Burn.side, I started with a team
of horses and buggy for Prairie City and
Rapid City, lying on the Little Saskat-
chewan, about 180 miles west of Win-
nipeg, under the guidance of a very
respectable farmer, a native of the Pro-
vince, who was well acquainted with the
country through which we had to travel.
Thanks to Mr. Norquay, who made the
arrangements for my journey, we were
well provided with stores, and also a tent
for camping out, and as the weather con-
tinued as a whole very good until our
return to Portage La Prairie, the tent
life, which was quite a new experience
to me, was very enjoyable. I was very
fortunate, too, in being accompanied for
the greater part of the journey by
Lieut.-Col. Higginbotham, ex-M.P. for
Guelph, who owns a considerable tract of
land in Palestine, and Mr. Coulthard, also
a native of Ontario. These gentlemen
proved themselves to be most agreeable
companions, and I will long look back
with pleasure to the pleasant days in
travelling over the praiine, and cheerful
evenings by our camp fire, which I passed
in their society. The Colonel was well
provided with guns and ammunition, and
wo were enabled to provide ourselves with
a variety of game, which proved a welcome
addition to our regular fare whilst on the
prairie. After leaving Bumside, the land
for a considerable distance was of a similar
character to that I have already described;
afterwards it got more swampy, and where
dry, was of a lightish sandy nature, until
we approached within a few miles of Glad-
stone, the capital of Palestine, when the
soil again got heavier, Gladstone, at pre-
sent only a small tovra, is situated on
rising ground on the banks of the White
Mud River, and the country surrounding

it is well covered with poplar and grey
willows, but there is little or no heavy
timber. About a couple of miles past
Gladstone we entered upon the North- West
Territory; the land for a short distance was
a sandy loam, and then we drove through
a low and swampy country for many miles,
on which there were no settlers, an<l which
indeed is unfitted for settlement until
drained. At the further side of this exten-
sive marsh we came to a large poplar wood
or plantation, on emerging from which we
entered on theBeautiful Plain on thcwestern
side of which flows the White Mud Ri ', er, at
this place a clear, rapid running stream.
The I3eautiful Plain is a level ridge of land
rising above the .surrounding country
many miles in length, and vaiying in
breadth from a quarter to a half mile, and
the view to be obtained from it is very
extensive and grand. Here we spent
some time at another of Mr. Mackenzie's
farms, the management of which ia
carried on by Mr. Adam M.ackenzie, hia
eldest son. This farm extends to 1,700
acres, but only 300 are at present under
crop. At one end of the farm ' lere is a
valuable meadow, which in fpring ia
covered with the overflow from the river,
and afterwards yields heavy crops of hay.
The whole farm is dry, and I considered
the soil on the portion of the land which
I examined to be the richest I have ever
seen. The crops have been very heavy
this year, and were expected to yield
similarly to those already reported as
grown on the Bumside farm, bui; I may
here remark that these yields must not be
taken as the average of the whole country.
Meantime they are considerably higher,
and must be accounted for by their ganer-
ally superior management and the excel-
lent quality of their lands. ?ilr. Adam,,
like his father, is fond of stock, and had
a large herd of well-bred cattle on the
farms, which I was fortunate enough to
see. On remarking to this gentleman
that he was a long way from a market, he
informed me that he had at present no
difticulty in disposing of his stock or crop
at remunerative prices to passing settlers,
and by the time the country is well filled
up the new railway at present in forma-
tion will have opened the province to the
markets of the world. Mr. Mackenzie
has another large grazing farm well
watered about twelve miles north of
the Beautiful Plain, from 800 acres o£
which he could cut as much hay as would
winter well 2,000 head of cattle. On re-
suming our journey from the Beautiful
Plain theland for some distance wasof fait
quality, afterwards got light and sandyf
on the level land, but improved consider*
ably when we came to the Rolling Prairie
and over the Riding Mountains. This

in

iffi

^R

-t:

2b

district is well wiitercil by the Stony
Creek River, mid lari,'e numbers of Binall
ponds or lakes, and seemed to me to be
well adapted for mixed husbandry. At
present the country there is only thinly
settled, and you would scarcely see more
than one farmhouse in a day's journey.
We passed over the south-eiist end of the
Riding Mountain!, which was covered
with good siaed poplars, unless wliore
burned througii by prairie fires. On
arriving at Prairie City I was somewhat
surprised at its size, as meantime it would
not maite a respectable claelian in Scot-
land, and does not at present contain a
score of inhabitants. The site, h<;w vcr,
is well chosen on the banks of the Little
Saskatchewan. It is surrounded by high
land, and may some day beconu a place
of importance. The country in the
neighbourhood of Prairie City abounds
with game, prairie chickens, snipe, plover,
kc. The lakelets are crowded with wild
duck, and the ardent sportsman may
occasionally get a ehot at a boar or wolf.
Wild strawberries, raspberries, currants,
and cranberries grow pleniifully in this
district. The land in the immediate
ncicrhbourhoodof the Littlo Sakatchewan
is of a lijjlit, sandy, and gravelly nature,
and would not stand much cropping, but
at a diHtancc of a mile from the river, on
its eastern side, the land is very rolling,
and much heavier, with a fair depth of
black loam for surface soil. This district
is thickly covered in many places with
scrub, and is dotted here and there with
lakelets, some of which in size and ap-
pearance reminded me much of the pond
at Castle-Kennedy, although the most of
thera were considerably larger. Many of
them are impregnated with alkali to such
an extent that they cannot be used for
drinking or cooking purposes; ''n others
the water is quite good in tb a early part
of the year, but becomes rotten further
on Ln the 8e5^)n. Good crater, however,
I was informed can generally be got at. a
depth of five or six feet from the surface.
I have already said thai I thought
this district to be well adapted for mixed
husbandry : indeed, I considered it about
the most suitable for stock farming of
any that I have seen in the North-
Wcst, although on the whole the soil was
nothing like so rich, in my opinion, as that
from Poplar Point to Burnside in the
vicinity of the Portage. Arrow or spear
grass grows in this country, and fre-
quently enters the bodies of sheep and
kills them, but it is danijerous in this way
only at certain seasons of the year, and
disappears as soon as the land is brought
under cultivation. I visited several farms
on the journey from Prairie to Rapid
-Oity, which had been lately settled on.

At oiu! of those fiums about ten milcf
dihlant from Rapid City I examined (lit
soil in one of the lields where nevcr.il
teams were at work, and found it to be
black loam to the depth of about twelvj
inches, on a clay subhoil. The croj) of this
year appeared to have been u very bulky
one, but having been late sown the grain
was very lifjht. 1 was informed that this
land was only taken up the previous sea-
son, the tenant having obtained ItiU acres as
a homestead for £2 as fees, and [)re-e!npt3d
anollmr 160 acres for which he had to pay
about 4s. per acre during the ftrst th.'ee
years of his occup.-vncy. On nearing
Rapid City I came to more newly-settled
farms, on one of which part of the crop,
which had also been late sown, was still
outstanding in the field. The crop liad
also been a heavy one, so far as the straw
was concerned, but on examining the
grain 1 was again disflppoiuted with the
quality, as it would not have made
respectable drawings with us. I was,
however, given to understand this was
frequently the case with first crops, espe-
cially if too late sown. One of the
farmers through whose lands I pass(;d w.as
busy thrashing out his grain in the old
primitive style with the fiail, and on the
next farm in a field of beautifully coloured
oats in stook a team of oxen was already
busy at work turning over the soil for a
succeeding crop. On reaching the rising
ground at the end of the Saskatchewan
Valley we looked back over a very pretty
landscape ; but to the west, on the other
side of Rapid City, we saw an immense
expanse of prairie, as far indeed aa the
eye could reach, burnt black with a recent
prairie fire, the farmhouses that had been
saved looking very dreary in the midst of
the blackened plain. I learned afterwards
that this fire had burnt a district 30 miles
in length by from 10 to 12 in width, causing
considerable loss through the destruc-
tion of farm buildings and stacks of hay,
I found Rapid City to be somewhat larger
than its rival farther up stream, as it can
already boast of some twenty inhabited
houses, and several more were in course
of erection. There were also some goods
stores in the place, and altogether it had
a bustling go-a-head look about it, as
much as to say that it would be a place of
importance some day should the railway
pass that way, aa 1 have reason to believe
it is now likely to do, and it is certainly
wonderful how quickly large cities spring
up in a new country, as witness Winnipeg,
the capital of Manitoba, which seven or
eight years ago had only a population of
400, and has now from 8,000 to 10,000
inhabitants, with beautiful villaa in all
directions, and as extensive stores as you
will find in many of the older and huger

I
4

J»

en milcf
lined Ihc
3 bc\cral

it to b(;
It twelvj
Qji of this

ry bulky
the ffiain

that this
viouH soa-
iUiu'K.'sas
'e-e!n|it3d

ad to pay

irst th.'ee

ni;aring

■ly-scltled

the crop,
, was still

crop had
the Btvaw

iniiiy the

1 with the

ive made

I was,

this was
reps, espo-
iie of the
passiid was
in the old
md on the
ly coloured

as already
e soil for a

the rising
Bkatchewan
very pretty
a the other
ia immense
;leed aa the
ith a recent
it had been
,he midst of
I afterwards
■ict 30 iiules
dth. causing
tie destruc-
icks of hay.
;what larger
m, as it can
,y inliabit«d
re in course

some goods
Tother it had
ibout it, aa
be a place of

the railway
on to believe
, is certainly
cities spring
188 Winnipeg,
lich seven or
)opulation of
00 to 10,000
villa* in all
stores as you
[er and larger

towns of tlie Dominion. At Uapid City
I had n letter of inlroddotion to Dr.
M'liitovh, who has lat<;Iy Klarl"d a saw
miii tiii-rc, and is now doiii;; a la:<,'i; and
rofilable biisinoss. Meanluno In.' ha.s to
rini; his hirj^d tiiiibor down the winding
Kaskatuiiewan a distance 'if nrniiy tlirce
hunilrcd miles. Finding it iiri|i>)ssil)le to
sp;u\! the time to go fartln-r Wc<t. I was
iii'lcbted to the doctor for tlio fallowing
iiifoiuiation about the land in tiiat direc-
tion. The land between the city and the
Assiniboine, wliicli lies to I hi' southward,
2."i miles distant, is a nice loam with clay
fiuh^oil on top of gravel. Tlie land is all
quite dry ; jilenty of water can always be
had, but wood i."* scarce. Direct west to
Oak River, 18 miles distant, the soil is of
a similar nature, but there is more timber,
some of it oak, and the country is being
rapidly settled. At the .Shoal T/ake, a
.setl]e!ncnt40miles distant, the soil isall of
a similar nature to that alrojidy described
and much of the same ciiaractor at Fort
Ellis, and tho Touchwood Hills still
farth'T away, and at Edmondton, 860
miles distant, the land is undulating,
and the soil of the very best descrip-
tion. When at Ka{)i(l City, I was
much surprised and much pleased to
meet with Mr. Lockhart, recently from
Liverpool, a gentleman related to Messrs.
Lockhart of Kirlccolm; who had finished
his education at Glenluce, and was well
aocjuainted with all the places and many
of the old inhabitants of the district. '' He
had bought a considerable tract of land
bordering on the Saskatchewan, and felt
very sanguine of success. On leaving
Rapid City, on our return journey, we took
the south trail, which enabled me to see
(|itiie a newtnuitof country. At first the
Innd was very rolling prairie, with a good
strong soil; afterwards we got on to the
level praii ie and entered on the Big Plain,
where you could scarcely sec a tree or
elevation as far as the eye could reach,
About 25 miles or so from Uapid City 1
came to another of Mr. .Mackenzie's farms,
and was hospitably received and enter-
tained by his two .sons, who were at that
time residing there, <ind busy at work with
five teams, three of which were horses,
one oxen, and the other mules. This farm
contains 4,0ii0 acres of land .and was
entered on last year ; the croi)s this
season, had been good considering that
sowing was not commenoed until the
26th May; of course much too late to
allow the wheat crop time to mature
properly. I examined the o.*its and barley,
and found them to be of fair quality. CO
a«ros of this farm were broken up last year;
this season they expect to have 220 acres
turned over. Their second ploughing is
from three to four inches deep, and from 12

to 10 in width. The work, to my eye, wai
somewhat rough, and would not altogether
satisfy our prize ploughmen in Ihc Hhii.s,
but, no!vvillistai:<liug, tho prolific soil
always yields bounteous crops; coiise-
qiuiiitly more regard is had to the (jiiantity
of liie work done rather than to the<|u.-dity
of the ploughing, kc. The Me:si.s. .Mac-
kenzie told me that each team was at that
time daily luiniii'j- over upwards of two
acres of ground. The soil of this farm
averages about 12 inche.a of surface soil,
and is a sandy loam on a clay nl)-soil. I
wa^ giren to understand that the water
supply was pieity good, but there was no
timber meantime growing on the farm.
After leaving the Messrs. .Alackenzie our
course was continued through the Big Plain
formany miles, until wearrivedat the Sand
Hills, near the eastern boun<iary of the
Territory. This large extensive plain is
very level, and, as I have already stated,
is quite destitute of timber, a want I fear
that will be much felt there, as well as in
many other parts of the North-West for
some lime, until the country becomes
more s(;ttled on, when settlers will, no
doubt, plant a certain portion of their own
lands. On examining the soil in various
places on the Big Plain, I found it all to
be a .-andy loam, in some places of fair
depth, in others rather light, .and wherever
there was anything approaching a ridge
the soil was gravelly. The prairie grass,
too, was much finer and shorter than I
found it on the north trail, or in tho other
districts I visited either in the North- West
or in Manitoba. The plain is watered by
Boggy Civck, a clear stream of water, and
by several small lakes. The land is all quite
dry and requires no drainage, but will not
be able to stand anything like the crop-
ping of other parts of the country I visited,
without resorting to the manure heap.
The Sand Hills, through which we passed
.after leaving the Big Plain, are some
miles in width, and extend as far as the
Assiniboine, fully twenty miles away. It
was mostly very useless land, and in some
places entirely destitute of vegetation. A
few scr.aggy oaks and poplars were here and
there, also some pine trees which helped to
beautify the landscape. This district is well
watered by the Pine Creek, on the borders
of which, in some places, good sites might
be found for grist and saw mills, in both of
which there appeared to be a great want in
most of the districts which I visited
in the North-West. On emerging from
the Sand Hills we entered on a scrubby
plain which appeared to be good soil, and
a little farther on, the land was lower
lying and the soil deeper and richer, and
this continued to be tho character of the
country until we again struck the main
trail a few miles from Burnside, my

i^

28

itnrtlng point, except that at sorae places
the land was Romewhat HWRmpjr. This
district is Htill thitil; po|)ulate(l, but the
most of the land bi>r(!oritie; on the trail
has already l)een bought up, and will
shortly b(! broujjht umicrcuilivation. As
alieady inentioiicil, my short visit to the
North West Teriiiory was very enjoyable,
the ilaily drive from morning until sun
down, over the I'lairie in the fine air and
nfioderately warm sunny days of the
Ind'ati summer season, was delightful as
well as exhilarating, and although anxious
to gel on with my jf)urney as (juickly as
possible, I experienced a feeling akin to
regret when I found it drawing to a close,
but I became quite reconciled to my lot,
and thankful indeed that I had got so
far on my return trip, when on the day
before ourarrival at Biirnside,the weather
changed, and the district through which
we were passing was visited by a severe
thunderstorm, accompanied by a heavy
fall of rain, which soon converted the
previous gooil trail into an almost im-
passable quagmire, making me wonder
what the track would become like in the
rainy season, as very little progress,
indeed I may say none has yet been made,
either in Manitoba or the North- West in
the matter of road making, and this cer-
tainly is one of the present great draw-
backs to new settlers, and willbeiomewhat
difficult to overcome, as there are very few
bedsof gravel to be found anywhere along
the few hundred miles over which I
passed. During the thunderstorm we took
shelter at the farm b use of Mr. Cook,
where w? were niojf. lioipitably received,
and when there our host informed me that
he had taken up h:.-. ) ind about eighteen
months previoubiy de liked the country
very well, and although previous to the
time of settling in Manitoba he had no
knowledge of farming, yet he was getting
01. first-iate, as the land did not require
very particular management, and he had
no fear of his ultimate success. Early the
following afternoon we reached Burnside,
and shortly afterwards again started for
the Portage, where I was so fortunate as
to meet Mr. Walker, the Attorney-General
of the Province of Manitoba, who was on
his way to Winnipeg, and kindly gave me
a seat in his buggy to that rising city ; on
our way down we met a great many
covered waggons and Red River carts filled
with emigrants and their stores on their
way to the Far West, Indeed, on my
journey eastward, from Rapid City, I
felt greatly surprised at meeting day after
day, long trains of waggons and carts going
west, many of the emigrants be'ng newly
out from the Old Country, as England is
generally designated in the Dominion. At
Winnipeg I met with several of the Dele-

gate, who had prcccilcd me to ('anadii,
and who had just returned to the city from
visiting aiiotliiir part of the province.
They were all much jikased with what
they had seen, and Mr. Hi^rgar. the
Delegate from tlie Sic.wartiy of Kirkcud-
bright, son of Mr. Bl '<car, of Chapelton,
a gentleman well V jwn in this county,
was kind eiioif o favour me with the
following n- on the district through
which her jd. [Mr.Cowan then rcud Mr,
Biggar' lunption of the Pembiiiadistrict
and .J great Dairy mple Farm in Dakota.]
Messr8.LiOgaii,from Berwickshire, and Peat,
Cumberland, were also very kind in giving
me every information that I desired.
During our short slay at Winnipeg we were
very courteously treated by every one
with whom we came in contact, and were
honoured by an invitation to attend a ban-
(]uet given by one of the political parties in.
the Province to Messrs. Mackenzie, Bowell
and Aikins, members of the Dominion Gov-
ernment, who were at that time visiting
Manitoba. The banquet was a success.
Many eloquent .speeches were deli vered and
our healths were proposed and enthusiasti-
cally received. Our stay at the Capital
was not, however, taken up altogether
with banqueting, and we were much in.
debted to Messrs. Gerrie, Ashdown, and
Ross, for driving us to a number of farm*
in the vicinity of Winnipeg. The first-
named gentleman, besides being a mer-
chant and a landowner, is also a farmer
on a large scale ; he at present owns
about 43,000 acres of land in the Pro-
vince, of which, however, he only farms
4000 acres lying at a few miles distance
from the city ; he was kind enough to
drive us out to and over the farm, and
gave us every information about its man-
agement, cost of working, &c. The soil
ia a good deep loam on a clay subsoil,
the land dry and well watered by a creek
passing throueh it. He grows wheat,
principally of the Fife variety, and black
Tartarian oats ; he estimates his yield of
the former this season at fu'.ly 30 bushels
per acre, and had been offered 3s. per
bushel delivered at Winnipeg. He also
has had no difficulty so far in getting a
sufficiency of labour, has paid as high as
£48 per annum, with board for a good
man. His expenses of management per
acre were as follow : — The first breaking
of the land costs 12s., and second plough-
ing in autumn 8s., and can get it done by
contract for the above sums ; seed, har-
rowing, harvesting, thrashing, 20s., whicb
in addition to the first cost of the land,
say 208. per acre, amounts in all to £.3 per
acre. So that anyone who will take the
trouble of calculating the value of the
first crop grown on the land as given,
above, will see that for at least the por-

n

(•city from

provinco.
with what
i;_'f!;:ir, the
f Kiikcud-
Chapclton,
lis countyr
; with the
ct thioufi^h
un read Mr,
)iimdistrict
II Dakota.]
■f,aiid I'cat,
ui in giving
I desired.
xg we were
every one
t, and were
tend a ban-

parties in^
izie, Bowell
uinion Gov-
me visiting

a success,
eliveredand
enthusiastic
the Capital
altogether
e much in-
hdown, and
)er of farms

The lirst-
eing a mer-
80 a farmer
resent owns
in the Pro-
only farms
les distance
i enough to
e farm, and
out its man-
c. The soil
clay subsoil,
;d by a creek
rows wheat,
y, and black
i his yield of
y 30 bushels
'ered 3s. per
leg. He also
in getting a
d as high as
i for a good
lagement per
rst breaking
cond plough-
;ct it done by
3 ; seed, har-
g, 20s., whicb
of the land,
1 all to £i per
vfill take the
value of the
und P3 given,
east the por-

tion of the farm broufrht under crop, the
owner of the land has been fully paid
both capital and interest for his outh^y
during the lirst year. Mr. (Scrrie, who is
agood 8t)ecimenof an intellii,'cMt, shrewd,
canny Scut<',hman, informed me that he
in alway.s prepared to di.spuBL of Bom(! of
his exteiihivc property, that early this
summer lie had sold 240 acres not far
from his own holding at £1 per acre ;
and that good land within easy distance
of Winnipeg' could at present be bought
for that sum, whilst low lying swampy
land, capable, however, of drainage, could
be bought as low as Ss. per acre. On
•our return to town we j)assed throus.'h
«ume very swampy lands, from which
large quantities of hay can be cut in the
dry ses^i'ii. Hefore leaving Winnipeg
we were also indebted to thi- Mayor (Mr,
Logan) and Mr, Uoss for a pleasant drive
to the Springs on the Gravel Ridge at
Birds Hill, about 11 miles from the city.
From the highest point of the Ridge
we obtained a splendid view of the
surrounding country, in different parts
of which several prairie fires were
then raging ; the atmosphere was so clear
that we could see quite distinctly a por-
tion of Winnipeg in the distance. During
our drive along the Red River to the
bprings we passed through the well-known
Kildonan settlement, one of the oldest in
the province, and which was sctlloil (jn as
far back fis 1812 by a colony of Scotch-
men taken out by the late Earl of Sel-
kirk. The soil in this district, bordering
on the Red River, is a loamy clay of great
depth and very fertile. We spent a short
time on the farm of Mr. M'Beth, and
walked over a field belonging to him
which I was informed had been continuously
under crop for 54 years, except during
three j'ears when the province was visited
by giiwshoppers, during which time it was
allowed to have a rest, 'I'he crop this
season had of course been gathered long
before the period of my visit, but the
strong and thick stubbles showed that it
had been a good one ; and I was told that
it would average at least 28 or ,S0 bushels
of wheat per acre. This land had never
been manured ; indeed the tenant did not
consider that it yet required any stimu-
lant, although he proposed laying on a
little manure shortly as an experiment. I
saw many large dung heaps hi iii*: neigh-
bourhood, some of which were said to be
the accumulation of the last 60 years, and
in many instances, to get quit of the
manure, the farmer easts it on to the ice
on the Red River during the winter
mouths, aiul allow? it to be carried away
by the river when the ice gets bn)ken up
.in the spring, liefore leaving Mr.
.M'Beth's farm I secured a small portion

of the soil of the field which had been #o
long undorcrop, and brought it homo witk
ne, and if any gentleman |)resent is
desirous of seeing it I will have much
pleasure in shoeing it, as well as a few
samples of graii . A-e^ wliieh I also brought
home with rnc from the far West, at the
eonelusion of my adilress. For these
samples of grain I was indebted to Mr.
Hai'rison, whoat present farms extensively
within a comparatively short distance of
Winnipeg. This gentleman, on account
of ill health, proposes selling off his farm,
of which he gave me full particulars. On
our return journey to Ontario from
Manitoba we were greatly indoblt'd to
the managers of the dif rent railways
over which we passed through the Ameri-
can States, for their courtesy and kindness
in giving us free passes over their lines.
These railways, viz., the Michigan Central,
the Chicago, Milwaukio, and St. rtiul's ;
and St. Paul's, Mineapolis, and Minnesota
are well managed railways — at l(;ast so
fat as their ro.ads and commodious car-
riages are concerned — and the scenery
along the route is sometimes very grand.

On r Uirning to the Province of Ontario,
we first visited the town of Stratford, in
the immediate neighbourhood of whicih
are several large cheese factories. I w.os
fortunate enough to have a letter of intro-
duction to Mr. Pallantyne, M.P.P., who
resides in Stratford, and who reeeivi^d me
in the most kindly manner. Mr. ilallan-
tyne, a higldy intelligent gentle; .an of
active business habits, is a great enthusiast
in the manufacture of cheese, and has
perhaps done more than any other man
ill (Janada to perfect the syst(;m of factory
chccsema'cing. He owns one or two
factories, and is also an extensive buyer
of cheese thrimghoi:t the province. We
were privileged to see through the Black
Creek Factory, which is situated in a fine,
well-w.atered, grazing country, well suited
for dairy purposes, about eight miles
from Stratford. This factory, which
gathers in its supply of milk from about
1 ,000 cows, was one of I he very first estab-
lished in Canada in 1SG4. It belongs to
Jlr. Batlantyne, Vjut is conducted on the
co-operative principle, Mr. Ballantyne
charging the farmers a certain sum per
gallon for hauling the milk imu making
the cheese. Mr. Hallantyne fully ex-
plained to me too whole process of factory
cheese-making, of which he is a thorough
master. The season begins in Canada at
1st May and closes on 1st November; the
busiest time is in the month of June, when
the cows are in full milk. During this
month 26,000 lbs. of milk w.ns sent to the
factory this season, and the make of
i clve.se per day ran fioin 2,600 to 2,700
I lbs. Mr. Ballantyne infonned us that 'n

«;

tif:

^vM

30

!♦♦

tho early part of the year between the
fodder and the grass he found the greatest
difficulty in making cheese of good
quality ; this applied also to ceiiaiii por-
tions of the months of July and August,
when the weather became extrenioly hot.
Mr. B., however, has now mniiiiizcd to
overcome in great measure the dilliculties
of making a really good articli! during
the hot season, when tlie water is not
very good, and the milk in some
instances becomes tainted before it
leaves tlie udder of the cow, and
I tasted several cheese made at this factory
from impure or tainted milk that were
quite free from any impurity in either
smrll or taste. To attain this end, the
wliey is drawn ofE as soon as possible,
even to the loss of some curd, and the
tfcEnperature of tho curd well kept up, the
curd is also left a longer time than on
ordinary occasions exposed to the action
of the atmosphere, and less salt is used
than when the milk is in good order. Mr.
Ballantyne proposes to give a full account
of his system of cheesemaking .at a con-
vention to be held in Cliicago in February
next, and as he promised to send me a
few copies of his address for circulat .on
among those of my friends and neighbours
who are interested in this great industry,
I will not meantime enter into any par-
ticulars of his system of management, and
will only further remark that in the large,
well-ventilated, and commodious cheese-
room ai, Black Creek, I was somewhat
su'-priFed to find such uniformly high-
class cheese, quite equal, if not superior
to the finest makes in the Rhins of Gal-
loway. The cheese were mostly uncolored,
and would average about 60 lb». in weight,
and were very uniform in size as well as in
quality. At the time of my visit tlie Kane
had been disposed of up to the Ist August.
They had gone to the London (England)
market, where cheese from the Black
Creek factory command the highest prices.
On making inquiries about the futur'
prospects of the cheese trade, Mr. Bal' .n-
tyne assured me that they were much
brighter than they had been during the
previous two year?, that the price of
cheese was certain to keep up during the
remainder of this season and for some
time to come, as, owing to the severe
losses sustained through the unremunera-
tive prices of the last two years, a gre.at
many fiictoi'es had been closed down
botli in the uniiuJ States and in the
Dommiou, large numbers of the cows
from whicli these factories had been sup-
plied had consequently been fattened and
sold off, .and that many of tlie farmers
were now turning their attention to the
raising and fattening o£ cattle for the
British Hwrkct, and that in his ooinion

the deficiency in the make of cheese in
America next year, comparing it with
the ]jreviou8 one, would be as mucU
as 25 per cent. Wo afterwards
vii-ited another large factory at
Strathaveu, and were privileged to see
through it. It belongs to a joint stock
company, and was put up this summer,
and consequently has all the latest im-
provements; it also is situated in a fine
grazing ".ountry and very convenient to
a railway station. They had about 1,000
cheese on hand when we were there, all
of which had been sold at 12J cents or
fully 6d. per lb. This, taking into account
the expense of freight to England, com-
missions, kc, was at that time a long
price, and they wouUl require to realise
from 653. to 66s. per cwt. in the English
market to leave any profit to the purchaser.
This factory was managed in quite a
similar manner to the one we inspected
at Black Creek. Frc m Stratford we (Mr.
Logan, delegate fron. liarwickshiiv, with
whom I had travelle I ever since Irav'ng
Chicago) proceeded to Toronto, where vve
were again joined by Messrs. Maxwe'll,
Biggar, and Peat. In passing I mpy re-
mark that Toronto is a handsome, thriving
city, containing about 80,000 inhabitants.
We stayed there a couple of days, and
enjoyed the hospitality of several of its
most influential citizens, to whom we had
got introduced, and from whom we re-
ceived information that proved very
valuable to us during the remainder of
our tour through Ontario. At Toronto
our small party of delegates again got
broken up, Messrs Logan and Peat going
theii' several ways, whilst Messrs. Biggar,
Maxwell, and myself kept together, and
I was fortunate enough to have the
pleasure of the society of these two
gentlemen, who proved themselves most
agreeable and intelligent conif.anions,
during the remainder of my visii to
Canada. On leaving Toronto, we took
the cars for Guelph, where we were i.iet
byCaptainM'Crae, a gentleman or , ly
from the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, who
kindly took us in hand, and was so good
as to drive us during our stay in his
dir,trict to a gieat many farms in the
neighbourhood ; amongst others, to the
Model Farm a few miles from the city,
and the farms of Messrs M'Crae, senr..
Stone, and Hobson. At the Model Farm
we were introduced to the masters,
with whom and the students (88 in
number) we afterwaids dined. We were
giratly impressed with the many advan*
tages to be derived by a residence at this
well-»nanaged establishment, both in the
lectui-e halls, kc, and outside in the man-
agement of the land, by the rising genera-
tion of young farmers, and have little

'

I

'I

31

._ ^(V--!

jheese itt
it with
13 muc i.i
i'terwards
tory at
id to see
int stock
summer,
atcst im-
in a flue
eiiient to
lOUt 1,000
there, all
I cents or

0 account
md, com-
le a long
to realise
e English
;)iirchaser.

1 quite a
inspected
•d we (Mr.
hire, with
;e leav'ig

where \ve
Maxwell,
I mHV re-
e, thriving
habitants,
days, and
eral of its
om we had
om we re-
3ved very
naindcr of
tt Toronto
again got
Peat going
rs. Tliggar,
ether, and
have the
these two
selv?:: most
mi [-.an ions,
ly visit to
we took
e were i-iet
nor' ,:. \j
bright, who
'as BO good
itay in his
ms in the
lers, to the
01 the city,
Crae, senr.,
ilodel Farm
e masters,
nts (88 in
We were
lany advan*
•nee at this
both in the
in the man-
sing genera-
have little

doubt it will do muoli good, and become
very popular amongst t lie agriculturists of
Canada, for whose bcnci'it primarily it has
been established, Tlie charge for Ixiard
and lodging is very moderate, the
average for each student amounting only
to from £10 to £12 per annum. Lectures
are daily jiiven by competent professors
to the 'students, the latter afterwards
assisting in the work on the farm. The
large and commodious residence and farm
otHces are situated on rising gi'ound in the
centre of the farm, which consists of 6.50
acres of various qualities of soil, ranging
from good to inferior. Tlie most oC it,
however, being a clayey loam, resting on
a sandy and gi'avelly subsoil. The farm
is well watered and fenced. Mr. Drown,
the enterprising manager, drove us over
the lands, and we saw evidences every-
where of good and careful management.
The white crops this season h»d been
very good, and the turnip crop, which
were being stored at the time of our visit,
were of excellent qualit}-, and would
average about 22 tons per imperial acre.
We were shown several flocks of r'heep,
Cotswolds, Oxford Downs, and Leicesters,
some of them excellent specimens of the
various breeds. Great attention has also
been paid to cattle, several of the bulls
being superior animals of first-class pedi-
gree. We afterwards visited Air. Hobson's
farm. This gentleman, like most Canadian
farmers, enjoys theph'asureof farming his
own brofid acres ; his land extends to 300
acres, 240 of which are imder cultivation,
the remainder being timber, yearly increas-
ing in value. JJrJIobson, an excellent judge
of all Kinds of jtoek, showed us his herd of
shorthorns, some of which were very fine
animals, and all of them of good pedigree.
Mr. Ilobson also fot-.ds about 400 hoggets
annually, generally disposing of them
abo'it Christmas, He informed us that
I le working expenses of his farm amounted
altogether to two dollars per uure yearly,
At Mr. F. W. Stone's farm we also
saw some ^ood shorthorns, but were un-
"ortunate in iiot meeting with thisgentle-
I'^rvn, who, we were told, had done much
good to his district in improving its breed
of cattle. At Mr. M'Crae's, who is an
excellent specimen of an cuterpj ising suc-
cessful Galloway farmer, we saw perhaps
the largest head of Galloway cattle at
presp-.it in the Dominion — they were of
pretty fine quality. Mr, 5I'Crac owns a
good firm, and the management was tirst-
clas.s. Indeed, we were much pleascl :v th
what w-' saw of the farming throughout
the district, which we inspected in the
vicinity of Guelph. The soil, generally
speaking, is a strong clayey loam ; the
land is well farmed ; considerable taste is
displayed in the manasrenient of the farms ;

the biiiMings are good, and an air of com-
fort and WL'U-to-do ntr-s is to be noticed
among the farming cominunity generally.
Before leaving Guelph, wo were gieally
indebted to Captain M'Crao for taking us
over a co iplc of farms that were tlien for
sale. Tliey wove situated within eight
miles of 6nelph, and within three-and.-a-
half miles of a railway station. I will here
remark that during our visit to Canada,
we saw as well as heani of many farms
that were in the market for sale, but as it
is impossible that I can take notice of
them all in this report, I have confined
myself to a description of those I first
saw, as I believe it may be interesting
to a general auilience, but to any one
who may think of emigrating shortly to
Canada, and who may wish for fint'uer par-
ticulars about farms for sale, it will alford
me great pleasure to give every inform-
ation in my power. But to proceed, Xlan-
nerbank, the first farm we visited, and
situated as already described, contained
255 acres, 200 acres of which had been
brought under cultivation, the remainder
under wood. Soil a claj'ey loam of cpti-
siderablc depth, lying on a hilly gravel
ridge running throiiudi I he farm. The fields
were well laid off, fairly fenced and well
watered.Tj, The dwelling house was a sub-
stantial stone building containing fourteen
rooms, and the farm oliices, which were
mostly of wood, were in fair order. This
farm is at present rented to an enterprising
tenant, whose leaae expires next 3'1'ar, at
£ 120. The price wanted is 14,000 dollars
or about £3200 — to, say, H,\'2 10s. per acre,
The adjoining farm, belonging to the same
proprietor, is also for sale ; it contains 250
acres, of which l.)0 are under tillage, 8.")
acres meadow land, and 15 acres under
timber. The soil is of a similar character
to the above, and it is equally well
watered, the dwelling hou-e, however, is
not so good, bnt the fann offices were
better, having good pig and sheep houses
attached. The price wanted for this farm
was also 14,000 dollars. This land is
likewise rented meantime to a good tenant.
Both farms are being well managed, ami
are easy of cultivation. The taxes at
present payable, amount on each farm to
about £12 lOs. per animm, .^nd are [)rin-
cipally for educational and municipal jiur-
poses. In addition to the nbi)vo, tlic
tenants, as elsewhere throughout Ontario,
have to provide so many days' work of
a man and team of hor.-es annually, or
an equivalent in money, for the main-
tenance of roads. We also saw another
farm, within a very short distance of
Guelph, which is at present for sale. It
was all under cultivation, was well farmed
and in good order ; the price wanted for
it was somewhat higher than for those

J

S2

previously mentioned, owing to its con-
Tenience to the city and railway station.
The opinion we formed of these furms
was that they would be worth at least
30s. per acre in this country. Our time
being limited we were unable to visit the
country northwards from Guelph to Luke
Huron, a distance of 90 mi ie^, but were
informed that the soil, it' anything, was
better than what we had seen, and that
it was an excellent farming country.
From Guelph we proceeded to Gait,
where we visited a large farm of 550
acrex, owned by a namesake of my own.
Mr. (Jowan being from home, we did not
meet with him, but his sons kipdly
showe.l us his large herds of well-bred
shorthorn cattle and Leicester sheep.
When at Gait I called on Mr. John
Adair, who has relatives in this district,
and who owns a nice farm of L'50 acres,
within a coupl'! of miles of the town. He
was kind enoui^h to give me some infor-
mation about his management and the
yieM of his cr^^p this season. These were
as follow : — The first year he takes a
a crop of wheat after lea ; second season,
potatoes and turnips, and the third year,
sows down with barley or oats, but few
of the latter he informed me are grown
in his district. His crop this year was
an average one — wheat, 20 bushels of 61
lbs. ; barley, 'SO bushels of 48 lbs. ;
and about 40 bushels oats jier acre.
The land in the immediate neighboiir-
hood of Gait waa of a light, sandy,
and gi'aveliy nature, much inferior
in my opinion to the district about
Guelph, but was given to understand
that it was much better a little further
back. Mr. Adair also informed me that
plenty of land could be rented at from 2^
to S dollars, or f jm 10s. to 12s. per acre,
and could be bougiit al about 60 dollars,
or £ 1 2 per acre. From Gait we proceeded
to Branlford, and at once drove out a
distance of four miles through a most
bnautiful country to the celebrated Bow
Park farm, where we received a most
hearty welcome from Messrs. Clay and
Hope, the managers, to whom we had
letters of introductiun from the Hon.
George Brown, who is well known not
otily in the Dominion but also throughout
Great Britain and the United States as a
g(!ntlenuin who has done a good work for
the Dominion in gathering together ,
farjous herd of pure bred shorthorns, Mr,
Hope, to whom I had been introduced
some years ago in this very t':>v'i htr ^xiy
friend Mr. M'William, Craighmore, :iiis
great credit in the management of the
f,'\rin, and specially of the stock d( part-
ment, and is allowed to be one of the very
best judges of shorthorns, and our ovmi
favourites, the CIvrlesdales, on the conti-

nent of America, Mr. Clay, jun., well
know throughout Scotland, is also quite
an eucausiast in both classes of stock.
Both these gentlemen accompanied us Tn
our inspection of the stock at Bow Park,
and it was a very great treat to have
explained to us the particular merits of
the several high-class and valuable ani-
mals brought under our notice, many of
the herd (numbering in all .'^40 animals)
having cost as mucli as 2,500 guineas. We
were also privileged to see the famous bull
Grand Duke, walked out for Mir inspec-
tion, and also one or two famous cows, all
well known in shorthorn circles, and the
stock from which, l.eiiii| f, 'uttered far and
wide over the '>.u'^v; ;>" fiTitincnt, must
undoubtedly rnp;. iy ir.j, :•, ■ the native
breeds. Bow Pa b>>r!u iiully situated
on a bend of the Giund silver, extends to
nearly 1,000 acre.^, the greater portion of
which is a clayey loam with more or less
admixture of sand. No particular
rotation of cropping is observed, about
50 acres of mangold and turnip is grown
annually, 200 acres Indian corn to cut
green for stock, 150 acres rye, besides con-
siderable breadths of wheat and barley.
About 30 men are kept constantly in em-
ployment. The management of the stock
appeared to be perfect, and the outside
department .«eemed to be carefully as well
as economically conducted. From Bow
Park we drove through Brantford tc Paris,
on our way to which we visited th^ ' sicn-
sive farm of the Hon, Mr. Christi w: ■cl.
contains about 540 acres of verv per ,ar.d.
The soil is a lightish sandy load, wii i,
with good management an ir .n irn-j,
would yield generous crops c: ;;i I i", is.
It is a well watered fann, the t.^I . are
all laid off from the public road, .vHif^l;
runs through the centre of the farm ind
are of considerable extent, running; up to
about 60 acres. On one of the '.argcst was
the very best sole of j^rass we came across
whilst in Ontario, indeed, on the whole,
although we saw better land in many
places, we coi'sidered th's farm one of the
most desirable that we saw in the whole
province. We were also u' ortunate here
in noL linding Mr, Chris?;-, . >!ome, but
his son kindly escorted i; . t, tlie i'ann.
From M'\ (Jhristie's to Par;;. . ': f.ancc of
a few miles, our drive wa,s .rough the
plains of Paris, a very beautiiul and well
water .'d district. At Paris we took the
train to .'"oodstock, where we were met by
Mr. I'un' n, a gentleman originally from
All .'i.re. .Mr, Dunlop drove us to his
rtsidencf,, a distance of six miles from the
town, on the way to which we jjassed
through a good tract of country. Mr.
Dunlop only farms a small portion of his
land, and has the remainder let to a tenant
at a rent of 12s. per acre. From Mr.

iHth:

down

distric

peachc

TAiieti

bom

a sand

that p

three

•and,

•oil,

tends

of Gri

the gr

which

profita

of one

which

in teres

the grc

lai'ge i

nion, i

althouf

Hewet

ful coi

verton

acres,

^3

jun., well
also quite

of stock.
,Tiied uhTu
Bow Park,
it to have

merits of
uable ani-
2, many of
0 animals)
lineoa. We
;amou8 bull
.ur inspec-
us cows, all
les, and the
red far and
ncnt, must

the native
ily situated
•, extends to
!r portion of
more or less
particular
;rved, about
ip is prowu
corn to cut
, besides con-

and barley,
mtly in cm-
; of the stock

the outside
efully as well
From Bow
;ford to Paria,
ted thai.Klcn-
iristi' vv!)'cl
'erv ! cr .and.
loa i, ■*'" I.
r .ri u"':

the fivl . are

road, .V 'li'
he farm mcl
•unnuK: up to
he largest was
re came across
on the whole,
ai\d in many
arm one of the
in the whole
ortunate here
>^omc, but
:e. t)ie farm.
I,;. .: . ' : -tauce of
at, .rough the
itiiul and well
is we took the
we were met by
originally from
rove us to his
i miles from the
liich we passed
■ country. Mr.
1 portion of his
2r let to a tenant
TO, From Mr.

Dunlop's we visited one or two well-
managed farms in the neighbourhood, the
owners of which were very intelligent men,
and appeared to be both prosperous and
happy. During our visit to the neigh-
bourhood of Woodstock the first of the
season's snow fell, and although it was by
no means a heavy covering, yet it was
iufBcient to prevent us carrying oui our
intention of visiting many other portions
of the Province, which we were desirous
of seeing. In the course of a few days,
however, I visited the great fruit-growing
districts of Grimsby and St. Catherine's,
the last-named town being not far distant
from the world-renowned Falls of Niagara,
which I need scarcely inform you 1 also
went to see, and the sight of which, had
I seen nothing more during my visit to
America, would have amply repaid me
for my journey. At Grimsby I had the
pleastire of meeting two very old friends
in the persons of the Messrs. Hewetaon,
well known to many people in this county
as brothers of the present tenant of Bal-
terson, near Newton- Stewart. These
gentlemen, with whom I spent two plea-
sant days, have been many years resident
in Canada, have been very successful, and
although they have still a warm side to
th«»<i native country, prefer living where
they are to returning to the land of their
birth ; and I may here notice that I found
tMs feeling very general amongst all
clas<M;H of people with whom I came in
contact, which of itself says a goo<l deal
tor the Dominion as a place ^o live in.
The country around Grimsby ia very
beautiful, lying below high lands covered
iHth fine timber, the land sloping gently
down to Lake Ontario. Nearly the whole
district is devoted to the growing at
peaches, appies, grapes, and many other
tibieties of fruits. It is well sheltered
from frosty winds, and the soil, which is
a sandy loam of a red colour, peculiar to
fliat part of th <» country, is from two to
three feet in depth, and the subsoil is
sand, resting on the red sandstone. This
•oil, combined with the climate it enjo^B,
tends to make the country in the vicinity
of Grimsby peculiarly well adapted for
the growing of fiuit, the cultivation of
which is yearly extending, and is very
profitable. It is possible that a description
of one or two of the extensive orchai-ds
which I visited may not be particularly
interesting to many of my audience, atiU as
the growing of fruit has already become a
lai'ge industry in many parts of the Domi-
nion, it is only ripht that I should notice it,
although but briefly in my report. Mr.
Hewetson first diove me through a beauti-
ful country to the residence of Mr. Wol-
verton, who owns a large orchard of 18
acre.s, situated about a couple of miks

from Grimsby. Mr. Wolverton has about
five acres planted with apple trees, of
which there are about 70 to tlie acre ; and
five acres in peaches, with irom 140 to
150 trees per acre. The latter were about
10 years old, and this year produced 1500
bushels of this luscious fruit, which ha
sold for 2 dollars, or over 8s. per bushel,
yielding him the hand.some return of £120
per acre. We afterwards visited Mr.
Kitchen, whose orchard extends to 60
acres, This gentleman informed me that
his orchard contained 3000 apple trees,
500 peach, cherry, pear, and plum trees,
and 1000 grape vines. He sold last year
2000 barrels of apples at 2 dollars per
barrel, his average yearly sale of fruit and
wines amounting to 8000 dollars, or
between £1600 and £1700. We also
vifcited the farm of Mr. Pettit, which con-
tains 150 acres of very good land. Mr.
Pettit has also a portion of his land de-
voted to truit cultivation, but the greater
Eart of it is in grass and under crop. I was
ere shown a herd of Durhams of good
pedigree (the Prince's blood). Some of
the animals, especially the year olds, were
very promising, and for a yousg bull of
good colour and shape Mr. Pettit had re-
fused a long price. Mr. Pettit grows a
considerable quantity of Indian eom, of
which he had a good crop this season. He
informed me that the average yield of this
crop in his neighbourhood would be 40
busnels weighing 60 lbs., and was value
for 60 cents or 2b. 6d. per bushel. As I
nave not hitherto taken notice of this
cereal, I may hare state that it is sown,
generally in drills about 3 feet apart, with
quarter bushel of seed per acre, from the
middle of May to the lOlh of June. When
wanted for cutting green, it is not sown
until the 1st July, and yields as much ■»
five tons of excellent food for cattle ; in
winter it is cut into chaff, and mixed Ydth
bran and Indian meal or other feeding
stuff. Mr. Hewetaon, himself, h'xs also ft
very promising young orchard of peaches,
which will commence bearing next season^
Afc already noticed, we were unable to
visit sevei-al other important farming di«-
tricts in Ontario, and I was indebted to
my friend, Mr. James Hewetson, for the
following information with respect to the
counties of Huron and Bruce, in the N,
W. of the Provinces. As Mr. Hewetson
has been mp.iy years resident in that part
of the country, and at one time farmed
extensively himself, every reliance may
be given to his statemunts. In County
Bruce the soil is a clayey loam on a clay
and gravel sub oil ; the surface soil will
average about two feet in depth; lit lie
drainage is required ; the land is undulat-
ing and well watered. Mr. Fi. consideifd
it one of the best wheat -growing districts

0

'i

,*<

Pi

in Canada, and the land was well adapted
for growing green crops. Good crop's of
wheat, oats, and peas had been gathered
in this year ; the yield of fall wheat this
season over the county would average 30
bushels per acre, A good many cattle and
sheep are raised, the latter especially thrive
remarkably well, and wh*" paid attention
to are very profitable This county was
settled about 25 yea' . ago, and is, on the
whole, well farmed. It has several large
«ii ''pping ports on Lake Huron, and the
,• ^ Western railway passes through the
0 '' it. The farms average about 100

aci id can be bought from £,7 to JJIO
per a^^ic. Good clay land similar to Bal-
doon could be had at £6 per acre. Not
including houses, however. County Huron
was somewhat of a similar character to
Bruce, and was all very good farming
land. In the neighbourhood of Clinton
there was a splendid farming country,
superior he thought to the land I had
seen in the vicinity of Guelph, and enjoyed
a better climate. Good farm servants
coula be had from £30 to £32 per annum
with board, and the taxes amounted to
from £5 to £6 per 100 acres. With
regard to the pnces of cattle, horses,
&c., they could, meantime be bought
at the following sums : — Cows from
£6 to £10 ; two-year-old cattle from £5
tb £7 ; sheep from 15s. to £2 ; and horses
iJ16 to £40, prices varying, of course,
according to quality. With respect to the
profits to be derived from farming in
Ontario, accounts varied very much,
ranging from five to ten per cent, on the
capital invested ; my own opinion being
that the latter sum might readily be
realised by any one who was thoroughly
acquainted with Lis business as a farmer
and was a good judge of stock. After
■finishing oih tour through Ontario, my
iricnds and I determined to spend a few
-days in the States.

At Boston we saw a fine lot of cattle
awaiting shipment for Liverpool; we
inspected the accommodation prepared
for them on board the steamer, which,
"however, we did not consider very first-
«las8. We were informed that the cattle
are often sick forthe first day or two on the
passage, but with favourable r'eather they
generally keep up their conration, and in
some cases even improve. From Boston
we proceeded to St. John's, New
■Brunswick, in the neighbourhood of
"Which we spent n couple of days. W<'
Regretted very much that we had only a
t' ■^ days to spend in the mnritinie pro-
Yinces, and during our too brief stay in
these interesting provinces, we were only

we received much kindness, and a good
deal of useful information. The land in
the neighbourhood of the town seemed to
be pretty well farmed, the soil was of a
loamy nature mixed up with a granite
sand. About 100 miles from St. Jobn*%
the land lying north of Fredericton and
away by Woodstock is a good farming
country; this district has good railway
accommodations, and the River St. John
which flows through it, is navigable for a
considerable distance by flat steamers of a
large tonnage. Cleared farms in this dis-
trict can be bought from £8 to £12, but
land equally good, still uncleared, can be
had at from 6s. to 10s. per acre. At
Sackville, another portion of the province
we visited, lying on the borders of Nova
Scotia, we saw some very fertile land. On
the Sackville Marsh, which is 10 miles
long by 4 in width, the soil is a good loam
on a blue clay subsoil ; large crops of hay
are annually taken from this marsh o»
meadow, and during the time of our visit
we saw many thousands of ricks — many
of them containing 80 stones of hay — stiU
outstanding, although a good portion had
been secured in large wooden sheds. On
examining the hay, we found that it was
coarse and strong where grown on the
natural meadows.^ But the sown grasses
were much finer, and the hay of better
quality. When in this district we were
much indebted to Mr. Wood, Mr. Black,
M.P.P., and other influential gentlemen
belonging to the city, for their kindness
and courtesy. At Mr. Wood's farm, which
we inspected, we saw a, herd of 60 cattle,
some of which were fairly well bred ani-
mals. He had 22 large cattle tied up,
and being prepared for the Engliwi
market, and a few had that day been sold
and sent off. The price at which Mif.
Wood had sold wag 4J cents., or say 2Jd.
per lb., live weight. Two of these cattle,
undet three years of age, weighed 2,970
lbs., and would consequently ^ value for
£12 16s. each at home, whicli, with the
cost of transport, &c. , to Liverpool, amount-
ing' to £6 per head, would make them
about £19 in Liverpool. Mr. Wood's
farm is partly upland and partly marsh,
very suitable for stock purposes. On
the marsh he raises crops of hay, aver-
aging from three to thrce-and-a-hall
tons per acre, and the uplands are well
adapted for growing green crops. His
turnip crop, however, did not appear to
j have been a heavy one this year. Land in
1 the vicinity of Sackville sells as follows ;—
j Marsh land from £10 to £24, and hard land
I from £6 to £8 per acre. During our flying
visit through the province of Nova Scotia

•bletovisitaveryfew nlares. AtSt. John's | wc passed through the Annapolis Valley,
■wewereintroducedto'iir. Livingstone, the j which is of considerable length, and in
Canadian Government Agent, from whom > some places several miles in width.

85

id R good
le land in
seemed to
was of a
a granite
St. John'%
ricton and
d farming
od railway
!r St. John
gable for*
eamers of a
in this dis-
to £12, but
ired, can be
r acre. At
he province
ers of Nova
eland. On
is 10 mile«
a good loam
crops of hay
is marsh or
! of our visit
ricks — many
of hay— stiu
. portion had
1 sheds. On
a that it was
•own on the
sown grassea
lay of better
rict wc were
d, Mr. Black,
il gentlemen
jeir kindness
[s farm, which
of 60 cattle,
.ell bred ani-
ittle tied up,
the English
day been sold
it which Mr.
a., or say 2id.
)f these cattle,
A-eighed 2,970
y 1^ value for
lich, with the
rpool, amount-
Id make them
Mr. Wood's
partly marsh,
urposes. On
of hay, aver-
iree-and-a-half
lands are well
sn crops. His
not appear to
year. Land in
Is as follows ; —
^, and hard land
uring our flying
of Nova Scotia
mapolis Valley,
length, and in
lies in width.

There are several good marshes bordering
on the Annapolis River. These marshes
• are protected by high banks and produce
good crops of excellent hay averaging
about three tons per acre. We also passed
through the Grand PrA Marsh, which is
situated in the neighbourhood of Woolf-
ville. The Grand Pr6 is not so large as
the Sackville Marsh, but is very produc-
tive, and is called the garden of Nova
Scotia. These fertile marsh lands contain
the best land in the two Provinces, and
are very valuable. They are enclosed by
dykes, and whenever it is found necessary
to enrich the soil, exhausted, it may be,
by continuous cropping, the sluice gates
are opened and the tide is allowed to over-
flow the meadows, and leave a rich deposit
«f alluvial matter to the depth of one or
more inches on the surface. During our
run through the maritime provinces we
spent a short time at Halifax, and whilst
there were much indebted to Messrs.
Eodger, fishery inspector of the maritime
Provinces, and Clay, Government agent,
for their courtesy and readiness to impart
information.

The Province of Nova Scotia contains
about 11,000,000 acres, two-elevenths of
which is covered by water, four-elevenths
barren rocky land, and the remainder
Biutable for tillage. Only a small propor-
tion of it, however, has as yet been brought
under cultivation. The south-west portion
of the Province being near the Gulf Stream
has a moister and warmer climate than
the other districts, and sheep can be
pastured out the whole winter. In the
neighbourhood of Windsor we saw some
excellent land, which produces good crops
of wheat, barley, and corn, as well as
all kinds of green crop. The land was fairly
timbered, and few of the farms were
altogether cleared. Land could be
bought there from 80s. to 50s. per
acre, partly cleared. Nova Scotia is
particularly rich in iron and coal, and
several of its mines are at present boiug
profitably wrought. This Province hm
the great advantage of having ports on
Its seaboard open during the whole of
winter ; and in conjunction with its
neighbour Province, New Brunswick,
ahould consequently be in a better posi-
tion than the more northern Provinces of
the Dominion to raise stock proiitably for
ehipment to English ports. The winters
are similar to those experienced in the
other Provinces, but, whenever spring
sets in, vegetation is very rapid. Plough-
ii g is resumed in April. The crops are
generally sown in May, and reaped in
August. Cultivation of fruit for export
is becoming quite an industry in some
districts, and the apples especially are of
excellent flavour. The fish crop is at

present the most important industry in
the maritime Provinces, and will- likely
continue to be so until their internal re-
sources are more fully developed. We
were informed that the average yearly
yield to Nova Scotia from fish alone,
amounts to no less than 6,000,000 dollars.
After leaving the maritime Provinces we
proceeded direct to the Eastern Townships
of Quebec, a railway journey of fully 700
miles from Halifax. On our arrival at.
Compton we went at once to Hillhurst,
the residence of the Hon. Mr. Cochrane,
the well-known and successful breeder ef
shorthorns, &c. Here we were most
courteously received and entertained by
Mr. Cochrane, who showed us through
his valuable herd, all of which were of
excellent pedigree, and some of them of
great value and well known to shorthorn
experts. I saw also a good many cattle
being prepared for the English markets ;
they were receiving a liberal supply of
hay and roots all chopped up, mixed with
meal, and would be good animals by the
spring, when they are generally sold oflF.
Last year Mr. Cochrane sold his fat cattle
(96 in number) to a home dealer at
5j^ cents or about 2Jd. per lb. They had
been kept on the fai-m for a period of 11
months, and paid 60 dollars or at the rate of
about £1 per month for keep. We also saw
his flock of ewes, hoggetts and tup lambs.
They were principally Cotswolds of good
quality. At the time of our visit, the 20th
of November, the ewes were still on the
pasture fields, but were to be housed im-
mediately. Mr. Cochrane informed us
that he sells his tup lambs as high as 25
dollars or £5 per head. We did not think
so much of his work horses, but his harness
horses were very good, one of his mares
being superior to anything of the kind we
had seen in the Dominion. His pigs of
the Pdrkshire breed were also very excel-
lent, in fact the whole establishment and
system of management was of a high
order and quite equal to the best managed
farms in thi" country. The farm contains
1,000 acres, well fenced and laid off in
large enclosures. Water is abundant, and
the soil is well adapted for growing good
white and green crops, the average of the
turnip crop this year being over 2.S tons per
acre. After leavingMr. Cochrane we visited
Slierbrooke, a rising town of from 13,000
to 16,000 inhabitants, and beautifully sit-
uated on the St. Frances River. Here we
were fortunate in meeting Mr. Lindsay, a
large farmer in the district who drove uh
iiito the country for some dis'^ance and
gave us every information desired. We
also met with Mr. Pope, son of the Hon.
Mr. Pope, Minister of Agriculture. This
gentleman farms extensively in the vicinity
of Sherbrooke, anfj feeds off a good man|i

f i

in,

36

"I

cattle. He informed us that he frequently
takes quarters from his neighbour farmers
during winter for his store cattle, for which
he pays about 5 dollars, or £1 per head.
They are fed altogether on hay, which at
that time was being sold for ti dollars, or
say 25a. per ton. Mr. Lindsay also deals
largely in cattle and sheep. Last spring
he sold his sheep at 4 cunts., or 2d. per lb.
live weight for shipment to the Englisli
market. To Mr. Lindsay I was indebted
for the following information respecting
the Eastern Townships. The farms vary in
size from 100 to 50U and 600 acres, and
could be bought at present from £3 to £6
per acre. At the latter price the land
would be in a high state of cultivation,
with very good farm buildings ; for wild
or uncleart^d land from 2s. 6d, to 12s. 6d.
per acre, according to the location. The
average yield of crops this season were as
under : — 22 bushels wheat, 46 bushels
barley, 60 bushels oats, 26 bushels peas,
275 bushels potatoes, and from 800 to 1,000
bushels turnips. Wheat was selling at
over 5s., barley at 2s. 8d. of 48 lb. bushel,
and. oats of 32 lb. at 18d. Milk cows were
value for from £4 to £6, good shipping
steers from 2d. to 2 Jd. per lb. Mve weight,
■heep 2d. per I'u. live weight, and lambs at
3 to 6 months old from 9s. to 123. 6d. per
head, butter from lid. to Is., and cheese
6d. per lb., pork SJd. to 3Ad., turkeys 6d.,
and poultry 4d. per lb. Here, gentlemen,
ends my report, and it now only remains
for me to give you a summary of the im-
pressions I formed of the great Dominion
of Canada as a suitable field for the
energies of the agricultural classes of this
country ; and in ^ving you my opinions
I must again remind you that, owing to
my short visit to Canada, as well as
having been there only at a certain and
probably ihe most favourable season of
the year, so far as its climate is concerned ,
BOJOte of the statements I may make may
be too high coloured, and be cpen to
critiaism. But I can at least assure you,
they are given in good faith, that I have
no personal interest to serve, as I do not
at present own, and possibly never may
own, a single acre of laud in any part of
the country, that during ray tour through
itq various provinces no attempt to bias
me in any way was made by Government
officials, or by parties who might be
otherwise interested, and that whilst
every^ facility was given me to see all that
I desired, 1 was left entirely to follow
out my own programme. I feel, however,
ttutt considerable responsibility rests upon
mo< in giving expression to the views I
Ixoid with respect not only to the present,
but to the future of the great country I
have just returned from visiting ; and I
puipobcly desire to spcuk guardedly, lest

I maybe accused of being too euthusiastio,.
p.f"' that at some fn^ure time, some of
til. t-^- -1 others who may read mj

report, and who thereby may be led to
leave comfortable homes in their native
land to try their fortunes on the other
side of the Atlantic, not finding all they
were led to expect, may blame me in
consequence ; for without doubt ther«
are many people who will no more suc-
ceed there than in this country, - ".d I
would prefer that more attention s juld
be bestowed on my report, in which
I have endeavoured to give as much
information as possible, with regard
to the different districts I visited, in
so far as their soils were concerned, their
suitability for "opping or stock raising,
the prices at which such could be
bought, the cost of management, &c.,.
rather than to my own opinions. First in
order comes Manitoba and the North-
west, in which I spent the first few weeks
of my visit to Canada. This immense tract
of country, the extont of which seema
boundless, has only become kiiown to the
outer world during, I may say, the last
decade of years, and it is a matter of
wonder that the fertility of its soil, and ita
capabilities as a wheat-growing country,
should so long have remained unknown,
seeing that it has been in possession of the
Hudson Bay Company for upwards of 20O'
yeai's. At present this great country,
which is supposed to be capable of sustain-
ing a population of upwards of 80,000,000'
of people, is, comparatively speaking,,
almost unoccupied, although emigration
from the older Provinces of the Dominion,,
as well as from the American States and
our own country, is yearly increasing, and
now that the country is being opened up
by the formation of the Canada- Pacific
Railway to the Rocky Mountains, and
I thence through British Columbia to the
Pacific Ocean, as well as by other railways,
there can be no doubt that the tide of
emigration westwards will continue to go
on in an increasing ratio year by year,
and that in a very few years it will have
a considerable population, t^ During my
short visit (and I was only able whilst
there to travel over about 600 miles of its

Erairie lands, and my remarks, it must bo
ome in mind, are only strictly applicable
to what I saw) I was very highly impressed
with the fertility of the soil, some of it
being without exception the richest I have
ever seen, and I have little doubt it will
continue for many years to produce excel-
lent crops of grain without any manure,
and with very little expense in culti vjitiou ;
and I woidd say to any one blessed with
health and strength, who is possc^isod of
moderate moans, and who is of sober and
industrious habits, that in Manitoba or thtt

»7

ithusiastio,.
le, some of
ay read my
r be led to
heir uatira
1 the other
ng all they
ime rue la
oubt there
) more suc-
titry, - \i I
ition s Jul'J
, in which
e as much
'ith regard

visited, in
;crued, their
;ock raising,
could ba
rement, &c.,
ns. First in

tho North-
:st few weeks
nmense tract
nrhich seems
jiown to the
say, the last

a matter of
a soil, and its
ring country,
sd unknown,
isession of the
awards of 20O
reat country,
3le of sustain-
of 80,000,000-
ily speaking,
h emigration
;he Dominion,,
n States and
icrcasing, and
ig opened up
lanada- Pacific
auntains, and
lumbia to the
)ther railways,
it the tide of
joutinue to go
year by year,
B it will have

», During my
ly able whilst
lOO miles of its-
rks, it must bo
ctly applicable
ghly impressed
jil, some of it
e richest I have
I doubt it will
produce exccl-
t any manure,
1 in cultivation;
e blessed with
is possessed of
is of sobur and
Manitoba or the

North-West he would have no difficulty in {
realising a competency in a very short '
time, and in many cases, in a few years,
a fortune. For example, 100 acres of land
is now jjoing offiU'cil by the Canadian
Govcniinent free on the condition of set-
tlement, and IGO acres more at a price
that would not amount to one year's
rental of very moderate land in this
country. Of taxation, meantime, there is
almost none, and although churches and
schools have in a great measure yet to be
built, it is only a question of time, for all
the settlers with whom I came in contact
are as much alive to the advantages of
education as we are at home, and no
differences in religious belief as yet trouble
the inhabitants, for I found Episcopalian,
Methodist, and Presbyterian all working
harmoniously together. Tlie North- West
Territory, I may mention," will in a special
manner commend itself to our temperance
friends, for no liquor is permitted to be
sold in its vast bounds, and heavy fines
are liable to be imposed on any one in
whose possession it is found without
having a permit from the Governor. No
doubt in this new coimtry, as in every
other, there are many disadvantages to be
•encountered and difiiculties to be overcome,
and people going there must be prepared,
if I may so express it, to rough it for a
few years. Its climate goes to extremes,
the summers being hot and the winters
severe, the thermometer, I was informed,
occasionally marking about 70 degrees of
frost. The sno^vfall, however, is not so
excessive as in some parts of the Dominion,
seldom exceeding a depth of from eighteen
inc>ie8 to two feet ; but people who have
T) resident in the North- West for many
years assured me that, owing to the dry-
ness of the air, with a little care, they
never suffered from the severe cold. In
summer, I was given to understand that,
in common with all hot climates, life for
a time was made rather miserable to the
new settlers by the mosquitoes, sand flics,
and other pests ; but these troubles are
not considered of much account by the
pioneers of civihsation. The scarcity of
timber on these vast prairies is also to be
noticed. This is a want that will un-
dcabtedly be felt by many settlers for
Bome time, but in the course of a very
few years, will be overcome, when the
country becomes more settled and the
land brought under cultivation, which
will prevent the ravages of prairie fires,
which are at present unchecked, and keeps
down the growth of timber except on the
borders of the streams and rivers. The
roads, too, as I have already noticed, are
still in a state of nature, and become worse
in the rainy season, and this is at present a
difficulty with the new settler, but even

now they are in a fair state for traTellitfg
over, and for hauling purposes during
about three-fourths of the year. As so^
as railways are made through the count^,
they will tend to divert the heaviest of
the traffic from the roads. Tramways
are also likely to be found very suitable
for the prairie country, and are sure to be
lirought into requisition at no distant
day, and even the present roads can be
greatly improved by the judicious use of
brushwood and proper water tabling.
With regard to water, I fear that this may
prove to be one of the greatest disadvan-
tages with which many of the settlers mny
be called to contend. lu all the districts
I visited my enquiries were specially
directed to this subject, but from in-
formati(m I received, I am led to believe,
that although in the summer months
there was in some places more or less
difficulty in getting a pure and sufficient
supply, yet good water had always
hitherto been obtained from wells sunk
to a lesser or greater depth from the
surface. I also made enquiries as to the
ravages of grasshoppers, but although it
was conceded that the Province had oc-
casionally suffered severely from these
pests, settlers did not anticipate much
loss through them in the future, when
the country was brought more under
cultivation. I have now brought Vjefore
you the good and the evil, and will only
further remark, that in my opinion a very
great future awaits Manitoba, and tho Can-
adian Korth-West. Its boundless praiiies
will soon be brought under cultivation, and
when opened up by railways, and also by
water communication through the Hudson
Bay direct to this country, it will
become the granary of the world, and
be able to supply the wants of many
peoples with the staff of life, and at
a price that will be a blessing to oar
struggling millions, but will bear hard on
tha occupiers of grain-growing lands in
this country. With regard to the next
part of the Dominion which I visited,
vit,., the Province of Ontario, I was also
much pleased with what I saw of its agri-
cultural resources. The greater part of
the country through which I passed was
very good farming soil. Several districts
were perhaps ns well farmed as our own
country, but, as a rule, I did not consider
the farming of a very high class. No
regular rotation seemed to be observed,
and the value of manure, as an aid to
raising good crops, if understood, did not
appear to be acted upon. Too much atten-
tion appeared to me to have been given
in the past to raising cereals, and too
little to the raising of stock. But farmers
seemed now to be turning their attention
more that way, and I have no doubt that

'ti

1; !

81^

trben faraiing is parancd in a systematic
manner, similar to that cibseiTod in thif>
country, that a prosperous future awaits
the agriculturists of Ontario. In my re-

Eort I gave full detaih of the prices of
ind, stock, and working expenses, so I
need not now allude to these matters.
But to anyone thinking of emifrrating to
Ontario, I may tell him, that with the ex-
ception of the climate, which, however, I
was informed, is not so extreme, either
with htat or cold, as in the North- West,
he will have none of the difficulties to en-
counter in the districts I visited that he
would have to face in Manitoba. Indeed
I thought it very much like our own
country with respect to its large and
thriving towns and villages, and the ap-
pearance generally of its country districts.
It has sufficient railway and water facili-
ties through all its bounds. Its roads are
excellent and in good order. Its educa-
tional system is, I think, better than our
own — in fact, it enjoys all the advan-
tages that we possess in this country.
And now with respect to the Mari-
time Provinces and the Eastern Town-
ships in Quebec Province, I do not
feel myself to be in a position to say
much. I had only a hurried run through
both, and the season was too far advanced
to see much of them. The former, in my
opinion, has the great advantage of being
near shipping ports that are open through-
oat the year,and the places 1 visited seemed
CO be well adapted for raising and fattening
stock. I felt greatly pleased with '•he
little I saw of the Ea'i«rn Townships.
The country greatly resembled many of
the best districts in Galloway. The land
was undulating, well watered and wooded,
and the soil appeared to be good, and par-
ticularly well suited to grow first-rate
green crops and excellent pasture. I
thought too that land, considering its
quality, waa cheaper than in its neigh-
bouring Provinces. And now with respect
to these older Provinces of the Dominion.
Whilst the mother countiy may in a few
years look to the great North- West for
abundant supplies of cheap grain ; from
them she will also receive yearly increas-
ing quantities of excellent beef and mutton,
Sec,, at moderate prices. .\nd now to sum
up briefly, to those who think of emi-
grating to Canada, I would say, that in
my opinion the Dominion has the adavn-
tage of being nearer England than any
of her other colonies, that to whichever
of her Provinces they may go, they Avill
meet with the kindest, most hospitable
people on the face Of the earth ; they are
also as loyal subjects as Her Most Gracious
Majesty the Queen has in any other part
of her vast Dominions, they will go to a laud

of immense mineral as well as agricultural
resources yet to be developed, a land that
has a great future before it, and which I
feel assured, will some day become one of
the mightiest countries on the face of th»
earth. (Loud and continued ch(«ring.
Mr. Cowan was also repeatedly applauded
during the delivery of his lengthy address.)

At the conclusion of the address, which
was listened to with intense interest,

The Chairman said Mr. Cowan would^
be glad to answer any questions.

No questions were put, the audience-
evidently thinking that Mr. Cowan had
given them all information that an intend-
ing emigrant could desire.

Mr. Uankin, of Airds in moving a vote-
of thanks to Mr. Cowan for his abl&
address, said he wished Mr. Cowan
not merely to be thanked for the
excellent and interesting addres*
they had just listened to, but for
the patriotic way in which he had
acceded to the wish of the farmers in-
leaving home and his business at so short-
a notice to go to such a distant country
for a long period of time without fee or
reward. ((!heers.) The able report they"
had listened to proved the wisdom of their
choice. (Lond applause.) It was not too
much to say that there were few men in
the kingdom who could make tho.se ob.ser-
vations and put them before the public in-
such a practicable manner as Mr. Cowan
had done. (Cheers.) His information
had been given in such a form as to be of
the greatest use to those who intended to
emigrate to Canada, and it was most satis-
factory to find that country so highly
recommended by agentleman so competent
as Mr. Cowan undoubtedly was. (Hear,
hear.) Mr. Cowan's promptitude in
making his report had added greatly to
the obligations they were under to him.-
(Loud cheers.)

The vote of thanks having been carried
most enthusiastically,

Mr. C'^wan acknowledged the compli-
ment, and said he thanked them most sin-
cerely for their great kindness. He could
assm-e them his visit to Canada had been
a most enjoyable one, and that he would
always look back with pleasure upon it.
He could have given them much more
information, but he knew that it would be
wearisome to them, and, as he had already
said, he would be happy to give them any
information they desired at some future
time. (Hear, hear.)

Jtr. White proposed a vote of thanks to
the chairman, and the proceedings, which
la~' vi two hours, terminated.

r. Cowan exhibited some wonderful
specimens of Canadian potatoes and grain^
which were inspected with much iulere«t»

Offic
and

Gove']
in ten
will

As
hours
ment,
Readi
dispos
give U
^vhich

Bssmffa

■■'n^t^mmm'^:' ■■"nwwy^.jH

»! I III i|im»-

icultural-

ivnd that

which I

le one of

;e of th»

5h(«ring.

[)plauded

address.)

88, which

rest,

au woulct-

audience
)wan had
uiinteud-

in(5 ft vote'

. his able

r. Cowan

for the

addres*

, but for

h he had

farmers in-
at so short-

mt country

hout fee or

report, thoy-

]om of their

was not too

few men in

those obscr-

,he public itt
Mr. Cowan

information

1 as to be of
intended to

18 most satis-

7 so highly

so competent

was. (Hear,
iptitude in
i\ greatly to
nder to him.-

been carried

the compU-
lem most sin-
He could
jwla had been
;hat he would
isure upon it»
much more
^t it would be
le had already
;ive them any
some future

_e of thanks to
jedings, which

i.

ime wonderful
toes and grain,
much iulcre«t»

NOTE.

THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT,

With the view of affording correct and reliable information to intending
•iSettlers, and of giving them every facility in obtaining it, have opened
commodious Offices at ■

15, WATER STREET, LIVERPOOL,

•

Where Statutes, Government Returns, Sessional Papers, Reports on
Trade, !Maps, Specimens of Grain and other products, Samples of
Soils, and, in fact, all conceiA'able matters of interest to visitors to
the Dominion, Avliether with a view to permanent settlement or not, may
•be consulted and inspected. The Government Agent of the Dominion will
also be ready to give advice and assistance.

It is Ci^'pecially re(iuested that it be homo in mind th t the Dominion
Officials htve no interest in directing attention to any particular district;
and the chief desire which will influence all the Agents of the Dominion
Government, whether in this country or in Canada, is simply to direct
intending Settlors to places whore, according to their circumstances, they
will have the best prospects of success.

As Passengers to Canada or other parts of America have always a few
hours to spare in Liverpool, a visit to the Offices of the Dominion Govern-
ment, as above, is respectfully suggested. A large and well-appointed
Reading-room, with files of the leading Canadian Journals, is at their
disposal. The Liverpool Agent will also be happy, when desired, to
give letters of introduction to his co-agents and others throughout Canada
which will be found of substantial service on arrival there.

V;,-

■»"?. :..je^

■^

yiiii»,:nm-

HSf'

:ri

:T

/

99

REPORT BY MR. R. W. GORDON, tm ANNANDALE DELEGATE.

*'1

?v

A Mbbtimg of farmers was held in the
Town Hall, Annan, January 9th, to hear
the report of Mr. Robert W. Gordon,
Oomlongan Mains, Ruthwell, the Dele-
gate appointed by the Annandale farmers
to proceed to Canada and report upon
that country as a field for emigration for
agriculturists. There was a very large
attendance, the hall being uncomfortably
crowded, and some were unable to gain
admission. Among those who accom-
panied Mr. Gordon were Mr. Johnstone
Douglas, of Lockerbie; Provost Nichol-
son ; the Bev. Mr. Gillespie, of Mouswald ;
Mr. Marshall, Eovtch; Mr. W. J. P. Beattie,
Newbie ; Bev. "W . P. Johnstone, Kirtle ;
Mr. Brown, Hardgrave; Mr. Crawford,
Northfield; ex- Provost Batty, Mr. C.
M'Lean ; Mr. James Bell, seedsman,
Dumfi-ies, &c.. Sec.

On the motion of Mr, Marshall, Howes,
Provost Nicholson was called to the chair.

The Chairman, in introducing Mr.
Gordon, said — 1 am sure it afEoids us all
very much pleasure to welcome Mr.
Gordon home again from his arduous, but
I have no doubt interesting journey.
(Applautie.) I have been highly pleased
to hear the universally expressed satisfac-
tion at the appointment of the Delegate
sent from this district, for every one seems
to think we have made a very judicious
choice. From what I know of Mr.
Gordon's powers of observation and his
general intelligence, I am sure he will
give you a most interesting and, I have
no doubt, a most instructive report of
what he has seen and heaid since we ap-
pointed him about three months f^o.
(Applause.) I will not detain you longer,
but will call on Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Gordon, who was warmly re-
ceived, and frequently applauded during
the delivery of his report, then pro-
ceeded— I suppose I need not apologise
for appearing here before you to-day, nor
need I waste your time by explaining the
circumstances under which I was ap-
pointed to visit Canada, but will at once
Srocced to give as faithful an account of
le districts I visited in the three Pro-
vinces of Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba,
which constitute a piirt of the great Domi-
nion of Canada, as it was in my power to
obtain. I shall conclude with a short
irammary of each Province as a field for
ttnigration from this country, but shall do
to with some diffidence, in consequence of

the short time I was able to spend in each
<Il„mct. The season of the year selected
was also greatly against my using mj
faculties of observation, as the corn and
potato crops were gathered, and a con-
siderable quantity marketed before J
arrived.

BABTBBN TOWNSHIPS.
My party, on landing in Canadian ter-
ritory at Point Lovis, Quebec, on September
21, proceeded at; fast as an emigrant t'ain
would allow us to^isit the Eastern Town-
ships. These Tow'iships constitute part
of the Province of Quebec, and occupy thj
south-eastern portion of it. They are
bounded on the north by the river St.
Lawrence, on the south and west by the
United States, and on the east by what
arc called the Maritime Provinces. Thej
lie between latitudes 45 deg. and 47 dsg.
north, which traverse also the south of
France. The climate conaoquently la
summer is similar to that cxpurienccd in
the soutli of France j but the winter is a
rigorous one, and is estimated to last a
fortnight longer than in Ontario. Our
visit to these Townships lasted only two
days, but during that time we were shown
a fair sample of the district. The surface
of the country is undulating, and as a
consequence the soil is very varying in
quality, alternating from rich alluvial
deposits to almost barren sand. The
water supply is excellent, beautiful crystal
springs catching t^o eye on all sides. The
woods were at /it ci me quite a feature
in the landscape • . . the variety of their
tints ; and contaiu ceder, maple, hickoiy,
elm, ash, spruce, &c. — all trees which
indicate, we were told, good farming land.
Clover, Timothy grass, roots, barley, and
oats grow to perfection. Second cuts of
clover are equal to crops in this district,
roots are superior to our avfago crops,
and grown without artificial manures.
Laud here will lie out in permanent
pasture, Fruit is in great abundance and
of splendid quality from apples to outdoor
grapes. The inhabitants arc for the most
part composed of English, Scotch, Irish,
and French — the French element being
the strongest. The latter do not, as a rile,
make good settlers : but .arc quiet jjcace-
able neighbours, very merry, and an
advantage to our countrymen in this way
— that tljey make capital Labourers,
Wages are pretty much the same .as witl^
ua. men being procurable at about £^0 a

h

year without board, nnd relatively cheaper
when bimni uiul lodj^in'^a are provided.
Land is procuraltleat prices ranging from
£2 to £10 per acn;, according to the
quality of the R 'il, the situation as regards
markets and iriilwaya'commodatlou, and
the value of the bu ItUnps, fences, and
other permanent; improvements which
h.ivo been executed, I may just remark
here that the buildings, as a rule, are
inferior, and that theic is great room for
jmprovonient in the cultivation of the
Boil. The cattle are chiefly what ore
called native and are, one would fancy,
to look at them, a cross between the
Ayrshire and the old-fashioned 'lish
breeds. There are, h wever, several herds
of shorthorns, and these are gradually
improving the native breed ; in fact the
fiist cross makes a good marketable ani-
mal. Hortes lire light, active, clean-
le;,'ged and vi-ry hardy, admirably adapted
for the work required of them. The sheep
are of the Leioester and Cotteswold breeds
generally, and are much too fat and heavy
weights to suit the English markets.
Farmers are beginning to find this out,
and are enquiring for sires containing a
larger proportion of lean flesh, such as
the Shropshire, Hampshire or Southdown.
Berkshire pigs are bred extensively, and
seem to thrive as well as in theii native
country. Schools and churches there are
but us yet not thickly planted ; the roads
also are for the most i)art in a primitive
state. There is, however, no want of
material for making them, and doubtless
as tlie country gets more settled they will
be improved. Railway communications
arc good

THE VALLKT OP THE ST. LAWUENCE.

We next passed through the valley of
the St. Lawrence, where, although we were
informed the soil was 10 feet deep, the
appeavance of the country was wretched
through utter disregard of the first prin-
ciples of farming. The inhabitants are
nearly wholly of French extraction, and
lay out their farms, as they do also in the
Eastern Townships, In long.narrow strips,
sometimes in width only room enough
for a house and stretching back a couple
of miles. Tills system is adopted in con-
■equence of their fondness for society,
and for keeping their families, even when
married, around them, which leads to
the erection of their houses clong the
roads and in close proximity to each
other.

ONTARIO,
We ran through the Province of Quebec
and entered Ontario, the most impctant
Province at present in the Dominioj.. It
is bounded on the south by Lakes Erie
•ad Ontario and the river St. Lawrence ;
en the west by Lake Huron and the

Great North-West territory ; on the eait
by the Province of Quebec ; and, like
Quebec, has no limit northward till it
reaches the North Pole. The 4")th parallel,
however, runs north of the bulk of the
land at iirosent settled. The surface of^^
the parts we visited in this province is
not 80 undulating as the Kastern Town-
ships. The winter is shorter, and the,*
anow often disappears, leaving the grouild *
bare, a condition of things not dcsirahl*'
in so cold a climate. The summer, how-
ever, is warmer, and ripens Indian com, A
tomatoes. Sec, while grapes and peachel
grow as if they were nativiis. One thing
strikes the traveller very forcibly whil« '
passing through Ontario, and thatistha''
almost total absence of anything re-
sembling our Scotch bums, which leads
him to fancy that there must be a great
scarcity of water. This, howc-vor, is not
the case, as on er "liry we found that
good water off lin ne rock can be had
by sinking wells enough in all but

very isolated cp i this we found

verified by the number of windmill and
other pumps we saw as we drove through
the country districts. As in the Baatcrn
Townships, there are still forest lands to
be broken np, and fields are here and
there studded with the decaying stumps
of primeval monarchs of the forest. Oak,
elm, maple, cedar, tamarac, hickory,
.spruce, pine and other timbers are to be
found in different localities. The first
place we halted at was Ottawa, and we
were just in time for the Dominitm Show,
which is held by rotation in the principal
cities. We found the show on the whole
a creditable one, considering that the
exhibits were uil from a distance, as
although Ottawa is the capital of Canada,
it is situated in anything but a good
fanning district ; in fact, it has no in-
dustry worth the name with the exception
of the lumber trade, and that is indeed
an extensive one. In cattle there were re-
presented the shorthorn, Hereford, Devon,
Galloway,Ayr8hire,and native cross -breeds
— inall of which cla8seB,with the exception
of the Galloways, there were some good
animals. Sheep were not well represented.
In horses, what we consider the correct
stamp, was almost totally absent, the
horses of the district being much lighter
than ours, and arc bred with a view to
rapidity of motion rather than hearj
draught. The feature of the show WM
the trotting horses, driven single and
double in buggies round and round the
enclosure, and doing their best pace.
Roots, vegetables, and fruit were an ex-
traordinary good show ; for size, variety,
and quality, I never saw them equalled
in our own country. Machinery and im-
plements were excellent, and combined

41

n the eait.
and, like
ftiJ till it
111 parallel,
iilk of the
surface of
)i'ovincc is
em Town-
•, and the*

the gTOUlld

>t desirable
amer, how-
idian com,
id peachei

One thing
•cibly while

that is the
ything re-
vhich Icadii
; be a great
over, is not
found that
; can be had

I in all bat
s we found
rindmill and
ove through

the Eastern
rest lands to
re here and
^ing stumM
•orest. Oak,
ic, hickory,
icrs are to be
s. The first
iwa, and we
linion Show,
the principal
on the whole
ng that the

distance, as
al of Canada,

but a good
t has no in-
the exception
lat is indeed
;here were re-
■eford, Devon,
e cross-breeds
the exception
re some good

II represented.
r'v the correct

absent, the

much lighter

rith a view to

than heavy
the ehow watt
n single and
and round the
lir best pace,
lit were an ex-
r size, variety,
tliem equalled
hinery and im»
and combined

lightness, simplicity, durability, and great
Ingenuity, with ch<?apncH8. Harness also
may be deHcribi'd in the same maimor.
The land around Ottawa is, as I before
■lentioned, very poor— being either very
light, sandy soil or too rocky for good
cultivation. It is selling at from 10s. to
<tlO per acre. Thiire is a very extensive
lime quarry about two miles out of town,
and a hill of phospiiate of lime about
eight miles out, which is quarried and ex-

?:jrted. From Ottawa we journeyed to
oronto, doing most of the distance by
night, and crossed Lake Ontario to visit
the Falls of Niagara, which, although not
strictly within our mission, havn such
world-wide reputation that it would have
been a mistake to have passed them.
And well were we rewarded. To stand
and watch one hundred million tons of
water, travelling at the rate of 26 miles
an hour, falliiig 160 feet and rebounding
from the rocks below, formill^r clouds of
spray, is a sight never to b ; forgotten.
Leaving Niajjara, we returned to Toronto,
passing thrcugh hopyards and magnifi-
cent orcharr s of peaches, apples, &c. — the
.m climate and soil being admirably adapted
for the growth of these products. After
•ponding one night in Toronto, we left
for Londcn to attend a local show, or
fair as it '.b named in Canada. We found
tho exhibits much as at Ottawa, except
the sheep, which were decidedly better.
The soi", judging by the view we got of
it from the railway carriage from Toronto
to Lon Ion, is rather stiff, except in the
Dcightourhood of Guelph, which is a good
district and well farmed. Orchards
abou'id ; and young wheat when we
wen- there, in the the end of September,
was f ' om 6 inches to 1 foot high — much
too luxuriant we thought. Cattle, sheep,
and pigs were turned into the fields to
eat it down, as when snow falls it is
•nothered and rots. In London we were
shown over a large brewery, fitted up
with every modern appliance, even to
the consumption of petroleum tar in the
engines as fuel instead of coal or woou,
which, we were told, saves 30 per cent, in
the outlay. Canadian-grown hops are
used, and barley costs from 2s. to 2s. 6d, per
48 lbs. From London we passed th'ough
Bothwell to Chatham, then alonp; Lake
Jlrie shore to Blenheim and Tharaesville,
and thence to IngersoU. Soil of almost
any quality can be got on this route,
from forest lands at &2 to magnificent
deep clay and sandy loams worth from
£16 to £25 per acre The Indian com
grows here luxuriantly, yielding from
fifty to sixty bushels per acre. Fall or
autumn wheat, clover for seed, and roots
are the principal crops. The farmers are
making experiments in growing sngar

I

beet, which, it successful, will rctuni
them *40 per acre. Thoy are promised
by a company £1 per ton for the roots
delivered at drying kilns erected from
five to ten miles a|)art. The pnlf), when
dried, is forwarded to the su^^ar factory (
and as they estimate they can grow on
this land forty to fifty tons per acre, the
success of the exporiniont is looked for
anxiously. Orchai-ds are also a feature
of this district, particularly along Lake
Krio shore. Making IngersoU and Wood-
stock our headquarters, wc drove to Paris,
Brantford, East Zorra, Norwich, Dere-
ham, and Simcoe. Thi.s is a great dairy
district, the cows being almost entirely of
the native breed, although some have a
dash of shorthorn in them. Well-managed
cheese factories stud the d'strict, which
collect the milk night and morning with
' heir own carts. Thoy are owned generally
oy a company of the iarmers themselves,
who put in a mannger, and remunerate
him either in cheese cr a percentage on
the year's sales in money. The expenses
are deducted at balancing time, and each
farmer geU an equivalent of money in
proportion to the quantity of milk he
supplied to the factory. In this way a
much more uniform make for the whole
district is secured, and consequently a
higher price. One factory was making
one ton per day, and another 16 cwts.
Unfortunately some of the managers had
sold their season's make of cheese at 3^.
per lb., a very unremuncrative price, but
before we left it had risen to 5}<1. This
will encourage dealers to give a good
price for next season's make. Fruit is
grown here also in abundance ; the soil is
very variable, and suited to all kinds of
crops. We came across an Osage orange
fence when near Lake Erie, which grows
so close, so quickly, and is of such a
prickly nature, that all further difficulty
in the matter of permanent fencing seems
to be at an end. The fencing question
would have been a difficult one to solve in
a few years, as wood is getting in some
districts scaree and dear. There are no
stones, at least you can travel miles
without feeing one ; and our white thom
will not grow. When at Brantford we
visited the celebrated Bow Park farm,
where the largest herd of shorthorns in
the world is kept, and saw a number of
animals of great merit. The farm is
kept entirely or nearly so for raising food
for these cattle. I may mention here that
when in the Eastern Townships we paid
a visit to the Hon. M. H. Cochrane's
farm, with whom your townsman, Mr.
Simon Beattie, was so long connected.
We saw a splendid farm of 1,200 acres in
extent, highly cultivated, and grazing a
herd of worid-remwned shorthorns and

■^'

■f

a

* nice little flock of Shropshin sheep.
We were intrcxiuced to a fine cow called
Dairymaid ; sire, Knight of the Tyne,
whose dam (Milkmaid) was bred by Mr.
Marshall of the Howes, and exported, I
believe, to Canada by Mr. Seattle. In
this district (I now return to Brantford)
it is the practice to sow both rye and
Indian corn to be used as green fodder or
made into hay. Indian crm yields 40 to
60 tons of green food, and when made
into hay about 9 tons per acre. It is con-
sidered equal to turnips for feeding cattle.
Timothy, orchard grass, and clover are
the only grass seeds sown in the province.
Permanent pasture is, I believe, unknown.
Our next move was to Stratford, thence
to Listowel, Harriston, Walkerton, Clin-
ton, and Seaforth, where we took rail to
Guelph. \V(! saw the same variations in
soil and crops as in other parts of the
Province, but noticed that although the
laud was fully as good as we had seen it
was not so well farmed, nor were the
houses and buildings so good, and orchards
were not so numerous. We wero informed
that it was a younger farming country,
which would account in a great measure
for these deficiencies. These remarks do
not apply to the immediate neighbour-
hood of either Stratford or f^uelph. The
Agricultural College here is » grand insti-
tution, and says much for tb j enterprise of
the Outarians. It is a fine o^iilding, about
a mile out of the town of Guelph, and
situated on a rising ground about the
centte of the farm. There is accommoda-
tion for 91 students, and at prescn'. it is
quite full. The students practically exe-
cute the whole labour on the farm, and
are instructed in the sciences applicable
to agriculture and horticulture, the course
of instruction lasting two years. The
Government aids private parties in pro-
viding the fuuc^s, and in addition each
fitudent pays r.bout £20 a year. He,
however, is paid in return for his work,
ifcnd it is calculated, if he is careful, that
he should save £7 each year. Judge,
then, of the value uf an institution which
teaches what will be all-important to
future generations of farmers, and at the
same time may be a source of i rp.ocnt
profit to the student. Our own coui.uCj
might well follow such an example.
There is a staff of professors, headed by a
principal, and Instructors in the working
and stuck departments. The flock con-
sists of 100 ewes, and their pro-
duce, of the Leiceslor, Southdown, and
Hampshire Down breds. The herd is com-
posed of four or five auimals each of
the Shorthorn, Hereford, Polled Angus,
Galiuway, Ayrshire, and native breeds
The present result of careful comparison
of these several breeds is in favour of the

Hereford solid Polled Angfua. Theiann I*
over 500 acres in extent, the soil being in,
some fields a sandy, and in others a clay
loam, with a grt el subsoil. We were ia>
formed that their wheat crop averages 35-
bushels. After leaving Guelph we again
returned to Toronto, and from there
visited St, Catherine's, and passed
Grimsby and the Welland Canal. Near
St, Catherine's we visited a manufactcy
of native wine : the vineyard which
supplies the grapes is 60 acres in extent ;
tl" e soil is a stiff clay of fi reddish colour^
which is considered the beit class of soil
for fruit growing. The ciimate here ia
remarkably mild ; winter is shorter and
not so Pjvere as in other parts of Ontariot
The Welland Canal passes Ht. Catherine's.
There is a new one in the course of con*
struolion, which is of a cap? ':ity to allow
Atlantic steamboats to pass up through
it, and thence to the great lakes. Tho
neighbourhood of Grimsby is admitted to
be the best fruit district in Canada.

THB INLAND SBAS OF NOBTH AMBBICA,

Leaving Toronto we took the tra' a f oi
Sarnia, en route via the Great Lakes for
Manitoba. In the largest of these lakes
it is boasted by the Canadians that they
could give the whole of our Little Xslaud
a bath. And certainly if it could b«
ground into powder and shipped across
the Atlantic I am not sure but that such
would be possible. Lake Superior is the
largest body of fresh water in the world ;
it IS 360 miles long, has an average width
of 85 miles, and an area of 32,000 square
mi'eR; its tjreatest depth is 800 feet, itt
height above the level of the AtlantiO
Ocean is only 600 feet, so you wi. I under*
stand that the bottom of the lal e at its
deepest place is 200 feet below the level
of the ocean. The first point of interest
we touched at was Sault Ste. Marie, op«
posite which the river which connects
Lakes Superior and Huron is rendered
unnavigable by rapids. Tiiere is a canal
a present up which pass the Lake
LvCamers, but in course of construction
there is another canal sufficiantly large
to complete tiie connection here with the
Atlar.tic in the same manner as the new
Welland Canal does between Lakes Brie
aud Ontario. There is also a talk of ft
company being formed for the con-
struction of a railway from the Sault
Ste. Marie to Lake Nipissing, which will
connect with the Canadian- Pacific Rail,
way when constructed from Montreal tp
Winnipeg via Thunder Bay. We next
spent a few hours on Prince Arthur'*
Landing, vhich is the rival port at jjresent
to Fort William, from whence will be
shipped goods from the great Norlh-West,
and brought here by the CanadiAn-Paciflo
Eaiiway, On oui voyage liom here to

,1, ,;,.]; .^

ing groi
field of

groi
of
idea on
is that
or rathi
Beacon
illirnitii
examin
•uilitkce

a

!'i

e fann i*

being in,
ira a clay

were in-
eragea 35'
we again

m thera
passed
al. Near
nufactcf
rd which
a extent;
sh colour,
iss of soil
,te here ifl
lorter and
)£ OiitariOk
atherine'i.
5u of con-
iy to allow
p through
tes. Th«
dmitted to
nada.
AMEUICA,

e tra' a f oi
Lakea for
thesu lakes
I that they
ittle ittlaiud
t could be
)ped across
b that such
)erior is the
the world ;
enige width
5,000 square
SCO feet, its
he Atlantio
I wi. I under-
lale at its
iw the level
t of interest
, Marie, op-
ch connects
is rendered
re is a canal
I the Lake
construction
liantly large
ere with the
asi the new
Lakes Erie
a talk of a
)r the con-
a the Sault
;, which will
Pacific Rail-
Montreal to
We next
nee Arthur's
ort at ])resent
lence will be
, North-Weat,
I atliiin- Pacific
irom here to

Dnlnth, the terminus of the Lake route,
we had the great pleasure of a visit to
Silver Island, which lies at the foot of
Tii inder Cape, a basaltij cliff 1350 feet
high. The silver mine from which the
island takes its name is worked by an
American company having their head-
quarters in New York. The quartz, which
is very rich in silver, is crushed on the
mainland close by; the silver is then
washed out o* '* and conveyed by steamer
down the lakes to its destination in the
States. One of the shafts is 700 feet deep,
and th9 workings are carried on under-
neath the waters of the lake. An island
which rises 900 feet above the lake near
here has a small lake on its summit in
which are fish of. a diftereut species from
those which inhabit the smrounding lake.

MANITOBA.

After resting a few hours at Dulutli, we
continued our journey to Winnipeg by
tiain via St. Vincent and Emerson. The
province of Manitoba, of which Winnipeg
:„ the capital, lies north of the 49th parallel,
along whicli runs the boundaiyline ilividing
the United States from Canada. This line
also traverses Belgium, Germany, and
Austria. It forms the centre of a circle
which might bo drawn round the continent
of North America, and is thus described by
Lord Dull'erin in his well known eloquent
language — "From geograjihical positions
and its peculiar charactoristics Manitoba
may be regarded as the keystone of that
mighty arch of sister Provinces which sp;ins
the continent from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. It was here that Canada emerging
from her woods and forests first gazed upon
her rollii'" prairies and unexplored North- i
West, and learned as by an unexpected |
revelation that her historical Territories
of the Canadas ; her eastern seaboards of i
Now Brunswick, Labrador, and Nova i
Scotia ; her Laurentian lakes and valley.^,
fjorii lands, and pastures, though them-
selves more extensive then half-a-dozen
European Kingdoms, were but the vesti-
bules and anti-chambers to ihat till then
undreamt of Dominion, whose illimitable
dimensions alike confound the arithmetic
of the surveyor and the verification of the
ftjcplorer. "

Such is the opinion expressed by the
late Governor-Ooncral on the occasion of
his visit to Winnipeg in 1877 of a country
wlii.-i; -j[-,;ii| a f,.^v yoai-.s ago was the hunt-
ing ground of tlie Indian and the pasture
field of the buH'alo. The traveller's first
idea on gazing across the vast praiiie lands
is that it deserves the name ajipliod to it,
or rather to the whole North-W est, by Lord
Beaconsfield, when he called it "that
illimitable wildeniess." But upon a closer
examination ho sees that beneath that
•uiiaco of dried grass or ashes, consc(iucut

from the frw^uent fires, there lies hidden,
a treasure in fertility of soil which,
when developed will sustain milliona.
of the human race. All prairie lands are,,
you may say, almost level, and this
Province forms no exception to the rule.
There are, however, here and there blulTs.
or ridges, and also what is called rolling,
prairie, but whic'i displays no mora
irregularity of surface than is to be found
in many parts of England, where, before
the era of drainage, the plough was used to
ridge up the land. Along the river banks
and up on the bluffs timber abounds, oak
and pojjlar being the prevailing kinds, and
amongst the bmshwood wo noticed the
rasjiberry, dogiose, and a thorn very much
resembling the white thorn of England,
and Scotland. Of roads there are none,.
Indian, trader, and settler having as yet
ignored them. The same absence of stream-
lets here, as I mentioned before in Ontario,
is forced uponone's attei.'tion, but this want
is aggravated by thecirci. instance that when
found, which is done by sinking wells, the
water in many cases is not palatable.
Cattle, however, thrive well on it, and we
were assured that if those wells were sunk
deep enough, good water would be found.
We came across one, however, where, al-
though it had been sunk 90 feet, good
water had not been secured. They Yuvd,
however, struck rock, and were in hopes of
succeeding at last. As tliis requires a con-
siderable outlay of money, settlers would
do well to locate where good water is known
to bo attainable at less cost. The climate
varies from almost tropical heat to arctic
cold, the thermometer marking occasionally
70 (legrees of frost. Old settlers told us-
tliat though they occasionally got frost-
bitten, the cold was not worse to beat
"" 1 in Ontario in consequence of the,
st jness of the air and the extreme
i vuess of the atmosphere. Snow seldom.
f ills to a depth of twenty inches. The
giasshopper plague, although a serious ona
wiien it arrives, comes si.'Idom ; for, it i»
said, they have appeared only five times
within the last 50 years. Mosij^uitocs,
also, are a great annoyance, but disappear
1 before improved cultivation. From Winui-
I peg we drove to Selkirk, Niverville, Otter.
I burne. Cook's Creek, Moosesknowe, and.
j Birds' Hill. These two last-mentionud
places constitute part of a gravel ridge
j which commences aboiit twelve miles from
the city, and is the only place wo cam*
across from whence may bo acquired
material ibr road making. The &oil is
nearly all of the same formation, although
in some places the variation in depth i»
very considerable ; but as the giound wa»
frozen we had less opportunity of testing
this than we desired. We, however, neveu
saw the subsoil turned up by the plough,,'

! ■
I

i; t

^

and wliere there were water runs or holes
dug we noticud as great a depth as four
feet. We were told that it is found even
nine. The subsoil in most parts is of deep
clay, and of such a rich friable nature that
we could fancy it would grow wheat without
the assistance of the surface soil. The
price of laTid varies, if bought from specula-
tors, from 4s. to £2 10s. an acre ; but
Bettlers can get from the Government,
nndur condition of residence and cultiva-
tion, 160 acres for nothing, and if they
choose, can pay for 160 acres more at from
4s. to 10s. an acre, 4-lOths of the purchase
money, together with interest on the latter
at 6 per cent. , being payable at the end of
three yeai-s, the remainder being payable
annually thereafter in six equal sums, with
interest at above-mentioned rate on each
unpaid instalment. This is called a pre-
emi)tion, and tlie buyer binds himself to
commence to work this along with his first
acquired 160 acres, which is called a home-
stead within three years. What is called
railway lands can also be bought from the
government with no condition of residence
or cultivation, at 4s. to 20s. per acre. The
native cattle, which ai-e much hotter than
in the other Provinces (I do not speak of
improved ones), seem to thrive well on the
prairie glass in summer and on hay in the
winter. They were invariably in good
condition, and are fattened readily with
the addition of a little grain. There are
few sheep kept yet, as the wolves on the
one hand and spear grass on the other play
havoc with the flock. Spear grass we did
not se'i, but were told that it penetrates
the skin and kills the animal. When the
land is all settled and cultivated, both of
the.se enemies of the fleecy tribe will dis-
appear ; but I am of opinion that, as a
rale, Manitoba is not a sheep-growing
country, the land being too level and too
soft. Horses are mostly imported from
the States and Canada, and suffer from a
debilitating fever until they have been
Bome time in the country. Some atttribute
this disease to the climate, some to the
water, and others to the prairie hay ; but
•s oxen thrive well, are kept more clieaply,
do as much work in ploughing, and are
■not far behind in carting, wliy should
they not take the place of horses until
these are brud in the district? Wheat,
oats, barley, and potatoes are the prin-
cipal crops ; and turnips, cabbages, &c.,
have grown well where planteu, I may
Bay here that the samples we sa\/ at the
Ottawa show, and also in our route
through the country, prove boyond the
possibility of a doubt that both quality
«nd quantity of roots can be grown ; that
the country is tliorouijhly adapted for
wheat growing ; but that barley and oats,
Although the yield is good, ripen too fast,

and are therefore badly filled, and con-
sequently light. On leaving Winnipeg
we turned our faces in a south-westerly
direction, and drove through Morris and
Nolsonviile, across the Pembina riv(!r to
Crystal City, and thence to Rock I,ake,
when we again changed our direction,
and made for Emerson, passing Mountain
City and a large Monnonite settlement,.
The Mennonites are, although of the Got-^
man race, emigrants from Russia and
have two large reserves in the Province
gi anted them by the Government o*
Canada, for which I believe they paid
nothing, and also were granted immunity,
from the payment of tares, and also froin
serving in the army. They are a quiet,
peaceable, hard-working, frugal people,
something after the nature of our Quakers,
and are laying by money. The cities I
have mentioned are .mly cities in name
as yet, for although the adjacent land has
been laid out by surveyors in toA-n lots,
two or three houses compose the present
city. It is expected that a railway is to
run in this direction, starting at Winni-
peg, passing Rock Lake, and tapping the
cc"! region on the Souris river. We were
informed when in Winnipeg that a com-
pany had already been formed to carry
out this scheme, and that coal would then
be had in Winnipeg for four or five
dollars — i.e., 16s. to 20s. per ton. When
the great Saskatchewan coal fields are
tapped also, it may bo expected to be even
cliciiper than this. I will not weary you
further with a description of our journey
than to mention that on leaving Emerson
we proceeded to New York, passing a
shoit time in each of the following
cities : — Minneapolis, St. Paul's, Mil''
waukee, Chicago, Washington, Philadel-
phia, and Boston, all, as you know, cities
of the United States.

BCHOOLS.
The school system in Canada is
founded on this basis. All public schools
are free and managed by School Trustees
elected by ratepayers in each school dis-
trict. Thf! funds are raised by rating the
inhabitants of these .listricts. In Mani-
toba a school rate will be long in being
required, as the Government have set
aside a large qu.'intity of land to be sold
solely for the purposes of education, so
that education in the public schools ther»
will, for many years, be absolutely free.
In the other Provinces, in country dis-
tricts, the rate is very light, and as the
election of Trustees is periodical, and
entirely in the hands of the people them-
selves, there is little likelihood of it
becoming burdensome. In Ontario th«
number of public schools is very notice-
able, and the teaching very efiicient ; in
Quebec they are more widely scattered |

45

, and con-
Winnipeg
th- westerly
Morris and
ma river to
Rock hake,
r direction,
g Mountain
settlement,
of the Ger-
Russ^ia and
he Province
Dmment o*
I they paid
d immunity
id also f rorn
are a quiet,
i(fal people,
our Quakers,
The cities I
ies in name
ent land has
n toA-n lota,
the present
railway is to
ig at Winni-
. tapping the
ir. We were
that a com-
ned to carry
il would then
four or five
ton. When
al fields are
ed to be even
ot weary you
: our journey
ing Emerson
■k, passing a
le following
Paul's, Mil'
on, Philadel-
i know, citiea

Canada is
public schools
ihool Trustees
:h school dis-
by rating the
ts. In Mani-
long in being
ent have set
ind to be sold
education, so
schools there
)soluie'y free,

country dis-
it, and as tn«
criodical, and
» people them-
elihood of it

Ontario the
is very notice-
y efficient ; in
lely scattered {

1

■-1

while in Manitoba there are few as yet,
alttjough there is, as in the other
. Provinces, a perfect system of education
in operation. All the principal cities in
the Dominion have also numerous higher
class schools, in which a capital educa-
tion may be had, and at a less cost than
at home. It may not be out of place to
remark here that Canada, and especially
the smaller cities in the Province of
Ontario, is a good country to which
people with families and limited incomes
might emigrate. They would have the
advantage of good and cheap schools,
their cost of living would be much less,
and they could invest their money
to greater advantage than in this
country. Seven to nine per cent., accord-
ing to the ability of the lender, can be
made with perfect security, and it is esti-
mated that a fainil/ spending £300
a year at home can live as well there for
£.'200. There is also a wider field in
which to stai't young people in the world.
Canada is a country in which no one says
he cannot work, but where every one says,
" To beg I am ashamed." Perhaps this
is the reason there is not a poorhouse in
the Dominion.

THANKS TO TUB CANADIANS.

Our visit to Canada was rendered tl
more enjoyable on account of the kind-
ness and courtesy we received from all
r»nka of society there. The Canadians
are a frank, enlightened, high-spirited,
and specially hospitable people, and vied
with each other in their solicitude to do
us a service. Our thanks are dae in a
very high degree to one and all of those
with whom we came in contact. At the
same time I would disposses them of the
idea which was expressed by one gentle-
man at a public meetiug, at which I was
present, that we on this side of the
Atlantic are the cold inhospitable people
he then pictured, but would remind them
that although perhaps of a more reserved
and less impuhuve nature, our hearts are
&aae the leos warm, nor are our hands less
ready to wftlcome the stranger who visits
oar shores,

THB PBOVINCU3 OOMPABED.

I now come to the important
questions — Is Canada the place to
emigrate to T and, if so, which of
her Provinces is the most desirable ?
The first question I will answer in the
affirmatire, (1) because of its boundless
extent qf cheap and at the same time
fertile lands ; (2) because of its proximity
to oar own country, and therefore to the
best market in the world ! (3> because of
the similarity of its people to ourselves ;
and (4) because of its loyal allegiance to
the British Flag. The second I will leave
jrou to decide for yourselves after poiucing

oat shortly the advantages and disadvan-
tages of each Province as I was able t<y
discover them. The capital required
varies of course according to the system
adopted and the district chosen, and may
be roughly estimated at from £3 to £30
an acre. This includes the first cost of
the land. After that, of course, there is
no rent to pay. Land, however, can be
bought to be paid in a certain number of
years, with interest on the unpaid portion.
In this case less capital is required, but
this leaves u yearly burden in the shape
of interest, which virtually forms a rent
for a limited time. The yield of wheat
in Quebec and Ontario varies from 10 to
40 bushels per acre, but the average, I
fear, can hardly be put down at more
than 17 bushels of 60 lbs. weight. This
low average is a result of the land having
been so badly farmed in the past. The
farmers, however, are now alive to the
fact that they must turn their attention
more to the rearing and feeding of lite
stock for exportation to the British
markets than to the growing of wheat.
The yield of barley may be reckoned at
36 bushels of 48 lbs., oats at 60 bni-helft
of 32 lbs., and Indian corn, where it will
grow, also at 50 bushels of 60 lbs.
Wheat was making 5s., barley 2s. 4d,, and
cats Is. 4d. I'cr bushel. Fruit is also
a valuable adjunct in these Provinces.
Turnips an i potatoesaresimilartoourown
crops in (^dinary yeai's. Beif was selling
retail at 6 per lb.; mutton a ait the same
figure; and the 4-lb. loaf at 44d. to 5d.;
cheese, when we lauded, at 3ia. p':r lb.,
when we left, 6d. From all I could learn,
a farm can be worked "heaper than in
this country, for although wages are
higher, fewer hands arc lequLred. Labour
may be estimated, when all paid for, atlOs.
to 16s. per acre. For every £100 invested
in land, the total taxes { lyable do
not exceed ISs. It will he understood
that as nearly all farms are owned and
occupied by the same parties, this tax
is equivalent to both landlord's and
tenant's taxes in this country. I may
say that, as a rule, no artificial manure
is used. The capital required for Mani-
toba need not be so highly estimiited,
as in no case can the sum required
exceed £5 per acre ; but, on the other
hand, no man should go there from
this country with a less capital than
£500 to attempt to cultivate 160 acres.
He can easily start and ttourish with the
half of this, provided all things go well,
but there are contingencies, such as gras.s-
hoppers and severe weather, it would b'e
well to provide for. Wheat may be safely
estimated to yield, with reasonable culti-
vation, 30 bushels of 60 lbs., and oats GO
bushels of 32 lbs. The jield of barl j 1

i?t

46

aid not ascertain. Grain is not expected
jto require much outlet for some years, as
the new settlers always require seed and
rood for themselves and animals until
jtheir own crops are matured. There is a
jderaand also from railway contractors,
and by the time these markets fail, com-
Imunications will be better. Wheat was
[worth 28. 6d. to Ss. per bushel, and oats
Is. 8d to 28. Potatoes and turnips grow
jwell, as I have stated previously, and
cattle do well on prairie grass in summer
and on hay in winter, which can be got
«s yet in any quantity ofE unsettled land
in the neighbourhood. There is nothing
'to pay for it except the labour. The first
jbreaking of the land out of prairid can be
let by contract for 12s. an acre ; the next
land following years it can be ploughed
jfor 8s. Harrowing is a mere bagatelle
After the first year ; and harvesting,
owing to the dry climate and the level
nature of the surface, is inexpensive. In
■Quebec (when I speak of this Province I
mean the Eastern Townships) you have
|the advantage of being near the seaboard,
conequently the freight to the European
market is low. You require less capital
than in Ontario, as land of the same
quality is cheaper. The wages are lo^er.
Water is in better supply naturally, and
permanent pasture is found to answer.
On the other hand, Ontario can furnish a
greater choice of more valuable land ;
roads are better; schools more numer-
ous ; winter is shorter ; and the people
fenerally are more like ourselves,
his arises from the absence in a
great measure of a foreign element
as compared with Quebec. Ague is
■till present in some parts of Ontario,
while Quebec and Manitoba are free.
Manitoba has a disadvantage as cona pared
with both these Provinces in her distance
from a market, in her sparse population,
greater scarcity of schools and churches,
roads and good water, and a longer and
more severe winter. On the other hand
she has a virgin soil of vastly superior
quality, which is to be had at a compar-
atively ]ow price, less labour is needed,
although wages are higher (railroad me;i
earn from Os. to 8s. a day), and there are
no taxes. Quebec and Manitoba, as set-
tlement advances, will have better roads,
and more churches and schools. A very
good idea of tho rate at which settlement
in the latter Province is adviincing is
gathered from the fact that the post
offices have been increased in little more
than a year from 68 to 120 ; one land office
last year, had located 900 settlers, and
sold 400,000 acres of land. The com-
munication between here and the old
world will soon be vastly improved
through the competition of the Thunder

Bay route and the construction of neW
railway lines now in contemplation. A
new route is also proposed, via the Nelson
River and Hud ^on Bay, which will bring
Winnipeg as aear Liverpool as New
York is at present. The grasshopper and
mosquito plagues wili moderate or dis-
appear altogether as they have already
done in older Provinces, and the prairie
fire, which is the dread of the new settler,
need do him no damage, except through
his own extreme carelessness. Persons
going out here, however, should bn still
robust and active, as of course at present
it is a pioneer's life, while if they go
to the older Provinces, when once there
they can make themselves as comfortable
as at home.

COMPETITION IN PBODUCE IN TH« PAST
AND WHAT WE MAT EXPECT IN T^J^
FUTURE.

And now, before concluding, it may
perhaps interest you to hear the increase
in imports to the United Kingdom of
various agricultural products for the past
five years, and also to listen to a few
arguments showing why they are likely
still to increase. The following figure*
show the greater quantity of agricultural
produce imported to this country from all
foreign parts in 1877-8 than ^as brought
in five years previoncly— that is, in 1873-4,
the quantities being expressed in tons and
round numbers : —

Wheat ...B5OO06

Flour 75.000

Barley ..,275.000
Oats 60,000

Beef 23,000

Pork 650,000

Butter ... 26,000.
Cheese ... 16,000

These figures do not include the live
cattle, sheep, and pigs daily arriving at
our ports. Nor do they give you an idea
of the much greater increase I could have
shown you had I calculated for ten years
past instead of five. It is estimated that
at the present time the population of the
United Kingdom is little less than thirty-
five millions, while that of the North
American continent is about fifty millions,
yet these fifty milhons occupy a country
fifty times larger than would have to
support, were there no importations, the
thirty-five millions. Imagine, then, what
these fifty millions of people can produce
over their own wants, with hundreds of
thousands of square miles of virgin soil
to work upon, with railways made, or
which can be made, through these dis-
tricts at little coHt, and with thousands of
miles of navigable rivers and inland seas
to oppose them Look next at India;
she too is coming to the front as a wheat-
exporting country. In 1870 the export
of wheat from the port of Calcutta was
only 17,000 bushels, while in 1878 it
reached the extraordinary number of

ition of neW
nplation. 'A
a the Nelson
;h will bring
[jol aa New
gshopper and
eratft or dig-
have already
d the prairie
e new settler,
cept through
SB. Persons
lould h(t still
rse at present
e if they go
:n once there
3 comfortable

m TH» PAST
?ECT IS THB

ding, it may
ir the increase
Kingdom of
;s for the past
iten to a few
hey are likely
owing figures
if agricultural
unt^ from all
n Vras brought
it is, in 1873-4,
ed in tons and

..;... 23,000

650,000

T ... 26,000
36 ... 16,000

;lnd6 the live
lily arriving at
ve you an idea
sfe I could have
d for ten years
estimated that
julation of the
ess than thirty-
of the North
it fifty millions,
3upy a country
would have t6
iportations, the
^ine, then, what
pie can produce
ith hundreds of
■3 of virgin sofl
wayR made, or
ough these diS-
ith thousands of
and inland seas
next at India;
ront as a wheat-
L870 the export
of Calcutta was
dile in 1878 it
iry number of

7,369,772 bushels. We have Australia in
1874 exporting 3,400,000 bushels of wheat,
and in 1878 an aggregate of 5,000,000
bushels, of which nearly one-half reached
. these shores. And now she too threatens
-to send us live cattle and sheep. The
v«stimfit«d increased acreage of winter
.wheat sown this year over last in the
United States alone is 12 per cent.;
while in Canada there is also a
very large acreage, and it was never
known to look as well. Mr. J. W.
Barclay, M. P., in speaking of America
the other day in a contribution to the
January number of the Fortnightly
Review, says — "In the present agricul-
iural crisis, I observe that hope is main-
tained, in some quarters by the notion
that the supply of agricultural produce
from America will fall off ; this hope is
based on the expectation of an increase
in the cost of transport, and of the ina-
bility of the American fanner, in the face
of an increasing home demand, to grow
wheat as cheaply as he has hitherto done.
It seems to me that for some years to
come, at all events, these expectations
will prove delusive. In the Western
States it cannot be doubted that wheat
can be raised on the grand scale at a price
with which the British farmer cannot
compete, assuming that he continues to
pay the present rents." And then he goes
on to say, in reference to the freights,
which are expected also by some to
increase in the future — " From the im-
provements to be expected in steamers,
and an increase of competition by the
opening of new lines of communication
by land and water, the reasonable predic-
tion is that rates of carriage will be lower
in the future than in the past. I cannot,
therefore, bring myself to think that we
have seen the last of American competi-
tion, or that the lowest point in depres-
sion has yet been reached." Mr. John
Clay, one of the British Commissioners
now travelling in America, similarly ex-
pressed himself the other day in Chicago
when interviewed by a newspaper corres-
pondent. And I am certain that no im-
partial traveller there could return with-
out a similar impression. The inflation of
prices of produce lately is believed by
many well-informed men to be only tem-
porary, and to be caused mainly by a
large ring of speculators on the other
side of the Atlantic preying upon the
supposed needs of not a few of the
countries of the European continent.

A WORD TO LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.

And now (I am speaking to my brother
agriculturi,sts) in the face of this fierce
competition, and with the alternative be-
fore you of emigration to a country where
traffic in land was free and untrammelled.

would it not be well for you to bestir your-
s6^ves and throw off" the yoke that has
hung about your necks in times past?
Would it not be well for you, by emigration
or otherwise, to rid yourselves of such unequal
laws as Hypothec and the like, and would
it not be well for you to acquire more secu-
rity for your capital and more freedom of
action than is accorded by the most of
your leases, drawn up as they were by
lawyer factors 50 years ago ? On the other
hand, would it not be well for landlords to
relax somewhat these stringent clauses,
framed under conditions which no longer
exist ? Would it not be well for them to
look more closely and personally into their
own interests ? Would it not be well for
them (although there are some generous,
and in the long run wise exceptions, who
have already done so), to extend to the
tenantry a helping hand, and thereby
assist to remove a Toad which is threaten-
ing to cripple, if it does not destroy, the
greatest industry of the kingdom? By
failing to do so they may either banish from
their native land apatient, industrious; and
frugal tenantry, whom, when too late, they
may wish to retain, or they may condemn
them, if they stay, to a ruin from which it
may take even a lifetime to recover.

CONCLtrSION.

Then, gentlemen, if any of you can make
up your minds to leave the shores of your
native land to find a home on Canadian
soil — if you can make up your minds to
face the inconveniences and hardships I
have endeavoured to portray — and if you
come to the conclusion from these remarks
of mine, and from information you have
gathered or can gather from other sources,
that you can better your position by going
there, I may tell you that you will go to
reside among a people in whose veins runs
the blood of your own ancestors — a people
strong in the hope that a great destiny
awaits their country — a people peaceable
and law-abiding — a people of like aspira-
tions with yourselves in social and intel-
lectual life, who will extend to you the
right hand of fellowship with a vigour and
an earnestness which will cause you alraost
to blush.

Mr. Brown, Hardgrave, said some weeks
ago he had the pleasure of proposing that
Mr. Gordon be sent to Canada as the dele-
gate from Annandale. He did so knowing
full well the qualifications Mr. Gordon
possessed for discharging the duty, and he
thoughttheableroport to which they had just
listened fully justified them in their choice.
(Applause.) He would ask them to accord
a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Gordon for
his excellent report. If the old country
should ever be played out, as some seemed
to think it would, there was a grand countiy
across the water ready to receive them, and

ii

■ I

',i

^

a country where, as Mr. Gordon had said,
the poorhouse was not necessary. (Ap<
plause.)

Ex-Provost Batty, in seconding the
motion, said the reportwas a most exhaus-
tive one, and showed that there was a wide
field for larmers in Canada, where their
condition in life would he greatly im-
proved, and laud could be had on much
easier terms than in this country. (Ap-
plause.)

The Chairman, in conveying the' vote of
thanks to Mr. Gordon, expressed the plea-
sia-e with which he had listened to his
lucid and faithfully drawn account of the
country he had visited. (Applause.)

Mr. Gordon, in acknowledging the ccm-
plimeut, said his trip to Canada was a
most enjoyable one, and il be had bee*

able to gire them any assistance ia
making up their minds on the question of
emigration he was pleased, he had »
great many more details in his note-bouk
at home, which he did not think it necei*
sary to trouble them with there, but he
would be glad to communicate them to
anyone desiring further information.
(Applause).

Kev. Mr. Oillespie proposed a cordial
vote of thanks to the Chairm»n, to whom
they were greatly indebted for the public
spirit he displayed and the active part b*
took in everything connected with Lower
Annandale. (Applause).

The Chairman having acknowledged
the compliment, the proceedings termui>
ated, having lasted abomt an hour.

f^

iatance la
question of
he had a
) note-book
ak it necei*
lere, but he
te them to
iformation.

L a cordial
D, to whom
' the public
^iye part ha
with Lower

mowledged
igs termim-
lionr.

V?

^-'■;-

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(it n.

:, srhii

'Hi! '

1 . , 1 f < ' ^ f

■ '.n\

'

i >»>*<! V M i

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,-, 1 • •

hr.

H .

REPORT OF THE DELEGATES, MESSRS. ELLIOT, LOGAN,

AND SNOW, AT STOW.

Until m -Hiii:

An adjourned special meeting of the
Gala Water Farmers' Club was held in
the Town Hall, Stow, on the 19th December,
to hear the report of Messrs. Walter
Elliot (Hollybnsh), John Logan (Leger-
wood), and John Snow (Pirntiiton), three
of the Farmers' Delegates from Scotland
.appointed to go to Canada and report on
the inducements which the Dominion
offers to Jiritish farmers. The chair was
occupied by Mr. Stewart, CoUielaw ; and
Mr. T. Gibson, Femiehurst, acted as
<jronpier. Among the others present were
Mr. Riddeil, Handalee ; Mr Tweedie,
Burnhouse Mains; Mr. Smail, Galashiels ;
Mr. Uae, Hawknest; Mr. Aitchison,
Middkto'wn ; Mr. Smart, Bowshank ;
Mr. Forsyth, Whitelee ; Mr. Bell, Cortle-
ferry ; Mr. Kiddell, Corsbope ; Mr. Tillic,
Haiigingshaw ; Mr. Gardiner, Cairnton-
barns ; Mr. Mercer, Stow Mill ; Mr.
Thomson, Millbank ; Mr. Thorbum,
Brockhouse; Mr. White, Stage Hall;
Mr. Harper, Muirhouse ; Mr. P. Harper,
Muirhouse ; Mr. Gibson, Haymount ; Mr,
Leithhead, 'J'urnerdTkes ; Mr. Dunn,
liaiillavvstiel ; Mr. Hall, Crosslee ; Mr.
White, Lugate ; Mr. Campbell, V.S.,
Galashiels ; Mr. Renwick, Hawkburn ;
Mr. Jamieson, Muttonhole ; Mr. Logan,
Jun., Legerwood ; Mr. Inglis, Brother-
shiels; Mr. Broomfield.Laiider ; Mr. John
Cairns (Secretary), &c., &c.

The Chairman, before calling on the
Delegates, said he w.as sure all those
present would join with him in saying
that the Committee of Management of
that club deserved every praise for ha*^ ng
called a special meeting ro hear th." • ^port
of the Canadian Delegates- -(' ylause).
He would now call upon Mr. i.illot, who,
he believed, would treat of the Province
of Ontario, the Province of Quebec, and
the Eastern Townships.

MR. ELLIOT'S REPORT.

Mr. Elliot said— Gcntlem'^n, having

been appointed by Mr. Dyke, Canadian

Government Agent, Liverpool, to go to

1 Canada and report upon the advantages

I which thatcountry holdsout to .ngricuUur-

llsts, I shall endeavour in thispaper to st.ate

j my views thereon as clearly as pos-^ible.

ISailing from Liverpool on the 1 1th Sept.

I in the good ship "Peruvian," we handed

at Quebec on the 2l8t, having had a good

Ipassage, Thence we started by Grand

Trunk Railway for Richmond and
Sherbrooke, in the Eastern Townships,
travelling through a poor country most
of the way, and badly farmed as a rule.
The population principally French*
Sept, 22.— Started from Sherbrooke and
drove 30 miles through the counties of
Compton and Stanatead. We were not
very favourably impressed with the soil
upon the whole, a great part of the
country being badly farmed. Where well
farmed, the crops were all good, turnipa
specially so. We visited the Hon. M. H,
Cochrane's farm, near Compton, where
we were most hospitably entertained. It
extends to about 1200 acres, upon which
he raises magnilicent crops of all kinds,
and that entirely without artificial
manures. He can house iOO cattle,
besides breeding horses of vario>-j kinds,
Tliere are large piggeries, and .^o barna
capable of holding all the crops. There
are besides, a fine house, garden, anci
greenhouses, and large orchards, all oi
which with improvements cost him rather
under 40 dollars per acre, We also in.
spected his far-famed herd ai shorthorns
(reared 1100 feet above sea level), which
certainly for numbers and general excel*
lence could not easily be excelled. I
may mention one two-year-old heifer for
which he refused 5000 guineas. He also
keeps a flock of Shropshire Downs, sheep^^
in my opinion very suitable for the coun-
try ; the ram lambs of which he sells at
six months old ; and they realise from
30 to 40 dollars per head. Land can be
bought in this district with ordinary
buildings from 20 to 30 dollars per acre.
S'-jft. 23.— Started from Sherbrooke at 12
midnight for Ottawa where we arrived
at 3 p.m., after a very tiresome journey.
Thecountry betweenMontieal and Ottawa
poor and badly farmed. We inspected the
Parliamentary and other Public Buildings
beautifully situated on the banks of the
Oltawa river. Sept, 24. — Visited the
Exhibition which, taken as a whole, waa-
very good. The several cattle classes were
well represented — the Shorthorns and
Jlerefords especially so. The sheep classes
as p rule were only middling.al though there
were many fine animals amongst them.
rigs were well represented, e«pecially
th« Berkshire breeds, Horses as a class
I did not think much of, although I havei^
no doubt very suitable for the country j

f-\

50

but appenred to me to be too light for
heavy work. Uoots, grains, and fruit of
every description, too numerous to men-
tion, could not be excelled in any country ;
while every other induHtry was well re-
presented and very creditable to a young
countiy. Sept. 25 and 26. — Drove out
into the country both days, and also
visited exhibition. Did not think much of
the country,asarulc, for farming. Started
for Toronto at 10 P.M. Sept. 27.— Arrived
at Toronto, noon, passing through some
very good country along the shores of the
Lake Ontario. The crops, from the
appearance of the stubble, had been good.
Few turnips grown in the district ; fine
country for fruit. We saw many large
orchards as we passed along at the farm
palaces. Good crops of second clover
which were being cut for seed. Farmers
all busy sowing wheat ; and many fields
tvell up. Land can be bought here for
40 dollars per acre. In the afternoon we
sailed across the Lake to Niagara. Sept.
28. — Visited the Falls (a very grand
sight), and all places of interest in the
neighbourhood. This is a great fruit-
growing district. Sept. 2y. — Left Niagara
for Toronto, by way of Hamilton ; passed
through some fair good country, and fo"
the most part badly farmed ; fruit and
wheat being the principal crops, the
pastures having a poor appearance. After
leaving Hamilton, the farming improved.
Coming along we saw a good number of
well-bred cattle in the fields. Sept. 30. —
Set off for London, by way of Grand
Trunk Railway, which we reached at 1 P.M.
Passed through a good country most of
the way ; fairly well farmed. Very little
pasture land, and what was, looked poor
and closely eaten. A good many fairly
bred cattle along the route. Visited
the Exhibition for a short time. Oc*.
1. — Visited Mr. Carling's, M.P., extensive
breweries ; a very interesting sight —
petroleum being the only fuel used in the
works. The barley and hops used are
grown in the neighbourhood. Drove out
to the Waterworks, and returned by
steamboat on the Thames. A ver* fine
sail. Afterwards, visited the Exhibition,
where every class of stock was well re-
presented ; as also machinery, imple-
ments, and manufactures of all kinds,
together with the usual display of fruits,
Tegetables, and roots. I was very favour-
ably impressed with the tall and healthy
appearance of the people here, especially
the ladies ; and there can be no better
sign of a good country than the healthy
appearance of its people. Oct. 2. — Left
London by 5.40 A.M. train for Bothwell,
from whence we drove to Dresden by way
of Floi-ence, through a middling country.
llifl soil very unequal ; in some parU

light and sandy, while others again were-
strong clay ; then some times would pass
through good loamy soil, in parts very
ba Uy farmed. The straw apparently is
of no value to the fanners, as in many.
instances it is allowed to rot in the fields.
F'rom Dresden to Chatham (the latter a
fine town of 8000 inhabitants) through
a fine country, and many portions of it
well farmed, although the waatelul prac>
tice of leaving the straw in the fields to
ret, and in many instances burning it,
was being very generally practised. Oct.
3. — Took an extensive circuitous drive
this forenoon, when we saw by far the
best land we had yet seen. Raw very
fine farms on both sides of the rivee
Thames, upon which there is communica-
tion with the lakes by steamboat. The
land in this district is of a strong loamy
nature, and will grow any kind of crops in
abundance year after year without manuitj.
We saw laige fields of very fine maize ia
this district, also great fields of wheat
grown successively thereon for many years.
It is also a very good grazing country.
Some of the farmers here fatten a lai-ga
number of cattle for export to Britain,
which, they informed us, had paid them
very well, and to all appearance it is »
trade that will extend very rapidly. In
the afternoon we drove by way of Buck-
horn to Blenheim, through a fine country,
and generally well farmed. Grapes,
peaches, and apples are very extensively
grown in this district in the ojien ail*.
We drove for many miles along the high-
way, with orchards on both sides, which
extend all the way to Detroit, a distance
of over 30 miles. The fruit was most
abundant, and is a very profitable crop.
They are starting sugar beet factories in
this district. The sugar beet here grows
to perfection, from 40 to 50 tons ])er acre,
and for which they get 5 dollars per ton.
at the factory. I consider a great portioa
of the land I saw to-day as good, and
in many instances much better, than the
land around Edinburgh, and, as I said
before, it will grow wheat and maize
year after year without manure. Saw
again to-day great stacks of stiaw burn-
ing, a most wasteful practice. Driving
through the district in company with the
Sherifi!, I drew his attention to this, and
suggested that he should pass an Act-
making it criminal to put such good
fodder into flames, at which he laughed,
and said he thought it a good idea. Iix
reference to this, the Sherifi told me of
an enterprising farmer who had shifted
his barns three times to get rid of accu-
mulated manure. The Sheriff had also
seen large quantities of straw pitched
into the river from the thrashing machine.
Farms here can be bought from 20 to 7&

\

\

-, ^-— ,~™™,^j-«„«)e*&

M

a^ain were-

would pass

ports very

parent ly ia

B8 in many.

n the fielda.

the latter a

ts) through

)it.ion» of it

steful prac

be fields to
burning it,

ctised. Oct.

litous drive

J by far t^^

. Raw very

}f the rivcB

, communica-

.mboat. The

strong loamy

id of crops iu

hout manure.

fine maize in

Ids of wheat

ir many years.

17-injj country.

fatten alai-ge

rt to Britain,

lad paid thorn

sarance it is ar

y rapidly . In

' way of Buck-

a flue country,

tied. GrapeB,

;ry extensively
the oiien air.

ilong the high-

th sides, which

roit, a distance,

ruit was most

nofitable crop,

eet factories in

)eet here grows
tons per acre,
dollars per ton
a great portion
as good, and
better, than the
and, as I said
eat and maize
manure. Saw
of stiavv buru-
ctice. Driving
mpany with the
ion to this, and
Id pass an Act
put such good
lich he laughed,
i good idea. In

^eriff told me of

irho had shifted

get rid of accu-

Sheriff had also

straw pitched

_ ashing machine.
It from 20 to 7&

«lollar8 |)er acre, according to the state of
cultivation and buildings. Oct. 4. — Drove
this morning towards the lake. The laud
is good, with a gentle slope and southern
exposure, and grows any kind of crop to
perfection. Some farms here could be
bought from 30 to 50 dollars per acre.
Looked like a good investment. Driving
to llidgelon — where they had a local
show, which was a very creditable
Exhibition — from thence to Thamesville,
where we took train to Ingersoll. Be-
tween Blenheim and Thamesville the soil
is various, mostly light; good jjortion
new country, partly cleared. Leaving
the train at Ingersoll, we drove to Wood-
stock, in county Oxford. Light gravelly
soil most of the way. Oct. 5. — Drove to
Eastwood, a farm of iOOO acres, 20U un-
cleared, with a commodious mansion
pleasantly situated in a park of G5 acres,
tine outbuildings, gardens, lawns, &c.,
and a beautiful place to reside. We
were hospitably entertained by Mr. T. C.
I'atteson, who wishes to sell the place, and
asks 50,U00 dollars for it. The land be-
tween this and Woodstock looked poor
and worn out. Oct. 6, — Went by rail to
Bow Paik Farm ; about 1 000 acres. Drove
round a great portion of it, and inspected
all the stock, which consists of the famous
herd of pedigree shoithorns (the largest
in the world, upwards of 400), besides
100 cows, kept for nurses. Sec, It would
impossible to describe the different
trains of this herd in a short statement
f this kind. Suffice it to say, they have
enerally carried first honours wherever
hey have gone. There is also a small
ock of Leicester sheep kept, which are
ery select. The buildings are very sub-
tantial, and well adapted to the require-
lents of such a large establishment. The
land is well farmed in every respect, and
ertainly managed on scientific principles,
e were very hospitably entertained by
e energetic manager, Mr. Clay, jun., a
ell-known Berwickshire gentleman, and
nt a pleasant and profitable afternoon,
he country through which we passed
as in part very good land, hops being
own to a certain extent. Oct. 7. — Our
ive from Wot idstock to-day was through
very fine co mtry, where we saw some
ry good, well-faimed land. Visited
veral large cheese factories, which
med to be well-managed, everything
the perfection of cleanliness. Mr.
ith, whom we called upon, had just tied
40 cattle to feed, >vhich he informed
was vei7 profitable. We stayed dicmer
Mr. Donaldson, originally from
berland, who has a fine farm of 300
for part of which he paid 85
lars per acre. His barns and stables are
11 airauged and subotautial, and every-

thing well managed. From this we drove
to Ingersoll through a very good country
as a rule, rather more hilly than we
had yet seen. Saw a very considerable
immber of cattle and sheep in the fields,
mostly fair sorts. Principally a dairy
district, all the milk being sent into the
cheese factories. Cows, we are informed,
will pay 30 to 40 dollars each. Oct 8.—
From Ingersoll to Norwich we drove
through a very fine country, where we saw
a great many farms with tine brick
houses and other substantial outbuildings.
Judging from outward appearances, farm-
ers in this district seem to be in a very
prosperous condition. There is here a very
considerable extent of grazing land, well
stocked with good cattle. From Norwich
to Woodstock the land is much the same ;
all the farmers seemingly prosj)erous;
houses and outbuildings good and the land
well cvltivatcd. Farms here would sell
from 70 to 80 dollars per acre, but not
many in this district for sale. Oct. 9. —
went by rail from Simcoc in county Nor-
folk, principally through a poor country.
A great fire many years ago had burned a
large portion of forest, the trees in many
places still standing, giving the country a
weird api>t;irance. The wood here being
mostly pine, the fields under cultivation
are still full of stumps which will last for
a hundred years, unless taken up by the
stumping machirie. These stumps are
quite unlike the hardwood, which vill rot
in a few years. Driving round by ■'.i'ater-
ford we saw so^ue very fine-looking, well-
cultivated farms. The soil mostly of a
light description, in our opinion too much
so. I called on Mr. Alexander Hunter, my
predecessor in my farm Allanshaws. It i«
needless to say he was delighted to
sec me. He has now retried from farming,
and lives in the outskirts of the town,
where he has a very fine place. Oct. 10. —
Driving by lake Eric shore, along with
Mr. Hunter, as far as Port Dover, we saw
a number of good fam s. He gave me a
very good report of the country generally .
for farming. In his own v.ords, "you
can grow any kind of crop to perfec-
tion." He has grown, soinesea^ionS; 100 '
bushels of carrots (60 lbs. per bushel)
upon a quarter of an acre. He also '
says, " Put a sheep on the worst ground in
Canada, and it will make them thick fat,"
which I can corroborate, having never
seen a lean sheep while there. Oct. 11. —
Came by rail from Simcoe to Stratford ;
it being market day there for wheat,
potatoes, and vegetables of all kinds, also
poultry and butchers' meat. Price of
wheat 1 dollar 20 cents per bushel, turkeys
about 76 cents, geese 50 to 60 cents, and
cliickens from 12 to 25 cents. Drove out
in the afternoon with Mr. Hay, M.P.P,

i I

a,».5Kiims«e«*'

52

4

We saw many ftn^ *^\!J t|,au districts we

have yet vis.^d ^'^J . from 30 to
IjouRht, with f ":^,. o.t. 12.-Su»day.

60 «ioll'«\P°^: j"^ MiWcrton. and called
Oc«. l3.-l)/f^°^^,, oldcouutrymon.who
Tipon several farmers, ow ^ ,^„„^^

had all been ^f/.'X settled. Farms
country, in Pf J^f °S 30 to 50 dolljYS
can be bought ^^^^"^"^^^^^ good cattle,
^oracre. ^^.^ ^i CthTS^itlh market.
Uich they feed for the ^^^ ^^ ^^ove
From Milverton to 1.W ^ part new;
throu.?h a fi'^V°"" ^ia Oct. U-We
all the wheat Jo;;^^\'J- ^ working m a
^ent to sec a f ^^'^y J.^ town. This ib a

Ttubble field "l^f.^y Sent When some
xr^ostrcmarkahieimpicm ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^

little irapT9'''^°X' explained ix> us he
which the inventor exp ^^^^^.^ jt ^'IJ

meant to e-'^"y "^^.^e for some kinds of
come into general use lo ^^^^^^

^°^^- ^^/.o'^cesaSywithlt. After-

;!;Kfve'rntrSccoL^^^^^^^

TListowel ^or^^^^^JToAi^ly

through a ^""'^^f'^^^ny pacts the wheat
rechvimed land ; i^^ "^^^^^Jj in some m-
-s very far Jo- A^^>hich^^^

price oyand Here jrom cot. 80^^^^^
Per acrl T««k tjam at b^ ^^^^

Gaclph, passmg t|'J°"fi the wav. Ootoher
woU.t;armedcouT^^ryaUUvewJ^^ ^

18.— Vmitcd the At, extent,

,uul Mo'lel Farm, 560 acres ^^

established abouhve years aj^^^^^^^ ^^y

excellent ;f*'^»''^'^;°o the country. There
b , of great benet^t to the c ,^^^^^

are gen^-^^^y, ""^^ ^ work upon the
perform most of ttxe w ^^^^^ ^j

^asv:^ far f-'od"^ which shows
stances inchncd to ^^^f'^^^-^ Listowel
the richness of "le so^- ^ through
to Harrison, Co^Wo^ljJgtot^^^^. ^^ p
a p,ol country, m^'sy ^^ ^ery well-
ing along we saw i ^^^ ^^n
bred cattle. A go^'; "^"fp Land can
here, and all a go°J,*f°?o dollars per
be Vou:;ht here f^^J^^^'^ jiarrison we
acre. OctoUr ^^^t'^y of Newstead,
drove to ^Valkerton, by way^ ^^.Quntry,
?n Co. Bruce, ti^^^^f ^^hiUy *an what
iome parts new »•^"\!^°'^Vgood stone
we had yet seen, ^aw ^^^^^^,^3 in
larm houses. ^ f°^-e generally good
Lis locality, ;vho^te|e^ ^.^^

jeJ^f :S^P^ft?;pT catUe, and
Jery excellent toot cropB^ ^^
luncheon with ^'^'J^^'^t a light des-
through .to-A=^y;' ""wingham, in county
cription, Ca^vf a VeS portion of new
Huron, through » £X of a rich nature,
fountry. The soilmostly°t ^^^ ^

.Land, where we baveje^^^^^

bought *(«^25 S ^« .ij,,nx^ingham
Octoh/ir !'•,"'„"•; ^Tove to Scaforth,
to Clinton, wl^^^fJi^ISSmed country.

.through.avery gf ^J^iued ^^,,t over
In passing a^°",? r^^g sown in fc ept^m-
two feet high which was s ^^^^

her. I may ^«"^^°£,Sd vriSi cattle and
Shundreds of acres stockettw^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^

•h'eep to keep ,\\';°^°:tae in this district.

training to /''"'hIo and sheep arc kept,
various breeds of cattle an^ l^^^^^ ^^^

and all the ^^'ff'^yf";S farm, of which
vegetables grown "P^" "'^j^J t, enabling
a "correct ac^^V^ = 'themostprotitable.
them toiudgew luchis hemo I ^^y

We called ^^ Mr Wh^^^^^ws v^ n^^ ^^^

from B<^'^:r"^^*^;^r2'ed \Ve saw there
acres, well cultivated- ^^^, sheep, and
a very fine flock of ^^eic ^^ ^^ ^^^^
some good cattle. Monn fl^e farm

on Mr. Hobson who lia^^ ^^^^.tt,om^^
„t 350 acres and a herd 01 g ^

October \9.-f^f^y- jJ'J^ for Guelph

with Mr. p^^'il^;'' -ickV, to his farm,
(originally from Hawick), ^^^^^

iUt seven miles from the tov^_ H ha.
a fine place and gooa ^^ ^^.^^^^ ^^

kindly sent me a statem ^^^ ^

considers can be ^ ^^^^^^^ees. This I
under ordinary ^'^'^^ ^nd moderately-
believe to bo a very fair and ^^ ^^^^
drawn statement, as far ^^^ 7^

judge, and which goes P^^^ ^^^ ng

^pcr cent ^-''..^^^T^lot include the
capital, but this doc« Jio ^^^^ j^^^^
increase in the value o ^^

Remained ovcrmght wiui corning,

who drove me into G"^J Pj^^^^ the country
October 20.-Too^adnje m ^^^^

round about Guelplu^J^c^r^t^ gome
thecatt' .aregoodinth^sf^^^^ ^^ ^^.^
of the land has t^e app-a ^^ ^^ ^
worn out, while ^me 7^ Messrs. Watts
condition. We visitea ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^

Earm,agood place. Uiey ^^^^^^^^

lent herd of ^^o^^f'JJ-edes were being '
th^t a good c™P f '^^ October 21.-
lit..d--;23 tons per acre ^^ ^^^^

Cative by ^^^\.^^,„ j! a large and fine city, ^
country. Toronto is a i^rg ^^ j^ake .

beautifully sit.uated°ntt^; extend ^^^ ^
Ontario. Sp^^'^f''? 1' every direction,
into the county ^J^ ^y^eral good^
October 22.--we J'^ , . ^ ^^^ gaie.

faxms near Toronto wVnchw ^^^^

The proprietors were asKm ^^^_

125&-per^;^^Ut5st^

Oo^ofecr 23-— yLo^e into the country--a |
Catherine's, and ^^^^."Jrict.srfWe visited I
great ^^-^^^J'^'^^^T^^t interesting |
a vineyard of 60 acres ^ finishing |

53

rth fo*
1(1 fairly
Ootiihef
College
extent,
it is an
[less will
There
iits, who
pon the
course of
lers. The
arc kept,
•oots, and
of which
enabling
profitable,
forisinally
[rm of 850
saw there
sheep, and
\ we called
a fine farm
shorthorns.
Imrch drove
or Guelph
his farm,
wn. He has
Ij. Ho has
of wliat be

00 acre farm
ses. This I
. moderately-

1 am able to
)rove that 7 J

oil farming

include the
E the land.
Mr. Laidlaw,
1 the morning,
ito the country
rallv speaking
listrict. Some
•ance of b^ing
in very good
Messrs. Watt's
have an excel-

We observed
[es were being
October 21.—
through a good
;e and fine city, 1
shores of Lake f
extend far out |
yery direction. 1

several good J
h were for sale,
ng from 100 to
ok a high price. •
by rail to St*
0 the country — » |
ict.s^We visited I
most interesting 1

just finishing -'
dich they make:

into wine. Thin industry, It Is expected,
■will grow into greater j)roporti(jnH. Octo-
ber 24. — Left Toronto by rail for Montreal
(a fourteen liours' jounicy), passing
through a great diversity of country.
Borne of it was veiy good, upon which
hops were grown to a considerable wxtcnt.
One portion of the journey extended
about 30 miles throu},'li a very poor dis-
trict. October 25. — Stayed in Montreal
all day, and went up to Mount Uuyal
Park, from which you get one of the
finest and most extensive views in the
>vorld. My friend Mr. Irvine, who has
been all over Europe, deelareil it to be
finer than the Bay of Naples. • The
Windsor Ilote', at which we stayed, is
allowed to be one of tlie finest on the
American continent. Oct, 26. — Sunday
in Montreal. Oct. 27.— Left Montreal
by train for Cookshire, in the Eastern
Townships. Crossed the St. Lawrence by
the tubular bridge, nearly two miles in
length. Thence i)asscd through a very
extensive track of fiat land, mostly
occupied by French settlers. Apparently
good lanil, but very much exhausted.
In parts nothing but a bed of thistles.
From there we passed through a swampy
Bcrubby country to Richmoiul, where we
stopped 20 minutes ; and thence on to
Sherbrooke. Did not think hijjhly of this
part of the country. After half an hour
■we started for Cookshire, where the rail-
■way passed through a swamjjy poor
country. Oct. 28. — Starting from Cook-
shire we had a hurried glance at the
Hon. J. H. Pope's farm of 1000 acres in
extent. We were informed he was feed-
ing 150 cattle. We drove to Sherbrooke
by way of Compton. The country we
passed through was of a hilly, stony
nature, generally more fit for grazing
■than cultivation ; yet in several places
we saw that hops had been grown. Taken
altogether it is a rough country. Farms
here can be bought from 15 to 30 dols.
per acre. A great many of them extend
to 400 acres and upwards. Nearly
every farm here has a majile grove,
from which they make the majile
sugar. From Compton to Sher-
brooke the country is much bettei',
although still j)artly stohy. Some
good grazing and fine meadowland along
the river St. Francis. Altogether, by
judicious selection, many good fiirms of
considerable extent could be got at a
moderate ])rice in eomparisun wiih
Ontario. The Townships most suitable
for farmers to go to are : — -Durham,
Compton, Barnston, Stanstead, Eton,
Newport, Bury. Ascot, Dudswell, Skipton,
Kingsy, and Milbourn. Oi^t. 29. — Left
Sherbrooke by rail for Quebec, passing,
;generallyspealiing,througha poor country.

Oct. 30.— Drove to the Falls of Mount
•Morency, a distance af nine miles, passing
through some very tine land as good oa
any we had teen. Oct. 31. — Visited the
citadel and all other sights worth seeing
in Quebec. JWn: 1.— Sailed for Liverpool
in the Allan S.S. " Sardinian," where we
arrived safely on the 10th, I Imve de-
scribed the country through which I passed
as fairly as 1 was able to judge, 'I'he loads
in some counties are very goo<l, in others
again inferior. The "gravel" roads are
generally in good repair. The railway
communication is good and cheap, and
they are always buikling moie. Ki gard*
ing the climate, it is hotter in summer
and colder in winter than at home. The
autumn or fall is delightful, a*; I caa
speak from cxi)erience. The atmosphere
being clear and diy one does not feel the
extremes so much. Winter (which is con-
sidered by many such a drawback to
Canada) generally commences, in the parta
I visited, about the middle of December
and goes into March. Although little or
no ploughing is done, farmers have
l)lenty of work prcpai-ing wood for next
season's fuel, and other odds and ends.
I find after due enquiry that cattle are
not housed longer than in Scotland, and
it ia the universal testimony of the
people that their winters are most enjoy-
able. I consider that f.arming in the
Provinces of Ontario and Quebec is in a
transition state. The growing of wheat
in Manitoba and the North- West Terri-
tories, which will increase with rapid
strides, must soon affect the growers of
wheat in these provinces, They are
already alive to that faet, and for some
time back have been increasing thitr
stocks of cattle and sheep. Calves, in-
stead of beii g mostly killed, as formerly,
to save the milk for making butter and
cheese, are now all reared, which in a
very short time must enormously increase
the supply of cattle for exportation to
this country. The Dominion of Canada,
from the energetic nature of its people
and boundlessrcsources of every kind, hjia
a great future before it. With regard to
farmers emigrating to the Province of
Ontario, or the Eastern Townships,
Province of Quebec, I have not tha
slightest hesitation in recommending
them to do so ; as I am satibfied, from
what I saw, that men with moderate
capital could do better than they can at
home ; and that for several reasons. Ia
the first place, you can buy .and stock a
farm for little more than it takes to stock
one at home ; then there i.s no rent to
pay, and taxes are very lijiht ; they do
not exceed from 4d. to lOd. per acrje,
according to the value of the property.
You can make the most of the land 1oj

*l'

J\

III:

51

growing the most pr<fl tabic crops, and
those host siiito'l to ydiir soil ami climate.
There yon have no lawyer factor, pre-

' to?viV.',rig in n lonj» nntiqiiatod lease, which
almost no man can unllc^.^tan(l, what crops
you shall srow, ami what secil you shall
■ow, as if you did not understand your
business better than he is able to teach
you, vnd, generally speaking, binding
you tc protect the landlords' hares to eat
your own cr(>ps. In my own ease, how-
ever, I have been very libonvlly dealt with,
both as rep;ards croppitig clauses and
game. A'.jain, a man going there with a
family can get a first-class education free
for his children, which at home costs a
great deal of money. I consider their
educational system one of the best possi-
ble. In a now country there are many
more opportunities and openings turning
up than there are in an old country, th.it
young men of intelligence and enterprise
can take advantage of. Regarding men
with large capital and wishing to farm
extensively, I do not think the older
provinces so well suited, as a difficulty
would be found in getting a large tract
of laud in one block at a moderate price.
From all accounts, and I have the best
information from practical men, Manitoba
or the North-West Territories would be
the best place for farming on a large scale;
and I would say these are also the places
for a poor man. There he can get IGO
acres of land free ; and if he has a family,
each member eighteen years of age gets
the same ; so that he has a large farm at
once, hia own property for ever, and no
rent to pay. In conclusion, I beg to ex-
press my warmest thanks to Sir John A.
Macdonald, the Premier of Canaila, the
Hon. J. n. Pope, Minister of Agriculture,

' and the other members of the Canadian
Government, for the attention they paid
us ; as also those gentlemen who accom-

■ panied us through the provinces. While
the farmers and gentlemen in the towns
through which we passed were unending
in their kindness and hospitality, they
were always ready to give information
^nd show us everything in their power.

14

MR. LOGAN'S REPORT.

Mr. Logan — who was greeted with
cheers— read the following report: —

Having been asked by the Government
of Canada to go out there as a Delegate
along with others, to report on the advan-
tages and resources of that country, and to
give our friends and the Press information
on our return, it was arranged that we
should sail from Liverpool on the 11th
September, 13/9. We took our passage
■ OD board the Allan steamship "Peruvian,"

Capt. Smith, ami arrived at Quoboc on
Sunday, 21st Seiitoiubcr. Wo went by
train to Ricjhmomi, and our party divided ;
some going on to Ottawa ami others an<l
iiiysoli" going to Shorbrooke, whnro wo got
a conductor who showed us the country.
Fron\ Slierbrooke, where wo arrived on
Monday morning, we drove on to Compton
and visited tho farm of the Hon. M. H.
Cochnino, whinh is a very fine one. After
partaking of his hospitality, we walked
out to see his farm, wliioh con^'sts of 1000
acres, mostly in grass, with tl Dxccption
of 50 acres in grain and 25 acres in Swedish
turnips and mangold. Tho grain crop has
beei) a very good one judging from the
appearance of the stubble, tiie harvest
having been completed before our arrival.
Tho turnip crop was tho best I ever saw at
the season ; Mr. Cochrane told us they
would still grow till November, wlicn thpy
would be lifted. Ho has 400 cattle on the
farm, the most of which :iro puro-bred
shorthorns. They certainly arf . very fine
lot, and are bred from tho f. ost .iioc'- *hat
England could ])roilucc. ii ^jc.s high
prices for the stock for breeding purj)oees,
even when .sent back to Englancl. lie also
feednagood many cattle during winter, for
which he gets £10 each for profit. The
stock of sheep on this farm is of the Shrop-
shire breed, and he .sells the lambs from
£5 to £6 each for breeding. Besides the
grain and turnip crops, he has an immense
crop of hay, all being consumed by the
cattle and shoep during the winter. He
sows amongst the grain 2 lbs. of red
clover, 2 lbs. of alsiko, and 8 lbs. of
timothy grass ; and cuts twice yearly for
three consecutive years (4J tons per acre),
an immense crop of hay. This farm is in
very high order, and is exceedingly well
managed. Mr. Cochrane pays his work-
men at the rate of 12 dollars per month,
with board.

We also visited several farms in the
Ea.stern Townships, ranging in extent from
400 to 600 acres, with plenty of wood,
good buildings, and streams of clear water,
and which might be bought from 25 to 30
dollars per acre. The land here is more
ada{>ted for the raising and feeding of
stock, and for growing root crops than fpr
grain. There is also abundance of fru^t,
viz., apples and small fniit of the best
description. We all thought that the
Eastern Townships district was a ^ery good
country to farm.

Leaving this, we proceeded by rail to
Ottawa, met the other delegates, and had
a conference with the Hon. J. H. Pope,
Minister of Agriculture. As the district
show was being held at that time, we paid
a visit to it, and inspected all the stock :
it was there where tho Bow Park stock
took so many prizes. The cattle were a

55

M

Q«o1)OC on
'o wnnt by
■ty lUvulod;

othnrs and
hero wo got
10 country,
arrived on
to (Joinpton
[Ion. M. H.
ono. After

W8 walked
^•■sts of 1000

. ijxception
IS in swodiah
•ain crop \\M
ig from the
tlio harvest
( our arrival.

1 ever saw at
:old us they
ir, wlicn thpy
catllo on the
ro pure -bred
IT' . very fine
pst PI or'- +hat
i . -c .s high
ing purposes,
mil. He also
ng winter, for
r profit. The

of the Shrop-
a lambs from
Besides the
as an immense
iumo<l by the
e winter. He

2 lbs. of red
md 8 lbs. of
vice yearly for
ons per acre),
'his farm is in
xeedingly well
lays his work-
ivrs per month,

farms in the
in extent from
enty of wood,
}of clear water,
from 25 to 30
d here is more
ind feeding of
t crops than for
idance of frui|t,
lit of the best
mght that the
was a "ery good

eded by rail ito
gates, and had
)n. .J. H. Pope,
As the district
at time, we paid
i all the stock :
Jow Park stock
le cattle were,*

?«ry fine lot ; some of our English lirenders
Would have bciiii Hurprined at tlio exiiibi-
tiou of sucii (;Httlo tlieve. The hoi "h and
slii'ep did not como up to our exp. iiatiou,
but the roots and grain from Manitoba
were, on the other liaud, the wonder of
All. There was a crunii every day to get
.into the hall to see the woiulerful roots
and sampli's of grain. We aLso vi.sited the
farms in the neiglibourhood of (Htawa, but
saw nothing very goo<l from the time we
left the KanCera Townships.

Ottawa has sprung up within the last
thirty years. The Parliamentary Buildings
are very tine, being built of hewn stone,
Auil standing, as they do, on high ground,
have a very commanding appearance.
Tlicre arc several other public buildings
and a few streets of the same material, but
the most of the city is built of wood.
Bears have been killed on the present site
■of the Parliamentary Buildings by men
atill alive. Leaving Ottawa at night wo
liad not an opportunity of seeing about us
till we came near Toronto, where the land
4igain improves. As we had a little time
to spare we paid a vist to the celebrated
Falls of Niagara, and viewed them both by
day-light and torch-light, and a grander
flight 1 never saw — in fact, it is worth
going oOGO miles to see this alone. We
also visited the burning spring close to
the falls, which was discovered by some
Indians. They had an encampment near
it and their Hre ignited the vapour, which
ia sulphureted hydrogen gas, and bums
with a very brilliant light. It is now
.«nclosed, and the gas is led up through a
pipe about four feet from the ground.

After seeing all the sights there, for
variety we returned to Toronto by the
•dreat Western Kailway, having come up
by Lake Ontario. The land on the south
side Js more of a fniit country — grapes,
apples, pears, and peaches being in great
.abundance. From Hamilton to Toronto
the land looked well, but we had not the
same opportunity of judging from a rail-
way carriage. Next day we went to the
grain market, where wheat was selling at
116 dollars per bu.shel of ttO lbs.; barley,
1 cent, per lb. , 48 lb.s. to the bushel ; hay
.at 9 dollars per ton of 2000 lbs., — the hay
is a mixture of clover and Timothy gra.ss.
In the butchers' market beef was selling at
.6 cents, per lb., lamb at 6 cents, per lb.
wholesale price. The 4 lb. loaf at that
time was 12 cents.; flour per barrel of
.200 lbs., price 6-25 dollars.

Sept. 30. — We started for Manitoba,
passing through Brampton, Guelph, and
Stratford. The land is good and the turnip
<!Top excellent, and the country in general
had a very fine appearance. We often re-
marked that there were very few cattle,
,«nd those not of a good stamp. The

farmers are now dirooting their attention
more to the breedin;^ of cattle of a right
sort. Formerly all the nilves, or nearly so,
were killed when dropped, whoreas now
they are all reared to be sent to Britain.
We sailed from Sariiia on the Ist October,
and rea'.thed (Joderich about eleven o'(!lock
same day, and remaitioil there for three
hours, taking in barrels of salt. An im-
mense quantity of salt of the tinest quality
is made there. The brine is tak(4i from
wells 800 feet deep, aftri-wards boiled and
then put into barr<;ls and sent to dill'erent
parts of the country, and sold at 7(> cents,
per barrel.

The scenery up htikirn Huron and Snpe«
nor is very grand. We also visitdl iho
silver mines at .Silver Islniiil, tln' liiliest in
tho world. W'r nrnvi'd at Thunder Bay,
now Prince Arthur's Landing, on Saturday,
4th October, intending to remain there till
Iklonday morning.

We were asked by two members of the
Canadian Government, the Hon. Mackenzie
Bowell and Hon. Mr. Aikens, to go with
them to inspect the Canadian Pacific Hail-
way, which the Canadian Government are
now making to Winnipeg. Wo travelled
130 miles along the line, which was very
smooth, and everything seemed well
balanced and tini.shed. The land all the
way was poor, a great deal of the wood
burned down, and only stumps remaining.
It is expected the line will bo opened
through in the course of another year.

Wo proceeded on our journey in the
afternoon by way of Dulutli, arriving next
day at noon, having travelled on the
lakes 900 mile.s. We then wont by the
Northern Pacific Railway up the banks of
the St. Louis Kiver, which are very steep
and rugged and well-wooded, but darkness
coming on prevented us from seeing much.
On daylight appearing we had arrived in
the praine country, where no trees are to
be seen and very little cultivation, and
from this it is prairie ground all the way
to Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba,
where we arrived on Friday morning,
having travelled 500 miles from Dulutn.
The mayor and civic authorities met us at
the station and accompanied us to an
hotel, and ma<le arrangements for our
travelling through Manitoba early in the
morning. This, however, was departed
from, as we did not leave Winnipeg till
three o'clock for Portage-la-Prairie, and
only travelled 34 miles that afternoon,
and arrived at a snwU inn called Houses
on Pigeon Lake, \fter leaving Winnipeg
the land is of a u.ack, sticky loam, and
very swampy for seven or eight miles along
the banks of the Assiniboine P.'ver, when
it begins to improve. There is not mnch
cultivation till we get to a ilace called
High Bluff, where the land is very good,

^6

arrowing very fine crops of wheat, judging
worn the appeurunco of the stubble and the
bulk of grain in stacks, none of which are
tliatcheJ, nor does it seem to be thought
.necessary that they should bo thatched,
but it gives theni <i. very slov«nly
Mppouruiice. All the land round this
district is very good, being four
-feet deep of black loam, as we saw from a
•and pit. The water is also good, as we
drank some from the creek. The land
hero has grown wheat for 40 years in suc-
cession, yielding from 25 u[) to 40 bushels
per acre, weight 60 lbs. per bushel, and
selling for 60 cents per bushel. Th" <'«r-
juei-s had sold it too soon, as the price had
gone up very much. There are not many
,oat3 sown here, but the general produce is
•bout 70 bushels per acre. Wo arrived at
Portage-la- i'liiirio on Saturday afternoon.
The land is good all the way from High
Bluff. From Winnipeg to Portage it is
60 miles. On taking a walk m the evening
we had a conversation with a man who was

Sloughing. His farm consists of. 320 acres,
[e told us that he had grown wheat in
succession for seventeen years, and that it
liad boon in wheat thirteen years before he
bought the farm, and hod grown very gootl
O'ops at an average of 32 bushels per acre
,of 60 lbs. weight per bushel. Ho also said
that he could plough 2 acres daily with
two very small horses. This man hud also
sold his wheat too soon. There is about
40 cents per bushel dillerence between value
of wheat '.n Manitoba and Montreal. This
will be reduced to 20 cents or thereby
when the Canadian-Pacific liailwayis made
thiougli to Winnipeg and on to Portage-
la-Pri.uio. Wheat can be gro^Vn in Mani-
toba for 55 cents per busiiel, leaving a
profit, the expense per acre for ploughing,
aarrowing, seed, sowing, cutting, binding,
carrying, and tlu-osliiug, being 8 dollars.
.This is wiien the Sulkey plough 's used.
With this plough one man can turn over
6 acres daily. It is a double-furrow plough,
and is drawn by four horses or mules, the
man being seated and managing the plough
with a lover.

. The Delegates here again divided, three
•going west in the direction of ll.ii)id City,
«ud the others and self returning to Win-
jiipeg by a more northerly route, where
the land is equally good. We arrived at
night a at roadside inn, about half way to
.Winnipeg, Proceeding next day, on our
way we mc. ^ man going from Ontario to
JRapid City, about JLOO nnles west from
Porta; :o, ' told us that hn liad bought
,1,920 atii'os jf land for himself ami tivo
.swifn. 5i/0 "cres each, viz., 160 acres ciillod
'•'hoi'i' ' vewl," which he got free, and 100
iwres called "pre-eniiitioa," for width he
had to pay 1)60 dollars. Tliis man wiis in
groat epii'its at having act^uireu no utucli

property, and he seemed to have « pre-^
ference for the lend ^bout Rapid City and
the Pembina Mountains to any other that
he had seen. We also met a number of
English immigi-ants going west t« tV/
neighbourhood of Kapid City. One of
them had got into a "slough" (as it is
called in that district), and we had to
assist him out, the reason of his having
stuck fast being attributable to the state
of the roads in wet weather, and their
want of metal Those men had two oze»
in each waggon, for which they paid on an
average 135 dollars, and 85 dollars fdr
each waggon, and this was considered to
be very dear. Another niun informed ua
that he would not have left England if hi»
landlord had been more liberal with him.
He had lost a lot of money in his farm^
and the landlord rather than give liim a
reduction took the farm into his own hands,
and he was certain the landlord would lose
money by it, and be obliged in a year or two
to let it to someone else at half the rent.
At tills season a great many prairie fires
take platic, everything being so dry. Some
of the settlers have lost all their property
from not having taking the proper pre-
caution, but by ploughing a good breadth
of land round their homesteads this may
be preventfld. There are a good many
cattle in tliis distiict, but not of a gooU
sort, the prices ranging from 16 to 20 and
40 dollars each, and for horses the i)rice»
beuig about 100 dollars. Wo also visited
a herd of bulfalo bulls and cows grazing
among the native cows belonging to the
Hon. James MacKay, who has a property
near to Wiimipcg.

Oct. 14. — We set out for a southern;
inspection uj) the Red River. After leaving
Winnipeg the land is swampy for some
miles out, it then begins to improve, and
'■ .lere the ])c{ij)k have settled down, it is-
cultivated to ii small extent. On reaching
Morris, on the Seiatcliing River, and for
many miles round, the land is good, the-
the country looks well, and the crops very
fine. We remained at Morris all night.
Passing along next morning some of oiir
party were very succcsriul in shooting a
great niv.ny piiiirio chickens in the course
of an hour. They are veiy abundant in
some parts of the country. They are some-^
thing like the grouse in Scotland, bijit
lighter in colour. Tl'.e siwrt afforded gredt
ainusumunt to us all, and we lost no time- {
by it, us the horses were resting and feed-
ing. We then resumed our journey. The
prairie grass to the west of Morris had been
uU burned, which gave the country a veW
dismid apjiearancc. However, the soil is
excellent, being black loam, but little oi
no cultivatiim till we get to Lowe's fanlL
This farm is the joint projKjrty of Mt.
James Lowe, of Manchester, and Mr. J<^bn |

57

ve a pre-

1 City and
other that
iumber of
ist ttt th'/
One of
" (as it is
ve had to
his having

0 the state
and their

d two oxeik
paid on an;
dollars felt
nsidered to
ttfoinied ua
iland if hi*

1 with him.
1 his farnii

give him a
I own hands,
i would lose
I year or two
ilf the rent,
prairie fires
I dry. Sonie
eir property

proper pre-
;ood breadth
ids this may

good many
ot of a good
16 to 20 and
es the price*
e also visited
;ows grazing
iging to the
lis a property.

a southern
After leaving
i])y for soma
improve, and
ed down, it is

On reaching
iver, and for

is good, the-
the crops very
•ris all night.

some of our
in shooting a
in the course

abundant in
'hey are some-
Scotland, but
jaH'orded great
re lost no time
itin;^ and feud-
jouriity. The
lorris had been
country a vety '
■er, the soil U
but little or
o Lo've's farm.
■0})ertY of Mr.

and Mr. John

Lowe, of Ottawa (Secretary to the Depart-
ment of Agiiculturc), whose two sons >ire
in Manitoha. It its managed by Colonel
Westovei, wiio has begun to cultivate on a
most extensive scale. The farm comprises
12,000 acres, tie began to plwiigli last !
summer, and will sow 500 acres of wheat
next spring, and will go on increasing every
year until the most of tlie laud is under
wheat. Ho has 25 horses at present, but
instead of buying more horses he intends
purchasing a great many oxeu or nuiles.
This will hi a. mfiguificuiit farm in a few
years. The soil is xmy good and deep.
We could judge of this from what we saw,
where Mr. Lowe wm, digitin" a well. It Wixs
mlly two feet deep of tluck loam. He had,
however, been unfortunate in his horses,
having lost eleven. AVe advised him not
to give them too much diy food, but to
give them some linseed or linseed cake.

After leaving Lowe's farm we drove
through many miles of prairie ground, but
saw no cattle. Our opinion was that there
might be millions more cattle reared
annually tliaa there are at jireseut, if
people would only go out from the old
country and try it. They would malcc
fortunes, as there are thousuiuls, nay
millions, of acres for sale. Our party a;' i ; u
shot some prairie chickens. They are in
great numbers, and there are thousands of
wild ducks. By-the-way, I nuiy add there
is neither gun nor game license retiuisite in
Canada, and no gamekeepers to annoy one
as there are in Scotland. In fact, these men
have often been the means of creating bad
feeling between landlord and tenaut there.
Every one is astonished that the laudloi'ds
of ScotlaMd should so generally give cre-
dence to their reports, as gamekeepers too
frequently misrepresent matters for their
own interest. In my own case I may
state I have not thus been annoyed, my
landlord ha.ving been kind enough to ; ^^
me the shooting on my farm.

To return to our former subject. We
arranged to visit another farm, of 4,000
acres, on Tobacco Cieek, belonging to the
Messrs. Riddell, sons of Mr. Kiddell, of
Hundalea, Roxburghshire, at one time
President of the Scottish Chamber of
Agriculture. We drove up to their house,
and found them at liome, and got a hearty
Welcome. Wo were scarcely seated when
a severe thunderstorm came on, followed
by rain. Next morning it was dry though
cloudy, but cleareil away in the afternoon,
when we were driven through the farm,
which is a very fine one, full of the wild
rose, this being a sign of good land in
Manitoba. They have shown great wisdom
in selecting such a good spot. They have
a lot of land under the plough, and grow
fii-st-rate crops of wheat, wTiich they sell
for seed to people iu their district. The

Messrs. RLldell's crop of wheat is generally
about 32 bushels per acre, and weighs 62
lbs. per IjusIicI. They intend going largely
into the brceiling of cattle, and we thought
they were right. They have a good lot; at
present, and intend buying more this
autumn. I have no doubt these gentlemen
will in a few years juake largo fortunes. I
hope they may, as they are most indus-
trious young men.

JIanitoba is a very healthy countrj', and
has u very fertile soil. It is generally very
diy in summer, and in winter the cold is
no greater, and the snow seldou, so deep,
as in Ontario. Plenty of wood can be got
at Wiuniipcg, and also at Rapid City, for
building purposes. There are tw-o saw
mills being erected at present. The wood
is sent down the Saskatchewan River from
the White Mud River and White Lake,
where plenty of timber is to be had. Coal
has also been found on the Saskatchewan
'Uver in beds 2^ feet thick, and on the
Pembina River 7 feet thick. In fact it
abounds everywhere, so that there will
be no lack of fuel. There is also a grist
mill erecting at Rapid City. There was a
great talk some time ago about the gi'aas-
hoppers doing great damage to the wheat
crop, but none have been seen for three or
four- years, and they don't expect to be
annoyed again for years to come. In this
I report only what was told me,

Manitoba is very dillerent Irom Ontario ;
there are no trees to hinder the plough,
only pi-airie grass, and this must be
ploughed down in June and July with »
tunow 2 inches deep and 12 or 14 inches
wide. It is found that the soil is rotted
better in these montlis from the heat being-
so gieat. It is again ploughed ov c>r in the
autumn or spiing, and once yearly after, uj
manure bein^j required. In fact, all the
straw, wluch m Liituin would be converted,
into manure, is burned. T!'*" tuxes ai'e
light, and the Canadia»; Gov rnmeut
reserve two sections in each township for
educatioual purposes. Each section con-
Vains 640 acres, and there are thii-ty-six
sections in each township. My opinion is
that tliis is the country for British farmers
to go to, as if we remain much longer at
home our means will be all gone. Every
year it is being drained away, and laud-
lords make no concession, ^^'e are all
aware that a baigain is a bargain ; but if
landlords would show a little consideration
iu such bad times as we have of late years
experienced they would be no losers in the
long run. We had no id.ia when we
entered on our present lcu>es tliat we
were to have such a succe.vsiou of bad
seasons, and, combined with ♦li:s, the
great increase of wages and t lulcsmen'.*
bills. Few farmers will be alile to reuavr
their leases. Iu their deteiminatiou to-

m«#

58

get all their rents, landlords are only kill-
ing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
My advice is, that as long as wo have a
little capital left to secure some of it in
that country beyond the Atlantic where
plenty of land can be bought from the
<)anadian Government for one dollar
jer acre, equal to 4s. 2d. British
?nonoy.

Since leaving Manitoba the Hudson's
5ay Company have advertised for sale
(fiOO.OOO acres out of 7^000,000 acres of
land which they hold in the North-West,
from three dols. to six dols. per acre.
They have two sections in each township,
■containing 640 acres each. The land re-
quires no clearing of timber ami no liming,
«nd little or no draining, the most of it
being dry and easily wrought ; it only
needs to be ploughed, and at once it pro-
duces good crops. We next took a run
through Ontario, and having made ar-
rangements with the Hon. George Brown
to visit tlie far-famed herd of shorthorns at
Bow I'iirk we travelled by the Great Wes-
tern Railway by Hamilton, the scenery
there being very grand, and equally so all
•the way to Harrisbnrg. The wheat crop
was most luxuriant, but we thought too
far advanced for the season. Some of the
farmers hail tumed their cattle into it,
which was the best thing to do. In former
•days this system was pursued in Berwick-
shire when the wheat was too far advanced
(which was called getting proud). In that
county it was stocked in April and May ;
but this is never done now, as there is
little or no fallow wheat. On arriving at
Brantford we were met by Mr. Clay, jun. ,
son of Mr. Clay, Kerchesters, Roxburgh-
shire, also at one time President of the
Scottish Chamber of Agriculture, who drove
us out to Bow Park, which is a magnifi-
cent farm, and examined the celebrated
shorthorns, which are the wonder of
the Canadians and of every one else.
Such a valuable lot of stock is seldom to
be seen. They are mostly fed on the pro-
duce of the farm — rye in spring, clover in
summer, and Indian com in winter. This
is all put through the chaff-cutter and
mixed with turnips, mangold, and a little
linseed cake, which is very cheap in
Canada. The Indian corn, I may mention,
grows 10 feet high, and is allowed to re-
main out in stook all winter, and is taken
in daily as reijuired The cattle seem to
thrive well on this mixture, as they were
in fine order, and when sold they command
high prices for breeding purposes. I am sure
the Canadians are under deep obligations
to the Hon. George Brown, and also to the
Hon. M. H. Cochrane of Conipton, for
introducing such a very fine herd of short-
horns into their country. If tho.se gentle-
men had been in Britain, they would

have been almost idolised. After leaving
Bow Park, where we were treated with the
greatest kindness by Mr. Clay, we drove
on to Woodstock, and visited several farms
in that neighbourhood, where some of the
farmers ^ere taking up their Swedish tur-
nips, from 600 to 700 bushels per acre of
of 60 lbs. weight per bushel. Tne , :tolf
the shaw with a hook, and give tnem a,
double turn with the harrows, which pulls
them up, and they are then ready for cart-
ing to the root-house. They find no
difficulty in growing turnips if sown about
the middle of June. Good land sells in
that district from 60 to 90 dollars per acre,
according to situation, and with good
buildings. We also visited a cheese factory,
supposed to be the largest in Canada.
They make 45 cheeses daily of 60 lbs. weight
each, which sell at 12 cents, per lb. Three
months before our visit they could not get
6 cents, per lb., equal to 3d per lb. of our
money. The farmers in the district send
their mUk to that factory.

When at Guelph, we drove out to the
College of Agriculture. This institution
was built by the Ontario Goveinmeut for
the training of farmers' sons and others in
the Province of Ontario in the theory and
practice of agriculture. There are ninety
young men in the establishment. Each
student is required to work five hours daily,
for which he receives at the rate of 10 cents,
per hour, tuition free, board and washing
chargevl. The students do all the nianuu
work on the farm under the superintendence
of a foreman for each department. The farm
consists of 5.50 acres, 400 acres of which are
cleared. There are cattle and sheep, pigs
and poultry on the farm, as well as grain.

Notwithstanding all the beauty of On-
tario, I mu:?t give a preference to Manitoba
as the placi? to which we fanners must all
emigrate. Any one going to Manitoba,
having £160, can take up one-half section
(320 acres of land), viz., 160 acres home-
stead, which he gets free from the Canadian
Government by agreeing to reside on the
property and cuUivate it for three years ; he
can also take iip another 160 acres, " pre-
emption," for which he has to pay 1 dollar
per acre, payab'e by instalments, the first
instalment, with interest, being payable at
the end of three years. Of course the
settler can take up land near to a railway,
for which he has to pay on pre-emption 2^
dollars per acre. In my opinion this will be
the cheapest. It must be understood, when
saying that a man with £160 may succeed,
any one having £300 or £400 will get on
much better, labourers' wages per day
being IJ to 2 dollars; and female servants
per month, with board, 5 to 6 dollars;
ploughmen, 1^ dollars per day. Estimate
for a settler going to Manitoba and taking
up a quarter-section : —

rter leaving
ed with the
y, we drove
Qveral farms
some of the
iwedish tur-
a per acre of
The, itoif
give tiiem a
which pulls
idy for cart"
ley find no

sown about
land sells in
ars per acre,

with good
leese factory,
in Canada.
0 lbs. weight
erlb. Three
ould not get
er lb. of our
district send

'6 out to the
s institution
ei'uniout for
lud others in
3 theory and
e are ninety
ment. Each
9 hours daily,
te of 10 cents,
and washing
. the manual
lerintendenco
nt. The farm
i of which are
d sheep, pigs
ell as grain,
eauty of On-
) to Manitoba
ners must all
;o Manitoba,
-half section
acres home-
the Canadian
reside on the
iree years ; he
acres, ' ' pre-
pay 1 dollar
ants, the first
ng payable at
t' course the
to a railway,
c-emption 2^
n this will be
erstood, when
may succeed,
)0 will get on
ges per day
nale scrvantt
:o 6 dollars;
y. Estimat*
)A and taking

Provisions for one year
One yoke of oxen ...

One waggon

One cow

Plough and harrows
Chains, spades, forks, &c.
Stove and bedstead ...

Seed

Building house and stable

Dols.
. 200
. 130
. 80
. 30
. 30
. 20
. 35
. 120
. 155

800

JBqual to £166 13s. 4d. of British money.
This sum may perhaps surprise some people
in this country, but it lias been done for
even less.

1 cannot conclude my remarks without
expressing heartily my gratitude for the
thorough kindness I universally experi-
enced from the Canadians during my
oojourn amongst them. They are a most
hospitable as well as a most industrious
jpeople. The Delegates have also to thank
the Canadian Government for the great
kindness shoA\Ti them, as well as the com-
fortable arrangements made for them while
travelling through their country.

MR. SNOW'S REPORT.

Mr. Snow, who was also received with
applause, reported a»s follows (referring

■now and again to a map of the Dominion

■which hung on the wall) : —

The Delegates pushed through for Ot-
tawa, where they had an interview wth

•the Minister of Agriculture for Canada,
the Hon. J. H. Pope. Nothing could be
kinder than the reception they met with,
and I give you his words as nearly as I
can recollect them. — 'Gentlemen, — We
have invited you to this country to sec it
for yourselves : we have no intention of

■saying to you we shall send you here,
there, or anywhere ; it is for you to say
where you wish to go and there you shall
be sent, and when you return tell your
friends and neighbours exactly what you
have seen. Tell them what is good alwut
the country. I tmst you will find nothing
^ad; but should you do so tell them
that also.'

Having read an article in Chamhcrs'
Journal more than twenty years ago about
the fertile belt of North America, and
knowing that a good deal of speculation
existed in this country as to its capabili-
ties for settlement, I requested to be sent
■there, — I point out on the map the route
we took — and I shall now proceed to speak,
first, of the future facilities for getting in
•nd out of the country ; second, its adap-
tation for wheat growing and cattle
Jaising ; third, who should go there.

Looking nt the map, you will see, at tbe
liead of Lake Supt'rior, Thunder Bay ;

from here a line is being constructed to
Winnipeg, through which much of the
traffic must pass ; and having a long
stretch of water carriage by the lakes, it
can be carried cheaply. Then there is the
present line through United States ter-
ritory, barely completed when we were
there. This will be a competing line, and
will serve a very useful purpose for taking
produce into the States ; but it is a very
round-about road going from Canada.
There is also a projected route via Nelson
River and Hudson's Bay, Fort York, which
is about the same distance as New York is
from this country, but then it is only open
for three months. Of course much could
be done even in this short time in trans-
porting grain and cattle.

The line from Thunder Bay to Winni-
peg mainly goes through a very barren
country ; every article for the consump*
tion of man and beast has to be carried in,
and .as it is rather a diificult subject in the
matter of gradients the cost is heavy ; but
west of Winnipeg the country is level and
fertile, so that railways are constructed
cheaply. 1 understand 300 miles are
already let at a very moderate figure. I
should say that in five years there will be
an immense amount of railways con-
structed in this region.

Along the Red River and about Winni*
peg the soil is very strong black vegetable
mould, and I have no doubt most of it
would carry paying crops of wheat for
thirty years ; but it is very flat, and I
must say that I like the country better
west of Winnipeg, and the furthest point
wo reached, 150 miles west of Winnipeg,
best of all. You have here the Little Sas-
katchewan River, with fine sloping ground
on each side ; the soil and what it pro-
duced was good, as you will see from the
samples of each I now show you. I also
show you samples from other parts ; and
the diflerence I saw betwixt the prairie^
in the States and Manitoba was, that in
the first they seemed to be about a dead
level, in the other you had a variety. You
could get strong, level land, or gently
rolling lighter Land — land adapted for
wheat-growing, land nd.apted for cattle-
raising ; and, as I will show you further
on, the Americans themselves atlmit that,
we have ground better adapted for gn wing
wheat and raising cattle than they have.

We saw that a black vegetable mould
covered the surface from 18 inches to tvro,
three, or four feet deep ; and its fertility,
no doubt, arose from vegetable decay and
from the fires which every year sweep
over these lands, depositing fine ashes.
What w.os produced we had to take from
the evidence we could collect from the
people, and from the stacks and stubble
in the fields ; and I consider I keep safely

il 1

: I
i I

tr?fnr«0HMnn

^V'

within the mark when I say that, taking
a good piece of land, it will produce, after
being broken properly, 40 bushels the first
ye^, and an average of 30 bushels for 30
y^ars without manure. The land is also
very easily broken. It is generally
selected without trees, and is turned flat
over in June and July with a breaking
plough to the depth of two inches. In the
fall it is again ploughed the same way,
but taking another couple of inches. It is
then sown with wheat in April, and in
August they reap a heavy crop of wheat.
Afterwards the land is very easily

Eloughed, a man with four mules or horses
i a Sulky plough, taking two furrows,
being expected to plough four to five
acres per day.

Fair barley is grown, as per sample, but
oats axe light ; the climatP,sccms to ripen
them too suddenly.

It •'eems to me to have a great future
before it for cattle-raising, especially
well-bred young stock, which could be
fattened in Ontario, and then shipped to
this country. All the cattlu seen, although
going on dry withered grass, as the
prairie was when we were there, looked
healthy and in good condition. There
was any amount of hay to be got for the
cutting ; and the country is so adapv.ed
for the cutting with machine, that no
provision need be made, but a man at
once goes in and cuts away. This hay
in better adapted for cattle than horses ;
•0 that a man going in to settle generally
commences using cattle for ploughing
and hauling. As to the extent of this
land, I show you this parallelogram on
the map, that is Manitoba, with ten
millions of acres. There, stretching to
the west and north-west is a country esti-
mated to contaid 176 million acres of
fertile land, which must in the very near
future produce largely th'> food required
jba other parts of the glo^o.

As to the right sort of people to go
out, that largely depends upon circum-
rtances j for working-men there will be
Employment on railways for some years ;
the pay when we were there was 6s. per
day, and the contractor fed them for 12s, a
Week ; but in winter they would require
to go to other employment, such as wood-
cutting. For young men, say if two were
joining together having £500 to £1000,
they would do well either wheat or cattle
raising, but they v/ould require to be
cautious as to their start. It would not
be lost time boarding themselves out for
a season with a farmer before making
their final selection, and they nmst make
np their minds to rough it, 'Jut countries
iuch as this grow up with marvellous
tapidity ; population pours in ; cities,
churches, schools arise where a few years

before nothing was heard but the howl of
a wolf. The country seems also well
adapted for such large speculations aa
Dalrymple's fann in Dakota, where 8000
of acres were grown last year. This con-
cern is carried on by a private company,
and is understood to be very successful.
You ask — Has this country no drawback t
Certainly it has ; it is a long distance
from market ; it has a long winter ; there
are mosquitoes, although we neither saw
nor felt them. It may have grasshoppers,
but I heard nor saw of any. I simply
take the people, the cattle, and crops.
I saw all three healthy and thriving
alike, and I came to the conclusion that
it is a }:ood country to go to for those
who feel they are cramped at home, and
can make up their minds to rough it for
a few years.

I conclude by showing you what our
American cousins think of this country,^
The first quotation is from the Fhilu'
delphia Press : —

" The greatest wheat-growing region in
the world is now being opened to settle-
ment. The largest and most productive
portion lies within the British Province of
Manitoba in North America. It is sufli-
ciently prolific, when fairly cultivated, to
make England independent of the United
States fc-- breadstufEs, and to create a
powerful rivalry elsewhere. The extent
of this enormous and rich British territory
Is comparatively unknown to the United
States. It is estimated at 2,984,000 square
miles, whilst the whole of the United
States south of the international boundary
contains 2,933,000. In the north-western
prairies of Canada, wheat often produces
40 to 50 bushels an acre, while in South
Minnesota 20 bu.shels is the average crop,
in Wisconsin only 14, in Pennsylv.ania and
Ohio 15. AVithin five years it is calculated
that 4,000,000 acres of this fertile prairie
land will be under wheat cultivation.
This means an addition to the wheat pro-
ducts of the world of 100,000,000 bu.shels,
being the amount exported last year from
America. It is evident that our superi-
ority as a grain-growiiig country is likely
to be seriously threatened by the rich
prairie lands of this North- Western British
America, as it will make the mother
country entirely independent of foruign
supply."

The second is from a speech delivered
by the Hon. J. W. Taylor, United States
Consul at Winnipeg, on Thmsday, Oct. 2,
1879 :—

After some remarks concerning the
cotton and com (Indian) growing (sec-
tions of America, he goes on to say,
" There remained the Northern Zone,
especially adapted to wheat gi-owin.i,' and
cattle raising. That included Canada,

»>

;he howl ol
I alsu well
LilHtiuiis a»
(vliere 800O
This oon-
e company,

succehsful.
drawback f
ig distauce
n ter ; there
[leither saw
asshoppers,
I simply

and crops,
d thriving
ilusion that

0 for those
; home, and
rough it for

u what our

[lis country ,^

the I'hila-

ig region in
;d to settle-
t productive
. Province of
It is sufli-
ultivated, to

1 the United
to create a^

The extent
tish territory

the United
4,000 square

the United
lal boundary
arth-westem
en produces
lile iu South
bverage crop,
sylvania and
is calculated
jrtile prairie

cultivation,
e wheat pro-
1,000 bu.«hels,
St year from
-J our superi-
iitry is likely

by the rich
•stem British

the mother
it of forttign

ich delivered
Jnited States
rsday, Oct. ii,

iccniing the
growing see-
on to say,
L'thern Zone,
growing' and
dcd Cauada^

Wisconsin, llichigan, and partly Minne-
«ota, bat three-fourths of the great whcafe-
pro'liicing belt of the Continent lay north
of tlio boundary line of the United States.
Thoro the future bread supply of America,
and of the old world, too, would be raised.
The beaf raised in this northern district
was found superior to that produced far-
ther south."

In a pamphlet by W. B. Close, recom-
mending Iowa to settlers, I find the
following: —

"I have reports from. several of my
farms stating the yield of wheat this
year has fallen very little short of .SO
bushels to the acre. Still, owing to its
occasionally suffering from blight, it is
not as certtiin a crop as in Manitoba."
Mr. Close, who has lands to sell in Iowa,
might have added that the buffalo goes
from the plains of the North-Westem
States and Terri*.ories into those of Mani-
toba and the Canadian North-West to
winter on account of the more luxurious
herbage, the lighter fall of snow, and the
fact that, owing to the equable tempera-
ture which prevents the crusting of the
Enow, a result which follows alternate
thaws and frosts, and renders it more
difficult, and often imjiossible for cattle to
reach the grass beneath.

Tlicse facts should be borne in mind by
intending emigrants to North America,
■who arc now being plied with all kimi'^of
objections to the climate of the Dominion
by interested agents of the various land
and railway companies of Minnesota, Ne-
braska, Dakota, Iowa, Texas, &c.

The Chairman. — You have all heard
the very emphatic tenns in which the
Dominion Territory, and particularly the
vrestem portion of it, has boon described,
on which thore is not likely to bo any
discussion, properly speaking ; but if any
gentleman wishes to ask a question, the
delegates will be glad to answer.

Mr. Turner wished to know the dinfcr-
enco between Canada and the States as a
field for farmers investing their capital.

The Chairman — The Delegates arc from
Canada onlj', and caunot therefore speak of
the States. Besides, we all want to live
under the British Flag if possible — (hear,

hear).

Mr. WiLLTAM RiDDELL (ox- President
of the Scottish Chambo' of Agriculture),
Uundalee, in response to a call from the
chair, said— I have received many queries
from England, Scotland, and even Ireland,
reg.arding the position and prospects of
farmers in the Province of Manitoba, and
it will give me pleasure to communicate
to this meeting what information I have
been able to glean upon this interesting
Bubject. Reference has been made to my
.tons, Andrew and James, now in the

Canadian North- West. In the first place
I may state that they have been located
in Manitoba since the spring of 1877.
Having purch.osed a quantity of land in
the summer of 1876, with a view to settling
upon it, they commenced, in May, 1877,
to plough a bit of the prairie. Tliey sowed
wheat, barley, sind oats, the seed of which
they carried with them from this country.
The produce of said crop (1877) — very
unlike the crop in this country — ^yielded
well ; they also planted potsvtocs and
other vegetables with success, and are now
pursuing a mixed course of husbandry,
having a little of everjtliing — wheat, bar-
ley, oats, potatoes, turnips, &c., sheep,
cattle, horse -i, and, of course, pigs. Having,
as I have already said, been applied to by
numerous parties to furnish information
derived from my sons' experience and
prospects in .Manitoba, I put a number of
questions with tlie view in the first instance
of getting information for myself, and in
the second place in order to be able to give
a correct and satisfactory reply to the
parties desiring information reg.arding
Manitoba. The following are the answers
to my questions : — We have never regretted
coming here. Land can be purchased at
from 1 to 10 dollars per aero, and its transfer
is so simple that in a few minutes, and at .
almost no cost, any quantify can be trans-
ferred— (applause). Prairie land is easily
broken up, and is turned over in June or
July with .as light a furrow as possible,,
turned back with .an inch of fresh mould
before winter, but sometimes left till
spring, when every description of cereals
(;an be sown. Every description of crop
succeeds well here, wheat yielding from
30 to 40 bushels, barley 45, .and oats 55
per acre. Turnips, carrots, and cabbages
grow as heavy crops as the best in Scot-
land—(applause). Land is rising in
value rapidly, and labour can be had at
from 15 to 20 dollars a month, with ra-
tions. Timber is much needed, but when
buildings and fences are well up, less will
be required. In some localities it is very
scarce, in other districts plentiful, and
consists of oak, ash, elm, poplar, and
birch. Grain crops must all be fenced ;
but a law comes into operation next year
(1880) to have all cattle pastures also
fenced. A Large herd of cattle could be
kept, and if sheltered by woods and
windbreaks, they might stand out nearly
the whole s'-ason. Gr.ass would scarcely
give the finishing touch to feeding cattle
but a little crushed grain in aildition
would do it nicely. Winnipeg market is
available for buying and selling, but the
lor.al demand at i)vesent is very good.
Il.aihvay commnniciition with the outer
wor'd is increasing daily, and this will be
the means of levelling both up and down.

m

•U-

62

That is to say^ it will equalise prices.
Bullocks seem to be best adapted for
labouiiug the laud, especially in the
breaking up, being more easily main-
tained than horses, and less capital is
required to put them on. The climate is
Tery healthy; we heai'd uf no disease
prevalent in the country. The only tax
is for educational purposes. Chui'ches
are supported partly by missions from
Ontario and by voluntary contributions.
Not such a thing as State aid. The
classes most required here are farmers
with capital, fann and railway la-
bourers, and domestic servants. At lust we
did not know how we were likely to suc-
ceed ; but now we are in a jjosition, from
our experience and observation, to advise
any plucky, industrious man, with from
£500 to £ 1 ,000, to come out here. The best
time for farmera to come is in September
or October. If these months are not con-
venient, the end of March or April ; the
foimer time would e.iablc a settler to
select his location, purchase stock, and
get ready to make an early start for next
year's crop. A farmer's outfit should con-
sist of trained yoke oxcii, which may be
bought at 15^5 dollars a pair and upwards ;
cows 35 dollars and upwards. Steel
ploughs are the best, and cost from 26 to
30 dollars. Like all new countries, every-
thing is quite primitive compared with
Scotland. We have many discomforts
and inconveniences, with hard work in
seed, hay, and harvest time ; but, not-
withstanding all this, we have a very large
amount of compensation. The land i.« our
own ; we can farm as we like, sell v. aat
suits us best— either the land or its pro-
duce— hunt and sport without hindrance,
neither law nor contract preventing.
(Applause.) All this sweetens labour
very much, however. All who may think
of eoming here ought to make up their
minds to rough it for a time ; but with
capital, patience, pluck, and perseverance
no man need be afraid of making a good
thing of it. (Applause.) With no rents
and almost no taxes, we have the prospect
of doing much better here than in the old
country. These are the answers to ques-
tions which I put to my sons from time to
time during the last eighteen months. You
will observe, tiicrcfore, that they have not
been got up for this occasion. (Hear,
hear.) , Now, I don't mean to talk
politics ; but I cannot help thinking from
what we have heard stated by the
delegates who have just returned from
Canada on a tour of inspection, that there
are several grave and important questions
which might engiige the attention of land-
lords and farmers in this country with the
view of eflEeeting a change for the better
la regard to the relatiunsliip subsisting

between them. (Hear, hear.) For

example, the cultivator of Canadian land
has the advantage of us in this country,
being almost universally the owner, and
is therefore in a position to make the most
of eveiything the laud produces. (He^r,
hear.) Even the land can be sold and
transferred as cheaply and easily as its
produce, or nearly so. Well, owners of
land in this country must be very blhid if
they cannot see what an advantage it
would be to them if they could dispose of
their- land as easily as the Canadians, more
especially when any pressure for money
arises. (Hear, hear.) Another lesson
landlords might learn is that when they
let their land farmers ought to be in a
position to make the most of their farms.
(Applause.) This can only be done by
placing them as nearly as possible in the-
position of owners, that is, with few or no
restrictions as to cropping, full liberty to-
dispose of produce, no game reservations,
compensation for unexhausted improve-
ments on the one hand, payment for
dilapidations on the other hand, no lease,
twelve months notice on either side to
quit, &c. (Applause.) i Farmcra may also-
learn much from what has been said —
first, that there are millions of acres of land ■
in Canada of the finest quality, and within
a few days' journey from this country, and
which can be purchased for less per acre
than the yearly rent of land here — in a^
healthy climate and under the same
Government as our own — (applause) — and
where at least all the necessaries and
many of the luxuries and comforts of thi»
life are fully insmed. Those of us who
may be disposed or compelled to stay in f
this country ought to set about earnestly
and unitedly to get themselves unfettered,
and that, I venture to say, can only be
done by sending men to Parliament whose
interests arc identical with om- own, .
(Applause.) >

Mr. AValker, poor's inspector, wished
some explanation of the report that vast
tracts of land in America were being rua "
out of cultivation by the mode of cultur»
adopted.

Mr. Elliot gave an illustration to sho\r
how this was being accomplished. Coming
down in the train with a member of the
'Canadian Government, he observed a
number of sacks piled up on the laihvay'
platform. Out of curiosity he went to sea
what they contained A gentleman stand-
ing by informed him that it was nmstaKJ.
seed, and statetl that it wiis all to be sowa
on 300 acres. Why, said Mr. Elliot, it
will siioil your laud. The reply wus, "What
the dovil do I care for the land ; I will get
tei times more for the crop than the land,
is worth." (Laughter).
Jlr. Walker wished to Imow whether tU«-

6d

ar.) For
ladian land
is country,
jwncr, and
ke the most
3S. (Huiir,
3 sold and
isily as its

owners of
ery blind if
vanta;:;© it
1 dispose of
diaus, more

for money
her lesson
when they
to be in a
their farms.
be done by
isible in the-
h few or no
1 liberty to-
eservations,
d improve-
lymeut for
id, no lease,
her side to
vs may also-
jeen said —
icres of land

and within
ountry, and
2SS per acre

hero — in a

the same
lause) — and
ssaries and
forts of thi»

of us who
. to stay in
it earnestly

unfettered,

an only be

ment whose

our- own»

tor, wished
it that vast

0 beinj? rua
le of culture

ion to show
id. Coming
mber of the
observed a
the railway

1 went to see
enian stand-
wtm inmitxul-
1 to be sowa
Ir. Elliot, it
kviis, "What
I ; I will get
.uu the luud.

water in the district spoken of was got
from wells or streams.

Mr. Elliot said it was derived from
streams and wells, and there was no diffi-
culty whatever in procuring a good supply
of water in the districts I visited.

Mr. Snow stated that there were im-
mense districts in which there were lakes,
which looked as if placed there for a gentle-
man's policies. From all he saw there was
no lack of water, the country being well
adapted for cattle feeding and breeding,
though, of course, there were other districts
which could be most advantageously occu-
pied with wheat growing.

Mr. Kelly, Dunbar, wished to know how
turnips were grown and stored in the
climates alluded to— whether any quantity
might be grown, and whether they could-
be stored in time.

Mr. Elliot said that in the district visited
by him any tjuautity might be grown, and
to the gieatest perfection. Indeed, he had
never seen better roots than he saw over
there. They could easily be stored in time,
and when he was there in October they
were busy lifting.

Mr. Kelly — Were they of good growth t

Mr. Elliot— At Guelph, 23 tons per-
acre.

whether tUa^

'Mds'i do;

u

HEPORT OF MR. GEOEGE HUTCHINSOX, DELEGATE FROM
THE PENRITH FARMERS' CLUB.

4. Meeting of the Penrith Fanners' Club
was held on Tuesday, Decern bor 16th, for
the purpose of hearing a report from Mr.
George Hutchinson, Brougham Ca«tle,
the Delegate chosen by the Ulnb to visit
Canada, "On the rcsonrces of Canada,
and the advantages which it offers."
There was a large attendance, and in the
absence of the chairman, Mr. H. C. How-
ard, of Greystokc), Mr. W. Hcskett, the
vice-president, took the chair. There
were also present Jfr James Atkinson,
Windcrwath ; Mr. J. Hogarth, Julian
Bower ; Mr, C Thompson, Morland ;
Mr. J. Jameson, Moorhousos ; Mr. B.
T. Sweeten, Penrith ; Mr. llichardson,
Carlisle ; Mr. J. Mitchell, Howgill
Castle ; Mr. H. P. Holme, Jlardiile ;
Mr. J. Longrigp, Great Strickl.ind ; Mr.
T. Mitchell, Whinfell ; Mr. Moiiiisey,
"Victoria Cottage ; Mr. Winskill. IJurton
Hall; Mr. J. Heskett, Plumpton Jlall ;
Mr. Millican, Johnby ; Mr, Thorn, Kirk-
bythore ; Mr, T. P. Lowtliian, Tcmplc-
sowerby ; Mr. J. Powloy, L.angwathby ;
Mr. Grahame, Carlisle ; the llov. H.
Bishop, I<angwathby ; Mr. J. Crosby,
Kirkbythore ; Mr, Spencer, Murrali Hall ;
Mr, Wood, Lowther ; Mr. Lazenby, Caltli-
"waite House ; Mr. Mitchell, Frenchfield ;
Mr, W. Savage, Hanging Bank ; Mr. J,
K. Baron, Mr, T. Hodgson, Mr. W. J.
Heskett, Penrith ; ice, &c.

Mb. Hutchinsok then read his report,
as follows : —

Most of you will no donbt remember that
at a meeting of this club held on the 20th
of August, Mr. Grahame, the Canadian
Government Agent at Carlisle, gave you
Bome information respecting the Dominion
of Canada, and requested the farmers of
this locality to select a Delegate fron^
amongst themselves, to go to Canada, " to
observe and report upon the agricultuval
resources of that country, and the advan-
tages it offers to emigrants." The choice
having fallen upon myself, I left Liver-
pool on the 4th of September, in the
Allan t3,S. " Moravian," accompanied by
Mr, Peat and Mr. .Johnston, two otlier
. Delegates from Cumberland. The time on
board the steamer passed in a very

gleasant manner; it was, in fact, anything
ut the dreaded journey which many on
leaving England to cross the Atlantic
expect. About six days after we lost sight
of the Irish coast, we came in sight of
£elle Isle ; further on we entered the

'vcr St, Lawrence, and tlience to Quebec,
where we stejii^ed on shore on Canadi.an soil
on Saturday evening the 13th of Septem-
ber. From Quebec we went to Ottawa,
the cai)ital of C.-umda, where we spent a
very pleasant week in looking over the
exhibits of the Dominion's Exhibition.
Before and since my return to England, it
has more than once been intimated tome,
that not having time to see all, we should
only be shown the most dcsiraVde parts,
mi(l that wo should therefore come away
with a more favouriible impression than
the cii'cumstaiic(!s justified. I think it
only right to state that, the Hon, J, H.
Pope, Mini.ster of Agriculture, gave us
distinctly to understand that wo could
visit .anj' district we wislied ; all that he
wanted was th.at on our return we should
give a fair and impartial account of the
country. We were met at Ottawa by five
other Deleg.ates who h:vl left England a
week later. On Friday evening, Septem-
ber the 2i;)th, all the Delegates who were
then in Ottawa met at the office of
the Minister of Agriculture, to arrange
our future oper.atious, it being thought
most dcsir.able th.at we shoulil form two
parties, half to st.ay in the old Provinces,
the other to go to M.anitobaand the North-
west Territory. Having my.self chosen to
go to M,anitol)a. the greater part of this
report must neces.sarily refer to it ; but I
will endeavour to give you a short account
of Quebec, Ontario, .and the Eastern Town-
.shii)s, as before going to, and on our
return from Manitoba, we passed through
these Provinces. I believe few people are
aware of the geographical extent of the
British possessions in North America, and
of the fact that England owns more ter-
ritory in North America than do the
Yankees themselves. Its length from
east to west is about .^OOl) miles, and its
breadth from north to .south 1500 miles,
giving a total area of over three million
square miles. You may perhiips form a
bettotr idea of its enormous extent when
I tell you it is twenty-four times as large
as the United Kingilom, and yet only
contains a population of four millions,
or little more than we have in London
alone. The Province of Manitoba, of
which of late we have heard so much, is
situated in the middle of the continent,
in the same latitude as Belgium and
parts of Russia and Austria. It is, how-
ever, but a speck, as it were, compared
with the vast teiiitoryout of which ithM

«6

'I

E FROM

! to Quebec,
annflian soil
of Beptom-
to Ottawa,
we spent a
ifj over the
Exhibition.
iKnglaml,it
nateil tome,
1, we should
irable parts,
come away
rcssion than

I think it

Hon. J. H.
ire, gave us
it wo eould
; all that he
I'll we siiould
iount of the
.tawa by five
t Enghuul a
ing, Scptem-
28 who wore
,he office of
, to arrange
iing thought
.il<l form two
1(1 Provinces,
id the North-
ielf chosen to

part of this
• to it ; but I
short account
lastern Town-

and on our
issed through
ew people are
;xtcnt of the
America, and
vns more ter-
than do the

length from
niles, and its
li 1500 miles,
three million
rhaps form a

extent when
times as large
and yet only
[our millions,
ve in London

Manitoba, of
d BO much, is
the continent,
Belgium and
I, It is, how*
ere, compared
>f which ithM

been formed. The city of Winnipeg, the
capital of Manitoba, standi at the junc-
tion of the Asslniboine with the Red
River. To give you some idea of the
rapid growth of towns in these new dis-
tricts, I may say that on the site of the
city of Winnipeg thirteen years ago there
were only about three log houses ; to-day
it is a place of over 10,000 inhabitants,
and contains several large and well-built
churches and schools, many shops equal
in size and attractiveness to those in the
eastern cities, large and good hotels,
several banks, and many excellent private
residences.

CUMATB.
Canada is in the same latitude as the
1?rltish Isles, Prussia, France, Austria,
Russia, Sweden, and Norway, and has as
many varieties of climate as these
countries. Judging of the Canadian
el 'mate from what I saw of it during
the two months that I Wiis there, I may
safely say that it w.is delightful, after
being used to the wet weather and damp
atmosphere of England. From informa-
tion I received from those who had re-
sided in the country some years, the
winter is colder than in England, but
the cold is accompanied by a much drier
and brighter atmosphere, which causes a
less dis.igreeable feeling of cold than a
warmer temperature accompanied by
dampness. The snow, which is per-
fectly dry, in many parts covers the
ground to the depth of two or Ihrc^e
feet. The constant traffic over it packs
it down hard, so that in a few days it ;
becomes like ice, over which the sleighs
glide without the slightest obstacle to im-
pede their progi'ess. The Canadians say ;
they can trot their horses for hours over j
these roads, and they come home at night |
almost as freah as when they left the j
stables. The summers are warmer than '.
here in England, in proof of which, in some
of the more favoured districts, such as |
Niagara and other parts of South Ontario,
grapes come to perfection in the open air,
I also saw some equally as fine near to ,
Ottawa, 180 miles further north. When \
we were returning from viewing the Falls j
of Niagara, at the station wu saw 137 |
baskets of finu ripe grapes, which had been .
grown in the district ; with such facts as i
lliese let it not be said that Canada is a '
wilderness of ice and snow. That the air i
in Canada is very much drier than in Eng- '
land is proved I think by-the duration of
wooden houses, which last for fifty years, !
and by the total absence of tluit green i
moss, which we see upon a wooden house
in England after it has stood twelve
months. The Province of Manitoba and
the North-West Tenitory has a slightly
diilcrent climate than the older provinces,

the winter being colder, the thermometer
sinking to 40 deg'-ees below zero, but the
universal testimony of the settlers is, that
even with this degree of cold, which is
accompanied by a brighter and a drier
atmosphere than the eastern part of the
continent, is that the sensation of cold is
no greater than in Ontario. During the
winter the greatest drawbacks .ire the
sudden storms of wind and snow, called
by the settlers "Blizzards," and during
the spring to frost. The snow goes away,
aiMl ploughing begins some years as early
as the 1st of April, but generally not until
after the loth, the crops are harvested in
August, the long sininy days of summer
bringing vegetation to a rapid maturity.
The buffaloes winter in thousands on th' • im-
mense prairiesof the Canadian North-West,
the half breeds and the Indians camp out
in the open plains, during the whole of the
winter, with no shelter, but a buffalo skin
tent and robes. When I was there in the
middle of October, I slept in a tent for
ten nights and felt no im.'onvenicnce from
cold or anything else.

Soil and PitoDucnoNS.
Such a vast tract of land as Canada
must necessarily contain a great variety
of soil. The surface soil var es from
light sand to heavy hxim, a medium fer-
tile loam predominating, with generally a
a clay subsoil. The great wealth of the
Dominion of Canada undoubtedly is in
her soil. Although only a new country as
compared with others, she is already well
known as a great meat and corn-produc-
ing country. There is not, I believe, a
more contented man in the world than
the owner of this soil ; he maj- not have
command of as much capital as some
English farmers, nor does he keep liis
land in such a high state of cultivation,
yet the land he works is his o^vn, his taxes
are light, and as a rule he is a happy and
independent man. In a new countiy like
Canada it would be absurd to expect the
farming to be carried on in as scientific a
manner as in England; the land is so
abundant a greater breadth is cultivated
in proportion to the population in what
an English farmer would consider a rough
sort of way. It speaks well for the
character of the soil and climate that
under such adverse circumstances such
excellent crops are obtuined : in too many
instances the land is merely scratched
over. The general excellence of the soil,
and other favourable conditions for feed-
ing all kinds of stock which prevail in
the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, ami the
Eastern Townships, together with the im-
mense ai-eas available, I think leave no
room to doubt that Canada in the near
future is capable of supplying us with
many more cattle and sheep than she i«

m

I '

66

now doing. It is not much more tltiin
five yoara since the Canadian f armors
looked upon wheat n% being their chief

{iroductioii ; to-day the growing of hecf
or England is their first consideration,
wheat only taking second place. As tliis
implies a complete change in thecro;)ping
of the farms, the Canadian farmer of the
future will have to practice what will he
to him a new system of farming. This
change has not come a bit t.f)o soon ; in
fact, .sono of the worn-out lands of On-
tario have long been calling for .such a
change. Some of you may ask — " Why is
tliis change necessary?" I reply, Simply
because the farmers have been cropping
their land year after year without apjily ing
any manure, and have found out that their
crops arc not so good as they used to be
when the land was new and fresh. Rather
than change their .systf^m, and apply more
manure to their land, they are selling
their farms and going west to Manitoba,
where they can secure more fresh land,
and continue the kind of farming which
they have practisid all their lives. It
acims that land that refuses to produce a
fair crop of wheat for the tenth or
fifteenth successive season is considered
by American farmers as no longer
worthy of being cultivated. There are
many farmers in England paying as much
every year in rent and taxes as would
purchase them the freehold of a farm
in those old provinces of Canmla where
they could verj' nearly carry on the Fain ■
.gystora of farming as they had been used to
at home; the crops are much the same t hey
had been in the habit of producing, with a
few exceptions, the style of farm work
varies but little ; they would have a free
education for their children andother home
comforts. It is to these farms that I le-
commend a man with a young family and
capital to go to rather than to the new
Bettlod districts, where he would have to
exchange the conditions of a very old and
thickly-populated country for one that is
entirely new ; he would thei-efore have to
make up his mind to rough it, which I
think is more suited to tlie young m.an
witliout a family. Good well cloaTcd farms
can be bought in any of these old provinces
■of Canada ; indeed, I was astonished to
:6nd so many to sell. The question that
jiaturally arises is — "Why arc these farms
to sell?" The explanation as near as I
.could make out is this : (1) Many of the
farmers who have done well and inade
money have brought up their sons as law-
yers, doctors, or merchants (the great
luimber of colleges and other me.ons of ^
higher education have encouraged this); j
in course of time the farm is sold for '
till! want of .some one to work it. |
Another class of which I am afraid |

there are too many in Canada, who
liav<' bought a farm .and have too litHe
capital to carry it on successfully. With
the lieavy interest the farmer has to pay
on the mortgage, .and want of capital, ha
finds it ditflcult to mak'i all ends meet ;
this makes him ready to sell his farm at
any time, if he can get a good price, much
in the same way aa a farmer in England
would sell any of his stock. Then, again,
during the la.st few years, that isHinee the
" Manitoba fever " set in, many farmor< in
the oUlor parts of the Dominion are re;idy
to sell off to settle in Manitoba, in onler
to obtain .-; larger field than the old homo-
stead for the settlement of their sons. Tt
thus h.nppens tliat farms are often for smIo,
which would especially suit a farmer from
liero; on which his previous habits of lifu
have adapted him to work. Tin' crop*
grown in the old provinces are Ihr same
as wo have here, with the exception
of Indian com. Wheat seems must in
favour, at least on the belter soils, it vieMs
on an aveia<|e about 20 bushels per" acre,
the market value of which in Toronto last
September was 4s. fid. per bushel, at which
price an average crop of wheat would bo
worth £4 10s. ])er.acre. Oats are generally
a very poor sample, the hot d.ays of summer
bringing them forward too rapidly, they
very seldom weigh more than thirty-four
lbs. per bushel, and yield about 50bu,shels
per acre, which were selling in Toronto
last September for Is. 4d. per bushel, sa
that an average crop would be worth
£3 6s. 8d. per acre. Barley is generally
a good s.araple, although not so good as wo
can grow here, the average yield being
about 30 bushels per acre, which were sell-
ing in Toronto at 2s. 4d. per bushel, so
that an average crop of barl(>y would be
wo-th about £3 10s. per acre. Barley
seldom weighs more than 50 lbs. per
bushel. Turnips are not grown very ex-
tensively, although, except in a very dry
season, tliey grow pretty well ; and al-
though the farmers in Canada appear not
to recognise the fact, there can be no doubt
that more extensive turnip culture would
bo beneficial to the farming interests ^T
Canada. One of the main hindrances to
the more extensive cultivation of turnips
is the amount of manual labour they re-
quire. Potatoes grow well, .ond so do
peas, of which I saw some excellent sam-
ples. I saw a large number of Colorado
potato beetles upon some potatoes ; they
did jiot seem to have done much harm, as
potatoes were an excellent crop ; the
farmer had dressed them twice with Paris
frreen while the potatoes were young.
The soil in Manitoba is a black mould,
resting on a very retentive clay sub-soil ;
the de[)th of this black earth varie:< from
12 inches to ."? feet ; when it is work( d ia

a propar

powder, 1
lumpy ai;
thing cl8(
have bcei
that the
richest i:
lysis of tl
tind that
such exc(
the Porta]
of Winni
grown 30
without a
yielded 3
was plouj^
time, .'uui
sary to pli
aithouglih
upon. In
near to V
grown cr
without m
ning to i
handling
Winnipeg
rich agric
broken by
.speculator
would sell
greater pa
must prevt
most desirj
tracts in
'eservatior
■here arese
'00,000 acr
hese rose
>revent tl
jand with
►ought for
I location
reat numl
larketabh
itest regu
toTemmer
lent lands
jom 48. to
listance it
prtain poi
ee grants
kch. I v/i
little Sask
Winnipeg, i
iMds open
Iken up ai
'ing to 1
Rih the in
jad, woul
|ty ; not t

in the
fl lions of

this,
tghljourh
[I'eyhas
■ the grei

6t

ada, who

too little
[j. With
as to \>iij
lanital, ha
nan meet ;
is farm at
)rico, much
II England
hen, again,
is since the
fanners in
n arc ready
V, in or<loT
B old honie-
ir sons. It
ton for .Milo,
aruitr fn>m
.bitr, of lifii

The (<r(.p<
re thr snmo

: CXC<'|.tti0II

ns must in
)ils, it yields
ds per acre,
Toronto last
lel, at which
^t would bo
ire generally
•s of summer
•apidly, they
n thirty-four
lit 50 bushels
in Toronto
;r bushel, so
d be worth
is generally
10 good as wo
yield being
ich were sell-
er bushel, so
would be
;re, Barley
50 lbs. per
■wn very cx«
1 a very dry
ell ; and al-
a appear not
1 be no doubt
ulturc would
interests --f
indranccs to
oil of turnips
Hiur they re-
md so do
xccllent sam-
of Colorado
itatoes; they
inch harm, as
, crop ; the
cc with Paris
were young.
black mould,
rlay sul>-"=oil ;
" 1 v'arie;^ from
is worked iu

a proper conditioi. it bcromes as fine aa
po wde 1 hut if wcjrked when wet it becomes
lumpy and hard, more like clay than any-
thing else. Chemical analyses of this soil
have been made, and the results establish
that the soil in Manitoba is among the
richest in the world. But the best ana-
lysis of the qual i,y of the soil is when wu
find that under such indifferent farming
such excellent crops are grown. Near to
the Portage-la- Prairie, about GO miles webl
of Winnipeg, I saw a field which had
grown 30 crops of wheat iu succession
without any manure, the last orop having
yielded 35 bushels per aero ; the owner
"was ploughing this field for the thirty-first
time, and still did not consider it neces-
sary to plough more than five inches deep,
althougl 1 he had quite two feet of soil to work
upon. In some of the oldest settlements
near to Winnipeg, I saw land that had
grown crops of wheat for 50 years
without manure, but that it was begin-
ining to feel the effects of this rough
handling was very plain. West of
Winnipeg there are thousands of aeresof
Irich agricultural lands lying waste, un-
jbroken by spadp or plough, held by land
lapeculators, Some of these probably
jwould sell for a reasonable profit, but the
jreater part ask exorbitant prices which
mst prevent the settlement of these the
lost desirable parts. Then again, large
tracts in Manitoba are set apart for
feservationsof various kinds ; foriustance,
bhcre areseveral townships for Indians and
>00,000 acres for the Mennonites. I think
^hese reservations must very seriously
prevent the settlement of the country.
>and within 50 miles of Winnipeg can be
>ught for 8s. to 303. per acre, according
location and other circumstances. A
treat number of these farms are within
larketable distance of Winnipeg. The
test regulations issued by the Canadian
lovemment give notice that all Govern-
icnt lands in Manitoba shall be sold at
rom -ts. to 20b. per acre according to tne
[istance it is from the proposed railway,
jrtain portions of which are open for
tee grants and j)re-emption8of 160 acres
ich. I was as far as Rapid City on the
ittle Saskatchewan, 160 miles west of
''innipeg, and found that all the desirable
Ihds open for free homesteads, had been
[ken up as far as there, so that anyone
fing to Manitoba or the North-West
fih the intention of taking a free home-
sad, would have to go west of Rapid
[ty ; not that any intending settler need
in the least alarmed, for there are
[Ihons of acres of splendid land west
this. The rush (.f settlers to the
ight)ourhood of the Little Saskatchewan
[lley hivs been astonishing, and yet by
the greater majority that I spoke to

were perfectly satisfied with fhe soil and
climate of their new hon e. Kapid City,
which in ti»ft middle of October was only
five months old, will be I suppose, the
youngest city in the world, it then con-
tained 22 hoi. MPS — rather substantial log
structures— ' th others going up on
all sides. few hundred yards down

the river was the frame of a new
flour mill, for which the machinery
waa 01. the way. The prairie land
of Mauitoba is to a great extent a
treeless expanse, there are are however
si>nie fine woods along the rivers, treea
also when planted and protected from the
praiiie fires, havu been found to grow
with great rapidity ; still, I am afraid
that this scarcity of timber will be felt by
the settlers until the railways open up
means to get it from the more distant
parts. Wheat is the crop for which the
soil seems especially adapted ; it is of a
very hard and flinty nature, being very
favourable to t'lo new process of making
flour: it cmi, only attains a weight o£
from 60 to 63 lISs. per bushel — the average
yield per acre is 25 bashels — but I may
say that much larger yields pc acre are
common. Some of the farms . hich are
rather better managed yield as far as 36
and 40 bushels per acre. The value ot
wheat in Winnipeg in September was
2s. 9d. per bushel, so that an average
crop of wheat would be worth £3 Ss. 9d.
per acre. The cast, according to the best
evidence I could procure, for growing aa
acre of wheat in Manitoba is — ploughing,
6s.; harrowing, 6s.; seed and sowing, 78.;
harveatiug and thrashing, 14s.; total 33b.
per acre, which, being nearly the only
outlay, would leave a profit of £1 ISs. 7d.
per acre. The straw is of no value, aa it
IS all burned after being thrashed. The
average yield of oats is about 60 bushels ;
the quality is not good, being aiuch the
same as are grown iu Ontario, the weight
not averaging more than 34 lbs. to the
bushel. Barley is a fair sample, the aver-
age yield being about 30 bushels per acres,
the weight from 48 lbs. to 60 lbs. per
bushel. Potatoes yield a good crop with-
out almost any culture, of which I saw
many splendid samples. The exhibits of
the agricultural products at the Dominioa
Exhibition at Ottawa from \fanitoba
were the strongest possible proof of the
wonderful fertility and productiveness of
the soil. You will have noticed that the
average yields of wheat that I have given
are much less than ours at homo ; never-
theless, with this low yield the Amoricaa
farmer can not only compete with us, but
even beat us in our own market. (_>Why Ik
this .' The answer which first prc-icnta
itself Ls the enormoius diilerenee of rent.
Out tliis ililf'-Toiiec is more than btUanoed

r

i#.

;. !

itHSSif^^

w

by the transportation from AniCTicii
to the EiifjliKh market. The real
!idvaiita(r>' which they have over lis is
the eh('a|)nfHs of the cultivation, for
while the American soil \^<'.U no manure
and yiit grows an average crop, while you
fill know too well the EngliHli farmer
must a))p]y a heavy quantity of costly
manure, year after yar, if he exiMjcts to
liave an a vernj^co cro)). In the prairie land in
Manitoba ami the Canadian North-West a
j)lough may tie run through the soil for
miles in a si raight linn without encounter-
a stone, a tnje, or a hill, a feature to which
the old provinces of Canada or England
do not olTer the faintest approach. All
the ordinary fruit, such as currants and
Btrawberries, do well, but apples have not
been successfully cultivated. l$ut the few
trials that have been made seem to be in-
sufficient to estai)lish whether the climate
id adapted lor them or not. The grass-
hoppers wliich visit Manitoba at uncer-
tain intervals are the greatest drawbacks
which the country has to contend against.
It appears from what I was able to loam,
and I took pains to gain trustworthj'
informrjtion from the oldest settlers, that
their ravages are generally partial — some
may suffer while others escape. They
tirst appeared in 1818, six years after the
first settler took up his abode in Manitoba.
They did not do much harm in that year,
but in 1819 they destroyed all the crops.
They did not, however, appear again for
46 years, and did ho harm until 1868,
when they destroyed the entire crop of
the settlement. There can be no doubt
that these pests have been the curse of
the country, but it seems to be the opinion
of the oldest settlers that they will not be
visited by them to any great extent for a
few years, and by that time the greater
number of settlers will have a tendency
to restrict their destruction. One fact is
perhaps worthy of notice — that a total
destruction (jf crops has only taken place
Bix times within 59 years. The mosquitoes
are also another great pest to the settlers
in Manitoba, for two months in summer
especially, to any one who has not been
used to them.

Stock.
In addition to grain growing, stock
rearing is largely carried on in the old
provinces of Canada. Formerly there
was only the local and American market
open to the Canadian stock breeder ;
this is now no longer the case, thousands
of cattle are shipped to England each
year. Until this market was opened out
very little attention had been paid to stock
raising by the Canadian farmer. The
advance in price offered for the better
class of caitlc fit for cxi)ortation to Eng-
land l»as done a great deal to struugthcn

and spread a desire for better bred siren.
The demand for shorthorn bulls is greater
at the jiresent day than it has ever before
been since the introduction of shorthorns
into Canada. There are a great variety
in the cattle of Canada; many are, ;us a
rule, too big boned, and coarse in quality;
but it is only fair to state that a very
creditable percentage of the cattle I have
seen display both moderate size and good
([iiality. Khorthorns are most numerous,
but there arc a few Devons and Galloways
and other breeds. Cows are worth from
£5 to £12 per head, horses from £15 to £?5,
sheep from 12s. to 30s. Mr. Cochrane's
shorthorn herd in the Eastern Town-
ships and that at Bow Park, m Ontario, )
furnish very prominent examples of what
may be done in cattle rearing, and, I
think, give sufficient proof that shorthorns
do well in Canada. The horses are small,
but hardy, tractable animals. At first
sight you very much undervalue their
good qualities ; it is not until you come
to drive them forty miles every day for a
we(!k together that you find out their great
endurance and suitableness for their native
country. The same causes which make
Canada so suitable for the growth of
cattle, adapt it for sheep ; they require to
be well cared for in winter, sheds with
low roofs are generally provided for them.
There are very few cattle in Manitobn, the
farmers as yet nearly giving their whole at-
tention to the growing of grain ; but that
cattle thrive and grow fat on prairie grass
the few that we saw were sufticient proof.
Oxen are extensively used in Manitoba
for draught purposes; I wa- astonished to
see in what excellent condition most of
them were, some of them quite up to
showyard trim, and yet these cattle never
get a bit of anything else to eat bull
prairie grass. Some parts of the prairies 1
o f t he N orth- West are not suitable tor sheep j
on account of the grass which grows there:
called '"Spear Grass," which enters thef
wool and skin of the sheep; in other
parts where this grass does not grow they
do well. One of the farmers in Manitoba
h.ad a very fair herd ol 70 ciittle ; during
the winter they had been kept in vei?
rough open sheds quite exposed to the
weather. When I questioned him as to
whether he considered this sufficient shelter
for wintxjr, he replied that he found them
do very well, and that he supposed it was
on account of the dry atmospliere. This
man makes a practice of breaking about
eight oxen to work every year, and solli
them at from £13 to £20 per head.

Communications and Markkts.
The water communication of the oU
provinces by means of the lakes and river
of St. Lawrence, is unsurpassed ; the rail-

It is
young
many
A mort
tained,
piovin(
of Out

nt

69

^

r 1)ro'1 fiircs.
Us is gn-fttcr
s ever bi'fore
f Khorthorns
;reat vivricly
my are, as a
*c in quality;

that a very
cattle I have
iizc and t;ood
)st numerous,
nd Galluways
J worth from
m£ir)to£'^5,
:r. Coclirane'a
astern Town-
k, m Ontario,
mples of what
iarini;, and, I
hatbhortliorns
r.ses are small,
al3. At first
lervalue their
ntil you couie
very day for a
out their great
for their native
8 which make
ho growth of
.hey require to
ter, sheds with
vided for them.
1 Manitobii.thc \
; their whole at- i
jrain ; but that \
on prairie grass ;
suflicicnl proof. |
d in MiUiitoba
I': astonished to
idilion most of
m quite up to
CSC cattle never
Aae to cat but
1 of the prairies i
uitable for sheep ;
licli grows there i
hich enters the|
beep ; in other |
IS not grow they \
lers in Manitoba
) ciittle; during
ill kept in vei?
exposed to the'
ioned him iis toi
i sufficient shelter!
it he found them?
I supposed it was|
:mospherc. This^

breaking aboutj
ry year, and sellij
) per head.

ND Markets.
ition of the oW|
ic lakes and rivetj
rpa-ssed ; the rail-l

ways also cross tho country in all direc-
tions, fo that the *armer has little trouble
in getting his surplus produce taken from
hi.s farm. Tlic country is also traverse*!
by large main and side roads; these are not
in very good repair, except where gravel
can be got easily. Manitoba having been
so newly settled there are as yet no roads,
those that are used aa such being simply
trails across the prairie; in some places
where the surface water cannot get off
they are almost impassable. Witli such
roads as these you will easily sec the great
advantage the Canadian Pacific Railway
must be to Manitoba. ' The branch con-
necting the waters of Lake Superior with
Winnipeg will bo completed in three years;
100 miles west of Winnipeg hna just been
let to contractors, and is to be completed, it
is expected within a year, as it presents no
engineering diflicultics. In view of the
growing interests of the North- West, and
the rapidity with which Manitoba is filling
np, it is thought probable that a com-
munication may be established from Port
Nelson, in Hudson's Bay, to Liverpool,
When we consider that Port Nelson is
actually nearer to Liverpool than New
York, it surely becomes a question of the
greatest impoitancc to Manitoba that
this route, if possible, should be estab-
lished. The regular price charged for
tho carriage of one bushel of wheat from
Winnipeg to Montreal is fifteenpence.
It ia, however, calculated that when the
branch of the Canadian Pacific Railway
before mentioned Is completed, a bushel
of wheat may be taken between Winni-
peg ana Montreal for one shilling, and
from there to Liverpool for cightpence a
bushel more I Farmers in Manitoba state
that the cost of raising wheat and de-
livering it at Winnipeg does not exceed
2s. 4d. per bushel. We shall thus have
wheat from Me.nitoba on the wharves at
Liverpool at a cost to the producer, inclu-
ding all charges tor transport, of 48.
a bushel, or 323. per quarter. There can-
not be a question that the farmer can
grow wheat in Manitobai and deliver it in
Winnipeg for 2s. 4d. per bushel, Vrhile the
figures of transportation are based on
present prices. Very little wheat is yet
exported from Manitoba, it being nearly
all consumed by the new emigrants ; but
by the time that there is a surplus for ex-
portation there >vill be a railway outlet
by the Canadian Pacific.
Education.
It is fancied that because a country is
young it must neces.«arily be wanting in
many of the surroundings of civilisation,
A more mistaken idea conld not be enter-
tained, at least with regard to the old
provinces of Canada. In the provinces
of Ontario alone, with a population of

two millions, there are about COOO publio
schools. The system is very much the
same as we have here, tho country being
divided into school suutious of u suitable
ext( nt for one school, in which trustees
arc elected to manage itn school ailairs.
Tho necessary funds are raised partly by
a tax upon the ratepayers and partly by
the Government, As a rulo no fees aro
charged, the schools being absolutely free.
In Manitoba the Government have re-
served two sections in every township,
the proceeds of which as soUl aro to be
applied to the establishment of schools;
therefore, as fast as settlement pro'rr''3.s«s
schools will be provided.

WAOK8 AND WOKK.
The depression in tra<lo which has
effected so large a portion of t!»e world
has been felt in Canada, and has very
much lowered the rate of wf^gea. In the
old provinces labourers' wa^cs may be
stated to be from 3s. 6d. to 43. per day,
without board, and from £2 to £3 per
month with board. There being very
little work during winter, wages fall
very considerably. Any one going to
Manitoba with the intention of finding
employment on the fiirms, should re-
member that it is only a new country,
and the demand for fnvm labour limited,
and necessarily confined to the suntmer
months. This demand will, however,
increase as capital increases, and as tho
country becomes more developed by rail-
roads and other means of communication.
The greater part of all who go to Manitoba
procure a homestead or purchase a piece
of land. Farm labourers in Manitoba
earn from £4 to £o a month, with board,
but less in winter.

Conclusion,
During a visit of only two months to
such an immense country as Canada,
you cannot expect any one to acquire a
perfect insight into the prosperity of
the people. As far as I observed things
appear to be going on pretty smoothly
with the farmers there. Cue farmer,
who when a boy had worked at soma
of the farms in this neighbourhood, and
went to Canada 27 yenra ago, now
owns a well cleared farm of 200 acre^;,
worth at this time £1500. This is not a
solitary case; there arc hundreds of farmers
in Canada who commenced with nothing,
and now own good farms of their o-vvn.
Above all things an emigrant should have
good health, and none should go who have
mt made up their minds to work, tho idle
had better stay at home. The emigrant
at present most required in the old pro-
i vinces, are those who have sufficient capital
to enable them to settle upon a cleared farm
Those with means, and who intend to pur-
chase a farm, shoulil not clase a bargaia

1:*.!

■ J

ro

:*

nntil they have had a good look round,
indeed a good plan is to rent a farm for a
year or twc, to see how you like the country.
Another matter that pressed itself on ray
attention in JIanitoba, was the apparent
::baence of fresh water in many extensive
districtSjbut it has been found that there are
few districts where wells -f ordinary depth
do not succeed in finding ample supplies of
water, Prairie fires aa-e another draw-
back from which settlers in the prairies of
Manitoba arc il.'ble to suffer. The chief
peculiar advantage of Manitoba as a field
for settlemeu r, is the combination of prairie
and woodland, the full adv; intage of which
I should think can only be fully appreci ;.*:d
by those who have had practical experience
in clearing off and cultivating a new fa 'Ui
in a thickly- wooded country; that the
existence of great p-:..; of treeless prairies
K a disadvan'^ge there can be no doubt.
Th'.s disadvantage is more than balanced
by the ease with which the land is culti-
vated in comparison with heavy- wooded
lands. When a man is doing well at
home and sees his way to continue to do
BO, great caution should be used in advis-
ing him to emigrate ; but this I do say,
that th<je are many farmers in England,
;ai)eclally those with little capital ivho
could improve thtir position by going to
Manitoba, it they are not unwilling to
undergo the hardahips necessary to those
who live in new countries. What capital
would be required with which to commence
to farm m Manitoba is very frequnntly
asked. The answer entirely depends upon
surrounding circumstances, A young man
without family, willing to work and save
and rough it, would secure himself a home
in ?. few year?, without ?-linost any
capital ; he would have to work for other
parties part of the time, and then hire
kelp again in tur. to assist in putting up
a small house. After that he could plough
and fence in a few acres for a crop in the
following spring, and thu.s in a chort time
he might become comparatively an inde-
pendent farmer, A farmer with a family
desiring to start with a fair amount of
comfort should not have less than £300 ;
on the othe"* hand a man may take con-
fiiderable capital and start in a lai-ger way,
I have endeavoured to give you a fair idea
of th'- adTftntages rnd disadvantages of
the Dominion of Canada. I have tried
not to hold out any visionary inducements
lor any one to go there, but rather to give
a fair unvarnished account of the country
as it presented itself to me, I left Quebec
on my return home ""u f^aturday, Novem-

ber 16th, and after a very pleasant voyage
landed in Liverpool on Monday evening,
November 24th, with many interesting
and pleasant recollections of my travels,
and unb'-- .ded faith in the future of the
great Nori i.-West of Canada. In conclu-
sion, I wish to express my grateful
thanks vo the Hon. J. H. Pope, Minister
of Agriculture, and many others, who
gave me eveiy opportunity for gaining
information.

At the conclusion of the reading of the
paper,

The Chairman said he was sure they
were all greatly indebted and obliged to
Mr. H-^tchin .n for his long and able
paper. Ho was sure it contained a vast
amount of information, and he had no
doub that they, as well as intending
cmigraii'-' would profit by it. He dare
say Mr. Jti'itchinson would be glad to
answer any 'iuca'-w.ib thit any one might
choose to put to him with respect to this
paper.

Mr. Jameson said he must say that if
he liad omitted '4« attend the meeting
that day to hear the excellent paper read
by Jlr. Hutchinson, he should have lost a
great deal of edification and instruction.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Hutchinson had
handled the subject with ^, very great
degree of judgment and accuracy, w^hich,
coining from the quarter it did, was a
very hifih compliment indeed to their
worthy friend Mr. Hutchinson. He had
gone over all the subjects on which he
rose to treat, and every subject he liad
toucl- ;i upon seemed of itself to carry
with it the conviction of practicability
and truth. (Hear, hear.) Seeing that
they were all of them pleased with it, it
was with the greatest pleasure that he
rose to propose a vote of thanks to Mr.
Hutchinson for the admirable paper he
had read. (Applause.)

Mr. Jas. Atkinson seconded the motion,
and said he certainly mur,t '^ay that he
was very much gratified and pleiised with
the report that Mr, Hutchinso'i had laid
before the meeting. He quite agreed
with Mr, Jameson that the statements
made carric' a conviction -jf their truth.

The motion was carried unanimously,

Mr. Hutchinson, in acknowledging the
compliment, said if they had derived
pleasure from the paper he had read, what
must it have boen for him to have been to
to Canada and have seen it all? He was
very much pleased with the kind manner
in which the paper had been received.

tiEPORT

At a large i
held at tli
Kooms, Sill
1879, Mr. B
the ilolmo
presented h
Mr, Pka
means iiitc
detail of w
1 have be(
explain to y
as possible
cuuutry, the
of the peopli
had the op
before goin.i]
labour quest
words on tli
I visit*>'l '
had a guou
whole of tue
B ep, pigs,
vegetables ;
bull, which
piu.a and iie
more in the
more to it.
horses was
country, bu
what we ha\
in both boi
•penking,
of entile
the roadsters
the country
It) or 17 beii
old. Th'ere
entires und<
liaving then
this countr
of the coit
similar to b
this ihcy
groom, almc
eaii make
knees, and
hind leg.s.
til lie were t
mem but at
4how-y»rU h

tlEPORT OF MR. ROBERT PEAT, THE DELEGATE FROM
SILL011I, CUMBERLAND.

\ I

le motidn,
,y tliat be
^irised with
had laid
te agreed
tatements
hoir truth,
limously.

At a large meeting of fanners and others,
held at the Queen's Hotel Assembly
Rooms, Silloih, on the 17th December,
1879, Mr. Robert Peat, the Secretary of
the Uolme Ciiltram Agricultural Society,
presented his report to his cuiifitiluents.
Mr. Peat said : — I do not by any
means intend to go into a long
detail of what I have seen or where
1 have been. I will endeavour to
explain to you, as plainly and as briefly
as possible, the productions of the
country, the nature of the soil, the habits
of the people, and the climate, so far as I
had the opportunity of judging ; but
before going on to speak of the land and
labour question I should like to say a few
words OP tbo exhibition at Ottawa, which
I visit*"i '">.• four days, and from it you
had a good .pportunity of judging the
whole of tue products, both norsiis, cattle,
B ep, pigs, poultry, fruits, furg, and
Tegeiablos ; in fact, there was from a
bull, which cost 2,500 guineas, down to
pins and needles, but as this meeting it
more in the agricultural line I will keep
more to it. The gho.v of entire strong
horses was considered good for the
country, but not to be compared with
what we have in England, being wanting
in both bone and ham, and, generally
speaking, ' vo light on the ribs. The show
of entire thoroughbreds was poor, but
the roadsters and trotting horses, for which
ihe country is so famous, was very good,
IG or 17 being forward above fouf years
old. Th'jre was also a good show of
entires under four years old. Instead of
having them trotted out as we have in
tiiis country, they give them the length
of the cord and let them go T'>.)und,
similar to brcaKing ir lor <s, but for all
this they arc very iractable, and tlie
groom, almost by the crack of his whip,
can make tliem go tlov^n on their
knees, and then stand right up on their
hind legs. Among the young geldings or
tillit were to be found some gocxi speci-
meju but as a general rule not up to our
«how-yard horses in England.

There is also shown in harness two
horses in one buggy, but here the style
of going is taken into consideration as
well as the speed ; but for the one-horse
buggy they judge entirely by speed.
The rate at which they go, and the short
space in which they can bo pulle<l up and
turned, round, is a great treat for an
Englishman to see.

There were some good shorthorns for-
ward. The special priies for the best six
shorthorns, one male and five females,
belonging to one herd, were the beet I
ever saw together. They were from
the Bow Park herd, and I am peuectly
satisfied they were fit to compete in any
show-yard in England. The whole heixl
numlxired 400. Tliey are managed by
Mr. John Hope, from Arkleby, near
Aspai ria, with whom I stayed twu nights,
and had a thorough inspection of the
whole lot. They are all in splendid con-
dition, looking remarkably healthy and
well, and I don't think I am far wrong in
saying they are the finest herd of short-
horns in the world. The Galloways were
a very fair show, but wanting in both
condition and quality. Sheep were a
pretty good sliow, but far from up to
show-yard condition ; but I was told that
any animal overfed would be ilisqualified
from showing. The show of pigs was
very good. In addition to the clas.s88 of
castle I have mentioned there were
Alderneys, Jerseys, Hereforu^, ^>evon»,
Ayrshires, &c., &o. These are some of the
specimens of corn wh ch wore erliiljit^^l
there, but they were grown in a country
I did not visit. The show of fruit was
splendid, and any one that has not seen
for himself can have, but a. poor idea
of what Canada can grow — apples, pears,
peaches, plums, apricots ami tinnatoes,
and pompkins, all grow to perfection and
ripen in the open air, with very little cam
or cultivation ; and so much as 10 tor.s
of grapes are sometimes grown upon ons
acre of land. The tiiought mu«t at one*
strike you that they must be very cheap,
and to they arc ; in England they ar©

72

luxuries, which can only be indulged in
hy the liiglicr ''lapses, whereas in Canada
they are within the purchase of the
labouring' man. (iraprs were selling ut
3 cetits per lb., and peaches 1 dol. per
bushel.

After tijiending four Jays at the ex-
hibition at Ottawa, w(> met at the office
of the JIoii. J, H. Pipe, Minister of Agri-
culture, to determine which route we
were goin<: to tal^e, being in no way biassed
by him, butcheosing foi' ourselves. Reing
very much struck by the roots at the ex-
hibition, the appai'ent richness of the
8oil, and, a"oove all, hearing so many
peoj)lc talking about the country. I de-
termined to visit Manitoba, so we left
that night by Toronto, Sarnia, Lake
Huron, aiul Lake Superior to Duluth,
and thence by rail to Winnipeg, and next
morning started out for a tew days of
prairie life.

Soil. — Contrary to my expectations, in-
stead of finding a wet swamp, as I
pictured in my own nnnd. I found a deep
y>\a,fk loamy soil, varying in depth
fi'oni 24 feet to 3^ feet ; and in some places
where it has been cut through on the
banks of some rivers, it has been found
to iho deptli of 10 to 12 feet, and is
spe<'ialiy adapied for the growing of
wheat, being preferred by the millers
to almost an J- other on account
of it oeing so dry and thin skinned.
It h is been known to grow wheat
for many years in succession, with-
out niftimrc. If the report was cor-
rect, the soil I have sent down to
you has grown wheat for 30 yef\rs, and
the last crop yielded 35 bushels per acre.
When fir.st put into the box it was as
black as my coat ; he was ploughing it
again when I saw him for the next (
spring crop, and giving no manure, with
a pair of rery poor horses, but said he
could easily plough two acres per day
No doubt but that a good many of you,
like myself, will ask the qviestion — but
how long will it last — that is a question
that is left for the future, bnt there is one
thing certain, that no man ire is renuired
at present. One of my friends who was
along mth me for some time, travelling
across R field of 180 acres, came to a place
where the wheat had gone down, and on
making inquiries, he was told it was
where some few of his cattle had got a
little atrtiw. Some people attiibute the
richness of the soil t) the droppings from
birds and animals, and the constant
acumulation of .ashes from the prairie
Aires. During my tour, T met a gentle-
man who had trnve1le<l all over the world,
and he said he had spen no land mure
fertile th.in that at High BliifT--(»«(» .Viij>.':
I have travelled orer that country from

Portage-la- I'rairie to the Pembina Moun-
tains, and so little difference is there of
the soil, that any one but a minute, ob-
server would fail to make much distinc-
tion, except near Morris, where there is
a good deal more soil My friends who
went further west from Port.nge-la- Prairie
to the Saskatcliew-in Valh-y, on their
return reported the land niueh (,2 the
same nature, but thought it vrould not
stand croi>piiig .^o well us SDine to which I
have alluded— High BlulL

PREPAntxu TUK Ground lok Whkat.
— This huge ma-^s of bl.aek soil, which ex-
tends as lav as the eye can s(;e, when beiii.,;
prepared for the lirst crop of wiiea*', is
plonglK^l about two inches deep, in June
or July -this is consich rod the Ijcst time
for so doing — for, with the heat of the sun
and the moisture of the soil, it soon destroys
the green sod. After allc^ ' • ' '^rifiicic^nt
time for the gra.ss to decay. • ''e : iitow is
turned back again a very lit i ^per, and
next spring sown with wheat. Some of you
might po'Jsibly be struck with the light
ploughing, but exjwricnce is the best
teacher, siiid it has heen found that thi.s
way is the best. A large and inllucntial
farmer, not far from Morris, fp.rniing
18,000 acres, did not oitend to plough his
a second time, but to 1 reak it up with a
heavy harrow ; this ]\:\ ■■ notyetbe.cn tried,
so that I connot speal. a« to its results.
For breaking up the prairie oxen or mules
are preferred, for the sod is very tough,
and requires great force to break it, an(i
horses taken out from Ontario to Manitoba
do not at first do well until they bei ome
accustomed to the change of foo<l, and
more especially if hard worked. A i>air
of good oxen will break one and a half
acres per day.

Productions. — Wheat may be said to
^^ the chief production for which Mani-
toba is so much famed, jilthoi.;-h oats,
barley, potatoes, pumpkins, and cabbage-
are all grown, and produce good crop.s.
Turnips are very little known, but I saw »
small piece of land, near to Portage-la-
Prairie, on which had been thrown a hand-
ful or two of ."ced, and no trouble taken
afterwaixls to pull weeds or to knock out
any of the turnips, and judging from these
I think they might bo grown with a little
care and good cultivation. Wheat is sown
from the 16th of A])ril to the l2thof May,
and reaped in the end of August ; barley
from the 24ih of May to the 8th of Juno;
oats about the 20thof May. The following
is the quantity of seed sown : — One
bushel and three pe<'ks to two bu.shcls
wheat; oats, two bushels per aero; barley,
two busheN pel aeve.

It was rather a dittteult matter for us to
arrive at the proper average of grain per
acre ; any party from whom we iiskud the

quest ie

us, but

Knglar

always

After a

the fol

30 bus

bushels

per acre

growint

was toll

stubble

the cro(

Small

berries,

but, so

apple to

be !ng th

the sap i

Trees

but are 1

the riv|.T

•suitable

deslructi

Cattle

spear gr

Piairie g

high, am

yields fri

it is roug

hiiy, but

are very :

food. ■ I

per ton.

the wintj
than ours
natives Ic
than in
healthy, ci
■very litvlf
about the

Co.M.AIV

Some of I
what U tl
where tl
take it '.ci
waj conT
WinnipeJ
way is ill
to Wiml
construei
spring uji
is a brill
is now,
corn. ll
Prairie tJ
17d. to aC
new raib
be brout
23 cents-
— per bill
cents., ol
to Liverf
near ixs
to put

73

bo saiil ta
lich ilnui-
ioi:;'li oivtvS
id "ci<bbaKO-
;oocl crop^.

but I S!I\N (V

jwiiaiiand-
luble taken
knock out
r from these
'vith a little
(leat is sown
•2th of May,
;ust ; barley
ith of Juno ;
;ie following
iown : — Oua
two bushels
Lcre; barley,

,ttcr for us Uy
of p^rnin per
we itskod the

quL'slion was always ready cnou<:jh to tell
u'!, bill you all know it is the case in
Eii;j;lan<l that "toi'ies of this kind do not
always tally, so it is the same in Manitoba.
After askinijj several persons, T arrived at
the followin,!^ conclusion : — Wheat, 25 to
30 bushels per acre; barley, 37 to 10
bushels per acre; ; oat.s, 55 to GO bushels
per acre. \Vc did not sec any of the corn
growin<^, so wo had to be guided by what
was toM to us; but wc could still sec the
slubble, and from that it was evident tliat
the crops had been good.

Small fruits, such as cu'-rants, straw-
borrlc^s, and raspberries pro fouiid here ;
but, so far, they have failed to grow the
apple to perfection, the reason attributed
be ng that tlic frost was too severe before
the sap had left the tree.

Trees are also very scarce on the prairie,
but are found growing along the banks of
the rivprs. 1 think the soil would be
suitable for growin^^ trejs, except for the
destruction by prairie fires.

Cattle do well ; but there is a grass called
spear grass which is injurious to sheep.
Piairic grass grows from three to six feet
high, an(i, in places where it is cut for hay,
yields from three to four tons per acre ;
it is rough in appearance when made into
hiiy, but has a very sweet snioll. Horses
are very I'ond of it. and do well on the
food. It is worth, in Wionipeg, 28s.
per ton.

Ci-TM.VTE, — There is no doubt but that
the winters are more severe and longer
than ours, but we could not get any of the
nfitives to say that they were more severe
thi;n in Ontario. Doubtless it is very
healthy, diseases of any kind being as yet
very litvle known. But I will speak more
about the climate 'urther on.

COMMUNICAITON AND -MARKKTS.

Some of you might be inclined to say,
what is the good of growing this wheat,
where there is no railway or market to
take it .'o. I own that there is no rail-
way eommnnic.ation any further than
Wiunipe.^j, but the Oanadi.in Pacific Rail-
way is in construetion from Thunder Bay
to Winn'peg, and as soon as it is
coustruete I new branch lines will
spring up ; and my opinion is th.-\t there
is a lirilliant future for Manitoba. As it
is now, you can easily get quit of your
corn. It mw costs from Portagc-la-
Prairie to Winnipeg 6d. per 100 lbs., and
17d. to Montreal per bushel, but when the
new railway isi opened, it is caloul..'cd to
be brought direct to Montreal tor 15 to
25 cents — in English money 7jd. to Is.OJd.
— per bushel. A.ilded to this will be 16
cents., or 3d. per bushel, fror^ Montreal
to Liverpool. I will now tell you, as
near as I can. how much it will cost
to put in an acre of wheat, so that,

having these statements before you, yoa
can reckon fcr yourselves the question at
which we all aim. Will it pay ?

Ploughing $1

Harrowing I

Swd 1

Cutting ,

Binding

Thrashing .
Carrying ....
Sowing 0

i)0
50
i>0

3

Bs.
lis.

6s.

3>1.
3d.
3il.

13s.

6id.

Is.

Did.

$8 0 33s. 4d.

This is for the second crop ; for the first
crop you must add |3, or in English
money 123. 6d. No dilllculty was fouud
in getting labour ; £iO for twelve mouths,,
and Indian labour 2s, per day with
board.

When to Go to Manitoba.— Those
who have any thoughts of going out to
make their homes on this vast prairie,
should give this question due considera-
tion. I should strongly advise them not
to go at the fall of the year, for tbe
winter might set in severely before they
had got their hut built, aud cau.se tliem
to suffer more from the c< id than is
necessary by taking the usual precau-
tions. Early in the spring the roads are
Tcry bad ; so we were told that July,
August, and September are considered
the best months, so that you can build
your hut p.nd make the necessary prepa-
rations for the forthcoming winter. Those
who can afford to do so, I would recom-
mend to go in the fall, and .spend
their winter in Winnipeg. They could
then form a good opinion of what the
winter is Mke ; and I think three monthf
sp'.nt in looking around would not be
wasted. Any oue wishing to know " how
to go,' I will at any time be glad to give
him or them my opinion.

Land — at what Pkick it can bk
Procuked.— This black line is the sup-
posed line of railway, and the nearer you
buy Laud to it the higher price you have
to pay. A distance of five miles each
side of this assumed railway line, to be
called •' Belt A," c.-vn be bought at $j, or
in Enj^lish money about £1 per acre. A
belt of fifteen miles either side of the
assumed line, of railway, adjoining Belt
A, to be called " Belt B," can be bought
at $4, or in English money 16s. 8d. per
acre. A belt of twenty miles on either
side of the railway, adjoining belt B, to
be called " Belt C,' can be bought at $3,
or in English money 128. 6d. per acre.
Abel of thirty mih,'S either siileof the
railwi y, adjoining V. to be called " Belt
D," c m be bought at $2, or in English
monc; 8s. 4d. And so on, further from
the railway the less you pay per acre.
There arc also free grunt lands of ItiO

74

acres, and pre-emption laiuls, which
tfuuld take me too long to talk about,
but I will explain it to any one alter the
meeting. There are two sections in each
township of six miles square reserved lor
school purposes.

System of Suuveying.— The tysicm
of surveys, or of liiying out the laud in
Manitoba, is most simple, and easily
understood. Every Township is exactly
BIX miles equ.ire, and this Township is
divided into Bcctions of one mile square,
or f\iQ acres each. These sections aie
again subdivided into half-sections of
320 acres each, quarter sections of 160
acres each. The townships start from a
base line, which is the international
boundary line. The ranges of the town-
ships, which are marked on the map in
Roman characters, run east and west from
the meiidian line, and the numbers of the
townships marked on the map in common
figures run north from the boundary or
first base line. From this simple method
of arrangement any section or township
can be instantly described. For instance,
you wanted to find your land in range V.,
township 8, by this simple method you
have it at once.

Now comes the other side of the stoty.
No matter how healthy may be the climate,
how rich and fruitful may be the soil,
there are few countries but what have
their drawbacks, and this has fallen to the
lot of Manitoba in the shape of scarcity
of wood and water. Water can be got
for sinking wells. In some parts it can be
got from 12 to 16 feet; in others you
have to sink deeper. Coal is reported to
abound in the Saskatchewan Valley: aiid
if this should be the case the former
obstacle will soon be overcome. But
besides these two alreeaj mentioned
tkere is also the plnijuc of grasshoppers,
and the prairie tir';s. The settlers have
reason to believe that those will become
extinct as Ihe settlements increase, there
having been no grasshoppers in the pro-
vince since 1875. By taking due precau-
tion tnc ravages of the prairie fires can be
guarde<l against, by ploughing round
your buildings aid stacks. These fires
tate place at tho fall of the year, and
they have been known to travel at the
rate of 13 miles per hour; but the more the
country becomes settled tJie less these
fires may be dreaded, I have seen the
prairie burned for miles as tar as you
could see, and some .'vtacks standing in
the centre take no harm.

After leaving Manitoba, we proceeded,
to Toronto by way of Chicago, Detroit,
and Port Huron, .lud after sfiending the
Sunday in Toronto we started for Bow
Park in the Province of Ontario ; out ae
-the frost and snow made their appear-

ance we did not sec so much of it. The
pliicos I visited were Brintford, Lon-
don, Woodstock, Guel[)h, and the neigh-
bourhood of Palis, and one or two farms
in th'j Eastern Townships, near to
Sherljiooke. At Bow Park the soil
is of a flue, sandy loam, lying alonj:
the side of the grand river, llircc luiks
from Brantford. No regular system of
cro|)ping is followed, and the cattle of
which I spoke before are in a great
measure soiled in the house. TLcy were
allowed to go out about three hours
during the day when I w;is there, and at
night in summer. The whole herd
numbers 400, :ind any animal about the
place is always open for sale. 1 have
here a catalogue which I will lend.t<'
anyone that is interested in the breeding
of valuable shorthorns. A very correct
account is kept when they were imported,
who was the breeder, and where they
were from. I was rather struck at see-
ing a cow bred by a gentleman whom a
good many of you know, and that is Mr. 11.
B. Hetherington, formerly of Park Head.
The buildings are of the most modern
construction, and all built with wood.
Every animal is allowed a loose box,
which varies in size according to the size
of the ani^lal. Every precaution is taken
against fii e ; n< )t even the managers are
allowed to smoki; in any of the buildings.
Turnips are not much grown, but mau-
golds do well, and form the principal root
crop for the cattle. Western grass is
much used among the stock, and some-
times grows to the height of 12 feet,
weighing when green 40 tons per acre.
It is allowed to stand out in the field all
winter, and is brought in for the cattle as
it is required. It was here that I saw two
crops grown in one season ; a field over
which I travelled had grown a good crop
of oats, at the rate of 70 bushels per acre ;
it 'vas then ploughed out and sown with
rape, which was stinted when I was there.
Labour was plentiful at £35 with boaid
for twelve months and during harvest
extra hands can !•. ,'ot at 4s. 2d. per day.
Sheei> weie not kojit in large numbers,
but do very well, especially Cots«ulds,
A herd of Berkshire pi^-s is kept ; alw
Clydes<lale horses. The wh')le extent «f
the farm is 900 acres, and is owned by a
company which gees under the name of
the Canada West Farm Stock Assi^cia-
tion. Its princijial aim is to improve the
breed of good shorthorned cattle. The
price of hind in ihis part of the cc-untry
is pbrait £15 ^ser acre, with good dwtlliin
house and suitable buildings.

From Lrantford I went to Woodswck,
in the Ckmnty of Oxford. Thin is alto-
gethex a dairy county, having a large
cheese faciorv near to where 1 was.

T6

it. The

•il, Lou-
ie neiyh-
vo farms
near to
thu soil
g aUm<:
ne luilt-B
ystciii of
cattle oi
a great I
hoy were
ce hours
e, and at
ole herd
about the
. I have
1 Icnd.tc
! breeding
vy correct
imported,
here they
3k at see-
,n whom a
it is Mi. H.
ark Head.
st modern
'ith wood,
loose box,
to the siaie
on is taken
nagers are
buildings,
but man-
inci pal root
n graes is
and some-
of 12 feet,
s per acre.
Ihe field all
he cattle as
.t 1 saw two
a field over
a good croi'
Is per acre ;
sown with
I was there,
with boaid
ir.g harvest
2d. per day.
je numbers,
• Colswolds.
kept i al«o
le extent «f
owned by a
the iiatu^! of
jok A.SvS(/cia-
improve the
cattle. The
: the ci'untry
3od dvnIiiUlt

I WoodsU'ck,
This is alto-
\i:ig a Urge
diere I was.

Turnips grow well here at the rate
of 600 to 700 buhhcls per acre. These
•were sown about the 15th of June, and
this season of the year was preferred to
any time before then on account of their
keeping so much better. Oats were sown
about the 20th of April, and are ready
for cutting about the end of Auj^ust. The
taxes were very light, the principal of
whicli is for school rates. The gentleman
with whom I had conversation was assessed
at £1,250, and paid for rates £5 12s. 6d.,
and if he thought of letting his farm,
would expect to get about 3 J or 4 dollars, or
in English money 14s. 7d. or 16s. 8d. per
acre rent. Land could be bought in tliis
lipighbourhood from £8 to £13 per acre.
From Woodstock I went to London,
and it was here, in my own opinion, that
I saw the best land, while in Ontario it
could be bought for from £10 to £18 pci
acre. The soil was a sandy loam, with a
mixture of gravel and clay subsoil ; grows
wheat, oats, turnips, and mangolds re-
markably well. The turnips were sown
about the 15th of June, preferring to sow
them on the fiat instead of stitching as
we do in England. This was on accouni;
of the hot weather. The gentleman whom
1 interviewed here was farming land at
3 dollars, or in English money 12i. 6d.
He was from the south of Engl.and.

From London I went to Gueli'h. The
land here is of a free loamy nature, with
gravel subsoil. It grows oats, wheat,barley,
turnips, and can be bought from £11 to
£14 per acre, accoi-ding to the buildings.
Labour is plentiful ; for a Rood man they
pay £35 per 12 months. Unlike many of
the Canadian farmers, the gentleman I
met here had a regular system of crop-
ping. He followed out ploughing in the
spring and taking a crop of peas. If his
land was clean he would then take a crop
of fall wheat (with manure), after wheat
oats, after oats turnips, and then sow
•down with a crop of spring wheat, mow
one year and pasture two. He was farm-
ing J130 acres, and last year his taxes
amounted tti 83 tiollars, or in English,
£18 Cs, 8d. He had a good stock of
sheep, having imported tups from Eng-
land. He 1 (refers border Leicesters. I
also visited the Agi'icultural College, or
experimental farm. It is owned by Go-
vernment, the extent of which is 650
acres. (I have here a book which gives
you full particulars how it is managed,
which 1 shall be glad to lend to any of
you who might wish to see it), it is
Wiirkod by gentlemen's sons, who have
thonjihts of entering agricultural pursuits.
'They work one half of the day and study
the other, so that they have a good chaiicc
of combining practice with theory. They
lecei ve for their labour, if it is well done,

10 cents per hour, others paid propor-
tionately, according to the workmanship.
They receive their tuition free, but pay for
board and washing. They have on the
farm six different breeds of cattle, live of
sheep, ten of poultry, and three of pigs.
These in themselves are important ad-
vantages for the purpose of instruction.

After leaving Quelph I went down to
Sherbrooke, and visited the farm of the
Hon. M. H. Cochrane. To those amongst
you who are at all intsreEted in the
breeding of pedigree shorthorns the
name will at once be familiar, and doubt-
less some among you will remember the
long prices some of his cattle made not
so very long ago in England. Even Mr.
Thornton, who sold his cattle — which
were imported by Mr. Simon Heattie, of
Preston Hall, Annan, and landed at
Liverpool on the 4th of August, 1877,
realised £17,150 — could scarcely have
dreamed that his sand glass would have
been kept running at the Millesbec sale
until 4,300 guineas had been reached for
one cow. Mr, Cochrane still has a very
valuable herd of shorthorns, numbering
about 85. Foremost among the lot is
the lOtL Duchess of Airdree, from the
progeny of which he has sold stock to
the value of twenty-seven thousand
pounds, and has still the cow and her
heifer calf, and expects her in calf again.
She is a beautiful rich roan, splendid level
back, and the sweetest head I ever saw ;
and although ten or eleven years old, she
is very healthy, and looks remarkably
well.

The whole of the food for the cattle was
beingcutand mixed with pulped turnips,
except the calving cows, and these were
getting dry hay. Mr. Cochrane thinks
that too many turnips are liable to make
them cast their calves. They had also a
plentiful supply of water continually in
front of them, being sent along by force
pumps. In addition to his ])f digree stock,
he has also feeding a good quantity of
bullocks (show marks). He had alio a
Stock of sheep, and preferred Shropshire.
His farm consists of 1,100 acres, 300 of
which 18 permanent pasture, and the
other part of the farm is ploughed in the
following rotwiion, viz., oats, roots, wheat
or barley, and th'iii hay for two or three
years. The best crop of hay is often got
the second year, sometimes growing from
8 to 3 J tons ])er acre. He had grown a
splendid crop of turnips, giving Lira 26
tons per acre. The land was a good deal
more stony than some we had seen,
Mr. Cochrane had some stonewalls on hit
farm; and we were informed that land
could be bought from £5 to £0 per acre.
If any of you think of going to Canada,
I would advise you to have a look at tbii

1}

1 1

'■^6

part of the counti^ before making your
final selection.

As was the case in Manitoba, so it was
the same in Ontario. We got Tarious
statements of what the land could grow,
and huw many bushels per acre ; but,
after making all the enquiries, I arrived
at the following concJu'^ions : —

Wheat, 20 to 23 bushels per acre— 60.

Oats 40 „ 45 „ (34 lbs).

Barley 30 „ 35 „ (48 IbS).

Peas 25 „ 28 „

Ptitatoes,126 bushels.
At the meeti^g where I was appointed
to go oat to CJanada, one of the party
then present, >eemed to be anxious to
iiuow if there were any school boards ;
MO I m.'»de good inquiritis about them, and
.1- I gor, my information from one of the
members of Parliament, I think you may
i"rfy u^n its being correct. Three men
are appointed as trustees by Ihe rate-
payers lor I hree years, but are still eligible
tor I'ii-'ction at the end of that time. If
they are in want of money, they apply
to tfce council, and a rate is levied upon
the couniy. It various a little — a farm of
100 acrr» will vai^ from 16s. 8d. to 20s.
If you appoint a qunlitied master—
the granx from Government is more ;
(*ducRi:ou is compulsory, and no charge
lor scboui pence. Poorliouses are not
known in Canada.

iloJLDS. — A council consisting ci
five, is appointed, resembling onr
lociil board, to look after the roads in th*-
country. Out of these five, one is ap
points!, called a FathmuHter, and remains
sn oifiee for 12 months. He sees what
repairs the road requires, and the farmers
work so many days according to the
va'ue of their f.arms ; a son, assisting his
fathiT on a farm, but having no interest
in it, :• also required to woi k so many
days. If the farmer should be uusy. and
bas not time to deviite to the repansof
the roads, he })ays su much money to the
Pathmasier, and a man is Mipplied in his
place .
('(>.\VKYAN>!B 01' Land. — The cunvey-
»»n<e of land is very cheap, and unless
the case is a vciy ditficult one it does net
cobt nu.re than £2 2s. to £3 3s. The
expenses arc paiil by il).> rfudor, except
on mortgage lo" i , ihe »ad, and this is
paid by the bo. ^wer.

CIjIMatb.— Tlie.o is no doubt that the
climate i (Canada is moreliQ the extreme
than ours in England I iiave not had
jbffictent experiextce to speak feelingly
•n th« miDiact ; faut, from wiiat I oonid
iMuro, AatpHf^ iatk, tarvsrd to the win-
ker more amm ttoM for plwiTe rather than
. dread, ai vein SBghmii arewd teaappose.
.From mj own experience it ia much
jiWferior to ount — in«e«d of the heavy,

damp, foggy atmosphere, they have the
bright, clear refreshing breeze, and alto-
gether the air seems much purer and
lighter.

There ia no doubt but some of you will
ask the question. Which place would you
advise us to go to, Ontario or Manitoba?
To this I should give two answers. Those
who cont<^mplate omiKiating with a
small family, I should ailvise to stay in
Ontario, whore plenty of farms may
be bought froih £5 to £15 per acre, with
good dwelling-house, suitable farm build-
ings, well watered and fenced ; where
they will he within a short dii-tance from
places of worship and have every means
of giving their children a good education.
On the other hand, those who make up
their minds to " rough it " will find plenty
of land in Manitoba at 5 dollars (or, in
English money, £1) per acre, a good deal
of which is held by land speculators in
Winnipeg, but who are always open to
sell ; and free grants of 160 acres farther
west.

People. — ^Wliother we went to Mani-
toba or Ontario, we found the people
remarkably civil, kind, and hospitable;
always willing to give us any .issistancc
we required. In fact, through all my
travels I have not met with more kind-
ness and hospitality than I did when in
Canada.

Who Should Emigrate? — This ia
r - '•ably the most important practical
tion of all, but, gentlemen, I wi.sh
, . a to understand that I do not personally
advise any of you to go. I have describe d to
you the soil, climate, and productions of
the country so far as ray abilities would
allow ; and it is for you now to choose for
yourselves. It involves the broaking-up
of all the old ties and associations of
childhood, beginning life afresh in a new
country,where everything which surrounds
the emigrant will seem new and strRni^c to
him at first, but during my tour in Canada
I never met with ariyone who had lived
there that could be induced to come back to
England. To those who think of going out
thoy mii-t make up their mind to work.
Anyone who goes there with the thought
that as soon as he sets his foot on foreign
soil he will Tnake his fortune, if there is
anyone here with that idea let nie im-
press upon him that he makes a great
mistake. Above all things the emigrant
should have good health, be stout-
hearted, prepared to <lo anything that
comes to hand, and to adopt himself to
the circrastances of the new country in
which his lot is placed. He may have
many things to learn and many to un-
learn, arryono who is not willing to-
attempt this I would advise nim to stay
aft honM. He who nay make up his-

77

lave tho-
mil alto-
irer and

you will
Dukl you
anitoba 1
•a. Tlioso
with a
o si ivy in
•ms may
icre, with
m build-
. ; wlieio
incc fi'om
;ry means
iducation.
mnke up
ind plenty
,TS (or, in
good deal
lulatoTH in
open to
res farther

to Mani-

pcoplo

ispitable ;

assistance

all ray

kind-

when in

;he

10

a

?>!
more

id

,? — This ia
,t practical
len, I wish
t personally
iescribi.d to
)ductions of
lities would

0 choose for
breaking-up
ociatious of
ish in a new
nh surrounds
id stran^iic to
irin Canada
ho had lived
come back to-
: of going out
lind to work.

the thought
ot on foreign
», if there is

1 let me ini-
akes a great
the emigrant
1, be stout-
nythinj^ that
pt himself to
5W country in
He may have

many to un-
it willing to-
le iiiin to stay
make up hiii

mind to go and take the country
as he finds it I tliink in a few years will
be amply repaid ; and although he would
have some little inconvenionees to putup
with, he is, in a great measure, recom-
pensed by the thought that he is improv-
ing hir> own land, and he can say as
Wise Wiff said to his trustee :

" Never mind, land my own."

In conclusion, J must say a few words
atjgarding the voyage.

To those who wish to go to Canada,
either to look after land or for pleasure.
Do not let the thought of crossing the

Atlantic have anything to do in stopping
you, for I assure you it is one of the most
pleasant journeys you ever undertook.
I'ou have plenty of amusement on the
passage. Music, both iustrumental and
vocal, all the fa.-ihionablo songs of the
day, giimes of all kinds, a good library,
and what is moi'e important than all, lli';
tabic is in point of variety, cooking, and
also attendance equal to that of tins
best hotel in England. On reaching
Quebec a good many of the passengers
by the Allan S.S. " Moravian " felt
sorry the journey was ^nished, and I
am glad to say 1 was one a aong the party,

i. \

9ft

EEPORT OF MR. THOMAS IRVING, DELEGATE FROM
BOWN ESS-ON-SOIAVA Y.

il'J

On Monday ovening, 1st Decsmbor last,
a mooting wiis held in the .suhool-rooni at
Bownoss to hear a rpport From Mr. Thomus
Irving, who was Dele;^ato for the i'ann<;r.s
resident in that district. I'lieru was a
very large attendance. ^Ir. Tail, of
Brackeiirigg, was oalloil to the fhair, suii-
ported by Mr. Donald, of Longcroft ;
Mr. John Backliouso, .Vntliorn ; ^Mr,
Robert Poat, Silloth (Dole<riilo for Abbey
Holnio) ; Mr. tJeorge Iluti/hinson, Broug-
liam Castle (delegate for the renrith
Farmers' Club) ; Mr. W. Williamson,
North Plain; Air. John Wills, Mr. C.
Toppin, Mr. John Lawson, Mi. E.
L. Irving, ilr. C. Vynne, ko.

Mr. Irving, who was warmly clieered,
said ho had had a very pleasant trip.
Along with several other Delegates ho
journeyed in the Allan Line steamer,
" Peruvian," which arrived at Point Levi
on the 21st of September. Tlioro w£us
always plenty of amusement on board llio
steamer, and a voyage acrofs the Atlantic
was not such a dreary and weary business
as many might imagine it to be ; there
was nothing to frighten any person about
going to Canada. I>el'ore speaking of the
country he wished to return thanks to
Sir John A. Macdonald, the Prfinier of
Canada, for the attention he had .shown to
the delegates, who were also indebted to
the Hon. J. H. Pope, -Minister of Agricul-
ture; Mr. Hardy, Ontario; Mr. ilcKeany,
Mr. D. J. Hay, and other leading men in
the Dominion. His journey was conlined
to vhe Provinces of Quebec and Ontario,
and wherever he went he found the Cana-
dians kind-hearted, hospitable, cheerful,
clover, fit to stand by their own. [A
Voice : Chi^w of the old block ? (Laughter. )]
"Quito true, sir,' said -Mr. Irving, "tlioro
in not a more hospitable people on the face
of the earth." (Applause.) It was not to
be cxpectftd that good farming would bo
witnosijed throughout Canada, because many
of those holding farms were weavers,
miners, tinkers, or tailors, who had landed
with scarcely a penny a piece, but who had,
by perseverance and industry, carved out
for themselves happy homc^. These men
had to clear the land before they could get
a crop. The Canadians loved thoircountry ;
many old men who came over to England
with tho intention of ending their days
won', back again. They like tho climate
of Ontario better than that of Kngland. It
wua not usiKilly muggy •ut there, nor did

it rain eveiy i!ay, but when it did rain it
canio down heavy. (Laughter.) Ho ail-
vised intending emigrants to go to Ontario,
where a state of things existed much as at
honiu; they would lind good roads, good
schools, churches of all dononunations,
plenty of railway (;ommuni(;ation — in fact,
civilization was i[uito as far advanced as at
Bowness, if not more so. (Laughter.) It
would 1)0 much better to ])ay a little inore for
landthero than to go 1500 nules or so upthe
country, at tho risk of being unablo to see
a newspajicr for twelve months. N'o doubt
Manitoba was a fine district, but let tho
young people go there and "rough it" for
a bit. The school system in Ontario is, in
his opinion, perfect. In summer the
weather is a little hotter than in England,
but there was an alwenco of that detestable
muggy atmosphere so often experienced
here, Tho winter weather is colder than at
home, yet it was pleasant. He had .seen a
good bit of tho world, and he had come to
the conclusion that there was no place like
Canada. There was plenty of shooting and
fishing to be had. Now for the journey.
From jMontreal he went to Ottawa, where,
through Mr. Popo, ho and others were ])ro-
sonted to his Worship the Mayor. Tho
Dominion Show was opened while they
had their brief stay here. It was not
expctly like one of our agricultural shows.
In addition to all kinds of agricultural
produce, there was to be seen the very best
of every article produced in the Dominion.
They had free passes to roam about tho
shov/. There was such a display of loyalty
at the opening of this show by the Martiui.s
of Lorne and tho Princess Louise as he had
nevei' seen. There w;is a magnificent dis-
jilay of stock and farm produce. Cattlo of
all kinds wore there. In showing the
horses, speed soemed to bo tho great doside-
ratum. Roots and vegetables were re-
markably well grown; butter and choeso
looked well. Ho mentioned several imple-
ments, such as winnowing machines, carts
for spreading manure, waggons of a most
useful aud improved character. Tho im-
plements wore all that could be desired;
generally they are of a liglitor construction
than in England, but they are undoubtodlf
better. Thirty-five miles from (Ottawa lio
was in a very nice country. Fino land
was to be seen along tho railway; .some of
ir. can be purchased frnm 10a. to .£12 per
aero. A good diwl of laud open foi- s<'ttlu-
meuts is to bo obtained hoi-o. U«od faiii*

79

deshtxl ;
ustiuctio!i
idoubtodly
)ttawa hu
Fiiio land
^f ; some of
to £12 ]".T
J i'jr *'ttlu-
U«od fjUTiwi

can be rented at from 10s. to 12;*. per aero,
and farther from tlio line the price will be
reduced. Furtlior inland there wore the
anmo appearances of tiio laml being in a
qooil .state of cultivation. Very large
orchards, witli a heavy crop of fniit, wore
to be seen on all sides. A Hying visit was
paid to the Falls of Niagara, '.vhich he
saw lighted up with the electric light. He
gave a graphic description of Toronto, and
took his audience along to London, whore
ho had an opportunity of visiting another
exhibition of the produce of the country.
There was a better show of sheep here than
at the Dominion Show, Incidentally
lie might mention that at these shows
were the finest gatherings of young
ladies he ever saw. (Laughter.) The show
buildings are permanent, and our Royal
Show buildings would look small beside
them. Shorthorns were the cream of the
show, some hailing from the renowned
herd of Bow Park. Here was a varied col-
leoti»n of implements, creditable to any
part of the world ; amongst the novelties
on view was a machine for hatching eggs
by electricity. (Laughter). Driving out
a bit he found himself in a splendid farming
country. Land can be purchased at from
£10 to £20 per acre, and the produce finds
a ready market in London. lie heard of
one farm being let at £1 per acre, the
farmer doing well. In the county of Kent
they were guided by Mr. McReany. Land
here is much cheaper ; within five or ten
miles of Bothwell the price ranges from £2
to £15. The roads are all kept up by the
farmers. In the course of his inspection,
he noticed some farmers engaged thrashing ;
machines are generally hired; some go by
steam and some by horse power; if the
latter, they are not loss than of 10-hor.se
power, and farmers generally join to work
expeditiously. In the neighbourhood of
Chath.im — and indeeil all around this
portion of the country— the land is well
suited for gi'oen crops, and would be a re-
I munorative investment. In this county
he met with a farmer, Mr. Wheeler, who
owns 500 acres of fine land, which originally
rost him fnm 10s. to 12s. per acre. There
wa^ a large herd of bullocks on this farm.
I Mr. Wheeler paid £3 lOs. per head for
I them ; he thinks they are now worth £7 ;
I ami expects to sell them for £14 each by
I the return season. This gentleman belong;^
Ito Warwickshire, is a butcher by trad(!, and
larrivcd in that locality some years ago with
Inino dollars in his p«cket. Now he has a
Ifnio lot of 'sheep besiiles his cattle. Mr.
llrving incidentally mentioned that he
wont out duck shooting ; there was a
argo tract of country, from 5000 to 6000
cros, preserved for wild fowl and ho
liad a most excellent bag in a few
liours.' At Ridgotown ha saw a fair local

show. This dUtrict ha considered by
far the finest for wheat growing he had
yet .seen. Indian corn was alsooxtonsivdy
grown. In the county of Oxford there wai»
also some fine land, A visit was paid to
Bow Park, where the farm buildings art
all that could be desired, and kept in th»
most perfect order ; here is to be seen per-
haps the finest herd of shorthorns in I ho
world. Land round about here is valued
at from £10 to £20 per acre. He spoka
very highly of the Wellington district,
having .seen a very fine show of stock in
that county. Land could be got at from
20 to 50 dollars per acre. At ifuntingford
he met with Mr. Donaldson, who belongs
to the neighbourhoo(i of Dalston ; he has ».
farm of his own, ami occupies a dwelling
house of stone and brick of a most sub-
stantial character. The land is worth £16
per acre. Mr. Donaldson has been o\er
30 years there, and his land is in first-clas.'?
coiul'tion. There is a large cheese-making
establishment near here as well as an agri-
cultural school. In this lounty he saw
far more stock than in the other counties ;
there was a splendid crop of turnips, man-
golds, &c. ; but he was inclined to tliiik
they grew by far too much wheat; iluiii
seemed to be no system of cropping, yet
the farmers were prosperous, making a pile
of money. Some of these men would have
done well in any country ; but othera, had
they remained at home, would, in all
probabOity, have gone to the wall. Coming
to speak of the counties of Norfolk .ind
Perth, he said *;here was a splendid farm-
ing district hero, though the land in Nor-
folk county was generally light. Ho met
Mr. Livingstone, brother of the cele-
brated Dr. Livingstone, who had a fine
farm there, A new plough, called the
rotary, wa.s very mucn used. A largo
number of Germans were settled in l-his
immediate district, and they were cr.pital
' farmers. Mr. Irving thinks the land in
I the Huron district as good as any in
Ontario ; farms are well laid out, with
beautiful farm-houses, and altogether the
I district was one very suitable forsettlement.
! At Toronto he met with a Bowncss man
I named Allan, and the announcement that
I he was doing % ery siiccessfully was received
'. with applause. There was a lot of fine
land in the district between Toronto and
' Montreal, from £6 to £1() per acre. (Jrazing
, farms could be got elunq) in tliis part.
' Plenty of very good farms could bo got
! in the eastern townships of Quebec by
' judicious soleetion, biit ho preforred tho
; western district from what he had seen.
I Fruit w.os grown in onornioua quantities.
Mr. Irving then proceeded to .answer a
: number of questions put to hiia by tho
! committee hoforo leaving. Tlie a\erag't
I size of the farms in tho pro% ince.s of Ontario

•^':i

'■'^t

^80

Nl

ami Qiin>iec wns from TOO to 200 ncrns. A
fartii of ivvonigc f|ii;ilily couM be [uiri'l'insisd
at t'lorn £-1 to £18 \mv acru ; oiid coiiM l>o
rented at about lO.s. peraere ; ami il would
rcquiio fioin £300 to £400 to stock n '200
acre (aim, Taxes are very li.i,dit. I'here
is really only the suliool tax, wliicdi avciai,'es
about £4' 10s. yt'iu-ly for a '200 acre Caini.
In some conntins tlie roads are very good,
in otliei-s middling ; but the gravel roads
in all tiie counties are in very fair condition.
Dwell! HITS and farmbuildini,'s are mostly of
^vood, but some lire of brick and stone.
Money can bo borrowed at from 7 to 1 0 per
cent, 'i'hero is a ready market for all kinds
of jiroduee, and aniiilo facilities for re-
moving it to collecting centres and seaport
towns. Carriage by rail is very cheap. A
farm of 200 acres will suiijjort ten or a
ilozen cows, from 15 to 20 young cattle,
from 30 to 40 sheep, four working hoi'.sos,
and n pair of bullocks ; the horses re(pnrc
to be good and quiet, and they are
generally light, line movers. He only saw
a few of the heavy Clydesdale breed.
There are various kinds of cattle, a
cross from a short-horn and ft Canadian
cow answers the land well. The young
stock is mostly reareil on farms. At the

E resent time the freight for horses to
ivorpool is from £10 to £12, cattle £'i to
£4, sheep 8s. to 10s. On the farms, cows
are valued at from £5 to £10, horses from
£20 to £:ir), and sheep from 12s. to 40s. ;
butter sells at 8d. per lb., cheese at 3d.,
hons at Is., eggs about 6d. per dozen, goeso
Is. 6d. each., turkeys 3s. -Id. The cultiva-
tion of prairie land has not had any ellect |
on the ]>rice3 of produce grown on cultivated
land ; this is accounted for by the ccm-
tinual inltux of emigrants, who, of course,
augment the consumjition in the country.
1'liere is realh' no rotation of crop[iing;
the crops generally cultivated are fall aii'l
spring wlu'nt, barley, oats, jiens, buck
wheat, jiotatocs, turnips, niangdlds, beets,
carrots, Indiiincorn, other vegetables little
known at home, and a little of nearly all
kinds of fruit. Hlacksmilhs, joiners, and
coojiers receive from 4s. to 6.s. daily; hus-
bandmen and labourers from 12 to 20
doUara per mouth with board. I'loughing
is .similar to that in tliis country. The
provinces are fairly well intersected with
railways, nnil new ones are in course of
conslru(dion. In Ontai'io the farms .i-e
all well watered ; where no .sti'e;!!us run
through the farms wells have to bu .sunk.

and water put in troiiglis- In Quebec
there is plenty of water all through
the ])rovince. Fruit, ns he hml said,
is cultivuteil to an eiu)r!no\is extent
in some ]>laces; orelmrds exteiul from one
to forty acres; apples ha\e bi.'en ki\own to
bo as low a.s Gd. per bushel, and as high as
4s. I'eaches and ^rajies are grown in open
gardens in various jiarts. The Colorado
beetle eats u]) all if he gets to llie jiotato
crop. The usual romeily is hot lime or
Paris green sown on the tops, or mixed
with water and poured over; either is known
to be an ellectual cure. The beetle is not
consiiluro<l of much consequence. From
what he saw he had no hesitation in saying
that farmers got 10 ]ier cent, from the
ca[)ital laid out. Canada i.s a ]>1ea.sant
])lace to live in. Heiivy soil re(piircs
tile drainage, but the bulk is naturally
dry and never will require draining.
Wood and coal arc used, chiefly
wood. Speaking of the minerals, he said
gold, silver, copper, iron, gab'ua, plum-
bngo, antimony, mnnganeso, granite, mar-
bles, slates, burrstones, bones, phosphate
of lime, salt, petroleum, and peat had been
found in ditferent distncts. Lately largo
discoveries of coal fieltls had been made
in the North-West Temtory. Co:il is
found to crop out on the surface of
the country for hundi'cds of sijuare miles.
There i.o plenty of game. The Government
keeps a register of idl farms sold in each
couiity. In April, i^iay, or Juno is the
best time to go out. 'i'he labourers mostly
live in farm houses. Feeding stufl's mostly
used on farms are pea,s, oats, nnd barb-y;
turnips and hay for cuttle; pigs are fed on
peas chiefly, with potatoes sometimes, lie
saw some splendid pigs. In conclusion,
Mr. Irving .sj)oke of tlu' admirable system
of education introduced into (.'anada, and
announced that ho would be happy to give
advi('o to any who thought of going out.
(Applause. )

Air. C.rahame said bo was very glad to find
that l\Ir. Ir\-ing substantiated the remarks
be made at the meeting wliiidi appointed
the delegate. He agreed with Mr. lr\ing
that only young men, prepared to "rough
it," should go to the outlying di.stricts.
There was plenty of room in the provinces
of Ontario and Quebec for farmers with
families.

On the motion of the Chairman, a hiMiity
vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. living,
and the meeting sopai-atei

are al
trains,!
from o|
We aril
the evJ

REPOKT OF MR. THOMAS JOHNSTO^T, DELEUATE FKOM

AVllEAY, CUMBEHLAND.

4. meeliiiR of fannci's was held at
Wreay on tho 6th of Dccembur. Mr.
Postlethwaite was called to the chair.

Mtt. Johnston, who was favourably
received, said : — I must in tho first place
hope that you will bo very indulgent, as
this is my first attempt at endeavouring
to speak to such an audience as I sec
before me now. At our meeting held in
this room now more than three months
ftgOi y*5u very kindly appointed me as
your Delegate to visit Canada, and
examine into and report upon the state
of agriculture as practised in that part of
our Empire. The week after our meet-
ing I went out there, in company with
others who were on the same errand, and
I am now going to attempt, to tho best
of my ability, to tell you what I have
seen and heard. We sailed from Liver-
pool on the 4th of September in the
" Moravian," one of the Allan line of
ateamers. We had a quick and pleasant
passage from Liverpool to Point Levis,
the voyage occupying nine days, includ-
ing our call at Moville for the mails.
Beyond a slight sea-sickness for two
days, I quite enjoyed the voyage. The
number of passengers and crew together
amounted to about five hundred. There
was no lack of amusement in the way
of music, games, &c., so that the time
never hung heavy upon our hands, and
tho unvarying fine weather induced us
to spend most of our time upon deck.
On entering the Gulf of St. Lawrence
we had a sight of both whales and por-
poises, and on proceeding up the river
and coming closer to land, I was struck
with the difference to our own country
which the view presented, large forests
of principally brushwood reaching down
to the water's edge. We landed at Port
Levis on Saturday evening, and spent our
time there until Monday evening, with
the exception of passing over to Quebec
on Monday afternoon in order to get our
money changed into the Canadian cur-
rency. We left Point Levi,) for Ottawa
by way of Montreal on the Monday even-
ing, my three companions and myself
having secured a sleeping berth on the
railway cars, which, I may here mention,
are altogether different to oui- railway
trains, the passengers being able to travel
from one end of the train to the, other.
We arrived at Ottawa at five o'clock In
the evening of the 16th September, On

the 17th wc went to the lluu. Mr. Pope's
ollice to i-ejjort our arrival. Mr. Pope
being out of town, we saw Mr. Lowe, the
Seerelary of the Dejiartment of Agricul-
ture, who made arrangements for our
going into the country in the afternoon.
We in the meantime saw through the
Parliament Buildings, and those set apart
for the Agricultural Department i)ar-
tlcularly, and examined different samples
of grain and seeds, as well as many
models of agricultural machinery. We
then went to visit a farm in the county of
Carlton, which belongs to a Mr. Hopper,
who wants to sell it. The house and
farm buildings arc of wood. There was
a nice field of Indian corn, as well as
some potatoes and carrots growing. The
soil is a light sandy loam. In all there
are 240 acres, for which Mr. Hopper
wants £1,600. On the 20th we left to
visit a farm at Kinburn uelonging to
Captain Eraser, the land all the way
looking very fair. The farm consists
of 200 acres clay loam, and Captain
Fraser want^ £2,400 for it.

On the 2^d we went to a farm four
miles from Ottawa, which belongs to a
Mr. Herdman ; there are 270 acres of land
(clay loam) ; it is well watered, and being
near the town, Mr. Herdman informed
us that he sold most of his produce there
and brought manure back to the farm.
He wants £4000 fgr it.

On the 23rd we went to the Agricul-
tural Exhibition. The first article I
noticed was a manure spreader, which
would spread a cart load in from one to
two minutes: I thought it would be a first-
class article fortop-dressing. I alsonoticed
a binder, which bound the sheaves with
wire. Next, a hay elevator for stacking ;
it will unload a cart in two or three
yminutes. Next I saw a plough for
ploughing hilly ground ; it turns all the
furrows one way. There were large
varieties of reaping^and binding machines,
as well as steam and horse-power thresh-
ing machines, and corn and seed drills in
great quantities. The exhibition of car-
riages, waggons, stages and carts was ex-
ceedingly good. We then visited the
machinery hall, where there were steam
engines of all sorts, fire engines, planing
and drilling machines, grinding and
boring machines, saws of a variety of
descriptions, &c., ifcc. After this we went
across the building, and saw a great

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variety of minerals, all the produce of
Canada ; and different kinds of building
material. We next visited the produce
of Manitoba in the Exhibition. The
wlieat, which that part of the country is
famed for, was most excellent. Oats, tine
and plump. Peas, beans, and small seeds
very line. ^^ Indian com not so good as
that grown in Ontario. Grass from, two
to three feet long. The show of horses
w.is not so good as I anticipated, except
the roadsters, which were the best trotters
I have ever seen. Cattle are well yepre-
•ented — they include Shorthorns, Here-
fords, Devons, Ayrshirea, Galloways, and
Polled Angus. Sheep also were a good
■how — they include Leicesters, Cotewolds,
Shropshires.HampshiresaudSouthdowns.
Pigs were in great variety, including
Berkshire, Suffolk, Essex, and Yorkshire,
and all very good. There were many
varieties of potatoes. Turnips were very
large; as wore the mangel wurzel. Sugar
boots, squash, and pumpkins were also
very fine. Fiuit made an excellent show,
such as apples, pears, peaches, plums, and
grapes. Wheat is not so plump and fine
•OS our own. Barley, small, but very
bright and dry. Oats moderate. Indian
corn very fine. Ott;the 2iith we left Ot-
tawa for Toronto. On the 27th and 28th
we visited the Niagara Falls, which we
thought very fine ; i and on our return to
Toronto on the 29th wo made arrange-

,, m<»nt8 for viaita»g the Lonxlon ; Show, ior

1 which places we left the next day, the
30th. On the, way we went through

' Homo heavy loainyoilnntilweapproached
Givelph ; there tiUe laiod' appears better,
and is'bcttier'faj'nied, and oohtinucsgoodi
to London. After dionei we weat to;the.

.show, where we were introduced t© the
Mayor and a nvimber of other gentlemen.
I thought the horses.particulftrly the roiid-
sters, very good. In the cattle d&aa the
ahorthorns were very fin*, the Bow Park

; herd being particularly well represented,
and taking mosfc of the prizes. There
was a good show of athoT descriptions of;

. eattlc ; and the aheep I thought better

' than at Ottawa. Roots, grain, and
, fruit were v«fy fine. We next visited a
glass hen ; it was a kind of oval box
covetqd with, glASs inside. Thqre were
over 100 Dggs- -some of them were just
chipping, some breaking the shell, and
some out. This process was carried on
by electricity.

t'^j; On the let Ootober we visited Mr.
•^.,Cwling'8 brewery. It is a very fine
r,,feuilding, and cost £50,000. We then
], went to a farm where we met the pro-
; , i [trietor, a Yorkshireman, who came into
, the country 60 years ago, and was the
first q^an who cleared the ground upon

which London stands. Land here is
worth from £10 to £20 per acre.

On the 2nd we left London for Both-
woU, where we arrived at seven d'olook,
and were met by Mr. McCrany, M.P.P.
Wc drove, via Dresden, to Chatham, the
land near the latter place being very
good, and worth from £8 to £12 per
acre, the soil being olay loam.

On the 8rd we drove about th& neigh-
bourhood of Chatham. Wo went to a
farm belonging to a Dutchman. He, has
200 acres of land, and »0 of it in fall
wheat. From there we went to Mr.
Donnelly's. He is a native of the north
of Ireland. When he laoded iu Cai^ada
all he had was £10. Now he has three
farms of his own, and has saved a large
sum of money. We next saw some very
fine apple and peach orchards near Lake
Erie, and arrived at Blenheim for the
night.

On the 4th we drove from Blenheim to
Ridgetown, ivhere they were holding their
show, all descriptions of produce being
very good. The land here ia worth from
£6 to £10 per acre. We them went, to
IngersoU and WooAstockj and were joined
by Mr. Casswell, a large cheese merchant.

On the' 7th wc left Woodstock; atid
went to a farm, the cvner of which 16 a
Dal*toO man. He caine to Canada' 39
years since, and has a very large plAce.
It is very well farmed. 'Hi'hfta als6 a
Very good farm hCfttieriiid excellent bnild-
ings. He grotro hlore tiitnips than We
have yet Heeti c6mparativclyj aihd has
Jhost of his farhi drStined w'ith tilfs. We
"Wire +erj^ well enteirtainert by our^ Dalston
^friend, and then' Went to look ovei' a
chees^ ' f atitftry, 'one of ' the largest in
' 0*hada. Thet make otor 200 tons per
attnhtni They use the milk of 1 ,200 ^ivra
everyday. Firoita there wewent to Idger-
RoU, pkffsiug thfotigh n rolling country.
Lfehd very good, chifefly fiandy loam. It
1*' Worth from £10 to £16 per acre.

On the 8th we left to ^ok at a f^rm
0*10 inile from IhgersoU." There ate' 200
acn s in all. »12 per acre is wanted for
it, the soil being clay loam, and the
buildings very good. We then went, i'ia
D^^irham ^nd Mo,unt Elgin, to Norwich
and WoodstCvk, the land in these sections
being worth, from £10 to £14 per acre.

On the 8th we, left Woodstock for
Simcoe, and h^d a drive out into the
country in the neighbourhood. Land
here good but light, and is worth from
£12 to £14 per acre. The farm houses
are chiefly brick.

On the 10th we wont from Sit^icoe to
Dover, and found a very good quality of
land, varying in price from £lti to <fl8
per acre.

83

here is

)r Both-
o'olook,
M.P.P.

lam, the
11 g very
B12. per

e.peigh-
jut to a

He.bas
B ; in fall

to Mr.
lie Jiorth
I Caiiiada
las three
d a large
ome very
car {jake

for the

snhf'ini to
iing.their
ICC Ijicing
ortli from
I ,>ventr to
ere joined
merchant.

tocki and
ivhlcb ie a
lanadft' 39
T}^ place.
:j»a alsA a
entbnild-
•i than We
ft¥id has
tilfa. We
rfDalfiton
OVo* a
largesti in
tons ^er
200<J«iwB
tolnifer-
conntry.
loam. It
icre.

at a tfixm
re ate 200
granted for

and the
went, i'ia

Norwich
se sections
per acre,
dstock for

into the
>d. Land

)rth from
irm houses

Sii^icoe to
quality of
|£l(i to ^18

On the 11 til we went to Stratford,
ivher^we met Mr. llay, M.P. for Perth,
and visited a fann belonging to a Mr.
Ballantine, which is held at £12 per acre.

On the 13th we visited Shakspeare and
Hydo Park. We found the land chiefly
clay loam, and looked over a farm of 150
acres all cleared belonging to a Scotch-
man nnmwi Hyde. He values it at £12 per
acre. We then went to North-ea«t Hope
and Melverton, and tlience to Listowel,
the land being much batter than what we
saw in the morning.

On the 14th wc wont from Listowel to
inspect n rotary plough. The man in
charge said that he could plough five
acres per day. It had three wheels, two
before and one behind the mould boards,
and when the plough was in motion the
moulds worked round and thoroughly
pulverized the ground. From thence we
went on to Wallace and Norristown, and
found the land very good all the way.

On the 15th we visited a larcjo Genr.an
settlement in the county of (ircy, and
and then went on to Waikertown, in the
county of Bruce. Land here is worth
from £5 to £10 per acre.

On the 16th we went to Bnant town-
ship and visited a f.arm b"longing to a
S -otch gentleman, containing 300 acres
of hand. Ho grew 30 bushels of spring
wheat per acre and 60 bushels of oats
per acre tliis year. Wc then went to
wingham, looking over several farms by
the way.

On the 17lh wc wont to Clinton, From
there we went througli the township of
Tuckersmith, where wc found most excel-
lent land. I got out of the buggy and
pulled some fall wheat which was over 2
feet in length. From there we went to
Ouelph via Seaforth.

On the 18th we went through the
Agricultural College, one-and-a-half miles
from Guelph. All the arrangements were
exceedingly good at this college, the
Btock kept being shorthorns, Herefords,
Dovons, Ayrsliiros, Polled Angus and
grades in cattle, Leicester, Cotswold, and
Down sheep, and lierkshirc and Windsor
pigs. The students are instnicted in agri-
culture, veterinary science, English and
mathematics. The young men receive
their instruction free, the one half of them
work the one half of the day, and the
other half the other. When not at work
they are at school. f From the college we
went to a place called the Paisley Block,
which was settled by Paisley weavers a
long time ago. We examined a farm
bolnnging to a Mr. Wliitlaw. He has a
rumber of excellent Ijciccster sheep as
w'll as good grade cattle. We next
visited a farm belonging to a Mr. Hob-^on.

He has some good stock. The soil here
is chiefly light clay loam.

On the 20th wont to Fergus, and from
thence to a farm bel nging to two
brothers named Watts. When we first
met them they were housing tuniip'*.
We then wont over their stock, the cattle
being chiefly shorthorns. Land here is
sandy loam, and valued at about £15 per
acre. From here we went tlirough the
township of Nichol back to Guelph. •

On the 21st we left Guelph for Toronto,
and not meeting a gentleman expected
from Ottawa we went out to look at a fox
hunt. We expected to see a fox. but it
was only a trail. The horses and riders
were similar to what we see in England.

On the 22nd we went and looked over
a farm situated about five miles from
Toronto. There arc over one hindred
acres of land, and it is valued at £.'^0 per
acre.

On the 23rd wo went to St. Ca'horine's.
Land all the way light sandy loam, until
we arrived at Hamilton. At St. Catherine't
we went to see a vineyard ; the man in
charge said that it contained 50 acres,
and the grapes averaged 3 tons per .lere.
Tnere was also an orchard of 40 acres
Land here is worth £20 per ncre.

On the 24th, left Toronto for Montreal.
On the 2r)th, went to the t>^p of Mmnl
Royal Park, and had a beautiful view ol
Montreal from there. We then secured
our berths in the " Sardini.an,'" one of
the Allan steamships.

On the 27th, we left Montreal, for
Cookshire, and went over the Victoria
Viaduct, which is the largest in the world,
being ij miles in length. We went for
about 50 miles through a French settle-
ment. Land appears to be worn out.
There was a good deal of cedar swamp ;
and then we came into rocky ground
passed through Richmond and Sherbrooke,
on way to Cookshire.

On the 28t,h, went to Compton, where
we saw the Hon. Mr. Cochrane's herd of
shorthorns, one of tie finest in the world.
From Compton, we went through a very
nice piece of grass country, on our way to
Sherbrooke. The land in this district is
worth from £8 to £6 per acre.

On the 29th, we left Sherbrooke for
Point Lev' via Richmond, land on the
way being very inferior as a rule. Stayed
at Point Levi all night.

On the ."JOth we went to see the Falls
of Montmorenci, land all along being
very good, and principally settled by
French Canadians.

On the 31st had a look at the town H
Quebec, and then back to our hotel.

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04

The Canadian people as a rule arcakind
and most hospitable class. The way the
original settlerscleai'ed thousands uf acres
of land in the face of great difficulties is
rery creditable to them. A person who
has never been there 'would hardly credit
the size and quality of the fruits, roots,
and vegetables. The roads as a inile arc
good, and railways ai'e rtiauing over the
most part of the country. Their farm
im^ements are more lightly and elegantly
made than our own, and quite as service-
able. Their schools are free, and perhaps
their school system is the most perfect in
the world. The climate is hotter in summer
and colder in winter, but much drier tliun
here. The farm buildings ai-e mostly
wood, and as they do not stack their crops
"the barns arc very large. A great many

of the houses are built of brick, and very
elegantly constructed. The cuttle as a
rule are not so good as we have. The
horses are something like cur coaching
horse, being very active, and from their
spring being short tbey are capable of
doing a great deal of work when it is
much required. Sheep are very good as
a, rule. The farmers keep up the roads
by statute labour, each having so much
to do according to the quantity of land
he holds. The fences are all made of
wood of various kinds. The farmers in
Canada as a rule are not good farmers,
although some arc as good as wo have in
England. Their corn market is generally
in the street. They bring their grain in
waggons, and sell it out of them. Canada
is a very well watered country.

•f oifit iinii*) aw

'rAnrtf! '{'"'■ ■■- ■■

.!: 'Uf' ■XI"

.j'i-'-tU ,

&b

c, and very
jattle as »
iiave. The
T coaching
from their
capable of
wheu it is
jry good aa
3 the roads
iig 80 much
tity of land
11 made of
1 farmers in
lod farmers,
i wc have in
, is generally
icir grain in
m, Canada

REPORT OF MR. GEORGE WILKEN, DELEGATE FROM

ABERDEENSHtRE.

:Mb. George Wilken, of Watersides of
Forbes, Aberdeenshire, having been named
at a public meeting in Aberdeen as a luit-
able man to be a Delegate from that
county, was (after being a month in
Canfda) duly appointed to act in such
capacity. He entered Canada, by way of
New York, and reports as follows : —

After due consideration, I have adopted
for simplicity and correctness, as the form
of my report, a diary kept at the time, and
hope all will be able to form, from this and
other reports, a more correct idea of the
country than generally prevails, and also
to form conclusions each for himself,
whether it is. the place for some of our, at
present, hard pressed farmers, to go to or
otherwise. It is always a delicate
matter, in my opinion, to advise any
man to leave his home and the old
place he loves so well, and therefore best
to leave each and every one to decide
for themselves, I have recorded nothing
I was not able to see for myself was not
far from the truth, and, although exact
results are not much recorded, it must be
remembered that Manitoba is as yet a
new country, and also a place where the
people are more accustomed to speak and
think about miles than acres.

23rd September.— Left New York for
Boston, VM East River and Long Island

Sound. 24th In Boston. 25th.— Left

Boston for Portland, via Boston and
Maine R. R., passing through the great
cotton manufacturing towns of America,
and also through a very miserable farming
country. 26th. — Left Portland, where is a
splendid harbour, and the eastern terminna
of the Grand Trunk R.R. of Canada, for
Montreal, via Gorham and the White
Mountains, passing into Canada at Norton
Mills, 160 miles from Portland, Compton
(near which is the Hon. Cochrane't
iarms and famous herd of shorthomi)
Sberbrooke, and Richmond, where the
train branches off to Quebec, to the
Valley of the St. Lawrence, crossing the
Victoria Bridge, into Montreal, the total
distance by steamboat and rail travelled
being 643 milcsf^The first part of this
route, through the New England States, is
through a very poor farming country,
the latter part, from Compton m Canada,
improving all the way to the St. Lawrence
where there is some fine land, very badly
fanned. There seems to be plenty of good
land with plenty of good running streams;
along the St. Lawrence some fine pasture

and fine lands miserably farmed (princi-
pally by French Canadians) in long nar>
row strips, and apparently in small
holdings. Arrived at Windsor Hotel, a
perfect palace, 28th. — Sunday, in Mon-
treal. 29fch. — Went to Lachine, by rail,
in order to descend the famous rapie's
above the city. The descent is made in
a steamer, has a little dangerous look
about it as the vessel goes tap tapping
on the shelving rocks — ^lieve there is no
real danger. Had heard or read about
being piloted down these rapids by Indian
pilots in all their wild attire, found this
myth mdely dispelled, as a very common
looking Yankee seemed quite sufficient in
our case to pilot our stoat flat-bottomed
s.s, all safe on enr short and uneventful '
passage dovm the Lachine rapids. An
Indian village is seen on the south shore,
and a canoe with two Indians in it crossed
the river behird as, just after we had
passed the most dangerous rapid. They
looked in the distance Tery like a cockle-
shell with two tadpoles in it.

Went under that magnificent structure,
the Victoria Bridge, it looks more like a
lasting monument to Stephenson than
does its longer and more airy rival im
Scotland the Tay Bridge — ^which I also
passed over on my way thither.

Montreal, a fine City, with 160,000,
of a population. Some very fine buildings
and some handsome streets and church
spires ; has lately acquired the Mountain
as a Park which forms its background,
has dabbed it " Royal " and well deserves
the title. It will soon form one of the finest
parks and drives In the world : is
beautifully wooded to the summit, and
various views from the niches in the ascent
are really very beautiful, varied, and
extensive. Met n<*nj countrymen, all
doing well and re: ^ .ind. Heard for the
first time of the arrival of several Farmer
Delegates from England and the South of
Scotland,

30th,— Left Montreal for Ottawa, 117
miles by the Government Railway, now
completed from Quebec to Montreal on
the Bast branch of the St, Lawrence, and
by the Ottawa River to the Capital City
of the Dominion, This is the best rail-
road, up to this point, I have seen in
America, Man and buggy run over by
engine at a crossing, none of these having
even a gate ; instead, usually, a big sign
with the inscription "Railroad Crossing.
Look out for the Engine." All over this

I. (

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cJ6

iicw country it aaems tbe engine must get
aluug and Uie people moat get out of the
way. Most oi tuiese accidents I under-
stand occur by the drivers of machine!
miscalculating the speed at which a iraiu
is running. **".

The cow catcher attached here to all
engines, carried the horse along about 80
yards and left him a feturful mess about
IQ yards ofi the track. Had only gone
about 5 miles when a large, ran vroseed the
track within a few feat of the engine
going at 20 miles an hour: No wonder
there arc accidents and accidents.

Passed through a very poor farming
country, some farms liad good housest and
saw some vary neat and apparently
thriving villages.

Ottawa at 3 p.m. — Had introduction toj
and called upon, Dr. TuiM, Deputy
Minister of Agriculture; found the Sec-
retaiy of the. Department and the
Minister of Agriculture were not in town,
the farmer having gone with the Delegates
to Toronto. Visited the Parliamentaiy
Bu^tUngs — very fine and beautifully
situated. Visited the extensive saw
mills and lumber yards, which are
oa a very large scale, full advantage being
taken of the fails for a water power and
of the rivei- above for floating timbeir jErom
the forests in the interior. There are piles
and piles of lumber for miles along the
river, and miles and miles of sawdust along
the bankiS, bad feed I should tliinkfor the
fish (if tiiere are any left). Ottawa will
not likely become a large city rapidly^ as
it must wait for the development of the
Canadian Faciflc Railroad and othors to
the West.

1st Octobei'. — Left Ottawa for Prescott,
61 miles, to join the steamboat advertised
in that morning's papers as running in
connection with this train, to find on
arrival it had been withdrawn that
morning without notice, so mlaaed the
sail on the St. Lawrence through the far-
famed thousand isles. Had to make the
best of my foroed stay of four hoars at
Prescott, so explored the place, and then
cioased in Steam Ferry to Odgensburg oh
the Americttu side. In sauntering along
the streets, saw ah advettiseioent of a
sftle of real estate now going on, so stepped
in to have a look at an AmeiiCan auctioneer
and his ouatomcra. . Had I notknctwnl
would have had some difficulty in telling
I was not at home, business waa bii^
and town lots were aelling at an aveiage
of $300 for lota 1 10 by 132 feet. OroSaed to
Prescott and joined Qrand Trunk Railway
for Toronto via Kingston. The railway
aUrts the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario
most of the way ; some land very good,
some rerj middling, and a good deal rvrj

poor.

-l'> h

■I > ^ ? tot jrno JK^

2nd October. — Left Toronto early,
having heard the Delegaluii had gone to
Hamilton Fair. Heard here they v; Me in
London, so made up my mutd te have a
look at Ontario all by myself. On arrival
at the fair grounds, I called on the
obliging Secretary, Mr. Bruce, who kindly
ofiEered to introduce me to some of the
Directors to shew me round, I told him
I would prefer to go round alone in
the first instance, and see what I could
see, and would call back. Had a two
hours' inspection all by myself, and then
returned to the Secretary, who kindly in-
troduced me to a number of the Directors,
at the same time presenting me with a
very pretty favour, on which was iu-
scribed "Visitor's Badge." Thus armed,
and pildted by Mr. Stock, a hearty Eng-
lishman, apparently a well-known farmer
and mi^isti-ate — at any rate, a very
intelligent one, — I shall attempt to give
a description of a Canadian fair, as Mr.
Bruce would anive too late to see any of
them. At every centre there is what is
called the "Exhibition Ground," on which
is erected a permanent and often spacious
building, surrounded by an enclosed park,
in the centre of which is an enclosed ring,
where all the trotting horses showoff their
paces in single buggies, in double buggies,
and without buggies, and in waggons and
democrats, a sort of compromise 'twixt a
wa<;;gon and a buggy. A fair here is a com-
bination of our Cattle shows. Horticultural
shows, Boot shows, Race meetings, PicnicH,
and Bazaars, the latter including all sorts
of industrial work, sewed and knitted ;
in fact, anything and eveiything is to be
found in the building or on the ground
that man or woman may need, or even
think of needing. Thoy are held all over
the country in autumn, after the harvest
is over, and last from one day up to three-
weeks, aa did the one at Toronto this
year. This one lasted three days, being
a local one, Toronto three weeks, being a
district one, whilst the final appeal, aa
" Tillyfour " would say, is at the Dominioa
Show, which ia held in diflferent provinces'
every year. It was held at Ottawa thia
year, and I missed it by a day, having
been told it would go on for two weeks.
Again went over the cattle, pigs, and
implements, neither requiring special
notice, as, with the exception of a few
shorthorns from Bow Park Farm (called
Durhams) and a few fair grades or crosses,
there waa nothing worth comparing with
such displays at home. The industrial
work in the Exhibition Building is worthj
of imitation at home, as it gives all an
interest in the fair. In one wing was
exhibited an immense Map of th»
Dominion of Canada (drawn and Slled
in by hand), which gave one aome amalt'

87

i4ea of the vast extent of territory in the
Itojuioion of Canada. Went to the root
sbbw, and it surprised me more than all
thb others, doming along I had seen some
good fields of swedes and mangolds, but
wta not pepared to see swedes, mangolds,
and potatoes thai would put any of our
exhibits of this year far into the shade.
Mr. Htock was very hard on me for only
allowing they could beat us thi* year.
Ota next inspection was fruits. I|ere I
I saw, and tasted too, fruit of every hue
and flavour. It will give lome idea. of
the show of apples when t mention that
the varieties in sections varied from six
to foriy-two, and all were such as I had
nfcyer seen. Pciches, grapes (all out-
door), melons, tomatoes, squash, and ever
so many kinds of fruit I never either saw
or heard of. I am no great judge of
floWers, but I ken guid fruit when I taste
it, 80 admitted at once they could beat
us in fruit, and got off to the horse ring,
wliere the trotting matches were about
toicommence. This is the great event of
all such meetings, as every farmer has, as
a taatter of course, the best trotter. The
gtound hers had been so well chosen that
air teould see, and a more orderly crowd I
neter saw. All were well and cleanly
dressed. In many cases the whole family
were there — husband, wife, and weans —
in horse and buggy, or pair and waggon,
or democrat. All drive into the grounds
and put np their horses in the permanent
stkble's erected round one side of the en-
clORurc, where also are lodged those inten-
ded for exhibition in the ring, so that one
caii only TCetbchorscs for exhibition when
being judged in the ring. In passing
aronnd, Mr. Stock seemed to have the
knteck of seeing only Scotchmen; after an
intl'odnction, the usual salute being,
" Bless'd if I can see anybody in this fair
worth speaking to that is not a Scotch-
marii." Mr. Stock is an Englishman
hihiself and proud of it, and I give him
credit for being able to find them only
whto he wants them. Stock knows
everybody and everybody knows Stock
being about the Eni^lish of it. The trot-
ting matches in bnggies .1 could not
dcircribe ; the wonder to me was what
way everybody did not run into every
otlier body's buggy, and think it would
be best descril^ as a tvx of wheels.
Th«re Was only one spill, and the best of
hamoar with all. Some of these trotters
would be best described ad ugly brutes,
only there is no mistake they can go, and
•erne of them showed splendid training,
moving about with their four wheels and
a scat like a graceful skater on ice.
To all at Hamilton I here record my
thanks for their kindness and courtesy,
Betumed to Toronto late, and passed

through a severe thunderstorm accom-
panied by such a downpour of rain as I
never saw and never wish to see again.
3rd Oct. — Toronto, a very beautiful and
fast-rising city of 80,000. Value of
assessed property : real, $30,748,484 ; in-
come, |'2,115,066; personal, $7,816,817.
Total, $46,680,367. Banks, 12; Churches,
66. lu Ontario there are 669,442 Irish ;
439.429 English ; 328,889 Scotch ; 76,000
French ; 12,978 Indians or half-breeds ;
and 204,730 of all others. In the other
Provinces nearly in the same proportion,
unless Quebec, which has 929,817 of
French extraction, out of a total popula-
tion of 1,191,616. Tlie increase during
the lost ten years of the four principal
Provinces are given at : — Ontario, 16t'ir ;
Quebec, 7-ft ; Nova Scotia, 17 A ; New
Brunswick, 13-)^. Drove out to the farm
of Mr. Reid, seedsman, five mileb east from .
Toronto, 200 acres ; cost, a few years ago,
$100 per acre, would now need to be
worth a good deal more, as a great many
improvements and reclamations have been
made by, Mr. Reid, who will, no doubt, bo
able, through bis business, to turn a good
deal more out of it than a farmer could
do. Ho is to farm on a regular rotation,
keep stock, drive town manure, kc. Has
R splendid crop of swedes and Indian
corn, some fair Durhams and good sheep.
Visited Dr. Smith's veterinary college, who
is principal pnd owner of the college, and
hi^alargc practice. The college is attended
by a large number of students from all
parts of Canada, and agood many from the
States. Met Mr. ^imon Beattie, of Annan,
on his way to Scotland, with a number of .
fine carriage horses, who brought out in
May some shorthorn cattle and Clydesdales.
He told me there had lately been many
enquiries about Polled Aberdeen Cattle,
and expected there would soon be a demand
for them, both in Canada and the States.
4th October. — Left for Quelph, where my
fellow passengers on steamer, Mr. and
Mifs. Iniies, gave me a hearty welcome.
Mr. Innes worthily fills the important
and onerous post of proprietor and editor
of the Ouelph Mercury, and is well' known
and highly respected, not only in his own
district but far beyond, having occupied
at one time a prominent postion on the
staff of that famous Canadian daily, Tfie
Toronto Oloie, usually termed the Hon.
George Brown's Thunderer, Th^ Oloie.
At Mr. Innes' I met Mr. Johnson, who had
just retired from being principal of the
" Ontario School of Agriculture and
Model Farm," to complete his studies for
the bar of Canada. From all I could
learn, he has left his mark at the Model
Farm, a great part of its first success being '
'.aoed to his credit, and it does not need
, prophet to foretell that he will leavo

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hifl mKrk elsewhere, if health la spnrcd
him. Drove out by Eramosa and country
aronnd Guelph, accompanied by Messrs.
Innes and JohnAon. Saw some very good
land and good stock, and some very
middling. Country looking very fine.
5th.— Sunday, at Guelph. 6th.— Went to
Model Farm with Mr. Johnson, met Pro-
fessor Brown (late factor to Invercauld,
now Professor of Agriculture and Farm
Manager) and all the officials. Dined
with the ninety-odd students, and then
went over the farm with Professor Brown.
The Farm has been so often described,
I need not again attempt to do so, and
will just remark in passing that it has
now passed through its transition stage
and is proving a decided success ; the one
fact of over a hundred students having
been refused this session, I think, war-
rants the statement. It is not, as I have
seen stated, supported by the Dominion
Government; but is entirely supported by
the Provincial Government of Ontario.
The students are requf red to work five hours
a day and study other five, and the College
is to all intents and purposes a school to
learn young farmers both theory and
practice. In a careful trial thak is talcing
place with the various breeds of cattle on
the cane keep, breeders of the famous
Aberdeen " Doddies" will be glad to learn
they are holding their own alongside
shorthorns, Hcrefords, and Devons, I
may here state that I had made a number
of enquiries about their cost, and whether
I thought them suitable for Canada, all
over the country. I found a good many
people prejudiced against " Blackskins,"
as the only kind they had ever seen did
badly ; on enquiry this turned put
to have been Galloways, a good num-
ber of which were imported many years
ago. Also inspected a fine field of
swedes containing about 30 varieties,
some of which I never heard of and some
of which it vnll not matter mnch if they
are not heard of again. A good many
were hybrids between yellow andsv/edes;
most of these had all the appearance of
yellowsuntil tasted. Was presented with
report of School of Agriculture for 1877
and 1878, and will be glad to show it to
any one interested. Professor Brown
drove me to see Mr. Judd's Devons about
to be sold, a very uniform lot; then to
Mr. Stone's Herefords, over 100 head: saw
IB of the finest female calves, just weaned,
I ever saw of any one breed all together.
Was informed a great demand had lately
'jprung up in the United States for Here-
ford bulls for crossing ; many going as far
as Texas at nearly double the price of last
year ; showing our Texan friends are fully
alive to get their cattle ready young for
the British market. Then to Mr. Stone's

farm where he has long kept a large held
of shorthorns. I was not ao favourably
impressed with these, especially the balls.

7th October. — Mr. Johnson drove me to
Puslinch Fair, 7 miles from Guelph on
the Hamilton Boad. Passed some veir
good farms, including one for sale, which
I afterwards enquired particulars about.
200 acres mostly cleared, good stone house
and bank bam, large orchard, well fenced,
good land and in good order. The cash
price for farm, including houses, fencing,
all crop (unless turnips) wa8|16,000,or $76
per acre. The stock on the farm consisted
of 11 horses, 42 cattle, and 40 sheep,
besides pigs. For the farm, live
and dead stock, minus the household
furniture, the proprietor offered to take
" £3,300 cash." I got a valuation of the
stock from a competent man in the district,
who considered the farm worth the money,
and the stock more than the farmer hjtd
put upon it. It is beautifully situated,
and within two miles of Guelph which
enhances its value considerably. Puslinch
district different from any I have seen,
plenty of boulders and stone dykes, the
latter all I saw in Canada. Autumn
wheat everywhere looking well, in some
cases the crop is laid and sheep on it
eating it down.

8th October. — Left for Fergus, one of
the districts where a number of Aber-
donians took up their abode some 30, some
40 years ago. In some few cases came
across the original settler who tpld yon
there was nobody between him and Huron

Ssome 70 or 80 miles) when he settled, now
ne farms line the roads all the way ; in
many cases the sons occupied the places
their fathers had cleared. Visited the
farms of Mr. Rcnnie and Mr. McQueen.
The former from Aberdeenshire ; both
have good farms, well stocked, and good
stone houses. Saw his mother and father,
very old people, who came out nearly 40
years ago and hacked their way out of the
bush, and now seem very comfortable.
Had a good crack with the old lady in
real Aberdeen doric.

9th October. — Had a drive of some 40
miles round Fergus. Visited a good
many Aberdonians and other Scotch-
men ; most had hewn their farms
out of the forest, and all seemed
to be doing well and pleased at farming
their own lands, and it is astonish-
ing to see what they have done in the
short space of 30 years, as, go where you
will, there are any number of fine cleared
farms, good houses, and good gravel roads.
In the town of Fergus are some Aber-
donians, seemingly all doing well. I may
mention some I met : Mr. Argo, senr. and
junr., and Mr. Michie, large storekeepers,
and Mr. Cadenhead, a brother of our own

Plonr

SWhmt

RWintei

White..

Club

CoDi

Oats

Barley.

Feaa .

Pork .

Lard .

Bdcon .

TnHow

Cheese

r

#•*

♦

Fiscal, who had another brother a model
iarmer (lately dead), and ret another In
the far off land of Manitoba along with
his son and nephew and several others.

Fergus has not been in a very pros-
perous state since the American dcprc^on,
but all are now confident that better
times are begun. Here there is a very
good water power driving a nnr ber of
mills, one of these ships a good deal of
meal to Glasgow. At this date oats were
27 to 30 cents for 84 lbs ; barley, 60 to 55
for 60 lbs ; wheat, $1.08 to $1.10 for 60 lbs.
It takes 7 busheU of oats to make a boll
of meal of 140 lbs, allowing 1/- for milling
and 3/9 for carriage; shewed the miller
could deliver meal at date in Glasgow for
13/11 per boll of 140 lbs.

I will here quote Toronto prices and
Liverpool quotations for same date.

Toronto Prices from Globe : —

Wheat, tall, p«r bnsh |1 30 (3 |1 92

Wheat, Bpring, du 117 @ 1 90

Barley do 0 67 @ 0 59

Oats, do 0 35 @ OM

Peas, do 0 50 ® 0 65

Rye, do 0 68 @ 0 69

Dressed hogs, per too lbs 6 60 & 0 00

Carrots, per bag 0 45 m 0 00

Paranipa, do 0 50 @ 0 00

Cabbage,doi 0 45 (4 0 00

Chickens, per pail 0 26 d 0 60

Fowls, do 0 50 @ 0 60

Dncks, per brace 0 45 m 0 60

Oeeie,each 0 40 d 0 60

Torkeys 0 76 (S 1 70

Batter, lb. roUs 0 17 (9 0 SO

Bnttor, large rolls Oil & 9 12

Butter, tub dairy 0 15 (§0 10

Batter, Btore-paeked 0 09 & QU

Eggs, fresh, per do* 0 14 ® 0 16

Eggs,inloti Oil @ 0 13

Apples, per brl 0 75 & 160

Potatoes, per brl 0 00 & 100

Onions, per brl 160 & 9 00

Hay 7 00 @ 10 00

Straw 5 60 @ 7 00

The following are the Liverpool quota-
tions for each day of the past week : —

(ri ei •«! «s t: <^

i ^ ^ i ^ ^

o o o o o o

8. D. S. D. 8. D. S. D. S. D, 8. D^

Floar ..18 0 18 0 18 0 18 0 18 0 18 8*
S.WheatlO 0 10 3 10 3 10 9 10 9 10 6
RWinterlO 8 10 11 10 11 10 11 10 11 11 8
White.. 10 8 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 11 11 3
Club ..11 3 11 4 U 4 11 4 11 4 11 7
Cora ..56 65 55 65 65 69
Oats ..68 68 68 68 68 68
Barley.. 68 68 58 58 68 68
Peas ..76 75 75 75 75 75
Pork ..49 6600500600600606
Lard ..34 6846S46846649840
Biicon..8a 6 83 6 82 6 83 6 83 6 83 6
Tallow 89 9 88 0 88 6 38 6 82 0 B3 9
Cheese 47 0460460460480490

10th October. — Attended fair at Elora.
Here met a number of Aberdonians, the
Bon Accord Settlement being in the
neighbourhood. # Here the display of
cattle was far superior to anything I had
seen, and a good many of the shorthorns

would have taken a deal of beating iu *.'
our best showyanls at home. The
exhibits of the Watts, Hunters, and
Armstrongs were both excellent and
numerous, and included the first prize
cow at the Dominion Show. Met Mr. %
John Mair, late Reeve of his Tu\vnship,
whom I knew by his friends at homo,
and arranged to visit the Don Accord
Settlement. '

11th October. — Visited the Messrs.
Watta' farm and others in the Bon Accord
Settlement, and will here give the pro-
duce of two farms, the first as a sample
of a fair farm well farmed, and the other .!
selected by Mr. Mair as an averaije of the L
district. First Farm : Messrs. Watts', i
given me by themselves ; 200 acres, 170 i
in cultivation, balance wood. A rotation i
is observed as under : — Ist after sod, peas d
or cats; 2nd, wheat; 3rd, green crop; i
4th, wheat or barley, seeding down with; ;
timothy and clover ; 6th and 6th, cat for :
hay ; 7th, pasture. Average Produce :—
Oats, 60 bushels; pe^8, 25 to 30 ; wheat, ..
26 ; barley, 40 ; turnips, 900 ; hay, 2 to i
3 tons. I saw the turnips and estimated i
them at 23 to 24 tons per acre. Thiij
year they had 14 acres oats, 30 wheat, 10 i
peas, 6 barley, 14 turnips, 28 hay, and 68::
in pasture. Part of the latter is per- •>
manent, unless when ploughed up tot
renew the grans. Live Stock : 10 to 1 3 ,.
horses, 45 cattle, and 40 sheep. All ar^ ;
mostly grazed six months ovitsidc. Pigs ^
not stated. *

Statement of Producr of Farm of 100 '
acres, selected by Mr. John Mair as a
fair average of the district : —

BuiheU

A«r«i.

Wheat 16 .

Oats 12 .

Peas 8 .

Barley 2 .

Potatoes 1 .

Turnips 7 .

Oats and Peas 2 .

porkers

. 18 ..,
. oO ...
. 30..,
. 48..
. ISO..,
. f>(K) ..,
,. 65 ..

ToUL

288
600
240
96
180
3500
110

Hay 15 2 tons ... 30 tonf

Pasture 14

Woodland,&c. 17

Orchard

BnalieU Applei.
.... 100

Bnihtla
100

Fences, Roads, and Waste, 6 acres.

Sold last year:— i

Beef, live weight 6475 lbs. /

Pork, dressed 1170 „ \

Wool.,.. 78 „ ,.

No .account kept of dairy produce. No '
manures of any kind used other than that
made on the farm. No feed of any kind
bought for stock. Present prices of All'!
the produce is named in list, unless beef
and pork. The former was selling at date

iAV

.fM

90

jf

about 4} to 6 cents per lb. lire weight for
fat, and pork was quoted at 61 to 6 couti).
dn»scd.

The first farm would sell from 70 to 75
dollars pur acre, perhaps more, having
good houses and fences. The other farm
from $36 to IIO, with fair houses. From
prices quoted of various farms I haye
•een for sale, I should think the average
price of farms in the Ck>unty of Welling-
ton, said to be the best stock county in
Ontario, would average about S50 per
acre.

October 12th.— Sunday, at Fergus.

October 13th.— Left Fergus for Gait,
in County Waterloo, and was met by Mr.
John Brown, one of the cattle judges at
JBlorafair, who drove me over a part of this
county. Called on Mr. MaoGullooh, who
runs one of the largeat mill engineering
businesses in Canada, who told me I was
in good hands. Lmul much lighter and
brae-set than in Wellington County, and
reminds one not a little of loWur Dee side.
Autumn wheat everywhere looking well,
and turnips a good crop. Saw some
fetibes formed of pine roots, which cer-
tainly look like a caution to dyke lonpers,
am said to last for ever, and would need
it, is they must have cost a deal of money;
first, to pull up (which is done by a root-
extractor), and then to trail and pile up.
Mr. Brown in our travels bought two
well-bred cross steers by the trot for $74
the pair, or £7 10s. a piece, which would
be about 1260 lbs. at three cents. Bad as
times are, I would like a few of them to
finish at a ten pound note profit, or A17 lOs.
a piece. Mr. Brown adopts a regular ro-
tation— breeds a few and buys in such as
th^ above in Autumn, to finish for the New
York or British market in Spring. Saw 150
lambc going off to New York at $4| per 100
lbs. live weight, the New Yorkers also get-
ting the benefit of paying an additional
duty of 20 per cent, when they cross the
Niagara. This duty they seem to think
is a wretched thing for Canada; forgetting
apparently it is the consumers and not
the producers who pay in the end for

Erotection. I wonder at these people on
oth sides tolerating thede duties at all ;
you are told it is all done to protect their
manufactures. I expect the agricultural
West will have something to say to that
Tery soon, as they wish, like sensible
people, to sell in the dearest and buy in
the cheapest market, ^rhereveritis manu-
factured, and I expect it must end in
that. Mr. Brown is alio a canny Aber-
donian, who went from about Huntly
some 20 years ago, a farm servant. He
said he saw no prospect before him at
home but hard work to the end, so thought
he would have a try here, where there
WMheld oat a prospect of even a labour-

ing man becoming his own lairdi He
now occupies his own farm with good
stone houses and well oultivalcd tields^.
very much on thu AborduejQ mode, grow-
ing turnips and feuding cattle. I asked
him to give me the pruluea ol an averatje
farm in his tlitttriet, aud shsll here giv^.
his reply in his own wurds, verbatim ;-^,

[CopV Letter.}

Springfield Farm, Gait,

6th JVffvember, ltil9.

Mr. Obobou WiLKEir,

My dear Sir,
I ruuei veil yours of 25i h October^ asking
me to scleoi^ an average farm in the
district, and give you the system oC
farming geperally adopted. I find it
rather difficnlt, as the majority follow no
regular rotation, but as I farm under a
regular rotation, and! think about a fair
average, I shall give you a sketch of my
own. I have about 140 acreb under cul-
tivation divided into six parts, as follows:
1st. — Turnips, potatoeR and maize. 2n(l.—
Barley and Oats. 3rd. — Grass. 4th. —
Hay, 5th.— Peas. 6th.— Wheat, about
23 acres each. I break up my 2nd grass
in Spring and sow peas, plough and cuU
tivate well in the fall and sow fall wheats
after wheat turnips, and so on. I have
only had this farm ten years ; but it la
producing more every year ; but on an
average for the last six years my wheat
averages 26 bushels ; barley, 30 ; peas, 25;
oats, 30 ; potatoes, 160 to 200 ; and
turnips 600 to 600 bushels. I only
sow what oats I require for teed, as
this district is better adapted for other
crops, I feed all my peas to cattle. I
keep 6 cows, 6 calves, 6 year-olds, and 6
two-year-olds. I fatten ray two-year-olda
in winter, which will realize about 66 to
70 dollars each. I fatten from 26 to 30
head. I buy in fall about 20 head such
as you saw (74 dollars the pair previously
referred to). I don't keep many cattle in
summer as this farm is rather bare for
pasture in a dry season, but there are »
great many far better farms in this district
and a good many worse ; but they are all
beginning to farm better ; some cf them
have a good deal of summer i.illow, and
will have 40 bushels of wheat per acre and
some 60 bushels barley; as they don't raise
many turnips they put their manure on
wheat and barley, but of course they
can't keep many stock. Some parts of
Canada, where the soil is heavy, can raise
far heavier crops and better for pasture ;
but we can raise a better sample and the-
crops are more sure in a wet season. Some
pretty large farms as you saw, this being
a fine district for wheat, will be divided
aa follows : dorer, fallow, wheat, and

91

part barlej, and then clover agubi, while
th«T will k(!ep pftit in turnips, potatoes,
and oats : they don't keep much stock but
they are be);^imin^ to see that a rrguiar
rotation and raise more stock is best, and
a good many are adopting it, I have
written this hurriedly as wo have been
busy taking up our turnips ; but if I hare
omitted anything you want to know, I
will be most happy to give you any in-
formation I can. I see by the papers to-
day that you have arrived in Manitoba.
I hope you will enjoy your trip to the far
North-West. If you have time you might
drop me a few lines Jjefofc you leave the
country, stating what you think of ('anada.
(Signet!) JOHN BROWN.

P.S. — Bear in mind that we are liable
hero to bad seasons as well as in Scot-
land, and sometimes wheat is winter
killed, making it thin on the ground, and
other evils ; but we are independent, and
not pestered with factors or lairds to
screw the last halfpenny out of us. I
camo to Canada twenty years ago with
little, am perfectly happy, and would not
go back,

Mr. Brown's taxes on this farm have
never exceeded $33.1 as landlord and
tenant.

14th October. — Keturned to Toronto,
and again had a look around it. Found
it a handsome city, with many fine build-
ings, not the worst being the North of
Scotland Canadian Loan Company's
offices, on a main street. The soil for
a short distance round is mostly light
sandy. The streets are fairly paved
and there are many handsome churches
(the same may be said of the churches
all over Canada). Fruit grows in great
abundance, and a few miles west of this
was lately called the garden of Canada.
Said gaitlen has apparently been many
times removed, as I heard of it all over.
Certainly, by taking the North shore of
Lake Ontario, a few miles inland, and
taking a sweep round to Niagara, there is
situated one o. thf : finest fruit districts of
Canada.

15th October. — Left Toronto by steamer
to Niagara, thence by railroad to
Falls. Here met Mr. and Mrs. Anderson
from Halifax and went to ProBpect
Hotel. He and his wife bad seen the
Falls before, his daughter and myself for
the first time. It was agreed on loaTing
the station that nothing was to be said
till we reached the hotel and had seen
the great sight of America. Mr. Anderson
had noticed a look of disappointment
with both, and Was right. Somehow,
and I understand it is general, the first
sight of the Falls is disappointing. I sup-
pose it is caused, like many more great
things appear!'* not so great when you

have got them as whuu you wished fur
thorn. The Falls, however, soon grow ou
one ; and after going the round, over und
under and all around, their vastuesa
grows upon you, and one wonders *
more the second day than the first. I
had the pleaouro (f going under the Fails
on both sides. No one should leave
without going under the American Fall,
aa it will give all and sundry a good idea
of a gn-i/ thick Scotch m'ut at the foot,
and of an everlasting Hiiower-balh under*
neath, which is refreshing, and one goes
away with a far better idea of their vast*
ness than by merely seeing them from
any and every point. The tolls and
charges here at every 60 or 100 yards are
simply a disgrace to both countries. If
one could get a ticket to view the whole
for a guinea, or even two, all would know
what was before them. The everlasting
25 or 60 cents is, to say the least,
monotonous. The lime-light llluminatioa
on the American side is very fine, and
Canada might take the hint and show off
the grand Horse Shoe Fall also.

16th October. — Spent forenoon going
over the best points of observation, and
also went to see the whirlpool and rapids
where the steamship Maid of the Mitt,
to escape seizure at the Falls, shot like a
meteor to the placid pool below. I have
not seen a really good dcHcription of the
falls in words, and think they are indescrib-
able ; they must be seen, and are worth all
the joumoy to see.

Left for Hamilton by Great Western.
Passed through a lovely country, saw
several fields of grapes, pa8.seu over the
new canal connecting Erie with Ontario,
which, when completed, will allow vessels
drawing some 13 or 14 feet to pass from
head of Lakes Superior and Michigan to
the mouth of the St. Lawrence, a distance
of nearly a thousand miles.

1 7th October. — Left Hamilton for Jarvis
and Port Dover, and came back to
Caledonia en rente for Brantford and Bow
Park Farm. Land much lighter than any
I have seen. Caledonia, in Canada, has
been badly selected, and is not worth
bragging about, having none of the first
elements of the real article, being neither
stern nor wild, and the less said about it
the better. I took freight train for Brant-
ford, which travelled at the reasonable
speed of 18 miles in 3 hours, and got time
for a good look of the country. Saw
nothing very inviting in the shape of farms
or farming till we came in sight of Bow
Park, which is beautifully situated and a
bonnie spot. Received telegram to go to.
Quelph to mret Delegates.

18th October.— Left for Guelph, and
joined the Delegates from the South, who
wore accompanied by a large party, at

( i

t I

^*J'

l"f

92

1

f

f.

n ■ .(

Model Farm. Joined thom and visited
Mr. Wbitelaw's and Mr. Hobson'a farms.
On the former saw some very good com-
ihercial cattle and some very fat sheep,
and on the lat .cr a big field of Swedish
turnips, a goixl crop.

I9th October. — .Sunday, in Guclph. In
afternoon tlioro was a public funeral of a
townsman killed the previous Friday by
the train at the crossing at the end of the
town ; the old story, train runs through
the street without gat<3 or paling. Tliere
were over 100 carriaf^es and buggies in the
mournful pvocessiun, b-sidos firemen,
masons of various orders, oddfellows of
the same, heade<l by a band. These public
funerals are quite common, all go without
invitation who wish to show respect for
the departed.

20th October. — Drove out with Delegates,
accompanied by Mr. Laidlaw, M.P.P., Mr.
Anderson, somutimo a farmer in the
South of Scotland, and Mr. Donaldson,
Government Agent at Toronto. Drove
to Fergus by Aromosa Road, and returned
by Watts' Farm in the Bon Accord Settle-
ment and Elora Road. Along the former
road some very poor land, along the latter
ime good land, well cultivate<l, with
• )od houses.

21st October. — Got papers and letters
from home, and heard of Mr. Bruce's
appointment as Delegate for Aberdeen-
shire, who was supposed to sail on 8th,
Went to Toronto with Delegates, who ex-
pected to meet Mr. Lowe, and who was
expected to bring Mr. Bruce with him.
Neither arrived, so Mr. Donaldson arranged
a drive in the suburbs, where there was to
bo a fox hunt. It turned out to be a hunt
without the fox, or what they called a
drag. The hounds seemed to follow the
draggled clout, or whatever it is, almost
«s keenly as the real article, and we saw
a fair run of hounds and horses for 3 or 4
miles without any spills or anything of
note.

22nd October. — Met Mr. Lowe, Secretary
-of the Department of Agriculture, who
told me Mr. Bruce could not have soiled
till the 15th, as he had not arrived by last
steamer at Quebec. After a long con-
versation Mr. Lowe asked if I would
accept the appointment of joint Delegate
with Mr. Bruce, if made by the Govern-
ment, as a party would bo made up to go
to the Canadian North- West, and it would
be impossible for Mr. Bruce to do more
than the Eastern Provinces and Ontario.
Agreed to do so, and our party was soon
made up as follows : Mr. Welch, from
Roxburgh ; Mr. Wallace and Mr. Gordon
from Dumfries, and myself.

23rd October. — Started for Manitoba,
going by Hamilton to liondon. Arrived
m London at 3 p.iii. just as it bvK<ui to

snow, which continuc<l all the evening.
Visited Carting's brewery, a large place,
mostly brewing that great German
beverage " Lager Bier."

This is also the favorite bier or beer in
America. Mr. Carling stated the quantity
used in the States, which seemed to me
enormous — (10 million brls. of 26 imperial
gallons paid duty last year in the United
States, being over 5 gallons to each head
of population) — both the total quantity
brewed and the amount consumed per
head of its enormous population, now
nearly 60 million. Cananians also ap-
parently like it, and I don't wonder, it it
very agreeable, and not so heady as Bass.
Mr. Carling was Commissioner of Agri-
culture and Arts for the Province of
Ontario, he kindly presented me with a
copy of his report, which I shall be happy
to lend to any one for p i as it shows
that a province managing itn own local
affairs keeps v 'to the front. The fol-
lowing is the index to report : —

" Amendments of the Agricultural and
Arts Act."

" Working of the statute."

" Reports of Societies."

" Council of the Agricultural and Arts
Association."

" Mechanic's Institutes."

" Fruit Grower's Association."

'• Crop Returns."

" Industrial Museum."

" Agricultural Education."

" The Provincial Exhibition, and Con-
clusion."

Appendix (a) Analysis of Reports of
Electoral Divisions, and Township Agri
cmltural Societies.

Appendix (^) Mechanic's Institute.

Appendix (j) Report of the Frait
Grower's Association of Ontario.

Appendix (tl) Analysis of Crop Returns.

Appendix (e) Amounts Expended for
Encouragement of Agriculture and Arts
for the year.

24th October. — London, covered with
from 6 to 9 in. snow this morning, the
streets presenting in many places the
appearance of heavy damages among
the trees lining their sides, being full of
leaves, every street is littered with broken
branches. London, like its English rival,
has its Thames river, and many other
places to match, is a beautiful city even
in snow, surpassing a long way its name-
sake for width of streets, mostly lined on
each side with fine trees, the partial
destruction of which all were lamenting.
Drove out to nee Asylum Farm and
Buildings, could see nothing of the Farm
for snow. Farm of .100 acres, including
houses, which cover 75 acres. Saw 4e
Canadian milk cows, which are mostly
fed in the house in Summer. The cows

93

rening.

place,

rcrman

>eer in
aantity
to me
npcrlftl
united
h head
uantity
led per
n, now
,l80 ap-
Icr, it it
as Basa.
jf Agri-
Ince of
e with a
»e happy
it ahowa
rra loual
The fol-

ural and

and Aria

and Con-

eporta of
ihip Agri

tltute.
the Fruit

J.

ip Beturna.
lended for
e and Aria

vered with
orning, the
places the
rea among
ing full of
irith broken
gliah riral,
nany other
il city even
ij its name-
tly lined on
the partial

lamenting.

Farm and
of the Farm
>8, including
ja. Saw 46

are moatly
. The cowa

* ere worth about |S0 at calring, and the
calrea are (;ivcn awuy. Use no nmnurcs
other than that made nn the farm, which ia
put on the turnip brcHk. Owing to chanRc
of overseer couUl not get reliable report of
the amounts of various crops. Hy the
manager at the house wo were infurmcd
they contract for their beef gui>ply; this
year the price is $5.H6 per 100 lbs. or loss
than threepence. Left for Kniiiift, about
40 miles, in the afternoon, and found the
dust blowing on tlie roads about half
way, not a snec of snow tu be seen. These
drifts are said to occur Irora mists off tiie
lakes aftftr heat, an . courHc it depends
on tiie direction of \ i winds where it
falls. Boat sliould have sailed tonipht.

26th October.— 8f nia all day; 6000
inhabitants. N.. tppcai mcc of stc -uer,
and could gc ' tie iiit'orraatii,ii as to
whcii it would sail. Vis;U'd Huron,
about 12,000 inh.ibitrn;:!. on the United'
States side of the *" rev oi. Clair, which
ia crossed at f ve-jnit.jto intervals hj
ateam fcrry-bcata. ITiere ia nothing
particular about cithei iowu or city.
Went up to the terminus (on Cam-Man
territory) of the Grand Trunk Railroad
at the point situated at the bottom of
Lake Hrron. Here they send all their
trafQc going west either across the river
where their line goes fo Detroit on the
United States side of tlje river, thence by
some of the railroads to Chicago, or by
Bteamorson the lakes. The St. Clair is a
beautiful stream and abounds with a
number of kinds of fish, including fresh-
water herrings or mackerel, a number of
which we saw being packed to send else-
where. There are aomo fine residences
and farms along its banks, and some of
the finest duck shooting in Canhda is got
here and on Lake St. Clair. Went on
board steamer; evening.

26th October. — Sunday, on board steam-
ship Ontario, a large peculiarly-shaped
bottomed ship,asare most of the American
lake and river steamers. They carry a
great amount of cargo with little draught
of water, usually stand high out of
the water, are painted white, and have
their berths and.saloons on the top storey.
whi< ' latter make them all look top
heavy. At 6 ea.m. had only got to the
Point, two miies, Sailed at seven for
Oodciich, where ure situated large salt
works. Took a quantity aboard, price
75 cents per bfirrel of 200 lbs. Sailed for
Kincardine about 3, arrived 7, p.m. Had
a run up to see the town. Sailed, same
evening for Southampton, and found our-
selves at anchor there in the morning.

27th October. — Stayed at Southaiupton
till one p.m. Went to see the town.
Found storm drum hoistet^, and the lake
looked rough outside. Captain unwilling

to start, having 24 hofa«a aboard.' ftfafled
at 1 p.m. for the head of lake, Very
rough all afternoon. Got to the river by
daylight. .y

October 28th,— Passed Joseph Island
and landed a pair of horses, some imple-
ments, a settler and his dr>g, on a very
primitive pier, in course of construction
by the honiesteaders. HaUi to have beeii
a good number settled on the island dur-
ing the last few years. From the lake it
certainly does not look inviting. Here
the lakes and windings of the Sault
St. Marie River, which flows between
Superior and Huron, remind one very
much of the Kyles of Uute, only tiie
navigation is a little more difficult owing
to nhallows in the river, which are now
being dcc^pened by dredges anfl crp.n,^,
some of which we saw ut work, ancl a
cold looking job it was. Passed Sugar
Island, where the Indians used to mako
their majjle sngar. The scenery is grand
and impressive, the vessel at times pus.sing
between high rocks, not much wider than
itself, at others scraping the lx)ttom on
some shallow reef. Passed several
'f, aels goiJig up and down, it is here
where all vessels from I.iiko Michigan
have to pass into Huron. Arnved ul
Sault St. Jfarie rapids .at one p,m., where
the vessel had to pass ihrouKh two locks
on the United States side. Not nnich of a
town on either side, that on the States side
being much the largest. Had a look at
the new canal being fomied alongside
the present one. One of the locks, we
were told, is the biggest in the world.
It is certainly beautifully built of heavy
limestone. At the bottom of the rapids
saw several Indians in canoes fishing.
It is said there are a great many kinds
of excellent fish got here. These Indians
also descend the rapids in skiffs with
passengers at a dollar a head, and had
time permitted my pockets would likely
have been lightened of one more dollar.
Started at 3 p.m. for a straight run
of 260 miles to Silver Island, with a
strong head wind. Passed a steam shovel
at work deepening alongside new pier
being formed for a straight run into the
canal; also, more cranes, &c., at work
on a reef a little further on. There are
a few settlers along both sides about
Sault St. Marie.

29th October. — Lake Superior very rouf^h
all day, and the vessel pitching and rol'ing
like anything, and so quickly that one
liad hardly time to prepare for going over
on one aide till yon were in danger going
over the other. About 2 p.m. it looked as
if our good ship had gone to pieces, as the
table burst its moorings and wont carcering
over the place, smashing a few of its own
legs and ever so many cabin doors. I had

^/i

ml-'-mJf

94

• *

i .

mostly to keep my hammock, onlj had a
look out at this time to see what all the
row was about, and it was quite a treat to
Bee the chairs playing at smashing glass
doors, and crockery flying about in all
directions, vnth our few remaining lady
passengers holding on by the floor to keep
themselves in position. Soon, however,
the table was la'^hed down to the floor
and the chairs roped to the lashings, and
all went oflE pretty well till we got into
the lee of Silver Island where we found
peace again. Landed mails, and went on
to Prince Arthur's Landing, where cargo
was discharged all night and up to 10 a.m.,
mostly flour, apples, and cases of wines
and spirits.

30th Octobar. — ^\Vent ashore and had a
look of the North end of Lake Superior
from the rocky heights above the town.
Ihe scene is wild in the extreme, the land,
or rather rocks, around tlie North end of
the Lake are very poor from a farmer's
standpoint, and said to be immensely rich
from a miner's, as therj is said to be un-
told quantities of gold, silver, and copper.
That this is so, there seems to be little
doubt, all that is wanted being capital to
work the mines. Had for fellow-passenger
one of the contractors on the Tliunder Bay
end of the Canadian Pacific Railway, now
being made to Selkirk in Manitoba. The
horses on board belonged to him, and,
strange to tell, there were no legs broke.
He told us that over 100 miles on this end
was finished, that the next 150 would be a
caution na the rqute waa very rough
in places, mud lakes in others, and
there would have to be a G;ood many
tunnels made on this part ; however, he
had no doubt it would be completed by
1883 or 1884. The horses are now going
to the front to drag in provisions and
supplies for next summer's work. When
this railroad is finished. Thunder Bay, or
Prince Arthur's Landing on Lake Superior,
will only be 410 miles from Winnipeg.
Left at 10 a.m. for Silver Island, and
'''arrived there at two. Found the Mining
Company's steam yacht waiting to take
us to see the silver mine on the Island,
about 700 yards from the maiiiland.
,'■ When the Company commenced operations
*. afew years ago on this now famous Island,
there was only a few square feet above
.water, now there are a good many houses
on it, as they formed breakwaters and
filled up with the rock and quartz from
the mine. Some of the houses are
■') occupied by the miners. Was accompanied
''' to the mine by the Captain of the Ontario
^' to whom wevrcre indebted for our passes to
eee the Island, and also by the Mining
^ Engineer, Doctor, &c., the latter having
"■' friends in Aberdeenshire. Was shewn
*, OTer the works above ground, did not ask

to see those below, saw no signs of silver
only was told the mine is at present payi^ng
all working expenses by the quartz crush-
ing and washing. During the four years
this mine has been worked it has yielded
nearly five million dollars worth of silver,
one pot or kettle has been found which
yielded nearly ninety per cent, of the
pure article, and as a matter of course
they are looking for another by following
the vein or seam of rock. This mine is
wrought by an American Company, and
the ore and washings go to Baltimore.
Wa*! also shewn over the crushing and
washing mills on the Mainland, which are
extensive, the washing room being a very
large place filled with endless rubber webs
going round and round in water, the fine
dust being spread on these. Shares in this
mine were originally |2.5, have been as
high as $75, and as low as 25 cents.

Discharging cargo till 5 p.m., mostly
flour, apples, and salt for the Company.
Population about 700, nearly all in some
way connected with the mine. Our
Captain told us he would only make one
more trip this season, so that the people
on the Lakes are 3 or 4 months without
much communication with the rest of the
world. Left at 5 p.m. for Duluth where
we arrived after a fine s.ail iat 1 p.m. on
Friday. The distance travelled by the
Lakes and River is as under: Lake Huron
is 250 miles in length, 100 miles vdAe,
and from 100 to 750 feet in depth ; St.
Mary's River is 62 miles long, and Waiska
Bay at the bottom of Lake Superior about
8 miles long ; Lake Superior the largest
fresh water lake in the world, is 300 miles
long, and 140 miles in its widest part, an
average width of 85 miles, 800 feet deep in
its deepest portion, the bottom is said
to be 2D0 feet below the sea level.
It takes a circuit of 1,500 miles to get
round it, and has an area of 32,000 square
miles, over 200 rivers pour their waters
into it, draining it is said an area of
100,000 square miles. The water is
very green, extremely clear very cold,
and has plenty of fish. There are
along the North Shore a gieat num*)er
of Islands, among the moat important
from size being Isle Royal, said to be
over 40 miles long and, 10 wide. If
we are to believe our American cousins,
Lake Superior will one day becouc a
famous place, seeing it is herfi our. tight
little Island is to find its last resting
place, or as they put it, "We could dump
your little Island T one of our Lakes and
have a sail around to find where it had
gone to."

31st October. — Arrived Duluth, a
rising town of 5000 inhabitants. It is a
town of some importance, or likely to
become so, being at the western end of

Pi

0696

of silver
it paying
tz crush-
ur years
1 yielded
of silver,
id which
i. of the
)f course
Eollowing

I mine! is
any, and
altimore.
hing and
which are
rig a very
bber webs
', the fine
res in this
s been as
nts.

1., mostly
Company.

II in some
ne. Our
make one
he people
IS without
rest of the
ith where
b 1 p.m. on
ed by the
,akc Huron
miles wide,
iepth ; St.
nd "Waiska
erior about
,he largest
s 360 miles
ist part, an
'eet deep in
im is said

sea level.
liles to get
,000 square
icir waters
m area of
water is
very cold,
There are
lat number
important
Isaid to be
wide. If
in cousins,
becouc a
our . tight
it re&ting
lould dump
• Lakes and
Ihere it had

JDnluth, a
Its. It is a
likely to
1cm end of

; ihc groat chain of lakes «nd the temliliis
of the Northern Pacific Railroad and of
the St. Paul and DuluthBailraad, which
runs south to St. Panl. The trains all
run to the harbour on wood piles (the
borders of the lake being shallow) which
have a strange appearance. Went aboard
train at S p.m. and took " sleepers " for
Glyndon. It soon got dark, bo missed
the grand sights said to be seen on this
part of the route.

November Ist. — On wakening up early
morning found we had arrived on the
boundless prairies of Minnesota. Arrived
at Glyndon for breakfast, and started on
our way for St, Vincent at 7 a.m., where
we arrived at 6 p.m., all day passing over
one vast and seemingly boundlOSte prairie,
where we could see for miles and miles,
with little to break the extensive view
i.nrUier than an occasional village or
-tnwn on the railroad and a belt of timber
ill the distance to onrleft, no doubt the
,«to of the now famous Red River of the
. ■ »orth, the railroad running almost parallel
wi.rh the river to Winnipeg. Passed some
cultivated land now and again, and for
miles and miles in a straight lino through
a blackened country, caused by prairie
fires running, or rather blazing, over the
country ; one farm, said to be some
thousand acres in extent, the only indica-
tion that it was so being piles and piles
of straw and half a dozen self -binding
renpers and other implements taking
care of themselves, having neither shed
nor. straw to cover them ; all seemed
■desolate, and will.be so till the hnsband-
nian returns in spring again to plough,
eow, reap, and thrash another crop.
Idlest of these large wheat<growing farms
^e oaly occupied 6 or 6 months. Plenty
and to spare of what looked like fine
land, and, where wheat had been, the
Btnbble looked as if it had been a good
crop. The first look of a vast prairie
country, even in autumn can never be
forgot, and I am told that in spring,
when the whole bursts out in green grass,
packed- with flowers of all hues, the
scene is really lovely. Left St. Vincent,
on the border line, for St. Boniface, oppo-
site Winnipeg and Fort Garry, at 7 10
p.m., the distance being 65 miles, which
we accomplished in 84 hours. The rails
on this road were only laid in spring,
with no stations built nor water tanks
erected. So great was the hurry to carry
<>'.nigrants and their baggage and goods
to Winnipeg and supplies for the Selkirk
end of C, P. R. R. that they had no time
to wait for these things, and as frost had
set in pur engine was obliged to put its
hose into a good, many holes in the ditch
ere water enough could be got to send us
on our way. Ilowever, one does not feel

delays on American railroads so mnoh u
at home, as each carriage has a store and
water-closet at each end, and one is qnite
comfortable even on a cold frosty night.
These delays will soon be remedied, as
the stations were nearly all comr/ieted
when we left, and a good part of the road
is now sand ballasted. This ballast Has
to be hauled from Bird Hill, some eight
or ten miles north of Winnipeg, the only
road or ballast material we saw near
Winnipeg.

It seems a very simple affair making a
railroad in these prairie countries. So
many feet are marked off as the track, a
ditch is dug on each side, and the earth
thrown on what is to be the road, thus
raising it a couple of feet or so above the
land, which helps to keep the line clear
01' snow. If a river is to be crossed there
is always timber at hand for a bridge,
and if this is not strong enough it is not
for want of material. Smaller bridges
are formed by piling square logs above
each other till snificienthcight is attained,
and then bearers across. The plan is
simple, strong, and easily renewed. The
part of the road not yet ballasted has
earth filled in bctwfeen the' sleepers, and
John Frost has hardened up the whole
beautifully. Amved at St. Boniface at
tliree a.m. on Sunday morning, in place
of eleven p.m. on Saturday, and were told
the b'ist plan was to take 'bus for Winni-
peg. We got the 'bus, which took us to
the river side, and was to have charged a
quarter for leaving us there. That did
not suit us, so our friend the 'busman left
•us there to find our way as we best could.
Some of the passengers paid, so they were
invited to a drive for nothing t<j see if
lodgings could be had. We heard of a
hotel near, so had a race with the 'bus
for first foot, and beat him, and so got
under cover. The frost had frozen over
the river hard enough to prevent the
ferry working ; but not hard enough to
allow walking on the ice, and there is no
bridge. So touch for our arrival in the
«fer West.

November 2nd, Sunday. — Got up and
found there was no communication across
the Red River— two or three speculative
spirits were at last equal to the occasion
by bridging it with planks, each plank
end on to its neighbour and the other end
forward on the ice and so over. I hope
the spec paid them, and it ought, seeing
they charged 10 cents or Cd. toll for each
passenger. Who would pay the damage
if one fell through did not seem to
trouble them much.

Got put up at Canada Pacific Hotel at
last ; had a wash-up in ice and a walk to
the junction of the Assiniboine River
with the Red River at Fort Garry and

96

aaw a number o£ people trying to get the
river steamers into safe positions on the
former for the winter. All these are flat-
bottomed, painted white and driven by
a paddle-wheel hanging out behind all
the breadth of the stern. Thermometer
stood about zero, yet we did noj feel it
cold, as the air was dry and clear, in fact
refreshing. Went to English Church in
the evening with the chief inspector of
, post-offices, Mr. Dewie. A very fine stone
church, and got a very good sermon. —
3rd November, Met in hotel Mr. Dewie
above, Mr. Connolly, a special correspon-
dent of the London Times, and Mr. White-
head, one of the contractors on the west
end of the C. Pacific Railway. Several
towfismen called upon us and all were very
kind in ofcoriiig us every assistance in their
power to enable us to see their adopted
country. Amongst others we were much
indebted to Mr. Dcsbrowe, who had
piloted one of the parties before us ; to
Mr. Ross, senior partner of the firm of
Rosa, Ross and Hillam, solicitors and land
agents ; Mr. Gerrie, merchant ; and Mr.
Hespeler, the Government Agent. After
seeing on the map the places the other
Delegates had gone to, we resolved first
to inspect the country for 30 or 40 miles
around the capital, Winnipeg, and second
to visit the south-west district beyond the
Pembina, whera a number had taken up
homesteads during the year, and where
others were still to be had.

Mr. Dewie gave us a good deal of use-
ful information about the postal arrange-
ments since Manitoba formed part of the
Dominion. He'was sent here in 1871 by
the Government to appoint postmasters
sufficient for the popiulation and ap-
pointed 29 in all ; between 1871 and 1879
30 more were appointcid ; this summer he
was again sent to go over the whole pro-
vince and re-arrange the whole postal
system for the North -West country. He
found it necessary to double the total
number, making 118 post-offices in all.
He also told us that every part of Mani-
toba will now have at least one mail
weekly. Mr. Connolly, a genial
and racy Irishman, was very kind and
seemed to have taken a particular
fancy to Manitoba even after seeing
and living in most of the States of the
Union, and iu most of the provinces of
the Dominion. He makes it a particular
study to have all reliable information
about every state and province iu
America, and has always figures in plenty
to clench his statements, and his letters
to Tlie Times have deserved and com-
manded attention from all interested.
.Mr. Connolly met the Royal Commissioners
.. ,',4Mid the other farmer Delegates ; has been
,,,j%Bidiug here for some mouths aud means

to reside some months more to see what
a Manitoba winter is like on the spot,
and I would advise all to look out for his
letters on the subject, as I am sure we
shall get the truth, whoever it may
please or offend. He thinks it one of the
finest wheat-growing regions iu the world,
capable of sustaining one hundred
millions of people if it were cultivated as
Scotland is cultivated.

I have been asked often since I came
home the pertinent question, "If Mani-
toba is such a fine country as it is said to
be, how is it that it was not settled up
long ago ?" I will not attempt to answer
the question further than giving a ,few
facts about its history, which, I may'say^
dates from 1870 ; i.e., so far as anyone
was very much concerned other than the
Hudson Bay Company.

In Mr. Grant's " Ocean to Ocean" the
extent <A tenitory now belonging to the
Dominion of Canada lying North of the
United States is thus described : — "Travel
a thousand miles up a great river, more
tha.n another thousand along great lakes
and L> succession of smaller lakes, a third
thousand across rolling prairies, and a
fourth thousand through woods and moun-
tains and you have travelled from ocean
to ocean through Canada." The middle
two thousand miles was given or granted
by exclusive charter to the Hudson Bay
Company in 1670, for a hunting and
trading ground. In 1783 the North- West
Company was formed, as a private corpo-
ration, for trading in the valleys of the
Red and Saskatchewan Rivers, &o., and
in 1846 had some 60 trading posts in tliis
region. In 1821 these two companies
formed a coalition, continuing under the
chartei-ed name of The Hudson Bay Com-
pany.

This Company continued in possession
till 1 868, when they sold their exclusive
right to the Canadian Government, receiv-
ing ♦1,500,000 cash, and one-eighteenth, or
two sections of 640 acres each, in every
township formed (a township is composed
of 36 sections), besides special reservations
about their trading posts, amounting to
other 60,000 acres. This relinquishment
wasonlycompletedin 1871, so thatthis vast
territory of Manitoba and the Canadian
North- West has only been open for settle-
ment since the above date, or eight years.
You will see it described in most maps as
Prince Rupert's Land or the Hudson Bay
Territory, "^his vast territory is now
divided into three Districts or Provinces,
viz., Keewatin, which extends from the
Western boundary of Ontario to the
Eastern boundary of Manitoba and along
the North of it to the 100th parallel of
longitude (West of Ore"'- wich), and North
to the Arctic, describi. as the region of

99

0 see what
, the apot,
out for his
n sure we
sr it may

1 one of the
1 the world,

huudred
iltivated as

ice I came

" If Mani-
it is said to

settled up
)t to answer
ving a few
, I may say,
r as anyone
tier than the

) Ocean" the
nging to the
North of the
id •.—♦'Travel
t river, more
g great lakea
lakes, a third
lines, and a
)dsandmoun-
d from ocean
The middle
en or granted
I Hudson Bay
hunting and
le North- West
torivate corpo-
ralloys of the
Lvers, &c., and
g posts in this
no companies
ing under the
Lson Bay Com-

[ in possession
heir exclusive
•nment, receiv-
i-eighteenth, or
each, in every
ijp is composed
ial reservations
, amounting to
relinquishment
,80 that this vast
the Canadian
open for settle-
, or eight years,
n most maps as
he Hudson Bay
rritory is now
;8or Provinces,
Lends from the
)ntario to the
itoba and along I
OOth parallel oil
nch),andNortbl
as the region oil

lakes, woods, and minerals. Second —
Manitoba, the smallest of the three, yet it
contains 14,340 square miles, almost the
whole one vast prairie, and composed, it
is said, of as rich soil as there is in the
world. Some of it is the richest I ever
flaw. Third— The North-West, which
extends from the Western boundary of
Manitoba and Keewatin to the Eastern
boundary of British Columbia. The
country embraced in this territory is
called the Region of Perfection for pure
atmosphere, healthy climate, and dry,
steady winters, with light snowfalls and
streams and springs of the purest
water.

In Manitoba the Red River runs North
from the boundary line to Lake Winni-
peg. The Assiniboine runs East, through
nearly the middle of the Province, and
joins the Red River at Fort Garry. The
South and North Saskatchewan take their
rise near the Rocky Mountains, and run
in an Easterly direction to the North end
of Lake Winnipeg ; all are navigable for
great distances. The larger lakes are
Lakes Winnipeg, Winnipegosis, and Mani-
toba, also navigable during their entire
length. The Pembina, Scratching, and
Salle Rivers flow East into the Red
River, through what is called the South-
west District, or that lying between the
boundary line and the Assiniboine River,
to be noticed more in detail after. The
only railway at present in the Province
is the one from Emerson, on the boun-
dary Une to Selkirk, there joining the
Canada Pacific Railroad, to Thunder Bay,
now in course of construction.

Winnipeg is now a stirring town of
nearly 10,000 inhabitants. Ten years ago
it did not contain as many hundreds.
There are already in it four colleges —
Presbyteriati, Episcopalian, Methodist,
and Catholic — and a university supported
and managed by a council drawn from
each of these and the to^vn. It has been
in operation for 18 months, and has been
a success. There are besides these col-
leges, the ordinary schools and a Ladies'
College. Tlie number of excellent shops
surprises one. There are a number of
handsome churches and other buildings,
mostly built of brick ; and the spire on
one of the former is a landmark for many
miles.

With thit. short description of Manitoba
generally I shall here resume my diary of
what I saw of it. Met in hotel Mr.
Bannerman, from Ottawa, who had just
returned from a three months' cruise on
liake Wiuuipeg and the Saskatchewan.
He started, with a party of nine, in a
boat down the Red River to the Lake,
through Lake Winnipeg to the Sas-
katchewan, up that river for some dis-

tance, and then explored the district
west of liake Winnipegosis and Lake
Manitoba : selected land for a colony on
the West side of Winnipegosis, and is to
come back with them in the spring. Also
Mr. Raine, an assistant surveyor, who
was out in same district all summer sur-
veying wood lots for sale. Both de-
scribed the district to the West of Win-
nipegosis and Manitoba Lakes as one teem-
ing with fish and game, and any quantity of
fine tracts of agricultural land with plenty
of running streams. There is already an
English settlement in this district. Met
Mr. M'Arthur, agent of Merchants' Bank
of Canada, who gave us a great deal of
information about the country generally.
Had a long crack with Mr. Gerrie, a
canny Aberdonian, piloting his way pretty
well. Two of our party went to visit
his farm, Mr. Gordon and I going to
Selkirk, a 26-mile drive down the West
side of the Red River. Immediately out-
side Winnipeg the land is wet and marshy
nearly all the way, unless within a mile
or so of the river. Passed through Kil-
donan, all settled by Lord Selkirk's
Highlanders or their descendants. Passed
through Mr. M'Beth's farm, on one field
of which 64 successive crops of wheat
have been sown, and all excepting three
reaped, these being eaten with grass-
hoppers. I have brought a sample of this
soil home with me, which anyone can
see. Intended to have got it and two
others from the Prairie analysed, but
find the cost would be too great and
too late for this report. Most of the
land on this trail will require draim-
ing before it will grow much, this
however will be a simple matter, as the
land slopes to the river and will only re-
qtdre open ditches to take off surplus water.
The land is a black vegetable mould,
varying in depth from 2 to 20 feet,
some say. The deepest I saw was about
7, all lying on a blue, friable clay subsoil,
some of which seems to be mixed all
through the upper soil, most likely by the
action of frost, The trails at present are
fine to drive on owing to the frost. One
could easily see in wet weather it must be
rather a sticky job getting about. All
roads here are simply Indian trails, with
no metal or gravel. In frost they are
very good, and the more .travelled on the
better, no stones of any kind seen. , The
land along the Red River is all laid off in
long strips, 20 and 40 chains along the
river, and four miles back. The houses
arc mostly erected near the river, along
which there is a fringe of wowl vaiying
from a mile in depth. This supplies the
settle g with firewood and building
material, and outride of this most have a
small enclosed field for wheat, potatoes,

J^l

96

1

; I

kc., the land being in many ctiscn very
dirty, and little of it tnrnevl \\\> for next
crop, Tho easiest system of farming
seems to bo considered tho bet — at any
rata it is the system most adopted by
thesccarly settlors, most of whom, or their
fathers, had been sei-vants of the Hudson
Bay Company. Passed two chnrches and
one hotel on oiir way to Selkirk. Noaring
Selkirk tho land is even more wet, with
qnantities ff willow and white jioplar.
Selkirk isqnito a small viH.age, and I fear
the chances of tho C.P.R.R. crossing here
arc small, owing to the power and impor-
tancoofitsnowraorcpopnions rival Winni-
peg. The western terminus of the C. P. R, R.
to Thunder Hay on Lake Sirperior is on
tho east side of the river, and also that of
the R. R., via St. Boniface to Emerson.
It is now proposed to build the bridge at
Winnipeg, and preparations arc made to
lay the rails on the ice to carry over the
contrf\ctor'3 plant and supplies for a rail-
way, said to be contracted for l.iO miles
west to some no! nt south of I^ake Manitoba,
and will see by the map that the now pro-
posed Canada- Pacific is located on the
fourth base line instead cf going North-
west from Selkirk to tho North end of
Lake Manitoba. Betworn Selkirk and
the end of Lako Winnipeg is a large
Indian re?crve. Saw here a number of
them warmly clad in skins and furs, and
all weiring mocassins. Saw also a good
numlxir of half-breeds, many .of whom
are squatters along the Red River.

November 4th. — Frost very keen all
day, with clear, bright sunsliine. River
not yet safe to get horses across, so could
only go West, up the Assiniboine. Visited
Hudson Bay Company's stores at Fort
Garry, soon to bo no more, as we were
told the present buildings are all to come
down to give place to a continuation of
the present main street to the river ; drove
to Buffalo Farm .and Park, the residence
of the Hon. Mr, M'Kay, a native, .and one
of the Senators of the Province ; saw a
small herd of buffiiloes in a semi-wild
state. They are enclosed in a large park
along with some native cattle by a wire
fence about 4 ft. high. Saw the two crosses
from a native cow and buffalo bull. They
take more after the il.am than tho bull, and
are cin-ioas lookiugrroatures. After several
attempts got the lot set a gal loping, in order
to sei> the true biiiTalo gait ; it is a sort of
gallop or canter, r.issed a prairie flro a
short distance from town, several miles in
lengt li, scouring away Northwards. After
dark there were no less than three visible
from the hotel ; the one to the East looked
quite close ; was astonished when told it
jsas more tlian twenty miles oflf. The
cflVct was very pretty, tlio streets being
illuniin.atod by the glare.

6th November.— Oot horses acro?s tho
Assiniboine, and started for a drive up
tho Salle Kivcr under the guidance of Mr,
Ross. Went south along the Red River
by the m.ain trail for eight miles, then
across the prairie south of tho Salle River
for 12 miles or so more, camping out for
lunch at what is said to be tho ford where
the buffaloes crossed not very long ago.
Saw great numbers of praiiie chicken;
looked like a cross between a partridge
and grouso, only that they are larger than
cither. Passed on the trail a large ste.am
boiler (must have weighed a good many
tons) which crossed the river on the ico
before us. The trail leads up tho Red
River through the bush, which extends
for a mile or two on each side of the
river, so saw little till we came to tho
open prairie after crossing the Salle ;
looked likt j;rand wheat land ; had been
nm over by fire; nothing to be seen in.
the midst of the blackness unless an occa-
sional hay stack or some settler's log-hut^
This distric* is only partially settled,
being a half-breed minor's reserve, and will
only be open for sale mxt year. I may
here explain what is meant by Indian
half-breed and minor's reserves. When
the QoTcrnment bought out the Hudson
Bay Company they gave a homestead of
160 acres to every Indian and half-breed
of 21 and upwards, and reserved the same
quantity of land for all minors 10 years
old, of which they get possession when
of age. All these lands were reserved in
different districts of the country, and are
called Indi.*in half-breed or minor reserves,
each individual having power to sell if ho
did not care to occupy. Most of them
sell the land, as they had never lived upon
it, and this is how large tracts of land are
bought and speculated in. Some fine
farms could bo bought hero, leas than ?^
miles from W eg, for 2 dollars and 2i
dollars per acre, rtsy lOs., with nothing to
do but plough and sow, and plenty of fine
meadow hay for the cutting. Got back
about dusk, and was invited to meet a
number of gentlemen at dinner who wished
to meet us. The Mayor, Mr. Logan, a
native, occupied the chair. Had two very
interesting orations, one from Mr. Taylor,
for many years U.S. Consul at Winnipeg,
the other from our companion at table,
and formerly mentioned, Mr. Connolly, of
T/ie Timex, The gist of both speeches I
had seen previously in tho local p.a|)era,
and as I saw their articles copied into
ma , United States papers as well as
CanSdian, I shall quote from these later
on. This party was quite an informal
one, and only given to wish us speed on out
mission. Wc fli<l not shine in the speech-
making line. I hope thoy will understand
our business was to get information, and

II '■

I to )h
Brov
parti

118,1

Mr. 1
famo
vocat
being
that I
the 4
betwt
thatt
Ohioi
regior
south
regior
fact c
States
wheat
grow
doubt
grown
qualit]
6th:
tour tc
and th
was f 01
to acco
Cros
city or
rails ai
side, w
keener
Drove
taking
river al
bush, s
half-br(
part th
with f(
Hespel<
elevatoi
The bui
end, 01
apart, a
outside
building
storing
pressure
directed
steam e
also a c
This one
very smj
in bulk
This is t
nite sett
to Manii
arc said
people,
extends
road anc
railway,
their Ian
houses, s
Farming

«e

'ro?s tho

Irivo tip

jc of Mr.

R(l River

U>s, then

lie River

g out for

rd vrhcre

long ago-

chicken ;

partridge

•ger than

rge steam

)od many

-in the ico
tho Red

I extends

lo of the

no to tho

le Salle ;

had been

be seen in

19 an occa-

•s log -hub.

y settled,

re, and will

.r. I may

by Indian

es. When

he Hudson

mestead of

half-breed

;d the same

)rs 10 years

asion when

reserved in

,ry, and are

lor reserves,

to sell if bo

St of them

lived upon

of land are

Some fine

ess than ?'^

liars and2|
nothing to
enty of fine
Got back
to meet a
who wished
.. Logan, a
ad two very
Mr. Taylor,
J Winnipeg,
3n at table,
Connolly, of
1 speeches 1
ocal pajiers,
copied into
as well n9
jL these later
an informal
speed on out
the speech*
. understand
•mat ion, and

to listen to what they had to tell us. Mr.
Brown, Secretary of one of the Public De-
partments, who asked his friends to meet
ns, I now thank for tho unexpected treat.
Mf. Taylor, U.S. Consul, has made himself
famous all over the continent by his ad-
vocacy of the Great North-West Belt
being the wheat garden of the world, and
that the bulk of this garden lies north of
the 49th parallel, or the boundary line
between the United St.'ttes and Canada ;
that the belt south of the 49th parallel to
Ohio is the great corn and maize growing
region of the world, and that tho belt
south of Ohio is the great cotten growing
region of the world. Whether this is the
fact or otherwise, most of the Eastern
States in the Cotton Belt grow little
wheat or com ; most in the Middle Belt
grow nearly all maize, and there is no
doubt in the North-West Belt wheat is
grown both in greatest quantity and
quality.

6th November.— Started on a two days'
tour to see the land between the railway
and the Red River, on the east side, and
was fortunate in getting Mr. Ross's brother
to accompany us.

Crossed the Red River at north end of
city on the ice. Here it is where the
rails arc laid down to the river on each
side, waiting for John Frost to get a little
keener in order to lay the rails on tho ice.
Drove to Niverville Station, 25 miles,
taking the trail between the railway and
river all the way — first few miles through
bush, scrub, and willow, passing a few
half-breed settlements on the way — latter
part through some very goml dry prairie
with few settlers. At the station Mr.
Hespeler has erected a very conspicuous
elevator for grain on a new principle.
The building is like an immense cask on
end, only the staves are about 18 inches
apart, and the hoops go round and round
outside and inside. This shape of
building is said to be much stronger for
storing grain than a square one ; the
pressure, being even all round, is never
directed against any one side or end. The
steam elevator is placed in the centre,
also a circle boarded up the same way.
This one holds 3,500 bushels, and looks
very small. All grain in America is stored
in bulk and carried loose in the trucks.
This is the stsition for the Eastern Menno-
nite settlcmgnt, a number of whom came
to Manitoba in 1874 from Russia. They
are said to be a very quiet, industrious
people. This settlement or reserve
extends for many miles east of the rail-
road and a few miles south alongside the
railway. Drove through • a portion of
their land along the line ; most had good
houses, some cattle, and good implements.
Farming very prim itipve and land in many

cases wet. Again crossed the railroad to
the east side to inspect a farm bought
the previous week by Major Qreig, Mon-
treal, for his sons, who are to come hero
for mixed farming in spring. The
extent is 1,400 acres, price 21 dollars or
lOs. an acre. A good part of it is dry
prairie, which is said to bo fine wheat
land if broke, the first year and cropped
the next. Part is oak and rose scrub,
said to be the best wheat land, and growa
good crops first year; balance is what I
would call small trees or bush, and
will soon be valuable for fencing and
building if only fires are kept out of it.
It looks a desirable farm, being alongside
a railway, and a slew (a sort of river)
running through the middle of it.

Beyond this, or between it and the
river, Mr. Ross told us they had a block
of 960 acres for sale at the same price.
Resolved to go and see it. There is far
more brash or scrub on this till we bored
our way through the young trees to the
Rat River, which is rolling prairie mixed
with rose trees and wild strawberries. On
the river the soil seemed very rich and
deep. Found our way with difficulty
back to the wagqon, and started for Otter-
bourne, tho railroad station on the Rat
River, about three and a half or four
miles distant. This tract of land, with
some 680 added lying adjacent, making
1, 640 acresin all, was afterwards bought by
one of our party, Mr. Gordon, the Delegate
from Dumfries, and it looks like a good
bargain. There is plenty of good laiid on
it ; there will be any quantity of fencing
timber on it in a year ortwo, there isariver
.as large as the Don running through the
middle of it, and a slew beside; it is
within 22 miles of Winnipeg, three and a
half from a railway station, and two
miles from the Red Hiver. A substantial
man otfered to clear off the bush, plough
and sow the whole for 6 dollars an acre.
Allowing 4 dollars more to harvest,
thrash and drive to station, brings up tho
cost of the first crop to 10 dollars or
41s. 6d. per acre ; add to this tho total
price of the land, 2J dollars or 9s. 4d.—
making the grand total 50s. lOd. per aci";,
The usual estimate for such land to yield
is from 30 to 40 bushels : to make sure of
ening on tho safe side we shall put it
at 20 bushels, the average of the pro-
vince. The price of wheat at tho sta-
tion as we passed was 68 cents per bushel;
had been as high this senson as 89 cents.
At the former price 20 bushels at 68 cents
amounts to $13.60 cents (56s. 8d.), thus
leaving a profit of 5s. lOd. per acre, leav-
ing tho land free of rent for ever, and
tho whole ready to plough and sow for a
second crop.whioh anyone can understand
I would be easier than the first. As will

M

li

-«L>

r I

t<IO

T>e seen, this is doing the whole by con-
tract, and it can be done for the money
at the present rate of wages. This puts
the pnce of growing wheat for a first
crop, estimating the yield at 20 bushels,
60 cents (2s. 6d.) per bushel ; if the whole
price of the land is added, or 50 cents
(28. Id.) per bushel, if only the price of
clearing, breaking, sowing, harvesting,
and driving to station is counted. I may
state that $8 is considered more than suf-
ficient to do the whole by contract after
the first crop, but allow it costs |10 every
year, and taking the yield at 30 bushels,
would show wheat can at present be
grown in Manitoba for 34 cents per bushel
or lis. 4d. per quarter. The present
freight to Liverpool is very high, being
all by rail, and costs about 228. per
quarter, making the price of wheat on
Liverpool dock, after being carried nearly
6,000 miles, only 33s. 4d. per quarter
with a 30 bushel crop and 38h. Sd. with
a 20 bushel one. It is estimated the
carriage from Winnipeg by the Canada
Pacific to Thunder Bay and Lakes to
Quebec, thence to Liverpool, will not
exceed 16s. per quarter, including insur-
ance. In Mr. Connolly's letter of 18th
October to Tfu; Tirrws he puts the cost of
growing in a different district at 45 cents
per bushel and caniage at 65 cents, 4s. 5d.
per bushel or 35s. 4d. per quarter, de- .
livered in Liverpool, with a profit to
grower, grain dealer, railway and steamer.
Drove on to Otterbourne R.R. Station,
on South side of Rat Kiver, and got put
up at a store. The house was only partly
furnished, the previous one having been
burnt three weeks before by a great
prairie fire that swept along a great ex-
tent of country south of this. This
prairie fire is said to be one of the largest
for many years. It started in Minnesota,
and travelled some 300 miles in two days.
These fires have been very destructive this
year owing to the dry autumn. Few
of the new settlers took the trouble, or
possibly did not know how, to protect
their houses. The plan adopted is very
simple and easily done. To be of any use
it must be done on the appearance of the
first frost, if not done before, as these fires
may come along any day after, either by
ploughing a circle of two or three furrows
at a little distance and burning the grass,
or by cutting a few yards of the prairie
all round the houses and straw. Saw plan
of town at both stations. The towns have
yet to be built. Anyone may have a town
surveyed ou his lot, and of course will be
a lucky man if it becomes one. The plan
must be registered, and blocks can only
be given oflE according to plan, which
m.akes all American towns and villages of
whatever size regular as a chess-board,

with streets a certain width and crossingi
at regular distances.

November 7th. — Had a good sleep in
the loft above the store and kitchen, and
started across the Rat River, where we
had to leave our machine last night.
This bridge is a w>oden one, and is a
caution to cross on foot, there being only
the cross beams to walk on, or rather to
jump on from the one to the other. If big
trees and plenty of them make a ^ooa.
bridge, I think this must be a strong one.
Drove up Rat River for a few miles, saw
some good land, and seemingly thriving
farmers or squatters, also some very good
native cattle ; again struck the Mennonite
settlement, and circled round to the Rail-
road, and had another drive over Major
Greig'sfarm and others for sale. There
is a great quantity of very poor prairie
land in this quarter, some wet, and some
spots of it vfrith alkali. Started back for
Winnipeg, same route as we came, at
4.30, and got lost on the black prairie
after dark, it being all but impos-
sible to see or feel the trail. At
last our advance guard tumbled into a
dry ditch, which our guide knew to be
one for leading off the water from the
railway ditches, In the course of our
gropings in the dark for trails we came
upon a hay-stack, which the driver kept
well in hand, as he thought it was our
best chance for the night. Mr. Ross,
however, was equal to the occasion, and
after an hour or two we once more caught
the main trail, and arrived at Winnipeg
about midnight, very tired.

November 8th.-r-Started for another
two day's trip to Cook's Creek, about
thirty miles on the North- East side of
the town ; drove through ten or twelve
miles of wet meadow land, then rlter-
nately on dry prairie and meadow land
for other fifteen. A great number of
settlers in this district, mostly from
Canada. la the calm, clear evening one
could count homesteads by the score in
a semi-circle round the edge of an im-
mense hay meadow. Part of our party
put up at a Mr. Edie's, Mr. Welsch and
myself, along with our guide, going onto
Mr. Ross's farm, in Millbrook Township,
andhadfirst-ratebachelorfare in bachelor
hall, and no mistake, there being no
female about the place. Mr. Ross is the
fourth brother of the same family now in
Manitoba, their father being b *armer in
Ontario. Mr. D. A. Ross has been over
the country for miles and miles in all
directions, showing his brothers' lands to
Intending purchasers, and prefers this
district. He has now got his houses
built and a few acres broke, ready for
seeding this spring ; his land is mostly all
scrub land, and is pretty closelv covered

101

[ crossings

1 sleep in
chen, and
where we
ist ni^ht.
, and IS a
seing only
rather to
ler. If big
ke a good
trong one.
miles, saw
y thriving
very good
Mennonite
o the Rail-
>ver Major
tic. There
cor prairie
, and some
»d back for
i came, at
ack prairie
»ut impos-
trail. At
bled into a
Lnew to be
ir from the
irse of our
la we came
driver kept
it was our
Mr. Ross,
icasion, and
nore caught
t Winnipeg

or another
reek, about
ast side of
n or twelve
then rlter-
eadow land
number of
lostly from
evening one
ihe score in
of an im-
our party
Welsch and
going on to
c Township,
in bachelor
being no
Ross is the
Httily now in
n *armer in
s been over
miles in all
ers' lands to
prefers this
his houses
5, ready for
is mostly all
»f?elv covered

with it all over. In the neigbourhood are
plenty of settlers, plenty of wood, water,
and gravel for roads ; the latter is a scarce
oommodity in most places.

Kovember 9th, Sunday. — Had to find
our way back to Winnipeg ; went by
Springfield, Bird's Hill (Sand Ridge),
striking the Red River at Eildonan ;
passed through an immense hay and marsh
meadow, said to contain 5,000 to 10,000
acres ; will be of little use till a ditch be
opened to the river. All these marshes or
meadows look as if they had lately been
under water ; in most cases they are sur-
rounded by a fringe of good land a few
fe^t higher, along which, in this case as in
others, are the 8ettler8';,aouses and farms,
forming a circle round what had been a
lake.

Most of the free lands are taken up,
although there are plenty of farms for sale
at from 8s. to 10s. an acre< Called at a
farmer's on the way ; did not find him at
home ; pulled up the window and had a
look around ; concluded our bachelor friend
would be all the better of a wife. He
had about 150 acres in crop this year ;
owing to his absence could get no parti-
culars. It is only three years since he
bought it. We were told his only help
was one man, so that he has done pretty
well in the way of cropping. Saw no
stock other than a pair of work bullocks, his
fewo pairs horses being away to town with
wheat. Of implements, he has at least a
good supply of reapers, as we saw three,
ope of them a M'Cormaok self-binder, and
like those already mentioned not eytn a
cov^ on it ; still there was not a speck of
mst to be seen, showing the climate must
be a dry one. Called and dined at a farm
en the way ; was very kindly received and
hospitably entertained, on the shortest
notice, by his good wife and daughters
(omitted to note the name). He squatted
h^re some years ago, and has done pretty
well, considering he started with little
capital and had to haul cord wood to the
tQwn to support his family, breaking his
land as he found opportunity. He came
from Canada, I think, in 1870, has brought
up a large family, and says he prefers the
climate to Ontario. It is colder in winter,
but the air is so dry they don't feel the
cold so much as; they did there. He says
all kinds of crops grow well, including
turnips. Saw his own in a cellar cut out
of the face of the hill, which were rather
small sizes. They were grown on the
gravel ridge. He told us they had
now got up a school, which we passed,
and would soon be independent. Passed
over the gravel ridge at Birds' Hill, had a
good view from it, including a sight of
the church spire at Winnipeg, distant
BQiQe lo miles ; thiu soil ; saw a few

sheep and cattle on it apparently thriving
and in good condition. Passed a church
on the face of the hill, crossed the raiU
road from Winnipeg to Selkirk, now
nearly completed ; from this bill is got
all the railway ballast. Joined the Red
River at Kildonnan ; the land here, as on
the other side, is mostly occupied by
Scotch Highlanders : cannot say much in
admiration of the Highlander's farming,
the land is certainly good, and they take
full advantage of it, as in most cases the
byre is situated in the most convenient,
place to get rid of the dung down the
slope rnd ultimately into the river. All
seem to take it very easy. Called on
Senator Sutherland, who lives here, and
was very kiudly received. Presbyterian
Church, evening.

lOth November. — Having now had a
look of the country around Winnipeg,
we resolved to spend the day calling
on those we had met previous to start*
ing for the South-West district. At
we did not intend returning to Winni-
peg all were most willing to give every
information in their power and we were
better able to put two and two to<
gether, havin|- seen a little of both
Canada and Manitoba. Met Mr. White*
head at dinner, one of the contractor's on
the west end oi the Canadian Pacific
Railroad, who ccmmenced life, as he
proudly told us, as stoker on George
Stephenson's " Pufi.ng Billy." He made;
the railroad from Emerson to Selkirk,
and is at present bu sy with a large section
of the Ganada-Paci ic, which he also told
ua would likely be finished in 1884. On
bidding him gooi-bye, he said, "I have,
been making rr.ilways in different parts
of the world all my life and am now get-
ting an old man, and you can tell your
people at home from me that there is
any quantity of as fine land as the sun
ever slione .upon in this country, and for
industrious men there is in the immediate
future a bright prospect before them."

11th November. — Started with two
teams and two drivers for Morris, 45 miles,
going by main trail up the west side of,
Red River. Both sides of the river wooded
all the way. Passed large tracts of good
dry untouched prairie land. Near Morris
some large wheat fields, the cleane&t cul-^
tivated of any we had yet seen. Passed
over what had been a field of barley,
reaped two months before, and was
astonished to find the heads of barley
quite white and no sign of a sproutedear,
showing how dry the autumn must be
compared at least with Aberdeenshire.
Morris, a small scattered village with
thi-ee churches and a like number of
hotels, stores, &c. Made arrangements
for visiting the Cadenhead's settlement io

m^

m

jkj>

102

tho morning. 12th November. — Much
disappointed wc could nut ^et across the
liver either by ferry or ice to call on the
Messrs. Cadenhead, one of whom is a
brother of our respected Fiscal, and he
has with him two nephews. From them
I expected to pet a correct notion of a
settlor's first year. They wont from
Fergus neaily two years ago. Started for
Nelsonville, 40 miles west, passing the
Lowe Farm, 8,000 acres, about ton miles
out. Missed both Colonel Westover and
Mr. Lowe, junior, both having gone to
Ottaj'Wa to make arrangements for next
spring. This was the only place water
had not been got by digging 13 to 17
feet. Several trails had been made, one
lOi feet and as yet unsuccessful, at
another a few hundred yards away, a salt
Bpriug was tapped whicn may become
Taluable. The land here is very deep and
rich, but a good part is at present too wet
for cultivation till ditches are foi-med to
take off the surplus spring water, I'assed
a homestead on the trail in apple-pie
order. Two sons came from Ontario in
April. 1878, the father in November ; had
120 acres enclosed by a ring-fence, the
form different from any we had seen, viz. :
an upright paling with a ditch on each
side, a Teiy good house and stable, 80
acres ready ploughed for next crop, some
very good cattle, and everything vei7
tidy. Passed one place where the straw
and stable had been burned by a prairie
fire, no ])recautions having been taken.
In our 40-miles journey to-day we passed
a good many homesteads, some line dry
prairie and n« wood, passed a great
quantity of wet marshy laud that will
require draining, in the season it mu&t
be a perfect paradise for duck shooting ;
did not pass a single running stream,
but plenty of stagnant w«ter in the
marshes.

Anived at Nelsonville at dusk, a village
of a good few houses, including grist and
saw mill, hotel and stores. At these new
hotels in a new country the fare is not
always very dainty ; there is always
plenty of it; rough and ready seems
to suit best. Oats here 40 cents,
wheat 60 cents, and barley So cents per
bushel. An Irishman and an English-
man laid up here, having been caught in
a prairie fire when out selecting land, and
a,re badly burnt about the hands and
face. "When a fire is seen coming your
w.iy, the only s.-ifcty is to light a fire and
follow it for a hundred yai-ds or so when
you are quite safe. These people knew
how to save themselves, only in the flurry
forgot to light their fiie in time, and had
to run through the flames. Galled on
Mr. Landerkin, land aKCot and tegistrar
fyr the Dufferiu district, all west of this

point. At his office alone 400,000 acres
of land were located last year, and about
'J()0 families took up homesteads. Most
were from Ontario, a few from the United
States, and a good many from the old
country. Here met Mr. Johnson, who^
came from the South of Scotland this
year, located a large tract of land near
Uock Lake, and is residing near the
Messrs. Riddel, where some of the other
Delegates called.

November 13. — Left Nelsonville foi
Pembina River, 85 miles, crossing the
Pembina Mountains about a mile from
the town, no great feat, as they arc only
about 40 feet high. On this higher level
there are large tracts of good prairie that
looks like land sheep would do well on.
The grass is short and thick, and the dry
gravel subsoil is not far off. Got to Mr.
Bedford's, where we dined. He had been
recommended to us as a guide. Did not
find him at home, being off west cf Rock
Lake, locating land. Also met Mr.
Beech, land agent, Kmerson, who after
wards joined us, and was of great assist-
ance, as he knew the country welL
Passed Calf Mountain, well named, not
being much bigger than a good'sised
stack. Between here and the Pembina
River there is some fine rolling prairie,
but no running water till we got to the
Little Pembina. The banks of the Pem-
bina River are very steep on both sides,
200 feet or so, and the valley, with the at
present small river winding about in it,
is from 400 to 800 yards wide. A primi-
tive looking wooden bridge has been
erected here on speculation by a home-
steader, the toll for passing which is 60
cents per waggon and pair of horses.
This looks dear, only I suspect the owner
will find the price will have to come out
of the first year's toll. This valley is
very pretty. Along the bottom it ii
covered with fine rich grass, and each
bank lined with trees to the summit.
One hamlet, the future home of a Scotch-
man, we were told, is nestled on a sunny
slope on one side of the valley, and a nice
house has been erected by two Ohtariana
at the bridge for a stopping place. Piv6
miles from the river came to our stopping
place for the night, the homestead of Mr.
Retan, who was the first homesteader to
cross the Pembina, arriving here on the
1st of April, 1879. It will give some idea
of the rate at which this district is being
taken up for settlement when I mention
that all the land between here and Rock
Lake, a distance of 40 miles, is taker*
up, and you can count not a few houses
from his door. He has built for himself
a very warm hut by surrounding his log-
hut with sods or turf. I remember when
the s.imc sort of gables were quite oommon'

for
the
■can
l)ra

108

),000 acres
and about
ids. Most
the TJnited
m the old
uson, who
(tland this
laud near
near the
' the other

mvillo foi
ossing the
mile from
ey are only
ligher level
prairie th&t
do well on.
lud the dry
Got to Mr.
ae had been
e. Did not
est of Rock
) met Mr.
, who after
great assist-
mitry welL
namedi not

good'sized
lie Pembina
ling prairie,
B got to the
of the Pem-
1 both sides,
, with the at
r about iu it,
e, A primi-
e has been

by a home-
which is 50
r of horses.
iCt the owner
1 to come out
his valley is.
oottom it i«
ss, and each,
the summit.
B of a Scotch-
id on a sunny
y, and a nice
wo Ohtariana

place. Five
) our stopping
lestead of Mr.
omesteader to
I here on the
jive some idea-
strict is being
len I mention
lere and Kock
liles, is taker
t a few houteB
ilt for himself
nding his log-
member when
quite oommou'

in Aberdeenshire, and think I could find
•omc oven yet. Here our game bag was
unjincked, and was found to contain a
few brace of prairie fowl shot fr^m the
waggon. These are very plentiful all
over. Unfortunately our gun was a bor-
rowed one, and the ciirtridgcs got in the
hurry of' leaving turned out to be a dear
and a bad bnrgain, as they were loaded
with a minimum of powdor and No. 1
shot, so that our chances of missing were
great compared with that of hitting. How-
ever, the missing perhaps causjed most
fun. In one case a fox was seeu near.
An ardent sportsman was soon on his
track, and fired, causing the sly one to
run a few yards, when he turned round
and had a good look at his foe. All
turned-to to pluck our birds for supper.
Mr. Retan has already, besides his house
up, a stable, a well dug, hay in plenty,
and 40 acres broke for cropping in spring.
No loft this time, so had a good nap on
the kitchen and dining-room floor, all in
one, with the stove in the middle.

November U.^Drove through fine
prairie to Crystal City— a city of one
house and a haystack . Dined and started
for Rock Lake. Skirted the edge of a
large wood with good building timber in
it. Passed four men building a hut ; it
had all been put up that day, and when
we came back it was ready for the roof.
Reached the eastern end of Rock Lake,
our furthest point west. This lake is
simply a widening of the river, and one
of many in its course, Lakes Louise and
Lome being other two westwards. It is
a very pretty sheet of water, or rather
ice, and reminds one very much of our
lochs at home. The banks are very
rugged, and wooded almost to the water's
edge. The valley, scooped out by the
Pembina, is here as wide as where we
crossed 'it 30 miles down, and the Cyprus
river joins the Pembina at the foot of the
lake. After a good look at the pretty
sheet of ice and the pretty scenery, we
reluctantly turned our faces once more
homewards, a distance of nearly 6,000
miles, after looking on one of the prettiest
•sights we had seen in the country.
Called on Dr. Munro, near the lake, who
came here in the spring with his wife
and family. He has selected a sp6t that
would cost some money here. In front
of his door is & fine level field of rt good
many acres all ready for the plough, sur-
rounded on all sides by wood und water.
The doctor's people came frOm Inverness.
Drove in a circle to Cyprus Crossing,
which M-^ould make a much prettier site
for a city, and is a much prettier river for
"the name, than Crystftiriver arid city ever
■CRn dp. On our way saw a cOuple of
prairie wolves crossing a loch on the ice,

and unfortunately mistook a collie oug
sitting on liis haanches in a wood for a
thinl, which our driver, after a stalk, hit
badly. As I saw the incident made the
most of iu a local paper, I note it. There
was no romance about it, and all were
sorry at the mistake made. No one had
any doubt of him being a wolf ; his breast
and head were the same colour, and no
one was looking for a dog sitting on his
haunches with his fore jiaws up, with
neither house nor people near. Got back
to Mr. Parr's Crystal City, where we slept
the sleep of the tired in the usual loft.
Here met a farmer from Ontario, up to
give his son r help to build himself a
house, &c. Went to see a small patch
( about two acres) of autumn wheat ; it
had been sown too late, as the frost had
nipped it as it came up.

November 16. — Took sample of soil
from' under the sod, samples of wheat
and oats grown this year on the sod, and
sample of shale got immediately under
the soil. This shale is said always to
overlie coal, audit is now generally ad-
mitted that an immense coalfield lies under
a great part of this North-West Territory.
We saw a sample of coal brought down
by the surveyors that was taken from a
bed cropping out at the surface on the
Souris river, sotae 70 miles west of this.
A number of townships have been sur-
veyed west of those marked on the map
at Range XVII. and XVIII. and will be
open for settlement this spring on the
terms iu the land regulations that will
accompany these reports, and vary in
price from one dollar in belt E. to two
and a-half, or 10s., in belts A., B. and 0.,
i.e., to homesteaders — to buyers they vary
from one to five dollars. In the district
beyond this, or out at the Turtle Moub-
tains, %ve were informed on good autho-
rity there is any quantity of heavy
timber, more rolling prairie, and more
streams. Since we were there I see by
an Emerson paper that the coal seam on
the Souris river is uow being worked.
The laud about here is much lighter
in colour and texture, looks as if
there were lime mixed with it, and as if
it would grow fine barley. It does grow
fine potatoes, as we got the best we tasted
in the country. They were planted partly
under the sod, and partly by hacking a
hole and dropping in the seed. Mr. Parr
stated he did not know which was the
best crop, and both were good. He esti-
mated his crop of wheat from the sod at
23 to 23 bushels, and it is a pretty one,
as you can sec by the sample.

Left and drove b.ack same route till we
crosscvi the Pethbina, when we took a
trail more to the South for Mountain
City, crossing the main Missouri trail on

'■ !

-.»>

TT

404

the war. Passed over much tho same
kiad of land as before ; in fact, every-
vhere, ao far as we saw it, the description
would be dry prairie, hay, meadow marsh,
and bush ; and, begin again, the land
Westward getting more rolling, and, 'tis
said, running water more plentiful, —
Mountain City at dusk ; stopped at a
general utore, the proprietor of which
kept a good deerhound and a cross-blood-
hound for the chase : he had also a few
specimens of rocks and minerals taken
from his well. Slept in the loft as usual.
He showed us some skins bought a few
days before from tho Indians, who had
been hunting near here ; also, tanned
^kin and very fine head and antlers of a
Moose deer.

November 16th. — Mountain City sits
upon tho slope of a hill, and from it,
looking Eastward, you see what must
have been a vast inland lake. North-
ward you can trace the high ground, its
boundary, and in the frosty morning's
mist you fancy you see the waters beat-
ing up and down on the beach. In the
distance the Mennonite's houses and bits
of bush here and there could easily be
qiistaken for ships and rocks. Drov« by
t^ very Hue road, or ratheil trail, through
tiiQ West Mennonite settleinent. Btoppeid
at one of their houses, and was shown
over it and the barn adjoining. All was
very clean,, and the house well furnished,
only hot as a baker's oven. In the bam
were some good implements, cattle and
horses. All the houses are built of wood
and thatched, and look very comfortable.
While the hprses were being fed, we
walked through the village and on to the
next one, a mile or ao f urtner on. Passed
fk chuirch, with 20 or 30 teama tied to the
paling ; a grist mill driven by wind. The
8trae^ are wide and well kept ; both vil-
^ges had a look of comfort and plenty
&)}put them. They are said to be a very
atpiid, frugal, and u^dugtrions people; go
ija for few enjoyments of any kind, mix
with no outsiders, and refuse to fight on
any consideration. Many stories are told
of their untidiness ; however that may be,
they have at present by far the best
{louses and most crop in the country.
Each village is managed by a Reeve or
Mayor of its own, who settles all disputes,
6ollects insurance money if there is a fire,
each paying their proportion, ai;d other
business of the village. Then they have
a head Reeve or Mayor over the whole
settlement, who makes contracts of all
sorts— in short, wholesale buyer for the
whole community, and selling the pro-
duce in the same way, thus ensuring
smaller prices for implements bought
and larger prices for produce in big
quantities. They have laws of their own

which are strictly observed ; in other
words, they govern themselves, and it it
understood they come under no law to
fight for the land of their adoption nor
to pay taxes for a certain number of years.

They are said to spend little raoney^
are fast becoming rich, and said to live
very mean — or first their cattle, then
their pigs, and last the people, this latter^
I think, a slur on a thrifty people. It it
easily seen they are doing well, and they
seem to be taking life pretty easy. None
are over seen in a hurry, and they say
never have been. Settlers west of them
grumble badly at them getting so much
land reserved for them that they have
never occupied, while Canadians must
now go nearly 100 miles West of the
Railway ere they can get homesteads.
Met one or two moving bag and baggage
from the East Mennonite settlement.
The boundary line is marked off by
metal posts inserted at each mile, marked
Bast, West, U. S. on the south side, and
Canadaonthe north. Stopped atSmuggler's
Point to feecl man and beast. Here is
stationed a Custom-houae officer to look
after duties. This point is situated at the
comer of a large forest, stretching far
away into Dakota, and so gets its name.
No cattle arc allowed to pass either way
unless paying a duty of 20 per cent. To
one bom with Free Trade notions this
looks absm-d, as on the one side there may
be cattle in plenty and to spare, and on
the oth^r a want. Still the heavy duty
must be paid eit) even cattle can cross, and
the present regulations of this country do
not allow any living cattle to be sent ttorsx
the States into Canada. This duty on
cattle is the height of protection, and, in
my opinion, the pinnacle of folly. Our
host who settled here before the boundary
line was fixed, found his house in the
States, and most of his land in Canada,
so, having to choose his master, went over
with his house and became, an American.

Started on the boundary line for Emer-
son, passed some good large farms on
both sides, and one large farm belonging
to one of the Mennonites, where were »
number of cattle in good condition, and
some folded in large yard. During the 16
days we have been in Manitoba, we have
driveu nearly 500 miles, one-half of this
distance during the past six days, with
the Bopxe teams, which says a good deal
for the endurance of their horses.

As it may be interesting to some, I here
give an extract from the Times special's
letter of 18th October, on the Athabasca
and Peace River Valleys, as none of the
Delegates have visited either, and alaa
his estimate of growing and carrying to
Liverpool, with a profit to all, a bushel o£
wheat.

1,00(
the
sixtj
on
end I

io:{

n other
lid it i«
) law to
lion nor
of ycarS)
I raoneyr
I to live
le, thea
lis latter^
le. It is
and they
y. None
they say
of them
80 muoh
ley haTO
ins must
9t of the
mestcads.
i baggage
ttlement,
I off by
e, marked
8ide, and
Smuggler's

Here is
er to look
vted at the
tching far
its name,
either way
r cent. To
otions this
I there may
ure, and on
leavy duty
I cross, and
country do
e sent fronx

duty on
on, and, in
folly. Our
e boundary
)use in the
in Canada,
', went over
American^
e for Emer-

farms on
1 belonging
lere were »
idition, and
oringthe 16
ba, we have
half of this
J days, with
a good deal
•ses.

some, I here
•les special's
0 Athabasca
none of the
jr, and also

carrying to
, a bushel of

" But further North over the Canadian
frontier are valleys as fertile and prairies
M extensive as those of the Bed River,
some of them scarcely yet opened up for
cultivation. 'V\1icat of fine quality is

I^rown on the Athabasca and Peace Val-
eys, which, although north of latitude 66
degrees, are stated to have a genial cli-
mate, and produce flowers and fruits in
as great perfection as in localities many
hundred miles South. The Pence River
Valley is estimated to have an area of
100,000 iiquare miles. The North and
South Soskatchcwar, which, with rapid
flow, run a thousand miles from the
Rocky Mountains Into Lake Winnipeg,
are described as traversing immense
areas of alluvial soil, while along their
banks are beautifully-sheltered, well-
watered spots adapted for stock-raising.
Five hundred miles west of Winnipeg is
the Pi:ince Albert settlement, established
about two years ago, now numbering 600
inhabitants, busily engaged in. mixed
husbandry, but in such a remote region
sensibly devoting special attention to the
raising of cattle, which, amid abundance
of good grass, can be produced at little
more than the cost of herding, and c«n
tolerably comfortably carry themselves
to market. Starting also in the Rocky
Mountains and likewise pursuing an
easterly course, anddischarginr^ its waters
into Winnipeg, is the Assinibc>ine, which,
with many important tributaries, watets,
especially on its northern aspect, an enor-
mous tract of good country, which might
absorb thousands of settlers, and when
opened up, as is being done by the
Canadian Pacific Railway, and the often
disci^ssed lake, riyer, and canal system^
might export millions of bushels of wheat.
On the authority of the Legislative As-
sembly in Manitoba, it is estimated that
the total wheat area of the North-West
L8 about 380,000 square miles. The
jheap land, one great element in this
sonntry's greatness, is here; the cheap
transport so necessary properly to utilize
the cheap land is being gradually secured.
Five years ogo the resources of Mani-
toba were so imperfectly developed that
the wheat, beef, and pork requisite for
the western military posts, for the police
and Hudson Bay stations, for the thinly-
scattered hunters and settlers spread over
the Riding Hills, and extending onwards
towards the Rocky Mountains, were in a
great part forwarded to Winnipeg from
Uie East. Now the 200 bullock teams
which start thence in the spring for their
1,000 miles journey North-West to collect
the furs, as well as the boats, many of
stxty tons burden, which ascend the rivers
dn the breaking of the ice towards the
end of April, are mainly laden with wheat

and flour grown and ground in the Pro.
vince, and with homo-reared beef and
bacon. Five miles from Winnipeg, at t ho
Scotch colony of Kildonnan, founded 40
years ago, there arc about 1,000 indiui-
trious agriculturists occupied in mixed
husbandry, few of them with more than
160 acres, but all prosperous and con-
tenteil. The land, a few years ago,
exhausted by wheat growing, has lately
been better managed, and, although not
clear, grows twenty-fivo bushels of wheat
and double that amount of oats. Tho
hard yellow com preferred by the dleiil-
lors is BuccossfuUy produced. Potatoes
do admirably in the friable loam, swedes
and clover flourish. The annual rainfall,
including melted snow, is about twenty-
five inches. The highest summer tem-
perature is 95 degrees ; the lowest winter
cold is 40 degrees, which proves some-
times rather trying. At Selkirk, a rising
town on the Canadian Pacific line, where
it jrosses tho Red River, twelve miles
north of Winnipeg, the railway cuttings
are furnishing capital limestone rock and
brick earth and sningle, all of whicli are
being freely used for building purposes."
The cost of a bushel of wheat grown in
Minnesota, Dakota, or Manitoba, and
forwarded to Great Britain, are subjoined
in tabular form :—

Cents.

Cost of growing 45

Transit to Duluth, or other
entrepot 16

Elevator charges .,, IJ

Transit to seaboard 15 ,j__

Oceaii freight 18 ' j

Marine insurance and com-
mission 8

Contingencies for enhanced
freights, &c \2\

110—48. 5d.

Satisfactory as such figures arc to the
British consumer, they are not very en-
couraging to the British wheat-grower.
For his fuller-berried wheat, richer in
starch, but poorer in gluten, he cer-
tainly gets 38. or 4s. per quarter more
than can be had for the foreign spring
wheat. But A2 or even two guineas a
quarter, which is all that English wheat
can be calculated to make on an average
of years, cannot, under present condi-
tions, remunerate tho English agricul-
turist. '

Sergeant Price, of the Canadian Mou nted
Police at Battleford ; Mr. James Stewart,
of the Canadian Signal Service at Winni-
peg ; Sergeant Cone, of the United States
Signal Corps at St. Paul ; and Mr. G. C.
Rainboth, Dominion Civil Engineer at

J u

'. \

t I

ta30t-^

I 1

lOd

St.

Win-

UatUe-

I'ttUl.

nipeg.
67.34

ford.

T2.m

67.79

60.06

f)2.l8

47.10

46.03

36.84

31.62

.^3.03

30.66

28.66

19.08

11.97

648

1(5.08

6.10

0.46

16.02

12.32

10.26

33.01

14.14

16.80

60.04

39.10

46.70

68.07

63.13

63.36

67.09

63.20

60.46

73.05

68.19

63.96

Quebec, linvo kiiuUy furnished the mate-
riitlii of the following : —

TABLE OF MEAM TEMPERATUBEB.

/I

Toronto.

August 66.38

Hepteii>bcr...68.18

October 45.84

November ...36.06
December ...2 '.78

January 22.80

February ...22.74

March 28.93

April 40.72

May 61.74

June CI .86

July 67.46

Y'rlymeans. 44.04 46.62 34.76 84.82

A statement of mean temperature dur-
ing the agricultural season, iron' \pril to
August inclusive, exhibits the lloviriug
proportions •. — Toronto, 57 ' rcea 66
minutes ; St. Paul, 65 degrees l .linutcs ;
Winnipeg, 68 degrees 19 minutes; Battle-
ford, 68 degrees 53 minutes. Thus it will
be seen that the climate, in its relation to
agriculture, is warmer in Manitoba and
over territoiy 700 miles North-West, than
in the most central district of Ontario ;
while St. Paul, in latitude 46 degrees, is
7 degrees 40 minutes warmer than llie
vicinity of Toronto in latitude 44 de-
grees.

I hope to be in possession of similar
statistics at Fort McMurray, on the Atha-
basca River, and Fort Vermilion, on Peace
River, respectively 1,000 and 1,200 miles
due North-West of Winnipeg, and I have
full confidence that the climate at these

{loints will not be materially different
rom Battleford. The altitude of the
Athabasca and Peace River districts is
less, and the trend of the Pacific winds
through the Rocky Mountains is more
marked than at Battleford. It was on
the banks of Peace River, well up in lati-
"tude 60 degrees, that Sir Alexander Mac-
kenzie records on the 10th of May the
grass so w^cll grown, that bufEalo, at-
tended by their- young, were cropping the
U2)laud8.

PBICE LIST OF IMPLUMETNTS, kC, AT
WINNIPEG.

Breaking ploughs, $25 to $29.

Common do. $15 to $21.

Reaper's, $140 to $160.

Mowers, $80 to $1.20.

l{capers and mowers combined, $180 to
$200.

Horse hay rnk«s, $35 to $46.

Wnfjgons, Anieviean manufacture, as
gooil as made in Canada, $85 to $95.

Fanning mills, $J0 to $45.

uSf'.

hoops,

Pimdcs, $1 each. .

Shovfl.s, $1.25. "2

Hay forks, 75 cents.
Manure forks, $1 each.
Harrows, $15 to $35.
The prices of the following Mtaple articles
will give some idea ol' the cost of living in

Manitoba : —

Tea Iter lb., 50 to 56 cents.

Sugar per lb., 10 to 12 cents.

C'oHeo jHjr lb. , 22 to 33 cents.

Tobacco, blaok, 50 cents.

Tobacco, smoking, 50 to 65 cents,

Coal oil, per gallon, 50 cents.

Syrup, per gallon, 76 to 80 cents,

Pails, each, 3 hoops, 30 cents ; 2
25 cents.

Tubs, 16 inch, 90 cents each,

A ^ooil stout suit of clothing for a man,
from i}S to $15. •*'

Blanketa, pey, per imir, $1.50 to $3. ''"

Canadian blankets, wliito, per lb. , 6u to
76 cunts.

Cotton, per yard, white, 8 to 12J cents ;
grey, 8 to 12 cents.

Prints, 8 to 12 cents winceys, 8 to 2fi
cents. .

Woollen stockings, per 2>&ii'> ^5 to 30
cents.

Flannel shirts, each, 76 cen s to $1.25l

Men's boots, $2 to $3. '^i*^

Women's boots, $1.26 to $1.76. ■''"

Felt hats, 76 cents to $1.

In household fittings the following prices
are quoted for good plain articles : —

Table, $3.50 to $4.

Chair, 76 cents to $1.

Bedstead, $4 to $4.60.

Bureau, $8 to $12.

Kitchen stove', No. 8, good, with com*
plete furniture, $27.

Cup and saucer, 8 to 16 cents.

Plate, 8 to 20 cents.

Coal oil lamp, 60 cents to $1, complete.

Axes, $1.25 to $1.50.

In building material : — '"•

Good |dain lumber' $20 to $40 per M. > '

Good diessed lumber, $30 to $60 per M.

Shingles, $4 to $6 per M.

Laths, $5.

Nails, 5 cents per lb, or $4 per keg.

Lime, 25 cents per bushel at the kiln.

Doors, $1.50 to $2.50 each.

Sash, 8 X 10, $1 per pair. "' '•■

A good single harness, $15 to $20.
Do. double do. $30 to $35. ;

November 17th. — Called on Registrar,
in Emerson, who showed us sample or
wheat on the straw, grown 26th May andt
reaped 26th August, gocxl head with short
straw ; sample of timothy grass, 4 feet
lon<j, head 6 inches. Emer.<on is four
years old, has now 1,000 inhabitants ; has
four churches, Young Men's lastitute, and
some very fine stores ; has Free Library,

107

■•c

.11

Episcopalian, Mutho^list, 'ud CaDaduia
Mctliixlist chuiches building, the former
to cost $6,000, tlic.liittur $10,000 ; 86 new
buildings bin(*tj May ; 2 weekly nowtipapcrs,
the first started in 1878, when there was
only three st jivb ; a liotel and a stable in
the plnee. Left Emeraon, in the after-
tiu.iii, fur Chicago, flrst-eluss fare $34.
ISt ippud a short time on the way at Minue-
Bpolin, the great flouring metropolis of the
States, and where is seen the waters of
tlie great Mississippi river driving mills
of all sorts to its last drop. It may give
tome idea of some of the water powers in
America and Canada, by stating that the
tioiuing mill we were shown over has a
la le 13 feet wide and the water in it 7 feet
deep, lading their continuous way to a
'rnr>)ine wheel to drive this one mill. Also
etoaped at St. Paul and Milwaukee, where
a Kind reception was given us' by A.
Mitchell, Esq., banker and railway presi-
dent, a well-known man in the West, and
an Aberdonian. Driving round Mil-
waukee, saw for the first time what is
very common all over America, at the
farm of Mr. M'Gcoch, an Artesian Well,
1,080 feet deep, and was told it throws
tlic water 80 feet above the surface. I
wonder where the water comes from as
there is no land or water cither so high as
this for many miles? The farm, I should
think, is about 200 feet above I^ake
Michigan. Arrived in Chicago on tlic
22nd, and stayed till 2Gth, scaing the
tights of the great city of the West.

Although foreign t^o this report on
Canada, T may mention that the jstock-
yards, pig packcries, cattle packeries,
and elevators are worth going a long way
to sec.

As the prices here have some efEect on
Canadian as well as American markets, I
bhall give a few facts about these three
great trades, viz. — cattle, pigs, and wheat.
Chicago stackyards cover over 200 acres ;
buyers of cattle are all mounted ; Messrs.
Martin Brothers (brothers-in-law of Mr.
Welsh) kindly showed us round ;. pigs in
market t\is day (a Monday, and said to
be a soit of off-day), 37,600, all sold by
live weight ; for sows, in pig, 40 Ibj,, and
ttags 80 lbs., shrinkage is deducted ; aver-
age price this day, $3.90 per 100 lbs.; 18
l)er cent, is deducted from live weight
to find the dressed weight of pigs ; com-
mission for selling, lOcents. each; car holds
CO ; scales weighs about 100 at a time. The
ofHcial numbarsfor last week were 264,972.
Cattle this day 4,400 ; last week, 20,285 ;
fcome very good. Prices ranged from
}3 per 100 lbs. for Texans, up to $4"90 foj:
graded steers, and $5.25 was paid for what
Ihey called a fancy lot, being good three-
parts shorthorn steers, weighing 1,715 lbs.
each ; down to $2 for light and thin cows.

it.ag8, bulla, and scalawag steers (what-
ever they arc). Cattle kill :>» to 68 lbs.
for ordinary and (JO IIh, per 100 for TcxamJ.
Commission for .-011111^', 60 cents tach.
Number of slicep nol given. Tlio toi) lot
of 447 is quoted at $4.60, av(na;;o 128 lb?,
weight. The totals for October wci"C,
cattle 120,562 hogs 710,502; sliecp; 29,248.

Was hh(jwn over a pig killing establ'sh-
meut, kill 8,000 a day, 1,000 men cm-
ployed ; also o\ cr a cattle packing i)lace
killing 800 a day, all cattle are ^jjcargd,
the 10 we saw droj)pcd was done in less
than 2 minutes. There are 22 killing and
packing establishments round the stock-
yards, some killing more, most less, and
most of this immenoc bulk of meat and
pork is being salted and packed in order
to be sent to that hungry auld country
Great Britain and L-cland. Was shown
over one of Messrs, Armour k Dodd's
Elevators, capacity 1,800,000 bushels. A
car holds 500 bushels, 10 of these can be
omptcd, elevated to the roof, and weighed
to an ounce in ten minutes, at same time
a ship can be loaded in a fcvv hours on the
opposite side. It takes a 700 horse power
engine to work the elevators. Ice. The
driving belt is 276 feet long and i feet
broad. Storage cost 4 cents a bushel from
1 6th November to 16th April, 10 days ditto
1^ cents, and J cent more for every 10
days. Wheat at present 6 cents higher
in Chicago than Liverpool, i.e., after
adding freight and insurance, caused by a
large corner here and in New York.
Chicago elevators hold about 20 million
bushels.

26 th November. — Left Chicago for New
York, spending a short time in Blooming-
ton, Champaign, Indianapolis, Oolumbo.,,
Pitsburg, Harrisburg, Baltimore, Washing-
ton, Philadelphia, and New Jersey.

Sailed on 7th December, from New
York, in same ship, S.S. " Devonia," and
arrived at Glasgow all safe and sound on
Wednesday afternoon the 17th, after a
smart and wet passage.

SUMUART.

I.— Regardino Ontabio.— Any one
will have noticed who has followed me
thus far, that I was travelling hero in my
own way, mostly getting my information
from farmers to whom I had introduc-
tions, most of whom or their forefathers
had gone from the northern part of
this country. As I said in my in-
troduction I say again, I do not intend
to advise anyone ^ro or con. I have
simply reduced to writing in a rough
way what I saw. I will say, any one
going there will know little difierence
from home. I am sure he would not
know so much difference as he would by
moving into a neighbouring county at

amm-i^

J- 1 if

108

I ,

Dome, and would find a heartier welcome ;
he would find himself surrounded by
hi8 own race be he English, Scotch or
Irish ; find churches of his own denomi-
nation and plenty of them ; find as good
ordinary schools a» at home without
even school fees to pay ; find life and pro-

Eerty as safe and himself nearly governed
y the same laws as at home, the prin-
cipal difference being that each province
manages its own local affairs, and last
and not least, he can farm hia own land
with about the same capital as he can
stock a farm at home. I have put the
average price of good cleared farms in
Ontario at £10 per acre, but any quantity
of partially cleared land can be had from
£2 to £8, according to the houses and the
quantity cleared- The cost of going to
Ontario is — by Allan Line of Mail Steamers
to Quebec and rail to Toronto — steerage,
£7 10s. ; intermediate, £9 10s., with 10
cubic feet for luggage free ; saloon,
from £14 10s., with 20 cubic feet free.
The rates for household goods are 42s. 6d.
per ton of 40 cubic feet. Travelling
in Canada costs much the same as
at home. Hotel bills are less. A day's
bill at the best hotels averages lOs. to
12s. a day for four meala and a bed, and
there is no tipping to do as at home.
Board in hotels can be had by the week
from $7 up, and in private houses at any
prioe you please. The farmers keep less
stock than at home and grow more crop,
and, as they make their own estate regu-
lations, they can sell or grow what suits
them best. There is cleared land to be
got on lease, the only rent I heard of was
I2s. an acre, and rented land seemed to be
all the same price whether good or bad.
Mr, Brown's taxes in Waterloo County
(previously referred to) never exceeded $33
for ^60 acres. The climate is hotter in
summer and colder in winter than here ;
I heard none complain of the frost, as it
is steady with a pure atmosphere.
I intended to have got the average rain-
fall, but omitted to do so and also the
variations of the thermometer for the
various months. I can speak of the
month I was there as being the most
pleasant weather I ever saw. The people
are exceedingly kind and hospitable ;
little drink is offered you, but plenty to
cat, and generally fruit at every diet.
The people live far better than hero, food
of all kinds being cheap. Regarding the
export of cattle from Canada to this
country in any quantity, I believe it has
seen its greatest this year for some time
at least; an cxtr» effort having been
made to ship cattle owing to the Privy
Council regulations anenjt the United
States. Canada ha«, no dmbt, got the
*ood, but she has not ecot the cattle to

send, i.e., in any very large quantities.
In my opinion Canada, at any rate
Ontario, will have to breed and feed
far more cattle than at present, if land is
to remain near its present price, as it can
never compete with the Western Canadian
prairies in growing wheat, it must of neces-
sity do as this country did after the Repeal
of the Corn Laws, grow and feed more
beef. There is no doubt the opening up
of so much prairie land has cheapened the
price of land in Ontario twenty per cent.,
and I believe the same applies to all the
Eastern States. It stands to reason that
even good land that h.as grown wheat, in
many cases too long, and costing on au
average £10 an acre, cannot compete with
better land costing only 8s. to 10s. per
acre, with the first 160 for nothing. X
have shown that wheat can be and 19
grown in Manitoba for lis. to 12s. per
quarter, and the cost of carriage to Ontario,
when the Thunder Bay route is opened, is
estimated at the outside at 83. ; so that
the Manitoba farmer will be able, and
very soon too, to deliver wheat or flour
cheaper than the Ontario farmer will ever
be able to grow it. Hence I say Canada,
wants to import cattle in place of export-
ing, as there is no doubt she could feed
millions more than at present.

With the United States there is a differ-
ence, as they have got the cattle, and Qraxt
Britain is their best market for good fat ; ia
my opinion their export of cattle is only
begun. I have a strong conviction that in
the near future a good many stoi-d c.it cle
will be sent, and I am sure it w»i"lu pay
the formers at home better to fmisl'.
than to breed them. At any rat.; fbcy
are alive t6 the fact that early matured
beef is what is wanted here, and are taking
riearly all Canada's supply, as well as
their own, of shorthorn and Hereford
bulls to improve their cattle ; and when
they come to realise the fact that store
cattle are dearer by the 100 lbs. here than
fat, I think they will try to send us si/me
stores.

Canadian fanners do not seem to be so
alive, as their American cousins, to the
fact '* that good pure bred sires must bo
used to produce early matured beef," at
any rate they do not seem to practice it,
as I found most of their oure bred Here-
ford and shorthorn Bulh were this year
being exported to the IJnited States at
nearly double the prices obtained last
year at home, and I suppose their more
wide-awake neighbours had also the ad-
vantage of paying an additional 20 per
cent, by way of duty, in order to protect
their manufactures, this being their stock
argument against Free Trade with Great
Britain, and, I suppose, the same applied
to Cah^a.

109

V|'

lantities,
,ny rate
ind feed
f land ia
as itcau
IJanadian
of neces-
he Repeal
3ed Tuore
iCning up
)eaed the
per cent.,
to all the
lason that
wheat, in
ing on an
ipete with
I lOg. per
jthing. I
be and is
» 128. per
,o Ontario,
opened, i»
. ; ao that
able, and
t or flour
r will ever
ay Canada
of export-
;ould feed

is a diffcr-
and Grei\t
ood fat ', ia
tie is only
;ion that in
tord caitle

\m<^yi pay

t'j finish.

rato Hicy

ly matured

. are taking

as well as

I Hereford

and when

that store

3. here than

nd us si/ine

em to be so
iin.«, to tho
res must be
jd beef," at

Efactice it,
red Hcre-
re this year
I States at
jtaincd last

their more
also the ad-
onal 20 per
jr to protect
J their stock

with Groat
ame applies

II.— Bbgahdino Manitoba.— Here
nlso any one from this country will find
a few of his countrymen, even Aber-
doniaus. He will find a good difference
from home, and must be prepared to
rough it for a start. He will only find
churches and schools near the towns at
present. He will not find the many
running burhies as at home. In short he
will have the carving out of hia own
fortune in a new land. The materials
are there to his hand, and the Govern-
ment present him on entry his choice of
160 acres of as good land as the world
affords. A hard working man with a
growing fa'-nly might face and get
over the <'i' acuities of a pioneer's staxt,
landing '•/Ith a hundred pounds in his
pocket, raany have done it with nothing ;
with five hundred he would soon be inde-
pendent. A man with means can buy as
many sections as he pleases from one to
five dollars an acre, and can invest hia
spare cash safely at from 10 to 12 per
cent., at any rate on a first mortgage over
houses and lands taken at one-half their
value ; and I do not think a safer invest-
ment could be found than lending 2s. an
acre on land, and that only when a man
has settled upon it, built a house, and
broke up so much. I have good authority
for stating that a farmer can easily
afford to pay 12 per cent, interest for
money rather than allow his land to
be comparatively waste. That it is a
country with a great future before it I
have no doubt, and I also believe it will
be settled up with a rapidity unknown
even in the United States. That thirty
thousand emigrants and their families
Avent into it last year there is no doubt,
and that possibly double that number
will go in this year I believe there is less
doubt.

That it is pretty hot in summer, Nvith
some mosquitoes for a few weeks, there is
no doubt ; that it is pretty cold in winter
thei'c is also no doubt. I can only speak
of the thermometer at zero, which we had
for a few da.ys, and can say I did not feel
nearly so cold .as I have done since I
camo home with the thermomelor at
2(1 dcg., the air was so pure and still and
the sun so bright.

That there is a want of running streams
as compared with this moist country,
there is no doubt. The first thing I
missed in Canada and Aintiica was wimp-
ling burnies and binlics ; and I must say
I missed them to the end, although I tra-
velled a good few thousand miks in the
country. The first nVe awanting in most
of it — i,n , as many as at home : and the
second, I was told, hatl gone south for the
winter. I may say I saw no V)ir(ls. unless
a few rooks here and there, until we came

to the prairie chicken of Manitoba, who
don't need to go south apparently.

Cattle and horses are kept out all
winter, but would be much better housed
for four or five months.

The price of cattle and horses are much
the same as in Ontario ; if any dilference
both are a little dearer. Saw only one lot
of fat cattle, and Mr. Velsh ascertained
they were sold at $4 70c. per 100 lbs., and
were on their way to the western end of
theC.P.R.R. for the contractors thereto
feed their men. Their weight was 1240
lbs. three and four yeara old. That this
vast Territory has food enough for millions
of people and cattle there is no doubt, and
from all appearances the people will soon
be there, and it is hoped they will be able
also in time to produce the cattle.

In Conclusion,

I do not think I have much to add. To
the labourer or fai-m servant who may
think of going to Canada with little spare
cash after his passage is paid I will say,
you will find plenty of employment in
Ontario or the Eastern Provinces at about
the same wages as at home, if employed by
the year, and in Manitoba at a little more,
with the prospect before you of free educa-
tion for your children and tlie i)robability
of becoming by industry and poi'scverance
your ov/n proprietor even of a farm. As
will be seen by the Land Regulations the
Government make you the oHbr of 160
acres of land free, only I think a man
without some capital would be better at
first to liire himself to others.

To the farmer with from two to five
hundred pounds in his pocket, who may
think of going to Canada, I would say,
you will find plenty of partially cleared
i'linns for sale at all prices, and I would
advise you to look well about you ere you
buy, as you will be none the worse of even
a year in the country working to others,
and if willing to rough it a little for a
time, by all means go to the North- West at
once, and I am pretty sure you would soon
lind yourself not only your own laird, but
indopendcnt.

To the farmer with capital, 1 would only
.say, if he be well at home and have no
cause to change, he should reiniiiu ; only if
anxious to try to better hi- coiidition more
quickly and indejiendently than he is
likely to do at home for some time to come
in farming, ho will find either in JIanitoha
or Lower ('anada plenty of scope for his
energies, and a good deal more interest for
liis money. He will find himself surrounded
by his own countrymen, go where he will,
all anxious for the prosperity of their
adojited fountry and all loyal sons of tiirir
mother I'ountr"

» (

110

Rents in towns aro a littlo higher than
here, wages in towns also liigher than here,
food is clieaper all over, and all classes live
hotter than at home.

That tliese, at present, groat whcat-gi'ow-
ing regions of the West and North- West,
have already reduced tlio price of land both
in Eastern Canada and in the Ea.stcm
States, I think tew will deny. That the
day is not far distant when those same
fertile and cheap lands will increase their
supplies many thousandfold, I think fewer
still will deny who have visiteil them; and I
think I ran safe in stating that there is

little doubt these same cheap lands, when
facilities of transport are provided, will
tend to reduce the price of land, not only
in Groat Britian but all over Europe.

To all farmers who may either think of
settling in Canada, or merely going over
to have a look at it, I am sure all Canadians
will join me in assuring thqm a hearty
welcome, and I can assure them, from
personal experience, it will be a welcome
they never dreamed of. " '''here is plenty
of room for all and to spare, and they
invite all who have any hankering for land
to come and they will satisfy them. ';. '

h

Is, when
ed, will
lot only
pe.

bhink of
ing over
anadians
a hearty
m, from
welcome
ii3 plenty
md they
g for land
m.

T'

ill '1 "•

111

a

REPORT OF MR. JAMES BRUCE, DELEGATE FROM

ABERDEEXSIIIRE.

Mn. James Bkuce, of Collithie, Gartly,
Aberdeenshire, ^vas one of the Delegates
appointed by the Aberdeenshire farmers.
He made his report to a mooting of his
constituent.", held in the Long School,
Aberdeen, on B'ridav, February 27th.
Mr. r.ruce, of Fornot, presided, and there
was a large and approving andiencc. Mr.
Bruce reported as follows :—

The sea is said to bo a broad word, so
is Canada; and it is only the lot of those
per.sons who haxe travelled over a consi-
derable portion of Canada who can form
any idea of the vast extent of the British
North American possessions.

Canada is said to have been discovered
by John Cabot in H!>7. The French took
possession of the country in 1525, and
founded the first settlement at Quebec in
1608. In 1759 the British forces under
the command of General Wolfe cajftured
Quebec, and in 1703 the whole territory of
Canada was ceded to Groat Britain by the
Treaty of Paris of that year. By an Act
which was passed in 1807 the Provinces
of Ontario and Quebec, or Upper and
Lower Canada, Nova Scotia and New
Bninswiek, were united under the title of
the Dominion of Canada, provision being
made at the time for the admission at any
subsequent period of the other Provinces
and Territories of British North America.

In 1870 the Pro\'inco of Manitoba was
admitted into the Union, and in the follow-
ing year British Columbia and Vancouver's
Island were also admitted, and in 1873
Prince Edward's Island joined the Con-
federation,

The Dominion of Canada extends from

tie North Atlantic to the North Pncific
Oceans, and has a breadth of more than
3,D00 miles, and comprises all that portion
oi the Continent of America north of the
United States boundary lino, with the
c: ception of Alaska, which belongs to the
Union, and the Island of Newfoundland,
which has not yet become a member of
tie Confederation.

The area of Canada, exclusive of its
w.'itors, is supposed to be about 8.338,701
square miles, and this great country lies
between the 53rd and the 141st meridians
west, and extends from the latitude of
Rome in Italy to the Artie Ocean.

Of this 3,338,701 square miles, 2,000,000
are agricultural or timber lands ; and of
this vast area the wheat zone exceeds one
million square miles, or over 600,000,000
of acres.

Table showing the Provinces and their
area in square miles, and the population
in 1871, the date of the last census : —

i>./.^<.,..a Area In Populntloa

Provinces. Sqnare Miles, in 1871.

Ontario 107,780 1,620,851

Quebec 193,355 1,191,516

Nova Scotia 21,731 387,800

New Brunswick ... 27,322 285,594

P. Edward's Island 2,173 94,021

Manitoba 14,3.30 12,228

N. W. Territories... 2,750,000

British Columbia... 220,000 10,58(1

3,338,701 3,602,596

Table showing the increase in the popu-
lation of the Dominion from 1784 to 1871,
the date of the last census :■—

Taars.
1784

1

O

1

s

Of

.1

Pi

i

1

O o

>5H

■CO

»s

Totfll Popnlfttion
of Settlemtnti.

10.000

118 013

80,000

t •

8,000

..

asa

1806

70,718

250,000

64,000

86,000

9,676

• •

..

• •

466,899

1884

891,145

670 000

190,000

119,457

83,000

8,866

• •

• •

1,803,961

1844

666,662

697 084

326.000

160,000

64,000

6,148

• •

• •

1,803,889

1861

962,004

950,000

276.854

198,800

67,000

6,600

300

100

2,547,158

1861

1.800,091

1,111,566

1 880,857

353 047

86,000

8,668

1,400

6,000

8,838,391

1871

1, 620,85 1

1,191 ,51fl

887,800

1

386,596

94,021

13,228

• •

1

10,686

8,002,690

' .'h

« I

• t

112

h ''■

m i!

It is probably by com pari sion with
»thor countries that we may arrive at a
conception of the great extent of the
Dominion.

In the Bastem side we have Newfound-
land, one of the oldest of England's
Colonies, as largo as Portugal, Nova
Scotia as large as Servia, New Brunswick
as large as Denmark and the Nether-
lands, Quebec as large as Spain and
Belgium, Outaiio three times as large as
Portugal ; and what si all we say of the
■Great North West, including the Province
of Manitoba, where there is room for a
population of 50,000,000 souls 1 British
•Columbia is about twice as large as
Ontario, and more than fifteen times as
large as Manitoba.

' The external aspects of the Dominion
«re of the most favourable character, being
washed by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Artie
•Oceans. There is also an extensive inland
lake and river system, navigable by heavy
steamers and other ships.

The mighty St. Lawrence, which is
famous for the purity and magnitude of
its waters, drains an area of 330,000 square
miles, is navigable a distance of 2,000
miles before gladly kissing the Atlantic
Ocean.

Lake Superior, 600 feet above the sea,
is 800 feet deep, and covers 31,500 square
miles, is the largest fresh water p ^a in the
world. Lake Michigan is 700 icet deep,
and covers 22,000 square mil'is. Lake
Huron a similar depth, covers 21,000
square miles and is said to conta n 30,000
islands. Erie has an area of 9,000 square
miles, is 200 feet deep, and in its descent
at the Falls pours 700,000 tons of water
every minute. Ontario has an area of
f),400 square miles, is COO feet deep, and
236 feet above the sea.

The total area of these five inland seas
. is 89,900 square miles, and these vast
hodies of water have a great and beneficial
«'ffect in tempering the heat of summer
and the cold of winter, and thereby greatly
adding to the salubrity of tlie climate, the
cool and humid breezes modify the heat of
summer, and the larger lakes which do not
freeze softens the severity of the winter.
Surely in such a country there is a
goodly heritage, and while it can boast
with just pride and progress in all tlie
manufacturing art's and indu-stries, the
fact must never be lost sight of that
nature has designated the Dominion of
Canada as the grand agricultiual garden of
the world. This is a subject which ought
to command particular attention at the
pi-esent time, when the tendency of such
vast numbers of our population is so strong
in the direction of jun'suits which are in-
consistent with the a.nricultural dcvolop-
rocnt of the country. History teems

with lessons to convince us that the
prosperity of every nation has kept
puc2 with the development and enlarge-
ment of its agricultural pursuits. From
time immemorial the foundation of all
prosperity, in ruder or more enlightened
shape, has been agriculture — the tilling of
the soil. Both civilisation and society
rest thereon, and it is the begetter of
permanent wealth. All prosperous new
countries find their mainstay in agricul-
ture, and depend thereon. The world
must retain a comm.inity of farmers, no
matter under what title or design they
may conduct their operations ; and in no
part of the world can the operations of
the farmer be conducted with more plea-
sure and security from loss than in the
Dominion, which has been made by poor
men. Poor men have made Canada, and
she, gratefully in return for their labours,
has made them. Men who went to the
country a few years ago without a dollar
in their pockets, but i^ath a determination
to succeed worthy of imitation, went to
the bush with axe in hand, chopped down
a few trees sufficient to build a log-house,
and then commenced the clearing of their
lOO-lwre farm.

THE CONSTITUTION OF CANADA AND
ADHINISTBATION OF OOVERNMKNT.

The Executive Government and an-
thority is vested in the Queen, and exer-
cised inher name by the Governor-General,
aided by a Privy Council.* The Legisla-
tive power is a Parliament, consisting of
an Upper House styled the Senate, and
the House of Commons. The Senate
consists of 78 members, appointed for
life by the Governor in Council. The
House of Commons consists of 206 mem-
bers, elected for five years. Each Pro-
vince has also a separate Legislature and
Administration, with a Lieutenant-Gover-
nor, appointed by the Governor-General,
at the head of the Executive. There is
also a County Conricil which manages
the affairs of the county, whilst another
Board is the Township Council to look
after the affairs of the Township.

There appears in all these things too
much government which issurely unneces-
siiryandcertainlyexpensive. The day will
surely come when the Township Council
will be dispensed with , when the powers of
the County Council will be increased, and
when the Local Parliament will no longer
be a necessity and therefore abolished.

In conclusion, I may say to those
persons who intend to emigrate from their
native land, the claims of Canada are in
many w.iys great. In the Dominion is
found the nearest of all the British
Colonies, within only a few days sailing
from Liverpool, which has access to
all the advantages that ciTilisation

Th?
second

113

lat the

■s kept

;nlarge-

From

of all
ghtcncd
illing of

society
otter of
DU8 new

agricul-
c world
ners, no
ign they
ind in no
ations of
ore plea-
n in the

by poor
lada, and
r labours,
at to the
; a dollar
rmination
1, went to
iped down
log-house,
ng of their

ADA AND
INMBNT.
; and au-
, and exer-
jr-General,
e Legisla-
nsisting of
ienate, and
"he Senate
ointcd for
Dcil. The
' 206 mem*
Each Pro-
slature and
lant-Gover-
or-Geueral,
;. There is
ih manages
ilst another
icil to look
hip.

! things too
ely unneces-
The day will
ship Council
he powers of
creased, and
ill no longer
ibolished.
ay to those
,te from their
vnada are in
Dominion is
the British
days sailing
is access to
civilisation

.( .K..r» lct'..,'ri

boast of. The

can boast of, Xbe people are kind
and hospitable, iu short, kinder people
are not on the face of the earth,
^d t'he hospitality which is extended to
the visitor, even though a perfect stranger,
is worthy of remark. They are a people
peaceable and law abiding, and as much
security for life ,aud property exists as at
home. They are social and intellectual,
and always ready to Impart information
upon any subject. I^y emigrating to
Canada the emigrant helps to build up
tb,e Empire of which he is at present a
Member, and which is the glory of the
world. He goes to a country where he will
find a people the same as at honie, with
no Lyn«;h law, and do Jaw of naturalisa-
tion comes in the way of his right to
become a citizeii, as in t^ United States.
By going to Canada he docsnot "absolutely
and entirely renounce and abjure all
^llegiaiicc and fidelity " to Great Britain
and Ireland, the land which gave him
birth, the Mother country, which is the
pride and admiratiopi, of the whole world,

To the farmer in quest of af arpi to bettei;
his position, he wUl find in the older,
Provinces plenty of desirable farms, with
comfortable houses and commodious barns,
and if the farm is once paid for hp owns
a home frdpi whicii he caunpt be evicted,
and where he will get full benefit of such
things as permanent imp^Qvements and
unexhausted manures. The capital which
i9 required t9 stock a farm in this country
i^ sufficient to pay for the farm and
stocking in addition. From balance sheets
wbicH haye been drawn up by farmers,
a profit of at Iciast six, per cent, is madp
on the outlay, over the living on the farm.
When farms svre rented a larger profit, is
made as the owner seldom receives more
than five per cent, for his investment.

1 hivve now givei\ a fair repri^sentation
of what I have found Canajda to Iblq ;, I
hav^ aIso indicated what a f anger's pros-
pects are l^y giving the priop of farms,
the average returns of prwluce in yaarious
parts of the country, and the expenses
dsniiected with the production of the c^ops.

By )i few newspapers and unscrumilous
agents of some of the American Railway
Land Companies, having other interests
to serve, it has been stated tliat the
Delegates were sent to the best parts of
Caniula. I now wish to contradict this
statement, as perfect liberty was enjoyed
by every Delegate to go where he pleased.
As regards myself, I had full liberty to
go anywhere and examine whatever I
wished ; and my movements were not dir-
e<jted in any way by the reprosentatives
ef the Government.

KDUCATION.

Vh^ system of education is good, and
second to none in the world. In the

Province of Ontario, the Townnhips are
divided into school sections, suitable for
one school, and iu tliesu sactiuus three
tru;:>tees are elegted to manage the aifairs
of the school for three years, it is the
duty of the County Council to raise an
equivalent amount to that apportioned by
the Minister of Kducat ion for the payment
of teachers' salaries, &c. Therefore all
public uchools are fr«e ; no such thing as
school fees being known, and no family
can be much bt^vond two miles from
school. This great privilege is something
wortli considering to those persona who
think of leaving their native country to
settle in another, as the value of educa-
tion is only properly known and apprecia-
ted when awauting. There are 224 urban
school boards, and 4,751 rural school
sections in tlie Province, which ctontain a
popyliition of about two millions. There'
are 4,990 Public Schools, cmpleying about.
6,500 teachers. The school population
numbers 492,3C(0,and no less than 489,01S
are in attendance, which certainly is a
remarkable exhibit ^ the eilpenditure foe
the last fiscal year lS78 being 2,889,347
dollars. The Homan Catholics have als6
in the Province 177 separate schools, and
25,280. pupUs are in attendance. Those
pupils who; want a higher and better eduJ
cation tlian can be obtained at a Publia
School find in various paits of the country'
High or (j^rommar Schools, managed in a;
similar manner by a Board of Trusteear
In tlie Province there are 104 High'
Schools, and 10,574 students. The expen>'
diture connected with these schools'
ai^QOUuted to 396,010 dollars. It is at
these institutions where the students re^
ceive that classical education and that>
training which is necessary before enter- ■
ing the study of the medical or other-
professions. For the study of the various
precessions there are CoUegesat Montreal,
Toronto,And v«^ou8 other places.

In oiider to show the growth of the
edud^tional system during t'^e last thirty-
five years, th,e following figures will be of
interest In 1842 the Public Schools
numbered only 1,721 ; in 1861 they had
increased to 3,001 ; and in 1878 to 4,990.
The number of pupils in 1861 was 168,169,
and in 1878 the number had increased to
489,015. The amount paid for the sup))ort
of schools in 1851 was 468,644 dollars,:
and in 1878 it had increased to 2,889,347
dollars.

Tiie above figures are taken from the
Report on Education for the Province of
Ontario for the last fiscal year. The
system is similar in the other Provinces,
although probably not so far advanced, on
account of Ontario being better cleared
and openeil up, and ccuscqutrutly more
thickly peopled.

(n

1- 1

I I

'flMHMi

rr^

114

I ,

*

CLIMATE AND SKASONB.

From the information to be obtained
regarding the temperature of the summer
season, I find it is considerably warmer
than the south of England, and as I spent
most of my time in tiie three Provinoes of
Qntario, Quebuc, and Nova Scotia, I now
confine my remarks to these three
Provinces.

As no better idea can be given of the
temperature which prevails in any country,
than by the products grown in that
country, a list of them now follows. The
cereals grown are barley, oats, wheat,
buckwheat, rye, and maize, the latter
being only ripened extensively in the
Western Peninsula,
summer temperature,
kinds of friiits and
grown. In Ontario
composed of apples,
plums, grapes, melons.

requiring a warm

It may be said all

vegetables can be

the list of fruits is

pears, peaches,

nectarines, and

apricots. The vegetabV list contains
turnips, carrots, cabbages, tomatoes,
squaslies, and pumpkins ; hemp, tabacco.
and sugarbeet are also abundant crops.
The growth of such products as these form
tm unerring index to the character of
the summer climate. " •

I will now say something of the winter
season as I experienced it up to the 24th
January ; and regarding it I find the
greatest misapprehension prevails on this
side, respecting .ts severity; However
much, snow and frost are objectionable in
some countries, they are cert^Snly no
drawback to Canada, but neceSi^ary, as
the snow affords protection to the fall
wheat, and the frost assists greatly to
pulverise the soil. The decided character
of the winter makes it more pleiasant and
enjoyable, and,, besides being pleastat,
there is no healthier climate under the
sun Although the thermometer some-
times registers a low temperature, and
the weather cold, still, owirlg- to the dry
atmosphere, it is bracing tttid pleasant.'

Along the northern stores of Lake Brie
it is seMom thfc snow is of any consider-
able depth, although farther north in the
Province snow sometimes covers the
ground to the depth of two f6et. With
this covering of snow Canadians' have the
finest roads in the world, an'd without
this snow the primeval forest cdiild neve'r
have been cleared of its heavy tifiiber but
by burning. ' *

With the leastr coating of snow wheeled
veliiclcs give place to bob and other
slei^lis, or, in other words; wjitfels give
place to mriiierMi ' '' ■••■■>i'-'^'-- • »;■' ■' i ■

With these tel^tloigfas it load'bf fro'nl'
CO to 70 biifholB or wheat catx' be drawp
to market or railway depftt.

Sleighing isthe most comfortable and
pleassuit, taode -of travelliiig one could

wish ; and when the traveller finds him-
self stated in a goo<l pleigh, with a supply
of buffalo or other robes, every degree of
comfort is secured, and, though the
weather be (old, the cold is not felt iti the
slightest degree.

The work of the farmer in winter con-
sists (if clearing the primeval forresf,
chopping and splitting cord wood, whith
is drawn to town and sold as firewood.
A cord of wood' consists of split timber,
and is eight feet long, fourfeet vdde, an(i|
four feet tleep, and realises in the ftifl!rkfefc
from 2 J to 4 dollars ; a cord, dependint^
of course, upon the supply of timlyir m
the neighboiifrhood.

It is also during the winter season \hat
the farmer generally markets a c6i!isider-,
able proportion of his crop, and he always
waits forgood sleighing before he attempt
to dr.:>w his g^ftin to market.

There aPe several remnrkable phenom-
ena in the clittiate of Western CanadKl'
which hjis not as yet been a(;countea f0r.
One of these is tentaed "'The Indidtf
Summer," which cotnmcnces atid tenal-
nates in the month of NovembOi-, the
weather being delightfully mild, accom-
panied with a hazy atmosphere. It ia
during the Indian Summer that the
feathered tribes leave their northern clime,
and prosecute their journey to a mote
soilthetn region. ' ^

Another very extraordinary taetcot-
ological phenomenon is, that the greatest
intensity of ftpst Is alwiiys remitteM at
the efld "tof the third day, when se;Vera1
days of mild weiither follow ; thus,' the
severity of wiilterls licv6r felt roor^.thaii
two or thtee days at a time. ViiLd

■ PnOS*;E0TS FOR BVitTIifeRB, ., :m;

This leads me to remark that jarge
quantities' of land; are being given by the
Government free t6 settlera. In ' ^6
Province of Ontario there ts still a con-
siderable exteftt under bush in the Muskpl^a
district. In Manitoba and the North-"West
the extent of pi^irie land is almost hound-'
less. The best thing for emigrants tO'do,
especially foi" those Who have no money
and fib defihite trade to pursue, is to fi^d
work as quickly fts possible. Work can
always be fotihd from the month of May
till the eiid oif October, and at tlie follow-
ing rate 6f wnges : — When a pJoughman
has got into the ways of the country he
will receive from £2ft to n(;arly £30^7year,
along with board, and if engp^ed by the,
day dtirihg thJe biisy season, which ia ha;^T
ing ahct harvest time, the current rate (f.
oiie dollar,' or 4s, 2d,, a-day forthe fqrmerf
arid froiii 4s. "to 6s, a-'day, which is frqn^ ,
daylight till dark, aiiring the latter aeasoni

After working a goo^ few years the care-
ful and industriou.<^ settler will have as
much 'money saved as would be sufficient

u

IVo

ids him-
a supply
iegree of
High the
eltilithe

nter con-

fOTTCBt,

oil, wbich
firewood,
it tiinben
vsride, and'
le rttfllrkfet
ependinfr^
timlyiT Ih'

;a8on i(hat
i c6iisider-.
he ahvay^
e at,tempt||

e phcnom-
•a Canada
mnted f0r.,
hd Indian;
fttid tenal-
jmbfii-, the
ild, acconi-
lere. It is
that the
hern clime,
to a/inore

rV ta^tdot-'
the greAt^'fit
emittfM at.
hen 8e;TeTal

; thuV't^
t nior^'jtMii

titenS.-! " [. -;/
that large
iven by the
In t^e
still a con-
the Muskbka
North-West
most hound-'
^anta to do,

no money
xe, is to fi](id

Work can
ont;ii of May
t tlie follow-

ploughmatt',

country he^
y £30^;year,,
;ciged hy thdj
which la ha^'t
irreut. rate «,.
jr the fqwh^fv
■hich is from;
latter aeaaoHi
cars tbo care-
will have as

be sufficient

w

to keep him for three years, which would
be req^uired to chop and bum the wood op
a few acres of his free grant farm. It only
requires the work of an expert chopper for
a few years in the bush to make himself a
comfortable home — a home, in fact, from
which no lordling can evict the occupant,
and where none of those feudal laws exist
which retard the progress and development
of agriculture. It is. needless for the
emigrant to think that gold can be fo^nd
for tiie gathering up like pebbles on the
sea shore. He nmst be sober, perseveiiiig,
and industrious, and with a determination
tq succeed. What lias been done before in
the bush can be done again.
. ' The expense of clearing the bash, as far
as clioppmg, drawing and burning are
concerned, is estimated at £3 an acre. If
the settler has over £50 in his pocket, and
prepared to battle and overcome the difficul-
ties of the pioneer's life, ho will soon be
richly rewarded, for it may conhdently be
said that the industrious and persevering
man of sober and frugal habits has. every
chalice of success.

The settler who goes to the country witha
few hundreds of pounds, or sufficient means
to purchase a farm, will find the bettor way
at first is to invest his money for one year
or more on first mortgage, which Avill yield
eigl\t or ten per cent., or it can be deposited
in the Bank on deiwsit receipt, w-here it
wip earn five per cent,
FARMING AND PURCHASE OF THE FARM,

To purchase a farm on arrival in the
co^ntry is certainly a very unwise pro-
ceeding. The manners and customs, of
the people are different; so is the mode pf
cultivating the ff^rm. The safe and proper
coTurse is to live some time in the qoautiy
to gain experience, which will afterwards
he fouled profitable and of immense value,
B ve'n after the settler has come to jander-
stai)(3 the c6un,try and the mode of tilling
lie fjirm, h^ will find renting a farpri ^^
Sttfei' and vjriser course — at all events for »
tin^e— than to purchase. A good farm can
be. rented, according to the quality of
the soilj character oi the buildings, wjc^
proximity to a city or railway depot, at
from 12s«' to 20s. i^n acre; at this latter
price a. farm can b^e. got near a large city,
and all the produce sold in the city.

The following is an estimate prepared
by jMr. Laidlaw and other practical
aij(^ experienced farmers in thp neighr
bourhood of Guelph. It represents th(j
purchase price of a 200-acre farm, and
the .forking ^ of it all throughout, Thi^
esti.mnte j's for a good farm in a good
county, and everything taken ^t hired
briers, anJ fqr i^n average of the pa.st five
bad ycjiars ; apdhy It any pfftctic il farmer
wit( boive ,n gn'oq idea of what coi fee done
at fai-mipgittC^tario, ani) 'i the value of

all kinds of stock, ka. The dwelling*
house on this farm is stone, o£ one and
a-half stories in height, and has a kitchen
and all the necessary out-bnildings. The
farms and stables are good and commo<
dious, with large root cellars underneath^
There is a large orchard, and the farm is
well fenced, and has a supply of good
water.
Purchase price of

200 acres at

£14 an acre .. £2800 0 0

6 horses at A20

each £120 0 0

6 cows at £10

;60
10

0
16

0
0

24
15
3i

6
.160

each

6 calves at 36s.
6 yearlings at

£3 128 ... ... 21 12

6 two-year-olds at

£6 36 0

6 steers bought to

feed at £6 36, 0 j9

20 breeding ewes > i 7

at 24s.
26 lambs at 128.
I ram ..

1 bveedipg sow
■ and litter... ...

Implements...
Seed grain and

other seeds

Ca.pital Invested

IjABOUB.,
Two, men one year

at £45 ...
One man nine

months ...
Extra help .,.
Servant girl...
Blacksmith and
carpenters!
accounts... 8 ; O.i
T<^ar and weaj of .i :,,.

implements ... 8.;<hi
Threshing machine : ; „.

four day.fl,,., ... 5„19
Taxes .,/, .,. -„. 13 ©

,■1

|x&i iaiu'i
i gni'Jjtovl

1 fUij n

gCfVi :>:).«

I'M- onsi.iia

•■- .i' Ikxiow

Jito'iq .i»

20 0

90 \ g.

32 U'
10 0
20.,;ft,

■ iri

0£5H
..3311

0
0

roilila ,3ii?3Jxo
ri ;iTW< 0()G

■ .V di ^■■■MKJ

•:i,'i t(;*'*X5

[

...f
t ilony aoq.'*

n O? T«f-.i fl'iw
-ft tT ,aida

0

0,i

.Yield,
2S acres wheat, 20 bushels per acrt>.

20
15
15

a.
1

35
5

*5
15
1&

oats 45 ,,
barley 30 ,..
peas 2fi „
turnips

potatoes, 135 buahelSk
hay at 1^ ton*;. >,■■ ;;
rape. j.uii; :.iK)i;.. ■
pn^turc. !»uf)g odt

■ ;nr;-y,J3
■ ■■ -.1

f^UoW.. -.'';; .■■•f.ila bOOV'-J'i!,:- ^iii

Woo<,llandL '•iD lo •ui'lniun oMu,

— r ^!ii\: .;.-ii-.v ;.•.'.} -jSii Bt'-inrusl ._,'•'■•.■•.■»■
20Q.i niJt i.-iffuid «i 3yo.ia>,iilJ lit . . -

Sales OF Crop and iStock- ;: . «
500 bushels wheat
At,4s. 2d. ... £104^ 3 I, 4 , -•

i. m

i fl

i
I

: :: I

^

I'

Jib

n

460 bushels barlov

at2s. 8Jd '.£68 10 0

125 bushels '^

potatoes at 2s, Id. 13 0 5
Return from cows 50 0 0
6 two-year-old

fat cattle at £14 84 0 0
6 two-year-old

cattle bouglit to

to feed ; profit

thereon 48 0 0

6fathogsat6ilH.... 24 0 0
26 lambs at 249. ... 30 0 0
21 fleeces, t» lbs.

each, at la, 3d.

per lb 6 6 0

Produce of orchard 20 0 0

Total Income
Total Expenditure

£137 19
437 19
185 12

Leaving a profit of £252 7 9

or Interest on £3311 Ss. at the rat« of
£7 128. 5d. per cent.
If this farm was rented, and the owner
receiving six per cent, on his capital of
£2,800 sterling, or a rent of £168, there
■would be a balance of £18 i 7s. 9d. left
aa profit on the capital invested'" in
carrying on the farm. The capital
necessary for a good farm in Ontano is
about 60s. an acre.

SIZB or THB FABM AND BUILDINGS.
The farms are generally of 100 acres in
extent, although the more industrious
and enterprising farmers frequently own
300 acres and upwards, which, in many
cases, is well cleared, and a considerable
extent under cultivation. The farm-
ho.uses may be said to be of three classes :
the first house, in every case, is the shanty,
which is built of axe-squared logs, laid
upon each other, and plastered between
with clay to make the building comfort-
able. The roof is of boards, which is
often covered with shingles, which are
made from cedar or pine ; these shingles
are about the same size as the slate in this
country, and laid on in a similar manner.
The second or next style is the frame-
house, which is of larger proportions than
the shanty, and, in every case, is very
comfortable and convebient, As wealth
increases these frame houses in their turn
give place to brick building of more
clggant construction, giving more and
better accommodation to the immates.
There are various modes of heating the
farm-houses, the general way being with

' the cord-wood stove, although a consider-
able number of the more advanced and
wealthy farmers use the self-feeding coal

' fitove. In this stove is burned the hard
or anthracite coal ; it is self-feeding, and
only rc'quires to be filled twice during the

■. 'Iwcnty-foiu* hours. From this stove,

which is generally placed in tlic hall, tin^

1)ipcs are conducted through the different
obbics of the house and the various
rooms, which makes the whole house quite
comfortable, and in niany cases alto-
gether uncomfortable, being by far too hot.
To thecasual observer, journeying through
the Provinces, a str.ango feature presents
itself in the style of the farm buildings,
which in every case are built of wood.
These houses, or barns aud stables as they
are called, although built of wood, will
last for fifty years ; tliis durability
arises from the fact that the climate is
better than here, and the atmosphere
drier. Although to the traveller there is
little accommodation to be seen about
these bams and stables, still, upon a more
minute inspection, they are found to con-
tain good accommodation for the stock,
and ample room for the hay and grain
crops, along with sufiicient cellar accom-
modation for the root crops, where grown.
The traveller also observes in several
sections of the country the absence of
nipning streams, which leads him to
think that water must be scarce, but upon
enquiry it is found that a good supply of
water is generally obtained by sinking
pumps and deep wells. Although running
streams are few, still there is no scarcity
of rivers, as the country is drained by a
nuiiber of goodly rivers, which are
utilised in the propulsion of various kinds
of mills and manufactories.

FBKCBB.

The general style of fence is the snake
fence, made of rails 12 feet long, placed
the one above the other and zig-zag, at an
angle sufficient to keep them from falling ;
three rails called stake and riders are
placed in the angle to keep the fence
from breaking up. The snake fence rails
are generally made of cedar trees, where
such can be obtained, as they are almost
everlasting. Where cedars cannot be got^
black ash and elm have to be resorted to .
Cedar rails can be purchased where plenti-
ful at aoout £2 2s. per 1,000, 12 feet long,
and where scarce the expense would be
abottt five times that amount. Eight rails
are required to the line, inclusive of the
stakes, to prevent the fence from falling. Bi
some places, where wood is not plentiful,
the board fence is adopted, which looks
much better than the snake fence, being
perfectly straight and made of five sawu
boards, and very much resembling our
rail fence. Another style of fence is
made of galvanized iron wire, two wires
being twisted together with a piece of
smaller wire, entwined at given distances,
which project about halfran-inch. This
fence appears dangerous, ns, if any animal
runs against it, it must in a good many
cajjes get torn and cut with the projecting

A

oi
w

117

; hatl, tin.

differcut
3 various
ou8e quite
ises alto-
far too hot.
ig through
a presents
buildings,
t of wood.
ties as they
w^od, will

durability

climate is
itniosphere
ler there is
soon about
ipon a more
und to con-
• the stock,

and grain
illar accom-
here grown,
s ill several

absence of
ids him to
ce, but upon
od supply of

by sinking
lUgh running
s no scarcity
drained by a

which are
various kinds

! is the snake
long, placed
zig-zag, at an
from falling;
d riders are
ep the fence
ke fence rails
■ trees, where
;y are almost
3annot be got,
)e resorted to •
where plenti-
3,12 feet long,
nse would be
t. Eight rails
iclusive of the
rom falling. Tn
not plentiful,,
d, wluch lookB
e fence, being
e of five sawn
esembling our
3 of fence i»
mTe, two wires
th a piece of
;iven distances,
an-inch. This
!, if any animal
n a good many
i the projecting

wires. Another style is the root fence,
which is probably the most substantial of
the whole, and certainly the least expen-
sive. This fence is made in the same way
as the root fence in this country, the roots
being simply drawn into lines and placed
in order. No such thing as thorn hedges
are to be seen, but a rather nice hedge,
which grows very rapidly, is got by plant-
ing sets of the Osage orange thickly.
This hedge is of rather a prickly nature,
and seems to make a substantial and at-
tractive fence, and well suited for the
country.

HORSES.

The draught horses used throughout
are of a lighter build than we are accus-
tomed to see on farms in this country.
They very much resemble our coach
horses, arc very jictive, and would do a
goo<l deal more trace work than horses of
the Clydesdale breed. Most farmers
think it would be an advantage to have
a heavier class of horses, if activity
could be retained by cossing with the
Clydesdale, lloadsters are very active
fend durable ; tliciy will do a good deal
more work than running horses in this
country, and they possess that valuable
quality of being remarkably sure-footed ;
they are, on the whole, very well adapted
to the country. The prices of farm horses
vary from £20 to £30 each, and good
roadsters cost from £ 1 5 to £20 each.

CATTLE.

The various breeds of cattle are fairly
good, and very much better than the
visitor is prepared to expect. The native
breed is no doubt coarse, being too high
on the shoulders and too weak on the
loins ; the head is well set on, and gene-
rally well protected with a pair of
tremendous horns ; the bone is by far too
heavy, and all over they show a want of
breeding.

If a district is taken in the Province of
Ontario around such places as Brantford,
Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Whitby, and
Woodstock, where a good many of the
farmers have already become alive to the
fact that to compete favourably with the
home farmers in the English market a
better breed of cattle must be maintained
and in order to improve the breed, work
has already been commenced by the use
of better sires of the Shorthorn, HerefoKl,
and Galloway breed — around the above-
mentioned towns a lot of feeding cattle
are to be found, which would be very
creditable in many of the home markets.
A good many enquiries are being made re-
garding the polled Aberdeens. Being with-
out horns, they are considered to be a breed
which would suit admirably for shipping
purposes, and would fatten more rapidly
than their rivals, the Galloways.

As it is a most important factor in the
agriculture of this country to know at
what rate good beef can be produced ia
Canada, I will now give the system of
feeding, the price of the beef, and a few
figures to show the cost of transmission
to England.

The young cattle csnerally run in the
bush during the summer season, during
the winter season they are fed upon straw
or hay, and in some cases Indian corn
stalks. When tied up to fatten tBey
receive a few roots in addition, generally
about 60 lbs. per beast. An allowance is
also given of mixed grains and an addi-
tion of some bran, along with water, which
upon a few farms flows continually before
them. In the Provinces of Ontario and
Quebec, in the Eastern Townships, beef
for shipping can be produced at 5 cents a
lb. live weight. In Nova Scotia the
cost of production should be less, being
quite close to the seaport of Halifax, and
in the country where good hay is 80
abundant and cheap.

The following figures will show the
price at which beef can be delivered in
Liverpool : — :
Bullock, 1,600 lbs., at 5 cents, all

live Wight £15 12 6

Bailwaj charges to shipping

port 10 0

Present ocean freight 4 10 0

Keep and attendance on voyage 0 10 0

Insurance 0 10 0

Expenses after, arrival 0 10 0

>q(i isitL

£22 12 6

This bullock of 1,500 lbs. live weight will
dress at least 56 per cent., wliich is 840 lbs.
These figures, therefore, show that beef
can be brought to Liverpool from Canada
at from 61d. to 6Jd. per lb., or, in other
words, about £3 per cwt.

TttE CHOPS OF THE COUNTBT.
The general crop of the country is wheat
of difEerent vai'ieties. Fall wheat has
been a better crop during the last few
years than spring wheat, generally yielding
about one quarter more per acre, and
always in the market realising a higher
price. This year fall wheat looks remark-
ably well all over — so well in fact that in
the neighbourhood of London, Canada
West, I saw thousands of sheep feeding on
the wheat fields ; and in the County of
Kent a field of wheat which was sown on
the 9th September had attained the enor-
mous height of 22 inches on the 11th
October. This being a very critical stage
for this field, it was mown down and pas-
tured with cattle to save it from destruc-
tion. This is not the only wheat field
vdiich was mown this fall ; and from this
rapid growth it may be shown that a mild

H''

— ii->

118

winter is not conducive to the interests of
the Canadittn farmer, but rather very
much against their prosperity. The quan-
tity of seed required is about 1} bushels
whcrf drilled, and two bushels of spring
wheat also drilled. Fall wheat is gene-
rally manured with farm-yard manure,
Ktd sovnng commences aljiout the 10th
September, and reaping time about the
lath July. Results may be stated to vary
(from 20 to 35 bushels per acre, according
to the season and the general management
of the farm arid crop. It does not pay the
farmer to grow a less quantity than 20
bushels, and he cannot afford to sell this
quantity under one dollar, or four shillings
and twojwnce, a bushel to have a sufficient
profit.

Barley is generally grown on the lighter
class of soilf^ and as a rule does not get
farm-yard m:uiuro. The quantity of seed
used varies from 1^ to Ij bushels per acre,
drilled, and the return may be placed at
40 bushels per acre.

Oats arc not much grown for sale, as pro-
bably they are the least remunerative of any
icereal. The season being so short brings
them to maturity too quickly; consequently
they arc of light weight, often not more
than 31 lbs. per bushel. Quantity of seed
required 2^ bushels Where drilled, and the
average return may be stated at 60 bushels
per acre.

Peas. — Regarding this crop the same
quantity of seed is used as of oats, and the
return is about 35 bushels.

Farmers generally calculate upon being
able to sell the coarse grains — that is wheat,
barley, oats and peas — at about a cent a lb.

Hay. — The quantity of hay grown varies
from 2 J to 3 ton.s per acre, and the second
year's cutting is generally the best.

Potatoes, neai" the large cities, are grown
in large quantities. They are a very re-
munerative crop ; from 200 to 300 bushels
can be raised per acre, and they often
realise 2s. a bushel, and sometimes riiore.
Good potatoes are being shipped to the
United States in increasing quantities
yearly, bringing lots of money to the
! Canadian farmers.

Turnips and mangolds are not so much
grown as they will be byc-and-bye, as
when farmers go more largely in for live
stock a greater breadth of roots must be
i raised. 700 bushels of turnips, and
probably 1000 of mangolds, can be grown
per acre, and all this without the aid of
■artificial manure.

I I will now go briefly over the Province
of Ontario, speak of the principal coun-
ties and their chief town, and give the
price of good farms in the several counties.
I Ottawa is the capital of the Dominiprt,
And is situated on the banks of the River
Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario. It

is the seat of iho Government, and con-
tains the extensive Parliamentajy build-
ings, which were erected only a few
years ago. These buildings are an orna-
ment and a credit not only to the city
but to the Dominion of Canada. Ottawa
is a city well built of stone, and contains
a population of 22,000 inliaWitant*. The
principal industry of Ottawa is lumbering,
there beijig in tlie neighbourhood numbers
of very large and extensive saw niillf and
timber yard.s. The wood is grown in the
interior of the counti7, and floated dpwn
the river, and as there are various falls,
full advantage of them is taken in pro-
pelling various kinds of ninchinery.

Toronto, formerly called Little York, ia
the largest city in Ontario. It is the
capital of the Oounty of York, the Queen
City of the West, and the Beat of the
Provincial Parliament. The heads of all
the different educational inslitutions and
colleges for all the various professions
are to be found here. Toronto is a model
city, having very wide streets laid off at
right angles, containing a number of
splendid blocks of buildings, and is on the
whole well built. In the suburbs of the
city there is a class of superior residences
for the merchant princes and private
gentlemen. Although this is the largest
city in the Province, still it is not, on the
whole, 80 great a manufacturing centre as
it might well bo. The great distillery of
Messrs. Goodherham & Worts, which is
the laigcst not only in Canada, but the
largest in the world, gives employment
to a considerable number of workmen.
At this distillery there are 2,619 head of
cattle being prepared for the liondon
market, and fed on the slops of the distil-
lery and hay. The eminent firm of Messrs.
Jacques & Hay, whose furniture is famed
all over the world, have their large manu-
factory here ; they give employment
to a considerable number of workmen.
In 1793, when Mr. Pouchette visited this
spot, he found dense forests and a solitary
wigwam. In 1794 the first rudiments of
a British settlement were formed. The
population of Toronto in IS.'H was 2,70),
and now it is supposed to contain about
80,000 inhabitants.

There are good farms in the comity of
York, which, in the neighbourhood of
Toronto, sell from £14 to £18 an acre,
when the buildings are good. In the
interior of the county the prices might
ra'nge from £10 to £14. Forms rue too
dear at anything approaching £18, as it
takes too longtime to realise it, nidess it
be in the vicinity of the city, when the
I crops can all be marketed at the highest
I current'price.

I Hamilton, or the ambitious city, was
j first visited by the white-man in the year

119

und con-
y build-

a few
an orna-
ilie city

Ottawa
cuntains
i*. The
ni boring,
numbers
niillc and
vn in the
;cd dpwa
ous falls,
I in yvo-
jrv.

a York, is
It is the
hu Queen
at of the
■ads of all
itions and
rofessiona
s a model
laid oft at
umber of
d in on the
lbs of the
residences
d private
Lhe largest
lot, on the
ft centre as
istillery of

which is
ia, but the
oployment
■workmen.
11) head of
16 London

the distil-
i of Messrs.
e is famed
irge manu-
al ploy ment

workmen,
visited this
1 a solitary
idiments of
nied. The

was 2,70),
itaiii about

B comity of
nu'biH)d of
18 an acre,
i. In the
rices might
rmis M'c too
^^ £18, as it
it, nrdess it
y, when the
the higheat

13 city, was
in the year

1779. In 1830 it contained a population
of only 653, and now the nnmber of in-
habitants is supposed to be 36,000.
Hamiltonians claim for thcii* city as bcr
ing the Birmingham of Canada ; be that
as it may, a considerable amount of
manufacturing is doiic heix:, probably
more than in any other city of a similar
population. It contains rolling mills,
metal pipe and nail raanufact<jrics, and
TArious foundries for the manufacture of
stoves, &c. In Hamilton the Wanzer
sewing machines are turned out at the
rate of 100 per day, and exported to all
parts of the world, Hamilton is the
capital of the county of Wentworth, and
possesses good county l^uildings, which
were erected a few years ago at an ex-
pense of £30,000. On its streets, which
are wide, are to be found good stores and
first-rate banking and'other offices ; and
in the neighbourhood are to be seen
numbers of villas, where the more suc-
cessful merchants and others reside.

Land in the county of Wentworth
varies greatly, and farms cost from £8
to £12 an acre, depending greatly upon
the quality of the soil, and buildings ; also,
the proximity to a railway station.

Guelph, in the Comity of Wellington,
was probably visited by the first white man
in the person of John Gault, the novelist,
whose monument stands in Greenock,
Scotland. John Gault, at any rate, cut
the first tree, where Guelph now stands,
on the 23rd of April, 1827 ; the primeval
forest he turned into a fruitful field, and
since those days it has become an impor-
tant commercial and manufacturing city,
having now a population of 10,000 in-
habitants. Wellington is one of the best
Counties in Ontario, being very well
watered, and well cultivated; the lands
are rolling, and generally good. Farms
sell from £10 to £12 an acre. In the neigh-
bourhood of Quelph are to be found breeders
of the shorthorn, Hereford, and Galloway
cattle. Mr. Stoiie owns laige herds of
both the shorthorn and Hereford, and
Mr. McCrae is an enthusiastic breeder of
the Galloways. There is a class of cattle
throughout this County which would
Buprise even the most fastidious, aud at
the late Christmas market the cattle ex-
hibited would compare favourably with
that seen at many of the home markets.

The Model Farm, Guelph, or Agricul-
tural College, is distant about one and a-
half miles from the town of Guelph.
This farm is supported by the Province of
Ontario, and is an institution calculated to
do a great amount of good to the yoimg
farmers studying there. The College
buildings are of stone, and provide ample
accommodation to the ninety-one students
studying there, but this accommodation

is by far too limited, as last year the
applications for admission were considcr-
ablV over two hundred.

The princinlcs and practice of agricul-
ture are taught by Professor lirown, who
was at one time a factor in the County of
Aberdeen. There are abto competent
professors who give the students lectures
in English, mathematics, and veterinary
science. The students are in the lecture
room for five hours a day, and they work
on the farm other fire hours. By the
system which is adopted the students are
charged board and washing at cost, and as
a 8Ct-o3 they receive so much an hour for
their work on the farm, which practically
means free tuition to a fair worker. If the
young Canadian farmers do not receive
the most advanced education and the best
training for their adopted business, the
blame must rest at their own door.

In the cultivation of the farm, the
system adopted is what is called the
"seventh shift" — the first crop being
pease ; the second, wheat ; the third,
green crop, such as turnips, mangolds,
potatoes, and Indian corn ; then barley
or oats, followed by three years' grass, the
first two being always out for hay. All the
various breeds of cattle are kept, and the
stock includes the shorthorn, Ayrshire,
Hereford, Devon, Polled Aberdeen, and
Galloway. From the appearance which
the Herefords present at this farm and
other places, they seem to bo very well
adapted to the country. The breeds of
sheep include the Leicester, South 1 )o\vn,
Shropshire, and Cotswold. The Slirop-
shires hero look the best of all the
breeds, A good many of the best
specimens of the various breeds of cattle
and sheep have been imported from
Britain. The extent 6f the farm is 550
acres, 400 of which are cleared and under
cultivation; The most of the land is a
olayey loam, resting on a gravelly subsoil.
The fields are fenced with straight fences
of board and wire, which, on the wliole,
makes the farm very much resemble an
English homestead. As the students
have to assist in the practical work of
the farm, the fields are, as would be ex-
pected, very clean, and free of weeds.
The farm in every way shows good and
careful management, and reflects great
credit on Professor Brown, in whose
hands the management lies. This season
all the crops, were good, and the turnips
of excellent quality, testing over twenty
tons an acre. Experiments are being
carried on with cattle feeding, the animals
have been selected from the different
herds, and placed alongside each other.
In fattening it has been found advisable
to reduce the allowance of roots con-
siderably, and in no case does the quantity

'I
M

■ f

I

■ I

'; )i

120

H if

now ^'iv('n oxcoetl HO or 40 lb«. )icr honst
por day. The qunntity of pniin nllowcd
<lcppn(ls on oircnmstaiicos, and may be
slato<l at from 0 to 8 lbs. per day ; tlio
estimateil infrcase in wpiglit is 2 lbs.
per day. The rariotis hv.n\n of shoqi are
fed (in'pofts, straw, and hay, with a little
grain ; and from the general appearanee
of the different breeds, the Shropshire
carry tiie palm, and appear to be the
breed best snited to the country. '^'"
larf^e pi?K''''y i" ftlle<l with Bpl A
specimens of the famous Berkshir'- .-jod;
lind {mm experiments made in ♦' . -cding
of pigs, it has been elenrly , ved that the
tnost progress in fattening has been made
on white pease' when supplied whole.
'Several of the horses used arc very nearly
pure ClydcKdale, and are superior to the
norses to be found on farms in the district.
London was only surveyed in 1826; it
is now the capital nf the county of
Middlesex, and has a population of
21,000 inhabitants. Tt is situated on the
banks of the river Thames, and has got
its V)ridges — Blackfriars, Westminster,
and others common to t>'.e City of I;ondon.
A Kensington and Oovent Garden, and
every other familiar name to be found in
the great metropolis, is also to be found
in Canada West. It lias got a weekly
market to which the farmers bring the
produce of the farm, the orchard, and the
garden. The following is a list of market
prices on the 1 0th December: —

GKAIN.
"Wheat, Winter, #• 100 lb8.$2 16 to |2 19

„ Spring „ ... ] 65 to 1 90

Corn ... 0 90 to 1 10

Oats 1 00 to 1 02

Eac' wheat ' 0 85 to 0 95

Kyi- 0 80 to 0 90

PJas 0 90 to 1 60

:jarley 0 95 to 1 28

PRODUCE.

■Eggs, ^doz 0 18 to 0 22

Butter, Crock 0 16 to 0 18

„ Rollh 0 20 to 0 25

„ Firkins ;.. 0 14 to 0 18

Cheese, ^ lb 0 11 to 0 12

FLOUR AND PEKD.

Pall Flour .^cwt... 3 60 to 8 75

Mixed Flonr „ ... 3 25 to 3 50

Spring Flour ... „ ... 3 25 to 3 60

Oatmeal, Fine... , ... 2 50 to 3 00

,. Granulated ... 3 00 to 3 60

Graham B'lonr ... „ ... 3 25 to 3 60

Coi-nmeal „ ... 1 75 to 2 00

Shorts y ton ...10 00 to 18 00

Bran „ ...10 00 to 12 00

SKIMS AND HIDES.

Sheepskins, each 0 60 tp 1 00

Lambskins „ 0 60 tb 1 00

Calfskins, green.No.l, #'lb. 0 10. to 0 00

„ No. 2 0 08 to 0 00

"' ' ^•" Dry 0 16 to 0 16

Hid. s, No. 1 .jp- lb. $0 nj to to 00

„ No. 2 0 8J to 0 00

MlHrKI.r.AKKOt'8.

Potatoes (Jf bag 0 55 to 0 65

Onions if' b.ag 0 80 to 1 00

Apples #• bag 0 60 to 0 65

Tallow, ren<lercd 0 06 tb 0 08

Beef if lb. by the quarter. 0 ()3Jto 0 05

Lamb ditto 0 07 to O.OS

■ ..rk 0 06 to 0 07

Turkeys each 0 CO to 1 00

Geese each 0 36 to 0 60

Ducks if pair 0 60 to 0 65

Chickens if pair 0 40 to 0 60

Live Hogs if 100 lbs 4 00 to 4 60

Dressed Hogs ^ 100 lbs... 6 00 to 6 00

Hay .^ ton 9 00 to 10 00

CordwoodNo.ldryi^P'cord 4 00 to 4 25

Coal, all stove kinds 6 40 to 6 60

Parsnips per bush 0 50 to 0 60

Turnips „ 0 23 to 0 ?3

London has Iwen the first city in Canada
to adopt the principle of heating by
steam. The steam is generated in large
boilers, and conveyed over the city Tn
large pipes encased in some non-conduct-
ing material. The pipes are introduced
into the houses in a similar manner to
the gas pipes, and the amount of heat is
regulated by the quantity of steam
allowed to pass through the various pipes
in the house.

The famous brewery of Messrs. Carling
and Co. is here, and this fii-m has been
the first to commence the brewing of the
celebrated German beverage, the much-
priced lager beer, which is so refreshing,
and has become so common during the
summer season. Some of the largest oil
refineries in the world are here, the crude
being got from Petrolia, distant about
fifty miles. At Petrolia and Both well
there are thousands of pumps to be seen,
all driven by steam-power, pumping the
crude from wells, which, on an average,
are about 480 feet deep.

Farms near London sell at about £16
an acre, and throughout the country,
which very much resembles Wellington,
at from £10 to £12 an acre.

Brartford is the capital of the County
of Brant, which very much resembles the
neighbouring County of Oxford. This
thriving city has a population of 10,000
inhabitants, is generally well built, and
contains a good many manufactories,
which give employment to the labouring
classes.

The lands in this county are generally
good, iindulatliig, and well watered, with
very little bush — in fact, no more than is
necessary for the supply of cordwood and
the other timbC" which is required on
the farm. From Bwuitford a drive of
four miles takes the visitor to the world-
renowned farm of " Bow Park," which

■was until a few
Hon. George Br
paper editor, ai
'Ihronto lilobr i
now owned by t
Stock Associntici
concern, haviujj
owned on this si
other side of the
under the manaf
Kcrchestcr, near
acres, of which '
qtttte of cultiva
acres being undc
of wood fororna
fine farm is pleas
bank of the Grai
rounded by its w
vial deposit, restii
from the high si
farm, as well a
feeding the stoc
so rich, the farm
most fertile natui
As the farm i?
large and valual
cattle .ind a flo
necessary to have
tensive and com
buildings, for cor
and comfort, wer(
but at the time o:
not in their glory
in ashes. I visite
after that terrible
the whole place \
of three large catt
were early takei
restored, and ev
proper oixier for
hesd, the flock, a
be of particular
system of manag
large farm, a brie
is here given. _
cropping is obser
extent is genera
the fall and cut
ing, which, as a r
about the first we
ing the times of
be extended un
June. The wei,
varies from 1 6 to
ing, of course, gi
the condition of
oats, peas, and
soiling crop; and
to 50 acr < r.re
being always rea(
green rye. Thetl
corn, of which
*nenced to be pi
May. This gree
feed for the mon
tember, or if dri

N

121

• r

■WM until a few years ngo owncil by the
Hon. George Hrown, Uic suceossful nfiwp-
papcr editor, iiii'l the proprietor of the
Toronto (ilohr newspaper. This farm is
now owned by the " Canada West Farm-
Stoek Associntion," which is ajoint-?tuok
concern, having the half of its capital
owned on this aide and the half on the
other side of the Atlantic. Bow Park is
under the managi'ment of Mr. John Clay,
Kcrchestcr, near Kelso ; the extent is 900
acres, of which 780 arc under the highest
qtatc of cultivation, the remaining 120
acres being under forest trees and belts
of woo<l for ornament and shelter. This
fine farm ispleasantly situated on the left
bank of the Grand River, and almost sur-
rounded by its waters. The soil is an allu-
vial deposit, resting on a clay subsoil ; and
from the high state of cultivation of the
farm, as well as the liberal system of
feeding the stock, making the ni.anUro
so rich, the farm is, consequently, of the
most fertile nature.

As the farm is intended to support a
large and valuable herd of short-horn
cattle and a flock of good sheep, it is
necessary to have buildings of a very ex-
tensive and commodious nature. These
buildings, for completeness, ( nvcnicnce,
and comfort, were jTobably unsurpassed ;
but at the time of my visit I saw them,
not in their glory, not even in ruins, but
in ashes. I visited Bow Park a few days
after th.at terrible conflagration which laid
the whole place waste, with the exception
of three large cattle stables or byres. Steps
were early taken to have the buildings
restored, and everything again put in
proper oi-der for the management of the
hei?d, the flock, and the stud. As it may
be of particular interest to know the
system of management pursued on this
large farm, abrieiP and minute description
is here given. No particular rotation of
cropping is observed, but a considerable
extent is generally under rye, sown in
the fall and cut green for summer feed-
ing, which, as a regular thing, connnences
about the first week in May, and by vary-
ing the times of sowing the cuttings may
be extended until the second week of
June. The weight of this green crop
varies from i6 to 25 tons an acre, depend-
ing, of course, greatly on the season and
the condition of the soil. A mixture of
oats, peas, and tares makes the second
soiling crop; and of this mixture from 40
to 50 act ; r.re grown, the first cutting
being always ready in time to succeed the
green rye. The third soiling crop is Indian
corn, of which about 100 acres are com-
menced to be planted about the 20th of
May. This green com makes a valuable
feed for the months of August and Sep-
tember, or if dried and stocked it makes

valuable f(xldor for tho winter season.
An acre of this green corn li.is been
weighed at Bow P.uk.rnd found to reach
the enormous weight of 36 tons. From
fiO to 70 acres of Canadian corn arc plant-
ed early in .fune, and immediately after
it comes the catcl) crops of Western corn,
which are taken from the fields where
the mixtures of oats, peas, and tares
grew. With this mode of cropping, about
70 acres are found amply HuflJcient to
supply the herd with food from the Ist
of May till the end of September; then
the aftermath of the meadows furnish a
sufficient supply until It is time for the
cattle to be housed.

For winter use, the early planted West-
ern corn and the later Canadian, tho
Hungarian grass and hay, along with the
unu.sed mixture of oats, peas, and tares,
with the addition of turnips and mangolds,
arc found amply sufficient to carry the
stock over till May. Large quantities ol
bran, along with oilcake and Indian
com, are purchased for the stock. A con-
siderable extent of ground is always
under wheat and barley, and about 60
acres are also under turnips and mangolds,

The mnnagement of the large herd,
which i" the largest in the world of short-
horns, is in the hands of Mr. John Hope,
from Northumberland. The herd gene-
rally numbers from three to four hundre4
head, and is composed of all the mos*;
famous families of short-horns in the
world. Regarding the various families on
this farm, suffice it to say that the Adelizas,
Cambridge, Countess, and the aristocratic
DuchessesofAylmer, Barrington,Clarence,
Dereham, Oxford, Woodhill, and the
famous Kirklcvingtons, along with tho
celebrated Ringhtly Grand Duchess, and
the Oxford, Waterloos, and Wild Eyes,
are to be found here in all their purity
and grandeur, having excellent shapes
!fid high-bred pedigree combined.

The Canadian farmers have scarcely
yet began to realize the value and im-
portance of having a good cla.«8 of cattle;
but I have no doubt they will soon find
this out, and draw more largely from the
stock of Bow Park and similar herds. As
yet the Bow Park short-horas have been
generally sold to go to the States. At a
sale which lately took place in Chicago
a draft of i > head from this herd realised
the average uf 60 gidneas each.

Woodstock is the capital of the County
of Oxford, and has a population of 400i0
inhabitants ; the lands throughout the
county are generally good, rolling, and
well-watered by creeks. This county has
been settled for forty years, and, conse-
quently, is well cleared, not having much
bush — in fact, not more than is necessary
to supply the farmers with the timber

\ 1

1,1

4. i

fy^

122

I .

jiequired upon their farms. Tliere are
Several gravel pits throughout the county,
and it possesses bett.er toads tliaii many
of its neighbours. Good and well-cle^ued
farms sell from d? ! 2 to iJ5 an acre. A
drive of four miles from Wqodstock takes
the visitor to the Township of Zorra, and
to the farm of Huntingfurd, occupied h.y
Mr. William Donaldson, who went from
the neighbourhoi d of Palston, Cuu>bi.'r-
land, a number of years ago. Mr. Donald-
son is one of the model farmers in this
section of the country, and owns a farm of
SOO acres, nearly all cleared, s ifEi(:i?ti,t bash
orily remaining to protect the stock from
the.^un's rayij and for .the .supply of the
farm. The buildings on this farm are
good, and much superior as regards
accomriiodation and convenience to those
generally seen thi-oughout the country.
A. large stocking of cattle is kept here,
^nd a consideiable number of good-
graded steers are fattened. In ^be feed-
ing, the allowance of roots amounts to
ftbout 60 lbs., and a liberal allowance of
niixed grains and bran is also used. For
the summer season Mr. Donaldson esti-
mates the expense of grazing feeding
cattle at 13s. per month, and about
Sduble that sum for the winter months
when a mixture c' grain is used. A nice
flock of breeding ewes is kept, which,
WitU' careful housing during the winter
Reason, pay handsomely. The expense
ql keeping sheep a week on grass
is estimated at 3d. per head, and for
"wintering about double that sum, when
an allowance of artificial food is given.
ihe land in this section being good, crops
^ow; abundantly and yield well. The
Slawsbn variety of wheat has thrashed
on an average ^bout 3i bushels an acre on
good farms this season. The yield of the
coarse grains, such as barley, oat.s, and
peas, may be stated at 40, 50, and 30
bushels respectively. Clover seeds are
hot much ripened, but where ripened
would thrash from two to three bu.shels

f)er acre. When clover seeds are ripened
t is always the second crop, or, as is
.called in this coun^iy,the aftermath, which
is ripened, p"*-, -uX thrasheti.
; In harvest, a more expiditious mode of
working prevails than here ; and in order
'to show, it may be mentioned that a
machine will cut the same quantity as
.here, or say ten acres a day ; and these
,i>cres are lifted by five men, exclusive of
the driver of the machine, stocking being
dope at noon and night by all hands.
The current rate of wages, where men ai'e
engaged by the year, is £30 with board,
"and duriag haying and harvest from 4s.
to Gs. a day with board; and during
these busy seasons the men work from
daylight till dark. There are several

cheese fac^tories in this cv^Uii'ly, and a
very extensive one in the town.-ihip of
Zo)Ta, at which the milk of about one
thou.sand cow.'j is made into chocfae, great
care being taken in producing a good
article. The following figures given by
Mr. W. Eager, .of the South Mountain
Cheese Factory, may be of interest. , Mr.
Eager manufactured about eighty tons
of cheese l&st season, and in the manu-
facture the milk of one thousand covvs
was used. The farmers deliver their milk
at the manufactory, and the cost of
manufacture is 1 i cents per lb. of cheese.
Manufacturing commences on the 1st of
May, and ends on the 20th of October.
The estimates for the average of the
season is that 10 lbs. of milk will produce
1 lb. of cheese, and a calculation is made
that it coots 10 cents (or 5d.) per lb. to
produce 1 lb. of cheese before it is
put in good shipping condition; cheese
cannot bo sold but at a loss to the farmer*
below 5d. per lb. Mr. E. had six men
employed at;l(is manufactories, tmd in t.lie
making of eighty tons of cheese. The
yield of milk is most abundant duj'ing the
month of June, v\".en the cows will give
twenty-six pounds each, consequently
producing fully 2 J lbs, of cheese;, the
month of July is the worst of the whole
season, and in this month the milk is
richest, when 8^ Ib.s. of milk will produce
1 lb. of cheese. Farmers consider them-
selves fairly paid if they get £6 for the
cows' milk during the cheese-making
season.

COUNTIES OF ESSKX AKD KEN;iJk
These two south- wosti'irn count its are
generally called the Western J'.rainsula,
and are the most southerly poi"tiou.^ of the
Dominion. A good proportion of these
counties seems to have boen ni,glocted.
from the fact that settlers generally found
a comfortable home before roacliii>g them,
or passed through them on their onward
march to the north-west. There is still a
considerable extc.it of the priaetfal forest
to be seen, whcr'.' the woodman's axe has
not laid the giant of th'^ foreot; still ii»°se
immense trees • • giving pitce by natui<;
to cultivation, -: .from the ob.structiona
caused by them in a country .so flat as
these counties, which lately were without
ditches to carry off the water, the general
character of the country was considered
of a swampy nature. For the ra))id pro-
gress and speedy develo]>ment of these
counties great barriers exist, such as the
Canada Companv, and other land specu-
lators, who hold' their lands too high in
price. It is probably within the last
fifteen years that tlese counties ^ave
been opened up, and from their geo-
graphical position it is evident they have
been neglected. They are almost but-

123

h

J, una a
viinhip of
vbout one
cfac, K^eat
cr a good
givcu by
MottuiJun
rest. . Mr.
t>lity tous
the mauu-
jfind covva
thciv niilk
e cost ol
. of cheese,
the Ist of
f October.
re of tlie
'ill lifoilucc
)n is made
per lb. to
cforc it is
on; cheese
the farmers
xd six men
s, kJid in tlie
leese. The
tdiu'ingthe
fs will give
onscqucQtly
cheese; the
p the whole
the milk is
will produce
isider thcm-
£6 for the
eese-making

D KEN».
couniii'B are
11 p.-aiiisula,
irtJoui of the
ion of these
Q ncf^locf.ed.
lerally t'uvirid
rtchil^g tlicm,
M\v onward
ere is still a
le^sO. forest
ars axe has
,t; still ih'ise
00 by natui<?
obstructiona
rj so flat as
.ere without
■, the general
,s considered
he rapid pro-
ent of these
such as the
land specu-
too high in
hin the last
ounties -.ave
their geo-
ent they have
almost Bur-

rounded by waijr, and undoubtedly they
possess the finest and mildest climate of
any portion of the Dominion. They have
also the advantage of being traversed east
and west by two first-class railroads, and
as they are surl-oundcd by nji vigable waters,
their facilities for trade ani commerce are
very great. Windsor is the capital of
EsseXj is situated on the banks of the river
Detroit, and has a population of 4500
inhabitants. There are a few manu-
factories in Windsor, but tile principal
industry is the large distillery gf Messrs.
Walker, who employ two hundred naen.
At this distillery 1800 busliels of grain,
^hicfly Indian com, are used daily ; and
their capacity for maltiiig.whichis entirely
separate from the distilling, is 500 bushels
of barley daily for eight, months, in, the
year. At this distillery 2000 head of
cattle are anijually fattened for the
English market, the fuod being the slop
along with hay, of which some 3000 tons
are required. To raise this bay and
otTior ci-ojis some 2000 acres of land are
cultivated in the vicinity of Wiuvlsor. The
cattle are tied up in the month of October,
and with the winter's feeding they are
ready to sliip in the month of May. A
drive of ten miles from Windsor takes the
visitor to a fann which eight years ago
was solid bush. The extent of this farm
is 350 acres in one block, and of this extent
200 acres have been cleared, and in
a very good state of cijltivation. The
crops grown are wheat, barley, oats, apd
corn.

The KVerage of tbe wheat has been 26
bushois pev acre, barley 40, and oats 60
to CO l-ash(?ls. . Magnificent crops of corn
are r;dsed and fed to ho.srs, of which 100
are fed annually. In this section a good
ro'.ation of cropping is, supposed to be as
follow^ viz. — cprn, wheat, bai'ley, or
oats, which is sown down with timothy
oivl cloVers,

Drill sowing is generally resorted
to for the wheat, and two bushels of
seed all') wed por acre. One peck of
corn is slffic.ient to plant an acre; and
as the corn takes the place of the
green crop in this country, it is necessary
to enltivate it both ways ; good farmers
performing this operation twice during
the sen sou to tusurc the land being
afterwards tlioiunglily clean. Through-
out the County of Essex farms are to be
found in abundance, with 60 or 70 acres
clejircd, which only fifteen years ago was
heavy bush. Those fia-ms, variously inj-
l)i-ovcd, are now selling from £6 to £9 an
aero. Orchards, viryii;g, in extent, from
oi'ic to twenty aorc^, !ue scattered .all over
tin? country, and the produce forms a con-
siderable source of revciuie to their owners.
'J'he neighbouring county, of Kent has for

its capital Chatham, which has a popula-
tion of 50C3 inhabitants. In Ghatliam ia
to be found one of the best mr.rkets in
West Ontario, where a very large business
is doiie in grain and hogs, which are fat-
tened in great numbers all over the
country. |(Jhatham is situated on the
River Thames, and on the nver banks
there arc some of the finest farms and
richest land in the Province, which fre-
quently sells as high as £16 to =20 an
acre. The Towusliip of Tilbury East is
twelve miles from Chatham, and is settled
by Donside and Crimiar men, who left
their native country from eight to ten
years ago ; they now all feel proud of the
laud of their adoption, and are, like many
other's, sorry tbey did not cross the Atlantic
at an. earlier date.- In this section, which
is young, a good deal more corn is grown
than in any other part of the country.

Indian corn is always taken offl: newly
reclaimed land, and frequently four or five
crops are taken in succession. The cortt
is planted about the latter half of May^
and good crops average from 70 to 100
bushels in the husk. A drive from
Chatham to Ridgetown, Buckhorn, and
Blenheim takes the traveller through a
magnificent country, which is celebrated
for its tine wheat and Indian cornfields.

From the similarity of tbe Counties of
Essex and Kent, the remarks applied to
the one may appropriately be applied to
the others and frcm their favourable
location, rich soil, and mild climate, they
are probably as well worth the attention
of the settler as any other part of the
Province. Wild lands are held from £3
to £4 an acre, and the expense of clearing
is estimated to cost other £3. Tliis wild
land takes about eight years before it can
be stumped and thoroughly free of roots,
but some of Die more enterprising farmers
have stumping machines, which extract
them upon being relieved of the surround-
ing earth.,

The (Jounties of Lincoln and Wellftnd
form the garden of Can.wla for fruit ; the
farmers mostly derive their living from
the produce of the orchard an<i vhe vine-
yard. The extent of these orcliards
vary from one acre up to- tvvjuty, and on
the whole they are highly remunerative.

In the neighbourhood of Gr'm'hy Mr.
Kitchen owns a large orohaivl which ex-
tends to some 60 acres. This orchard
contains 3000 apple trees and 50i' stand-
anls of the finer varieties of fruit, such as
cherry, peach, p.'.ar, and plum trees.
Thero is also a vciy productive vineyard,
which c(mtains lOtiij grape vines. Last
sjason tlu! produce of the orchaitl was
somi: 2000 barrels of apples, which were
sold at 8s. a barrel, and the average
yearly sales of the produce of the orcha'.d

^-^

124

and the vineyard amounts to some £1600
■or £1800. When a new orcharli is
planter! out, 150 apple trees are required'
an acre, but in many cases *^e number of
apple trees is reduced, and a i-ow of peach
or other trees intervene.

On driving through these counties, it
appears very evident that the farmers
give more attention to their orchards than
their farms ; it too frequently happens
that the manure is applied to the apple
trees, and the wheat fields left without ;
consequently these counties are much
exhausted from an agricultural point of
view.

NIAGARA FALLS.
When this great cataract first presents
itself to the visitor he is disappointed
but upon ft more minute examination ;r .
this great wonder of the world, ana i i
little division of thought from the oi;
great sight to the other, the grandeur
grows upon the visitor's imagination, and
firmly rivets his attention. When the
Falls are approached from the railway,
the first thing to be seen is the immense
bridge of 750 feet which here spans the
river. Below this bridge, and up the river
to the Falls, the water is perfectly calm
and placid, without even a ripple upon the
surface. This is always so, as the waters
upon the surface move slowly, but at a
depth of a few feet there is an nnder-
current which moves on at a great
velocity.

About half way between the railway
bridge and the Falls is the Suspension
Bridge of nearly 1300 feet long. A mile
farther on the Great Falls are reached.
The great breadth of the river, as com-
pared with the height of the precipice,
detracts from the grand appearance of the
Orer-t Horseshoe Falls, with its great
columns of spray. At the foot of the
cataract it is possible, though hazardous,
to penetrate thirty yards behind the
gigantic concave sheet of headlong flood,
where a cavern is formed of about 160
feet in height, 50 in breadth, and HOO in
length. The perilous path lies along the
narrow margin of whirling eddies,
beneath impending rocks, and amidst the
jarring elements. Some amount of self-
possession is, therefore, i.dcessary in
making the nttcmpt, for one false step
might plunge the adventurer i.ito the
horrible vortex beneath. It is probably
from near the Falls that the best view of
the rapids above is t-^ be had ■ aad as the
river widens here co is'dernbly, und the
waters flow rapidly i.'^r the hr-^'^n lime-
stone rock, thesir,!);. istrulT/i'fiui' find one
which cannot bi J ngct^rij. Th' burning
spring, which is itbout a mile above the
Falls, is another object of interest. This
spring was firet discovered by the Indians,

who had an encampment near by, and by
some meuns the vdpoar, which is sul-
phurated hydrogen g'o^, go i 1 1; u i i ed, and
frightened thehi froin their place of
abode. This gas is now conducted by a
small pipe from the well, burns con-
stantly, aud sends forth a brilliant, cleM
light. The visitor to the Falls the first
time is justly startled with the rapidity
thti dollars take their departure. The tolls
are so numerous, and the charges iii every
way so absurd, that money seems here of
no value. There is a great necessity, and
it surely will yet be that the Governments
of the two countries will do something in
the way of making an International Park,
charging a certain sum for admission, and
I Uer; (ij put an end to the present legalised
,.^ '~i of robbery which is practiced on
all, t r.. nlmost by all, alike.

'•''JO vireat Falls are left behind, and the
coLorated Welland Canal crossed, and a
visit made to the Whitby district, which
lies east of Toronto. In this district Mr.
James L Davidson, who went from the
Parish of Monguhitter a number of years
ago, now owns a large farm. Mr. D. is an
intelligent agriculturist — a representative
farmer in every way — also takes a most
important part in the promotion of agri-
culture, and in the improvement of the
Shorthorn cattle and the Clydesdale breed
of horses. Mr. D. has just completed the
building of a splendid house, pvA he has
got superior and extensive barns and
stables well-filled with good Shorthorn
cattle and sv.Derior Clydesdale horses.
The experic ■ ■ u:" tl- ' intelUgent farmer
corroborat( tl.e statements of other
famous bi uJ'T - T;bat the farmers of
Canada o • t tn.'-r. vhe full advantage of
their hcilj i r, improvement of their
stock. Mr. i:., ike others, always finds a
better market . ' ' ,; States for good
Shorthorn bulls ..<ui lirst-class Clydesdale
marcs. LaP''.d in this section very much
resemble ^ne Counties of Oxford and
Wellington ; the mode of cultivation and
the crops grown arc very similar, good
fields of turnips being grown, as on the
othiT connties, without the aid of artificial
mnnurc. Mr. D. had fifteen acres of
tumiv this season, and from the appear-
ance • "h the bulbs presented the crop
mus' i. V !)een a very gtod one. This is
one oT , ' f,t sections m Ontario, and
goodfai,- near Whitby have been sold
as high ifcS £2i an acre, but the general
price is from £16 to £18.

I may here remark that, on passing
through the town of Whitby a few days
before Christmas, I saw a dressed hog in
a butcher's shop which weighed 800 lbs.

A brief visit through tlie County of Duff-
erin, which has been made by a slice from
each of the Counties of Wellington, (Simco«'j

m

ij, and by
3U is 8ul-
liicd, , and
place of
cted by a
lurna cpn-
iant, clear
9 tbe first
le rapidity
. The tolls
;es in every
ms here of
lessity, and
overnments
unething in
bional Park,
aission, and
jnt legalised
iracticed on

ind, and the
)ssed, and a
trict, which
district Mr.
nt from the
ber of years
Mr. D. is an
sprescntative
;akes a moat
tion of agri-
sment of the
iesdale breed
ompleted the
, pT-d he has
a barns and
)d Shorthorn
sdale horses,
igent farmer
te of other
farmers of
advantage of
mentof their
ilways finds a
tcs for good
is8 Clydepdale
on very much
Oxford and
iltivation and
similar, good
wn, as on the
lid of artificial
tccn acres of
m the appear-
nted the crop
one. This is
Ontario, and
iive been sold
it the general

it, on passing
by a few days
dressed hog in
ghed 800 lbs.
bounty of Duff-
by a slice from
llngton,Kiraco<'j

and tJi'ky,' r6v(jils'fhe' fact' that tfee
agriculture is quite as good in the Town-
ships of Albion, Adjala, Decumsach, and
Essie ok iu to bo found in Ontario, In
thdse townships good farms can be pur-
chased from £,12 to £16 an acre ; and
where the latter pi-ice is given the farms
would bb well located and have the best
class of buildings. Orangeville has. been
made the capil al of the cbunty, and around
it the land is a light sandy loar. restihg
£m gl-avel ; and where such is the case, the
price \^ould be from £4 to £8, an acre,
dependiVig upon the amount of the
clearance I'he Orangeville district is
famed f oi- the production of superior oats.

A rim through th6 Counties of Bruce
and GiayaatisOes the Visitor that, although
the land is much cheaper than in the
southern portion of the Province, it is good
ajid worth the atteiition of the settler. The
soil varies considerably fi om li^ht sandy
loam, witji stories s^Attered over the
surf^Bj to heavy day, tree of stones;
Still, with good and tareful' farming, and
An. ilidtistrouS class, of fanneit,, these
counties will sooii bfi as far advanced
as theit' rivals, and, present a different
appearahce. In mahy of the Townshi]()s
the houses present rather a rough appear-
ante ; still, As the country gets older, tiliese
houses will be replaced with a better class
built of bi^ck or baaixi. Farips can be
purchaslid fron^ £5 to £8 an acre.

Montreal,, fb'rmerly the Indian village
of Hochelafija, is situated on the north
bank of tlr6 at. Lawrence, and on th6 beau-
tiful island of Slonjtfeal, which is 32 miles
long hy frott 10 to 12 in width. The
surface' of the islitiid is almost flat, with
the exception of tlve mountain, which
rises ftiom 500 to 600 feet higher than the
tiVer, Along the base of the mountain
and to the Etrinnlit tre^ grow in luxuriant
variety, and in the fall of the ycar,Vtea
the maple trees cliange their tint, the
tfiew from the city is one of snbllme
grandetir. l^roiii t^e summit pf . the
motintain tlie ptospect is exceedittgly
picturesque. AWay in the distant south the
blue hills of Vertnon'^ rise to view^ and
all around a vast jCxtient of thiclcly inha-
bited; richly cultivated i^nd fertile country,
embellished with woods atid Waters, pro-
ducing a scenie of singntar beauty.

Montreal Is huilt at ttie foot pf the
mountain, and where the city no^ stands
there stood an Indian village in 1640.

The population ih 1,826 wa^ 22,357, and
in 1844, by cetiSus, it had reached 44,o93,
and now the estimate hu reached
180,000. These figures show the growth
of the city, and they also indicate in
some w.iy the rapid growth of the
country. Montreal is well built of sub-
•tantial stone, very much resembling our

Aberdeen granite, but lighter in colour.
From a commercial point of view,
tliis is the most important city in the
Dominion ; it is situated at the head of
the ocean steam shipping, and possesses
splendid docks, which are being enlarged
and rebuilt of stone. From these natural
adyantuges for trade and commerce the
bitizens of Montreal certainlydiownolack.
of eiiterprisc, so far as mercantile and
manufacturing interests are concerned..
Montreal has rapidly increased in the
extent and importance of her trade, and
from the appearance of the stores, and the
magnificent public and private buildings,
indications are abundant regarding the
wealth and prosperity of the city. The
Bank of Montreal, which occupies the
skme . position in Canada as the Bank of
England does in this country, has its
head office iTX the city. In a report like
this it, is unnecessary to enumerate the
yariousbuildingsof a substantial character
and attractive appearance, biit will pass
on simply observing that the finest hotel
in Canada, and iaertainly one of the finest
in the worid, is to be foimd in the
'* Wiiidsor," which is a perfect palace in
every sense.

The land on the island is remarkably
^obd and very fertile, being of a ricu loamy
nature, and capable of producing good
props of all kinds. The farms vary in
extent froin 100 to 300 acres, and sell, ac-
cording to the desirability of the holding,^
from £10 to £12 an acre. In the vicinity
of the ,city some farmers have their f armf
reni^di »nd pay as much as £1, and, evea
in some, extreme cases, £1 6s. an acre.

Barley is largely grown, and averages
al)put 45 bushelfS, weighing 50 lbs. per
biis^el. Oats are not much grown. Pota-
toes: are raised in great quantities ; from
200 to 300 bushels are grown per acre.
0reat quantities of fruit and vegetables
aip raised for the market, which is the
best in the Dojfiinion for the sale of the
produce of the farm, the orchard, and
the garden. As the farmers have enjoyed
the beniefits of a good market for a con-
siderable time, they are consequently
in comfortable and easy circumstances.
Probably some of the most successful
farmers in Canada are within the heaiinif
of the bells of Montreal,

^▲STBBN TOWNSHIPS,

These Townships are in the Province of
Quebec, lie south of the River St. Law-
rence, between Montreal and Quebec, and
border on the United States. They are
prq^bly not so well-known as they ought
to be, from the fact that from Quebec to
Richmond, which is the junction where
cars are changed for Shcrbrooke, the
country presents a very rough and un-
attractive appearance. For these reasons-

%.

I'

vv

126

., ^ .

\^

settlers move farther west, and never
stop to enter the Townships, although they
trffer iuducements which probably are
not to be found in any other part of the
Dominion. The general f eatuf es of the
country are rolling with flats, slopes, and
ri<lges, interspiTicd with stone; and as
good water is generally to be found where
stone is, a sufficient supply of running
springs of clear, pure wafer present'them-
Hclv^ , .long the roadsides^ As in every
r^'.ing country the soU' Varies, so In the
idwnships. In the flats artd along the
river sides the soil is defep alluvial, and of
a very rich and fei-tlle nature ; on this
slopies the soil, ailthongh not so deep nor
rich, still is kindly producirife good crops
of all kinds. On some of the ridges the
soil is thin, and frequently of a gravelly
nature, whilst on' others it Is better,, and
susceptible of being tyrofltably cultivated.
There is' still' a considerable extent under
wood, from' the fact that the townships
h&iik been ' neglected ahd overl6oked by
settler-?. 'There atie many kinds of wood
grown, and amongst theia the following
may bo (ihunleratcd : ash, bass wood, birch,
buttetnut, cedar, elm, hickoiy, mapl^ (l^ard
and soft), and Spruce. Regar'dihg the
climate, it may be said that the sunitiier
i» ks good as in Ontario' ; ahd that whilst
the W'inter, although possibly aboht two
\V'feeks longer than in Ontario, still the
Tiiwnships are m6re favorablV situated
thto any other part of the Pfovinc^ /of
Qiiibei, and therefore have got the mildest
climate in that Province. As in all the
oithet* Provinces, the inhabitants are of a
mix^d bt-eeid',, being chiefly of English,
Scotch, Irish, itnd- French estrdctioh, the
latter being the most numerous. .

'As. is everywhere to be seen, the old
cmintrymeti mdkb the best settlers. Where
the French Canttdians preVail there .is a
marked' diffcTence in the character of iiie
buildings and in the cultivation of thfe
farfai, and •where they phidomiriate prda-
t'entyifi generally wanting! ' .''

' Tlie'^Bastetli Townships are well opened
tp by' 'rhilWtiys, and they possess cvertr
adVailtitgc fts'W^ards the transit'of. stock
anft pfodttfeo to markets and shipping ports.
;' 'Sh'ei^tnokd'is the Ikrgest tovm In ,'the
ToNVii'iliips, ntid'cpntains various maniitac-
tWie« of considerably importance, (ihiefty
to supply local wants. • Ftom an a^lcul-
turist's point 6f view, the chief feature of
attrti'ctioa is the large and fire farm 'of
ITilHuiist, ill Compton T(i\vnship, which i^
known all over the world as of shd'rthorn
fitinc ' I'hia extchsfVo fdrin is' oWned by
^tf Ffbn. M; H; Cochrane, nhd' Consists of
AboW I'OO.ir'ftcres, SOO acrc'^ being culti-
Vatc'd atid SOO pcrmhriefit pitsture, thd
ba^hnce beinf; ilscfitl bnsh,gi'owing godd
grH*9 for stock. The course of crbppitig

pursued on Hillhurst is as follows: 1st
crop oats, 2nd roots, 3rd wheat or barley
sown dow^ witl^ timothy and clover,, then
grass, the first two years being always cut
for hay, of wrhich the second season produces
the most. Hillhui-st is in every way a
model farm, and Mr. Cochrane is a model
farmer; his land is naturally stony, and
advantage has been taken of the stonea
in building good stone dykes aloiig the
road w^ich intersect^ the fafm. The
buildings, are very extensive and qom^
modioiis, providing ample accomodation
for the large stud of horses, the fine
herii of aristocratic shorthorns, and the
magnificent flock of Shropshire sheep, On
such a farm as llillhurst a good stud of
horses ia to be expected, and thosg who
are fortunate to pay a visit will in no wtyr
be dUappointed in their expectations.
The work horses . are good and well
bred, and the riding jiorses j^/e the pride
and admiration of the Townships. In
1877 Mr. Siipon Seattle, of Annan, im-
ported a number pf shorthorn^ froin
ilr, Cochrane, and the proceeds of sale
amounted to £17,16i0 sterling, At thxs
spirited sale the price pf 4300 guineas was
paid for one cow of aristocratic lineage, A
very large herd is still maintained, number-
ing at times over 8Q head, i tJppn an ex-
amination of the contents of tlie various
loose boxes, one of the first inniates to be
seen is the beantiful .rich-roan lovely
cow of 10 years, thp, lOth Duchess of
Airdrie. The p^'^geny of this valuable
cow have realised the handsome sum of
^27,000. Speciihens of th^ famous Duke.s
and Duchesses of Hillhurst and the
highly-prized Kifklevingtons are here to
bs seen in all their purity and graiideur,
and to use the words of the most ei^ine^it
bleeder of Polled cattle the world ever
saw, '.'They' carry their pedigree p^
their hacks, " paay safely be applied to
this herd. \ , _■._, ^ ,.^,',,\ ',^^]

Mr. Cochrane 1:1 giving inqreaseaattenr
tipn to the feeding of cattle fop tli^
Snglish mai'feet, which he finds to be, very
prontable, and as many us 100 arc^' pre-
pared dnrihg the seiaJBoni The leanbeitste
arebbijght during the months pf Octpbej
and NSvember, generally averaging aboi^t
£8 i head, and, With seven months gpod
keep, they are expected to realise £l8,
which leaves a handsome ppfit for feed-
ing, "the eystl^in of feeding, tbe cattle i^
simi)ar to ' that \6 be found in Orit^ib,
but on a large'r 4c^e. Pulped rpots are
used in ]im"ite'(l qiran^{ti6s, filong with .cut
hay and stra;>v, atia a! mixture of feeding
n^Oals,^ thjj. I'irodil'ee', pf , the faroi^ and
Conipo9ed"6f oats, 'pe'Ase, and tareb, along
With braii, .^and ijh ^jqmfe'jiris.taii^ces'^^iU
cakes. /|''',' ,', .' '';"'r. ,,' ' ■ '' .-.■•'l'^';
A large' 'flock pf feediilg' sheep pick, u^

137

!(

Hows: 1st
or barley
lover,, thea
always cut
lu produces
jry way a
is a model
3tony, atid
the stones
along the
um. The
and Qonir
jomodation
!f>, the fine
s, and the
sheep, On
)od stud of
. thosQ who
11 in no yfsy
xpcctations.

and well
^•e the pride
rnships. In
Annan, ini-
horns froin
eeds of sale
g, At this
guineas was
c lineage, A
[ied, number-
tJpon an ex-
f t^e various
jupaies to be
-roan lovely

Duchess of
;hiB valuable
some sum of
amous Dukes
st and the
,8 are here to
nd grandeur,
oaost emineijt
le" world ever
pedigree op
e applied to

greased atteiif
attle , for !tat?
ads to be very
; 100 arci'pre-
le lean Jieastg
ji'i? 91 Octpbejr
eraging abov^t
months good
) realise ^18,
irbfit for feed-
g the cattle ^,if
Sin Orit^to,
Iped. rqota are
ilong with .cut
are of feeding
[q ^e.im, am
id taiefc, along
irist^iiccs .oil-
sheep pick, up

the foggage which is left by the cattle,
and on the approach of winter they are
carefully housed, and receive hay nud
roots. The fiock is always ready for the
English market before the sea.son is
over, and generally before it is far
advanced. As a breeder of good, horses,
superior cattle, and excellent sheep and
pigs, Mr. Cochrane has been very suc-
cessful, and, no doubt, the produce' cif Lis
herd and flock will yet leave their marks
on the stocking of Canada.

In the Township of Cookshire the Hon.
J. H. Pope owns a very large farm, ex-
ttoding to about 1000 acres, of which a
considerable extent is under cultivation,
Upon this farm, which is well adapted
for stock, as many as 150 bullocks are
fed for the English market. The system
of feeding ts similar to that already de-
scribed on other farms ; so is also the
mode of cultivation and variety of crops
raised.

In the Province of Quebec the Govern-
ment grant was 200 acres, and now the
fartns vary in extent from 100 acres
upwards. The farms are sub-divided in a
similar m&nher to what , has been de-
scribed in a previous part of this report,
A few stone dykes are seen, but the snake
fence predominates ^ the chief objection
to this fence is the great extent of groiind
it takes up.

The cereals grown are wheat, barley,
and oats to a limited extent. The crops
may be Said to average as follows::—
wheat 20 bushels, oats 40, and barley
about 35. The products of the garden,
sUch as apples, pears, and tomatoes grow
luxuriantly. Karms can be purchased
according to soil, buildings, ^nd gituatioh,
from £6 to £6 ah ^re. One great ^van-
tage pf the land in the Townships is that
it \vill lie in gra^s for a number of years,
rendering the cpUntry/well a,aaptcd for
shticp and cattle laising, and from the
great quantities of hay railed, a large
numberof stock is. kept, altao'ugh not so
maii^' as mijght Well and profitably be.
It is calculated that, ten sheep can be
wint<^.r6d on one ton of hay, and a two-
year buUcick Avill require about one ton
and three' qtiai'ters. Over all the Town-
ships as well as over the pouiitry, sheep
seem to thrive ailmirably, no matter how
young they are, they iare always in good
condition for thei'r-age, and flocks of kan
shce^ lis we Hsife in this'country are npt
to be seen at all.

Dairies are spattered a.]\ over llje Town-
ships; and the gr'aSs being very rich, a
good class of chee.se is made, Tlie.iy.stem
adopted 'is similar to that gilready
described, and conducted on the .samo
principle. A large qua!\ti(y of butter is
also made, 22 Ibfe. of milk being required

to produce 1 lb. of butter. For the butter
and cheese manufacture<l a ready market
is found in the New England States. i

The Townships are fairly well supplied
with churches and scho"ls. The taxes
are generally light, and depend upon the
value of the property, and may be placed
at from 4d. to lOd. per acre.

1 .Hi best Townships are Ascot, Comptonj
Harnston, Bury, Durham, Dudswell, Eton^
irikipton, and Kingsley.

Labourers are plentiful all over^ and at
wag( s .much similar to what are paid on
this side..

NOVA BCCTIA.

Nova Scotia is the most easterly PrO*
vince of the Dominion, and is a peninsula
situated between 43" 80' and A^" north
latitude, and 60° tofiG" lo' westlongitude.
It comprises an area of 21,731 square
miles, of which one-fifth consLstaof lakes,
rivers, and inlets of the sea. The Province
is divjdeti into eighteen counties^ of
which the best are Outnberland. Colches*
ter, and Picton. Grand Pr6, the scene of
Longfellow's " Evangeline," is called the
garden of the; Proviiicc. Home 2,000,000
of acres bi land are cleared, and may' be
said to be under cultivation.

This Province, : as yet little known to
outsiders, is worthy of .greater consideraT
tion, notwithstanding that on first
approaching it from the ocean a bleak
and bare appearancei .presents itself ; but
this is often t© be found in our own
country, since rocks and sea walls do not
form the flower of scenery. However,
after emerging from the seaboard and
reaching tlie interior of the country after*
thoughts flow into the visitor's mind, aa
good soil with beautiful surroundings,
blessed with a bright, clear sky and fine
cliipate, always create glowing feelingp.
When speakisg of the chtnate and tem»
perature it may be stated, what is well
known, these are in some measure regur
lated by the Gulf Stream. It is not
possible in such a report as this to, speak
of every county and district, but it may
be said the climate of the Province varies
in tl^e different counties, and is regulated
so far by that which regulntes our own.' :

^iilN&RAL FEATURES. . :. ;u|

Uy talcing, a sweeping and distant view
a wild, roiigh appearance presents itself^
marsh, bush, and hill alterrtating, the
wiklness of the bush slowly giving place
to the powers of the agriculturist. Here
there, is a rounded mound clad with
stately tiees, a beautiful plain traversed
by a flowing stieamigehtly gliding along
the levtd expanse, and here the bold and
picturesque rupgednc'js well known to the
traveller in lao. Higliiarids of t>cotland-*-
(leep and well- wooilnl ra\ines opening
out, into dense but valuable forest, in tha

t

' ^1^

128

|:

ft'

depths of which the sotind of the wood-
man's axe has not yet been heard. Here
both the meandering brook and the
flaajestic rivor hava their places.

\,i\. jfc.'ijU-.i.-.iy li i

But though in the i:; f ." -,->. '.'v •- is
the grandest scenery with wild and lovely
contour, there are also low, but lovely,
plains deadened by the nearness of the
mighty sea walls necessary for stemming
the immense tides familiar to the inhabi-
tants of Nova Scotia. • Regarding
these tides it may be mentioned •< they
rise at certain times to an immense-^
sometimes to the incredible — height
of forty feet. These tides necessitate
the iffle of abiteaux or dyk«» at the sea-
side, provided with slnices and clappers
on the outside, to keep badk' the tide.
These dykes are a permanent erection of
marsh soil and brush, and are built cv
cording to the rise of the tide, and v^.y,
in the interior of the country, from 2() to
30 feet in height. The heaght 6f the neap
tides is about 35 feet, and the highest
spring tides rise to abdut 60 feet. In
1868 a high tide was predibted by Saxby,
in London, England, and occur*^ during
night in th6 month of October, 1869.
This tide rose to about a foot above the
tops of the dykes, ;and was attended at
the time with vo / bad results, as it swept
bams, fences, and haystacks before it,
and landed a great, many of them lii the
woods. Although the results of thiis tide
were at the time disastrous, Btill after-
wards it was of immense adTantagb, as it
gave the marshes a good top-dressing' of
that mud which is so abundant on tho
banks of the creeks and rivers. - During
my short visit to Nova Sootia I passed'
through many of these marshes, some of
them of considerable breadth and niiWiy
miles long, all guarded by dykes, ih
which are placed sluices, which, when
necessary, can be opened, and allow the
tide to overflow the salt marshes, and
leave a rich deposit of allovial matter oil
the surface, amountiug to one or more
inches, actin,'^ as a grand stiniuliu for
future crops. Crops of hay, varying frorti
two to three tons per acre, haV6 been
gi-own on these marshes for many years
in succession. ' When the land becomes
mosb^ or hide-bound, which it does on
some marshes every ton or fifteen years,
a crop of oats is takcit and needed down
with timothy and red clover. Couch grass
iis indigenous to the soil, and cOmes in
natural. On the creek banks thei-e are
two kinds of marsh land ; the blue or soft
mud is the poorest, and grows the broad
leaf or coarse grass ; the other kind being
the red, and is the deposit left nearest the
creek or river banks, which affords v€!ry
rich pasture and heavy crops of superior

hay. The co'aree hay is huilt into stacks^
and the fine or English (as it is called) is
stoired into barns on the marshes, and
drawn home as required during the
winter season. Good marshes roalise high
prices, and sell from £20 to £25 an acre \
but even this latter sum, for the best of
marshes, is often very much ej^ceeded.

Farms vaffy in size froth 100 iacres and
upwards, and good upland fanns, with
all the nccessarjjr buildings, with onerthircl
or one-half improved, mlajr be bought from
£3 to £6 an ac \ 'tJpOn the upland ,6r
Cleared laiid^ le principal crops ares
whteat, buckwheat, arid oats. Potatoes
grow well, and good crops average
about 260 bushels per acre. , A good
market for the potatoes i^ generally
found in the tJnitcd States^ anct brings
the farmeris lots of tooh^y/.lTew tur-
nips have yet' been grown, but in all
probability the quantity will ;ncr«j^e.
From the faet that the tnarshes of N6y»
8c6ti& produce such magnificent cropa of
hay, which makes food for ^|1 kinds of
stock so abundant, it is not to bo won-
dered at that the farmers have began to
give increased attiention to tl^(; breeding
aM feeding of cattle. 'Upon some farms
there ate .already large nerds of cattle
fattening fot the English market ; and thosie
farmers who have been, at thi? .busi^ss
for softie .time find itto be v'eiy profitable,
arid intehd to embark iritt oil a more ex?
tensive ScAle. <■■ ■„, ,, ,

herst ciill^d the Cumberland Meat and
Produce Company ; , tod f ronx the prpxi-
riiity of Ainherst to Halifax, which is the
orily Canadiaiti .port open during th^
wintei', the f^rftjers have additional facili-
ties, which kct tA an another ' atiye,iia
the production of m^atand other produce,
siich'aS butter and cheese. Orchards are
abundant' all oy^th^' Province, and tlfd
fruit forms on^ of the priricipal exports.

The fisheries a^e likewise vejry valuable,
and form a cousidetable source of revenue
to the Province, yielding pvef J£l,O00,0O0
last year. Although signs of prosperity are
not wanting amongst the farmers, still
signs of the lack of enterprise arc abundant,
as the country is susceptible of very great
improvement. Farmer^ appe^v in many
cases to live upon the prices realised fov
their hay and their apples, for farming, as
it should be there is little to be seen. ,

In order to show the prosperity of
Canada, it may be mentioned that the
banking capital in the Dominion has been,
iiicrcusod morethAn 100 per ccrit. during^
the last ten yeara.

I!!

129

ito stacks^
called) is
rshes, and
iiring the
?ali8e high
5 an act^ ;
tie best of
seeded.

acres aad
vrms, with
h oneTtbird
ought frona

upland or

crops are

Potatoes

3S average

. , A good

I generally
and brings

'iTew "tur-
but in all

II ;ncr(?£^8e.
hes of N6y»
;ent cropa of
9,\l kinds 61
' to bo woa-
ive began to
the breeding
I some farms
a of cattle
:et; and those
tjiii? biisiivess
ry profitable,
m a more eSr

mied at Am-
id Meat and
)m theproxi-
whjcli is the
during the
iti(>"alfacili-
r ! utiye.iJi
thcr produce,
Orchards are
'ince, and tbt
pal exports.

v^ery valuable,
•ce of revenue
ef £1,000,000
prosperity arc
farmers, still
are abundant,
of very great
)€^v in many
ja realised lox
for farming, as
obo seen. ,

proBpority of
(ued that tbe
in^on has been,
r ccut. during^

TABLB SHOWING THE 1NCBEA8E IN THE
DEPOSITS I!f TEN TEARS.
18G8.
Deposits in Chartered Banks $.S2,808,103
Government Savings and Post-
office Savings Banks ... 1,686,126

1878.

$34,494,229

Deposits in Chartered Banks $71,900,195
Government Savings and Post-
office Savings Banks ... 14,333,576

.b

$86,233,771
34,494,229

Increase in ten years $51,739,642

These deposits do not by any means
represent the savings of the people, as
there is a considerable sum deposited in
building societies, whilst the bulk of the
savings in Canada is generally invested
in real estate.

An important thing for an emigrant in
selecting a new country is to choose one
with very little debt, and what debt there
is expended on public works which are
remunerative and for the progress and
development of the country. The claims
of Canada are in this respect very gi-eat,
the debt being low, and there is little
probability of it being very much in-
creased, since the canals are in good order
and the coimtry well supplied with rail-
vays.

The following figures show the debt
and interest along vrith the consolidated
revenue for 1878 : —

DEBT AND INTEREST PER CAPITA OF

POPULATION.
Net Debt per capita in 1877 ...$33.25 cts.
Gross Debt „ „ ... 43.50

Net Interest „ „ ... 1.60

RECEIPTS PER CAPITA.

Consolidated Revenue for fiscal
year 1877 (per capita) ... $5.62 cts.

In order to show that Canada is re-
ceiving increased attention it may be
mentioned that the number of immiajrants
in 1877 was 54,908, and in 1878 the
number was 71,160, or nn increase of
16.2531

The following figures, showing the pro-
gressive development of Canada, will be
found of interest. They are taken from
The Colonies and India of the 24th
January, 1880: —

In 1851 there were only some 8,000,000
acres of land under cultivation, whereas
the census of 1871 showed that the total
Acreage occupied in Canada w.os some
ii6,000,000, of which the greater part was
improved. By 1851 the farmers raifod
some 16,000,000 bushels of wheat, and the

production may now be ostimatpd at
25,000,000 bushels. In 1857 wheat was
the principal crop, but since then the
farmers began to give their attention to
other products, and the result is the oat
crop has risen from 25,000,000 bushels in
1851 to 50,000.000 bushels in 1879 ; pota-
toes, from 15,000,000 bushels to 50.000.000
bushels; barley, from 1,500,000 bushels
to 1 2,000,000 bushels. The yield of wheat
per acre in Ontario is in excess of nearly .
all the States of the American Union." t

The revenue.which in 1 840was 1,000.000 '
dollars, amounted to 13.000,000 in 1864,
and now amounts to 22,000,000 dollars.

In 1857 the total value of the trade of
Canada was not in excess of 60,000,000
dollars. In 1808-69 the total trade reached
over 130,000,000 dollars.

Looking at the nature of the exports, .
we find the annual value of the produce
of the fisheries was nearly 7,000.000
dollars, of the forest 20,000,000, ax- i of
agriculture 31,000,000 dollars.

Perhaps no statistics more clearly illus-
trate the material progress of Canada than
those whioh are devoted to her shipping
and 1 ail ways.

It is the pride and boast of Canada
that her people have that love for the sea ,
which is the natural heritage for the men •
of the North.

The little Province of Nova Scotia owns j
more shipping, in proportion to her popu-
lation of some 400,000 souls, than any other
country in the world. In 1 806 all British
North America only owned a tonnage of
71,943 ; in 1 879, the total tonnage reached
some 1,350,000 tons register, representing
7,469 vessels, valued at 40 "^"W.OOO dollars,
and entitling Canada to rank with Nor-
way, after England and the United States,
as a mercantile people. The tontiaie
engaged, inwards and outwards, be-
tween Canada and foreign ports reached
12,000.000, and adding the vessels em-
ployed in the coasting trade, there is a
total of 23,000,000 tons necessary for
carrying on the present trade of Canada.

The era of railway construction in
Canada only dates from 18.50. In 1874
there were only some 40 miles altogether
in operation, whilst in 1867 the number
had increased to 2,263 miles. At the
present time there are 7,000 miles of
rails laid, and over 1,000 miles in course
of construction.

THE ST. t/A\VRENCE PROVISION TRADE.
The increase of shipments from Montrenl
and Quebec during the season that hut
recently closed is of a very mark(^d
description .as compared with the cor-
responding shipping season of the two

I

••• .!

!l

.

m

i ^

13U

previous years. The exportation of live
stock was as follows : —

1879. 1878. 1877.

Cattle 24,823 ... 18.655 ... 6,940

Sheep 78,792 ... 41,250 ... 9,699

Swine 4,745 ... 2,078 ... 430

The increase of numbers is not the most
gratifying part of it, but the fact that of
the 18,655 cuttle exported in 1878 fully
one-half were American cattle, whereas in
the present year they were all Canadian,
llie fihipments of cereals also showed a
very considerable increase : —

Flour, barrels

1879.
626,693

Wheat, bu8hels...9,636,144

Corn

Peas

Oats

Barley

Rye

...4,004,708
.2,402,891
. 618,531
. 418,592
. 333,491

Total 17,3J8,367

1878.
602,668

6,749,347

5,612,990

1,906,086

918,946

208,239

38,267

14,432,876

The great feature in the development
of the grain shipments was the establish-
ment of a direct export trade with
European Continental ports, instead of
serving tuem, as heretofore, through agents

ormiidlemen to England. The remaining
shipments in provisions were : —

1879. 1878. 1877.

Cheese, boxes...6 15,360 455,449 398,138
Butter, pakg8...180,863 101,596 87,245

The following figures, prepared by Mr.
Frederick Young, shows that the popula-
tions of the British Empire, beyond the
seas, aie in proportion to their numbers
the most extensive users of our manu-
factures. The annual consumption of
British merchandise, per head, is as fol-
lows : — United States, 7s. ; Germany,
9a. 2d.; France, 7s. 8d.; Canada, £2 2s. 9d.

Mr. Burnett, of Kemnay, said he had
paid three visits to Canada, and his im-
pressions of the couutiy corresponded with
those of Mr. Bruce.

The Chairman said tliat Canada was the
country for the man who was able and
willing to work, and who had a good sturdy
wife — no matter how many children ; but
the like of many of those present, who
were in their fifth, sixth, or seventh
decades, had better stay at home. Ho
mshed that Canada should thrive and
prosper, but he hoped that Scotchmen,
even though they emigrated there, would
always have a warm comer in their hearts
for the old country — (applause).

Votes of thanks having been accorded to
the delegate and to the chairman, the
meeting separated.

■*

( remaining^

1877.
3«J8,138

87,246

ired by Mr.
the popula-
jeyond the
ir numbers
our luanu-
imption of
1, is as fol-
Germany,
^£2 2s.9d.

said he had
and his im-
pended with

lada was the

as able and

, cood sturdy

lildren ; but

(resent, who

or seventh

home. Ho

thrive and

Scotchmen,

there, would

I their hearts

a accorded to
lairman, the

1'

131

REPOKT OF MR. ROBERT WALLACE, THE NITHSDALE

DELEGATE.

A MEETING of the fanners of Upper Niths-
dale was held at Penpont, ou Monday,
January 19th, to hear the report of Mr.
Robert Wallace, Twiglees, the Delegate
appointed by the district to proceed to
Canada and report upon that country as
a ueld for the emigi-ation of agiiculturists.
There was a very large attendance, the
room being crowded. Mr. James Hewit-
son, Auchenbainzie, was called to the chair.
The Chairman, in a few appropriate re-
marks, introduced Mr. W-vi.l.4.ce, who
jtioceeded to give his report as follows : —

INTRODUCTION.

Having rei-nmedfrom a sojourn in Canada
of about tlucu months, I now propose to
lay before you my opinion of the country.
I need haidly mention that in the fall of
last year the Canadian Government re-
quested that the farmers of the United
Kingdom should hold meetings and ap-
point Delegates to go out and travel through
the country, and deliver reports to their
friends at home of what they thought of
it, stating whether it would be advisable
for many British farmers in the present
depressed state of trade to emigi-ate. This
accounts for my being here to-night, and I
will just take this opportunity of correcting
some misapprehensions \vith regard to our
ft%edom of action while engaged in our
work of inspection which may have crept
in after the publication of a letter in the
Glatgom Herald of September 20th, and
other like political productions. The state-
ments of our beiiig taken about the country
simply whetd the Government wished, and
shown' only those things which would lead
us to give favourable repoi'ts, were entirely
without foundation. We were guided
.solely by our own desires to go where wo
liked and do as we pleased, and no influence
whatever was brought to bear to bias our
opinion in any way. We have every reason
to be pleased with the handsome manner
in which we were treated, and the assist-
ance afforded when desired to facilitate our
movements. In my report I will not
confine myself to facts which I have scCn
and heard, but will give you my opinion
on inattera social and political, as I
judge it may be of interest to you or con-

nected with the subject under discussion.
I may also here explain that Canadians do
not care to be classed with their neighbours
of the United States, and throughout I
shall make the distinction, and speak of
"Canadians" and "Americans" as it is
done on the other side. There is no ill-
feeling whatever existing between the two
countries, only a spirit of healthy rivalry,
and I may say of the Canadian people that
Her Majesty has perhaps no more loyal
subjects through all her dominions. Thoy
talk of Britain as the "old country," and
call it " home," even supposing they had
never been there.

r r

KKSmiE OF ROUTE.

I travelled by sea and land, in round,
numbers, about 11,000 English miles,
although 1 had reason to regret I was per-
haps a month late, consequently missing
the National Agricultural Exhibition and
other shows, I was favoured with excel-
lent weather. Landing at Quebec I first
risited the Eastern Townships, accompanied
by Mr. Welsh, the Canobie Delegate.
We next went through some portions of
Ontario, and being joined by Mr. Gordon
from Annan district, and Mr. Wilken from
Aberdeensliire, we sailed up Lakes Huron
and Superior, and landing at Duluth,
took ti-ain via GljTidon for Manitoba.
Here we drove about in four- Wheeled two-
horse "buggies" and six- seated "demo-
crats," the usual vehicles of the country,
aud got a good idea of the Jand suiTound-
ing Winnipeg. We then had a six days*
dnve in a south-westerly direction as fur as
Rocklake to see a sample of good pi'aiiie
land, returning by Emerson throU(,'h the
West Mennonite settlement. This in on a
reservation of excellent land gi\en by
Government to a class of German-s[ leaking
Russians, whose religion prohibits them^
from fighting. They aj-e making money,
but like the Chinese make it a prisoner.
From Emerson we took train, aud after
visiting Minneapolis, St. riiul's, Milwaukee
and Chicago, four rising Ameiioan
cities of great beauty and vast interest,
!Mr. Welsh and I rtjturueil to Ontario,
thenoc to Ottawa aiul lioir" h Halifax.

Il'

131

THE RASTKUX TOWNSIIII'S— flF.N'KI'.AIi

nKSCIill'TinX

ilistriots of tlic Kustcni Townships,

The
Province of Quclipo, wliidi I visit(Hl woro
in or around liicinnond, Slicrlnooke, Cook-
shire, Kiiton New Port, liCiuioxvillo,
Comiito7i, Wiitciloo, t'owim's Vilk', antl
Bodforil. Sconery is fino, and wc Imvnhill
and dale as in Srothmd, with ^ooils of
snf,tir-inai)lo, from whirth tlio sap is col-
lected to niiiko sugar and syrup, soft-
maplo, whose beautiful bright scarlet leaves
lend a grandeurto the landseapiun autumn ;
hemlock, the bark of which is used for
tanning ; cedar, furnishing the most valu-
able and durable wood for fencing ; spruce
anil pine. FA-erywhcre there is an abun-
dant Supply of the best of water. The soil
is not hard and shallow, as is often repre-
sented, but, .Is a rule, a deep, friable loam,
and would be easily worked if it were not for
a vast number of boulders and stones that
lie on the HUffnco. Those, with the soil,
have been laid down byan immense glacier,
which must h.ave flowed from north-east to
south-west, judging from the lie of the'
boulders and the striated markings on their
exposed faces. The land is thus quite un-
sulted for agi'icultural mirposes, unless
when the stones are removJfd, which opera-
tion often cost(9 about £3 per acre. Comp-
ton Township lis probably the best now
under discussion, being more free from
stones than, pthcrs. The Townships, how-
over, present many advantages for grazing.
Pasture improves by lying and does not
get burnt up in dry weather, or "ran out,"
as 7'n many, parts of Ontario. Red as well
as white clover springs sp"o;:tanoously upon
newly-elearcd land, if pastured.

y, DAIRY FARMING.

,:- Dairy farndng is gone in for pretty ex-
tensively, adopting the factory system of
cheese-making. Ti>o factories charge from
IJc. to 2c. per lb. for the wprk of manu-
facturing, and some take one-tenth of the
price, whatever that may be. Many of
the factories liad been closed On account of
the low price of cheese; the net cost to
produce it in this district may be set at 7c.
per lb., while in Onta"''^ it pays better to
grow grain than keep cows, with cheese
at 9c. per lb, (One cent, may be reckoned
as r(jual to a halfpenny of our money).
The native cows, bred with a mixture of
various strains from the old French cow,
are hardy, of a small size, with good mUk-
►ing points, yield without artificial food
from 250 lbs. to .300 lbs. of cheese in the
summer six inonths, independent of the
Sundays' mpk. A cross w ith the Durham
throws an animal well adn[.ted for fatten-
ing purposes.

SKLLINR LAND.

Averafre land, pietty well cleared of
ptonos and stumps, may be had for £o an

nere, with n moderate frame house and
barns. I was startled at tliu numbers all
over desirous to sell through being hard
up for oasl). This was said to be explained
by llusextravatrant Iiabits contracted when
t rado was good. No doubt that had sorac-
tliing to (lo with it, but thoro is another
conspicuous reason, viz., the policy of some
of the earlier Governments that gave private
individuals and English Ijnnd Corapiiniefl
grants of land to settle, which they did,
charging a large premium for their trouble,
and at the same time an enormous interest
on the price, which could never be paid
by the natural jneld of the land, but was
guaranteed by the ris-c in value of property,
as the district was cleared and settled.
Many men, too, possessed of a little of
the restless disposition of our American
cousins, and who enjoy a pioneer life,
desire to sell and go to the Canadian
North-West in the hope of improWng
their fortunes,

ONTAIIIO,
In Ontario I visited the districts around
Cobonrg, Camphellford (Seymore),Toronto,
Tiondon, J^arnia, Harrisburg, Port Elgin,
Owen Sound, Guelph, Georgetown, and
Niagara. Here the land has boon re-
claimed, as in the Eastern Townships, from
the primeval forests, perhaps by the fathers
or grandfathers of the men who now in-
habit the numerous handsome brick erec-
tions that may be seen studded all over
the face of the country.

HOUSES.

Houses may be described as in three
classes. First, the little log hut or " shanty,"
simply made of axc-squarcd logs of wood,
laid upon each other, and notched at the
ends to keep them steady ; roofed in the
rudest style, and the scams daubed with
clay, is warm and comfortable, and all
that the simple woodsman wants ; but as
he improves in fortune this must give
place to a more airy and stately edifice —
a "frame house" — constructed of uprights,
covered on the outside with a . double
lining of boards, having between them a
layer of tar-paper, and plastered within.
The third style is more like that of houses
in this country, and being substantial and
more costly, is only adopted by those who
are well off. The walls are built of bricks,
usually made on the farm from bsinds of
clay often found nmning through the sub-
soil. Slates are seldom used, but the
roofs of frame and brick houses .ire covered
with "shingle," little thin pieces of wood
(cedar is best, but often pine is used),
6.iwn about the size of a slate, and put on
in the same fashion. Houses are heated
in various wa,>'s, and arc often kept very
much too hot either for comfort when
within or safety on going out. The stove
is the oldest and perh.-ips the most usual

133

c house nnd
mi m bora all
heing hard
be explained
tractod when
lat had sorac-
c is another
olicy of Horao
tgavcpriyatu
d Compiiniefl
ich they did,
their trouble,
mous interest
ever be paid
and, but was
e of property,
and settled.
)f a little of
ur American
pioneer life,
he Canadian
)f impro\-inR

jtricts around
iorc),Toronto,
, Port Elgin,
rgctown, and
has been re-
wnships, from
by the fathers
who now in-
nc brick ercc-
dded all over

d As in three
it or "shanty,"
logs of wood,
lotched at the
roofed in the
I daubed with
able, and all
wants; but as
lis must give
jtely edifice —
cd of uprights,
dth a . double
twcen them a
itered within,
that of houses
jbstantial and
. by those who
Duilt of bricks,
from bands of
rough the sub-
used, but the
scs iire covered
ieces of wood
pine is used),
te, and put on
iscs arc heated
'ten kept very
comfort when
ut. The stove
the most usual

plan, burning wood or, more recently, one
burning anthracite coal, and self -feeding.
The amount of coal sullieient for the day
is put in at the top in the morning, and
matters are arranged so that it slips down
and supi)lieB the fuel as required. They
are much more cheerful than the old kind,
owing to the fire being seen tlirough the
thin plates of mica in their sides. Our
coal would not do for these, as it would
■bum too fast, being soft. The next most
general is by heated air canied in tin
pipes built into the walls, from a furnace,
usually in the lower regions ; but the
cheapest and beat way of all, when
practicable, us in cities, is by steam gen-
erated at one large centre, and transmitted
through pipes in all directions, supplying
each house as wanted.

OLIMATK AND CBOPB.
Unfortunately for Ontario, tho indis-
criminate hewing down of timber has in
eome districts injured the climate, and
now and then a summer comes which dries
up the pasture, so that cattle have to be
fed on hay. The want of shelter, too,
from the prevailing winds, sometimes ends
in the destruction of the fall wlieat, if by
any chance snow does not cover the ground
sufficiently. Fall wheat has been a suc-
cess for some years, and as its yield is a
quarter more than spring-so\vn wheat in
a good year, a very large extent is sown
"both in Ontario and the States this season.
I saw fall wheat two feet high in the be-
ginning of November ; it, of course, had
been neglected, and should have been cut
or eaten down by calves or young cattle.
The style of farming is very often poor,
accounted for, perhaps, by the fact that
many of the original settler's had been
brought lip to professions or trades. Only
rjircly do you find any approved system
of rotation of crops adopted, or c't' „i
farm-yaid or artificial manures ap; I- ■
I need not explain to a meeting of farmers
what the efiEects of gi'owing wheat after
wheat on even the finest virgin soil, with-
out manure, will be. in the course of a
generation. THui land is of various quali-
ties and descriptions, but generally, good.
The best wheat laud is a deep friable
loam containing a large proportion of
lime from the carboniferous limestones of
the Silurian and Laurentian, which abound
to a laige extent on the North American
Continent, and aye much more easily
worked than in the wheat-growing regions
of the London and plastic clays of the
south of England. The yield of spring
wheat may be set down at from 15 to 18
bushels per acre, and fall wheat 20 to 24
Ijushels ; while Mr. Gladstone puts the
average yield of England, manui-ed and
worked as it is, at a little over 26 to 27

bushels per aci-c. Barley will perhaps
yield 35 bushels, and oats a little over
that. The quantity of seed rc(|uired to
sow an aci-o is very small — fall wheat, IJ
to I^ bushels; spring wheat, about {
bushel more ; baiiey, 2 bushels ; and oats,
2 to 24 bushels. Timothy grass is the one
universally adopted in sowing out for
pasture or hay, and i to J of u bushel,
along with 2 to 4 lbs. of cow grass clover
seed, is suflicient per acre. Of late years
timothy from some cause has not dono
so well ; and " orcluird grass," which is the
same as our cocksfoot, DactylisgUnnifrata,
has been mixed with good effect, giving
a closer and better pasture. 2 to 3 tons
per acre of Timothy hay are- often got on
good land at one cutting, while five tons
ai'o not uncommon on well-fanned laud
when the stavon will admit of two cuttings.
This gives a fair return at four dollois per
ton, Imving cost a little over one dollar to
secure it. Swedish turnips d6 well. Tho
ulimatti is as well suited to their gi-owth as
in Scotland, with the exception of these
dry yeai-s, and tho land is oetter and has
been less cropped by them. They arc not
as yet extensively cultivated. Potatoes
are good, except in wet seasons, when they
ai'e liable to tho same fungoid disease wo
have in this country. Tho ravages of tho
potato bug, or Coloi-odo beetle', were at one
time most serious, but it has been found
thot 1 lb. of Paris gioen mixed with 100 lbs.
of piaster" of Paris, and sown on each aero,
perhaps twice, is an otl'ectudl cure. Some
who are afraid of the effect of tho jtoison
on tho crop have tho loaves hand-picked,
but this is a most expensive operation.
Great euro has to bo taken not to bruise
the beetle or allow the juice to pet into the
eye or any tender part, as it is highly iiri-
tating and causes swelling. It has bopn
noticed that thoy do not remain in one
district more than three years in numbers
sufficient to cause alaim. Large quantities
of potatoes have been bought this fall for
shipment to Great Britam.

TAXES AND .S(;rf00L8.

All taxes, including school rates, arc
levied upon gioss value, not upon yearly
rental, and may be averaged at from 6d. to
Is. per aero annually. The school system
is most perfect. First, there aie "public
free schools, ' ' taught by certificated teachers,
within easy range of all parts of the countiy,
tho site in each school district being deter-
mined by the vote of tho majority of resi-
dents. I had a good opportunity in Port
Elgin of seeing the excellent way the work
is done, under able management. In these
dl the elements of a good educiition oro
taught. Next camo tho more advanced
"high schools," where tho sciences and
1 languages are gine deepjjr into. Anu

ti

J

inj

I I

f'

I i

finally, I may mention tho "collr^Mntc iu-
atitiitiona," which correspond with our
(Kill egos.

WACEB— DRINKING.
The wages of men are not much higher
than in this country. A good man will
get 16 dollars a month in sunoacr time,
•nd 12 dollars in winter— about £83 a
year, with board.. It is a pretty general
custom that those living under the same
roof should eat at the same table, &nd all
live well. Butcher-meat with potatoes is
served up three times a day. Men work-
ing prefer salt pork. Drinking does not
seem to be earned to such cxccsi as in
this country — at least you very rarely see
any on e the worse for liquor. Al 1 account*
agree that when a man does give way to
it his end is not far distant The climate
seems not at aU suited to intemperance,
»nd perhaps the quality of the drink has
also someuiing to do with it.

INTEREST OF MONET.
Nothing strikes a stranger in the cour
try more than the high rate of inten
that can bo got for money lent on t
best landed security. In Ontario and
Quebec the lowest is from 8 to 10 per
cent. ; while in the North- West, at the
active point of New Settlement, 12 per
cent, is the least, and I have heard of 20
per cent. No legitimate business of any
kind can ever succeed if the capital em-
ployed has to be paid for at these rates —
a speculative business may, but it is as
Ukely to fail. I have seen nothing to
lead* me to believe that more than 10 per
cent, can be made off " farming proper,"
unless on a very large scale. A holding
may, and usually does, rise in value as
the district round becomes peopled ; but
this is land speculation, not farming, aud
goes a great way to explain how we find
many of the Ontario farmers in comfort-
able houses and comparatively wealthy
who began in a back settlement with
nothing.

FENCES.
The "suake-fcnce" is the one first
adopted in a new country where wood
abounds. It is made of poles, 12 or 14
feet long, split out of cedar generally,
and built in such a fashion, one above
another, alternating and zig-zag, at angles
sufficient to make it self-supporting.
Good cedar in a fence will last for 50
or 60 years. Usually two upright stakes
ire introduced at each joining to give
strength. It is easily put up, and is only
■scd where wood is plentiful and oi little
value. As the country is cleared it is
gradually replaced by a "board fence."
Board fences are constructed like our
palings but are usually higher, and in-
stead of spars boards are used. They are
not found to be suitable along roads or

rikilwav)', ii. • tliL-so l)"eoini! tilled with
snow from the Mhcltcr ntTnrdcd, and in
cases (if tills kind liarl)ecl, gulvaiilscd
steel-wire fences arc adoiitcd. and already
there arc thousands of milos nf them along
some of the American railroads. The
last and most approved form is two wires
twined round each other, with two little
pieces of a smaller wire most ingeniously
twisted into them, and terminating in
four sharp spikes about half an inch long,
projecting each iji a different direction
round the Avire, the sets of four about six
inches apart. This wire would snit splen-
didly for the two top wires of the light
sheep fences often put up in this country,
as they would be a perfect guarantee for
its safety against cattle. One wire is
sufficient to turn them, and tho price is
about 4^ pence for 18 feet. John Taylor
& Brother, 16, St. John's-street, Montreal,
are tho agents for it.

ROADS.
All the heavy carriage of grain and
ods is done in winter by sleigh, when
jw covers the ground usually for foixr
or five months, and offers an easy means
of transit. It is fortunate for Canada
that she has this natural advantage, as
" bad" is no word to express the condition
of the roads whenever rain falls. There
is no attempt at metalling or making, ex-
cept in a very few districts and near
cities. Road rates are paid by labour,
and the system works badly.

SHEEP.

Speaking generally, I may say the
breeding of sheep in Canada has been a
failure as compared with this country,
simply through the want of knowledge
of their man^cment. You go into a
butcher's shop and you find nothing but
beef or pork hanging, while with as pork
is seldom seen, and beef only in towns.
The climate is well suited to sheep, and
there are men who have succeeded with
them, and made a good thing of it. Mr.
James Hewetson, who had a farm of 550
acres, 350 acres cleared, at Owen Sonnd,
County Bruce, seemed to have been more
successful than any other I came across.
Tlie grass in this district docs not bum up
in summer, and pasture improves w>th
lying out. Mr. Hewetson kept a "run-
ning" stock of 350 pure bred Border
Leicester ewes, besides ploughing onc-
thiid of his cleared land. His sales during
twelve years never fell under 5 dollars (£1)
per head all over, and sometimes as high
as 7 dollarsi Hoggs clipped about 10 lbs.
and ewes 7 lbs. of unwashed wool. Tho
sheep were kept under cover during winter
in places constnicted for them under the
grain bams, with the most perfect, con-
venient arrangements for feeding with
chaffed straw, hay, grain, and a few

135

\s

illed with)
Hi, and in
i;ivlvnnisc(l
nd (il ready
hem along
ails. The
< two wires

two httle
ngcniously
linating in
I inch long,
t direction
IT about six

suit pp1en-
if the light
lis country,
larantee for
)nc wire is
the price is
ohn Taylor
:t, Montreal,

: grain and
4cigh, when
illy for four
L easy means
for Canada
Ivantage, as
ho condition
falls. There
making, ex-
ts and near
by labour,

lay say the
I has been a
his country,
[ knowledge
I go into »
nothing but
with US pork
ly in to^Tis.
;o sheep, and
jceeded with
g of it. Mr.
farm of 550
Owen Sound,
ve been more
came across.
I not burn up
iprovcs with
ccpt a "run-
bred Border
ughing onr-
s sales durfne
5 dollars (£1)
;imes as high
about 10 lbs.
d wool. The
luring winter
jm tmder the
perfect, con-
feeding with
and a few

tamips. The whole cost of wintering may
be Bet down at 2 duUars (Ss), but this of j
course was supplied by the farm. This
gentleman, on selling out three years ago
ftt 36 dollars (£7 lO.i.) per acre, with fair
house, splcnilid bams, and good fcncen,
had for twelve years previously an average
of 10 per cent, per annum for capital in-
Tested, besides the expense of living,
which was not extravagant. This may be-
taken as a fair sample of what may be
done with skill, perseverance, and suffi-
cient capital in an Ontario fann. Sheep
lire subject to no diseases of any conse-
quence. " Fluke in the liver," otherwise
called " rot," is unknown. In some dis-
trict ^ •' grub in the head" is troublesome.
This 13 the larvse of an insect which get
into the nostrils off the grass when the
sheep are feeding, and do the damage
simply through creating an irritation. I
saw some flocks of f-hccp with the nostrils
and half the face c< red with coal-tar as
a preventative. Sheep in good condition
are subject to a disease often mistaken for
" grub" caused by pressure of blood on
the brain. This is easily relieved, if taken
in time, by profuse bleeding at the eyes.
There is another loss that a faimcr has if
he turns h-s sheep into an uncleared bush.
A kind of bur sticks to the wool and mats
it together, reducing its market value.
One species of this native herbage at a
certain season, when dry and hard, fixes
itself in the wool, and, reaching the skin,
BO irritates il as the sheep moves that a
fever is set up of which the animal dies.
These latter are, however, no drawbacks
to a man with a fenced farm kept clear
of weeds. The best breed of slieep for
Canada, in my opinion, is the Shropshire
Down. Then you have a sheep which has
weight enough for the English market,
and at the same time mutton of good
quality, well mixed fat and lean ; whereas
in the common breed, a mixture of Cots-
wolds, Border Leicesters, and Merinos, the
mutton, to be large enough, is too coarse
and fat for the English taste. Last season
it cost about 8s. each to bring fat sheep
from Quebec to L-verpooI.

CATTLE.

The native breeds of cattle in Canada are
good oompare<i with those of soino of the
Western States of America.

The "Maiue" breed has a marked cha-
racter, which can bo easily traced in many
Canadian f^tocks. The shoulders are high
and sharp, the back descending backwards
with a hollow over the kidneys; head well
.•,et on, with large elegant horns. Many of
the steers are used tor work in place of
horses. If good, a yoke will cost from 120
to 200 dollars. They are often of large
size, and make excellent slaves. It is not
known what was tlie origin of this breed,

but it '3 possible there may Iw a dash of
buffalo in the blood. In addition to the
conformation of the shoulder, which might
lead any one to suppose so, it is a strange
fact that two out of three of the half
buffaloes which I saw in a park at the late
Hon. James Mac Kay's place near Winnipeg,
wcio brindled brown arid Idack. *'.o mothers
being native cattle, most pr^'/iibly inijmrted
from the Western Stat**', the one black and
the other red, and man v of the Maine breed
are brindled brown an 1 black in the same
way. These half-buffaloes take more after
the dam than the sire, and resemble nnieh
a badly bred West Highland bullock, with
high shonlders, long face, and upright
horns, set close at tiie root. There wore
also eight or nine pure buffaloes, mostly
cows, tnat bad been caught young, kept in
the same park (two miles long oy half a
mile broad). Thoyseemed all quiet, exrcpt
two that had chains to their noses, and
moved about just like other cattle, with a
little peculiarity in their gait. They were
smaller in size than when running wild.

The little French cow, the same breed
from which the Channel Islands stock
came, has left her mark, more particularly
in those districts where milking is wanted ;
the while shorthorn and " grades ' ' (crosses of
the shorthorn with native cattle) are more
sought after where fattening is wanted. I
saw two herils of pure-bred shorthorns at
Mr. Cochrane's, Compton, Quebec, and
Bow Park Farm, Ontario ; the latter, now
fanned by an English company, had much
the larger of the two. T^iese herds have
already done much to improve the breed.
I came across very few '' Herefords," and
no " Polled -Anguses." These two latter
breeds wwuld suit Canada admirably; the
beef is of the very best qnalitj', and heavy
enough for any market. There is no reason
why beef should not be as ^ood raised on
the other side of the Atlantic as on this,
if a good class of animals is fed, and with
good food. Beef from the bones of an ox
that had been the faithful dnidge of some
baekwood settler for, perhaps, six or eight
years, cannot bo expected to he so fine as
that from the loin of one of our two-year-
old heifers : but it is not because it was
raised in Canada or America that it is
worse, but because of the different condi-
tions under which it was produced, and on
the care which has been expended on the
selection oi the progenitors of the animal,
I am confident it 's simply a matter of
time when Canada and America will pro-
duce beef of as good quality as is now fed
in England, and at a cost and in quantity
which will astonish alike the farmer and
consumer in this country, ^n Colorado
beef can be produced at a cost of Id. per
lb. live weight, but from a breed of animals,
as also in Montana and some other of these

136

^i

•I '

•Wcstc.ni States, that cannot apj)ear in the
English market except in tinned meat cans.
Wliere Indian corn is abundant, 'kittle
can be made excellent "fat," and it only
ret^uires a little improvement in the breed
to have the finest beef at a cost of 2 J dollars
per 100 lbs. live weight, or 2d. per lb. c er
the dead carcase. TMs is done by com-
bining the feeding of pigs and cattle toge-
ther. Indian corn is fed to the cattle, and
two liogs are run behind each animal, and
live entirely on what they pick up from
the droppings. The improvement on the
two hogs is calculated to be about equal in
value to the improvement on each of the
cattle. This of course depends upon all
lucking well ; the feeding of hogs is a very
risky trade. Cholera frequently comes round
and carries oflf a whole herd, if allowed to
remain iu the same place '.rter being
attacked. Perhaps, the mode of feeding is
not the best to prevent the disease.

nOBSES.

Draught horses throughout Canada, in-
cluding Manitoba, are o£ a light build
compared with what we are accustomed
to in this country — more like the style of
our coaching horses. A cross between
the Clyde stallion and native mare does
well, a little more strength is gained,
whi^o the activity, style, and endurance
of the dam is retained. Good horses are
worth about £30. Clyde horses, such as
we see at our shows, would be quite un-
suited t) Canada. Horses are entuely
free of (.ontagious diseases. Some die of
exposu e, and J am surprised many more
do not. °rom the careless nay they are
often tiea outside for houi a on cold frosty
days, after being heated. The common
roadsters of the country are, as a rule,
faster than those on this side, and are
remarkably sure-footed. In Manitoba
many of the horses imported from Otftario
die after a gradual pining away. It seems
to be only a small constitutional dis-
arrangement brought about by a change
of climate and food, and might be easily
remedied if taken in time ; two drachms
of sulphate of iron (green vitriol) very
finely powdered, the watr i of crystallisa-
tion having been driven ( c by heat, given
once a day in short feed, would in a few
weeks have the desired effect.

MANIT03A.--G1SNEBAL DESCRIPTION.

Winnipeg, no v the capital of Manitoba,
known of old as F^it Garry, one of the
Eudson Bay Company's stations, stands
on the west bank of the Red River at its
junction with the Assiniboiue. Although
almost in the centre of the continent of
North America, the elevation above sea
level is only 720 feet. The district sur-
rounding ia low and inclined to be swampy
— this difliculty, however, might bo very
easilj.ovcrcome by drainage. "Thorougu "

drainage would-be quite uaneccssary, as
it is only surface water that has to be
contended with, which falls in June, and
would soon disappear if "arterial" mains,
judiciously laid on, tapped the country
in various directions. The Ked lliver,
which flows within very steei^' banks,
would affoi'd an outlet with sufficient fall.
About 50 miles West of Winniixsg the
land gradually rises and becomes drier,
and away to the Rocky Mountains, a
distance of nearly a thousand miles,
stretches that immense undulating prairie
now called the North- West Territory. A
portion of the Great North Ameiican
Desert juts North of the Interhational
Boundary Line into this country, but, as
a rule, the soil ia of good quality. The
surveyors, now at work on those plains,
estimate that at this time there are at
least 300 milUons of acres of the very
finest wheat land that requires no pre-
paration whatever before the plough is
put in, and only waits for an industrious
population to call forth its fertility. This
region is not entirely destitute of trees,
although there are large patches swept
by prairie fires, where nothing like useful
wood of any kind is allowed to grow. In
the vicinity of rivers, oaks of considerable
size are found, while other districts are
studded with " bluffn " of white poplar,
useful only for burning. Further North,
pines come in. Good water can generally
DC got by sinking wells, or from the
"creeks;" but there are districts where
nothing but bad sulphurous or alkali
waters can be found by sinking any
practicable distance — these should be
avoided by settlers, and it is easy td
find out, by >% little study of the surveyors'
•' field notes,' both the quality and descrip-
tion of the L,nd, its water supply, and
the amount uf tini.ber. The soil is of
uncommon appePir.ancc and qualities, and
from itsmechanical properties and chemical
analysis, is admirably suited for the growth
of all oui' common agricultural crops. Ac-
cording to analysis by V. Emmerling,
potash, phosphoric acid, and lime arc in uil-
usually large quantities, while the amount
of nitrogen is extraordinary, being equal
to over 4 per ccjit. of ammonia or more
than is in many of our manures sold at
£2 and £3 pe: ton. It has a black appear-
ance, and may be called a vegetable loam.
It covers the surface to a depth of from
6 inches to 2J- feet, but in some places is
even so deep as 7 or 8 feet. It has evi-
dently been laid down at tho bottom of
an immense lake, probtibly of fresh water,
which would at one time have submerged
all this immense tract of country. The
subsoil is of great depth, and I have no
doubt would prove an excellent soil if it
were possible to cultivate it. It is a claj

137

•^1

ccssary, as
has to be
June, and
ial" mains,
le country
({ed River,
le^' banks,
Bicient fall,
inipcg the
Dmea drier,
juntains, a
iand miles,
ting prairie
srritory. A
L Ameiican
iterhational
itry, but, as
lality. The
hose plains,
here are at
of the very
ires no pre-
e plough is
industrious
tility. This
ito of trees,
tches swept
y like useful
to grow. In
considerable
districts are
•hito poplar,
rther North,
an generally
ir from the
tricts where
s or alkali
jinking any
should be
, is easy to
16 surveyors'
and descrip-
supply, and
le soil is of
lualities, and
and chemical
jr the growth
il crops. Ac-
Emmerling,
mo arc in un-
a the amount
, being equal
inia or more
lurcs sold at
)lack appear-
2;ctable loam,
jpth of from
me places is
It has evi-
ic bottom of
i fresh water,
^e submerged
nuntry. The
d I have no
ent soil if it
It is a claj

marl, eroded from the underlying creta-
■cnous rooks, and is very i,juacious when
fiUcd with moisture, porous enough, how-
ever, lo allow water in moderate quantities
to percolate fi'ccly.

SUKVET OP LJLND.
Mfuiitobiiis surveyed into " Townships "
(jp six miles square, and these again into
3t) " bcctions " 01 a square mile each. A
"mound is thrown up at each corner, and a
stake left, with markings showing its
exact position. The Townships ai'e num-
"bered north, from the first survey base-
line, which is also the boundary with the
United States, on the 49th degree of north
latitude. The Jirsi principal meridian
line, which has been fixed, cuts a point
about 1 5 miles west of Winnipeg, and is
taken as the starting point for the second
measurement necessary to determine a
location, and the " ranges " numbered east
and west from it. •The "sections" aie
numbered beginning at the south-east
conicr of the Township, running T7cst,
and then east, wheii you come to the
■second row, which lies north of the first,
and so on alternately throughout. It is
thus an easy matter with the number of
the Township, range, cast or west, and
section, to find any part which has been
surveyed, either on a map or on the
ground. The Government propose to
construct a line of railway, the " Canada
Pacific," ^v4lich will extend, when com-
pleted, from Ottawa, the capital, right
through the entire Continent to British
-Columbia. It passes south of Lake Mani-
toba, running due east and west, but
bending slightly north after entering the
North- West Territory. The land is fiu'ther
divided into five belts, running parallel
with the proposed railway on either side,
and are styled (beginning at the line)
Belts ABODE, and are 6, 15, 20,
and 50 miles broad v'^speotively. Two
sections of every T^J.^ hip, the 8th and
2Gth, belong to the F'^uson Bay Company,
allowed thtm, as •.-..•■f recompense for
giving up their rigi ; 1>. a monopoly of the
whole of this North- vVest countiy forhimt-
ing parposcs, hold in virtue of a chai'ter
granted by the British Government some
hundreds of years ago. Numbers li and
29 are " School Sections," set aside to be
sold to defray school expenses. Of the
other sections in each Township the odd-
numbered half is sold to anyone — the
money got being applied to the "building"
of the Canada- Pacific Railway. The price
is fixed by Act of I'ailiament, $5 for belt
A, and $1 less for each belt as you go
back from the railway. One-tenth is pay-
able every year for ten years, also interest
at the rate of 6 per cent, on the part un-
paid. The even-numbered sections are
given by Qoveruraent, in "homesteads"

of 160 acres, 'o actual settlers, free, or for
the nominal sum of $10, with riuht to
secure another IGO acre^, called a '*ore-
emption." In belt A, i5, or C, the price of
the latter is $2^ pei acre, belt D $2, and
belt E $1. No paymtnt is asked till the
end of three years, then four-tenths and
the interest on the remaining six- tenths is
due, one-tenth with interest yearly being
paid for the following six years. There
can thus be two settlers on each section oi
the homestead and pre-emption land,
hokling 320 acres each. The system of
land registration is most perfect, and very
simple. The expense of the "transfer " of
land is next to uotliing.

WHEAT GKOWINO.
The advantages for wheat gro'wing which
Manitoba and the adjoining portions of
the great North- West Province have are
peculiar. Frost may be expected, vaiying
with the season, in the end of October or
beginning of November — not, as a rule,
disappearing until spring — while snow, at
least in any quantity, is never expected
till after the new year. Tliis arrangement
admits of the frost penetrating deeply into
the eai'th, so much as five, or even seven,
feet. When spring ai-rives, and when only
a few inches of the top soil arc tluiA^ed
(in April), the ploughing of course having
been. done in the previous fall, the seed is
put in the groimd. The heat succeeding
stimulutes the growt;h of the young plant,
and at the same time thaws a portion of
the frost-bound earth underneath, forming
the fountain of a steady supply of mois-
tiure, ascending by capillary attraction.
The crop is thus kept in a healthy and
improving condition until the periodical
wet season sets in, in June — then there is
no lack of water for man, beast, or vege-
tation. The country, where lov/-lying, is
deluged, and the roads become almost im-
passable. It is then that the Red River
mud holds sway and imprints its memory
on the minds of all those unlucky enough
to bo bound to try their fortune on its
treacherous surface. Still it is surprising
to find that spring is the scison often re-
commended for immigration, the time
above all others which one who has the
least regard for comfort would avoid. An
average settler, I mean a man who had to
travel the average distance of a seitler, in
these prairie lands, as yet in a sense with-
out railways, could not reach his new
home, and have a house ready, in time to
mthstand the rains which come without
fail at this seeason. {

WOBK ON THE PllAIUIE— SPKINO
PLOUGUIi^O.
It is in June and July that the prairie
turf should be broken for the first time,
when the rains have softened tlio earth
and filled the strong roots of gnias with

138

J

sap, allowing of the easy passage of the
plough. This operation, called "skin-
• ning," is done with the light Canadian
ploupfh, constrnctod of wood with iron on
the surfaces liable to wear, or by the
"Sulky" plough, on which the man in
charge rides and simply drives the horses.
This latter requires, of course, more skill
and less manual labour than the first, and
is gradually being adopted. About two
inches is the proper deptJi for the first
furrow ; the grass roots seem then to be
cut at a part which kills the plant, and
the sods rot and fall to pieces. The fur-
row is usually from 12 to 15 inches wide,
and a man with a team of active horses,
and the ordinary plough, will turn over
more than two acres a day. Oxen will
■not plough quite so much as horses, but
very nearly ; everything taken into con-
sideration, they are bettersuitedtopraine
work. They cort less to buy and less to
feed, not requiring oats, and are hardier,
and for a heavy pull or bad roads are
much steadier and truer. The laud be-
comes too dry andhard to admit of
ploughing in summer.

HAY MAKINO.
Securing the "prairie hay" isthenext
' extensive operation. This is made from
the various grassra natural to and pecu-
liar to the prairie, and is coars'e and
strong, generally got from damp places
left so by the want of roll of the land or
where water has been retained by an arti-
ficial dam. Two to three tons per acre
are often got, and the season being
usually fine, hay-making is an easy mat-
ter. It is cut by mowing machines, the
same that we see sent over to this
country, and only requires to lie one day
before being put together It is then
raked and drawn into heaps by horses,
and little work is necessary in building,
as no rain need bo feared after this
season, only perhaps an occasional thun-
der shower. A man and a boy, with the
necessary horses, can secure in this way
100 tons of hay in the season before har-
vest is ready — (the decimal system of
weights and measures being adopted in
Canada, 1 cwt. is only 100 lbs., and a ton
20 of these.) To let hay-winning by con-
tract, costs from $1 ♦^o $r25 per ton.

HARVEST.

I saw a sample of wheat which had
been sown on 25th May and harvested
on 26th August, 1879. But this is
an unusually short time — the seed should
be in the ground, if possible, in April,
and harvest becomes general in Septem-
ber. The number of hands employed at
one reaper is not more than half the usual
number considered sufficient in this
country. The self-binders, much impro-
ved of lato years, are highly appreciated

on account of the immense saving of
hand labour— this is what Canadians and
Americans alike have an eye to, and ia
the fruitful source of the many mechani-
cal inventions which wc, in due coursei
ailopt and appreciate.

FALL PLOUaniNd.
Immediately on the harvest being
secured, no time should be lost in plough-
ing the land and preparing for next year's
crop— the land that was broken in June
and July is now "ba(;k set," viz., the
furrow turned back into its original
position, but taken deeper than before, '
this time 5 inches in place of 2 inches,
and left for the action of the winter's
frost, which sets in often before the
farmer has all he could have wished done,
even although he lose no time. Many
farmers, regardless of the ruinous con-
sequences, leave t\ieir ploughing, and
thrash out their grain immediately after
harvest, snd find themselves when frost
scis in with little or nothing to do. It ia
clear that when only two months are
suitable for ploughing in spring, and
often less than hat in the fall, it must be
a loss to do work in these seasons that
could stand ovtr to another time. The
cost of skinning and back-setting, when
let by contract, is about $5 per acre. I
saw in the direction of Rock Lake wheat
that had been grown to the amount of 40
bushels to the acre on the first brake of
two inches deep. The land could not be
conveniently turned over in June, and
the skinning was done in the fall. All
that is necessary to secure the crop after
this is rain in time. Should the wet
season eomo late, then a crop put in thus
is a failure ; however, it is well to try;
the expense of sowing is not great.

SOWING AND BEKI>.
This operation is done by the broad-
casting machine, which will sow 12 to 15
acres per day ; and only 1 J bushels wheat,
or 1} oats are necessary per acre. The
species usually grown is a small, hard
variety of the common wheat, and the
quality such that it commands the highest
price for manufacture into fine white
flour. No statistical return of the extent
of land under wheat, or amount grown
per acre, has jot been got. I have seen
it averaged at 20 bushels per acre, while
on fields properly prepared, with land of
good quality, over 40 bushels is no unusual
quantity ; and oats up to 90 and 100
bushels. The standard tor wheat is GOlbs.
and oats 34 lbs. per bushel. Oats do not
fill so well in any part of Canada as in
our own country — the heat seems to be
too great just at the time the eap is filling,
rushing on the ripening before time has
been allowed for the perfecting of the
head,

I'

139

saving of
ladiansand
3 to, and is
Y racchani-
Aue course,

rest being
, in plough-
next year's
:en in June
' viz., the
ta original
lan before,
of 2 inches,
he winter's
before the
ished done,
me. Many
linous con-
ghing, and
iatoly after
when frost
to do. It is
months are
spring, and
1, it must be
casons that
time. The
tting, when
per acre. I
Lake wheat
mount of 40
rst brake of
;ould not be
I June, and
ic fall. All
e crop after
lid the wet
> put in thus
well to try;
Treat,
n.

the broad-
sow 12 to 15
labels wheat,
acre. The
smtill, hard
sat, and the
[s the highest
fine white
of the extent
lount grovn
I have seen
acre, while
with land of
is no unusual
90 and 100
heat is 601bs.
Oats do not
!anada as in
seems to be
ear. is filling,
'ore time has
icting of the

NATUBE OF THE WHEAT PLANT.
With wheat it in difEcrcnt. This plant
requires a certain amount of sun light and
heat, and if it can get this crowded into
a short space of time by having a long day
with a hot sun, so much the better.
Meteorologists have shown, principally
from this fact, that " in the zone or belt
which supplies the necessary condition.^
for the growth of wheat, the part best
suited for the perfect growth of the crop
is its northern .imits." In this, as well
p^ in the almost unequalled soil, quan-
titatively, mechanically, and analytically
do we find the reason why the finger of
the future points to these 300 millions of
fertile acres contained within the great
Canadian North-West as the field which
is to supply the world with bread.
ENEMIES OF WHEAT.

Here the worst enemy of wheat Ls the
grasshopper or locust, which is described
as descending in clouds of countless
millions upon a district, and devouring
every green thing. Within no distant
date, Manitoba has been thrice visited by
this pest, some years elapsing between
each visitation. As the country becomes
settled up, and a wider extent under
cultivation, the destruction becomes not
so wholesale ; and many intelligent settlors
are confident t' y will disappear in
presence of the ite man, as do the red
Indian and bulliilo. Tie wheat crop
after harvest, in common with all other
property on a farm, is liable :o be des-
troyed by praiine fires. These get lighted,
usually by carelessness, in the fall, after
frost has withered the grass, and will burn
quietly enough if no wind blows, but with
Annd, which is quite common at the
season, vrill burst into flames of enormous
dimensions, and sweep everything before
them for hundreds of miles, travelling
often at a speed of from 20 to 30 miles an
hour. A man may effectually guard his
whole property by ploughing round it a
couple of ridges 30 or 40 yards apart, and
burning the grass between, when the wind
is down. Through neglect of this little
precaution over 40 families were burnt out
of everything along the Rod River, south
of Winnipeg last year. " Smut '' is known,
but can be prevented by steeping the seed
as in England. In Ontario I heard of a
" rust," so far as I could learn, peculiar to
this province — not general nor yearly but
due to an exceptional state of some
seasons. The condition of matters is
brought about, by an unnatural second
growth corresponding to that wo have
sometimes among potatoes, just when the
ear is in the milk. Too much juice rushes
up, and exudes near the top of the stalk,
where the straw splits. Thf> sap exposed
immediately becomes the prr-y of fttngi.and

the crop is then an entire failure. Piairie
land, when first broken, is entirely free
from weeds, but from the dirty samples of
grain I have seen, it is evident sufficient
care has not been taken in selecting clean
seed.

FUEL.
During frost all cutting and hauling of
timber, to build houses or make firewood,
is done while the weather is calm. If
wind blows with the temperature below
0' F., all agree it is safer to remain at
home. In addition to timber, prairie hay
is now used for fuel— quite recently a
stov€ has been constructed for burning it,
made up in tight bundles ; also, within a
few months, coal has been found on the
Souris River, close to the surface. It
was known to exist in the Saskatchewan
valley, farther north, before, and it is
estimated there is as much coal in these
districts as there is in the United Kingdom
of Great Britain.

EMIGBANTB.
Then as to the class of men who should
go out to Her Majesty's North American
possessions. I shoidd say, in the first
place, if a man is getting on at home, and
sees his way to continue to improve his
fortune, let him remain where he is " and
let well alone ;" but if he cannot
succeed, and is again starting, as it were,
at the foot of the ladder, by all means go,
if he makes up his mind to rough it, and
is possessed of energy and perseverance,
and is not lazy or dnxnken ; all these
quiil lies are positively necessary for rue
goii to a new country. A shiftless indi-
vidual is of no use, and a lazy man is not
a bit better, for whatever style of farming
one adopts, bo it a homestead of 160 acres,
■•vhere all the work is done by the farmer
liimself, or a large wheat farm of some
thousands of acres, personal presence and
constant superintendence is necessary to
insure success, and to transfer the balance
from t ; wrong to the right side of the
casli i>ook. A man past the prime of life
should not think of going, at least foi his
own comfort — ^if he haa determined to
sacrifice himself for the sake of his family
it is quite a different matter. It is a mis-
take for any one to go and buy a farm, or
settle himself, without first living a year
at least in the country, to get into the
ways of the people, and gain the necessary
experience to get along with, in place of
paying for it as he goes on. It is said
that bought experience is the best, but
even bought experience may be too dear.
There is no opening for clerks or men of
letters, unless they turn to and hold the
plough, and it is better for the settler
himself, more especially after a time, if
he has been accustomed in youth to work
on a f firm. Different parts of the country

w

f'

uo

are suited to ditlicrout ulai9^^c <£ settlers,
A man with a tow thousand pounds may
iind a comfortable homo iu many districts
of Ontario, aud bo possessor, if this is
what he wants, of the property which he
farms for £6 to £8 or £10 per acre. Laui
in Ontario has come down in price one-
third within a few years, and 1 don't see
any reason why it may not yet come down
further, now that such a vast extent of fine
land as in the North-West is becoming
known to the public. Land must be like
every other marketable commodity, wh^re
there is an additional supply, at a lower
rate, with the same demand, the price
must fall towards equalisation. I don't
mean to say that every man in Ontaiio,
who would sell, would take one-third less
for his land, but I speak of sheriff sales,
where the property is put up for public
competition, which is the only true way
of judging of the value. Of all those
tilings, however, a man about to settle in
Ontario must judge for himself. A limited
jiumber of men with means might also
find suitable places, with land at a lower
rate, in some districts of the Eastern
Townships. Men buying land in these dis-
tricts, meaning to take life easy, need not
■expect to make fortunes, but with a judi-
cious selection of places would have com-
fortable houses and a way of living. Those
who Lave little money, or no money, must
jnade up their minds to have a rough
time of it for a few years, and will re-
"quire to go to the extreme point of New
Settlement, now in Manitoba and thi
• North-West Territory. A man with £200
is, in a sense, independent, having enough,
if he takes up a homestead, until he gets
some return from the land — but a man
'who goes to that country without money
lias a hard struggle — he must first engage
with some one until he earns a little
money, and while doing so he is also
.gaining in experience. Vei-y much less
than £200, with great cure and a little
pinching, will keep him going without
falling into the hands of the money-
lenders, who, above all oUier dangers, he
!has to fuar and avoid. 1 have already
explained that 12 per cent, is the lowest
i'ate at which money can be got, but a
man of this class lias to pay more, as he
cannot give the best security. The
Homestead Law secures to him against
-any creditor his house, ICO acres of land,
and a certain amount of stock ; this,
although it is an advantage to him in
Bome ways, is a disadvantage when he
goes into the money maiket to borrow.
For the purpose of giving this class a
.fair stai't, and money just sufficient for
•their requirements at a rate of interest
which they might make of their industry,
1 auggestod to the.^ou. J. J^, I'ope, Minister

of Agriculture, that it would be an advant-
age to many settlers, and consequently to
the country, if the Canadian Government
would raise a loan, at the moderate rate
their credit would command, and charg-
ing a little for working expenses, lend it
to bana fide settlers, at say five or six per
cent., the (Jovernment of course holding
the deeds of the land until the irioney
was repaid. Mr. Pope, no doubt aware
of the difliculties which, I admit, would
attend the working of a scheme of the
kind, thought this was better done by
private enterprise, as by a company iu
England, and . if it were found necessary
the law could be altered so that the
borrower might be enabled to grant
security to a greater extent over his pro-
perty than at present. Unfortunately for
this arrangement, the people iu question
are not in a position to act in unison, and
any company that would form would
have its own interests before theirs,
which means the largest return possible
for the money ; and besides, no individual
security, however good, will command, so
far away and unknown, a low rate of in-
terest as in England. If any means can be
adopted, it does not matter what, whereby
this class of settlers could get the posi-
tively necessary assistance at a moderate
rate, and prevent them paying 16 or even
20 pe' cent, for what they can only make
10 per cent. oflE (the rest being made up
by the rise in value of property), it would
be a great boon to the class of men that
up to this time has proved the best suited
to ihe country. If it had not been for
those who shouldered the axe, and that
often a borrowed one, and went alone into
•the forest, many of the most fertile fields
of Canada would have been at this day a
howling wilderness or a backwood twamp.
It is plain that a man with money has a
great advantage, and the larger holding,if
he goes in for wheat-growing, the more
proportionally will he make. It would
appear at first, from the system of laying
out the land, that large holdings could not
be got ; but this difficulty is easily over-
come. For young men of capital who do
not cai-e for the di-udgery of an arable
farm, and who would be contented with
the Red Indians (now quite peaceable
under Canadian rule) for his neighbours,
vrith a call occasionally from her M ajusty's
Mounted Police, good openings for taking
up land for cattle-grazuig can be had near
to the Rocky Mountains. The rent pay-
able to Government would be merely
nominal, aud the lease would entitle the
holder to the first refusal to purchase by
the time it was wanted for settlement,
There the snows are not so heavy, ox
winters severe, that cattle would not
winter out, owing to the milder climate.

Ul

u advaut-
[ueiitly to
vei'iiinent
irate rate
tid charg-
es, lend it
or six per
se holding
ho money
ubt aware
nit, would
me of the
r done by
jmpany iu
I necessary
I that the
to grant
er his pro-
anately for
,u question
unison, and
)rm would
ore theirs,
rn possible
) individual
)mmand, so
' rate of in-
eans can be
at, whereby
et the posi-
a moderate
T 15 or even
1 only make
g made up
;y), it would
>f men that
! best suited
ot been for
e, and that
it alone into
Eertile fields
X this day a
ood £>wamp.
loney has a
jrholding.if
g, the more
It would
m of laying
igfi could not
ciibily over-
pital who do
if uu arable
itented with
! peaceable
neighbours,
icr Majesty's
gs for taking
L be had near
;ie rent pay-
be merely
entitle the
purchase by
settlement,
so heavy, oi
w^ould not
Idor climate.

due to iifi proximity to the Pacific. Sheep
would do well enough, too, if it were not
for the wild beasts of prey on the moun-
tains. There is less snow than in M ani-
toba, and even there the depth does not
average often more than a foot ; and had
it not been for the unfortunate circumT
stance that cattle will not scrape for their
food if covered up by snow, as horses and
shocp do, it is quite generally believed
that they could winter out. The prairie
grass, which becomes withered and worth-
less-looking with the frost, does not get
the sap and soluble salts washed out of it
by rain like grass in this country, but
retains a large proportion of its nourishing
properties, as hay does, lliis explains
why the native Indian ponies, turned out
in the fall, and never seen all winter, come
back in spring fat.

TEMPEBATUBB.

It is thought that Manitoba and the
North- West^ being so far north, must be
cold ; but if you look at a chart, showing
the distribution of temperature on the
earth's surface, you will find that in this
district of country the Isothermal lines
run very far north, while those lines
marking the mean summer temperatiire
go much higher.

WHEAT FKOM MANITOBA.

Within three years, when that branch
of the Canada Pacific Railway ii finished
which runs to Fort William, on Lake
Superior, from Winnipeg, wheat can be
grown in Manitoba and sent to Liverpool
at a net cost of 26s. per quarter — 3s. 3d.
per bushel. This at first looks a startling
statement to the British farmer, who is
aware that wheat cannot be grown in
England at much less than 50s. per quarter
at tlie present rate of rents, labour, and
manure bills, all equally important factors
in his calculations, especially when he
considers the amount of land ready to be
cultivated, and the large average yield of
40 bushels per acre, which is expected if
fail wheat prdves a success. (I have here
a sample of spring wheat grown for
thirteen consecutive years on the same
ground without manure, and the crop
averaged 30 bushels per acre.) He should
bear in mind that a considerable time
must elapse before settlers find their way
in sufficient numbers to grow wheat in
quantity to affect the English market
after supplying home demand for seed
and consumption in the new cities which
will spring up. From this cause, the
change in the price of wheat will not be
sudden but gradual— ten years must
elapse and it may bo twenty before we feel
it. Last year, in the DufForin district,
there wore .ibout 400,000 aores taken up
by settlers, and this was the largest ex-
tent taken up iu one place ; but suppos-

ing that three millionH of acres were
allotted altogether, in one year, it wouldi
take 100 years to settle up the North-West
at the same rate. Until the Canada-
Pacific Railway is completed throu;j;h to
Ottawa, one thing that will add to the
above quoted price of the large!' bulk of
wheat grown is the storage fee and in-
terest on capital invested in the storing
over winter. I have already explained
the bad consequences of farmers losing
the time for ploughing by threshing be-
fore frosts set!? in, and afterthis tim&
nothing can be shipped by Hudson's Bay
till spring, and not much by Lake
Superior, so that the greater part of the
crop of one year must lie over until after
the breaking up of the ice in the one suc-
ceeding. Much is said about this pro-
posed route by Hudson's Bay, but I am.
afraid it is not much to be depended
upon ; it can only be open four months
in the year.

RECIPnOCITY )'. FREE TRADE.
The people of Canada, having at lart
found out that a system of one-sided free
trade is a delusion and a snare, put in a
Government pledged to adopt what is
called the "national policy,"' which is
simply this : they want free trade on
equal terms, but if other countries will
not grant it, they must put on a tariff.
England and America are the countries
that trade most largely with Canada, and
the American tariff demands that some-
thing must be done. It would be im-
possible to give England free trade, and
put a duty on American goods, while her
ports were open to these same goods free,
consequently a tariff has to be adopted all
round. Should England adoiit a policy
of " reciprocity," which she will have to
do sooner or later, and the sooner the
better for hersfelf, she would at once get
free trade with ([Canada. So anxious are
the Canadian Government that there
should be no difficulty or delay .ibout this,
they have it arranged that an Order in
Council is sufficient to grant it. It would
never do for England to go back to
" protection " for protection's sake, but
the time is not far distant when she will
have to employ protection, .is it is cnllod, as
the power whereby to bring about a orcncral
free trade, which we all so nir.cli long for.
The one-sided plan h.is got a fair trial, and
so far as we are concerned, jiowerful .is wo
are, li.is misci'ably failed. Our oppon-
ents, the Americans, who took the other
way of it, were the last to succumb when
bad times c.ime, and are now the first to
take the lead on the advent of bettor
things. Upwards of 40 million pounds
worth of mnnuLieturod goods are iraport'.il
into Gre.it Britain in a year, and in spite
of the reduced price through depression

i

rw

m

of trade, the increase has been over 20
per cent, within the last ten years. These
jEUFt consist either of luxuries or poo^is
which could be manufactured at home.
Suppose liaif the value due to the work
expended, and that our workmen had done
it, the country would have been 20 millions
ricJier in one year, and thousands of
families tliat aro this day starving would
have had abundance . Wo must have grain
stuffs free, but Groat Britain should
iitposu a h 'avy duty upon manufactured
goods am\ live cattle, from every country
that wiil not give us fi-ee trade, then she
would be in a position to say to our neigh-
bours of the United States — and it is they
who so oblipinLjly raanufacrure most for
ns — " As soon as you give us free trade we
shall return the compliment.* The move-
ments aln^ady male with regard to Canada
show liow s()(i;i they would come i-oimd to
our wiiy of thinkiuj^; tlien in place of our
own manufacturers ''olnv: over to America

and starting factories, as Messrs. J. and P.
Goatcs, thread manufacturers, and many
more were forced to do, employing Amen-
can workmen, we should have the work
done in this country, with our own subjects
now in a state of starvation. The glory of
Britain has been in her manufacturing in-
dustries, but if she drifts into being a
consuming centre, as her i)resent commer-
cial policy encourages her 1 o do, in place of
a manufacturing and supplying one, lier
day is done. Britain having fi'ee trade
with her colonics, and doing by others in
this matter as they do by her, would yet
lead the world, but it is questionable how
long she may hold the first place by tol-
lowing her present plan.

At the close a cordial vote of thanks
was acconled Mr. Wallace for his highly in
tcrosting report, and a similar complimcn
having been paid to the Chairman for
presiding, the proceedings terminated.

148i

I. J. and P,
>ind manjjr
ng Amen-

the work
m subject*
he glory of
Bturing in-
0 being a
it commer-
in place of
ig one, her

free trade
y others in
would yet
)nable how
.ace by tol-

! of thanks
s highly in
!omplimcn
airman for
diaated.

REPORT OF MR. WELSH, THE DELEGATE FROM ESKDALE.

■M

3P

in :U

i ■''"

iff; I

vrf.

I •■Sf

On the 20th of January a large meeting
of farmers an<l others was held in the
LymiecleUch School, Canonble, to hear
the report of the district Delegate to
Canada (Mr. Welsh, Gorrenberry), On
the motion of Mr. Whitelaw, Dr. Snod-
grass was voted to the chair. Dr. Snod-
grass, in introducing Mr. Welsh, said
Ihey were all glad to welcome him back
again, and to see that he had escaped not
only the dangers of a voyage across the
Atlantic, but that he had not been de-
voured by land sharks nor fallen a victim
to the scalping knife of the Red Indian.

Mr. Wklsh then said — When at a
meeting held in this place on the 18th
September last, you, by invitation of
the Canadian Government, appointed me
as your Delegate to visit Canada and
report upon it as a field for intending
agricultural emigrants, you not only con-
ferred on me a lugh honour, but imposed
on me a not unpleasant task My com-
panion and I were treated with much
kindness and courtesy by the Hon. Mr.
Pope, and all the Agents acting by his
instructions, and every facility was
afforded us for getting information.
Even our request to be sent to Manitoba
that we might be able to tell you some-
thing fi'om our own observation about the
grcatCanadian North- WestTerritory, was,
notwithstanding the lateness of the sea-
son, at once granted. By others also, in
many of the places wo visited. Members
of the late Government, Senators, Mem-
bers of Parliament, and private citizens,
we were treated with a kindness we can
never forget.

On reachir.g Carlisle I met, and after-
waiils accoinr nied, Mr, Wallace, of
Twife-iees, a " jung man of great ability,
appointe*' oy the Thornhill District.
After a rather stormy passage, we reached
Quebec o;\ the night of 6th October, and
proceeded by rail to Richmond, accom-
panied by Mr. lennoyer, Government
Agent. Guided by him we drove through
several Townships in the Counties of Rich-
mond, Shefford, Sherbrooke, Compton,
and Brtme — the three first in the centre
of the Eastern Townships, the other two
adjoining them on the South and East,
and also extending to the United States
Border. These Eastern Townships are
part of the Province of Quebec, lying to
the South of the River St. Lawrence, and
were originally settled by United Empire

Loyalists, who left the United States at
the time of their separa'tion from Great
Britain. Their descendants, together
with large numbers of immigrants from
all parts of the United Kingdom, form
the majority of the present population.
In certain districts there are many French
Canadian settlers, but the English lan-
guage greatly predominates, and in the
parts we visited no other is in use.

The Committee appointed at the Sep-
tember meeting here instructed Cnptain
Dudgeon to draw up a list of questions or
suggestions for my guidance. I shall take
up your time by endeavouring to give the
information sought — first, as regards the
Eastern Townships ; next, with reference
to Ontario ; and afterwards give a short
description of what we saw in Manitoba.
And if the information given comes far
short of your expectations, as I much fear
it will, I ask you to consider that, because
of the lateness of tiie season, and the
great distances we travelled over, our time
before winter set in, was very limited.
With your peimission I shall read the
questions, and then attempt to answer
them in their order.

1. The price of land — from whom it is to
be purchased. Government or late owners 1

2. Estimated amount of produce ac-
cording to price of land — e.g., what would
land, say at £10 per acre, oe expected to
carry and produce ?

3. General quality of soil. •

4. Size of farm and general accom-^
modation. ,,

5. Breed and quality of stock.

6. Kind and quality of crops.

7. Market value of stock and crops.

8. Rotation of crops, if any.

9. Methods of cultivating the various
crops.

10. General —"vnagement of stock in
summer and winter.

11. Facility of market.

12. Expense of transit and conveyance.

13. Use of horse and ox labour.

14. Machineiy and implements used.

15. Method of sale — cash or barter

16. Use of artificial manures.

17. Drain.ago.

18. Water supply.

19. Fencing and roads.

20. Modes of conveyance.

21. Supply of farm labourers, harverters,
and domestic servants ; cottage accom-

1 modation and wages.

144

I

22. Rfttcs and taxes.
2.3. Varieties and quantity of wood;
management and disposal of wood.

24. ('ost of living.

25. General opinion of Canadians on
Free Tratlc v. Protection ; probabilities of
continuance of Protection.

26. Opinion of Canadians as to supply
of Canadian cattle for English markets.

27. 0(3ncral idea of Government, police
and law courts, school and church accom-
modation.

28. Probabilities of success atttendlng
Emigration to the Far West direct.

THE EASTERN TOWNSHIPS.

1. In the districts wc visited there are
no lands in the hands of Government.
The wild or forest lands have been bought
by the British American Land Company, or
private speculators, and are sold by them
at 4 dollars per acre. Improved farms
can be bought from the owners, who are
also generally the occupiers. Very large
numbers are desirous to sell. The price
nms from £4 to £6 per acre, with build-
ings. £10 per acre is quite an exceptional
price, and will buy the very pick of the
land, close to a town with all advantages.

2. This being chiefly a grazing district,
hay is the principal crop, one acre
yielding from one up to three tons.
From two to two-and-a-half acres arc
required to graze a two-year-old steer,
and up to three to fatten one. On the
best land less will sufHce. There were
only small patches of swedes and other
roots, which were of fair average quality.
One tw(nity-acre lot of swedes in Compton
was first-rate. Potatoes are said to yield
up to 300 bushels per acre, and arc of
good quality. All vegetables were very
good. Oats yield a large number of
bushels per acre, from 40 to 50, and in one
instance up to 80, but arc not well filled,
and light, I suppose from the climate being
too forcing. I heard of oats up to 40 lbs.
per bushel, but saw none over .34 lbs., the
legal weight of a bushel.

3. In the bottoms, and on the river
sides, there is deep alluvial soil, while on
the ridges it is generally a rich friable
loam, with many boukiers interspersed.
The glacial current which deposited these
has been in the direction of from North-
East to Soutli- ^^'■est, the rocks being
striated in th.at direction. Where boulders
are numerous the soil is always good. On
sandy soil (and there are portions sandy)
there are no boulders. The decay of so
much vegetable matter from the dense
forest covering it must have greatly en-
riched the soil.

4. Farms ran from 100 to .500 acrps.
There is generally a gnod-sized comfort-
able frame dwclling-honso. witli one or
more large-sized barns to Iicld hay and

all other crops ; also having accommoda-
tion for horses and cattle. There are no
cottaires for married servants.

5. Milcli cows, of mixecl Ayrshire and
Alderney breed, are the most numerous
stock, and Ihungli gunerall}' sra.ajl, seem
to bo good milkers, and give rich milk.
Young cattle arc scarce, and not usually
of a good sort for feeding. Some stocks
have been much improved by crossing
with shorthorn. In Compton wo saw a first-
rate shortliorn stock at the Hon. Mr. Coch-
rane's. The offspring of one cow, nine in
number, realized £26,000, two of them
bringing over four thous.ind guineas e.ach.
Mr. Cochrane has also a number ui well-
bred Ayreshires for milking. There aro
few hogs, and also few sheep, and these of
a mixed breed. There are a good many
horses reared, these are liylit in the bone,
hardy, and make excellent harness horses.

6. Besides oats mentioned above, wheat
of excellent quality is gro\\-n — in some
districts to a considerable extent — and
yield best on new land . I heard of 30
bu.sheLs per acre (62 lbs.) grown amongst
stumps. ALso buckwheat and Indian corn,
the last being most profitably grown in
the southern districts. Pumpkins, a
large orange - shaped vegetable, aro
grown amongst Indian corn. They
are very nutritious, but do not keep
.after Martinmas. Tomatoes and grapes
also ripen in the opeii air. Apples of
splendid quality are universally grown,
and bring .i good deal of money. Pears
and small fruit arc also largely grown.

7. There were no local cattle markets
held whilst we were in the Townships, so
we were dependent on what we were told.
Yoimg cattle and cattle for feeding seem
to bring considerably less than half the
price they do here. On the other hand,
first-class pedigreed animals £pr breeding
purposes bring a.s largo prices as those
bred in this coimtry. The price of the
best fat animals is ruled by the
British market, to which the most of
them are shipped. An animal, of from 50
to 60 stones, brings from £7 to £10 'ess
than it would if fed and sold here. Butter
was this year selling from 16 to 18 cents
per lb. (The cent is the same as our half-
penny.) Five or sixyears ago it was from l?5
to 31 cents. Cheese from 10 to II ccntii.
It can be made at from 6 to 7, and wi'l.
piiy at 8 cents. When made in a factojj
10 per cent is needed to pay the manu-
facturer. Ah oi-dinary cow gives 2000 lbs.
of milk in a season — 9 J lbs. of milk make
1 lb. of cheese, and 22 lbs. a pound qf
butter. Oats were selling at 3) to 32
cents perbuslicl of 34 lbs., hay at 7doll.ar9
a ton, .ind potatoes at 25 cents per bushel
of 60 lbs. I,ast year they were 50 cents.
Good winter apples were 10s. per barrel.

146

sonimoda-
TO are no

'shirc and
numerous
aail, seem,
rich milk,
ot usually
tme Htouks
' crossing
3a\v a first-
Mr. Coch-
w, nine in
ot them
ineascach.
.T of well-
There aro
id these of
ootl many
\ the bone,
less horses,
lOve, wheat
— in some
stent — and
card of 30
m amonpst
ndian corn,
f grown in
impkins, a
itable, are
rn. They
not keep
and grapes
Apples of
illy grown,
ncy. Pears
y grown.
;tle markets
)wn8hips, so
ewere told,
eeding seem
m half the
other hand,
for breeding
sea as those
>rico of tiie
id by the
the most of
1, of from 50
to £10 less
-lerc. Butter
to 18 cents
. asdiir half-
t was from ?-5
)toll contii.
o 7, and wi'l.
in a f actoi y
the manu-
'ivcs 2000 lbs.
(f milk make
a pound Qf
at 30 to 32
ly at 7 (loUara
ts per bushel
,-erc 50 cents.
I. per barrel.

8, Borne follow the same rotation of
cropping as here, others sow two white
crops, manuring and sowing down with
the second. In sowing down a peck of
timothy, 2 lbs. of clover and alsyke, or
instead of clover and alsyke, 4 lbs. of
cow-grass at 18 cents per lb. are sown to
the acre. Two bushels of wheat, 3 of bar-
ley, and i of oats are sown per acre.

10, Cattle are managed in the same way
as here, and do not require to be so long
house-fed as they do in districts of Scot-
land v/here "lou ping-ill" prevails. Many
parts of the country seem well adapted
for sheep, but very few are kept. They
require to be housed in winter, a shed
open to the south being preferred, and are
fed with hay and a few roots, also grain
if being fattened, A ton of hay is said to
winter ten sheep, and from IJ to 2 tons a
two-year-old steer. There is said to be no
disease amongst sheep or cattle. There
were few hogs anywhere except at Mr,
Cochrane's. Ho has a number of black
Berkshires, which used to sell at large
prices to breed from. They do not now
pay much, but take up ofEal, and are fed
on boiled apples, potatoes and turnips, A
number of them are grazed in summer,
the male along with them.

11. Fat cattle and sheep are bought
readily at home for the British and home
markets. Good harness horses are bought
for the United States and British maikets.
The butter made in the Eastern Townships
is the best in Canada, on account of the
richness of the pasture and goud quality
of the water. For this and riso for
cheese there is a good demand for the
New England States, as well as Montreal
and the British markets. Cheese factories
are numerous, but many of them were
Bhut up on account of the low price of
cheese. If present prices continue no
doubt work will be resumed. There is
also a weekly market for produce of all
kinds in towns and villages, which are
numerous.

12. The railway rates for conveyance o£
stock ind produce for short distances are
very high — for instance, from Cookshire
to Lcnnoxville, a distance of 18 miles,
a cattle car holding about 20 costs 10
dollars, a car of sheep 8 dollars, a car of

totatoes holding 400 bushels 14 dollars,
'or long distances rates are much lower.
Butter can be sent in quantity from
Waterloo to London, England, at a cost of
one cent per lb. A oarrel of apples from
the south of the Townships to Montreal
costs 60 cents, thence to London 72 cents.
Ocean freights are probably higher now
•n account of the large quantities of grain
being shipped. i

Is, In some parts much of the work is
done by oxen, in others wholly by horses.

Good work oxen cost from £15 to £18
per pair.

14, We saw nothing remarkable in
agricultural implements. Where the
farming is backward they are of a ruder
sort than here. Threshing is principally
done by travelling machines, some driven
by the weight of the horses walking on a
revolving platform. There is a simple

fowerf ul machine used for lifting boulders,
t is suspended from a tripod, and wrought
by a lever and notched wheel. Also
another for extracting large stumps and
roots, which costs about 80 dollars, and ia
said to be very powerful, We had not the
opportunity of seeing implements and
many other things to stdvantage, being too
late to be present at any of the agricultural
shows,

15, Sales are wholly for cash,

16, We did not hear of artificial
manures being used in the Townships.

17 and 18. Nor is draining much re-
sorted to. When done, it is chiefly
unbroken stones that are used. The land
on the ridges is principally dry ; yet on
the whole there is not, so far cs we saw,
any lack of good wholesome water for
man and beast. You do not, certainly,
in driving through the country, fall in
with any of the cool, refreshing springs,
or clear gravelly bum-, oo coiuA-on in our
own highly favoured land ; yet spring!
there are, if not so numerous, and creeks,
if more sluggish than our bums. There
are also occasional fine rivers, with
abundance of water power, which is in
many places utilised for saw mills, flour
mills, woollen factories, &c. Where water
cannot be got from spring, creek, or river,
it is always, I believe, to be got by sinking
for it.

19, Farms are sub-divided into fields
of moderate size, the fencing being
principally by the rail or snake fence.
This is often six or seven feet high, and
when made of cedar of the proper age, will
last fifty years. The only objection to it
is, the ground it occupies when ploughing.
There are al80occF,8ionial good fences mada
0.° stake and boarding, and some stone
dykes made of boulders gathered from
the land. The country is divided into
sections by roads running parallel to each
other; tb^cc are crossed by other roads
running at right angles to them, at short
and regular distjinees. They are. there
fore, frequently hijly, and arc not always
kept in good order, Thjre are occasional
holes and boulders wljich it is well to avoid
when driving fast. Yet, the horses being
hardy and active, the buggies and waggons
light and well constructed, and always
drawn by a pair, teams, notwithstanding
these obstacles, are driven at a good pace.
Bridges are of wood, covered in to protect

K

f ^

r

146

I t

them from tho weather. At railway
crossings thoro are no giites, simply a i>it
on each side to prevent horses and cattle
from straying along the line.

20. On waggons, drawn by a pair of
Bplrit<!d horses, or by a yoke of spiritless
but i)atient, steady-going oxen, farm
produce of all kinds is convoyed to the
most convenient mirket town, or the
nearest station of the many railways by
which the Townships are so well opened
up. These are the Grand Trunk Railway,
connecting Quebec and Montreal with
Kichmond, Sherbrooke, Compton, and
Portland ; the Ccntml Vermont, connect-
ing with Montreal and Boston ; the South-
Bastem, the Quebec Central, the St.Francis
and Megantic International, the St. Law-
rence and Lake Champlain, the Montreal,
Portland, anil Boston, and the Massawippi
Valley Railway. Other lines are con-
tf-ni plated.

21. There is a fair supply of farm
labourers and harvesters, at wages not
higher than here ; in one locality lower,
viz., £21 a year, with board, for faim
servants, £3 per month being the usual
pay for harvesters. Good men, as a rule,
do not long remun servants. They save
money and get into land of their own.
ii.cn servants are generally single, and
board in the house. Cottage accommoda-
tion can be got in adjacent villages. We
eaw lew " o' female servant station."
Th&y ai'c paid, I believe, about £1 per
jiionth.

I 22. Rates and taxes in to^vns are often
high, but not in the country districts,
Vieing there about three-quai'ters per cent,
en value of farm, c.^/., on a farm worth
tight thousand dollars, sixty dollars
would be the amount charged. Tliis
includes all taxes and rates, and may
Tary a little in different Townships. There
•re no tramps or beggars in these Town-
ships. Very rarely a few French- Canadian
women, driving their own conver'\nce.

23, There is a large extent of land still
under forest, and a considerable variety
of wood — amongst others, the cedar, the
gugar maple, the different kinds of fir,
Tiz, : the pine, tamarac (larch), spruce,
&c., the elm, birch, oak, beech, ash, b ^tter-
nut, and the hemlock. Th, last is there
only valuable for its bark. , lany keep a
•' sugaiy" of maples, from the t).\p of which,
extracted in spring, sugar, or sometimes
honey is made by boiling it down, one
good tree yielding about three pounds of
sugar. Part of cedars are preserved for
fencing, and hard woods for firing. Large
quantities of wood are used as fuel by the
railways. It is piled up in blocks on the
side of the lines, and got when wanted,
firewood is sold oy the cord, i.e., 8x4x4
feet, at about two dollars per cord, There

being none of the very large liunber here,
ordinary wood docs not pay for more than
the cost of cutting anil conveyance, and is
frequently burned where it is cut, the
ashes u^ed as manure, or sold at five cents
per busliel. Tho ashes of an acre may
amount to about 100 bushels.

24. Tht! cost of living, that is of food,
is considerably less than hero, as may be
inferred from the prices of the following
articles — beef and mutton (tlie former
poor), 2d. and 2id. per lb. ; good young
fowls, 7id. each; potatoes Is. per bushel.
These were the prices in October at weekly
retail markets. Groceries are dearer than
here, as also are house rents and clothing.

The remaining questions will be consi-
dered afterwards.

ONTAfilO.

With reference to Ontario, I must ex-
plain that with the exception of two days,
wliilst we were driving between Belleville
and Coburg, and other two days we were
detained in Toronto, the ground was
more or less covered with snow all the
time I was there, so that I had to trust
almost entirely to ini'ormation got from
reliable people about this, the richest
Province of Canada.

1. There is a much wider range in the
price of land in this Province than in the
Eastern Townships, and it varies greatly
in different Counties, and in different por-
tions of the same County. Since coming
home, Mr. Dymond, of Toronto, has kindly
sent me a very carefully prepared descrip-
tive list of 26 Counties in the Province, from
which I shall make quotations, being con-
fident tt-it the statements therein are
correct. It is satisfactory to find that
information I have obtained from other
sources regarding several of these counties
is corroborated by his pai)er : — (1) In
Middlesex, North Division, the farthest
west County given in this list, the price
of farms, with buildings, is from £8 to
£16 per acre. (2) In Oxford, east from
it, from £8 to £15. (3) In Waterloo,
north-oast from Oxford, from £8 to £20.
(4) In Wellington, still to tho north-east,
from £8 to £16. (5) In Perth, norfh-
west from Wellington, from £6 to £16 j
and (6) in Huron, north-west from Perth,
from £6 to £12. These Counties are all
west from Lake Ontario, and north from
Lake Erie, but not bordering on either of
them. (7) Haldimand borders on Lake
Erie, and forms part of the Niagara
peninsula; price of farms, from £4 to
£10 per acre. Next take (8) Northum-
berland, a county on the north of Lake
Ontario, some 70 miles east of Toronto,
the prices there range from £2 to £12 per
acre ; and another (9) Glengarry, tjje
furthest east county in Ontario, near t'le
ji;nctiou of the Rivers Ottawa and St,

147

iber here,
noie than
ice, and is
cut, the
five cents
acre may

is of food,
as may be
following
he former
ood young
per bushel.
• at weekly
learer than
a clothing.
11 be consi-

I must ex-
)f two days,
n Belleville
lys we were
round was
now all the
had to trust
n got from
the richest

range in the
than in the
aries greatly
liferent por-
ince coming
J, has kindly
ired descrip-
oviuce, from
s, being con-
therein are

0 find that
L from other
hese counties
)er:— (1) In
the farthest
ist, the price
from £8 to

:d, east from
:n Waterloo,

1 £8 to £20.
jt north-east,
Perth, norfh-

£6 to £16 i
; from Perth,
mties are all
1 north from

on either of
iers on Lake
the Niagara

from £4 to
^8) Northum-
orth of Lake
. of Toronto,
E2 to £12 per
lengarrj", tlie
ario, near t'le
;awa and Bt,

Lawrence, wliere the prices run from £4
to £8.

2. Till' estimated averafje prodiicc of
cereals and roots in each of th-^HO Counties
in their order is, in— (1) Full wheat 20
bushels per acre, spring wheat 8 bushels,
barley 3'», peas 12, oats .35, potatoes 100,
turnips 300, hay IJ tons per acre. (5)
Fall wh<'at 18 to 25 bushels per acre,
spring wheat 10 to 20, b.arley 25 to 45,
oats 40 to BO, peas 25, potatoes 100 to
150, turnips BOO to 700, hav 1 to IJ
tons. (7) Fall wheat 20 to 30 bushels
per acre, spring wheat 15 to 25,
oats 40 to 50, peas 20 to 25, barley 30 to
50, potatoes 250 to 300, turnijis 600 to
600, hay 2 to 3 tons per acre. (8) Wheat
IB bushels per acre, rye 12, oats 2B, peas
15, potatoes 200, corn 30, turnips 400, hay
1 ton per acre.

3. Gener.al quality of the soil in — (1) is
from heavy clay to sandy loam ; (2) rich
clay loam, in parts mixed with gravel ;
(3) mixed fertile soil ; (4) clay lonra to
gr.avel loam ; (5) clay or clay loam ; (0)
sandy loam ; (7) mixture of clay and
loam, witli g.and and gravel on Lake Eric
and the v-alluy of the Grand lliver ; (8)
sandy loam with some clay ; (S)) cLay on
the flats, gravelly loam on the rolling
land.

4. Farms are from 100 to 500 acres.
There being much more land under crop
than in the Eastern Townships, barns are
larger, and there is more of other accom-
modation. Many of the dwolling-houses
are built of brick and some of stone.

6. Lar^re numbers of cattle are of a
highly improved breed, many of them
thorough bred. Amongst others there is
a Large herd a^ Bow Park, near Rrantford,
said to be the most valuable in the world,
There are numerous other excellent stocks
of pedigreed animals, as well as good
crosses for feeding ; also, a large number
of useful dairy cows of the old breed.
Tbcre are very many good harness horses ;
indeed, most of the horses lased seem to
be of that description. Sheep are well
bred, and become very fat on the gra^s.
3'hey are mostly Cotswold, Leicester, or
Southdown. The number in the Province
in 1875, the latest returns to be had, were
—Sheep, 1,014,000; cattle. 1,006,000;
horses, 416,000; hogs, 377,000.

6. Noticed above.

7. Market values are similar to those in
Eastern Townships, the jmcc of best fat
cattle, breadstuff.s, &c,, being ruled by
the British markets. There being more
factorj'js and other industries, tlicre is a
1 11^ Iter local market for secondary beef
and mutton. For instance, at the Asylum,
near London,where 500 lbs, of beef are used
(laily,the price contracted for by tiieyearis

5 dollars 3(1 cents per 100 llis,,noa:ly 2Jd.
per lb. It is estimated that bnof does not
pay for feeding hore under 5 cents, nor
cheese on good land under 10 cents jier
lb. At one factory in NortliumbiM-land
tlic cliei;.so had been sold this year at from
7 to 8 cents, later on it wn** wo-th from

II to 12 ci'nts, 800 lbs. was tlicre con-
sidered the average of a cov,'. Fruit in
good seasons adds largely to the fiirmcr's
income. We called on one farmer in
Northumberland who has 1,000 appl«
trees. He has gathered 20 bushels from
one tree, and expects to sell good winter
apples at 48, per bushel,

8 and 9. In som^' part s no regular rotat ion
of eropsisobserved,and no turnips grown on
account of the exjiense of worldng them.

III others two white crops, one green,
finishing with two white. In many dis-
tricts land di>os not lie well in grass,
sown grasses run out from drought nnd
fvr)Rt ; in others it is said to lie well in
pasture. Fall wheat is largely grown,
and, asthe returns show, yii'Ids much more
than spring sown There is nothing special
in the management of cattle, except the
cutting of Indian corn green, to f'ed
them in winter. Sheep will be noticed
later on.

11. The demand for the liomo market
is considerable in many parts of tlie Pro-
vince, and there are the same foreign
markets for the best cattle and horses.
A number of cattle and a good many horses
have of late years been transported to
Miinitoba. Cheese factories -"re numerous.
There are also creameries for tlie making
of butter. It is well intersected by rail-
ways, especially in the southern division,
2,464 miles being in operation in 1878,
and 448 in course of construction, besides
Dominion lines, such as the Grand Trunk.
The greatest extent of the best portion of
the Province is enclosed in the form of
a peninsula by Lakes Ontario, Erie, and
Huron, and the Georgian Bay, This gives
an abundance of water communication
and also has the effect of moderating the
heat in summer as well as the co*d in
winter, in the land adjacent. Pennsyl-
vania, with its coal fields, touches liakc
Erie on the South.

12. The cost of conveyance of grain, &c.,
varies considerably. Some time ago
wheat was conveyed from Chicago to
Liverpool at 9d. per bushel. In the end
of November last the cost was St) cents,
nearly Is. 8d, per bushel. For cattle the
ocean freight was from £5 to £6, I am
not aware that it is increased. Flour by
the barrel was 5s. to Liverpool.

13 and 14. In all the best districts work
is done by horses, and the machinery and
implements are of an improved sort.
Farmers have a more comfortable appear-

t

/T

U8

Hi ;f

Alice iliiiri the ((cncral run uf Ihum in tbo
Kiv-<li:n» TownHliips.

1 T). Siilus nro for cosh,

Ui. 'I'lioro arc liir^jo ik'p'wils of jfypsum
in liic I'luviiicf, but arlilicial mauuroaare
not ill ^^Mierul use.

17. Tlu'io does not (■ecm to have been
much ilniiiuvgc, except of swamps ; the
8C!is(iri iiiul .stale of the weatlier made it
ditliciilt 1(1 say whure it was needed.

18. \\^■^tor was abundant in creeks and
rivers whoii we were there, but siueo the
couiiiry was cleared tliese, in tlio dry
sea. oil, arc ivll much lower, and springs
that once never failed now do get dry.
Tho same amount of rain is supposed to
fall, but not so regularly, and there are
lonj;er droughts.

r.>. The snake fence is there also the
most prevalent. Roads arc better kept,
but at certain seasons very muddy, and
where the land is rolling in places steep.

20. As stated a'-ove there i.s abmidant
raihv.iy and water comminiication.

21. A good stii)]ily of farm labourers is
k('])t up by the large immigration of men
of that cla.ss. These are distributed by
the agents in the districts whore there is
mobt demand for them, and do not always
get better pay than here. In 1878 the
average of the harvest wages in the
Ottawa district was from 10s. to 12s. per
wee k. Good menscrvants average from
£3o to £;?6 a year with board, in some
localities more than this. In general there
is not cottage accommodation.

22. Hates and taxes, including fire in-
surance, amount to from one-half to thrce-
quMit.rs per cent, on the value of land,

23. There are the same varieties of
wood as in the Eik-tem Townsnips; being
in many places not so plentiful, firewood
is dearer, running from 2 dollars to 4
dollars per coni. To show that sheep in
Ontario give a good return when properly
managed, I shall give a few extracts from
notes got from Mr. Wallace. On a farm
on Owen Sound River, County of Bruce,
coasLsting of 555 acres, of which 350 were
cleared, in addition to other stock, 350
sheep were kept. The land is rolling,
and well watered. The buildings were a
comfortable frame house, a bam 64 feet
by 100, a sheep shed at the end 30 by
G4, ami another sheep house 44 by 96,
fitted up for wintering 400 sheep (10 or
1 2 squai-e feet for each). The sheep were
fed in winter on half a pound or peas
daily, with pea straw and hay, also a few
turnips twice a week. The average return
was from 5 dollars to 7 dollars each, the
hogs clipping 10 lbs. and the ewes 7 lbs.
unvvaahcd. Thirty cattle, bought in the
fall at from £4 to £5 each, were sold in
July at about double the money, and
were wintered on wheat straw and chaff,

with a little hay in April. 100 acres of

crop were grown, wheat, oats, and peas.

The average sales were —

1,700 bushels wheat® 1 dollar.. .$1,700

From 350 sheep, including wool.. l,70f)

Net profit on cattle 300

Total .$3,700

Total expenses, including taxes... 1,800

Profit each year for 12 years $1,000

Two pairs of work horses were kept worth
150 dollars per pair, and 8 cows for the
house ; also 6 or 7 hogs were fed for ser-
vants who would not have fresh beef.
The land ..good heart yielded 30 bushels
of fall and 20 of spring wheat per aero,
peas about 40 bushels, and 5 acres of
turnips grown better than in any place in
Dumfriesshire, The farm was sold four
years ago for 24,000 dollars. Tho whole
stock brought near to 5,000 dollars. I
would also like to give Mr. James Laid-
law's valuation of his farm and statement
of returns from it. Mr. Laidlaw's father
(who is yet alive) went out from near
Hawick a' ut 1830, when his family were
mere hildr.n. "nd with a very small
capital. "I. four sons have a'll good
farms adjoining each other, none of which
are for sale. Mr. James is M.P.P., and
was exceedingly kind in giving informa-
tion and assistance. This statement has
reference to the average of the last five
years ; the preceding would have given a
better balance. It has also reference to
good land well farmed. Farm containing
200 acres, well fenced, with frame bank
bam (sufficiently large to contain the
crop in an average year), with stables and
root cellars beneath, and other necessary
outbuildings. Stone house one and a half
storeys ^n height, kitchen and other neces-
sary outbuildings, a good supply of water,
and a large orchard. Value of the above
farm, 14,000 dollars.

Stock. I ct£. S cts.

6 horses @ 100 600

6 cows 50 3(0

6 calves 9 54

6 one-year-old cattle 18 108

6 two-year-old cattle 30 180

6 bought to fatten... 30 180

20 ewes 6 120

25 lambs 3 60 87 50

1 ram 15

1 breeding sow ... 26

Implements, compris-
ing ploughs, har-
rows, waggons,
buggy,harncss,&c. 800

Seeds 100

2,569 50
14,000

16,509 jO

200

Total
Total '

Leaving

Or intei

amount

cent.

26.

Canadis

tection

protccti

Many

is so .

lessen tl

be mod:

opinion

00 ivcrcB of
, and pofts.

H-...$1.700
ool.. l.TO
-M)

CCS.

,$3,700
. 1,800

$1,000

) kept worth
;ow8 for the
fed for Bcr-
frc«h beef,
d 30 bushcla
lat per acre,
. 5 acres of
any place in
raa sold four
Tlio whole
) dollars. I
James Laid-
nd statement
dlaw's father
it from near
is family were
1 very small
avc ail good
Qone of which
s M.P.P., and
ring informa-
statement has
f the last five
i have given a
0 refcjenco to
jm containing
ti frame bank
» contain the
ith stables and
ther necessary
one and a half
id other neces-
ipplv of water,
0 of' the above

cts. S ct3.

00 fioo

50
9
18
30
30
6

310

54

108

180

180

120

3 50 87 50

15

26

SOU
100

2,569 50
14,000

149

Crop.
bnahel por acre.

.®

10

tin.

30
70
C6

60

•er«i

25 whoat ... 20
20 oats ... 46
lo pi'iis ... 25
15 bftiioy ... .10

9 turnips ... 600

1 potiitocs... 126
35 hay at IJ tons
45 pa 4 lire.

6 rave.
15 fallow.
15 woods.

200

Sales,

600 bushels wheat @ 1 dollar ...

451) „ barley <g> 05 cents ...

125 „ potatoes @ 50 cents. .

Outs, peas, turnips, and hay are
all rc(iuircd on the fiinTi ic feed
ond fatten the stock (as well as
to furnisli us with manure for
noxt seaion) yalue for those
articles must be got from the
sales of stocks and their products.

Return from cows @ $40

6 two-year-old cattle when

fat 70

Profit on 6 bought in ... 40
8 fat hoj,'s 15

25 lambs in spring G

21 lloeccs at 6 lb. per

head @ 30 cents.

Product of orchard

600
270

2ti2 60
282 50

62 60
»26

$ cts.
600
292 60

C2 60

240

420
240
120
150

31 60
100

Expenses of the Farm.

$2,156 60

2 men's wages one year, each 226 dols.

1 man, 9 months

Extra help

1 servant girl for 1 year

Blacksmith's and carpenter's bills,
and tear and wear on implements.. 100

XcLXCS tt • ••• ••■ •■• ••• ••• ••• vv

$

450

150

60

lOO

Total income from faita
Total expenses

910

$ cts.
2,156 60
910

lf),5('.9 50

Leaving a profit of 1,246 50

Or interest on 16,569 dollars 60 cents, the
nraount of capital invested, at rate 7J per
cent.

25. It is the general opinion of
Canadians that a certain amount of Pro-
tection is necessary as against the high
(protective tariff of the United States.
Hany think the present Canadian tariff
is so high as to prevent imports, anc
lessen the revenue, and that it will soon
be modified. There are numbers of the
opinion that Free Trade between Britain

and the cohmies would b? most beneficial,
and would stimulate cmigiTitinn to Caiind*
in preference to the Uiiitoti States, so long
as th(! latter did not reciprocate.

26. Tlio exports of stock from Canada
to Great Britain have been as follow : —

Hogs.

873
1798

II irses. Cattle. Shi'Op.
IS76... 352 2767 2607

1S77... 298 7412 6S25

1K78...1243 32115 62461

1879... about 80000 100000
Many more calves are kept this year, and
in a few years a largo increase maybe ex-
pooto<l. In connection with this it is
stated that by the prevention of AVcstcm
Rtatos cattle from passing through Canada,
til" loss in trafllc to the Grand Trunk
Uiiilway has been £6000 per week,

27. The executive power isadministered
by the representative of the Crown, viz., the
Governor-General, whose advisers are the
Government of the day. Parliament
consists of two Houses — the Upper House
or Senate, appointed by the Crown for
life, and the Lower House or House of
Commons, elected by the people for five
years. Tiiis Dominion Parliament has
charge of allmattersofanational character,
such as customs, excise, &c. Each Pro-
vince has also a Provincial Government
and Parliament of its own whose powers
are confined to matters of a local character.
The Members, like those of the Dominion
Parliament, receive a sessional allowance.
There is also a municipal system for
the fixing of County rates and
taxes. Judges are appointed by the
Crown for life. Only large towns have a
police force. In rural districts, which arc
comparatively free from crime, a few
County Constables are employed. Unliko
parts of the United States, in these Pro-
vinces "Judge Lynch" has no jurisdiction.

Schools and churches are abundant.
Tlicre is a Public School in each section,
where a good English education is given
free, teachers being well trained. Next
the High School, then the Collegiate
Institute, and la.st the University. In the
two first the charge is £ 1 per quarter. In
the University the fees arc £2 fo*- a course
of three months. There is no State Church.

MANITOBA.
It is now high time for us to start on
onr long journey to the West. On Friday,
24th October, four of us (Messrs. Gordon,
Wilken, Wallace, and I), met in Sarnia,
the port of departure for Manitoba. We
had been assured the Ontario would not
sail before Friday, an assurance which was
fully justified by our being kept waiting
till Sabbath morning. The day was fine,
"^he passengers, few in number, passed
tue time in v.arious ways, I saw one or
two ladies reading the Bible, another
sang "Anni'j Laurie" and other songs

' h

'■'''i

150

.;.»;•

%

1 1

accompanying herself on the piano. The
weather in the evening became very
Biormy, and continued so for some
diiys. Whether there was any connec-
tion between the coarse weather and the
singing of "Annie Laurie" I will leave
to Dr. Begg to determine. If there was,
it is satisfactory to know the young lady
did not CKcape the retribution — she was
very sick. The Ontario thougli with
some difficulty, made lier way up Lake
Huron, then up the river Sault St. JIarie,
into Lake Superior. We there tuuehed at
Silver Islet, on the Canadian side, where
are very rich silver mines owned by a
New York Company, and passed on the
Michigan side, Hecla copper mines, the
rich6.st in the world. They yield about
60,000 tons of r>r» aiirually, worth from
£60 to £70 a ton. We touched also at
Tliuuder Bay, the terminus of the Win-
nipeg Kailway, in course of construction.
Having there lauded the aforesaid young
la;'y, we had afterwards good weather,
and reached Duluth on the forenoon of
Friday, having sailed 860 miles from
Sarnia. The remaining 465 miles are by
raihvay to Winnipeg, where we arrived at
3 a.m. on Sabbath morning. We were
obligingly conveyed in an omnibus to the
side of the Ked River, which they knew
to be impassable from the newlj'-formed
ice, atid declining to pay our shilling each,
hurried back to St, IJouiface and got into
a little hotel kept by a Frenchman. For the
fifty guests the accommodation was
limited. Two slept on the billiard table,
and we were all stowed away somewhere.
In the morning we crossed the river ::,ume
150 yards broad, on the ice. Winnipeg,
which stands just below the junctiun of
the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, had in
1870 a population of 253. It is now a
city of 10,000 inhabitants. There are
many substantial brick buildings, and
«ome better shops than any I know in
Carlisle. On the ■.uidu street, where all
the business places are, si! i s are now very
cosily. The si'c of one dry goods t>tore
which live yea/s ago was bought for 100
dolliU'rt, is now said to be worth 10,000
dollars. Of first-class hotels tliere are at
least four. These, even in November,
seemed to be well filled. There is a fair
supply of public schools in the city, which
arc free, and also several coUe;;e3. Of
churclics there are Church of i'inglaiul,
Presbyterian, and Mcllio;li.st, and these
have numerous stuliuus, and several
clmrches thnughout the province.

Manitoba extends about 100 miles from
north to south, and 120 miles from east
to wcot, and contains about !»,000,0i'0
acres of laud, it is divided by the itcd
River into two parts, two-thirds being on
the west and one-third on the east of that

river. There are numerous steamers on
the two rivers in summer, but these wera
all fast in the ice. For the purpose of
seeing about us, we had, therefore, to
engage teams. For the first six days one
or other of the Messrs. Ross, barj-isters,
kindly accompanied r,nd ohowed us the
country, and for sev.ral days supplied us
with one of the teams. We druve one
d.ay to the west, one to the south-west,
returning each night ; then one day to the
south and south-east, returning tlie next
day ; afterwards one day to the east return-
ing the following day more to the north,
Afterleaving the Acaiuiboine, along wliich
as on all the rivers, there is a belt of tim-
ber, we reached the flat, treeless prairie,
which is very dreary looking to those who
have boon used to " hill, dale, and sha'ly
wood, and sunny plain, and Lquid lapse
of murmuring stream." Here, as evori'-
where, there is the same deep, rich, black,
alluvial soil varying from 12 or 18 inches
up to 6 or 8 feet deep on the river side"?.
In driving some 18 miles next day acrcas
the river Salle we found soil of the same
description resting on sandy loam con-
taining much lime. These lands will be
in the market in another year, beirg half-
breed minor reservations, that is home-
stead allotments reserved for children of
French half-breeds. Mr, Ross says these
will be sold at from 10s. to 15s., up to 20l<.
per acre for a good river lot. Jlr. Ross-
buys largely and sells again the lirst
epportutiity. The lands at present owned
by half-breeds all front on the Red and
Assiniboinc Rivers, the Fiench half-
breeds being mostly on the Assiniboino
p.nd on the Red River south of Winnipo;,',
the Scotch mostly on the same river ni'rtli
of Winnipeg. Their lots run from the
rivers in a narrow strip four miles back,
the houses having been kcjvt near ca'-h
other for protection. They are not rai d( 1
fariiicrs, and their lands ore graduaUy
getting into other hands. Much (jf tbo
Country has this year been burned by
prairie fires, numbers of which were alwiiys
in progress, and had a fine ai)pearauco
at night, These arc dangerous only when
there is a high whid. There was one in
particular which, starting some 250 or;iwO
miles south in Miunosutn, and driven
north by a furious wind, swept overaci n-
siderable portion of Mamtuba on botli
si'les of the Red River, causing some loss
of life and much desli iictit'U of property.
The house (a stiie or stoijping place) we
slept at on the Rat River had been buitit
down by it just four weeks before, Ijut
was again reaily for the entertainment of
travellers in a rough way. We ali-r-
wards saw its tiack far to the west in the
charred and blackened trunks oi trc(^8,
and heard of serious personal injurio*

151

steamers od
at these wera
e purpose ot
therefore, to
, aix days one
ss, barristers,
owed us the
■8 supplied us
i''e drcjve cue
e sC'Uth-wcst,
ne day to the
ling tlie next
ae east return-
to the north.
;, along whieh
a belt of tim-
eeless prairio,
5 to those who
^e, and sha'ly
d Lquid hipse
2re, as every-
;p, rich, blaek,
2 or 18 inches
he river side"?.
3xt day aercHS
il of the same
idy loam con-
lands will be
;ar, beir g half-
thnt is homc-
for children of
.tons says these
15s., upto20L'.
ot. Jlr. Ross-
ftun the iirst
present owned
n the Red and
French half-
le Assiniboine
„ of Winnipeg,',
,mc river north
run from the
lur miles back,
ept near ea-ii
are notra' d< 1
are gradually
Much of tbc
en burned by
chwerealwiiya
ne appearance
■ous only when
re was one in
.me 250 or ooQ
, and driven
cplovcraci n-
tviba on both
ninfi S( me loh>3
ill of pri'pcrty.
'ing place) we
lid been bu)nt
ks before, but
itertainment of
ly. We al'i'-T-
the west in the
ranks of trca,
onal injurie*

caused by it 80 miles from this. By
ploughing a few furrows around house
and hay ricks, and biriiing the grass
within when it is calm, people can secure
their property from these fires, and few
neglect doing so.

On the east side of the river there is
more swampy land, some of it so wet as
to be at present of no use ; this is called
muskeg. On land which, very wet in
spring, becomes dry in August, excellent
hay is got. Thif^, cut by a macliine, costs
some fls. per ton to cut and put np. In
ordinary years there is not much food for
cattle on the dry pr.airio,wliichgrows prin-
cipally wildrose, raspberry, &c. ; so that
grass as well as hay has to be got
on land too wet for cropping. These
swamps are easily dried, sometimes by
a single open drain, which in the
deep rich soil soon enlarges into a
creek. The Red River here some 50 or
60 years ago could be crossed on foot, or
by felling a tree .across it, now it is navi-
gable for 20() ndles above Winnipeg. The
land, which at a comparatively recent
period, has been all under water, is known
to be undergoing a gradual elevation.
Lake Manitoba, 25 years ago, extended to
a beach 10 feet higher than the present.
On the east coast of Hudson Bay an old
ship's anchor has been got in the crevice of
a rock 400feetal'i\e the present sea level.

To the east ol V/innipeg the land is
quite flat, and much of it very wet. There
was no dilHculty in driving anywhere on
account of the severity of the frost. Of
roads there, as elsewhere, there are none,
and never can be — simj)ly trails or tracks
along the prairie, and the less used are so
mucli the belter. The main street of
Winnipeg and some trails along the river
near it were the ^vorst roads I saw, They
were all then .at the best. In spring
many of them must be almost impassable
with a load. Some 22 miles east of Win-
nipeg a fringe of forest extends from th"^
east. From this neighbouring settlers
who have wood i". ■ cut and convey it to
Winnipeg by waggon or sleigh, selling it
there for tirewood at G dollars per cord.
This is for i)oplar, the prevailing timber
in the Province. Oak is a little dearer.
Rough lumber for building Is from 25
dollars to 30 dnllais per 1,000 feet, up to
50 dollars nnd GO dollars for finest.
Bricks are about 15 dollars per 1,000.
Beef from 12 to 15 cents retail, 8 and 9
cents, by the carcase ; butt r 25 eent«,
wheat C5 to (13 cents per bushel. Ten
days ago it was 89 cents Hay from G to
7 dollars per ton. Farm .servants are paid
15 dollai's per month with board. New
land is first ploughed with a furrow 12 to
14 inches broad and 2 inches deep. This
is backset in spring a little deeper, These

two pTotighings when let cost 5 dollars pe.*
acre. The seed is sown as soon as the,
frost is two Gr three inches out of
the ground, and springs immediately.
After the fir,-,t crop the ploughing cati
be done at Os. per acre, and the yiclil
being variously estimated at from 20 to
30 bushels, it is calculated that wheat can
be grown and delivered in Liverpool, at
present rate of freight, at 29s. per quarter
if the yield is 30 bu.shels, and at 34s. 4d. if
the yield is only 20 bu.'-hels per acre (Mr.
Wilken). We got sample of soil on which
wheat h.as been grown for fifty ye.ars :a
succession without maimre, but this is
near the rivei' where the alluvial soil is
deepest. Some who aave tried manure
on new land say it does not improve the
crop, but makes it run more to straw.
All vegetables grow to an extreme size
without any trouble, and two crops of
potatoes have been grown ;n the si'ason,
hut no attempt at growing fruit has yet
succeeded. There is not usually mora
than from 15 to 18 inches of snow, and
the frost penetrates 4 or 5 feet into the
ground. This supplies moisture to the
roots of the plants, and, by preserving the
soil at a lower temperature, is supposed to
im])rove the quality of the grain.

In Manitoba, as in all the North- West
Territory, there is extreme heat in summer
and extreme cold in winter. The lines of
equal summer tempcrture stretch far into
the North- West, and at Fort Simpson, 12
deforces farther north th.an Winnipeg, the
mean temperature in July and August is
only 3 degrees lower. Winnipeg is 49. .j2
north. The most of the land in the Peace
River, from 56° to .'")9'' north, is con-
.sidered well adapted for wheai. growing,
the length of day in summer being a
great advantage. The frost in winter is
very severe all over, the thermometer
sometimes going do rn to 40" belur, .'.ero.
The mdder winter caused by warm winds
from the Pacific does "lot extend more
than 100 miles cast from the Rocky Moun-
tains. Notw'th.standing the intensity of
the frost, cold is not felt so much as in a
moister climate, the dry air acting as n
nonconductfir. On some it has quite an
exhilarating ciTeet. One gcntlcm.an toUi
me that in frosty weather he .always felt .as
if intoxicated. Ho is .a native of the
Sister Isle, and no "cannic t^eot" should
count anything on petting such a cheap
fiuh.stitute for his national beverage. There
i;re oce.asion.al snow storm-j, called
" blizzards." If any one is caught by iiiio
of tiiera on the prairie he must keep li ai«
self warm as best he can till it blows
over. The dryness of thealmo-phereal-iO
Unnpers t le heat in summer, and iho
nights are -aid to be generally cool.
Iluinder sicrm;, are not of uncommon

il

• I

152

I I

occurrence, and are very alarming to
nervous people. Mosquitoes and black
flies, called, I think, " bull dogs," are a
"caution" for two months. Notwith-
standing these disadvantages, all lands
in the Province available for homesteads
are taken up, and anyone wishing free
land must go further west. A free grant
of 160 acres is given to every male 18
years old on condition of settlement,
and the right to another 160 acres adjoin-
ing, called pre-emption land, at a certain
price, two-fifths of which is payable three
years after entry, and the remainder in
six equal payments annually, with inte-
rest at the rate of six per cent. The price
of pre-emption land is fixed by its dis-
tance from the projected Canadian Pacific
Railway, the country being divided into
five belts for a distance of 110 miles on
each side of it. In belts A, B, and C. (5,
16, and 20 miles) the price is 2 J dollars
per acre ; in D (20 miles) 2 dollars ; and
in E (50 miles) 1 dollar. The country is
divided into Townships six miles square,
and these are sub-divided into sections of
a square mile each, which are numbered,
and the even sections allotted for home-
stead and jire-emption. The odd sections
are reserved as railway lands and are
>sold at a certain fixed price, viz., from 1
dollar up to 5 dollars per .acre in the five
belts, payable in ten equal annual instal-
ments, with interest at 6 per cent. In
each 'J'ownship two sections belong to the
Hudson's Bay Company, and two are re-
served for educational purposes. As was
moutioned above, all homestciid lands are
taken up in Manitoba, and all railway
land-i, at least in the cheaper belts, are
bought up and many of them held by
speculators.

The last district we visited was the
Pembina Uivcr, driving 40 miles up the
Red River to Morris, then 80 milos west
to Kock Lake, which is just into the
North-West TeiTitory. Up the Red
River and round about Morris the land is
excellent, farther west there is a good
deal of swamp. On the flat prr.iric here
water is not always easily found. At one
farm after sinking over 100 feet, only
bitter water was reached. Some twenty-
five miles west from the Rod River v;'e got
into rolling prairie, and this continued all
the way to Kock Lake. This fine section
of countiy is largely settled by men from
Ontario. In North and South DufEerin
alone, 900 homesteads were taken up last
summer. We ci'ossed the Pembina Moun-
tain, which is just an elevated plateau,
from which you drop suddenly into the
valley of the Pembina River, here about
1,000 yards broad. On each side rise a
succession of little rounded knolls, to the
height of about 200 feet, covered with

poplar and oak timber or scrub. TJie
river some 45 feet broad, is crossed by a
wooden bridge, for which an enterprising
Yankee, who had put it up, charged us a
dollar for the two teams. Showing that
some such structure is needed, a short
distance up from the river is the
grave of a young Scotchman, who
was drowned a year before, whilst
crossing on hors'^'^'ck. About Rock Lake,
8 miles long by .J broad, the country is
very pretty and well wooded. In return-
ing +0 Emerson we were one night at
Crystal City and another at Mountain
City. There are not, or rather were not,
six houses in them both. There is much
good oak timber in the neighbourhood of
the latter, and a broad belt of it along the
Pembina River, where it crosses into
Dakota. If prairie fires could be sup-
pressed there would soon be sufficient
timber through the Province. As it is,
there is some anxiety felt regarding the
future supply of wood for fuel. Coal is
said to be found on the Souris River, 150
miles west from Rock Lake. Since we left,
a railway from Emerson to that IMver has
been projected, to be called the Emerson
and Turtle Mountain Railway. Before
reaching Emerson we passed through the
Mennonite Reserve, which extends from
near the Red River 42 miles west along
the United States border, and 18 miles to
the north. This Pembina Reserve con-
tains seventeen Townships, and another
reserve for the same people on the
east of the Red River contains
eiglit Townships. The lands on the
the latter are rather wet, and a number of
the settlers are moving across to the Pem-
bina Reserve, They are Quakers from
Russia, are a thrifty, industrious people,
and have good houses, from which they
seem to exclude all the fresh air in winter,
TLey have a number of excellent cattle,
and, being near the river and railway
b'ill a large quantity of wheat.

Emerson is on the East side of the
Red River, close to United States, and
also to the railway ; and is, therefore,
just at the entrance to Manitoba and the
North-West. It has already a population
of 1,000. There are in it many stores,
and four churches, and two weekly papers
are published. From its position it is
certain to rise rapidly.

In Winnipeg there are three daily and
five weekly papeis, and in Manitoba and
North-West there are now one hundred
and eighteen Post Oftifes, wliere a few
months ago there were s xty-nine.

You must have read so much on this sub-
ject lately, th.it I am painfully awai'c you
have heard very little that is new to-night j
at the same time, I am conscious of having
borrowed nothing from anyone without ac-

rub. Tbe
ossed by a
iteiprising
argcd us a
)wing that
\, a short
;r is the
nan, who
PC, whilst
lock Lake,
country is
In return-
c night at
Mountain
r were not,
re is much
ourhood of
t along the
rosses into
lid bo sup-
R sufTicient
. As it is,
garding the
cl. Coal is
5 Kiver, 150
tnce we left,
it IMver has
he Emerson
ly. Before
through the
ttends from
west along
18 miles to
oservo con-
[ind another
le on the
contains
ds on the
a number of
to the Pern-
aakera from
ious people,
which they
dr in winter,
llent cattle,
,nd railway

side of the
States, and
, therefore,
oba and the
i {lopulation
nany stores,
ockly papers
osition ir is

cc daily and
iinitoba and
me hundred
iN'here a few
nine.

on this sub-
ly aware you
lew to-night J
)UH of having
c without ac*

153

knowledgmcnt. Of course I have given
yon a mere abridgement of notes taken ;
to have gone more into detail might have
been easier for me, but would have tried
your patience too much. What further
information I can give will be willingly
afforded to any one desiring it. From
information obtained from this and other
reports, I hope you will be able to form a
•correct opinion of Canada, and to decide
for yourselves whether you will choose it
as your future home in case any of you
should make up your minds to leave this
country. There is every likelihood that
the present population of Canada will,
ten years hence, be increased by millions.
Most of you will admit that a large
number of tenant-farmers can be spared
from this country, and still leave plenty
behind ; that the first if not the chief
evil farmers have had to contend
with has been over competition ; that,
in fact, their worst toes have been
of their own household. The con-
tinuous increase of population, and the
fact of their being in our island home
no new lands to faU back upon, make it
imperative that the agncultuial class
should be frequently decimatea by emi-
gration. At no previous time had these
considerations greater force than now,
when a }ieriod of over-competition and
high rents has been followed by several
seasons so disastrous, and when, m addi-
tion, there has been such a rapid develop-
ment of the almost unlimited resources of
this very continent in the immense and
cver-increasintj imnortations of agricul-
tural produce ct all sorts. If tnen
emigration be a necessity, the question
remains, where should farmers go 7 The
thoughts of everyone must naturally turn
first to Canada, as being the most acces-
sible of all the British Colonies ; but let
megiveawoidof warning, namely : That
no one with a moderate capital should
expect to become rapidly wealthy by
buying land and farming it in Outaiio
or the Eastern Townships. The land is
belter than I expected to see it from Mr.
G rahamc's deseii ption ; the countryquite as
pleasant to live ia as he described it; but,
with the stock many of them have, the re-
turns are small. And yet, I believe, any
one possessed of a moderate amount of
skill and industry, ayd with a capital of
from £, 1 500 to £20 IQ may select a good spot
in the Eastern 'I'ownsliips, buy 200 acres of
land, and do well. The scenery in many
parts is much like Fomc of our own
country — not certainly as fine as Liddes-
dale, more like Can mbio — and the people
very like ourselves. I liked the land
about Comi)ton best. There are also good
places about Cookshire ; but ai.yone going
there would need to carefully select a spot

for himself, and afterwards get into good
stock, and make sheep and cattle ready
for the British market. In Ontario build-
ings are better and more commodious, and
land is dearer. In any number of places
you could settle down and be quite as com-
fortable as at home. A larger capital is
here required ; or farms may be rented at
about 5 per cent, on the purchasing value.
The interest of money borrowed on
mortgage is from 8 to 12 per cent, both in
Quebec and Ontario. In these Provinces
there has been a period of depression, just
as there has been in this countiy. I was
told that five or six years ago he wa-s a
very stupid person who could not make
money there. Now many are desirous to
sell their land for various reasons —
numbers of old people to retire, who either
have no family or whose sons have gone
into business ; others to make a better pro-
vision for their families in the North-
West, and many besides whose land is
mortgaged, and who, from the high rate
of interest, find it difficult to meet their
obligations. Taken as a whole, these pro-
prietor farmers are men of cultm'e and
intelligence, with whom any one may be
pleased to associate ; and by far the
largest number, especially in Ontario,
are, I believe, in comfortable, if not
independent, circumstances. To men of
character and intelligence all offices are
open.

Manitoba also is being settled by a class
of superior men. Numbers of those we
saw are from Ontario, and thoy make
excellent pioneers. In Winnipeg tho
sociutv is quite equal to that in any of
our Scottisn cities.

In Manitoba abundance of land can bo
purcnased at irom 8s. to 20.s. per acre,
according to locality, for .v'here dry tho
quality is almost universally good. Tho
great matter is to have a supply of water
and wood, and to be near river or railway
station. It is also necessary to have a
little capital to fall back upon, as Mr.
Gordon advised in his report, in case of a
visitation of grasshoppers or an unfavour-
able season This capital if not needed
will there bring high iiiterest, from 12 to
15 iier cent., with anqile security, that
is, hand which is at its lowest value.
For large capitalists Manitoba has special
attractions. They can choose one of three
modes of invest iicnt, or try them all, viz.
— they can buy iand and farm it, or they
can buy and wait for a rise in value, and
Land judiciously bought will certainly
bring double the price in a very few
years ; or they can loan money at high
rate of interest, the security being per-
fect, Farmers are better to borrow money
at even 15 or 20 per cent, than be with-
out cattle, which will, at least, double in

m^

154

value each year, and which at present
can be kept in summer on unoccupied
lanil, at the mere cost of herding:, and in
winter at fifteen shillings a head. A
man even with no capital, who is with-
out encumbrance, and willing aird able to
work, may take up a homeste.nd with a
fair prospect uf success. By hiring him-
self to a farmer, or working on railway —
for whi(:h, in November, seven shillings
a day was paid — he may have part of his
ground cultivated by contract, until able
to " take up house " himself. But before
going in this way, a Canadian Govern-
ment agent should be consulted, in case
at any time there should be an over sup-
ply of lab(/urers. The North-West is in
the meantime least adapted for men
of small capital, with wife and young
children. They could, however, ( 'Ccasiou-
aliy buy from settlers in Manitoba who
wish to m( ve westwards. With a family
of grown-up sons it is altogether different ;
they, by taking up adjoining sections,
can be a great mutual help. Grass-
hoppers did not visit the Province Crom
1827 to 18G7. They afterwards raviiged
it every alternate year till 1875, since
then it has been exempt from them. I
have been assured by the Survoy(jr-
Gcner.'il that thero is a belt of couniry
from loO to 200 miles broad, stretching in
a direction between west and north-west
from Manitoba to the llocky Jlonntains,
wluch is nearly all adapted for settlement,

being mostly well supplied with water,,
and timber. South f?-ora this there is a
belt where soil is not so good and the
rainfall lighter. The same gentleman was
told by an old Hudson's lay official, whO'
knew every foot of territory, that of all
others the Peace River was the place he
would choose for settlement. When the
line from Thunder Bay to the Red River
is completed, as it probably will in from
two to three years, it is stated that wheat
will be conveyed from Winnipeg to
Montreal for lOd. per bushel. Until this
is completed, and along with other lines
extended westward, there can be no proper
outlet for the enormous quantity of grain
which can be grown here. AVhen proper
communication is opened up then the
Xorth-West will participate with the other
Provinces of Canada in that proximity
to the European markets which no
other British Colony is favoured with.
Canada has a further advantage in
adjoining along its immense southern
boundary that great kindred nation whose
population is increasing so rapidly. This
contiguity will, I believe, be felt to be for
the benefit of both, wh'B there is between
them a free interchange of all commodities

Mr. Church, Tower of Sark, proposed a
vote of thanks to Jlr, Welsh for his
interesting r( port, which was .seconiled by
Mr. Doughty, Byreburn, and heartily
accorded.

155

vith water^
3 there is a
)d and the
tleniiin was
)ffic'ial, who
, that of all
le place he
When the
Red River
kvill in from
I that wheat
"innijicg to
Until this
other lines
be no proper
tity of grain
Vhcn proper
p then the
ith the other
,t proximity
which no
'oured with.
Ivantage in
ISC southcni
nation whose
ipidly. This
felt to be for
re i.s between
commodities

k, proposed a
ilsh for his
i seconded by
and heartily

KEPORT OF MR. JAMES PALMER, DELEGATE FROM

SOMERSETSHIRE.

Mb. James Palmer, who was appointed as a representative of the Somerset-
bhire farmers, sends a short report from Canada. He unfortunately took, a bad cold
just before leaving this country, and liad a severe illness after his arrival iu tho
Dominion. This somewhat curtailed his operations, aid has prevented him muking,
hitherto, a more detailed rport to his constituents. This is the more to be regretted
as, owing to the advanced state of the harvest iu the South of England, "Wales and
Ireland, when the invitations were sent cut, many districts which would gladly
have elected delegates had not time to do so. As it '.a, however, Mr. Talmer
has addressed the following iatcrcsting letter to Mr. J. W. Down, of Bristol, the
Agent who obtained his appointment : —

LoNDoy. Ontaeio, Canada,

Jamtary 1st, 16S0.
Mr. John W. Down, Bristol.
My Dear Sib,
I have great pleasure in writing to
infcrra you that I am much pleased with
Canada, for the prospects are different to
what they are iu England, especially for
farmers. My sous are delighted with the
country .and the farms. I hare purchased
for them in all 273 acres, in two farms
situated 7 milcB fromihis, near the main
road towards Exeter. They have a good
house on each lot, with orchai'ds, out-
buildings, kc, and 75 acres fenced and
under cultivation on each lot. The whole
cost V5(;0 dollars — less than I had to pay
rent for laud in two years in Somerset-
shire—that is to say two years rent per
acre. I can strongly recommend this
country to my friends and uihers who
intend to emigrate. If a farmer leaving
England wish a dairy farm or one for stock
raising, my advice to him is to take a
good look at the Eastern Townships,
Province of Quebec, where he will find
farms which may be I'urehased on very
reasonal)le terms, and just what he would
like, close to markets, railw.ay, and
shipping. If a grain-growing farm is
wanted I would prefer Ontario, but I am
not certain, and am inclined to believe
that a dairy or stock-raising farm wuuJd
prove the best invcstmeut. llundretls

are flocking away to Manitoba from these
old settlements, to enable themselves to
obtain large tracts of land, and thusk(;( p
their families together. I believe Manitoba
and the North-VVest are better suited for
Canadian settlers who have been used to
pioneT life, or to young men from
England, farmers who have a capital of
say £200 to £500, or men with small
families. A man with a large family must
have a deal to contend with for the iir.^t
two years, such men I would advise to
settle in the Province of Quebec, or
Ontario, and avoid pioneer life. There
are any amount of good farms to be
purchased in either Province.

Farm labourers do very well here, and
Soon become by industry, the owners of
land. Please send copy of this letter to
my friends whose addresses you have, —
they need not be afraid to come. When
once on board one of the Allan Koyal Mail
Steamers they will be made comfortable,
and on lauding will be well treated by i he
Canadian Government Agents. I tock
a severe cold the night before I left
England, and have been laid up with
rheumatics ever since — an old complaint
of mine. This prevented pac from return-
ing to England and reporting to my
constituents as I proinivcd. The rest of
my family will join me in the spring.

Wishing you all well,

I am, yours respectfully,

(Signed) JAMES PALMER.

t !

156

■p-

The Oath of Allegiance required by the Coustituti n of the United
States having been referred to in some of the preceding lieports, the
following information is appended : —

Canada, biding a ])art of the British Empire, the emigrant from the
United Kingdom to any of the Provinces or Territories of the Dominion
of Canada makes no change in his nationality or allegiance by settling
there. The emigrant to the TJuited States must, oa the other hand,
abjure his own country absolutely and entirely, as will bo seen by the
following oaths, which each immigrant must take in order to become a
citizen of the United States : —

'I

Declaration of Intention.

I, John Smith, do declare on oath, that it is bond fide my intention
to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce for ever all
allegiance and fidelity to all and every foreign Prince, Potentate, State
and Sovereignty whatever, and particultirhi to JD^ittoria, ^uceir cf fl^t
tftinteb J^ingbom of (!§reat ^rhaitt attb |rdaitb.

John Smith.
Sworn in opcr Court,

this

Septimus Jones, Cle7-k.

Oath at the Time of Admission to Citizenship.

I, John Smith, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution

of the United States, and that I do absolutely and entirely renounce and

alijure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State,

or Sovereignty whatever ; and partitulurlir to JiUttoria, Quten of tl^e

^lutcb Jlingbom of dprtat ^ritaiit aitb Irclanb, of fa^om | fans formerlg

n subject.

John Smith.

157

APPENDIX.

EEPORT OF MR. JOHN MAXWELL, OF CARLISLE.

On Monday, September 8tli, 187!), I at-
tended a meeting at Castle Douglas, at
which my friend, Mr. James Biggar, was
unanimously elected as Delegate from
Kiikcudbrightshirc, for the purpose of
visiting Canada, and reporting upon its
suitability as a field for agricultural
emigrants. Though not one of the
Government Delegates, I have much
pleasure in giving you an account of
what I saw, and of adding my testimony
to that of others on the resources and
prospects of the Dominion.

On liis appointment, Mr. Biggar reques-
ted me to accompany him ; and though
the notice was short, as the vessel sailed on
the Thursday following, I consented : and
having secured our berths on the stcam-
.hip Peruvian, of the Allan Lire, we
ailed from Liverpool on September 11th,
arriving in Quebec, after a most enjoyable
passage, on Sunday, September 21st.

On the Friday previous to our arrival
at Quebec, we sailed along the coast of
Anticosti, and on the Saturday morning
had fairly entered the St. Lawrence.
These were beautiful days, a clear sky
and bright sun overhead, the heat tem-
pered by the ''light sea breeze, while the
waters of the St. Lawrence appeared to
be alive with seals ; and here and there a
porpoise, and occasionally a whale, ap-
peared above water. The coast of Anti-
costi is bleak enough ; ar d it was a pleasant
contrast the next morning to find ourselves
ofiE the south bank of the St. Lawrence,
covered with the white cottages of the
fishermen on the shore and the somewhat
larger dwellings of the squatters further
back, who have cleared the timber from
the lands they at present cultivate. All
was excitement about two o'clock on
Saturday afternoon as we approached
Rifliouski, where the mails were to be
sent ashore, with eome of the passengers,
in exchange for the news of what had
transpired during the eight days we had
bepn, as it were, out of the world. By
this time we were enjoying the views on
both banks of the noble river I had
more than once listened to a description
of the beautiful autumnal shades of this
country, but only then learnt how far
short ray ideas were of the reality. To
avoid landing in the dark, the vessel was
laid to during the night, and a dense fog
lising in the morning, wo did not arrive
at Point Levis till about nine o'clock. As
we approached first one bank and then
the other, as the channel ran, w^e had not

much opportunity of seeing through the
mi.st tlio points of interest on the inlands
and banks of the river. Wo only saw
sufficient to cause us to wish to see more^
and by and by we approached the city
towering high above the river which flows
tranquilly at the foot of the heights on
which it is built.

An invitation awaited the Delegates
from the Lieutenant-Governor of tha
Province of Quebec to make his house
their home during the time they wrro
able to remain in the neighbourhood of
Quebec ; but, as a special train was an-
nounced to leave at midday for the West,
and as they were anxious to get on to
Ottawa to visit the Dominion Agricultural
Exhibition then being held there, they
were reluctantly compelled to decline
his hospitality.

The country we travelled through was
poor and uninteresting, in an agricultural
sense, so I need not recapitulate our
travels until we reached Ottawa.

The Exhibition was opened by the
Marquis of Lome and the Princess Louise.
Canadians yield to none in their loyalty
to and love of our Queen, and their recep-
tion of the viceregal party on the show
ground must have been very gratifying to
them.

Mr. Graham, of Belleville, Chairman of
the Dairy Association of the County of
Hastings, who was in charge of the dairy
produce, kindly allowed me every facility
to examine the exhibits under his charge.
The butter and cheese were an excellent
collection. I have visited many shows
in England and Scotland, and have rarely
seen such a numerous entry of fine buttf r.
Taking into consideration the fact that
Ottawa is some hundreds of miles away
from the best agricultural districts of
Canada, the display of stock was very
creditable to the country ; cattle and
pigs were particularly worthy of note.

On our way to Toronto we spi nt a d.ay
at Brockville, where we gaiheied much
useful information on Canadian phos-
pha'.es and their treatment, from Mr.
Cowan, and a very excellent system of
cattle feeding from Mr. Stagg.

After spending two days at Toronto
we embarked oa the steamship Ontario
at Sarnia, on a voyage over Lake Huron
and Lake Superior to Duluth, on our wny
to Manitoba. We were accompanied by
the Hon. Mackenzie Bowell, Minister of
Customs, and Mr. Senator Aikins, and
while these gentlemen, with the other

T

158

i

Delegate?, who made up the company,
spent a couple of days inspecting the
now rnilvvay whicli is being laid from
Thunder Bay to Winnipeg, Mr, Biggar
and I j)u.shed on to Majjleton in Dakota
to visit two of Ihc groat wheat-growing
farms of the West. DuUith is one of
those "wonld-he" citioE with 2,000 to
3,000 inliabitants, with ten churches of
various denominations, five of which are
closed. It has also two grain elevators,
which are kept very busy, this being the
chief point of ship'ment of grain to the
Eastern markets. I may here explain
that those elevator- clean the grain,
which is generally sent, without dressing,
direct from the threshing machine, and
Etore it or forward to markot as required
by the owner. All grain is classed on
arrival, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quality and goes
into a general stock of its class, the owner
receiving a cheque for the amount of
his deposit, which is nogooiable. The sur-
rounding land is of little value in an
agricultural sense; the hills arc rocky
and the level land swampy.

Ou our w.ay from Duluth wo ran for
several miles along the banks of the St.
Louis River. The rapids, whicli continue
for some miles, were beautifully illumined
by the setting .sun, and afterwards by
moonlight. It was one of the finest sights
I ever witnessed. We were rather scared
by the creaking wooden bridges we passed
over, some of which, we were told, had
been condemned some years ago.

Ou our .arrival at Mapleton, Mr. Dunlop
drove us over a large tract of prairie,
broken and unbroken. The system of
working it was entirely new to us, and
we were deeply interested in his account
of the working of this land. I can only
describe the sight presented to us as an
immense exp.anso bounded by the horizon
in every direction and nothing to break
the view but an occa.sional settler's house,
stacks, or pil(;s of stiaw, and here and
there a narrow belt of timber, the indica-
tion of a river's course.

The next morning, accompanied by
Mr. Disbr(nve, treasurer of the St.
George's Society of Winnipeg, who met
US the previous day, wo drove over to
Che^ncy Fnrm, the property of Mr. Dal-
ryniple. We were kindly entertained by
Mr. Hutlon, manager of this farm, who,
while showing us through the buildings,
gavo us evi'iy infonn.vtion respecting the
Working of the Da'rymplc farms, and,
though foreign to my subject, I cannot
l(>ave them behind without giving you
som;' of the particulars we learned, as the
syp'em adopted here may be worked to
C(pia! advantage nn the prairie land of the
Canadian North-West, but that country
not being sufficiently developed the infor-

mation is notsorendily obtainable there.
Mr. Dalrymple manages 70,000 to 100,000
acres of prairie land. lie is at present
working four farms on this properly —
viz., Cass Farm of l.-'iOO acres ; Cheeney,
3,800 ; Alton, 2,200 ; and Grandin, 8,000
acres, and two farmsof 3,000 acres,thepro-
perty of other gentlemen, arc also under
his charge, making a total of 21,000 acres
of land under crop this year. From 2,000
to 4,000 acres of new land are broken up
yearly, and in 1880 he will sow 20,000
acres of wheat. Oats and barley are only
grown for horse food. The Northern
Pacific Railroad runs through the farms,
and there is a private siding near the
head oiBce, situated at the north-east
centre of the farms alluded to. There is
a general manager over each fann, and
sub-m,anagers to accompany the men and
horses in their various occupat ions. The
ploughmen work long hours, and r. stable-
m.an is kept whose work it is to provide
food for the horses, morning, noon, and
night. A blacksmith looks after the iron-
work and implements on the farm, and
has a store of duplicates of all the work-
ing portions of the machinery in use.
The following remarks have special re-
ference to Cheeney Farm, the others being
worked on the same system: —

In breaking new land, three horses or
mules are yoked in a single plough, which
turns over 2 to 2i acres per day, the
sod turned over being 10 to 15 inches
broad, and 2 inches thick. This work
is done in June and July, backset in
the fall, and sown the following spring.
Seeding commences about the beginning
of April, or as soon as the land is in
condition, and the frost out of it, for
2 or 3 inches, and harvest begins about
1st of August. The ordinary seeding is
1 J to 2 bushels per acre. Barley is sown
about the middle of May, and oats a week
later. There are 25 self-binders on this
farm and 130 ou the estate, a driver, two
stooker8,and three mules work each machine
which cuts 12 to 15 acres per day. Two
or l.hree days after the first of the crop is
cut, the four steam thrashers are set to
work, each turning out 1,000 to 1,400
bushels per day, according to the crop.
As the straw is all burned after threshing,
they were working one of the threshers
this havest very successfully with straw
for fuel instead of other kinds which are
comparatively expensive in this district.
The grain is sent to the elevators as it is
threshed. It will be understood, there-
fore, that for a month or six weeks Cheenly
Farm, with the 150 men employed on it
during this period, is a scene of consider-
able bustle. Ordinary wages for spring
and fall-work are £3 lO.s. to £5 per month,
but the extra harvest hands get 8s. to 12s.

159

si

, and

per day, with board in both cases. As
soon a"* ])ossibli;, after harrcst, the plou.ii^hs
arc set to work on tlie sUibbles, and back-
pcttin;^ the new bind for the spring crops ;
the whole of the wh^at bi.'inij; sown in the
spring. They use double sulky plougVis,
with iC-ineh sliaros, drawn by four horses
or null's, travelling 18 to 20 miles, and
turning over five acres each per day. The
men ride on these plouglis. On this system
an aeroof wheat costs IlOs. to 3.5s., or about
Is. !r1. ])er bushel of GO lbs,, on a basis of
19 builii.ds ])er acre, which is the average
crop of this year on those farms. Tlie
price of wheat in Dakota was 3s. IJd. jicr
bu-^hcl at the beginning of harvest,
but afterwards ro."c to 4s. ))er bushel : the
frritiht to Liverpool is about 2s. 2d. ])er
bushel. Oats aveiugcd 40 bushels, and
barley 30 bushels jicr acre, on land that
had been cropped four years successively
without the application of any manure,
the straw being burned as soon as threslied.
Tlie country boing level, the railways
are laid at a nominal cost, a^ compared
with the cost of lines in this country,
£2,000 per mile beiug a liberal estimate for
hiying, tmd another £I,00(i for equipment.
We travelled northvi'ards over an im-
mense tract, which had been devastated
by fire a few days previously, and after
IS hours' travelling reached the object of
our journey

We found Winnip;^g to be a thriving
city, situated at the confluence of the
Assiniboine anil He 1 Rivers, peopled by a
most enterprising ]>opulation of some
10,(100 to 12,000. Ten years ago, a few
log huts and Fort Garry were the only
buildings here. It improved gradually
till 1872, when the inhabitants numbered
about 500 ; and in LS74 it received another
impetus, which has not ceased to the
present day. The visitor is impressed
with the idea that it means to be a city,
and will succeed.

AVe drove westward along the bank of
the Assiniboine to Portngeda- Prairie where
we met Mr. Ryan, M P., for the district
of Marquette, who told us thai the average
crops of this district would be 2B bushels
wheat, 50 bushels oats, 40 bushels barley,
80 bushels peas, 5 to 6 tons potatoes. 15 to
18 tons turnips, and odd crops of double
the.se figures where tlie land is in better
hands than the ordinary run of farmers.
We met .several men whom we questioned
on these points, and they were fully sub-
stantiated. The prices realised l.'ist year
were Is. lOd. to 2s. 3d, i)cr bushel for
wheat. Is, 5d. for oats, and Is. 8d. to 28.
for barle\'. This ywir the price of wheat
had advanced to 3s. b'-fore we left. The
cost of transport to England at pres(;nt
would be about 2s. 5d. per bushel; but
the Government railway, which is at

present being laid in an almost direct line
to the lakes, will materially reduce this
chargie, so that grain will probably be
transported from this province at a less
cost than the present charges from the
Western Stat 'sof America, and, so increase
the value of the product in the hands of
the grower.

The party divided at Portage-la- Prairie,
some going further West, while flic others,
of whom I was one, returned to Winnipeg.
Leaving Winnipeg, we travelled south-
west a distance of 80 miles, to the Pem-
bina Mountain district, passing through
the farm of .Mr. Lowe, by whom we were
most hosyiitably treated. The journey
occupied five days. On this journey we
crossed the Assiniboine and Stinking
Rivers, going almost direct south to
Morris, at the confluence of the Red and
Scratching Rivers. The first eight or ten
miles of the road was through a brush-
wood country. The open prairie was of
a somewhat inferior quality to that which
we had passed over going West, yet vastly
superior to anything 1 had seen previous
to my visit to this Province. The Pembina
IMountains form a gentle slope of well-
wooded land of great fertility, beyond
which the country is more rolling, and
very desirable land, although somewhat
lighter than on the eastern slope. Rcturn-
inir to Winnipeg, we drove on one day ten
miles north-we.st, and an equal distance
aeross the Red River, through the Kil-
donnan Settlement to the north-east.
This distiict was originally peopled by
.■settlers whom Lord Selkirk brought out
in 1814, sixty-five years ago. Some of
the original settlers are still living, and I
got some soil from a field belonging to
Mr, McBeth, which had been cropped
with wheat 54 years consecufivi'ly, except
gras-hopper years, and this year produced
about twenty bushels per acre. It had
ni'ver received any manure, but this
autumn he is ptitting some dung on as an
experiment. We drove over dung heaps
the accumulation of over twenty years,
and we heard of more than one instance
where the dung heaps had become such a
nuisance that th > barns had been re-
moved as the least expensive way of
getting rid of the trouble. We met a
Caldewgate (Cailisle) weaver who had
farnK d very successfully for seven years,
who was arranging when we saw him to
have his dung heaps removed at the rate
of Is. per ton.

Tlie soil throughout the country is a
rich black loam, six inches to six feet
deep, almost entirely free from stones,
and varying in quality in different dis-
tricts, on a subsoil of stri.mg or friable
cl:<y or sand, I was much more favour-
ably impressed with the appearance of

r

IGO

this Boil than that I hod Fecn higher up
the Red River Valley, it has more sub-
stance, and will probably yield good
crops long after the higher country lias
become exhausted. It iscovercd by atuf ted
grass, varying in lent;th, according to the
moisture of the poii, from twelve inches
to five or six feet.

Stock raising has not been carried on
to any extent in Manitoba as yet, al-
though we saw some comparatively large
herds of cattle in parts of the country we
travelled over, and considered it well
adapted for that purpose. Some shelter
is required during tlie winter, but by a
judicious selection of land the necessity
for artificial shelter may be obviated to a
considerable extent, as the winters
westward to the Rocky fountains become
very much milder, and at the foot of
them it is said to be so mild that snow
almost melts as it falls, and will mostly
disappear in twenty -four hours. Accord-
ing to the laws of the country stock may
be grazed on or hay cut from any land
that is not fenced, so that a man having
a moderate holding may keep a stock by
herding much in excess of what his actual
holdingmay carry. Cattle are largely used
for draught purposes, and as all new settlers
use oxen for a time at least, as being best
adapted to their requirements, there is an
ever increasingdemandfor draught cattle,
many hundreds of which are being im-
ported from the United States, and are
commanding high prices, ranging from
£20 to £35 per pair. Sheep also do well
on partially enclosed ground, but in some
sections they are killed by whatisknoven
as spear grass, which, becoming entangled
in the wool, penetrates the skin, and
eventually causes death, but many of the
diseases common in this country are un-
known on the prairies.

The native stock of the North- West
frequently shew points of breeding which
can only be accounted for by the impor-
tation some fifty years ago of thorough-
bred stallions and fine Durham bulls;
the country is indebted for these, as well
as many other advantages, to the enter-

?rise of the Hudson's Pay Company,
earling cattle are worth 50s. to £3 ; two-
year-olds, £4 to £5 ; steers, £6 to £8 ;
and draught cattle, £9 to £18, according
to strength, condition, and breaking. The
native cattle and horses will winter out
without any attention. All kinds of
grain (except Indian corn), roots and
vegetables grow to great perfection.
Apples have not been grown yet ; I un-
derstand some difficulty was found in
Minnesota when they were first cultivated,
but cuttings were imported, and when
they became acclimatised did well.
The same success will doubtless attend

the exertions of the people of Manitoba.
Timothy grass and clover produce ;.xcel-
lent crops, but rye grass grows too
rapidly, and will not stand the severe
frosts.

This Province of Manitoba and the
North-west Territory are suitable to
almost every class of emigrant who is pre-
pared to endure the hardships of a new
country and life on the prairie. These
points should be carefully considered, and
I will endeavour to enumerate them : —
The country is new and the population
being scattered, the pleasure and comforts
of society must be foregone for a time at
least, and we were sorry to note that this
isolation had the effect in many instances
of reducing people who had probably been
brought up vciy differently, to utter in-
difference as to their personal appearance,
and the comforts of life.

The climate is, oWijig to the cxtremos
of temperature, a very trying one. The
intense cold of winter when the thermom-
eter registers 30 to 70 and even 80 degrees
of frost for three or four months at least,
and the heat of the summer months re-
gisteringf rom 80 to 100 degrees in the shade,
will deter many from trying their for-
tunes in this country. The atmosphere is
lighter and more clear than wo are ac-
customed to at homo, and neither the
cold of winter nor heat of summer are
felt to the extent that they would be
with the moist atmosphere which wc are
accustomed to.

Although the country is intersected by
numerous large rivers and tributaries, it
cannot be described as well watered, as
the rivers are generally sluggish, and the
water unfit for domestic purposes. A
better quality can be obtained at a depth
of 16 to 20 feet, and it is only occasionally
needful to go deeper, but the water when
obtained is often charged with the peculiar
alkali ta^^te which we find in Spa water.
Timber is greatly needed both for shel-
ter, building, and fuel, and the supply
mainly comesfromthe higher lands, being
floated down the rivers. The prairie fires
are doubtless the Brincipal cause of this
scarcity, and as settlements extend, trea
culture will be encouraged, and the fires
checked to a great extent.

There are immense beds of coal in tli«
Saskatchewan Valleys, as. in those of the
Red, Deer, and other Rivers, whilst north
of the 59th parallel, there are said to be
500,000 square miles underlaid with true
coal. The future of this vast Territory
seems therefore to be secure, so far as fuel
is concerned.

There are really no roads, and, with
the exception of an immense gravel hill,
ten miles north-east of Winnipeg, I did
not notice any material suitaltte foi

IGl

Manitoba,
uce jxcel'
rows too
ho severe

, and tho
litable to
yho is pro-
of (V new
ie. Theso
dcrod, and
I them : —
population
d comforts
• a time at
;e that this
y instances
I'bably been
3 utter in-
ippoarancCf

lO extremes

one. Tlie
e thermom-
i 80 degrees
ths at least,

months re-
in the shade,
r their for-
imosphore is

wc are ac-
neither the
summer are
V would be
hich wc are

tersccted by
ributaries, it
I watered, as
ish, and the
urposes. A
id at a dcj)th
occasionally
water when
the peculiar
1 Spa water.
)oth for shcl-
the supi'ly
rlands, being
e prairie fires
cause of this
extend, trea
and the fires

of coal in tli«

those of the

, whilst north

are said to be

aid with true

ast Territory

so far as fuel

da, and, with
se gravel hill»
innipcg, I did
suitaWe fc«

road-making m the district I travelled
throu;<h. The roads, or tracks, are merely
trails over the prairie. If not fenced, so
much tho bettoi'. and a deccrnt track may
be picked out, b\it in settled portions,
where the land is fenced, the roads are
pretty bad. During the spring, on the
break-up of the frost, and in ' ne, the wet
month of this country, tlu , are almost '
impassable, and no carting is done that
can be avoided. During summer and
autumn the trails arr good travelling
except in swampy ])laces. and become
almost as hard as a Macadamised road,
while in winter fhey are covered with
snow, and sleif^lis are invariably used for
all kinds of work.

The mosquitoes aud black flies are very
troublesome to the new comer for two
months in summer ; the old settlers care
little for them, and they generally •• clear
out" as settlement progresses.

Distance from markets is a drawback,
but that will be overcome to a great ex-
tent by the completion of f' > Govern-
ment Railway, and us the rm .ay is built
with the object of o|)ening up the country
every advantage will be given to the
settler which judfjment and economy can
secure.

No great expense is necessary in open-
ing up the route by Hudson's Bay, but as
it would be open for navigation only three
to five months in the yeiir, it could not be
used advantageously, although it would
bring Manitoba as near to Liverpool as
New York is.

The gr.asshop{ier is another trouble
vfhich has, three times during the last 50
years, cleared the Province of its crops.

Prairie fires are a source of great
danger, and have caused incalculable loss
to many settlers at various periods, but a
little judicious and inexpensive precau-
tion will obviate any serious effect.

Manitoba is but a mite in the great
North- West, containing as it does, only
some 14 millions of the 375 millions of
acres said to be fit for cultivation. Every
settler above 18 years' of age is entitled
to 160 iicres homestead or free grant aud
160 acres pre-emption at a cost of one
dollar to five dollars per acre, according to
distance from projected railway, tho first
payment on account of which is due three
years after settlement, and the payments
extend nver seven years. The land in the
neighbourhood of Winnipeg is not being
so rapidly taken up, for the reason that it
is mostly held by speculators for higher
pnces than emigrants are generally able to
pay for land, but as many of them have held
for some years on borrowed capital which
is worth 8 to 12 {)cr cent., they arc ready
to sell at a small margin on cost, for the
reason that it clears their hands, and

increiises the value of thuir remaining
holding in the same district. The half-
breed reserves have also been largely sold
into the hands of these speculators, and,
though it is a matter for regret that such
largo tracts of really good land should be
held idle, it is done in the way of business
by those who were bold enough to make
this country their home when it was first
opened to the public ten years ago.

In surveying the country, the boundary
line has been taken as the base of opera-
tions from the east and west parallels,
and the 96th meridian the base line for
the north and south parallels. From
these parallels the whole country is laid
out in townships of six miles square,
which are again sub-divided into sections
of one sciuare mile, or 640 acres ; half
sections of 320, and quarter sections of
160 acres. Two sections are reserved in
each township for etlucational purposes,
and two for the Hudson's Bay Company,
the original owners of the soil ; and they
accept these, and a payment of £300,000
sterling in exchange for their charter,
yielded to the Government in 1868. The
school sections are disposed of as the
coii'itry becomes settled u{), and the pro-
cci lis devoted to the free education of the
chi Mrcn of the townships. It is expected
that the yield from this source will gene-
rally bvi sufficient to obviate the necessity
for school rates.

The young man, or the man of middle
age, with a family of sons pretty well up,
are, perhaps, the class of emigrants best
adapted to this country ; but it would be
a severe undertaking for a man with a
young family to set out here, unless somo
provision had previously been made for
them.

Zymotic diseases, and ague, which is so
prevalent in many of th ; States not much
south of this, are altogether unknown
here, and as to the general good health of
the people there can be no doubt.

Before leaving this district, I should
like to give a word of warning to any
who may be inclined to try their fortunes
in this region, against the sharks who
beset the unwary at every turn, as in all
new countries, not only in tho land inte-
rost, but touching every essential to the
new settlor; and 1 advise them to b;«,
chary of taking the advice of intorested
parties. In our travels Wcbt wc mot more
than one who, on inquiry, wc found had
paid considerably more on the advice of
these parties for their outfit than was at
all necessary, had tliey used their own
discretion. Competition is keen enough
even here to enable the settlor to make a
material reduction in his outlay, if he
.spends a little time about it. Sot out as
early in the spring as po:3siblo \l you have

162

U

Dot sufficient cupital to ullowj'ou tuHpend
tlio winter in Winnipeg. ^In the latter
case you have time to look about you, and
in the former case you have the summer
Lei'ore you to get at least a light oat crop,
u few potatoes, and your place put in
urder for the winter. A few people going
out together may take up holdings in the
immediate neighbourhood of each other,
form a small township or colony, and so
mitigatfi some of the |»angs which the
emigrant naturally feels, and be of ma-
terial assistance to each other in settling
their new homes.

Much of the misery and disappointment
BO many emigrantB have met with in the
United States have been owing to their
too readily accepting the advice of the
Agents of Land and Railway Companies,
whose sole interest is to have their ex-
tensive holdings settled at whatever
cost. Beautiful pictures are deftly
painted of the prospects of the set-
lerB on their respective lands, each
Bucceeding report being more brightly
coloured than its predecessor. If these
men or the compauies they represent kept
faith with their clients (I had almost said
victims), little if any fault could be found
with them, and much human misery
averted, but too often they are left to
their own resources, strangers in a strange
land, to live lives of trouble and regret.

I was glad to note that the information
of their country, issued by the Canadian
Government for the information of emi-
grants, is not written in the exaggerated
tone which many of the neighbouring
States adopt. The Dominion Government
hold most of the lands of the North-West
in their own hands. There is a vast tract
to select from, and a most secure title
ensured when the transfer is once made.

I gave an estimate of the cost of a
wheat crop in Dakota. The same system
may be adopted in the Canadian North-
West to advantage, as the average yield,
bO far as can be learned on present infor-
mation, will be 8 to 10 bushels per acre
higher than the yield in Dakota, and every
extra bushel produced tends to reduce the
tirst cast per bushel to the producer. Oats
and barley cannot be grown so profitably
for export, but are being sold at re-
munerative rates to the new settlers.

Leaving Winnipeg, I proceeded to
Cliicago, thence to Indianopolis and Cin-
cinnati, passing through the States of
Illinois and Ohio, and along the Canada
Soutli^jrn Line to Toronto, where I arrived
on Tuesdpy, October 28th. I spent a
week in Western Ontario, visiting Guelph,
Qolt, Brantford, Woodstock, and Strat-
ford. The country is well farmed, and a
moderate amount of stock kept, which is
on the whole better bred than that of anv

other section of Canada, it is umch
indebted for this characteristic to the
enterprise of Mr. George Browne, who
established the justly celebrated Bow
Park herd, now known as the Canada
West Farming Association. The land is
g<>nerally sandy loam, easily worked, and
of a kindly nature. The country is undu-
lating and beautifully wooded ; and, had
the snake fences been out of the way, and
thorns substituted, I could have imagined
myself in some districts I know of on
this side the water. Oui' first visit was
to Guelph, where we v;erc met by Messrs.
M'Crae, who attended us throughout onr
visit, and were of great help to us in
seeing the district, which is considered
the best farmed, and contains some of
the best land, in Ontario ; although I am
told that further west the land is of more
substance.

The i)rincipal object of interest here is
the Agricultural College and Model Farm,
for the education in theory and practice
of young men entering on a farmer's life.
They have at present accommodation for
88 pupils, and have recently been com-
pelled to refuse admission to many appli-
cants. The students combine study and
labour, for which latter they are remune-
rated to such an extent that a careful,
industrious fellow can have his education
free. All kinds of crops grown in the
country are grown here, and experiments
for their improvement conducted on a
liberal scale : all varieties are carefully
tested, and their characteristics noted for
the benefit of the student and the country
at large. I may here remark that rye
grass has not, so far, been cultivated pro-
fitably in Canada j it does not appear to
be suited to the extremes of temjjerature
to which the country is subject. The land
was all clean and in good order. The
stock included pedigree specimens of
shortliorns, Herefords, Dcvons, Polled
Angus, Galloway, and Ayrsliire cattle ;
Southdo%vn, Border Leicester, and Cots-
wold sheep, including a great many im-
ported animals; and some Clydesdale
horses. They are trying cattle feeding
with animals of various breeds, testing
the rate of improvement occasionally on
the weighing machine. Professor Brown
expects them to gain 2 lbs. per day. He
has found that cattle do better on 30 to
50 lbs. of roots per dav and a propor-
tionately increased quantity of grain and
dry food. I'hey have found raw food to
do etiually as well as boiled or steamed
food. The results of their experiments,
as well as a general report of the school
and farm, form ai interesting publica-
tion at the end of each year. I quite
think the system worthy of adoption
under Goveruuieut patronage in this

163

i luuuh

tu tho
lu, who
d Bow
Canada

laud is
ccd, and
is undu-
uid, had
A-ay, and
mat;incd
vv of on
irisit was
y Messrs.
;hout onr
to us in
unsidtred

some of
ugh I am
s of more

38t here is
del Farm,
I practice
mer's life,
idatiou for
Deen com-
ony appli-
study and
re rcmunc-
a careful,
education
wn in the
tperiments
ctcd on a
; carefully
s noted for
,he country
k that rye
ivated pro-
t appear to
imperature
The land
rder. The
;cimens of
IS, Polled
ire cattle ;
and CotB-
. many im-
Clydesdale
tie feeding
ids, testing
Monally on
ssor Brown
r day. He
or on 30 to
a propor-
grain and
raw food to
or steamed
:pcriment8,
the school
ig publica-
r. I quite
f adoption
;e in this

country, and that a Minister of Agricul-
ture would be of material advantage to
the farming community.

We visited several farms in the neigh-
bourhood which arc fr sale at £12 to £14
tier acre. An averaj,'e rent of lands is
I j)er cent on capital value, and the taxes
amount to about 6 per cent, on the rent,
in adtlition to eight days statute labour on
the roads, or equivalent. We found that
agriculture has Ixjen in a very depressed
state during the past five years throughout
Canada ; and that farms have barely paid
interest on capital if at all, and when the
land was rented the results were anything
but satisfactory. Previously they hfl^
good seasons, and received paying pri6»J8
for their produce. The following is an
estimate prepared by Mr. Laidlaw and
other practical men in the neighbourhood,
of the capital required to purchase and
work a 200 acre farn'! on an average result
of the past five years, everything being
taken at hired prices. He remarks the
fallow may apjjear unnecessary, but as
turnips are an expensive crop, and not so
much used as in this country, it is con-
sidered the most effectual way of cleaning
the land. The protluce, values, wages,
system of cropping, quantity of stock kept,
and general characteristics arc worthy of
careful persual, as giving a concise and
full report of the system of working a
larm in the Province of Ontario. The
amount for taxes is not named, it would
probably be £10 to £15, against which
the produce of poultry will stand

Estate of 200 acres, with brick house, and
necessary out-buildings of wood, at £14

l)eracre £2,800 0 0

Chor.ses@£20 120 0 0

C cows @ £10 ()0 0 0

C calves @3Cs 10 16 0

C yearlings @ £3 128 21 12 0

« two-year-olds @ £6 36 0 0

<i lean steers to feed @ £6.. 36 0 0

20 breeding ewes @ 24s. ... 24 0 0

26 lambs® 12s 15 0 0

1 Yixm 3 0 0

Breeding sow and litter 5 0 0

Implements 160 0 0

Seed grain and other seeds,, 20 0 0

£3,311 8 0

Labour.

Two men, one year, @ £45,., £90 0 0

One man, nine months 32 0 0

Kxtrahelp 10 0 0

Servant girl 20 0 0

lUacksmith and carpenter's

account 8 0 0

Wear and tear of implements 8 0 0

Threshing machine 4 days ,.. 5 12 0

£173 12 0

TieUl.

25 acres wheat,

20

15

16

9

1
86

»»
»

>•

)i

oiXts

barley,

peas,

turnips.

potatoes, 125

hay, @ li tons,

rajjc.

pasture,

fallow.

woodland.

20 bushels per acre.

45
80
26

do.
do,
do.

do.

do.
do.

5
46
16
16

200

Oroj> and Stock Sold.

500 bushels wheat @ 43. ... £100 0 0
450 „ barley @ 65c. ... 58 10 0
125 „ potatoes @ 50c. 12 10 0

Oats, Feat, Turnips, and Jlay rcijnircd

in Feeding Stock,
6 two-year-old cattle, fat,

@ £14 84 0 0

6 bought-in cattle, profit

@ £8

8 fat hogs @ 60s

25 lambs @ 248

21 fleeces, 51b8. each, @ 16d.

per lb 6 6 0

48
24
30

£363 6 0
From which deduct outlay 17312 0

Net profit £189 14 0

or £5 4s. per cent on invested capital or
£9 6s. 6d. per cent, on working capital,
where the farm is rented, and as seven per
cent interest is obtainable on as good
security as we are content to take at four
per cent, in this countiy, it would appear
that farming on this system has not paid
in Canada recently.

I have a strong conviction that high
class farming would pay better than the
present system of management. If the
land were stimulated by a judicious use
of artificial manures, the raw material of
which is 80 plentiful throughout the
country, it would be gradually improved
instead of being impoverishLd as under
the present system, and stock-raising and
feeding could be carried ou more exten-
sively and profitably in cojijunction with
the dairy, leaving the Western Provinces
to grow the grain for export.

Leaving Ontario we proceeded, via
Boston, for a run through the Maritime
Provinces, We arrived at St. John,
New Brunswick, after pa.ssiug through
a rough country covered with a second
growth of timber, and so rough, as to be
almost useless for agricultural purposes.
In fact we did not see 300 acres of culti-
vated land dm'ing a twelve houra' journey.
Mr. Livingston, Government Agentfor this

'■r»v

district lieated lis very kindly, and sub-
Btantialed mnch information we had
.cratherc'd or our way up the country. Wc
heard excellent reports of the '"alley of
the St. John River, which flowj .nto the
Bay cif Fundy at this point. The scenery
alo yj; the valley to the Bij? Falls is cx-
cceilingly beautiful and the soil of the
nio-t fertile nature. The country about
Woodstock and Frederickton is equal to
any in Canada, and is altogether clear of
the fog,-; which almost constantly cover
the country around the Bay of Fundy for
many months of the year. We crossed
the bay to Annapolis, situated at the head
of an ir.lund lake and the mouth of the
river of tiiat name. It was one of the
first French settlements of Acadia, as this
country was called by the first settlers.
The railway to Halifax runs for some
dist.ance along the River Valley, tlin zzll
of which varies from heavj' clay to light
loam and even moss, Apples, wldch are
said to be very fine flavoured, are largely
grown; otlierwise the district is only
rudely cultivated. Passing over a wild
rough country, we reached Halifax. The
following morning we travelled as far as
Amherst by viiil in company with Mr.
Rodgors, Ir specter of Fisheries for the
Maritime Provinces. These fisheries form
a very considerable item of revenue to
these Provinces, yielding £1,200,000 per
annum. Some of the rivers are protected,
and arc 111 orally swarming with fish. On
one of them Ihrce rods killed 2,000 lbs.
weight of salmon daily lor several
succos.^ivedays. Mr. Rodgors very kindly
promised to provide a few days fishing
for us " "
again,

out tlie wilds, and there is abundance of
excellent sport for those who arc so in-
clined, and as there are neither gun
licences nor game laws, and only the
close seasons to consider, they may have
full scope . This Province of Nova Scotia
is rock bouiui, and has a. very bleait
appeai'ance from the ocean ; and there
is oidy a small portion of the interior
calculated to disabuse the mind of
the immigrifnt of these first impressions.
Owing to 'tsproximity to the Gnll'Kti'cam,
however, the southern portioii has much
milder winters than any other part of
Canada ; and on the shce[) Farms, of which
there arc sevcial, the sheep remain out all
the winter. On our journey north from
Halifiix, we did tutt find any good land
till reaching 'I'ruro, where we came on
the salt nrirshe*, wliich arc large tracts of
level land rccliiim 1 ■"rom tlin sua by
dyke;, wliicli arc : r.ci'oss die marsh.
Gates arc opened :v.^yi the sea admitted
for a few days of the spring tiilcs ; and
the alluvial deposit left behind by the

bould we visit these Provinces
(>anie is very plentiful through-

receding water is so rich (hat, if properly
seeded down, a hay cro)) of two to three
tons per acre is a certainty for years to
come. We considered this land the richest
we have seen this side of Manitoba ; and
it ia worth .£16 to i625 per acre, while llie
adjoining high arable land is worth £0 to
£10 cleared. The coar.se hay is stored in
ricks and sleighed home as required during
winter, and the fine, or English hay, as
it is called, is housed in 1 irn*. From
Amherst we drove over nine miles or so
of these marshes, studded with thousands
of hay-ricks, containing a ton to 25 cwt,
cijch, to Sacicville, where we wcri5 met by
34^; Black, M,P., and several gentlemen
of the neighbourhood, who accompanied
u^ a mile or sf) to a spot where we hoped
to sec some of these dykes built ; but
night overtook us, and after visiting Mr.
"".Vj'xI's farm, v/here wc found twenty
strong bullocks tied up to feed, and a few
V, cll-bred yearlings and two-year old cattle,
wc returned to 8aekville. We learned
thai the Counties of Cumberland, Col-
clic-ler, Pietou, and '''"ind Pre, in Nova
Si.'otia, and Westmoreland in New Bruns-
wick, are the best farming Counties, A
large quantity of hay has hitherto been
export.'!, but with Ihe English market
open to them the farmers are turning
their attention to cattle In-eeding and
feeding; and their proximity to the only
Canadian winter port is an add'ti'^'inl
incentive to follow this .system.

We were joined on our jouruey i..»
Quebec by Sir Charles Tupi;:'r, wl.o gave
us a very interesting accoi " of the re-
bellion at Fort Garry in laTo, and hi>
journey thither during mid-winter over
some hnnd'eds of miles of snow, tlie suc-
ces'^ of his mission, rind his safe return to
his home.

Travelling ahmg the Intcr-Coloninl
RaUway, we passed through a large tract
of woodland, of which little has been
cleared, 'ill we reached Uimouski. The
sfiuattcrs here arc French Canai'ians,
and have their farms laid off in long
narrow stri^js of 50 to 200 yards wide and
2 to 7 miles long. Much of the land is
very stony, but there are some fertile
sections, where the soil is a heavy loam
on ("lay subsoil.

Passing Quebec, I pushed on to .Mun-

trtal for a day, while my companions

visited the Ejistern Towuslii|)s. Snow

was failing heavily, and the prospect «as

not cheering. Tiuy were, however, v,c:ll

pleased witli what they saw of the country.

Visiting Mr. Cochraue's farm, they were

shown what arc probably the most valu-

I able stock in Canada ; the produce of one

! cow of the herd having alrcndv realised

I £27,000, whdst he has a heifer valued at

I £"i,()(i0, and the cow remaining, la

165

if proinily
A 0 to three
or years to
, the richest
itobn ; and
■, while tlie
v'orth £0 to
is storwl ill
lired during
lish hay, us
m*. Li'roiu
miles or so
li thousands
1 to 25 cwt.
vcre met by
. goutlcnu'u
ceouipnnied
c wo hoped
built ; but
visiting Mr.
und twenty
(1, and a few
'ur old cattle,
We learned
loriand, Col-
L're, in Novti
New Bruii'--
Coimties. A
itherto been
olish market
are turnin.j
)rceding an' I
y to the only
n add'''i''>'ial
!m.

: journey i.>
IV, ^vlio gave
of the rc-
alU, and his
-winter over
now, the snc-
;afe return to

nter-Colonifil

a large tract

tie has been

[iiouski. The

Canat'iaus,

off in long
ards wide and

the land is
some IVrtile

heavy loam

I on to Mi>ii-
compaiKons
sliiiis. Snow

; p)i)Si)Cct WO"*
I'.uwever, well
>f the country.
!iii, they were
he most vahi-
)roduce of one
ready realised
il'i'f vahied at
!i\;\\iiins. ^"

addition tc his pcdiiirec stock, Mr. Coch-
rane feeds a number of cattle every year,
the country being peculiarly adapted for
grazing and dairy purposes, and much
resembles some of our mixed farms in
various parts of P]den Valley. Land
is comparatively cheap ; good farms of
100 to 300 acres of cleared land, with fair
buildings, can be bought at £5 to £6 per
acre, and any one prepared to pay £10
jier acre .nu.^ht almost pick the district.
It is weii vMrth the while of any one in-
(ilined to ;iiixed farming in the Eastern
Provinces to visit this section before going
West to Ontario.

Returning to Quebec we enjoyed a
«leigh drive to ^lontmorency Waterfalls ;
it was a beautiful clear day, six to eight
inches of snow on the ground, the air was
sharp .md bracing, but the 20 to 30
degrees of frost did not cause the same
feeling of cold incident to a similar tem-
perature at home. I had heard so much
•of the pleasures of a Canadian winter that
I wished for a taste of it, and I must say
1 enjoyed my short experience of it.

In conlusion I would remark that,
Canada being a producing country, living
is cheap, ex<'ept as to imported luxuries,
which, however, aio no drearer than here.
Education is at once the cheapest and
the most perfect syHtcm in the world.
Kvory child is > ntitied to a tree educa-
tion ; and the fact that over 'JO per cent.
of the children attending school are at
the publico schools, is a suilicicnt proof of
the class of education afforded. The
[i.;ople are to a large extent our own
countrymen, and all an; under the same
(.'rown'and form of Government. Iinmi-
irrants to Canada do not forswear their
allegiance to their sovereign and ccimtry,
as tiicy must do before they acquire an .acre
of land or exercise a vote in the United
States.

The Canadians are the most kind and
hosiiitable people it has been my lot to
meet with . 1 was struck with their kind-
ness on the voyage out, and never, in all
my travels through the vast country from
Halifax to Portagc-la- Prairie, had I cause
in a single instance to form an adverse
opinion. I was rather amused at the way
a I'd low-passenger was rebuked by i,
(Janadian whom he had called an Ameri-
can. J thought it tVion a distinction
without a fliiferencG ; Init afterward.*, in
\i-iiiiig the Stales, 1 loavnt win t grounds
he ha.il I'or making (iio distindion. Tiiat
tuc Cattadian people are industrious is
beyond doubt ; and the fact that so many
llioi'.sand acres have been clcr.i'cd amid>t
wluit was an almost in ^ onetriiblc forest, is
sulli<icnt jn'oof of the fact, and no one need
go tliero wlio is not I'vepared to work. I
cnjoye.l my visit to Canada very mucli, and

was cipially sHlisti(.(l wiih its resources and
the iiulucemcnts held out to emigrants
of various classes from this country.

It is a ''ilii(;ult task to give advice as to
emigration in a general way. The circum-
stances of each indi\ iibial would reipiiro
to bo known. 1 caiuiot advise anyone
in comfortable ciivumstauces at liome, and
fair prospects for Ids family, to give up
sucli comforts for the unc-rtainties and
hiirdships of a comparatively new couidry ;
although there is more room lor a nutii of
capital and enterprise to employ his capital
and talents than in the ohl country, and
the probabilities are that he wouhl event-
ually hold a higher position in Canada than
he could hope to do at home. On the
other hand to a man of middle age, pos-
sessed of moderate means, with a family
brought up to farmin" and having for
them no other prospect in view, or a young
man setting o\it in life, the inducements
for settlement are well worthy of consider-
ation ; there are also many industrious and
thrifty men, wlio arc niaking no head-way
here, who would, with erpiai hiijonr and
care make themsleves a home and compet-
ence across the water. I do not wish any
one to be guided Ijy my advice, until
they have taken fully inio consideration
their position and prospects at home,
perused carefully the various rc})ovts of
the Delegates; which, in combi.iation,
will form a most exhaustive report of
the resources of the country, and then
judge and act for themselves,

I append the following letter, which
has been addressed to me : —

WiSNTPEO, October 21, 1879.

Deau Sik, — I am s(n'ry I could not
have seen more of yoti here, for if you
could have spared a few weeks we might
have had a good trip lo the West.

If yon have beenplcascii with what you
have seen so far, yon would have been
more so had yon been West. As I told
you, I was out a year and three months ;
and, cunnting my expenses from Toronto,
the expedition did not cost me above 400
dollars, and that amount I consider well
spent, for I was a perfect invalid when I
started ; so I got health, and saw a fine
country. I had my own ponies, and sold
them on my return. Had I been one of
the prominent at the bani|uer, I think I
could have madi^ a few interesting re-
marks on my trip, and I felt quite like it.

Some of your collcagi'.es spoke of somu
points wliich I may answer here. "

Tlte roads will doubtless in nnfiivnurnblo
weather be luid until belter traiin'd, but
when once past clio Little Saskat<hewan
" bad roads " are not known ; tlie country
is rolling, and tlivough wet weather is con-

tinually flrainccl. This is the same all tho
way to tho Rocky Mountains except in
occasional parts After the first two hun-
dred rnilea from hore, there is, in comparison,
abundance of wood, and when near tho
mountains there certainly is. No man
tak( s a randie out there except on a creek
and with plenty of wood. For years to
come all can be suited, and theutliere will
still bo miles of fine prairie land a little to
the South. Tliore are abundance of fine
large rivers and small streams <>f goodfrosh
water, and all these streams abound with
fine fish, such as speckled trout, mountain
trout, salmon, wluto fish, and smaller
kinds. The winters, as you go West are
shorter. At the Mountains spring is fully
one month earlier than hero, and as I told
you, snow .Iocs not lie at tho Mountain
base ; so tiiat w ■ have inside of our North-
West Provinces six luindred miles of as
fine a stock country as can bo found
in the world. Cattle are never fed in
winter and never sheltered. This
stretch of country is also well adapted to
agriculture, I have seen fine tomatoes

there, and it is a known fact that
where they will thrive anything will. It
certainly is a, desirable country where ft
man can raise stock without the expeusa
of feeding, and with a market at hand, as
well as produce.

There is au abundance of coal all over
the country in the West. I know of the
different parts myself ; a scam of 1 7 feet
on the North Saskatchewan, and others
on the Red, Deer, and li )w Rivers. At
the present time boats cr.n be run from
Winnipeg to within a short distance of
the mountains, with simply a portage of
15 miles. There are to-day boats on the
Saskatchewan jjO miles direct west from
here ; so, with the new railroad, we shall
be well off. I do not make these remarks
on this far west country Lo depreciate the
value of this nearer part, but to show
how I , ^ room we huve left when this is
filled '.;', d what inducements there ara
for du' v.,t classes. . . Wishing you
as;ife trip home, and success to the enter*
pri-o, I remain, &c., Sec,

Walter 8. Burn

167

fact that
^'will. It
•y where a
10 expense
at hand, as

)al all over
low of the

of 17 feet
ind othora
livers. At
5 run from
li stance of

portage of
)ats on the
t west from
1, we shall
2?e remarks
)rcciate the
at to show
vhen this is
cs tliere are
Wishing you
o the enter*

S. BURN

EEPORT OF HUNT W. CHAMBRE, ESQ., J.P., OF
STEWARTSTOWN, COUNTY TYRONE.

In making report of my observations
in Cn/iiida for the benefit of intending
settlers, I wish to mention that I had an
o^jportunity during the summer of 1879
of seeing the crops growing and being
cut in the Province of Ontario, and of
learning something of the system of
fanning pursued by the people there, as
well Jis visiting Manitoba and the Cana-
dian North-West as far as Rapid City in
the autumn. I found the principal crops
in Ontario consisted of fruit, fall or
winter and spring wheat, peas, Indian
corn, oats, barley, and meadow (from
timothy) grass and clover, potatoes, tur-
nips, and mangolds. I did not see a
great breadth of green crop, as the people
do not, in my opinion, go in sufficiently
for winter feeding and making manure,
their stocks of cattle, as a rule, being too
small for their farms, relying too much
a groat deal on the extraordinary ferti-
lity of the soil which gives them crops
year after year without manure. Almost
all the crops I saw, except the spring
wheat, were very fine, though the manage-
ment of them in general was not all that
one could desire. There could not be any
doubt of the very great fertility of the
soil, mostly a dark, sandy loam. The
climate, too, I considered much better than
that of Irel.and, fruit, wheat, peas, and corn
coming to much greater perfection than
with us. Though the thermometer in
July was from 100 to 1.10 degrees of heat
out of doors, I was not so much annoyed
or inconvenienced by it as I have often
been at home when it stood at from 70
to 90. This I attribute to the dry, clear
atmosphere instead of the moist heat, of
Ireland. For much the same reason I
was told and believe, the cold in winter
is not at all so much felt as has been
generally reported and belicvod here.

I was very much pleased with some
parts of the country I went through, but
particularly with the nciszhb arhood of
St. Catherines, and am satisfir 1 that for
persons of middle age without . \rge fanii-
liesandwith \moderateamount of capital,
Ont.irio is a very good place to settle,
particularly for those who have the know-
ledge and taste for raising fruit, which
pays exceedingly well, peaches, grapes,
&c., kc, coming to perfection in the open
air. I heard of instances where panics

cleared from £80 to £100 per acre for
fruit in different parts of Ontario, but
particularly in the neighbourhood of St,
Catherines. The spring wheat, as a rule,
was not good, and the pasture had a dry,
sickly appearance I did not like ; but in
both cases, I believe this was caused by
the scourging system of farming pursued
by the people, who have been year after
year raising grain crops from the same
ground without manure, and, having got
into this system, never think cf applyii g
manure as they should, which is the on y
thing, I believe, their soil wants to gi^ 3
them almost any sort of crop, and a mvJx
higher yield per acre of grain than tl.<-y
are at present satisfied with. I found
many Ontario farmers preparing to go to
Manitoba, and on making inquiries as to
the reason, found there were various
causes. First, many of the people had
commenced farming without any capital,
and in consequence got into debt, which,
while their families were t;iowing up,
they were unable ^o pay off, and were,
consequently, obliged to pay very high
rates of interest — 8, 10. and 12 per cent. —
which, of course, crippled them very
much, and now, when their ?ons had
grown up, their farms (mostly oiily 100
acres) being found too small, and also
having, from the system of farming pur-
sued so long, ceased to yield so well as
formerly, a change had become necessary.
By selling out these places they wero
realising sufficient to p.iy off their debts
and establish themselves in Manitoba,
where they could procure not only lan(i
sufficient to make room for their sons,
but also fresh and almost inexhaustiblo
soil. The settler going to Ontario with
reasonable ci pital and a proper know-
ledge of farming and fruit raising can do
well. He can purchase a farm with
suitable house and office-houses for about
half of what he would pay for Tenant-
Ilight in Ulster, have then no rent, and
very light taxes to pay, with as great a
certainty as there can be of .anything in
this world of much better crops. He will
also have first-class schools free for his
children.

But for the man who has a large family
or wants to farm extensively, Manifobti
is the place.

It wiis only in 1871 Canada discovered

.v-^*

IW

wliat a troaMuc she had in Manitoba and
the great North-West, and since then the
progress of that country has been extra-
ordinarj-, Wlnm2)eg, its present capital,
which then only imrabered 400 ir habitants
now has 12,000, and is daily increasing.
Still the Canadian Government, knowing
what an inimensc tract of fertile soil she
possessed, and finding that tlui people of
the old country (as they term the JJritish
Isles), no matter what their agents juight
fay, would not believe the n^counts thus
given, most wisely deciaed ou bringing
out British Farm Delegates to sec for
themselves what the country could do,
and report to their brother farmers at
home, knowing that the people of the old
country would depend on their account
when they would not listen to or
believe the accounts given by emigration
agents. For my part, I would not
have believed any land could have
been so fertile had I not seen for myself.
There are at present two routes to Manitoba,
one partly by lake and partly by rail,
which is the least fatiguing for females or
eliildren, though it takes longer time.
I'he other route, by all rail, is much
shorter, the whole journey from Montreal
being accompli.slied in about four d.ays,
though, if time permits, the route per lake
is most pleasant.

Witli the Hon. Mr. JIacKenzie Bowell
and Hon. Jlr. Aiken, I joined the
jiarty at Southampton, Ontario, sailing
across Lakes Hu:on and Superior, and
staying for two da3's at Prince Arthur's
Landing, where we were most kindly
treated by the Railway Contractors, and
Ijrought for 130 miles over tlie Great
Atlantic and Pacific Railway n^w iu pro-
gress, and which is to go riglit tlirough
Manit,jt),i and the Nor(h-\Vest, and is
e:ipected to be opened as far as "Winnipeg
in the course of next year (1880). From
this we proceeded to Duluth by steamer,
and then by rail to Winnipeg, travelling
for liundrods of miles through the great
prair es of the Uiiiteil States, which had
just '.eccntly been burned, and looked like
one vast black plain stretcliing as far a^
the eye couM reach, in ail directions; of
my opinion ol! these {)rairies, more further
on. WIk.'u \v(> arrived at W innipcg, which
is situated at tlie confluence of the Assini-
boiiie and Red Rivers, we were astonislied
to find, it such a fine city, with broad
htii'ots and excellent .^hops and stores,
where the .settlor can be supplied with
iinything he requires. The soil in llanitoba
is a black vegetable n.ould, fiDni 15 indies
to 4 or 5 fe.','^ deep, in general on a friable
clay subsoil. I consider the soil tibout
Winnii)eg heavy and very fertile, of whicli
tlie roots :ind vegetables in the market
and the whi;at .stubble in the field funiisheil

ample evidence ; a good deal of the land
immediately about Winnipeg is in the
hands of speculators, who have purchased
it at low rates, and hold for an advance,
the consequence being that settlers are
moving farther West.

We went from here to Portage-la- Prairie
in spring vehicles called " Democrats,"
carrying four passengers, and each drawn
by two horses; there are no regular
roads yet, but simply tracks across the
prairie. The creeks or small rivers,
being, when of any size, rudely bridged
over, and at other places bundles of
willows or sticks thrown in, over whicli
we drove horses and vehicles, appearing
to be well suited for such work. Tliis
road is the great highway to the North-
West. On our way from Winnipeg we
passed at first through a great deal of
good land, then through a lot low and
swampy, but from which quantities of
good hay could be cut. We stayed a night
at an inn on the banks of the Assiniboine ;
the land here did not please mo, but
shortly after passing this began toimprovc.
As we came towards Poplar Point, from
^ which place to High Bluff and on to
I Portage the soil is very good and thickly
I settled, the wheat stubbles in the fields
Uwerc clean and strong, and spoke of heavy
I crops having been taken. Land could be
I purchased here at from $10 to $15 per
j acre. At High Bluff we got some very
fine samples of wheat. The accounta
given of the yield per acre differed very
much, from 25 to 45 bushels, we were told.
I believe each of these accounts may have
been trae, the cause of the difference
being due more to the skill, or want of it,
of the farmers than to the soil. I have no
doubt that the Cciref ul farmer, who knows
his business, would easily get from 35 to
45 bu.shels on such land as I saw hero.
We talked with many suttlers both here
and farther West, who had been for many
years settled in Ontario, and they all
seemed greatly pleased with their change,
and spoke highly of tlieirnew position and
prospects. Close to Portage we spoke to
a Scotch settler who was ])lougiiinp down
a strong, clean wheal >iubble, and told
lis lie hatl had cevontctn crops of wheat
in siicce.ssion, without rest or manure, off
tlie saniL- ground ; arni that before he
purcliasfi it tlmteeu crops had been
taken — all without manure — and that this
j'car ho had had l!5 bushels per acre, being
the 40tli crop. Tlie price of wheat at the
time of oiU' visit was 55 cents at Portage,
and 05 at Winnr)eg. but before we left it
had risen 10 to 1.") cents. The rate of
freiglit to Montreal is about 34 cents per
buslu'l. but wiien the new railway is
opened to ThundurBay. which is expected
in less than two years, it will be about 17

169

I the land
is in the
purchased
advance,
ittlers are

-la-Prairie
smocratp,"
ach drawn
o regular
across the
all rivers,
ly bridged
lundles of
)vcr which
appearing
ork. This
the North-
nnipeg we
at deal of
it low and
lantities of
^•ed a night
ssini'ooine ;
;e me, but
toimprove.
Point, from
and on to
and thickly
a the fields
)ke of heavy
ad could be
to $15 per
; some very
le accounts
iffered very
ewore told.
;b may have

difference
want of it,

I have no
who knows
from 35 to
I saw here.
•s botli here
;n for many
id they all
heir change,
position ami
we spoke to

liiip down

le, an<l told

ps of wheat

manure, off

before he

had been
md that this
!r acre, being
wheat at the
a at Pottage,
)re we left it,
The rate of
34 cents per
' railway is
h is expected
1 be about 17

cents. As a wh«.'at growing district, I
would not compare what I saw of Dakota
or Minnesota, in the United States, with
Manitoba. The rich black soil of the
latter being much deeper and the sub-soil
much better will consequently stand much
more cropping. At present the yield is
greater by from ten to twelve busi'els per
acre. In addition to this, when we take
into consideration that as soon as the new
railway is opened the cost of delivery on
board the ocean steamers will be actually
less, the superiority of Manitoba is very
great. Indeed, from all I could learn
I have no doubt Manitoba and the
(^Janadian North-West are bonnd very
seriously to affect the wheat-gi'owing
districts of the United States whose ave-
rage yield is not nauch more than hall that
of Manitoba. From Portage we proceeded
towards Ra})id City, imder the very kind
and able guidance of Joseph Eyan, Esq.,
M.P. for Marquette. I was greatly plea.sed
with the country for about the first
twenty miles. We stopped for a night
on the farm of Mr, Yeoman, about
fourteen miles West of Portage, aud re-
ceived much kindness and information
from the owner, who showed us some
very fine roots, mangold wurzel, sugar
beet, potatoes, &c., grown without manure.
The mangold and beet giving 800 bushels to
t he acre. Ri showed us also in his garden
brown Spanish radishes of most extra-
ordinary size, and sun flowers which were
grown for feeding fowl ; some of their
stalks were 10 feet high, with flowers 13
inches in d.'ametcr. He informed us also
that he had two waggon loads of citron-
melons off two ridges in his garden 1 7 yards
long. So abundant were they, avc saw him
feed his pigs with them. His wheat was
also very good, yielding about 38 bushels
to the acre. The black ?oil here was
from 2 to 3 feet deep, and then clay sub-
f^oil. Some miles after this we came
to Heaver Dam, and frora this on for
pevcr.al nnles was low and marshy, with
many lakelets, swarming with wild duck,
and the jirairie round with prairie cljickens.
Many nalcs of goodpr.airie meadows here
for the cutting, but not much of this
neighbourhood good for tillage until
drained. After this, we passed a district
will re the soil was a good deal more
.-.. idy, and the country covered with
sci'ubby trees aud willows, wliich, for the
]'• sent, is being p.assed by settlers, buD
.■li^er a time I have no doubt will all be
!;i light into cultiv.ation. Some miles
tunher on wo stopped at Mr. MeKinuon's
and had a look at his farm, which I
thought rather light and sandy, but he
appeared well pleased with its fertility.
\Ve then passed through some miles of
ci imtry greatly covered with small timber,

several settlers had commenced w(nk
here, and the ground, when turned up,
looked very well. After this we passed
for sonic miles through a sandy barren-
looking district, not good for much, and
at length came out on what is called the
Beautiful Plain — an immense stretch of
line rolling prairie, all of which we were
informed had been taken up by settlers,
though some had not yet come, ar.>l all
round we could sec houses in vaiious
stages of building. We remained a nij-ht
and day on this Plain at the farm of a Mr.
Mack, who was busy getting up his office
houses, and lijid his firstcrop of wheat and
oats, a very fine one, in his stack-yard.
He had a fine herd of cattle, was
well pleased with the country, and had
taken up a large tract of land. Next day
we passed through a vast district of rolling
prairie, well suited for cattle raisiug, but
not for tillage, on account of numerous
small lakelets and ponds. Any amount
of good prairie hay could be had in this
neighbourhood for the cutting. We
reached Rapid City, on the Saskatchewan.
at night, and next morning saw a very
fine plain of undulating laud away to the
West, with many settlers' houses in the
distance ; but a prairie fire had recently
passed over this plain doing much harm.
Rapid City (so called), on the Saskatch-
ewan, when we were there, consisted of
just 23 houses, but wit'i several others
going up. There were some good shops
and stores, a saw mill in full work, and a
grist mill about being built. The land
immediately on each side of the river
looked stony, though I found the stones
were only on the surface, but a short
distance fi"om the river on cither .side the
land was very good, the black soil being
about lo inches deep, and then light clay.
We saw here some very large onions and
potatoes raised by Indians without
manure. Time not permitting our going
further, we started next day on our
return journey, and held cou\ersation
with several settlers, some of whom were
fresh from England, others from Ontario,
andall well plea.scd with theirgri Hand. The
landabout here appeared lobe all taken up.
On our way out and back we paj<bcd
long trains of settlers going up with their
faniilics. I could not help feeling
they were making a great mistake going
up so late in the season (the enil of
October), as they would not have time
to get their houses up before winter.
From all reports I received, the follow-
ing would be about an average yield
of the diff'erent crops in Manitoba aud
the Canadian North-Wcst. Whe.it 35
to 40 bushels, weighing GO to C2 lbs.
per bushel, sown from 1st week in
April to first week in May, and reaped

170

in August. Oats about 75 bushels per
acre, weighing 35 lbs. per bushel ; these
can be sown until middle of May. Barley
can be sown as late as tir.-t week in June,
and yields about 42 bushels per acre, and
50 lbs. per bushel. Potatoes, without
manure, 10 to 12 tons per acre ; and
turnips, also without manure, up to 23
tons per acre.

On our retuiTi journey to Winnipeg,
many of the fanners having ^otwollonwith
their autumn ploughing were threshing,
and the rcgularprnctice was as soon aa the
grain was removed to burn the straw, having
no use for it, no manure being rcijuired. In
newly-settled distm^tw. when but small
portions of the prairiu liavo been got into i
cultivation, many prairie fires take place
with mueli loss to fanners occasionrtlly, but
in most cases where this happens they are
to blame themselves, as if they take the
precaution of plougliing eight or nine
scores round the homestead or stackyaid
the fire cannot pass it. On our return to
Winnipeg, by the kindness of Mr. Ross we
visited the neighbourhood of Emerson and
OtterbiUTi, east of Winnipeg, and saw
some very fine land and the finest growth
of natural hay I ever saw. The Messrs.
Ross, of Winnipeg, have largo tracts of

food land to dispose of in this neighbour-
ood for from 2 to 3J dollars per acre,
lying right along the railway.

On our return journey we stopped to see
some of the Minnesota and Dakota prairie,
and went to see one of the celebrated Dal-
ryTn[)le farms, where 8,000 acres of wheat
were grown this year, and 500 acres of other
grain crops for feeding the horses. We
were most kindly and hos[)itably recei'.'ed
by the manager, Mr. Button, and shown
all that wius to be seen. Everything was
conducted on the most systematic stylo
possibli , all the implements were of the
most improved description, and these were
stored in the best possible order when not
in use. I saw 14 double-furrow Sulky
ploui^hs at work, following each other in
one tii'ld a mile long, each ]>lough drawn by
four hurses or nudes, and tiic whole turning
over uliout 70 acres per day abo\it six inches
deep. Tins was the deepest and best
plouL'hing I saw, but the soil was not to be
coiuj«rt<.l with that of Manitoba. This
veil. > Average yield of wheat was only 19
bnsbi'ls jHjr acre, and the average of the last
font years only 23 bushels. The sample of
wheat I saw was also very poor, altogether
oonlinmng my opinion that these prairies
'^f-re not nearly so good as those of Mani-
toba. The moue of procedure on this farm
is to WW the seed in the first week in
Al«il— 1 bushfl and 20 quarts to the acre ;
it is ao»-n witit drill machines, 19 of wiiich

are set to work at once ; each team can jiut
in 12 to 15 acres per day, the ground
gettiu" a conple of strokes of the narrow
after tiie drill. There are 25 self-binding
reaping macliines on the farm, and five
steam threshing machines, for some of
which they use straw as firing. This sea-
son the horses never lost a day's work
from the 1st April, when frost was sufli-
ciently gone to commence sowing, which is
when the frost has thawed a few 'iiches on
the top. the gradual thawing of the rest
helps to moisten the ground and start tho
wheat.

The cattle I saw in Manitoba were good
and strong, though rather ccarso, but were
in good condition. Crossed with a good
shorthorn bull they would produce very
fine stock. I did not see many sheep, but
the few I saw looked very well, and I have
no doubt would pay the farmer. One-
year-old cattle are worth here from 10 to
16 dollars ; two-year-olds, 20 to 30 ; and
tlune-year-olds, 40 to 50. Draught oxen
cost about 160 dollars per pair for good
strong trained animals, less, of course, for
inferior, and a shade more for top animals.
Oxen, being easier fed, are better than
horses for tho new settler for the first year,
or until he has oats of his own, when, if so
minded, ho can easily change. Although
the native cattle and horses can live out
all winter, they would be much better with
hay and shelter, and the imjiroved breeds
would not do without it. I have no hesi-
tation in recommending Manitoba and tho
Canadian North- West to my countrymen
as the best place for a man to go to who
wants to earn money and is not afraid to
rough it for a time. He will have many
discomforts for tho first year or so, will bo
annoyed, I dare say, by mosquitoes and
black flies for about three weeks in the
year, but even these pests give way beforo
civilisation, and will, I have no doubt, ero
long disappear. I believe any man deter-
mined to work and push on, even though
ho has not a penny to start with, will
succeed here, as wages are good ; but tho
man who has £100 clear to begin with will
do better, and tho one who has £200 or
£300 or more will do better still and bo
saved many discomforts. There are num-
bers in the North of Ireland, disputing
about small pieces of land and paying largo
amounts for teiiant right, who, for half tha
sum in Manitoba would become the owners
of land one acre of which would bo wortli
two of those tney fight so much about.

Time or space do not admit of my giving
many useful particulars fully entered in my
notes, but I will bo happy to reply to any-
; one writing to me on the subject.

171

2am can put
the ground
the harrow
sclf-biiuUng
m, and ftvo
or sonio of
;. This sea-
day's work
st was aufli-
ing, which is
!w -nchcsou
of tho rest
ind start tho

ba were good
rso, hut were
with a good
produce very
ly sheep, but
1, and 1 have
rmer. One-

0 from 10 to

1 to 30 ; and
)raught oxen
pair for good
of course, for
■ top animals.

better than
the first year,
n, when, if so
e. Although
1 can live out
3h better with
u'oved breeds
have no hesi-
itoba and tho
y countrymen
to go to who
not afraid to
U have many
or so, will bo
jsquitoes and
weeks in the
vo way before
no doubt, ero
ly man deter-
oven though
it with, will
jood ; but tho
gin with will
has £200 or
still and bo
liere are num-
nd, disputing
il paying largo
o, for half tna
no the owners
Duld bo worth
ich about.
t of my giving
n tared in my
reply to any-
)jcct.

^^^M-^

REGULATIONS

Respecting the Disposal of ce -tain Public Lands for
the purposes of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Department of the Interior,

Ottawa, Oct. U, 1879.

rublic notice is herehy given thsit the following provisions, which shall
he held to apply to the lands in tho Province of IManitoha, and in the
Territories to the West and North- West thereof, are substituted for the
Regulations, dated the 9th Jtily last, governing the mode of disposing of
the Public Lands situate within 110 (one hundred and ten) miles on each
side of the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which said Regulations
are hereby superseded :- -

1. "Until further and final survey of the said railway has "leen made
West of the Red River, and for the purposes of these provisions, the line
of tho said Railway shall be assumed to be on the fourth base westerly to
tho intersection of the said base by the line between ranges 21 and 22
West of the fii-st principal meridian, and thence in a direct line to the
confluence of the SIm:*!! River with the River Assiniboine.

2. " The country lying on each side of the line of Railway shall bo
respectively divided into belts, as follows : —

"(1) A belt of five miles on either si<le of the Railway, and immediately
adjoining the same, to be called Belt A ;

" (2) A belt of fifteen miles on either side of the railway, adjoining Belt
A,to becalledBeh B;

•' (3) A belt of twenty miles on either side of tho railwnv, adjoining Belt

B, to bo called B>elt C ;

" (4) A belt of twenty miles on either side of the railway, adjoining Belt,

C, to lie called Bolt D ; and

" (5) A belt of fifty miles on either side of the railway, adjoining Belt

D, to bo called P.-'It K.

3 "The ovoii-nunibored «octi''Tis in each township throughout the
several bolts above dosoribod shall be open for entrr as homostoada and
pro-cniptions uf 160 acres oach respoctivoly.

4 "Tho odd-nunibcre<i sections in each of such to^^^lship3 shall not be
open to homost»ra<' or pTo-omption, but shall be specially reserved and
designated as Railway Lands.

5 "The Railway Lands w thin the several belts shall bo sold at tho
following rates, viz : — In F>oh A, |5 (five dollars) poi acre ; in Belt B, S4

four dollars) per acre ; in Belt C, $3 (throe dollars) per acre ; in Belt D,
2 (two dollars) per acre ; in Belt E, $1 (one dollar) per acre : and thft

17:

terms of sale of such laiuls shall ha as follow, viz : — One-tenth in cash at
the time of puvchase ; the balance in nine equal annual instalments, with
interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum on the balance of purchase
money from time to time remaining,' unpaid, to be paid with each instalment.

G. " The Pre-emption Lands within the several oolts shall bi sold foi
the prices and on the terms respectively as follows : — In the I'olts A, IJ,
and C, at $2.50 (two dollars and fifty cents; per acre ; in licit D, at $2
(two dollars) per acre ; and in Belt E, at $1 (one dollar) per acre. The
terms of payment to bo four-tenths of the purchase money, together with
interest on the latter at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, to be paid at
the end of three years from the date of entry : the remainder to be paid
in six equal instalments annually from and after the said date, witli
interest at the rate above mentioned on such portions of the purchase
money as may remain unpaid, to be paid with each instalment.

7 " All payments for Railway Lands, and also for Pre-emption Lands,
w'lf.hin the several Belts, shall be in cash, and not in scrip or military or
polite bounty warrant*.

8. '* All moneys received in payment of Pre-emption Lands shall inure
to and form part of the fund for railway purposes, in a similar manner to
the moneys received in payment of Railway Lands.

9. *' These provisions shall be retroactive so far as relates to any and all
■ entries of Ifomestead and Pre-emption Lands, or sales of Railway Lands

obtained or made under the Regulations of the Dth July, hereby super-
.seded ; any payments made in excess of the rate hereby fixed shall be
credited on account of sales of such lands.

10 "The Order-in-Council of the 9th JSWember, 1877, relating to the
settlement of the lands in ^lanitoba which had been previously withdrawn
fur Railway purposes, having beeii cancelled, all claims of persons who
settled in good faith oij lands under the said Order-in-Council shall bo
dealt with under these provisions, as to price of Pre-emptions, according
to the belt in which such lands may be situate. \Yhere a person may
have taken up two (luaitor-sections under the said Order-in-Council, he
may retain the quarter-section upon which he has settled, as a Homestead,
and the other quiirter-section as a Pre-emption, under these provisions,
ii respective of whether such Homestead and Pre-emption may be found
t(j be upon an cvcn-iiumbcveil section or otherwise. Any moneys paid by
such person on account of the lands entered by him under the said Ordor-
in-Couiicil, will be credited to him on account of his Pre-emption
jjurcliase, umler these pro^'isions. A pevson who may have taken up one
quarter-section under the Order-in-Council mentioned will be allowed to
retain tlie same as a lloinostead, and will be permitted to enter a second
qiiartcr-oectiou as a Pre-emption, the money paid on account of the land
previously entered to bo credited to him on account of such Pre-emption.

11. " All entries of lands shall be subject to the follow ng provisions
respecting the riglit of way of the Canadian Pacilic Railway, or of any
(.iovernment colonization railway connected tlierewith, viz :

" In the case of tlie railway crossing land entered as a Homestead,
the right of way thereon, and also any land which may be required for
station purposes, shall be free to the Government.

1) " \V)K're the railway crosses Pre-emptions or Railway Lauds, entered
subseciucnt to the date hereof, the Govovnmcnt may take possession of
such portion thereof as may be required for right of way or for station
^'rounds or ballast pits, and the owner shall only be entitled to claim

cash at
ts, with
)urcha3e
tahuont.
RioKl foi
ts A, 13,
D, at $2
■e. The
lier with
; paid at
bo paid
te, with
purchase

n Lands,
litary or

lall imu'6
laiincr to

y and all
\y Lands
by super-
shall be

ng to the
ithdrawn
suns who
[ shall bo
according
•son may
uncil, ho
3mostead,
rovisions,
be found
s paid by
lid Oi'dor-
i-cmption
n\ up one
il lowed to
a second
f the land
;-cniption.
n'ovisions
or of any

173

payinont for tlic I.iiid so liikcu, at the same vali^ [lor iicir as ho may hav»
paid till' Goveriiuicut for tlu- same.

(• " In case, on tlu' Ihial location of the railway through lauds uiisurveyod,
or surveyed but not entered, for at the tinu', a person is found in occupation
of land which it may be desirable in the public interest to retain, the
Government reserves the right to take possession of sucli land, paying tlni
squatter the A-alue of any improvemi>nts he may Iiave made thereon.

12 " Claims to Public Lands arising from settlement after the date
hereof, in territory unsurveyed at the time of such settlement, and whi^'h
niay be embraced within the limits affected liy the above jjoiioy, or by the
extension thereof m tlie future over additional territory, will be ultimately
dealt with in accordance with the terms prescribed above for the lands in
the particular belt in which such settlement may be fouiul to be situate,
subject to the operation of subsection c of section 11 of these provisions.

13 "All entries after the date hereof of unoccupied lands in the
Saskatchewan Agency, will be considered as provisional, until the railway
line through that part of the territories has been located, after which th(»
same will be finally disposed of in accordance with these provisions as the
same may apply to the particular belt in which such hinds may be found
to be situated, subject, as aliove, to the operation of sub-section c of
section 11 of these provisions.

14 " \yith a view to encouraging settlement by cheapening the cost of
building material, the Government reserves the riglii to grant licenses,
renewable yearly under section 52 of the 'Dominion Lcouls Arts., 1879'
to cut merchantable timber on any lands situated within the several belts
above described, and any settlement upon, or sale of lands within, the.
territory covered by siicli licenses, shall for the time lieing bo subject to
the operation of such licenses.

15 " The above provisions, it will, of course, be understood will not
affect sections 11 and 29, which are public school lands, or sections 8 and
26, Hudson's Bay Company's lands."

Any further information necessary may be obtained on application at
the I)ominion Lands Office, Ottawa, or from the agent of the Dominion
Lands, "Winnipeg, or from any of the local agents in Manitobo. or the
Territories.

By order of tho Minister of the liderior.

J, 8. DENNIS,
Deputy of the iMinistcr of the Interior.

LiNnsAY Russell,

Surveyor General.

omosteiid,
quired for

s, entered
session of
for station
d to claim

^

/•

CANADA COYERNMENT AGENTS.

m THE UmTED KmODOM.

LONl}0]^...yflLUAm ANNAND, 31, Queen Victoria Street,

London, E.G.

l/iver pool.. J OUT^ Dvkb, 15, AVater Street, Liverpool.

Carlisle Thomas Guaiiame, 20, Chiswick Street, Carlisle.

Belfast Charles Fov, 29, Victoria Place, Belfast.

From whom the fullest information respecting all parts of the
Dominion and its resources — lands, industries, dec, &c., — together with
Pamphlets and Reports, including the foregoing, may be obtained, free of
charge.

UN € AN AX) An

Ottawa W. J. "Wills, St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway Station,

Ottawa, Ontario.

Toronto J. A. Donaluson, Strachan Avenue, Toronto, Ontario

Montreal...^. J. Daley, Montreal, Province of Quebec.

Kingston...^. Maopherson, William Street, Kingston.

JE[ainiltOfl..Jomn Smith, Great 'VVestem Eailway Station, Hamilton

London A. G. Smythe, London, Ontario.

Halifax ...E. Clay, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

St, John ...J. Livingstone, St. John, New Brunswick.

Quebec L. Stafford, Point Levis, Quebec.

Winnil^eg.-.y^. Hespeler, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

JOufferin J. E. Tetu, Dufferin, Manitoba.

These Officers will afford the fullest advice and protection. They should be
immediately applied to on arrival. All complaints should be addressed to
them. They will also furnish information as to Lands open for settlement
in their respective Provinces and Districts, Farms for Sale, demand for
employment, rates of wages, routes of travel, distances, expenses of con-'ey-
ance; and will receive aud forward letters and remittances for Settlers, &c., &o.