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Tous las autres exemplaires originaux sont film^s en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la darnidre image de chaque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols —^ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre fiim^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 A partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche A droits, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 REPORTS Of TENANT FARMERS' DELEGATES ON THE DOMINION OF CANADA AS A FIELD FOR SETTLEMENT. FMslied l)y Authority of the Qovenmient of Canada. 1^ OTTAWA : THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1883. NkJ MONEY. ■■'*-/.■ / Sterling into Dollars and Cents. '■^■^ $cts. %6. Sterling is o oi id. ' " " o 02 IS. £1 .0 24 .4 87 Dollars and Cents into Sterling. £. s. d cent is o o o>4 dollar is o 4* i>^ dollars are o 16 5^ dollars are i o 6>^ For small change the halfpenny sterling is one cent, and the penny sterling is two cents. For arriving roughly at the approximate value of larger figures, the pound sterling may be counted as five dollars. The sign $ is used to indicatethe dollar. CONTENTS. \'j< ? ., PAQB. Introduction Professor Sheldon's Report ...-■♦•-• 9 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report 33 Mr. Georcjr Curtis's Report 59 Mr. R. H. B. p. Anderson's Report 73 Mr. W. P. Cubitt's Report 93 Mr. Peter Imrie's Report on Manitoba and North-West • - l&f Mr. J. Sparrow's Report • • • '*' Mr. George Broderick's Report '*9 Mk. John Sagar's Report ^4* Mk. James Riddell's Paper »S4 Extracts from Reports ok Tenant Farmers' Delwjates ok Pre- vious Year - - - •• '59 193631 V INTRODUCTION. The following is a republication of a series of reports of tenant farmers' delegates who visited Canada in 1880, at the rcf)uest of the Minister of Agricul- ture, in order to examine personally and report upon its resources. These delegates were : — Mr. J. P. Shei.uon, Professor of Agriculture, Wilts and Hants Agricultural College, Downton, Salisbury. Mr. Hugh McLean, Rhu, Tarbert, Argyllshire. Mr. George Curtis, Woo stprofusi >n, and with the least trouble on the part of the farmer. Every farm has its orchard, and it is pureiy the farmer's fault if the orchard is not an excellent one, for the climate and the soil are clearly all that can be desired, and the trees will do their share of the v/ork provided the right sorts are planted. It is usual to plant out peach and apple trees alternately and in rows in a new orchard, and the apple trees are at a distance apart which will be right when they are full- grown ; this is done because the peach tr«-es come to maturity first, and have done tjearing before the apple trees require all the room ; the pe.^ch trees are then cut down and the apple trees occupy all the room. These trees are planted in rows at right angles, so that there is a clear passage between them B ii r 14 Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report, whichever way we look, and the land can be freely cultivated among them ; it is, in fact, usual to take crops of wheat, or oats, or maize, from the land during the time the trees are young, and we often see fine crops of golden grain over- topped by noble young trees laden with fruit. A farmer may not, of course, look to fruit alone to grow rich on, but he often nets a nice roll of dollars out of it, and to say the least, it is conducive to happiness to be well supplied with fruit, while to live in a climate and on a soil that will produce it abundantly is always desirable. There are many kinds of soil in this part of the Province, most of which are fertile and easy to cultivate. The most common soils are loams of one kind or another, comprising all the varieties included in the terms " sandy " and " clay " loams ; then there are light soils of various kinds, clays, and marsh soils, most of them more or less impregnated with organic mutter. Many of these soils — I speak now of farms that have been long under culti- vation— were at first well adapted to the growth of wheat, but it appears that in many places wheat has been grown so repeatedly on the land that :t will DO longer produce the crops of it that were formerly easy to obtain. The fact is. this one crop has been grown so very often that the land has become deficient in the elements necessary to it ; the same land will, however, grow very good crops of other kinds — roots, clover, barley, peas, oats, and the like, while in some parts profitable crops of Indian corn are grown ; the latter, however, is also an exhausting crop, even more completely so than wheat, but not so quickly, and can only be grown to profit on a rich soil and a hot climate. The difference between the two crops is this : wheat exhausts a soil of certain elements, leaving ttie rest comparatively untouched ; but maize is a generally exhausting crop, less dependant on special elements, but feeding, as it were, on all alike ; and so it follows that it can be grown for a longzr time before the land shows signs of exhaustion, which at last is so thorough that feriility is restored with great difiiculty. There is, however, a great deal of good wheat land in Ontario, and much more of it to be cleared. The partially exhausted land, too, will come round again, and will grow wheat profitably as before, but it is only good farming that will bring this about. The farmers ol Ontario declare that they would hardly have known what to do with their land if it were not for cheesemaking, and particularly for the new cattle and beef trade wijth England. Wheat, wheat, nothing but wheat as a paying crop was simply exhausting the land, returning nothing to it ; cattle raising paid poorly, because the demand was limited ; and cheesemaking could only be profitably carried on in the districts suitable to it. Bat the demand arising in the Old Country for beef, and the improved means cf transportation over the sea, have provided a new and profitable opening towards which the energies o< the farmers are being directed. The raising of stock suitable to the English market is now a leading and profitable branch in this part of the Dominion, and it is encouraging to the cultivation of rojt and green crops of clover, timothy and other forage crops of green corn, etc., for soiling. The growth and consumption of these crops, indeed, is the very practice that was needed to restore fertility to soils which had been injured by over-cropping with wheat. But numbers of lue Ontario farmers seem to be so wedded to wheat-' raising, that rather than go extensively into stock-raising and fattening, and the growth of various rotation crops, more after the English and Scotch models, they prefer to sell out and go to Manitoba and the North- West, a ter- ritory which IS par excellence a wheat country, and which must soon become, perhaps, the greatest granary in the world. They are the more inclined in this direction because they can sell their Ontario farms at $40 to 9 100 an acre, and can buy virgin soil in the North-West at $1 to 9io. By a change of this nature they can easily establish their children in separate farms, a thing but few of them could hope to do in Ontario, where land is compara* tively high. They have also the spirit of restlessness which permeates the Americans as well, but which is scarcely known in England. These various infiuences are causing numbers cf farmers to migrate id ll Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. X5 (he direction of the setting sun, and the Americans themselves were never more crazed about the West than are the Canadians of to-day about their Manitoba and North- West Territory. They treat their land as a parcel of schoolboys treat an orchard of apples into which they are suddenly let loose ; they rush about from one place to another, plucking an apple here and there, having a nip at it, and throwing it down, only to repeat the process at every tree they come to, thinking in this way to find the best fruit in the orchard. So it is with the Canadian and American farmer of the West. His farm is a mere machine, out of which he gets all the work he can in the least possi- ble time, and he quits it for another as his fancy suggests. It is of second or third-rate importance to him, tor he can buy land on the Western prairies at a less cost than that of putting the first crop into it ; and the liflcction with which an Englishman regards his farm, and the home of his childhood, is a factor at present almost unknown in the social life of our friends across the A.tlantic. In time this will change in Canada, and in England the old ties are rapidly weakening. It is well, or rather, it would be well, if English landlords would note this change of feeling, this loose ling of the Old World sentiment, this infiltration of new ideas, which are surely, and not slowly, permeating the rank and file of British farmers. Steam has made the whole world a possible market for the products of any single portion of it, and, along with education, is making the people everywhere cosmopolitan in thought and feeling. To him who travels these things are clear, and I repeat that it would be well if those in power would recognise them without delay. As a dairying country some portions of both Western and Eastern Ontario are clearly well adapted. The chief want of the country in this connection is that of streams and springs and running brooks ; the smaller streams, in fact, are either less numerous than they were before the forests were cut away, or they are dry at the time when they are most wanted. Eut the Belleville dis- trict, in Eastern Ontario, where there is indeed a great deal of excellent land, and the IngersoU and Stratford districts, in the western portion of the Pro- vince, with many others here and there, are producing excellent cheese in the factories. It would appear, in fact, that wherever water for stock is avail- able, daiij farming in Ontario may be made a profitable business. The lack of water on some of the farms could without much difiiculty, I should say, be madd up by providing it in artificial meres and ponds, a practice which is common in many parts of England. The Canadian farmers, as a rule, are alert on questions which affect their interests, though less so than the Ameri- cans are, and that this water question, all-important as it is to dairy-farming and stock-raising, will in due time receive.the attention itdemands, is, I think, a point which may safely be predicted. The Canadian dairy-farmer has several important advantages over his English contemporary, not the smallest of which is this : he can grow, at a very moderate cost, very large crops of forage for winter use ; clovers and timothy flourish well on most soils in Ontario, and I should say that rye- grasses would also, though I did not find they were much employed, if at all. in the growth ot forage ; I think they might be used to advantage. It is also cleai, from what I saw in many places, that he can raise abundant crops of swedes and mangels, and very good ones of carrots, parsnips and lae like. Here, then, after the question of water, are the first requisites for successful dairy-farming. A rotation of crops is just the system to re-invigorate the older soils of Ontario, which have been over-cropped with wheat, and rotations work well in dairy-farming. It is true that good natural pastures are scarce in the Province, if indeed there are any at ail which deserve the name from an Englishman's point of view (the best grass land I saw in Ontario was in the neighborhood of London, and on the way to Hamilton) ; but, as I have said, clovers, etc, grow well, and they will answer capitally for pastures for a year or two, a regular succession of them being provided, and it is a simple W ■^ ,"SS^v r i6 Mr. J. F. Sheldon's Report. II matter to produce a large supply of green corn — that is, maize cut before it comes to maturity — for soiling in summer when the pastures run out. The rotations may be as follows : i. Wheat or oats; 2. Roots and green crops for soiling; 3. Oats or barley, seeded down with artificial grasses ; 4, 5, and, if advisable ; 6. Grass for forage and pastures. These rotations admit of endless variation, and in a country where no fossdised restrictions as to crop- ing exist, a;; they do in England, the farmer can always grow the crops that suit his purpose best. The practice at Bcw Park is to sow western corn, which is a luxuriant cropper, thickly, in drills of eighteen or twenty inches wide ; in this way the space between the drills is easily horse-hoed, until the corn is a foot or more high ; the corn grows rapidly, and effectually smothers the weeds and wild grasses which grow vigorously in so forcing a climate. In Canada, as in England, the axiom is true that nothing cleans the soil of weeds so effectually as a heavy cultivated crop of some kind or other. If all the western cum is not wanted for soiling, the balance is cut and stalked while the leaf is still green, and the grain in the milk, and it is left out in the fields, and fetched in as it is wanted in winter ; in this way it makes very good forage, and the stalks, leaves and ears are all passed through the chaff-cutter, and all CO! aimed by the stock. A similar system may be followed with almost any other kind of soiling crop— that is, making into forage for winter that portion of it which is not wanted for soiling. As in the United States so in Canada, cheese-making has had more atten tion than butter making, more skill and investigation have been applied to it. and cheese is consequently ahead of butter in average quality. It is, how* ever, probable thai the climate and soil are better adapted for the former than the latter ; a moist, cool climate, and a natural herbage full of delicate and succulent grasses, appear to be best suited for butter-making ; still, it is true that in France, for instance, excellent butter is made where the land is almost wholly under arable cultivation, and the cattle are almost entirely fed on arti ficial grasses, etc. ; and again, a hot climate induces excessive respiration in cows as in other animals, and where this is, there is a larger expenditure of fat from the tissues, and a smaller supply of it to the milk-glands. Be this as it may, however, the cheese of Canada in many cases is very good, while the butter it scarcely of more than second-class quality ; but it cannot, at the same time, be denied that the present high quality of the cheese is owing to the adoption of factories some twelve or fifteen yeais ago. The same thing, indeed, may be said of the United States, whose cheese — some of it of high average quality, while some will rank as first-class any- where— was of a very inferior character before Jesse Williams established the first cheese factory near Rome, in the State of New York. It may be men- tioned here that at the late International Dairy Fair in New York, the highest premium was carried off by Canadian cheese. Cheese-factories are already numerous in Canada, while creameries, on a corresponding system for butter- making, are as yet few and far between ; and so it follows that cheese is a centralized and butter an isolated manufacture, the one receiving collective and the othrr individual study and attention. Thus it is that cheese-making is better understood, alike in its principles and practices, than is the case in the si.ster industry. I must, however, not omit to say that I have tasted several samples of butter in Canada that would be hard to beat in Ireland, and harder still in our London dairy shows. The most conveniently-arranged and best equipped cheese-factory I saw in Canada belongs to Mr. Ballantyne, M.P.P. ; it is known as the Tavistock factory, and is situated a few miles from Stratford. The milk received daily, at the time of my visit, was about 17.000 lbs. from nearly 1000 cows, but thia was in the latter part of September. Mr. Ballantyne contracts with his patrons to make the cheese for them at i^ cent per lb., and the cheese I savr there was of very good quality, well made and carefully cured ; the tempera* ture of the curing-room is kept at about So** for spring cheese, and 75" foi summer, and at 65** for rich autumn cheese. The quantity of salt used is 9 ^ Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. 17 ' foi is a to 2} lbs. per 1000 lbs. of milk ; the smallest quantity is used when the curd is driest. Mr. Hallantyne fur many years past has paid much attention to the sub- ject of chcese-tnaking, as also have several other prominent dairy-men in Ontario, and their united labours have done much towards raising the cheese of the Dominion in the estimation of buyers in England. Formerly there was great difficulty and uncertainty in making autumn cheese in Ontario ; it was liable to be puffy and porous ; and, as the whey was not always got well out r f it. the flavour was frequently unpleasant. This difficulty has been completely overcome by "ripening" the milk before adding the rennet to it. Mr. liallan- tyne thought the matter out in his mind, and argued it to me in this wise : the summer's milk kept through the nif^ht is not so deadly cold as the autumn's, and so is in a more natural condition ; its warmth has brought it into that state which produces the best cheese — that is, it has ripened some- what, because warmth as well as time is necessary to the ripening of any- thing. He declares his belief, further, that the best cheese cannot be made from fresh, warm milk ; because, thpugh it is, of course, warm enough, and has never been cold, it has not the required age and so is unripe. Hence he prefers that one-half of the milk he makes cheese from should be twelve hours old, and this being ripe enough in itself, ripens the fresh morning's milk when the two are mixed together. In summer the ripening of the evenmg's milk is enough for the purpose, but in the colder weather of autumn it is not, so the morning sand evening's milk are warmed up together to a temperature of 90° or so, and aiiovv-ed to st And several hours before the rennet is mixed with them for coagulation, and this is done because the autumn's evening milk has been too cold to admit of enough if any ripening. As the mass of milk stands at the temperature named, it ripens, and the difficulty previously so common disappears, the autumn cheese having all the warmth and mellowness of character of the summer cheese, and it is not liable to be injured by the excessive heat of the summer climate ; this autumn cheese, in fact, take it for all in all, is probably the best of the season, whereas it was formerly in many cases the worst. The grand principles of the Cheddar system of cheese-making — which, by the way. is probably the best system the world knows — consists in the ripening which the curd gets after separating it from the whey, and before salting and pressing it. 'This ripening comes of keeping the curd warm and exposing it to the air. But even in the Cheddar system it is well known that autumn chtese does not mature like that of summer, and this Mr. Ballantyne declares is owing to the evenin'g's milk of autumn not having a chance to ripen like that of summer. I was pleased to find that Professor Arnold, an able exponent of the Cheddar system, has done much good in Canada in teaching dairymen how to manage floating curds — that is, by exposing them longer in the vat. and by developing more acidity to checkmate the taint which is common to floating curds. The milk is generally delivered once a day to the Canadian factories, and the farmers, under pain ot having their milk rejected, are required to take proper care of the evening's milk, and to deliver it in good condition at the factory. This done, the transit it supposed to do the miik good rather than harm. Ingersoll is at once the oldest and most famous of the districts of Ontario in which cheer? factories have been established ; I was, consequently, inter- ested in looking through a few of the factories near the town, in seeing the neighborhood, and in attending the cheese market. My visit was made the occasion for calling a meeting of the farmers, factory-men, cheese- buyers, and others who happened to be in the town at the time. To Mr. Hately, a con- siderable exporter of Canadian cheese to England, I am indebted for the pleasure, interest, and information which this meeting afforded me. A most interesting discussion was the result of it, the subject being chiefly dairy farm- ing. It transpired that some farmers receive as much as 847 per cow for milk sent to the factories during the season, and the farmers were hopefu \ 1 ;.| J:i ii i8 Mr. J. P. Sheldon'' s Report. as to the future prospects of cheese-making in that part of the Dominion, though it is true that the industry, in common with all others, had recently passed through very trying times. The dairy cattle, in some parts of Ontario, will comparenot unfavourably with those of many parts of England. Shorthorn grades prevail, and it may be said that, wherever a better class of cattle are found, the improvement is due, as a rule, to the shorthorn element. In the magnificent herd of pedigree shorthorns at Bow Park, I found a collection of animals which, for number and quality, cannot in all probability be equalled elsewhere. It is clear that the climate and soil of Canada are well suited to maintain the purity and vigor of these animals, and there is every indication that they have not deteriorated in any respect, but the contrary in their new home in the Far West. There are some 300 animals on the farm, forming a herd that is well worth crossing the Atlantic to sec. I spent three days at Bow Park, enjoying the company of my worthy friend Mr. Clay, and I should have liked to spend as many weeks or even months, in order to become familiar with the many beautiful short- horns I saw there. Canada has in her midst, then, the largest herd of pure-bred short-horns to be found, and sh^ ought to make an extensive use of it to improve the bovine stock of the country, with the view of developing the new fat-stock trade which has sprung up with England. But Mr. Clay complains, and not without reason, that the Americans are ahead of the Canadians in apprecia- tion of good stock, and that the greater portion of his young bulls have to find a market in the States. This ought not to be so, and it is no feather in Can- ada's cap that such a complaint should be made. The county of Brant, near whose capital town of Brantford the farm is situated, is of a more broken and hilly character, with a more frequent occur- rence of valleys and rivers where banks are steep, than we find to be the case in many other parts of the Province of Ontario. It is also well wooded, and generally picturesque. The Bow Park farm is situated within a long horse- shoe bend of the Grand River, which empties into Lake Erie. The river's bank on the west is high on the Bow Park side, and the land trends away in a gentle but somewhat varying slope down to where the river comes round again on the east ; here, again, but on the opposite side of the river, the bank is high, forming a bold bluff, from which at many points a view of nearly the whole of the farm may be obtained. Thus the farm resembles, as it were, a huge plate, which is tilted up some sixty or seventy feet on its western side, the lower edge of it dif»ping easily into the eastern section of the river, which surrounds it except for a neck of land in the south of some five hundred yards in width. Along the east and north-east, where the land for some distance slopes slowly down to the river, the soil is a rich alluvial deposit, which is still being flooded and deepened by the swollen water in the spring ; in the middle of the farm the soil is a strong sandy loam, and on the west a lighter sand, resting on a gravelly subsoil. The lower part of the farm grows fine crops of mangels, red clover, lucerne, and the like ; the middle is well adapted to any crop you would like to put upon it, and the upper part grows a large burden of maize. It is thought by many in the Old Country that the soil and climate of Canada are ill adapted to the growth of clover ; but here I find on the wheat stubbles as fine a root of red clover as I would wish to see anywhere, and one large field is covered with a luxuriant root of white clover, which, of its own accord, has sprung up on a rye stubble of the present autumn ; white clover, in fact, is indigentms to these soils ; the roadsides are covered with it, and the field in question is now providing a fair pasture for about forty in-calf heifers, while the portions of the farm which are really untouched parts of the priireval forest have a strong-stemmed undergrowth of red clover, wherever the brushwood has been trampled or cut away. But fancy this magnificent farm, which erstwhile was forest and glade, now growing magnificent crops of grass, and grain and roots, and supporting some of the finest the world has in it of the ubiquitous Teeswater bovines This transition from Red Indian, and black bear, and moose deer, to Anglo u\ Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. 19 Saxon and Kirklevington Duchesses, to Duchesses of Barrington, and Oxford and Woodhill, to Royal Charmers, Countesses, Lady Fawsleys, Polly Gwynnes. Koses of Sharon, Waterloos, Wild Eyes and the like, to Princes, Dukes, Earls and Barons- of the same ilk, and all these glories of shorthorn fame supplemented by wavini; hfilds of grain, of mammoth mangel wurzels, and of thickly carpeted clovers, is as remarkable as anything we meet with in this great young country of the West. The situation of the farm, and the views of the district which we obtain to great advantage from many points on the river's high bank on the west, are beyond compare the finest I have seen in Canada, or, for the matter of that, in the United States ; and when we turn from these beauties of locality to witness the grand shorthorn cows and heifers and yearlings grazing lustily on the newly seeded clovers, or on the primeval turf which for ages has formed a beautiful glade in the forest, we have the surroundings complete which go to make up a scene in which the soul of any Old Country farmer would take great delight. The Bow Park Farm was purchased, a dozen years ago, f'-om various persons who had settled upon it, by the Hon. George Brown, whose melan- choly death a few months ago, by the bullet of a^drunken assassin, filled the whole of the Canadian agricultural world with indignation and dismay. It was converted first of all into an ordinary dairy-farm, in the days when Can- ada was coming to the front as a cheese-producing country ; and a cheese factory, which is still standing, though put to other uses, was built for the convenience of the farm and of the neighborhood around. Gradually, how- ever, the dairy stock were improved ; and as the soil developed animals in a superior manner, the idea arose to form it into a breeding establishment for stock of the best kind, and there is now upon it one of the largest and most valuable shorthorn herds in the world. There are in all nearly two hundred females and forty to fifty males, in many of whose veins runs the bluest of blue blood, while there is not a single animal among them who has not unex- ceptionable pretensions to partrician parentage. In lots of twenty to forty we find the females pasturing in various parts of the farm ; and it is a sight worth travelling far to see which we get in wandering slowly through the herds, each individual of which, with pedigree and all, is named at once by my friend Mr. Clay, to whom the chief management of the farm is intrusted by the Associa- tion to whom this great undertaking belongs. Going first among the bulls, we came to the lord of the harem, the veritable king of the herd, an animal of surpassing merit, and a fortune in himself. This grand old sire, the 4th Duke of Clarence, who was bred by Colonel Gunter, of Wetherby Grange, is, to the best of my recollection, the most nearly faultless bull I have seen in this or any other country. He is a huge mountain of flesh and bone and muscle, and at first sight one would thinkthatnotwoof his four legs could support the burden ; but when we notice the grand development of muscle, and the grace and ease with which he moves we think so no longer. His brisket is wide and deep, down to his knees ; his shoulder, from the point of it to the brisket between the knees, measuring 4ft, 9 in., is the deepest I have seen, and yet it is not in the least coarse or lumpy ; his top is level, wide, and long, measuring 5 ft. 8 in. from point of shoulders to the square of the tail, and the roasting-beef is there in fine display. He is well sprung in the ribs, with great chest-room ; equally well let down in the flanks, forming perfect underlines ; the tail is set on as a tail ought to be, but not always is ; the neck is wonderfully massive and muscular; the head has the true shorthorn character, and is withal very kindly in expres- sion, denoting the good temper which the owner is known to possess, and which is no mean factor in the process of physical development. With a con- stitution unsurpassed, this fine sixyear-old bull is a most impressive sire, superseding in almost every case the influence of the dam ; he is, in fact, thoroughly prepotent in the widest sense of the word, impressing his indi- viduality on sons and daughters alike. His dam was the 4th Duchess of Clarence, and his sire the iSth Duke of Oxford, who was bred by the Duke Up:. iSi 'f 'i'll' II ! h 10 Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. of Devonshire. He traces back through Dukes of Clarence, Wharfdale, York, and Northumberland, through Cleveland Lad, Belvedere, the Ilubbacks, Ketton aud 710, Comet 155, and Favourite 25a ; and among the breeders' Dames are Bates and Colling, Hunter and Thompson. Here is blue blood enough and to spare, with a representative in every way an honour to it ! Among the younger bulls we come to the Duke of Oxford 46th, a most promising young animal of eighteen months, whose sire is the 4th Duke of Clarence, and dam the Grand Duchess of Oxford 29th. He has a great deal of the sire's character in all respects, and, if we mistake not, will prove a worthy scion of a gratid line. Next we find a beautiful ten months' bull. Baron Acomb nth, by the same sire, and out of Aurora, a rich red roan in colour, shapely and substantial, and most promising withal. By the same •ire. again, there are Baron Knightley 5th, only four months old, 8th Duke ss 8th. Prince : and. Dukes of hose ages vary urlings by other of Kirklevington, a few weeks younger still ; Karl of Goc Victor and. Roan Duke 6th, ditto 7th and 8th, Waterloo D' Harrington nth and lath, and Butterfly's Duke, animal: from two to nine months, There are also many excellent j sires, forming a collection of great merit. Among the more celebrated and valuable females, we find Rose of Autumn 3rd, a pure Mantalini, and a very choice animal ; she is now four years old, and a most beautiful cow, in-calf tc Prince Leopold. This cow is simply grand in the shoulders, which are deep, clean, and beautifully set in. She has very fine bone, well-rounded ribs, a very small amount of offal, .and excel- lent roasting jomts. She walks off the ground bravely and graceful! v and fills the eye wealthily as she passes away. An excellent and well-preserwJ animal is Butterfly's Duchess, bred by Mr. Game, of Churchill Heath, and imported. She has a wonderful substance, magnificent hind-quarters, and grand broad hips, with a top of surpassing breadth and evenness. Among the younger females we come to Royal Charmer nth, ten months old. This excellent young animal has a beautiful skin, rich roan in colour, and very mellow to the touch, perfectly level top and even underlines, h&ndsome head and neck, fine bone, clean and even points, and neat as a new pin. It is wonderful what matronly models these young heifers lay hold of. I cannot find time to describe more than a tithe of those I nhould like to mention, and it would, indeed, take a week to learn them properly first ; nor, in fact, do I pretend to have picked out the best specimens so far, for where there are such a number of first-class animals, most of whom have many merits in common, while many of them have special points of exc-llence of their own, it would require the nicest judgment, formed after along and careful inspection, to assign the many blue ribands which I should feel bound to award. Suffice it to say, that here is a great herd of shorthorns, in which all the finest families are more or less represented, and that they are flourishing in the best manner possible, and under conditions closely allied to nature. One of the most striking facts brought cut in connection with the Bow Park herd is this— the best-bred animals are clearly the best-developed ones in size and beauty, while their constitution is just as clearly of the soundest and best. No doubt the way in which all the animals alike are treated has no little to do w.th the superb health which they all enjoy. In no sense are they forced into condition by extravagant feeding. The food they get indoors is chiefly maize, of which stalk, leaf, and half-developed ear are passed together through the chaff-cutter. The older cows and heifers, in fact, do not receive through the i-ummer even this modicum of artificial food ; thry depend entirely on grass, when there is enough of it, as there has been through the paFt summer and the present autumn ; and it is indeed surprising to see the excellent condition which one and all of them are in. on grass alone. Animals of the Oxford, Kirkievington, Waterloos, and Roan Duchesses are individually and collectively superior, not only in personal merit but in general excellence, to those of less excellent strains. No falling off in vigour and healthiness of constitution, no sign of tuberculosis, and little, if any, of Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. •X of infertility, is known amongst them. Closely in-bred as they have been for many generations, transplanting them to newer soils and to a clearer climato than those of England has clearly re-invigorated them in the qualities which are usually enjoyed by animals which have not been artificially bred and ttnded, and lacking which the purest, bluest blood is shorn of some of its most valuable properties. That a Canadian home admirably suits the high- born British shorthorn is the first impression given to any stranger who visit! Bow Park, and, so far as the first requisites in successful breeding are con- cerned, it is clear that Canada is abreast of the C'd Country ; while my own observation during the three days I spent at liow Park resulted in the opinion that less careful feeding and attention are needed there than here. The sheep of Ontario are, on the whole, better than I expected to find, but they are open to improvement. It appears to me that Shropshires and Border f sice^ters are calculated to improve the flocks, as shorthorns are to improvw the herds, of Canada. In any case, however, the mutton I got in Canadian hotels was nice flavoured, tender, and juicy, as a rule — in these respects better than that of our Cotswold sheep, or than of many of the Leicesters ; but the Canadian sheep, as a rule, need improving in symmetry, if not increasing in size. The pigs, generally speaking, are very good, better, perhaps, on the average, than the pigs in ths British Islands. I do not see that this class of farm stock needs much improvement. It is abundantly clear that Canada can produce excellent farm stock ot all kinds, and that most of them are being improved. Until recently the inducements to improve them have not been strong enough, and in some of the Provinces little or nothing would appear to have been done in this direction. Now, however, the inducement is supplied, and it is probable that in ten years' time we shall find a marked reform in the quality and symmetry of the cattle and sheep, as well as a great increase in numbers. It is not easy to estimate the cost of raising and fattening beef in Canada, because the facilities vary in different districts. The following, however, has been communicated by an enterprising breeder of fifteen years' experience: Raising, feeding, and attendance, first year, per head, 924 " " " second year, '* 18 •• '« " third year, " 24 Total cost of fat beast weighing 1,600 HSs., J66 — £13 4s. This would be about S4.12J (i6s. 6d.) per 100 lt>3. live weight, or 3^d. per Xb. on the dressed me;i'. At the present rates of freight, in summer time, such an animal would oe landed in Liverpool for £^ to £6. including food and attendance. It is p obable, in fact, that Canadian beef will be landed in Liverpool, givmg fair profits to all concerned, at sd. to 6d. a Ifc. A neighbor of mine in Derbyshire, an intelligent workingman with a large family of children, went out to Canada some ten or twelve years ago with about ^100 in his pocket. Having; his address with me, 1 wrote to him, and he came to Toronto to meet me. His home for thepresent is in County of Grey, Ontario, where he is farming 200 acres of rented land, in addition to a quantity of his own. For the rented land he pays 75 cents an acre — or, rather, this is what he agrees to pay, or its equivalent in some other form; the fact is, however, that hi -i impravfiments have more than covered the rent. The land is cleared, but l .^ permanent improvements done on it are such that they b^i'ance the rent ; tiiesj improvements consist of fencing, draining, road making, getting out stones, and the like. He raises cattle and sheep ; the former are natives with shorthorn crosses ; the latter, too, are natives, more or less improved. His fat ewes, sold in September, weighed 180 Tbs., live weight, ori the average. He grows rape for sheep feeding— a practice very popular and profitable on the limestone soils of D^irbyshire. Impr-jved lambs are worth $x apiece more than native lambs, viz., $3 to 93<3o, native aa Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. lambs being worth f^2 to 82.50. Oats fetch 30 to 31 cents ; wheat 90 cents to $1 ; white peas, 60 to 65 cents; and barley, 50 to 60 cents per bushel. He ploughs rape under for barley, and, after barley takes turnips, working, ridging and manuring the land for them. He says that if butter fetches 15 cents a pound the farmers do well. Cattle, when fat, fetch 3 to 4 cents a pound, live weight — these are native cattle ; improved cattle are worth 5 to 5J cents; while mutton is worth 4 to 5tJ cents, according to quality and the time of '-■} year. My old neighbor is not afraid of work, and he has his share of native shrewdness; he thinks a man will do better renting than owning his land in Ontario, because the rent is less than the interest on the monev ; he has prospered himself in renting land, and informs me he is now worth upwards of ;^iooo. He would not have been worth one-fourth of it if he had remained in England. I was mucn interested in a trip made to Bradford and Barrie, the latter a beautiful town on an arm of Lake Simcoe. At both these towns we had a meeting of farmers in the evening, and a lively discussion pn agricultural topics. The farmers around Bradford drjclared that they had more than held their own, despite the bad times of the past four or five years. They considered their capital employed in farming had at all events paid five per cent, per annum during that period of depression. Previously, a farmer ex- pected to buy and pay for an extra farm every eight or ten years, but of late years they have not been able to do so. The land about Bradford is a clayey loam, some of it almost a clay, and, as a rule, it is well farmed. More or leas live stock are kept, and the land is farmed in rotations which are far from arbitrary or regular. Wheat is taken now and again ; mangels, carrots, turnips, etc , are grown, and the laud is generally seeded down with a white crop ; if with autumn wheat, the timothy is sown in the autumn and the clover in the spring. It is needless to suggest anything to the farmers of Bradford, except that they keep as many live stock as possible, making the other operations of the farm subsidiary to them ; the live stock then will do their part in maintaining and increasing the fertility of the farms. I had the pleasure of being present at the agricultural shows of Toronto, Hamilton, and Montreal, and I may say that 1 have seen no shows in Eng- land, except the Royal and the Bath and West of England, that can claim to be ahead of them in aggregate merit. The Montreal show is a new one, and in a short time will also be a very good one, no doubt ; in any case, its permanent buildings are the best I have seen, either in Canada or the States. The Canadians throw themselves with great spirit into enterprises of this kind, and these shows are a jjreat credit and ornament to the Dominion. The school acccimodation of the settled districts of Canada, and the quality of the education given to the children, are among the country's greatest merits and ornaments. The school houses are frequently the most prominent buildings in many of the towns and villages, and throughout the Dominion the education of the young is regarded as a matter of vital import- ance, and one of the highest duties of citizenship. Everywhere primary education is free, the poor man's child enjoying advantages equal to the rich man's, and even in the higher branches of education in the colleges tht fees are merely nominal, the State providing all the machinery and defray- ing nearly all the cost. The education of all children between the ages of seven and twelve is compulsory, and Acts of Parliament are in force under which delinqupiit parents may be fined for neglecting to send their children to school. It is impossible not to discern in these provisions < ne of the surest pledges of the future greatness of the country, and they obviously provide the poor man with advantages greater than those he will meet with in most parts of England. One of the first duties of a new district is to erect a school-house with ample accommodation ; and so imbued are the people with the need and wisdom of such an act, that the provision is made with alacrity. Sectarian differences are arranged by the erection, where \ Mr. J, P. Sheldon' :i Report. aa ) ) necebsary, of separate schools, but in any case the children are bound to be educated. It may be true that the support of the high schools should come in a larger measure from those who benefit by them, and in time no doubt this part of the educational question will be more or less modified, yet it cannot be denied that if the Provincial Governments have erred at all in this matter they have erred on the right side. It is not competent for me to go farther into the question in this report, but it is important to notify intending emigrants, that, at all f,v jnts, their children are sure to be provided, according to the measure of each jne's capacity, with the knowledge which is power. Among the educational institutions the Guelph Agricultural College occu- pies an honourable position. The College was unfortunatel> not in session when I was there, and the President and Professor of Agriculture were both away at the Hamilton show, so that I saw the College and farm under unfavorable conditions. The Professor of Chemistry did all that lay in his power, however, to give me facilities for seeing the educational raach inery of the College, as well as the farm buildings, the farm, and the stock. The fol- lowing day I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Mills, the Pref.ident, and Mr. Brown, the Professor of Agriculture, at Hamilton. It is satisfactory to know that the College is being more appreciated and employed year by year by those for whose benefit it was established. Increased accomodation is now being provided, and there is a prospect of the College even becoming self- sustaining in time. Already it is a flourishing, thou<^h quite a young institu- tion, and Its influence is being felt on the agriculture of the Province. The students receive an agricultural education, in which science is happily blended wi th practice, and theory is borne out by demonstration. The farm consists of unne: 550 acres, on which a variety of experimenial and practical crops are ^.lown. and several kinds of pure-bred English sheep and cattle are kept, which, in iheir turn, will have an important effect on the country's future. I'ht! taxation in Ontario is light, as it is everywhere else in the Dominion that I have been. At first sight it would seem to be heavier than in some of the other Provinces, yet it is not really so. It is assessed on the basis of valuation of property, and in this sense differs but slightly from the other Provinces. Land, and real property generally, leaving out of consideration such cities as Montreal and Quebec, is more valuable in Ontario than else- where, yet the total taxation, including school-rates, does not often go beyond 25 to 30 cents an acre, while it fiequently falls below those sums. Some districts have public property which nearly provides all the public money that is needed, and others are the more heavily rated for the present in order to wipe off sums of money which were given as bonuses to new rail- ways passing through them. But nowhere did I meet with an instance in which taxation may be regarded as really burdensome ; yet it will be expedient for new-comers to make inquiry into these matters before purchasing farms. In the matter of assessing land for taxation, the farmers appoint a com- mission to value it, and it is revalued each rear, if thought expedient. If any dispute arise, the land is looked over again, and the dispute may be privately settled by the judge Practically the farmers hold their taxation in their own hands, for no direct imperial taxation is levied. The fanning in many parts of Ontario is of a higher order than I had been led to expect. West of Toronto, as well as north of it, I saw many farms in a condition which weald be no discredit to any country whatever, but a great credit to most. QUEBEC. I have to regret *} ' my time did not admit of my taking more than a glance at the Eastern Townships of this Province, because I am persuaded there is much excellent land in them, and a good opening for English farm- ers. They are situate between the cities of Montreal and Quebec, and near H Mr. jf. P. Sheldon's Report. some of the cities of the United States, in all of which there are good markett for farm produce. The land, moreover, is much lower in price than in the better portions of Ontario, and farms for the most part cleared and fenced, in a fair state of cultivation, and possessing good houses and buildings, may be bought at the rate of £4 or £5 an acre. The district is rolling and the soil loamy ; it is also well supplied with water, a valuable feature in dairy- farming and stock-raising. The climate is healthy, for it is here that Mr. Cochrane has rai^ed his excellent shorthcirs, and where he is now beginning to raise high-class Herefords in the place of them. The agriculture of Quebec, generally speaking, is susceptible of improve- ment, and the same may be said of its cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs. In many parts the farmers plough the "lands" too narrow, as if the soil were very wet. If such be the case, it were better to under-diain it. I noticed that grasses and clovers grew best in the numerous furrows. The fences of Quebec, as a rule, are quite equal to those of any other Province, and pro- bably superior, because, being straight rail fences, they are not such a har- bour for weeds as the zigzag "snake-fences " too commonly are. NOVA SCOTIA. Of this Province, too, I am unable to say very much, as I had not facili- ties for inspecting it equal to those with which I whs provided elsewhere. In the neighborhood of Truro I saw some useful laiii, in the Vale of Annapolis also, some of which is not easily excelled in any part of the Dominion. I was recommended by his Excellency the .Governor-General to pay a visit to this fertile region, and I may fairly say that I should have missed a treat if I had not done so. The finest portion of the valley is found in the Kentv'lle dis- trict, and in Cornwallis, in King's County ; and the great feature of the local- itv is found in the dyke lands, which have been reclaimed from the Bay of Fundy. Of the nature of these lands I shall have to speak at some length in my remarks about New Brunswick, which Province also has a large area of them. There is, however, some very fine upland in the valley, which is admirably adapted to the growth of roots ana i;rain, and to the raising of live stock of various kinds. The apples of the Annapolis Valley are famous in many countries, and though they do not surpass those of Ontario, they are an ornament to the country, and a source of profit to the people. It is proba- ble that there is room for a limited number of English farmers in Nova Scotia; but, so far as I saw it, it does not offer inducements equal to those of the adjoining Provinces. The country for some distance out of Halifax cannot ever become valuable farmmg land, a great part of it being what is termed a " hard country," that is, rocky and short of soil. PRINCE EDWAPD's ISLAND. 1 In some respects this is one of the most beautifuV Provinces of the Do- minion, and it has probably tho largest proportion of cultivable land. The soil generally is a red sandy loam, of one character throughout, but differing iu quality. On the whole, the grass-land of the island, and the character of the sward, consisting as it does of indigenous clovers and a variety of the finer grasses, reminded me strouijly of soma portions of Old England. The people, too, are more English in appearance than those of any of the other Provinces, with the exception of New Brunswick. This is probably owing to a cooler climate and the contiguity of the sea. The hotter climate and the drier air of the West seem to deprive the cheeks of some of the colour. The summer climate of the island appears to be almost everything that can be desired, but the winters are very long ; the Northumberland Straits being frozen, the people are isolated from the mainland during the v/inter, unless, indeed, they cross over on the ice — a thing which may be done, and I believe not uncommonly is. Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. 25 One of the most annoying circumstances in connection with the island winters is this : it commonly happens that in spring numliers of icebergs find their way through the Straits of Belle Isle, and collecting in the northerly half-moon coast of the island, melt there slowly, retarding vegetation some- times a fortnight or more. The people believe that if a breakwater were thrown across the Straits of Belle Isle the climate of the Gulf of St. Lawrence would be vastly improved, and there are some who incline to the belief that in this event the St. Lawience would be navigable the year round ; if such results were at all likely to follow the closing oif the straits, why — the sooner they are closed the better. Prince Edward's Island is covered with a soil that is easy to cultivate, sound and healthy, capable of giving excellent crops of roots, grain and grass — an honest soil that will not fail to respond to the skill of the husbandman. For sheep, particularly, the island appears to be well adapted, for the soil is light, dry and sound, j^rowing a thick-set, tender and nutritious herbage. For cattle, too, it is suitable, though perhaps less so than for sheep. For horses the island has been famous for a long time, and American buyers pick up most of those there are for sale. It is not improbable, in fact, that taking them for all in all, the horses of the island are superior to those of any other Province : it seems, in fact, to be in a sense the Arabia of Canada. The sheep, as a rule, are fairly good, but open to improvement ; the cattle, generally speaking, are inferior. Many of the sheep are now being exported to England, and the day I sailed from Quebec Mr. Senator Carvell was ship- ping some 1200 of them, most of which were of very fair quality. This gentle- man, to whom I am indebted for much kindness and information, informs me that sheep from the island cost 15s. a head in freight, food and attendance by the time they reach Liverpool, besides which there is insurance, which varies from 2 to 10 per Cc-nt., according to the season of the year. It cannot but be regarded as a good thing for the island that Mr. Carvell has opened up a trade in this way, and it will be an inducement to the people to go more into sheep-raising — an industry for which the island is specially adapted The cattle at present are not good enough for the English market, and they are not worth taking over. The Provincial Government has estab- lished a stock-farm noar Charlottetown for the dissemination of better blood through the flocks and herds of the island ; but so far the farmers have not availed themselves as they ought to do of this great advantage. The new trade with England will, however, in all probability cause them to put their shoulders to the wheel and tu briiig tlieir cattle up to the level of the sheep. Beef and mutton are ve'"y cheap at present on the island ; stall-fed beef in spring can be bought at 3J cents a lb., live weight, and grass-fed beef in Octo- ber was worth only 2§ cts., while dressed beef by the side could be bouj^ht at 4 to 5 cents per lb. ; iamb and mutton by the quarter, and of very nice quality, was being sold in the markets at 5 cents per lb. Lambs were worth from 6s. to 10s. each, and ewes, los. to i8s. ; while fat wethers and ewes were bought at 15s. to 20S. By exportinj; a few thousand yearly to England the f>rice of sheep will increase on the island. The farmers complain that they receive but 17 cents per lb. for their wool ; but so long as they shear unwashed sheep they must submit to low prices. The island grows very good wheat, and probably better oats than most other parts of the Dominion. Of the former, the crops are from 18 to 30 bushels, and of the latter, 25 to 70 bushels per acre. Barley, too, as may be expected, makes a very nice crop. Wheat at the time of my visit was worth 4s. per bushel of 60 lb., oats is. gd. per bushel of 34 lb , and barley 2s. 6 i. to 3s. per bushel of 48 lb. Winter-wheat is regarded as a precarious crop, being liable to be thrown out of the loose soil by the thaws in spring. The same thing holds good in Manitoba, and in Ontario I found that the farmers con- sider there is danger, on the one hand, with winter-wheat that is too far advanced when winter sets in of having it smothered by a too heavy iall of snow lying too long, especially on damp land ; and on the other, of having it throw itself ;r j,.y m :| I ' 26 Mr. jf. P. Sheldon's Report. out of the ground by the heaving of the frosts and thaws of spring. In this event the dead plants may afterwards be raked off the land like so much hay. There is, indeed, on these loose soils, room for the exercise of judgment in the sowing of the grain. Many farmers consider it a good thing to drill it in north and south as a protection against the prevalent west winds, while others try the experiment of leaving a row of old cornstalks standing at intervals of 15 or 20 feet. All this is done to prevent the wind blowing the snow off the plant and so exposing it to the withering frost, for snow is indeed a protection if there is not too much of it and the land is dry. The island is noted for its large crops of excellent potatoes, which not uncommonly foot up to 250 bushels an acre of fine handsome tubers. At the time of my visit they were worth only 15 to 20 cents a bushel, the tariff of 15 cents a bushel imposed by the Americans on Canadian potatoes having almost killed a once large export trade of potatoes to the States. Swedes make a fine crop, not uncommonly reaching 750 bushels per acre of sound and solid bulbs. The island possesses one advantage which is unique and immensely val- uable; I refer now to its thick beds of "mussel mud," or "oyster mud," which are found in all the bays and river-mouths. The deposit, which is commonly many feet thick, consists of the organic remains of countless generations of oysters, mussels, clams and other bivalves of the ocean, and of crustaceous animals generally. The shells are generally more or less intact, embedded in a dense deposit of mud-like stuff, which is found to be a fertili 'er of singular value and potency. The supply of it is said to be almost izie -haustible, and it is indeed a mine of great wealth to the island. It is also found to some extent on the east coast of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. A good dressing of it restores fertility in a striking manner to the poorest soil ' ; clover grows after it quite luxuriantly, and, as it were, indigenously ; by its aid heavy crops of turnips and potatoes are raised ; and, indeed, it may be regarded as a manure of great value and applicable to any kind of crop. Nor is it soon exhausted, for the shells in it decay, year by year throwing off a film of fer- tilizmg matter. This singular deposit is obtained, as a rule, below low-water mark, and in winter when the water is a solid niass of ice, holes are cut through the ice until the mud is reached, and a powerful and ingenious horse- power scoop is used to fetch up the mud and dump it in the sleighs ; it is then taken to shore and laid in heaps until it is wanted. There is not much Crown land to dispose of in the island at the present time, but there are plenty of encumbered farms, more or less improved, which can be bought at ?5 to $35 an acre. Taxation on the island is very light ; it amounts to ? to 8 cents an acre, according to value, or from 15 to 1 8 cents per ?ioo valuation. The educational advantages of the island are on a footing similar to those of the other Provinces. There are good roads, railways, etc., and many excel- lent harbours around the island. There are also thriving woollen and other mills, not to mention the lobster fisheries, which are a source of considerable wealth to the Province. There are, however, complaints that too many farmers have been tempted into the fishing business, to the neglect of their farms ; that between two stools these men have fallen to the ground ; and that the land is sometimes blamed for losses which really come of neglecting it. I was assured on the highest authority that farmers who have minded their business, have been steady, and have used a moderate supply of common- sense in their dealings, have made farming pay and become independent. It is true that a man is independent on a smaller sum in Prince Edward's Island than he would be in England, but at the same time there are numerous evidences of happiness and contentment among the people. It appears to me that Englishmen of moderate ambition would find homes congenial to their tastes in this beautiful Province, and I have an impression that, with cattle and sheep raising and fattening for the English market, better times are in store for these hospitable and kindly islanders, many of whom I ■W1 Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. 27 shall always remember with feelings of more than ordinary kindness. For agricultural labourors there is plenty of employment at good rates of pay. A man will get 880 to 9 150 per annum, plus board and lodging ; or. minus board and lodging, but with cottage, keep of a cow, and an acre of land for potatoes, will receive $140 to $200 in cash. Farming, after all, cannot be bad where such wages are paid to men, and there is every inducement for the farmer and his family to do all the work they can within themselves. NEW BRUNSWICK. Apart from its wealth in timber and minerals, the latter as yet only just beginning to be developed, the Province of New Brunswick is well adapted to the pursuits of agriculture. In several portions of the Province there are soils which have certain very remarkable features and properties ; and in many other portions I found soils that are easy to cultivate when once cleared of timber, deep in staple, and rich in the accumulated fertility of many cen- turies. Many of the upland soils bordering on the beautiful valley of the St. John River have every indication of being well adapted to stock raising, par- ticularly of ovine stock. They are for the most part sandy or gravelly loams, sometimes approachmg to stiffness, but generally friable, varying, no doubt, in depth and quality, but hardly anywhere good for nothing. It is probable, in fact, that with the exception of Prince Edward's Island, New Brunswick has a larger proportion of cultivable soils than r.ny of the older Provinces of the Dominion. So far, however, the settled part» of the Province are chiefly along, or adjacent to, the rivers which drain the country ; but there are yet many mil- lions of acres not appropriated, as good, in all probability, for agricultural purposes as those that are — if we make exception of the " dyke " and " inter- vale " lands, But these unsettled portions are for the most part still covered with a dense growth of timber, and I should hardly fancy that English farmers are either fitted for or would like the task of clearing it off. The work of clearing these lands is, indeed, herculean, but it is generally supposed that the timber will pay for it. The land n.ay be cleared at a cost of $12 to ^20 an acre, and it is said that a Canadian backwoodsman will cut down an acre of heavy timber in three or four days. Let us take the new settlement of New Denmark as an instance of what may be done. Seven years ago the locality was covered with a dense forest, and the Panes who emigrated to it were very poor ; now hundreds of acres are cleared, and are producing abundant crops of grain and vegetables, some of which are of a superior character, and the land supports a happy and pros- perous colony, which in time will be a wealthy one. It is not too much to say that the condition of these people is far better than it would have been in the land of their birth. Take, again, the Scotch settlement of Napan, on the Mir- amichi ; here we have also a favourable illustration of what thrift and indus- try will do. The settlement is mainly Scotch, but there are a few Irish among them, some of whom have prospered. One Irish farmer we met had become wealthy; "and," said a countryman of his to me. "we call him Barney Rothschild itself! " It is at once pleasant and instructive to see these new settlements, for they are only what will be found all over the Province in course of time. It would seem probable that a number of English farm-labourers might do the same, starting with free grants of land covered with timber, and clear- ing it as far as circumstances would admit of They would in any case meet with encouragement from the Government and people of the Province, and with industry their reward would be sure. Generally speaking, the sheep of New Brunswick are tolerably good, pro- ducing very nice mutton, and it does not appear that any special effort at improving them i.s at present called for. But the cattle generally are very inferior, and here it is that efforts at improvement are urgently required. It !■ \b vJ, ijt I. i I I' 28 Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. appears to methatgood shorthorn, polled Aberdeen, or polled Norfolk blood, would bring about the desired change. I saw, however, many cattle in the neighborhood of Sackville that are good enough for all practical purposes, and fit for the export or any other trade. Here, then, the " blue noses " have an example m cattle-breeding set them in their owp country. It is clear that the climate and the soil are fit to produce excellent cattle, and if we find com- paratively few such, it is man's fault, not the country's. Ontario is a long way ahead of any of the other Provinces in cattle, and this will give her, in the new trade, a lead which cannot easily be taken away. The soils I have spoken of as possessing certain remarkable features and properties are the "dyke " and the "intervale " lands. Both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are celebrated for the former, while the latter are a peculiarity of New Brunswick, in the valley of the noble river St. John. The dyke lai:d3 of both Provinces are found bordering on the inlets of the Bay of Fundy. Thi'se I saw in Nova Scotia are in the neighbourhov,J of Kentville and Am- herst ; in New Brunswick I saw them at Dorchester and Sackville. As the name suggests, they are dsked in from the sea, from which thev have been from time to time reclaimed. In many cases marsh grass is cut from saline swamps which have not yet been dyked, and over which the high tides for which the Bay of Fundy is noted still during certain seasons continue to flow. The grass is made into hay in the best way possible under the circumstances — on the ridges of higher land, on platforms, etc. — and is stacked on a framework which is raised several feet above the land, supported on piles ; and it is a curious sight to see the water flowing under the stacks and in and about the piles when ^he tide is at its height. In one case I counted, near the town of Annapolis, upwards of 140 of these stacks, each of them containing a ton or so of hay. They are put up in this manner hurriedly, and are fetched into the farmyards, in winter, as they are wanted to use along with ordinary hay, with straw and with roots, to which they are found to form a tolerable though coarse addition. But the dyke-lands proper are so fenced in from the water by a strong bank of earth thrown up some six or eight feet high, with a broad and substantial base, that the land within them is firm and solid, of excellent quality, and covered with a thick sward of coarse though vigorous and nutritive grass. The fertility of these reclaimed soils is unusually high ; they are never manured, but they cut on the averas;e upwards of two tons of hay to the acre — a yield which has been sustained for many years, and shows no signs of running out. The land, however, under this system of farming is found to become weedy in the course of time, and it becomes expedient to plough up portions of it in rotation, at intervals of ten or twelve years, taking one crop of wheat or oats, with which new grass seeds are sown, to form the new sward which is desired. This once ploughing is found to kill the weeds for the time being, and they do not again become very troublesome for some years ; and when at length they do, the land is simply ploughed up again in the way described. These bottom lands are valuable acquisitions to the upland farms adjoin- ing, most of which have more or le%s of them attached ; and they do much towards maintaininij the fertility of the uplands, obviating the necessity of using purchased fertilisers on them. These dyke-lands are in much request on this account, and they are worth from S50 to Ifiso an acre, in a country where ordinary upland farms are not worth as many shillings an acre. The portions of these dyke-lands owned by different men are marked out for identity's sake, but are not fenced off from the rest. Each man cuts off the hay from his portion, and takes it home, s.)metim~!S several miles, and the aftermath is eaten in common by the stock of all the owners combined, com- mencing on the ist of September. A few days before this date a committee of assessors is apnointed to place a value on each man"s portion of the land, and to decide on the number and kind of animals he shall send for pasturage. So it follows that we se" very brge tract? of land, on which hundreds of cattle roam about and feed at will. m wr Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. 29 The extent of these dyke-lands is said to be about 65,000 acres, and there is still a large area to be reclaimed. A large portion of the marshes was dyked by the French, previous to the conquest of Fort Beausejour in 1754, Immediately afterwards they were taken possession of by the English settlers who afterwards obtained grants of them from the Crown. The expense of dyking fresh marshes has ranged from 88 to $20 per acre, and it is worthy of note that the system of constructing dykes and aboideaux adopted by the first French settlers is the one still employed. The system of cultivation is very simple, and consists of surface draining by cutting ditches 22 yards apart 3 feet wide at the top, 2 feet g inches deep, and sloping to i foot wide at the bottom ; about three years afterwards the land is ploughed in ridges of 6 to 8 feet wide, sown with oats, and seeded down with timothy and clovers. It then yields large crops of grass of a coarse description, and it would seem to me that careful draining, generous cultivation, and discriminating manuring would increase the quantity, or at all events improve the quality of the grass. By a well-devised system of draitfage, carried out in a workman'ike manner, and by the free percolation of rain water through them, these dyke-lands would grad- ually lose much of the saline element which at present is not favourable to the growth of the finer grasses, and they would become fitted to the growth of roots, green crops, and grain, while as pastures they would be greatly improved. The "intervale lands" of New Brunswick are, as the name suggests, found in the valleys. The name is peculiarly appropriate and expressive. In Eng- land we should call them bottom-lands or alluvial soils. Thev are, in fact, alluvial soils to all intents and purposes, with th s peculiarity, they are still in process of formation. In some cases these intervale lands consist of islands in the rivers — and there are many such in the magnificent river St. John ; but for the most part they are level banks on each side of the river, in some cases several miles wide, and reaching to the feet of the hills, which form the natural ramparts of the valleys they enclose. These intervale lands are rich in quality, and the grass they produce is very good. Like the dyke-lands, they need no manuring artificiady. The dyke-lands, in fact, have such a deep, excellent deposit of unusual richness that manuring is superfluous ; but the intervale lands receive a periodical manuring in the deposit which is laid on them each spring by the freshets of the rivers. They are, in fact, flooded more or less for several weeks in the spring of the year, and the deposit left by the receding waters is of a character to add fertility to an already rich soil, and. at the same time, to add to its depth. An inch or two of rich alluvial mud deposited on these lands each year is gradually raising them above the influence of the freshets ; and they are to-day among the most valuable soils in the Pro- vince. Much of the upland of the Province is of very good quality, excellently adapted to the growth of cereal, root, and green crops generally, and for the raising of live stock. Sheep in particular do remarkably well wherever I have seen them in Canada, and nowhere better than in New Brunswick. Little, if any, improvement in them is specially desirable, for they are already of very good quality in most respects, and they are of course well inured to the soil and climate. The cattle, on the contrary, are of a very inferior character ; yet. at the same time, they are sound and vigorous in constitution, and there- fore provide an excellent basis on which a very profitable breed of cattle may be built up by the use of improved blood from the Old Country. There are in this Province millions of acres still unoccupied, except by a heavy growth of trees which form the primeval forest. The forests require a large expenditure of labour to clear them, anil English farmers are not well calculated to do the work; but there ?.'•'• 'lumbers of cleared farms which can be bought, with good houses and buildings upon them, at the rate of £^ to £ii \T\ acre, and it seems to me that a practical farmer from the Old Country, especially if he has a rising family to help him, could hardly fail to do well in this Province. So far as the people are concerned, an English farmer would 'Hi-: t ■:.•■ T 30 Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. find himself quite at home here, and there is nothing in the soil or climate which would cause a painful disillusion. The geographical position of these Maritime Provinces gives them a strong claim on thenoticeof th« Old Country farmers who see the need of fresh fields and pastures new ; comparative near- ness to Britain, with regular and uninterrupted communication all the year round, offers a strong inducement for Eng'ish settlers to come here ; and the new trade in cattle and sheep which is rapidly growing up between the New and the Old Countries is sure to make farming in these Provinces a profitable business to those who have the will and the judgment to lay themselves out to produce live stock of the quality which will find favour in England, i must not omit to mention, with warm feelings of pleasure and grati- tude, the unbounded courtesy and kindness which were ext ended to me by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province, by all the members of the Govern- ment, by various officials, railway and steamboat managers, and by private gentlemen and others, in every part of the Province I had the good fortune to visit. The memory of my visit to New Brucswick will be a source of pleasure to me as long as I may live, and I shall not cease to entertain feel- ings of more than ordinary friendliness toward many persons whose acquaintance I had the pleasure of making under such happy auspices. It cannot be denied that to the average Englishman Canada is a country considered to be chiefly noted for fur-bearing animals, Esquimaux, Indians, and winters of extraordinary severity. It may be these, but it is something more. It is a country abounding in agricultural and mineral wealth, and it is a great country for timber. It has vast areas of excellent land, unsur- passed in fertility, and suited to the growth of many crops. It has already many thousands of prosperous and pleasant farms, and in a few years' time will have many thousands more. It abounds in game and fish, in the live stock of the farm, in fruit, and in cultivated crops. It is true that the win- ters are severe, but I am assured alike in Manitoba and Prince Edward's Island, in Ontario and New Brunswick, that the winters are bracing and healthy, full of enjoyment, and far more tohrable than a severe winter in England or Scotland ; though the thermometer may now and again fall to 30° below zero, the atmosphere is always dry, and so the cold is not felt as severely as a much less extreme degree is in a damp climate. The farmers of Canada work, it is true, but I doubt if they work as hard as we are in the habit of thinking. But in any case they work — not to do so would demoralise the men — and it seems that a drone cannot well exist in the atmosphere there. I believe lam correct in saying that the dignity of labour is more generally honoured in Canada than in England, and as there are fewer idlers, men in rags are scarcer. I do not, in fact, remember seeing more than two or three men in rags in the whole of my wanderings, and not many dirty, except the Indians, and not always these. Yet the farmers have not all plain sailing, nor do they grow rich without industry and thrift. Every country has its disadvantages, and Canada is no exception. There are some- times violent storms which do injury to the crops and stock ; sometimes they are troubled with grasshoppers, but their visits are few and far between, and they have only made their appearance about six times during the last fifty years. The Colorado beetle I only saw once. It does not seem to have yet reached Manitoba and the North- West Territory, and is not nearly so numerous as I had expected to find it, having confined its ravages more par- ticularly to the United States Territory. Then again, the weevil and the Hessian fly attack the wheat sometimes, and it is difficult when they do come to check their ravages ; and lastly, the winters put a complete stop to agri- cultural operations, and the ploughing and sowing, as a rule, have to be hurried thrpugh in a limited period. The seed-time and harvest are very busy periods, but when the winter is over the spring comes at a bound, and vegetation grows at a rate which surprises Englishmen. IT Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. 31 These disadvantages apply to the whole of North America, and not merely to Canada ; but they have no apparent effect on the progress of settlement in the country. Men soon learn to accommodate themselves to these things, suiting their work to the seasons, and planning out beforehand various things that can be done in the depth of winter. Three things in Canada strike a stranger powerfully: the vastness of the country ; the unbounded faith the people have m the future greatness of the country; and the cheerful loyalty to the Old Country which is everywhere found. The liberty of the Canadian farmer, grand and unconventional as it is, and the independence of mind and of position, considerable and even complete as it is in many cases, do not develop into license and recklessness, but into cheerful and generous habits of life. Loyalty to the Old Country and pride in their own are leading features in the political faith of the people; hospitality to strangers, and readiness to impart information and render ser- vices, are equally features in their domestic life ; while a living faith in the "■future of the Dominion, based on a knowledge of its exhaustless natural wealth, and of the inherent energy of its citizens, is prominent in their conversation. It is not the aristocracy of birth, but that of labour and of brains — personal merit, in fact — that holds a foremost place in the estimation of the people. The new departure which has recently begun in Canadian farming — that of sending cattle and sheep alive and dead to England — has elated the ' .m- ers of Canada in a degree corresponding with the depression it has caused among the farmers of England ; it is a new and unexpected source of wealth to them, and they are laying themselves out to make the best of it in the future. So far the country is free from diseases of stock, but how long it will remain so depends almost entirely on the action of the Government. Stringent regulations are in force governing the importation and exportation of fat and lean stock, and qualified inspectors are on the alert in many places; American cattle are not admitted except in bond, passing through the country under strict supervision. So far the Canadian cattle trade has expanded rapidly. It commsiiced in 1877 with 7000 to 8000, three-fourths of which were American ; in 1878 there were 18,000 sent to Europe, two-thirds of which were American; in 1879 there were 28,000 sent, all Canadian, because American cattle were then excluded; in 1880 it is computed 35,000 will be shipped ; and in five years it is predicted that 100,000 will be available. For these figures I am indebted to Dr. McEachran, of Montreal, who is the chief Government in- spector of imported and exported cattle. The landlords and farmers of England, and many writers and speakers on agricultural matters, profess to find some consolation in this: that with an increase of trade and commerce, freights will rise, and a check will thus be placed on transatlantic importations of stock. I have no doubt this hope will prove to be a mere /jt^fu's/rt^jnis, and I cannot participate in it. I nave it on very high authority that there is no probability of freights rising, but the contrary, rather. With steel-built shins, compound condensing engines, and various mechanical improvements, to which at present no limit can be placed, the cost of sailing a ship across the Atlantic is being yearly lessened. The expenditure of coal on board steamships is being rapidly reduced, and the size of the ships increased, so that a 5000-ton vessel can be navigated now at very little more cost than was entailed by a 2000-ton ship ten years ago. Freight at 25s. a ton in 1880 pays better than freight at 50s. a ton did in 1870. This is brought about by enlarged ships, a smaller expenditure of coal, and a larger space onboard for freight. The ships now building, though larger than those running, will run at less cost and carry very much more freight, and although freights for some time past have been and still are very low, it is an open secret that freights pay far better than passengers. In any case the rate at which ships are being, and will be built, is greater than any probable increase in the volume of freights. Hence it is hardly possible that English farmers may find any solid comfort in a hoped-for rise in freightage. 32 Mr. J. P. Sheldon's Report. I come now to the last point of discussion and inquiry in this report, viz., is Canada a suitable field of settlement for English farmers ? I approach this point with caution, because I am aware of its great importance. B\it the question rather is: Are English farmers suitable for Can.ida? It appears to me that Canada, as a country, has many advantages, ami a future in all probability very important. She is a rising country: this cannot be denied ; and she cannot remain in her present stage of development. I think, then, that many of our middle-aged farmers are unfitted by their habits of life and of labour to battle with the work which would fall to their lot in Canada. But there are many others who an fitted for it, jarticularly those who have led laborious and active lives; and our young farmers would soon fall into Canadian habits. Men with 1 irge families who are not afraid to work would, as a rule, do well in Canada. The younger men would not long be at a loss in pioneer life in Manitoba, but it is scarcely the place for a man who has been long accustomed to English methodsof farming; that is, they would have to unlearn their old methods and learn new ones, but it is only fair to add that the land and climate of Manitoba are so generous that very careful cultivation is at present alike unneccessary and scarcely profitable. These latter men, as it stems to me, would be happier, and their wives would be more content in Ontario or New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island. They are not suited to the cruder life of the Far West. A man with a capital of ;f looo would do well in one or other ot the Maritime Provinces, or in thf! Eastern Townships of Quebec ; one with ^20oc would do well in Ontario. A man with little or no capital shuuld either go to the Red River district or take a free grant of land in one of the Lower Provinces. But any man should look round him for some time, and get into some kind of employ- ment before he buys a farm or takes up a free grant. Looking at the increasing competition which British farmers have to meet, and at the heavy rates, taxes, rents, bills, and wages they have to pay, I have no doubt many of them would do better out yonder, and their families would do better than they can in England, providing always that they are not afraid of work, and are sober and frugal. It is said that Canada is the place for a poor man, and this no doubt is true; but it is also the place for a man of means, for capital tells a tale there. It is not probable, however, that many farmers of capital will face the ills they know not of in Canada, and indeed I would not advise anyone to go there who is doing well in this country ; but then it is hardly fair to Canada that only poor men shonld go there as farmers, for money is wanted to develop the riches of the soil — not labor only. I know farmers in England who toil year after year, and live very carefully, without being any forwarder at the year's end than they were at its start ; this sort of thing to me seems very hopeless, and I would say to such men : " You will get along faster in Canada." There is not, and has not been, a better time than the present for English farmers going to Canada. Canada is just recovering from a period of depression during which the value of land has become reduced, and it so hapv pens that many of the farmers of the Lower Provinces are looking wistfully at the wonderful prairies of the North-West, and are anxious to sell their present farms and go there with their rising families. They, it is true, are fitted to go. and it seems to me a nice arrangement that English farmers of capital should take their places. It would seem, indeed, that the systems of farming to which English farmers have been long accustomed are well adapted to restore condition to the land, while Canadian methods are better suited to the present condition of the North-West. It is at the same time true that many English farmers would do well in the North-West, particu- larly those whose capital is small, and who are not too old for pioneer life. Yet in the Lower Provinces they would find farms and homes more in keep- ing with those they leave behind in England. Their sons, in turn, will move in the direction of the setting sun. 11' REPORT OF MR. HUGH McLEAN, Rhu, Tarbert. N. B., THE DELEGATE OF THE KINTYRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. "Yesterday (Nov. 19, 1880) Mr. Hugh Mclean, Rhu, the delegate appointed some time atjo by the Kmtyre Agricultural Society, to visit Manitoba, and report as to its suitability for emigration purposes, etc.. addressed the members of the society and others in the Town Hail. The delegate was accompanied to the platform by Provost Greenlees, ex Provost Galbraith. Rev. J. C. Russell, David McGibbon, Esq., Chamberlain to his Grace (he Duke of Argyll; Lachlan Clark, Esq.; Robert Aitkin. Esq ; John Gilchrist, Esq.; Charles McConachy, Esq ; James 13. Mitchtll, Esq , and James Littlejohn, Esq. David McGibbon, Esq., occupied the chair, and briefly introduced Mr. McLean." — CampbelUown Courier, November 20, 1880. The following is the text of the report : After certain preliminary arrangi-menls in London had been completed, it was fixed that I should sail for Quebec on the 5th August, 1880, by the Allan Line stramtr Sardinian, Captain Dutton. The Sardinian is a magnificent specimen of marine architecture. Her tonnage is 4376. She is divided into seven water-tight compartments, is propelled by directactinK compound high and low pressure engines of 2800 horse power, and maintains a speed of 14 knots per hour. She is strongly built, carries t<-n life-boats, has accomodation for 180 saloon, 60 intermediate and 1000 steerage passengers. The steward's department is managed in the most approved manner, nothing is wanting to conduce to the comfort of the passengers ; and every attention is shown that the most fastidious could reasonably desire. The berths are comfortable and well ventilated, the lights entirely under the control of persons appointed to light and extinguish them. The ship arrived at Moville about 11 a. m. on the 6th. We sailed in the evening about 5 p. m. The time did not hang heavily on our hands, being enlivened by Captain Dutton's lectures on the Pyramids, Tabernacle, etc., together with very good music, instrumental and vocal. Having seen five icebergs, one large whale very close to the ship, and a school of five others about thr bushels. 350 " 220 " 210 " 165 •♦ 220 bushels. 100 105 70 37 " He wished to impress on me that the land still requires great improvements to be made on it, and that if it were farmed on the same system that is adopted at home it would produce double what it now does. With regard to the yield of the cows Mr. Walker stated that — in May last, 2019 lb. of milk were sold, which made 182 lb. of cheese, which, minus expenses of factory, realised $16.56 cr £3 6s 2d. In the month of June 2996 lb. of milk were sold to the factory, making 276 lb. of cheese, realising $17.60, or £^ los. 5d. He stated that in July there was a drawback owing to the hot weather. In August and September, although there was less milk, it took less milk to make a pound of cheese. October is the best money-making month in the year. He can average $20 per month for six months out of the ten cows, and can sell $40 worth of butter; that is, the cows produce $160 cr j^32, or an average of;i^i 4s. per cow per annum. Next day I drove tu Glencoe. Maple-trees '.uound along the route. I passed Battle Hill, the scene of a fight between the *.,i.eiicans and the British during the war of 181 ^. Before coming to Glencoe I was shown a farm the owner of which had turned his attention to feeding cattle for the ho.tie market. Passed the resi- dence of a lady, a native of Tangy Glen. ' At Glencoe, which a few years ago was a small hamlet, but which now is a little town, having good shops, and doing a good business, I saw for the first time the sunflower, a large yellow flower that always faces the sun. On the train from Glencoe to London I met Dr. McAlpine, a native of Lochgilphead. He wishec' me to visit Kilmartin, in the neighborhood of London, an.', to call on his brother, a farmer there, but I could not do so. He corrobo- rated Mr. Walker's account of the (Canadian method of farming. On the train I fell in with a Dutchman, Mr. Jacob Utter. He has a store and owns several farms. He stated that Ayrshire cattle were rather tender for a Canadian winter, but that a cross between an Ayrshire cow and the Durham bull was the best breed they possessed; that a good cow would produce milk to make 3 lb. of cheese per day ; that 9 covr-s averaged $23 each, or £4 12s. for six months. He mentioned that the general xeturn for wheat throughout the country was 25 bushels per acre ; oats, 50 bushels; barley, 35 bushels; and potatoes, 250 bushels tn Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. 37 hour, and ir is done eals since \.SE. ushels. (( <( << irements to idopted at ield of the Did, which y, making July there , although ober is the month for hat is, the innum. I passed during the ;r of which ;d the resi- rs ago was id doing a flower that native of af London, e corrobo- has a store ender for a urham bull Ik to make six months, itry was 25 50 bushels He gave the following rates of wages as applicable to the district : Man servant, $20, or £4. per month, with board and lodging ; or for twelve months, $150, that is ;^30; maid-servant, $5, or £1 per month. The following were the retail prices x)f various articles given by him and converted into British money: Steak, ^^id., other beef6^d. to 4^d. per lb. ; Rio coffee, is. o|^d. to is. 5d. per lb.; sugar, 3^d. to 5^d. ; tobacco, is. oi^d. to 2s. 6d. ; bread, 2 lb., 6^ cents, or 12^ cents for 4 lb. loaf — 6Xd. ; pork, 2^d. to 6d. ; ham, 6d. Having arrived at Sarnia, I made the acquaintance of Captain L. M. Morri- son, of Corunna, Moore County, on the St. Clair River. His farm consists of 200 acres. I did not visit it until my return from Manitoba, but I will here state his experience. His returns were: Fall Wheat, 25 bushels per acre ; oats, 30 to 50 bushels. Of potatoes he just planted sufficient for home consumption. Plants them from beginning of April to beginning of May; digs them about 1st Septem- ber. The following is the rotation he follows : Sows wheat this fall along with grass seed, l^ bushel wheat and X hushel grass seed per acre (mixture being ^ of timothy and X <^f clover, often half the quantity is sufficient). Next year a crop of hay; next year again, another crop of hay (no manure or top-dressing). Lets the land lie two years in pasture. He mentioned that he had land in jiasture for four years, but that it was run out when he got it, having been twenty-six years in succession under crop. Whin a field is broken from lea, he puij oats in It (2 bushels per acre, sown with seed drill). In some cases, where the land is dirty, he does not crop it the first year, but re-ploughs it several times during the season, and crops it for fall wheat by 1st September. Manure is put on the fall wheat. The land is not under-drained, but surface-drained. It consists of a strong clay with a vegetable mould on top. Clay land is the best land for wheat. Land that a crop of oats cannot be raised off here will raise wheat. It would raise oats if manured. His turnips were sown broadcast — i lb. ot seed to ^ of an acre. Turnips so sown by him this year jiromise to be a good crop. Putting turnips into old land, they are sown in drills, but the drills are not raised; merely run the turnip sower on the level surface about 13 inches apart, and thin them 10 inchca apart. Potsioes ar- jjlanted in hillocks a pace apart. Indian corn is put in from the 24th Muy 'lO 1st June. The reason for not putting corn in earlier is that it is liable to £|ning frost. It i.s put in for cleaning the land principally. Indian corn is cut whilst soft ana the shaws green, to have the benefit of the latter for milk cows, fiS the shaws are better for cattle than hay. The grain is not sold, as pro- ducers in Canada aie unable to compete with the United States. Price of wheat, $l per bush»l of 60 lbs. ; barley, 60 cents per bushel of 48 lbs. ; oats, 34 to 38 cents per bushel of 32 lbs. ; potatoes, 40 cents per bushel; good t'-'iothy hay, $10, or £2 per ton; Indian corn, 30 cents. Of the two farms of 100 acres each which Captain Morrison owns, one is fully clei '•ed of wood, the other is half cleared, He has in one farm nineteen acres under oats and corn, twenty under barley, twenty-two under hay and wheat, seven and five under hay, seven of orchard land, twelve under wheat, and the remainder in pasture; and in '.he other farm, fifty acres under wood, the remainder hay and pasture. He h...s in all 400 aj^ple trees and 20 i)lum trees. He can sell 600 bushels of apples, all grafted fruit. His stock consists of twelve cows, twenty iight head of young cattle, from half a year to three years old. The cows yield from 3^ to 5 gallons ol milk jicr day during the grazing and feeding months. Milk weigh :• 8 lb. to the gallon, which gives from 30 to 40 lb. of milk, or 3 to 4 lbs. of che'se per cow per diem. Hi usually gets from 7 to ID cents, or from 5_J^d. to Sii. per lb. for cheese. Price given for fat cattle is 4^ cents per lb., live weight; usual weight is from 1,050 to 1,100 lbs., but he has had them as high as 1,400 to 1,500 lbs. The proportion for dressed beef is 58 lbs. to 100 lbs. of live beef. The price of milk cows, any pure breed, is from $25 to $35. that is ;i^5 to £•/ ; but he had been asked ;i^20 for a thoroughbred Durham cow. Three-year-old steers cost $35, or £y. Average weight of sheep, 80 lbs. Would pay for an imported Leicester tup> $30 o*^ jC^'t ''^ut usually gets them from amongst his neighbors at from $5 to J>>^ PI 38 Mr. Hugh McLean'r. Report. $10, that is ^i to £2. Draught horses ;ell at $100 to $150, or ;f{^20 tO;if30. each, being from 15^ to 16 hands high; average weight of a horse is 1,250 lbs. He has two mares weighing 3000 lbs., and 17 hands high, which he values at $400, oi- ;^8o for the two. Pigs are either Suflolk or Berkshire. Coming in in spring, and killed next February, they generally weigh 250 lbs. ; prce 6 to 7 cents per lb. Wool sells at 31^ cents, or is. 3^d. per lb. Lambs at $3, or I2s. each. gets $15, or ;,^3 per month. 8, " I I2S. " Man servant, boarded. Lad servant, ' Maid servant, " 5, " i " Man servant for two months 20 " Man employed per day during harvest, $i per day. Taxes on 200 acre farm, $72, or ;^I4 8s. I sailed from Sarnia, at the foot of Lake Huron, on board the steamship Ontario, Captain Robertson, bound for Duluth, a town in Minnesota at the head of Lake Superior, and had for fellow-passengers several Canadian farmers. The following is the rotation followed by Mr. Eckford, near Dunkeld Station, County Bruce, Ontario. He breaks up the field, sows it with peas; when peas are removed next year, he ploughs and sows it with wheat in the fall, about 15th September. Next year again the wheat crop comes off at the end of July ; he then ploughs it, and in the winter takes out his manure and puts it in heaps on the field. As soon as the land is dry in spring, he spreads and ploughs it in. About 1st June he drills it up and sows turnips, twenty-two to twenty-four inches apart, and thins them at from twelve to fourteen inches. His first ploughing is as deep as the team can afford — about eight inches. The soil is clay. We left Duluth by rail for Winnipeg. From what could be seen that evening on the railway cuttings, the soil was black vegetable mould. I could see that a great level tract, interspersed with swamps, formed the general feature of the country. Night having come on and rain, we arrived at St. Boniface, opposite Winni- peg, under most inauspicious circumstances. The streets of Winnipeg came into view by light of the windows, but they were mud. It was with a feeling of relief that we got landed at our hotel. The landlord, who was a Canadian Highlander, received us kindly, and, after some trouble to himself, owing to ihe lateness of the hour, and the absence of waiters and others, got us as substantial a supper as the circumstances could afford. The house, however, was fully occupied. I fi,oi a shakedown, and spent the first night in the Prairie City pretty comfortably. After breakfast an English fellow-passenger and I went tc St. Boniface in search of our luggage, which was to be examined. We grudged the 50 cents each that was paid on the preceding night, and we .'.etermined to walk rather than be fleeced again. The morning was dry, but the wooden pavements were « . slippery as glass with the greasy mud. We reached the Red River, and cros W in the ferry boat, which was of great beam and capacity, and could take noi. « few buggies, waggons, etc., with their horses and occupants, over each time. 3 forget the fare paid. We reached the opposite side, and then saw the steep bank which we descended on the previous night, which we now a'^cended with ^'eat difficulty. We soon thereafter got our luggage n;.sscd iy ihe Custom House officer. A per':on with "checks" asked us if we vl-hcd our iup-ijage sent to our hotel. We agreed that it should be sent, and har' ,0 pay 7[^ .C:.'. for two articles, or $1.50 for four. We smarted under this, t?i.>. ■'.;?>-e v»as n-ihelp for it. I suspect that before we got the luggage to our hotel, and paid the ferry both ways, it was a pretty expensive item. My companion and I then called upon Mr. Hespeler, and received a map and printed regulations res]iecting the disposal of certain public lands for the purposes of the Canadian Pacific Railway. He also gave me a jotting of the route he suggested I should take in order to see the country. Several things conioined to prevent my following his route. I had, therefore, to devise a route for myself. By the time the call was made, a.nd another call at a bank, w- >"nd that the steamer for Portage la Prairie, which I ],: "Ii ;«1 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. 39 i was the place I intended proceeding to, had sailed up the Assiniboine ; and as there yjras no stage till Monday, I had nothing for it but to wait at Winnipeg. In the interval, having been advised by Mr. Sinclair, Miller street, Glasgow, to call on Mr. Gerrie, Winnipeg, who owns land at Sturgeon Creek, I did so, and Mr. Gerrie kindly offered to drive me to his farm when the roads became passable. At present they were absolutely impassable. I was, therefore, some- what downhearted at my bad fortune in losing the steamer and being detained at Winnipeg, but bore up the best way I could. Meanwhile, I was introduced by Mr. Gerrie to Mr. Bathgate, Main street, Winnipeg, whs informed me that coal had been discovered on the Souris River, and is in course of being worked, and some of it brought down to Winnipeg. He said that a railway is likely to be constructed between Winnipeg and the Souris River, also that coal had been found on the Pembina Mountain. Further, that great quantities of coal, of the ver)' best quality, had been discovered on the Saskatchewan River, but that, in the meantime, this was very far distant, rie also stated that on certain parts of the Canadian Pacific line of railway not only coal but other minerals were reported to have been found. Mr. Bathgate took re to an office in Winnipeg where I procured a specimen of the coal from the Souris River, which I have in my possession now. The following is the experience of Mr. McCorquodale, Headingley : He left Craignish, Argyieshire, in 1853, fo"* Canada. Had many hardships when he came to Canada. Bought 100 acres at $1 per acre; had to clear it all of wood. The land was in the township of Greenock, back of Kincardine, Lake Huron. He got on very well there. Two of his sons and himself, "three years ago, came to Manitoba to see the country. It pleased him so well that he did not return to Canada. His sons returned temporarily. He himself spent six weeks travelling through the country, looking for a suitable place. He did not sleep ".r» a bed all that time. He took his farm by share from the proprietor, Mr. Cunninghame. Mr. McCorquodale's terms were to work the farm and get half the profits. During the first year he looked out for a suitable place elsewhere, and purchased one of 320 acres for himself, and one of 320 for his son, in the south of the Province. There is a dwelling-house on each farm. The farms are partly sown and partly planted, ready for his going there next month. I drove through these farn>s on a future day. They were next to the Mennonite Settlement, on the way from Pembina Mountain. Other four sons bought each 320 acres at the back of Rock Lake, about 60 miles further west. He considered that Manitoba was very far before that part of Canada he came from, but the roads, he said, were very far behind. This was certainly a great inconvenience to new comers. "Anyone coming here, "he said, "taking up a house has nothing to complain of, comparatively; but if one has not got a house, he must prepare to go over the country and pitch his tent, and that is not always agreeable." The following is a stptement by Colin, his son, of the capabilities of the land presently farmed by his father: " VVheat (2 bushels sown per acre) produced 35 bushels. The wheat is sown in spring. Fall wheat is not generally sown in Manitoba, but a test has been made, and it has succeeded. Reaping commences in August. The land is ploughed right up that same fall, when wheat is sown again in spring in succession for years. Weight 64 lb., never less than 60 lb., jjcr bushel. " Oats average 75 bushels per acre, but it is not unusual to take 100 bushels oft. Sow 2^ to 3 bushels per acre. Oats weigh 34 lb. " Barley does well. Sow 2 bushels per acre, returns 60 bushels. "Potatoes — 3 bushels planted produced 87 bushels; 400 bushels have been raised per acre, but not on his father s farm. " Turnips do well. " Indian corn does not ripen. Farmers cut it green, and it makes an excel- lent feed. "Cabbages, carrots, lettuces, parsnips, cucunfbers, melons, squashes, etc., do well. " Have not yet grown apples. Old settlers have grown them. A}^ 40 Mr. Hrgh McLean's Report, m' *' Prices — Wheat, 65 cents to $1.05 ; oats, 42 to 75 cents ; barley, 60 to 65 cents ; potatoes, 50 cents to $1,25. The two prices are fall and spring rates." All round is a grazing country. If a man cuts as much grass as will feed his cattle, it is then suitable ibr grazing. The hot weather begins in Ju*- ., about ist. June is the wet month ; more rain falls in it than in all the otb-r months. July is lir,\ with occasional thunder showers. August •■"".'. ?nd dry. Septeml. ,1 October, o.- c dry. November, >v er sets in about loth. It sets in with frcst and occasional falls of snow, but not much snow. December, snow falls about the 20th. The greatest depth on the level is 22 inches. January, snow falls. February, do. March, begins to get a little warm ; about 15th begin? to thaw. April, snow being oft" at latter end of March, begin to plough and sow. k'feather pleasant for working. May, usually *^ne weather, and devoted to sowing purposes. The months of March, April, and May are spring; October is the fall. Labour. — Farm servants, $16 per month, £\. Maid servants, 6 " ;^i 4s. Day labourers, 1.25 to $1.50 per day. Taxes. — No taxes till this year, except the school-tax. Water is very good in his place — the very best, pure spring ; but in some ather parts it is impregnated with alkali, and of a saltish nature. Soil. — If the grass is short and smooth, and not a close sward, that ground is not good. If the grass is long, close sward, and the soil black clay loam, that ground is good. Manuring the alkali land with stable manure makes it good. The soil where alkali is, is of a sticky nature, and manure loosens it. N. B. — I found this disputed elsewhere. Some say that two crops of beet absorb the alkali ; others laugh at the idea, and say, " Have nothing to do with it. " Grain is sold without any trouble to merchants. "^ Milch-cows average $35, or £t. They can be bought at that in the coun- l;y easily. Cows are cross between native cattle and Durham bull. Team of horses cost from $250 to $300 per pair, that is ;^5o to ;^6o. Team of oxen, $140 to $180, or £2% to £2)6. Mrs. McCorquodale says a cow will make loo lb. of butter in the season, from May up to the end of September. Price, 20 to 25 cents — yielding £^ to £$. In winter the price is 50 cents. Sweet milk cheese is 20 to 25 cents. Eggs, 25 to 30 cents per dozen. Poultry : $1 for young turkeys; $3 for gobbler, and $i for turkey hens; 25 cents for common hens ; $1 each for ducks; $5 for a pair of geese. I left Headingley next morning, driven in an Indian cart, and proceeded to the River Sale. We passed through three very bad swamps, from three-quarters to one mile broad, and of indeiinite length. These swamps might be drained into the Assiniboine and Sale Rivers without much difficulty. I'ne Indian pony, Jeannie, dragged her owner and myself through the swamps and over the prairie grass, eating a bite and running as she aie, without being in the least fatigued. Her driver used neither whip nor switch, but only a kind word of praise, which she evidently understood, or a word of caution, which she understood equally well, or an appeal to energy, which set her all aflame when she came to a diflicult spot. She was the best of ponies. Mer owner's name was Emou. Mr. Alex. Murray, of the hostelry of the River Sale, a branch of the Assini- boine, has a stock of twelve cows. The spring was so wet that he did not sow wheat. He says the carriage of wheat to Winnipeg takes 25 cents off the price. He mentioned that he had a farm for sale in the county of West Marquette, parish of Portage la Prairie, of which he gave me both particulars and price. ■fr Mr, Hugh McLean's Report, 41 We left the River Sale next day in company with a Canadian, he being on horse- back. We were both bound for the Boyne settlement. We passed some very bad sloughs and went through three large swamps. The prairie grass was very good and abounded with dog-roses, which dotted it all over, growing about eighteen inches high, and which were very beautiful. The principal grasses were bone- grass and buffalo-grass, a brown grass said to be good for cattle, also goose-grass said to be very good for horses. These grasses indicate good soil. There is another grass in the prairie called by some arrow-grass, by others spear-grass, When drawn and thrown it sticks like a dart, and is bad for sheep and cattle. It is always avoided for hay. The arrows had dropped off when I was in the country. We arrived at Mr. Johnstone's farm on the Boyne after a long journey, during which the Canadian horseman was left behind, his horse having become exhausted, and he himself being obliged to dismount and walk. He was close to a fu.rm at that juncture, which relieved my apprehensions for his safety. We sojourned with Mr. Joseph Wells Johnstone, who came from County Oxford, Ontario, in 1870, and settled on this farm. Since he came to Manitoba his wheat has averaged 32 bushels, per acre, but he has thrashed it at 52 bushels and at 60 bushels, and five years ago at 48 bushels. Last year it was 20 bushels. He sows I bushel and 5 pecks to the acre. As to oats, he considers this the best of countries for oats, which weigh 42 lb. per bushel, and produce 70 bushels per acre. He has known, at Headingley, a field of 10 acres produce 1,010 bushels, or about 100 bushels per acre. Barley weighs from 48 to 52 lb., and an acre produces from 50 to 60 bushels. Finds a market at Winnipeg, which is sixty miles distant from this. He grows no Indian corn. Price of barley last year, 60 cents; oats, 50 cents; wheat, $i; potatoes, 50 cents per bushel; butter, 25 cents per lb.; pork, 10 cents per lb. The system he adopts is: Starts ploughing about the 15th June, and breaks land till 15th July. Leaves it laying till the following fall. This ploughing is as shallow as ])ossible — say, two inches — and from 12 to 14 inches broad. In the fall he backsets it — that is, ploughs it the same way, being 3 inches deep and I2 to 14 inches wide. He harrows it in spring, and sows it with broadcast seeder. I^Ias a lo-horse-power ihrasher; charges 4>^ cents for thrashing wheat, 3 1^ for barley, and 3 for oats. Sows timothy and while clover. Timothy is a splendid success; has one piece which he cut in July, and expects to cut it again before winter. Mangel wurzel does well, and so do turnips ; also onions, carrots, goose- berries, currants, and rhubarb. Buckwheat grows well, so do cucumbers, melons, squashes and strawberries. With regard to flies, he says that the bull-dog is dreadful in July on horse and catlk — makes ahorse lean, and he will not eat. The mosquitoes need no comment; they are very troublesome. The buftalo-gnat is very bad for horses and cattle in June and July. There is also the sand-fly, which is not very bad, but is found where there is high grass and scrub. May is a very nice month. June, very wet. July, very hot; hotter than Ontario — up to 100° in the shade. August, showery and cool. September, fine weather. October, very fine month. November, fine month ; clear and frosty. December, snow — I foot average; freezes very hard. January, very cold; thermometer froze up last winter. I'ehruary, cold month. .March, not so cold ; snow begins to melt. April, fine month. The soil is black vegetable mould and clay bottom. The water is spring water. The water is good in the Boyne settlement. He says the heat, even when the thermometer is at 80", is not felt so much as in Ontario, as there is always a fresh breeze, .\lthough very cold in winter, he says that cold is more endurable 42 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. than in Ontario, there being less changeable weather in Manitoba. He spoke of the Indians dying in the spring oi the year (roni consumption, but attributed this to their l;eing careless as lo keeping their feet dry. He has beven cows and tlirec teams of horses. I took samples of oats and wheat. He has one crab-apple tree bearing fruit, of whifth he is \ery jiroud. Mr, Johnstone added, " In Ontario all I could do was to make a living; here I have made money.' I should have mentioned that' we passed the Poplars before coming to the Boyne settlement. We passed Tobacco Cieek scltlcn,ent, which lay cast of us. We started on the morrow for Nelsonville, but were overtaken by Mr. Innian, of the Boyne, who owns 800 acres of land there. Mr. Inman spoke of a blue flower that always indicated, by its presence, good water. He nit tioned that he paid $10 lor 160 acres, and got 160 acres tor the j)re-eniptioii price. He bought scrip for the balance. He has 60 acres in crop. Wheat will average 30 bushels per acre, 60 lb. Oats " " 40 " " 34 " Baihy " " 30 " " 48 " Potatoes "250 " " 60 " He stated that he does not make butter, but rears cattle. The price of wheat is $1 per bushel ; oats, 65 cents ; Larley, 60 cents ; potatoes, 25 cents in the fall and 50 in the s;^"ing ; butter, 20 cents. Young cattle can be Ijought in the fall for from $7 (^i 8s.) to $10 {;i'2) per head, f lay can be made here, deducting expense, tear and wear, for $l (or 4s.) j.cr ton. Two tons of hay, with some straw, will winter a yearling well. A three-year-old steer is worth from $35 (£^) to $50 (;i^ 10). Hence he considers it is more prontable to rear cattle than lo grow wheat. 'This is the way he puts it : " Wheat was worth $1 per bushel in Winni- peg last season ; the year l^elore, 60 cents only ; 40 bushels can be taken in a slctlge in winter over ttie ice, by a team of oxen, to Winnipeg, sixty miles distant. It takes hvc days to make the round trip. " A man and his team is worth $2.50 per day . $12 50 Expenses on road not lesss than .... 8 00 $20 50 Price of 40 bushels, at $ I $4000 Ofi" expenses 20 50 40 bushels realise . $1950 ■V'V ,\^W *• Actual price of wheat, 48 cents, or 2s. per bushel." He says that a man on the river lirought in 12 sheep from Ontario, and they are doing very well, as he has lost none yet. Prairie dogs are dangerous lor sheep. Water is good, and there is good timber near him. The Dominion har- vesters are very bati [N.li. — Ihe biackbirtis who teed on wheatj. Wages, $15 {£•>) per month tor larm servants; $25 {£^) per month for haying anO harvest nionths ; $6 lor maid-servants {^^i 4s). Taxes — School tax is 7-iOths o( a cent per $1, according to the value ol the land and other property ; he is also bound to give three days 01 road labour for each 160 acres he owns, or pay $1.50 per ilay. The Province is divided into municipalities, in each ol which ihere is a warden and five councillors. In the municipality in which Mr. Inman li\es every man lakes care ol his own cattle, and is rcsponsitile for any damage done by them to his neighbours' crops from ist April to 1st October. After that they are free commoners. Pigs are profitable — $8 per icxd lb. They are fed on cracked ',arley. Fiie wheat is sown mostly on the Boyne, also red chaft wheat. , V.- Mr. Hugh McLea»'s Report. 43 Oats — black oats chiefly, and white oats also are sown. A man coming here to settle shoukl start with oxen for the first two years, until he gets enough crop to feed the horses. Having to erect a house, his horses are standing exposed to the weather, whilst the oxen will lake care of them- selves. Having arrived at Nelsonville, I washed with soap and water in the hotel, and felt an unconi non irritation over my face, whilst my hair antl beard seemed to be glued. I was told that this arose Irom alkali water, and that P'< soap should be used in wasiiing. Mr. Nelson, founder ot the town, slated that when searching for water and digging his well, which is the well from which the inhabitants obtain drinking water, the vegetable mould was i8 inches to 3 feet deep; then 3 to 4 feet ot marly clay ; then 5 feet of solid grey clay ; then black soapstone. The water is generally found between the clay and soapstone. " If not successful," added Mr. Nelson,' " try another place." Wheat produces 20 to 30 bushels per acre. Weight per bushel, 64 to 66 lb. Oats " 40 to 90 " " " " 38 IJarley " 40 to 50 " " " '* 50 Potatoes " 200 " " •• •* Mr. Nelson came to Manitoba in 1877. He had planted cucumbers, potatoes, cabbages — very weakly plants — on the 28th June, and they all came good. Beets, turnips, and mangel wurzel do well. Mr. Nelson corroborated previous statements as tu the weather, remarking that the thermometer showed no" in the shade in July, but that one could stand the heal better in Manitoba than in Ontario. He thought that the cool nights helped it. There are only two or three nights in the year, he said, that they don't use blankets. He remarked that the thermometer froze last winter, but that ih* cold was endura' when there was no wind. He is a miller by trade, having grist mills which t,.iiid wheat, etc., at 15 cents per bushel. Nelsonville is a thriving little place, and the inhabitants are kindly. It is destined to be a place of considerable trade, as it is on the track to Turtle Moun- tain, which is fast settling up. Mr. Nelson showed me next day tomatoes planted on the 10th May, which i)romised to ripen. I took samples, but they diil not keep. He showed me cauliflowers, estimated l)y him at 4 to 5 lb. weight. Potatoes — early rose — keep till the new ones come agaiji. Plant them from ist May to ist June. I took two samples, antl one potato Irom seed planted on 3rd July. When the hill was dug there were seventeen potatoes in it, the sample taken Ijeing the big- gest. I also took an average onion. The Pembina Mount is a rising eminence, so gradual in ascent that I could not discover that I was ascending it. It is pretty thickly wooded from Township 4 north, but has not such uninterrupted good prairie. There is said to be a stretch of sandy land not very good for settlement beyond it, but good land comes .T'pin at Turtle Mountain, which is well wooded. Crystal City is on the east side of Rock Lake. The Rev. Mr. Edwards, whom I met, stated that there war, plenty of land all through the country that could be got from men holding Crown patents. To- bacco Creek is consiilered the best settlement in the country. The soil is loose black vegetable mould, clay bottom. The water is very good there ; wells can be hal 48 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. I toria stranger should visit thein. Having returned to Hamilton, I went to the Exhi- bition, which was to be oi^iciaily opened next day. Among the exhibits were tuinips of various species, cabbages, savoys, parsnips, beets, squashes, cayenne pods, pumpkins, mangels, potatoes, a Hne collection of wheats (spring and winter) from the Government experiment farm, Ontario. The Toronto cord- binder. Thrashers (37 cwt.) and engine {50 cwt.). Prairie Queen ploughs. No cattle forward except a contingent of Hereford and Ayreshires, and a shorthorn steer nnM"^'ie cow. I could not lose another day, in case it might cause me to lose d week ultimately, and therefore, to my great regret, left before the Gover- nor-General £.rrived. I then went to Ottawa, and returned by the Grand Trunk to Montreal. The quality of the land along this route, on the whole, is good, though I found that fall wneat, equal in quantity to that of the west, was not raised on it. I railed on my townsman. Principal McEacheran of the Veterinary College, and was very V'.ndly received by him and I)y his brother, Dr. McEacheran, who drove me far into the country, and showed me all objects of interest around Montreal. I was also kindly entertained by Mr. Drysdale, Mr. McNish, and Mr. Alex On the Monday I started for the Eastern Townships, going over tb bridge, which is tubular. Before going to the Eastern Townships I should remark that, in the uush in Canfia the best land is generally found where deciduous trees most abound. The pine grows on sandy ridges and swamps ; on sandy ridges it is of regular growth, on swampy land it occurs here and there. As a general rule, deciduous trees, such as maple, beech, oak, etc. , indicate good land. The drive through the French country was delightful. It is a beautiful country, and the farms are better cultivated than those on the line from Quebec. The system of fencing with straight rails is now introduced, and the zigzag Ontario rails cease'. We pass the river Belceil, The river may be about 200 yards wide, and was of a sky-blue color, like Lake Superior. We next approached a place called the Mountain, which is wooded to the base of a perpendicular pre- cipice which was lost in a fog. The autumnal foliage is rich, abounding in green, purple, yellow and brown. The roofs of the churches are of tin, and the spires are also lined with that metal. The effect when the sun shines must be dazzling. The countiy consists of panoramic views of kare beauty. In the fields, the ridges are not particularly straight — I believe designedly crooked. I have noticed the same phenomena in County Galway, Ireland, and in outfield lands in our own Highlands. I also observed that groves of poplar, which is a sacred wood in Catholic countries, abound in the French country. At length we arrive at Durham. Alder bushes are now seen. These bushes do not grow in Upper Canada, and here do not become trees, as at home. Ultimately we came to the St. Francis River. The scenery here is gorgeous. Painting itself would fail to represent the loveliness of the foliage. A picture such as this would be condemned as unnatural. We pass Richmond, Mr. McKenzie's farm, from Loch Broom; also Mr. Steel's farm. Underground draining is done here. We come to Windsor, where there is a paper mill. The salmon ascend fifty miles above Windsor. The variegated foliage of the forest is lovely. I never beheld anything more beautiful. Mounds of earth are clad with trees painted in exquisite colors, as Nature only can mix them. Farm- houses and lovely white cottages with green blinds add variety, while the broad river, like a huge snake, coils its way around the base of mountains full of color. A graveyard on the opposite siae reminds the observer that, notwithstanding the beautiful surroundings, man is mortal. We pass saw-mills, and see whole logs drawn up by machinery in order to be .sawn. The river is blocked with rafts. We arrive at Sherbrooke. My first visit wsi to Mr. Buchanan, township of Bury — 140 acre farm. " When a field is broken up," said he, " oats or barley are put in. Wheat sometimes does well, and in some places better than either oats or barley. Next year potatoes manured, next year wheat, and seed it down with timothy grass and northern clover, sometimes Alsike. White clover is natural to :t: " Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. 49 the soil. In poor lancl the ground is manured for second-year crop. It is allowed to lie in pasture till its turn comes round." When Mr. Huchanan came iicre six years ago the land was run out. The heaviest crop was a half-ton of hay per acre. He manured the land for two years and cropped it, and laid it out to grass, and first year cut i^ ton to the acre ; the second year 2 ton (part being manured and part not) per acre. In some farms this quantity is taken twice in the same year. Returns — Wheat, 25 bushels per acre . . , 60 lb. per bushel, Harley, 30 to 40 bushels per acre . .48 " Oats, 40 to 50 1)1. 'n'ls per acre (known to be 60) 32 •• The oats are small long oats. Pease, raise them among oats — two-thirds of cftts, and one-third of pease. Heans good. Turnips do exceedinf,!^ well, but there is too much work in weeding them. Wheat, $l per bushel. Other cereals as in Ontario and Manitoba. Buckwh- t, Mr. Buchanan said, does well. The more rain it gets the better it will be. It produces 50 to 75 bushels per acre. He sows 4 bushels of oats per acre ; wheat, i^ bushel ; barley, 2 bushels ; buckwheat, i bushel. Indian corn requires more manure in Bury than turnips; 100 loads of manure will produce 100 bushels of Indian com. Cattle sell 3 to 6 cents live weight. Horses, $100 for good junk (15 to 16 hands); cheese, 12 cents ; butter, 30 cents ; yearling, $10 ; two-year-old, $20. 1)4 acre pasture per cow sufficient ; has 5 milk cows und their foliowers. Henry Cowan, Gould, Langwick, stated his returns of Wheat to be 20 to 25 bushels per acre. Oats, 30 1040. Barley, 15 to 20 off old, 25 to 30 off new land. Sold four steers at $27^ each, two and a half years old : bought some of these in the fall at $9 ; hay, $6 to $8 per ton ; butter 18 to 25 cents ; beef cattle, 5 cents per lb. ; store cattle, 3 cents. Mr. Cowan remarked that this was a very dry season ; had resided in Ling- wick forty-eight years and never saw the water so low. Ontario, on the other hand, had a very wet harvest, and Manitoba was showery — exceptional circumstances in both Provinces. Mr. William Buchanan's farm : Made 900 lb. of sugar out of 500 buckets of maple juice. Made 1,600 lb. weight of sugar in the season, which sold at $8 per 100. Was shown the maple trees and the apparatus. Visited Mr. Robert French's farm. He is into the thorough-bred business, and doing well. * Visited the meadows, which produce three tons of hay per acre. Next day saw a well-manured grass field belonging to Lewis Mclver, which also yielded three tons of hay per acre. Arrived at Compton and drove to the Hon. Mr. Cochrane's farm. Was shown his splendid Durham stock — amongst these the loth Duchess of Airdrie and three of her progeny, viz., 2 cows and a heifer; 10 to 12 calves from the Duke of Oxford and Marquis of Hillhr.rst. Saw a thorough-bred white cow — fat — shown at the Dominion Exhibltio.i, Montreal, and which obtained first prize. Shown also a two-year-old imported yvyrshire bull, a very fine animal; also the Duke of Oxford, a very famous Durham. The Duchess of Airdrie is twelve years old, and her descendants have realised to Mr. Cochrane ^30,300, Vjeing unpre- cedented in bovine history. Was also shown other cows, all of excellent quality, kept for feeding the thoroughbred calves. Mr. Cochrane does not pamper the Duchess, but keeps her in ordinary condition. He received a friend who accom- panied me, and myself, very kindly. Saw a splendid turnip field on his farm. His farms are in the highest order of cultivation, and show what that soil is capa* ble of producing when farmed scientifically. His land was of less intrinsic value originally than other lands in the neighboring townships, but to ilic observer it would appear now to be vastly superior to any in the district. Of course his success is inducing others to follow his example. There are no collections of il ' |i^ '^ I 1 if m i m 50 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. field stones studded in heaps over his fields, as may be seen eveiywhere in the Province of Quebec, and also in the townships about Owen Sound, Ontario, and elsewhere. They are put into substantial stone lences. There is a plant in the district called the wild schumac, which causes the hands and fare to swell if touched. The wikl ivy also afiects some people even if they come within the wind of it. It is found in Quebec, Ontario, and Mani- toba, and also in the States. I visited at Sherbrooke the Paton Woollen Mills, having received a note of introduction tr> Mr. Paton from the Hon. Mr. Pope, Minister of Ag;iculture. These milis arc very large. The washing and cleaning machine disposes of 4,g(X) lb. of Canadian wool per ten hours, or from 2,000 to 4,000 lb of tine wool. Saw the dyeing vals, the burr-picking n;achine, 20 set;; of carding machines, 24 spin- ning mules, each having 336 spindles ; 135 looms jiroducing last week 711 pieces of cloth, each 25 yards long • the hydraulic press, the patterns, and the machine shop. Tlie work employs from 500 to 550 hands. It is the largest in the Dominion, and the machinery is of the latest and most improved invention. Visited the annual exhibition or fair. I'he best animals are now sent oil to Britain, and consequently the fair-exhibits sufl'er. I nixt wen' to Richmond, and visited the College of Agriculture, being very kindly received by Principal Ewing. He informed me that wheat with him aver- aged from 20 to 25 bushels per acre ; barley, 30 bushels. Oats is generally a sure crop — 35 bushels to the acre. He grouinled his students well in arithmetic, algebra, Euclid, and land- surveying. Uii ihe 2nd of October I went to s :c the Quarantine Depot at Poir.t Levi, which contained many excellent cattle newly arrived from Englanc'. J '.hereafter started for St. John, New Brunswick In this journey I passed over a great sxtent of l''r'*nch country, beautiful landscapes, seeing various glimpses of the bays and havens on the St. Lawrence, and once more behokling ocean's shijiping. Th( most prominent feature in the Lower Canadian towns and villages is the churches, which are of immense size general y, antl the contrast between these huge piles and the small dwellings is very marked. In the course of time we enier-'fl Iicw Brunswick. This Province is divided into eight count ic". and fifty-nine parishes. The Bay of Clialear forms its north-western boundary, at the head of which lies Camp- belltown. Very little farming is done there. It is famous for salmou-nshing, though that industry was not very successful last year. The salmon go up tht rivers Restigouche and Matepedia. There is a salmon-breeding esiablishm<;nt which'turns out three-fourths of a million young fish yearly. The young fish, when fit for removing, r 2 taken to other rivers along the Day of Chaleurs. 1 he salmon is caught by s .ke-nets on the sea coast, and on the rivers by fly. Salmon is very extensively exported. A fisherman with a 300-fathom stake net averages $1,500 value of fish during the season. The specified distance between each stand of nets is 2CO fathoms, but this is not always rigorously enforced. Pishing begins :?4.th May, and ends with the last week of July. There is a good system of schools in New Brunswick. Education free. Personal property is taxed, and every man from twenty-one to sixty pays $1 poil-tax. The river St. John is navigable for trading vessels of say fifty tons burden, and small steamers, for about lifty "miles of its course. Smaller craft can get up 150 miles. Among the fish are salmon and sturgeon. The banks are fertilised by the overflowings of the river, leaving alluvial deposits which manure and enrich the grass. I ultimately arrived at St. John, which I made my headquarters in New Brunswick. I ihereauer returned to Sussex Vplley. The soil along the railway from St. John to P.othtsay is vegetable mouUl on a sandy and gra'-elly suljsoil. The i.^il skirls f.long the estuary of St John River, which is wooded and has jire- cipitous, bold :affs. The scenery is very beautiful. Rothesay to Quinspansia Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. 51 is hilly. There are good farms along ihe line. The soil from Quinspansia to Nawigewa is rechlish. Dyke land, excedent for hay, occurs along the River St. John. From Nawigewa to Hampton there is beautiful green pasture, and much dyke land. Width of river approaches West Loch Tarl)crt. The country is beautiful and has a rich appearance. .Soil, as turned over by the plough, is becoming, as .re travel along, of a lighter red. Passed Norton Station. The river banks present splendid grazing. Passed Apohafjui ; then some Indian wigwams covered with birch-bark. Arrived at Sussex, and called, 4th October, on Mr. George A. Dobson. He showed me exceedingly good mangel-wurzel. He stated that his wheat pro- duced 25 bushels to the acre (sjiring wheat); oats, 45. Takes five crops in suv> cession off his hay-ground. Potatoes, he planted 4 barrels, and dug 104 barrels. The prolines were the kind, but they rot more than the others. The red safes have a red streak when cut, are latish, but very gooil. Has silver dollars, a white potato. Has two oxen (Durhams); would weigh when fat, live weight, 3,800 lb. He fed and sold ofl" 33 head of fat cattle last season. His statement of the weather was that snow falls in December to a depth of two feet, and lasts till iiTarch. January and February are the coldest months; hardly any rain in winter months. In March snow begins to decrease. April is rainy. Half of May to half of June is occupied in sowing and planting. May is mild; June, very hot ; July, hot, little rain, thunder generally ; August hot, also thunder ; September dry, with occasioi.al showers. Visited John Graham, from Girvan, at the cheese factory. He conducted the first factory in the Province; makes from 25 to 26 tons per season. He mentioned that he knew of many farms for sale. Land had not been so cheap these thirty years, he said, as at present. He sowed 7 bushels of wheat, and thrasihed 103, being 29 bushels per acre fully. Last year he had 33^ bushels from i^ bushel sown, the extent of ground consisting of hardly an acre. Weevil used to be bad, but is not so now. Oats average 45 bushels, and are sown 1st June, thrashed 2nd September. Potatoes : Considers New Brunswick the best country he ever saw for pota- toes ; has generally 20 to 26 returns. Labour is from $60 to $70 per six months — that is ^^22 to ;^I4 ; $14, $16, and $20 per month for haying. Girls, $5 to $6 per month. Milk, 2 to 3 cents ; butter, 18 'o 20 cents ; beef and mutton, 6 ' ,' cents ; pork, 4 to 6 cents. On $500 ad valon»i a tax of $1.80 is jiayahle, au 1 $1.25 for school. They have to to give 3 days' statute labour on the roads, v pay 50 cents per day. Ministers are supported by voluntary contribution. Schools : No house to be more than 2j4 miles from a school. A house is seldom more than three mile.- distant from a church. Sussex Valley is a good district for Indian corn, squashes, melons, pump- kins, etc. I thereafter drove past Mr. Nelson Oinald's farm. Mr. C'harles liaison's — a farmer who goes in fir vegetal:)les, carrots and strawberries, sending them into St. John; he also tirows plums, currants, and gooseberries. Mr. Hugh McMonikale breeds horses- -from thirty to forty thoroughbreds— ai.d has fenced in parks for training them. Passed many farms, all of excellent quality with splendid orchaitls attached. The nntvae of the soil in tnis district, as seen from a well in process of l)eing dug, is lo;ini on top two feet thick, gravel two feet, red clay and gravel mixed all down to ten or twelve feet, where water is got. The forest trees are the |)ine, tamarac, spruce, beech, alder, cedar, maple, balsam, and birch. Wild animals are the cat, nKJOse-dcer, and cariboo. The latter are generally twenty miles back in the fores'.. Caiving cows can be pur- chased at from £<, to £,(> ; yearlings, $12 to $15 ; two-yeai-olds, $20. The Per- M.issive Act is in force in King's CiHinty. V/e drove into a different townsliip, and passed through many fine farms. The folldwing is the rotation ])racticetl by some farmers. A field in. pasture, on being broken up, is sown with buckwheat. Next year half in oats and half in potatoes ; next year put potatoes in where oats of last year were ; and oats seeded :(|l i,H « 52 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. down in potato ground of the preceding year ; next j'ear, oats and seeding down. Take hay crop off for three years ; pasture for a number of years according to extent of ground. Mr. Nelson Coates, whose farm I did not vJsit, stated that his wheat would average 25 bushels, and his oats 35 bushels per acre. He has a 330 acre farm, 160 of which are in cultivation. Cuts 100 tons of hay annually; winters 60 head of horned cattle. The pasture gives 2 acres per cow all through, but in certain parts i acre would graze a cow well. Labour, $100 to $120 for a man per annum ; $60 to $70 for six months. Has 22 milk cows. From a dealer I learned that South Downs and Leicester sheep are the breeds generally in this Province, weighing as a rule about 80 lb. They are wintered on hay and grain, and can be purchased at from $5 to $6, or £1 to £1 4s. Freight to Liverpool, $1.30 from Riniouski on the St. Lawrence. He stated cattle freight to be $14. The Sussex Valley is uncommonly fertile, and farms are said to be tasily purchased. The city of St. John contains 32,000 inhabitants, and has a consider- able tiade. I was present at the opening of the Provincial Exhibition. The dis- play of agricultural produce v/as very good indeed. It is situated on the Bay of Fundy, where the tide rises some thirty feet. The fish around the coast of the Province consists of salmon, herring, gasparouche, shad, haddock, pollock, lobster, and halibut ; sturgeon abound in the rivers. This Province is bounded on the north by the Province of Quebec and Bay of Chaleur ; on the east by the Gulf of St. Lawrence; on the west by the State of Maine ; and on the south by the Bay of Fundy. Having crossed from St. John by steamer to Annapolis, I entered another very fine Province, that of Nova Scotia. This Province is bounded on the north by the Bay of Fundy and Chignecto, and is separated from Prince Edward Island by Northumberland Strait. The Gut of Canso separates it from Cape Breton ; otherwise, except at Amherst, where it is connected with New Brunswick by an isthmus about twelve miles long, it is altogether surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The length of this Province is 260 miles ; its greatest Ijreadth, 100 ; its area, 16,500 square miles. Cape Breton, attached to it, is »io miles long by 90 broad. The population in 187 1 was 387,000. The Catholics and Presbyterians are about equally divided, being about 103,000 each. Other denominations num- ber about l8t,ooo. There are fourteen counties in Nova Scotia and four in Cape Breton. Nova Scotia is an undulating country, consisting of hills, plains, and mountain ranges. The ridges run along the entire country, tli rowing streams to the north and south. These ridges terminate in bold upright headlands on the coast, and sometimes graduate into verdant plains. Between the North Mountain, along the Bay of Fundy, from Digby to Cape Blomidon, and the South Mountain in Annapolis and King's Counties, is a beautiful valley, which was part of the subject of my visit. The soil throughout the Province is variec", the inferior being found along the southern shores. The best soil is on the northern. The counties along the Bay ot Fundy contain much dyke land — that is, land that was enclosed from the rivers by the early French colonists, by means of earthen dykes. It is exceedingly fertile, having, without manure, produced splendid hay crops for the last 150 years. The winter sets in about the ist of December, when snow falls from one to two feet deep. January, the frost is pretty severe. February, 20° to 24° below zero. Thermometer never freezes. March is wintry, blustery weather, rain and snow. Snow leaves about the last week of April and the first week of May. Then ploughing and sowing are in lull operation, and continues to the loth of June. Potatoes and buckwheat are in by the ist of June. In the last week of July and first week of August, hay is cut. Harvest commences about the 20th August, and all through September. Spring wheat is cut in September. The steamer, on her way to Annapolis, touched at Digby, a considerable Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. 53 town. I was impressed iluring the sail up the Annapolis Gut by'the appearance of well-to-do farms and rich dyke meadow land, comfortable houses, with orchards. I was not prepared for what was still to be seen. I went by rail from Annapolis to Bridgetown. I visited the Paradise Cheese Factory. There thejr can manufacture 15 cheeses per day of from 20 ib. to 80 lb. weight. The factory is a joint-stock company composed of farmers in the district. They send in their milk, and the proceeds, after deducting expenses, are divided amongst the part- ners. They manufacture sweet milk cheese from loth May to loth October. Skim-milk cheese runs a fortnight. This season they made 1,250 cheeses, the weight being 27 tons. 300 cows are about the number that supply milk. The profits allow about i cent per lb. of milk. Two hands are employed in the fac- tory and five teams. The cheese ^s sold in the local markets of .St. John, Halifax, and Yarmouth. They manufacture the cheese on the principle invented by Jesse Williams, the first cheese-maker in the United States. The average price for cheese is 12 cents. Thirty-five head of swine are fed with the whey. The following are the factories in operation in Nova Scotia : 4 in Pictou County, i in Cape Hreton, i in Hants, 2 in Colchester, 5 in King's County, 8 in Annapolis, and I in Yarmouth. Mr. Betton, Paradise, says that wheat averages 23 bushels; oats, 25 bushels; barley, 23 bushels per acre. Potatoes are not good with him; they average 200 bushels per acre. Mangel wurzel, 500 bushels. May, 2 tons per acre. The best land in the county for hay is the dyke-land. His farm is loi acres. He goes in for raising oxen. Raises three calves a year. Sells a yoke each year; price $8 per 100 lb. The pair weigh together 1,400 lb. dead weight; live weight would be 2,800 lb. Farm labourers get $12 5) per month for ordinary work ; $l per day for haying, and 75 cents for hai csiing. Servant girls, $4 per month. Many of the girls go to the States. The county of Annapolis will produce 150,- OGO barrels of apples, at $1.25 per barrel; and judging :iom the number of voters in the county, and that the half of them are farmers wlio, as a rule, sell two oxen each annually, there may be 3,000 oxen exported yearly for the E ,;lish and Scotch markets from Annapolis county alone. I drove into the country, up one road and down another, and was charmed with the farms and general appearance of prosperity. Notwithstanding all this, I was informed not only in Nova .Scotia, but also in New Brunswick, and in the Quebec and Ontario Provinces, that many farms are heavily mot igaged, which means that heavy interest is payable for money advanced to their owners, and that their owners are only too anxious to sell off their farms so as to be able to clear their debts; so tiiat there is a gnawing worm at the root of every tn i-, how- ever promising it may be externally. The farms consist of mcnniiaiii land, upland, and interval land. Bridgetown, fourteen miles from AnnajM)! ., is at the head of the navigation of the river, and is the largest town in Annai>olis County. I saw a vessel here of from 159 to 200 tons burden, that would draw probably from eight to ten feet when loaded. The cry everywhere I went in Nova .Scotia was, " We want good agricultur- •alists." Bridgetown would afford employment to many artisans ; a grist-mill is much wanted, so is a woollen-mill and a steam saw-mill. Having left Bridgetown and its beautiful fruits, I proceeded to Kentville, which is environed by hills. I here experienced the greatest hospitality from a fellow-countryman, Mr. Innes, manager of the Annapolis and Windsor Railway, not only in driving me over the country, but in explaining the nature of the district, and afterwards entertaining and lodging me. We called on Mr. Leamler Rand, township of Canning, near Kentville, whose wheat averages 22 bushels per acre; oats, 45 to 50 bushels; Indian corn, 40 bushels shelled; potatoes, 225 bushels. Manure is spread broadcast. Hay gives 2}i tons per acre fully; turnips, 1,000 bushels per acre. There is any amount of sugar maple in the district, but it is not turned to account. Mr. Rand has four- teen or fifteen acres in a solid block — " big fellows, as big as a barrel," He has thirty-three head of cattle, and his farm is one of 200 acres. The grazing is at the ratio of six cows to eight acres. Labour is 50 cents per day for a lad; for aa mf I I !!t « 54 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. ordinary workman, $i per day; and $120 per annum for a man in the house; for a married man, $140 with a house, and keep himself; maid-servant, $4 per month. Average number of trees in an orchard of 2 acres is 1 10. He has got 226 barrels off forty-two trees, and sold 100 barrels at $2. Thrashing is done by steam thrasher; give every twelfth bushel in return. He usually ploughs seven inches deep; most people only plough five inches. Butter is from 18 to 20 cents; cheese 12 cents. A milk cow should produce in milk $30, or ^"6; one cow he had produced 360^ 11). of milk in a week, but the average of his other cows was 180^ lb. Working horses about fifteen hands high are worth $100; wo^:king oxen, $80 to $100 per pair. Clydesdale horses are too heavy for that district, and trotting horses too light. The cattle they want are polled Angus; and the horses, the Norman breed. Mr. Innes estimated the fruit-production of Annapolis, King's and Hants Counties at 250,000 barrels of apples. We called on Mr. J. W. Margieson. His wheat averages 27 bushels per acre; oats, 30; barley, none; average of potatoes, 200 bushels. He has two farms — one of 210 acres, and one of 212 acres. The latter has 40 acres of salt marsh which is the very best for fattening cattle. Dyke-land is. worth in the market ;^32 an acre, or $160; upland is worth $16 an acre. Average price of hay is $10 per ton, but he is selling it at $16 per ton; upland hay is $1 cheaper, viz., $9 on an average. Marsh-mud is splentlid for manure. When ordinary grass-land is manured by it, it produces easily 2 tons per acre, but on dyke-land 3 tons. Mr. Margieson states that the present time is the worst that they ever had. Mr. Innes continued his drive with me through Cornwallis, a beautiful countr)-, and we then returned to Kentville. Next day I proceeded to Windsor, and the superintendent of the railway plant being on the train, he gave me very valual)le information, not only as to the construction of the dykes and sluices, but also information as to other in.'.ustries. We passed C'ornwallis River, King's Port, Fort William, Avon River and Grand Pre, the scene 6f Longfellow's poem of " Evangeline." Grand Pre (or the great field) consists of about 3,000 acres of dyke-land, and is held in common by a number of pr(jj)rietors. After the crops have been cut, cattle are turned on to the after-feetl, or pasturagq, and, according as the season has been favourable or otherwise, a greater or lesser number of cattie are allowed on the dyke-land; and a proportionate number of cattle, according to the extent of their other lands, is decided upon by the proprietors for each farmer. We now saw Hantsport, on the other side of the Avon, ami Armstrong's ship-building yard. The river here is three-quarters of a mile broad. At Avon Port, on our own side, a ship of 1,200 tons burden wr.s on the stocks. We passed a brook, the dividing line between Hants and King's Coimtics. The former is mostly kept up by ship-building. At Hantsport a 600-ton vessel was on the stocks; sail-lofts and other nautical iidustries were spreail about. 4 The village depends on shijiping. We jiassed Newport Landing, mouth of St. Croix River, contiguous to Windsor, which was a mile distant. We now passed an iron bridge 1,200 feet long, erected at a cost of ^^40,000, and arriveil at Windsor, a thriving town ol 2,5(X> inhabitants. This neighbour- hood is rich in limestone and gypsum, much ul which is exported. By the kindness of Dr. Black, I was again driven over the country. We called on Mr. Maxner, who has a farm of 125 acres. His crop of wheat this year was exceptionally poor ; it would only average 17 bushels per acre. His (>ats would average 35 bushels per acre; barley, only sowed half a bushel; jiolatoes, 200 bushels. He has 25 head of cattle; generally fattens two every year. He has 45 acres of dyke-land, and 17 or 18 under crop. He keeps 15 cows. He sells milk at Windsor, 2]4 cents a lb., and gets at factory i cent; butter averages 20 cents. Dr. Black said that retail price of lamb was 10 cents; roast beef, 12^ cents; steak, 15 cents at Windsor. The milch-cows are a mixture of Hereford, Durham and Devons. A good cow would cost from $35 to $40, and would PI "If ^ A/r. Hugh McLean's Report. 55 average ten quarts per day for six months. Mr. Maxner corroborated all about dyke and upland. Dr. Black drove me to the place where for many years the late Judge Hali- burton, who wrote " Sam Slick," resided. Not far from his house a large gyjisum quarry is being worked. I was very kindlv entertained by Dr. ]}lack, and afte.- wards having accidently met Dr. Fraser, Windsor, he also was exceedingly kind to me. We witnessed the tidal wave called the " bore " coming up the river. All creatures leave the way when it approaches. The cattle know the sound of its roaring. From Windsor I returned to Horton Landing, Grand Pre, and called on Mr. Patterson, who also received me very kindly. He likewise drove me over the country. He owns loo acres, 30 being upland. 70 dyke-land. His wheat, he stated, averages 20 bushels per acre; oats, 40; barley, none, but 40 used to be the average. Potatoes, he had 8 acres, which produced 2,000 bushels, which he was shijjping; this gives 250 bushels per acre. He stated that he never succeeded with turnips on his land; they worked too much to leaf and stem with him. They, however, do very well with a neighbour, who, on the other hand, could not raise mangels, whilst on his land he can r^ise I, OD3 bushels per acre without trouble. Of sugar beet, he stated that he raised 203 bushels last year; but sugar beet was more difficult to cultivate than either mangels or turnips. Indian corn did fair — 25 to 8o bushels per acre. In that Province they manure the ground for potatoes, spreading it on; also manure the turnip ground, and sow it in drills. He kept 10 cows last summer, and raised the calves. This summer only ke]it 6 cows, filled up the vacancy with oxen. He is under the impression that it is more profitable to feed than to breed. He says the dykedand will produce 2 tons hay on an average per acre. The u]3land, by underdrainingand manuring, will produce 3 and even sometimes 4 tons per acre, but the dyke-land will take care of itself. It has been cropped con- tinuously for 150 years. A 14^/^ hand horse, about 1,000 lb., would be worth Next day I called upon various parties in Halifax; amongst others, I had the pleasure of an interview with Mr. Gossip, the President of the Geological Society of Nova Scotia. Having a day to spare, I visited the east side of the peninsula, for the purpose of passing through a portion of the mining country. On the train I met the Hon. Mr. Holmes, and also the Hon. Mr. Pope, Minister of Marine, Ottawa. I received much information from the former as to the geology of Nova Scotia, and from the latter an invitation to visit Prince Edward Island. I was very sorry that I could noi do so, as I have reason to know that the island would have richly repaid the visit. In common with Nova Scotia that island has a mud in the beds of rivers which is a great fertiliser. It consists of oyster-shells, animal remains, and debris of soil washed down by the rivers. This, when applied to the land, enriches it so much that it cannot be surpassed in the Dominion. » At the Montreal Exhibition, Prince Edward Island took the first prize for white oats, the first for black oats, the second for spring wheat, and the second for barley. It also carried the first prize for draught-horses, and the second prize for shorthorns. I come now to the peculiar excellencies of the peninsula of Nova Scotia, and that is, its vast resources in minerals. The minerals generally belong to the Government, but they are leased to parlies desirous of entering into mining opera- tions, and every facility is afforded to prospectors. Particulars can be had on application. The coal of Nova Scotia is bituminous, and consists of coking, cherry, and cannel coal. A vast coal-field, extending seaward under the Atlantic, occurs in Cape Hreton; the Sytlney coal-field is famous, and has been found valu- able for steam coal and for gas; the Inverness coal-field is likewise well-known, and, from analysis made, would command a ready market if suitable facilities for shipping it were provided; the Pictou coal-field. South of New tilasgow, which place I visited, has an area of thirty-five miles, in which the beds are uncommonly large. It is very favourably spoken of b}' the manager of the Richelieu and i V 56 Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. Ontario Steam Navigation Company, who considers it equal to vScotch. It is used on the Intercolonial Railway. The Allen Line steamers also use it. The Cum- berland coal is much used in St. Johns, New Brunswick. In one mine the vein is eight feet thick. Springhill is extensively worked. Between Cape Breton and Nova Scotia there are coal beds which cover an area of 685 square miles. In addition to coal, there is gold, which is to be found along the Atlantic coast from Canso to Yarmouth. It occurs, as is stated in the lodes, " in spots of every shape and size, up to 60 ounce nuggets." In this Province the deposits are found at Waverley fifty feet deep. The following are the districts in which fold is known to exist: Caribou, Moose River, Fifteen-mile Stream, Gay's Fiver, .aurencetown, Montagu, Waverley, Oldham, Sherbrooke, Isaac's Harbour, Wine Harbour, Tangier, etc., etc. For full information, see work by Mr. Edwin Gilpin, jr., A. M., F. G. S., on "The Mines and Mineral Lands of Nova Scotia." Amongst the information in that excellent work will be seen a return per man from the various districts, the highest being the Montagu, $6.13 per day; next to it Oldham, $5.41 per day. There is also iron to be found in the Province of great value ; Londonderry is a well-known mining locality, and th" iron here is believed to be superior to the best English iron. Iron ores are also found at Pictou. Iron is found all the way from the Ciut of Canso to Yarmouth. Copper also is found, as well as lead and silver; antimony, nickel, and tinstone are known to be in the Province; also, arsenic, sulphur, and manganese, ft is believed that of the latter large deposits exist. In this Province also, gypsum, hard and soft, is found in great beds. Soft gypsum, as stated, is near the late Judge Haliburton's house at Windsor. It also occurs with lime when entering the railway station from the north. Soft gypsum is valuable as a mineral manure, and for plaster purposes, cornices, etc. The hard is not so much used, being more costly to work. Besides the above, the paint trade is greatly indebted to Nova Scotia. Ochres are found at the Londonderry iron mines, and in Antigonish and Pictou counties — modifications of red and yellow being produced by other means. There are also salt springs and mineral waters, freestone, granite, flags, slates, clay, lime- stone, marble, and natural cements; fire-clay for bricks and tiles ; grindstones, millstones; as well as amethysts, cairngorm stone, jasper, and opals, and helio- trope or blood-stone. In conclusion, the Province of Manitoba appears to have a more fertile soil than any one of the older provinces. In pioductiveness it ranks first in respect of wheat, oats, and potatoes; but I found that continuous cropping of wheat is reducing the land. Turnips and mangel wurzel do exceedingly well. The averages taken from the preceding notes are — wheat, 30^^ bushels per acre; oats, 62 j4- Potatoes average 225 bushels per acre. As the Province at present consumes all its wheat, the prices obtained are as good as those in Ontario; but when wheat is exported they will be relatively lower. The country is suitable for cattle raising. Timothy hay and Hungarian grass produce good crops; red clover has been tried, but will not stand the winter. Fuel can be obtained atbng the banks of the rivers, and wood lots are assigned to settlers; but unless coal or other material is substituted, wood growing must be very extensively resorted to' supply the settlers with fuel. The climate of Manitoba is healthy — the air dry, clear and invigorating. Land can easily be protected from prairie fires, which are not unfrequent in September. Next to Manitoba, the Province of Ontario has the best cereal crops. Wheat in the district visited by me averaged 27 bushels per acre; oats, 48; barley, 55. Potatoes are not much grown, except for home consumption. Indian corn does very well. Fruits are excellent. The climate is good. There are many indus- tries in the towns, principally connected with agriculture. Next in order comes Sussex Valley, New Brunswick. Wheat produces on an average 26 bushels, and oats 48 bushels per acre. New Brunswick has a later spring and a later harvest, and a damper clime than Ontario. Potatoes, mangels TT A/r. Hugh McLean's Report. 57 and turnips thrive well. Cattle feeding for the English market is being entered into. Hay land is good. The local market for most produce is St. Johns. The Eastern Townships of Quebec produce wheat averaging 24 bushels per acre; oats, 37^; barley, ^Sy^. The townships are good grazing lands, and cattle feeding is being gone into. In Nova Scotia wheat averages 21 bushels per acre; oats, 25; barley, 23. It has exceedingly rich dyked marsh lands, the river bearing down a mineral deposit, and the tides carrying up vegetable and animal particles, which together form a mud that cannot be surpassed as manure for grass lands. Nova Scotia consumes all its own cereal produce. Its winter is longer than Ontario, but vegetation is very rapid, when the heat of the summer comes on. Cattle feeding for the linglish market is extensively gone into. It can vie with Ontario for its apples, pears, plums and grapes. Its industries are fishing, mining, ship-building, lumbering, commerce and manufacturing. In all the older provinces, that is in Ontario, Eastern Townships of Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New .Brunswick, there are many farms for sale. The houses in Sussex Valley, in New Brunswick and in the Cornwallis,\Vindsor, and Annapolis districts of Nova Scotia, are very nicely got up, and in general are better than the run of Ontario houses, though in some townships and near towns these also are very good. The price of land of course varies very much, according to its quality and the houses erected upon it ; but with a good dwelling-house on the farm and the requisite stable, barn, etc., a farm of 100 acres could be easily purchased at $40 per acre, and sometimes at less. In Nova Scotia marsh-land sells very high — about $160 or £^2 per acre. One can judge from the preceding account which province he would select if he were disposed to emigrate. Manitoba is far distant. The lands next the rail- way at the Winnipeg end are all taken up, but could be bought high from their holders. Emigrants require to go back into the country to secure the free-grant lands, but the immediate •extension of the Pacific Railway, which is now under contract, will speedily open up the vast area of prairie land between Manitoba and the Rocky Mountains, a distance of not less than 900 miles. My idea is that Canadians are better fitted for prairie life than we are ; and seeing that they are not very far distant from Manitoba, far. lilies could overcome, without nearly so much inconvenience or expense, the difficulties which distances throw in the way of British farmers. I met an old Canadian, Mr. Rutherford, from Oxford Co., Ontario, who was all over the Province of Manitoba looking for land. He bought an improved farm west of Calf Mountain, Pembina Range, consisting of 320 acres, fcv $2,900, i" eluding 20 acres of wood with buildings. He reported that an excelleni cro- vas on the ground. He preferred paying the above price to incurring the g'e . expense and labour of erecting buildings and fe.ices, and the inconvenience and expense that would otherwise be attached to h"~ settling on unoccupied land. If Mr. Rutherford found this to be advisablein his case — and he was a man fit to judge — I ihir.k an person desirous of emigrating should consiider well, whether, if he can affoid it, it might not be desirable for him to give a higher price in the lower and maritime provinces for a ready-ma.de farm, where he might have all the social comforts of life quite within his reach, than proceed westward. Many Canadian farmers are burdened with mortgages on their farms, and they are anxious to be relieved of these farms, and to start life afresh in Manitoba, where they can get their sons around them, and be afterwards provided for. These men are accustomed to rough it, and know how to use their axes in erect- ing log-houses, etc., and they therefore are eminently qualified for life in Mani- toba. As to schools and churches, the Dominion is as highly favored as we are ourselves. A school-tax is paid, but no fees. Medical practitioners can everywhere be had in the^ lower provinces, and by- and-by will spread themselves over Manitoba. I returned from Halifax by the Allan steamship Hibfrnian, Captain Archer. 5^ Mr. Hugh McLean's Report. We had heavy weather, but had a good ship and a good commander; and although our passage was protracted, we passed a very pleasant lime, arriving at Liverpool on the 26ih October. After the report had been read, a number of rentlemen sat down to dinner in the Argyle Arms Hotel, D. McGibbon, Esq., presiding. The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured, Provost Greenlces said it had fallen upon him to propose the toast of the even- ing. He did not know for what reason, but he supposed it was because he was a very old friend of his. All must admit that Mr. McLean had done his duty faithfully. When they consider that he had kept them for two hours and three-quarters listening to the account of bin experiences in that country to which he had been sent, they would acknowledge that he was a man of no ordinary ability. Li seeking a representative to send from this district the farmers could not have got a better in.an. He could fancy Mr. McLean going about every- where with his note-book under his arm. He did not give them the ideas ot one man only, but he compared various opinions with his own, anil then arrived at the result, and he wis certain that in every opinion he gave he was thoroughly honest. He asked them all to join in drinking long life and health to Mr. McLean. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr. McLean made a suitable reply, and after other toasU, the company separated. Ti t REPORT OF MR. GEORGE CURIIS, Woodside, Silsdcn, Yorkshire, *' Craven farmers are pretty well acquainted with the circumstances which led to the appointment of Mr. G. Curtis as their delegate to Canada to report on the suitability of that country as a field for the emigration of Craven farmers. .Suffice it now, therefore, to say that five months ago, on the invitation of the Canadian Government, the farmers of this important grazing district appointed Mr. Curtis, and he accordingly went out to view the land, leaving the shores of England on board the Allan Line steamer Sarmatian about the middle of July. He remained in Canada a little short of three months, confining his observations chiefly to the Province of Ontario, covering in that period a tract of country about 700 miles long by 300 miles broad. Recently Mr. Curtis returned home, and last Monday met a large gathering of the Craven farmers at the Assembly Rooms, adjoining the Black Horse Hotel, .Skipton (Mr. John Throup). It being the fortnightly cattle-fair day, the room was crowded. On the -notion of Mr. H. Holden (Halton F'ast), seconded by Mr. W. H. Davis (Gaigrave), Mr. A. Ross was called to the chair. Amongst those present were Mr. Grahame, of Glasgow Canadian Government agent ; Mr. Gomersall, Otterbuen : and Mr. Shuttleworth, representative of the State of Iowa, U. S. A. "The Chairmai^, in opening the proceedings, srid that five months ago many of those present assembled in that room to select c ne out of three gentlemen nominated at a previous meeting to proceed to Canada, at the invitation of the Canadian Government, as a delegate from the Craven farmers. Mr. Curtis was .selected, and to-day they had met together again to hear Mr. Curtis's report on Canada as a field for emigration. Doubts had lieen expressed as to whether they had done right in selecting a gentleman who had ]iassed the meridian of life for so arduous a task. l>ut in looking at Mr. Curtis now, and at the voluminous report which he had laiil on the table, he was sure the issue had confirmed the wisdom of their choice; and he was glad to see that, mentally as well as physi- cally, Mr. Curtis had taken no harm by his sojourn in the Western Hemisphere.'' — Craven Pioneer^ November 20, 1880. Mr. Curtis, who received a very hearty welcome from his brother-farmers, then formally presented his report, which was a long and exhaustive one, ai.d ably written throughout. He said : I procei'd to give an account of my stewardship, by submiiiirig to yo'.i a report of the mission with which you entrusted mc a few months ago. I went to Liverpool or the 21st of July last, and there met with Messrs. .Sagar, Imrie, and liroderick, fellow-delegates. On the following day we sailed in the Sartiialian, a vessel of admirable build and noble proportions, under the efficient command ot Captain Aird (an appro]:>riate name for an Airdalc farmer to sail under). This vessel is one of the splendiil line of steamers owned by Messrs. Allan Brothers. We had a large number of emigrants and other passengers on boani. We called at Moville (Ireland) for the mails, and then steamed away across the Atlantic without let or hindrance until the 28th, when we were enveloped in a dense fog. The weather became very cold, and we were close to a number of icebergs. The fog- horn was repeatedly sounded, but as that had no effect upon those mountains of ice, our speeil was slackened and the engines finally stopped, to avoid a collision with one of those "cool customers." On the 29th we passed through the Straits of Belle Isle into the Gulf, and as we sieamed into the River St. Lawrence the 6o Mr. George Curtis' Report. the Minister of Agriculture, return I had a pleasant him practically conversant and, indeed he owns a The land around Quebec, as weather was delightful. The shore on our left, near which we sailed, api)eared rocky, but well timbered. Patches of wood are cleared in some places, and upon these clearings are erected houses inhabited by fishermen. They are painted white, and have the eflfect of brightening up an otherwise sombre scene. There is also a fine view of the Laurentian Hills, which stretch away as far as the eye can reach. Some miles before reaching Quebec, on the right-hand side of the river, we obtain a pretty view of Montmorenci Waterfalls. We arrived at Quebec on the afternoon of the 31st, where we remained until the Monday morning, the 2nd of August, and then left for Ottawa, the capital of the Dominion. In a consultation there as to our future movements, it was thought unadvisable for all to travel over the same ground, and with a view to spread our- selves over as wide an area as we could thoroughly investigate, Messrs. Imrie and Broderick took the Province of Manitoba and Mr. Sagar, and I that of Ontario. We travelled over a considerable section of country together, but there were large districts in which we separated. I shall therefore, to avoid confusion, speak only of myself, and give my personal observations, recorded daily in my note-book at the various places visited. I may here state that I was permitted the fullest liberty in the choice of localities I wished to visit, and that every information was given and facilities aflforded by the Canadian Government, through Mr. Lowe, the courteous secretary of the Department of Agriculture at Ottawa ; and among many others, the Hon, A. S. Hardy, Professor Buckland, Mr. D. Spence, and Mr. J. A. Donaldson, of Toronto; Mr. J. Smith, of Hamilton ; Mr. A. J. Smythe, of London, as well as Mr. Stafford and Mr. Persse, of Quebec. When I arrived in Canada, the Hon. J. H. Pope, was in England on a visit ; but on his and protracted interview with him. I found with all matters pertaining to agiioulture, large farm in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. well as the Province generally which bears its name, is to a large extent occupied by French Canadians. That part of the Province called the Eastern Townships, said to be the garden of Quebec, is inhabited by Scotch and English settlers ; the soil is of ver>' good quality, and woU farmed, with satisfactory results. Wild lands can be bought here at from 2s. 4d. to 3s. per acre; and improved farms from $20 to $25 per acre with buildings. Ottawa, the capital of the Dominion of Canada, is built upon the banks of the Ottawa River. It has a population of about 25,000. I was struck with its magnificence on the one hand, and its incompleteness on the other. There is plenty of water-power in the vicinity of the city, which is utilised for saw-mills and other purposes, and the visitor cannot but be struck with the large piles of deals, cut into the proper lengths, which cover many acres. The scenery round the capital is beautiful, and the dry transparent atmosphere enables one to see to a great distance. The following were the prices of some of the commodities in the market at Ottawa : Butter, 20 cents per lb. ; mutton and beef (by the quarter) 5j^ to 6 cents . per lb.; eggs, cf a good size, 20 cents per dozen. I do not propose to give my route day by day, but to i^ffer a few remarks respecting some of the places I visited in the Province of Ontirio, making them follow one another, in proper order, as far as possible. On 1' aving Ottawa, I went through the district watered by the river of that name as far as Pembroke, prettily situated on Lake Allumette. Some of the land is cleared ; and about Pembroke and Renfrew there are large tracts devoted to farming purposes. Stone and bricks (the latter made from clay found in the neighborhood) are used for building jnirposes, and in many places some capital buildings are being erected, which is indicative of progress. The country is practically a new one, and is only just l>eing openec up. The lumber trade is the principal industry. On our way from Ottawa westward we passed Brockville, named after Gen- eral Brock, who fell at Queenstown in 1812. It has about 7,800 inhabitants. We next came to Kingston, one of the older cities, with a population of about 13,000. ■^rr Mr» George Curtis' Report. 6i It has not increased so rapidly as some other places, although it is more ancient than many, having been an imijortant town when some of the existing ones were not thought of. It used to be a garrison town when Hritish troops occupied the country. It is now the seat of a military college where young Canadians receive a military education, under the tuition of English officers. The next place we arrived at is Jielleville (the capital of Hastings County) with a population of about 7000, and growing rapidly. The town is lighted with gas, and is a large com- mercial centre. Large quantities of barley are here exported to the States, Cobourg is our next stojjping-place (population 5000). Six miles further, and we are at Port Hope, where there are some fme farms and good residence;*. Cobourg is also the seat of a Wesleyan College. Then we come to Newcastle. The land about this place appears to be of a superior quality and well cultivated. The selling price is about $75 to $80 per acre, according to the position of the land and the state of the buildings. While slaying at Newcastle with Mr. Belts, I had nn interesting interview with Mr. Allan Wilniot. He was one of the pioneer settlers in this neighborhood more than fifty years ago. He now lets his farm (200 acres) at about $4 or $4. 50 per acre, and he is prepared to sell it for $80 per acre. I also visited the fish-breeding establishment at Newcastle, which is under the management of Mr. Wilmot. Tiie brother of the above-named gentleman kindly explained to me the interesting process of fish cultivation. A little further on and we arrive at Whitby. The land through the town- ships of Clark, Darlington, and Whitby is excellent. I saw many farms in good condition. This season's crops were good, and the cattle and sheep were of a superior class, especially the latter. Cotswolds seem to be the favorites. The price of land varies from £$ to /16 per acre, and farms can be rented from 4s. to l6s. per acre. The next place I visited was Toronto, called the Queen City of the Domin- ion, antl capital of the Province of Ontario. It has a population of about 4k),ooo, and it gives one an impression, even at first sight, of being a thriving and populous place. On our arrival I was introduced to the Lieutenant-Governor, the Hon. J. B. Robinson, and to the Mayor (Mr Beatty), who accompanied us in a tour through the city. Houses of Parliament, colleges, parks, and the various public places. It is really a beautiful city. Its streets are laid out at right angles, one of which, Yonge street, I was informed, extended into the country for sixty miles as straight as a line, excepting for one slight bend about thirty miles out of the city. The first farm I visited in the neighborhood was about twenty-six miles dis- tant, at Bronte, on the road to Hamilton, with Mr. Breechon, a gentleman from Wiltshire, England, who was in a treaty for the purchase. The farm belongs to Mr. White, of Milton. It consists of 415 acres in capital condition, with -..-w buildings replete with every modern convenience. There is also a neat residence built of concrete, in a nice situation. There is plenty of water, and most of the land is cleared of stumps, which have been so arranged as to form a substantial fence round the farm. All the crops had been reaped and harvested except thirty acres of oats, which were then being cut. These oats, I was informed, were sown on the loth May, and my visit was on. the 12th August. There was a field of Swede turnips, almost the best I have ever seen. They were sown on the loth June. Twenty-four acres of orchard are also attached to the farm The crops of hay and corn were abundant. The price asked for this «state, including buildings, is about £12 los, per acre. I then went on to Hamilton, a place after the same style as Toronto, situ- ated on one of the bays of Lake Ontario. There I conversed with several of the farmers, who appeared to be happy and contented, health and satisfaction appear- ing on every countenance. I also paid a visit to the vinery of Mr. Haskins, the .city engineer. This vinery is twelve acres in extent and gave an excellent yield. It forms a part of the holding of Mr. T. Barnes, whose farm is in excellent con- dition. He has grown a crop of wheat on the same ground for four years in succession, and is preparing it for the fifth. He informed me that he had never had .J>M 62 Si Mr. George Curtis* Report. less than forty- r:''" '.;',ishels per acre, but he makes a very liberal application ot manure every year. lie has also a large apple orchard, and the fruit was being gathered while I was there. I next went to Hurlington with Mr. Hurd to inspect his farm and nursery, which arc characleiised by fertility, neatness, and order. His crops were really excellent, and the buildings in good order. On our way back to Hamilton we passed through a good farming district. Most of the land wns cleared and under cultivation, and appeared to Le fairly well farmed. Improved farms can be had in this district at irom £S to £i6 per acre. SUCCESSFUL EMIGRANTS. While at Hamilton we took an opportunity of going to Brantford (where we were introduced to the Mayor, Dr. Hcnwood) to inspect the famous hcrtl of short- horns, founded by the late Hon. (leorge Brown, Senator. We were shown over the farm by Mr. Hope, the iianager, and saw, 1 supi)nse, the finest herd of cattle in the w(jrld. The larm is managed on the most ai)provcd princijjles. The crops of mangels and swedes were excellent, also the Indi.in corn, which is used as green fodder. The farm is now owned by a joint-stock company, and includes among its shareholders some of the best agriculturlists of this country. Sales are held perioiiicaily at various ])laces in the United States and Canada, and the cattle are in great demand. When at Brantford I saw Mr. Burrell (a hale and active m.in of seventy-two years) who came to Canada from Bardney, Lincolnshire, in 1830. He had no capital then, but by hard work and thrift he acr|uired sufficient money to buy thtee farms. He now lives on his means, his sons working the farms. This is but one of many similar cases I came across during my travels. We went fiom Brantford towards I'aris, and looked over several large farms, amongst others that of Mr. Luck, who arrivetl in this country twenty-three years ago, from Kent, England, with a capital of /31 los. He now owns a farm of 200 acres, nearly all paid for. The soil is a sandy loam. The clover upon wheat stubbles was something marvellous: it was from a foot to eighteen inches in length, in full bloom, and presented the aj^i^earance of a regular clover ficUl. We drove back from Brantford through Mount Pleasant, calling at farms on the way. There were some well-cultivated lands in this section of the country, which has been longer settled than many other parts I have visited. We passed an orphanage supported by Mrs. Laycock and Jier brother, Mr. Cockshott, from Colne, in England. While in Brantford I was the guest of Mr. Plewis, who is a genial, intelligent and hospitable gentleman. He is a Yorkshireman, from Horn- sea, near Hull. He is doing a large business as a miller. The price of wheat in Brantford was 90 cents to 95 cents per bushel. I noticed that a roof was being put on a new cotton factory at Brantford, which has been erected by Mr. HIaier, late of Barnoldswick-in-Craven. There seems to be a fine prospect for that busi- ness in Canada. From Brantford I made my way to London. En route I noticed the same prodigious crops of fruit as I hacl seen in Wcntworth and Brant. Mr. Riley gave nie an aj^ple that measured 14 inches one way and 13 the other. While in Lontlon I met Mr. Rich, who was from Carlton-on-Trent. We were "raised," as our Canadian cousins would say, within a few miles of each other. He is doing a large business in grain, and has made his money in the country. He started with- out any capital, but is now a wealthy man. The city itself is a miniature of our own n)etropolis. Its river, bridges, parks and principal streets are named after similar places in the capital of England, and they even possess a newspap/cr called the Echo. The surroundings of the city are very pretty, and the substantial residences and well-kept gartlens all speak of the prosperity of :he people. I visited the estate of Mr. Wm. Kaines, which is for sale, it is situated in the county of Kent and Plantagenct, on the Ottawa River, about 40 miles from Ottawa city. 434 acres are in one block and 150 acres detached, of which 50 acres are cleared, the rest being in timbe.. $15 per acre is the price asked for the property. The soil around the city of Lond n is a rich loam. I should think from my experi- Mr. Geort^e Curtis* Report, 63 ence that a market gardener would get on well in this part. The land is good, and the growth of vegetables prodigious. Round London is a very fine fanning district ; in fact, one of the finest that I had, up to this lime, visited. Land could be obtained for al)out $80 per acre (/16), including buildings. Grain was selling at 90 cents per bushel. (Jn leaving Lond(jn I made for Windsor, where land of very good quality, I found, could be l)ought at from £^ to £^ per acre ; while in Middlesex the price is from /"lo to £16 \>cx acre. There does not appear any reason for this dilVcr- ence in price, as the soil in the county of Kent is generally ecpial to that in Middlesex. Leaving Windsor, I drove along the road by the Detroit River, and called to sec the stud of blood-horses owned by Mr. Chapelle. He has some very handsome animals. We then drove through a fertile but indifTr-ently farmed district. On our way from Windsor to (iostield we passed through the township ol Maldon, and there saw some good land, but it could be improved by better cultivation. The township of Colchester possesses the same general characteristics as that ot Maldon. Passing along by Marrow, the land was teeming with vegetation, and the weeds were not the least luxuriant. Many patches of tobacco were growing on the I'rench-Canavlian farms. I also saw a great numl)er of pigs along the road- side. They were not all of the best quality, but did not appear to give much trouble in feeding. LANDS. I next went through a fine district along the shore of Lake Erie. The land was very fine, but much over-run with rag-weed and other rubbish. The farmers excused themselves by ple.iding the unusual quantity of rain that had fallen this summer ; but the land is of a dry, sandy nature, and, in my opinion, no difficulty need be found in keeping it clean. It is really a wonder to mc how they can afford to grow so much thistle and weed — the most expensive of all crops, and the least profitable. After making a call at Leamington, near to the Lsland of Point Pelee, which consists of 5cxx> acres of cultivateil land and about 8000 acres in wood, we drove on to Ruthven, and afterwards to the villages of Cottam and Essex Centre. The land tbrough this tlistrict was good, but badly farmed. It seems capable of pro- ducing anything, in large quai .itics, and would, I think, be very protital)lc if in the hands of energetic farmers. At Essex Centre I met Mr. James Matthews, land agent, and Mr. John Milne, the president and manager of a considerable saw-mill and sash and door factory, which articles are likely to be largely exported, and will provide employment for many carpenters and joiners .as the trade increases. They told me they had land in this locality, on which timber is growing, that they could sell at a price which the value of the timber would more than cover. The soil is of a dark loam, rather heavy, but of great depth ; and on portions of the cleared land crops of Indian "^corn were being reaped. From Charing Cross we took the stage to Morpeth, and p.issed on our way several small villagesi and a larger town called Hlenheim. There is some tine land in this county, and well farmed. The land round Morpeth is very fine, and fruit abounds everywhere. We were met at the hotel by Mr. John Duck, who, with Dr. Smith, accompanied us to the farm of Mr Gardner. He has ujnvards of 200 acres, and has greatly improved it. Mr. Gardner makes a very liberal use of salt as a fertiliser, with very good results in the yield of grain .ind in straw. He has some good cattle, and I particularly admired a shori. 1 btUl. He had not, at the time of our visit, sold his wheat, but he informed me that last season he obtained $i a bushel, which gave a good profit. I then visited Colonel Desmond, who has a valuable farm of upwards of 20O acres. In soil and general features it is much like Mr. Gardner's, but in a higher state ol cultivation. The Colonel is a fine, military-looking man of eii'^'.ity-two years of age, and was working in the field when we got there. He sh',»ved me a 64 Mr. George Curtis' Report. splendid lot of hogs of the Berkshire breed, of various ages. He has made a good deal of money out of the farm, and is still working it profitably. The whole of the land in this district is good and well cultivated. It can be obtained for about £S an acre. Our next drive was through a section of country somewhat inferior to the above, but far from being bad. It improved as we neared Ridgetown, where there is some gooour to nearly cover the whole of his expenses. I was pleased to make the acquaintance of the manager (Pro- feessor Brown), and President Mills, who appeared to be specially qualified for the posts they fill. During my stay in Toronto, myself and Mr. Sagar visited the Milton district. SUCCESSFUL EMIORANTS. We passed on to a farm belonging to Mr. White, occupied by Mr. Ti.'omas Beak. I'his is a good farm, well cultivated and stocked with a superior class of shorthorn cattle, some of which Mr. Boak has imported from Engla'Ai. lie is a native of Cumberland, and came out to Canada about twenty-five \cars ago with- out capital, but by industry he (like scores of others I meet with in Canada) is f 66 Mr. George Curtis' Report. now able to'purchase a farm. His taxes amount to about $40 per annum for the 300 acres. We also visited Mr. Brain's, who, with his father, were pioneers in this part of the country. He came from England, and in addition to his farm brews lager beer. He started with little, or no capital. We al.so went through the village of Campbellville, in the township of Nassa- gawe)'a, county of Halton, and among others 1 met Mr. Jonathan Adamson. He had the good lortune to select a fine piece of land (2C0 acies). He has imiiroved it by the election of a stone dwelling-house and substantial buildings. The soil on the farm is of good quality, and ni a state of excellent cultivation. Mr. Adam- son settled heie about forty years ago, and was able to give us interesting inform- ation respecting the settlement of this f ne township. He started without capital, but now owns a f.ne farm. Mrs. Adamson's father, Mr. Trudgeon, was the first settler in this district, when the country around was a dense torest. There was not even a road from Toronto, and they had to find their way through the forest. Mr. Adamson came out from England. He is now over seventy years of age, and is hale and hearty. I found no farm in this county in neater trim, or more pro- fitable cultivatjjn, than that of Mr. Johnson Harrison, of Milton. Here the thistle, the great drawback to Canadian farming, is not allowed any quarters. He keeps some entire horses of the roadster class — fine animals. He also has a superior herd of short-horned cattle. I stayed in the district of Halton for a few days, and received much infor- mation from Mr. White, who accompanied us through the county. The price of land appears to run from $40 to $80 per acre; for renting, about $3 per acre may be takcYi as an average. The following are the principal towns in the county ot Halton: Oakville, about 2000 inhabitants; Georgetown, about 20CO inhabitants; Acton, iocxd; Burlington, 2000; Milton, 1,200. The population of the whole county is about 25,000, consisting principally of English, Irish, Scotch, and native Canadians. It is a fine grain and grass-growing country, also a favorite location for fruit crops, and is famous for its strawberries. Its position is between Toronto and Hamilton, and the county is traversed by four diflerent lines of railway. RISE FROM POVERTY TO WEALTH. On arriving at Ingersoll, we called at the farm of Mr. Wilson, who came out from England with his father, in 1832. When they arrived here they were the ha}ipy possessors of $3 (123.). Now every branch of the fimily is wealthy, own- ing, among other property, 1,200 acres of land of good quality, with neat and sub- stantial residences. We also insjjecled a cheese factory u])on his farm, ant! while partaking of refreshment listened with intense interest to this fine and intelli- gent Yorkshire emigrant of nearly fifty years ago. I may adtl that their wealth has been oljtained from agricultural pursuits, and that the land does not repre- sent all tiieir wealth. These case's speak for themselves, and show what can be done in Canada by hard work and thrift. We next visited, among several others, Mr. Agar, who farms 400 acres of land of good quality. He also milks 60 cows, and makes a large (luaniity of cheese. The htnises for the cattle were undergoing extension and alteration. The stables are well arranged, and have every convenience. He started with a very small capital, but is now in a position of affluence, which has been obtained, as in Mr Wilson's case, from agriculture. We visited several cheese manufactories in this locality. They are conducted on the same principles as the butter nuinufactories described elsewhere. An inspection of this district shows how easily and profitably the land can be devoted to grazing purposes. The soil is a rich loam, somewhat undulating. The brick and stone residences, with their cedar walks and neatly triimned lawns and hedges, and the orchards, with their golden burdens, form a picture difficult to equal in the finest districts of the Old Country. I now jiroceed to devote a few lines to Tilsonburg, which is becoming an important place, thanks to the energy and enterprise of its founder, Mr Tilson '«i 1. _^ My. George Curlis' Report. 67 The town is m the county of Oxford, and its valualile water privilepes have already given an impetus to tlie e.stal)lisliinent of manufactories. Il possesse.-: a saw-mill, corn, oatmeal, and pea-splillini:;; mill, a large brewery, and a sui,'ar manufac tory nearly ready. A large cpiantity of beet is grown in the neighbor- hood. A manufactory for drying fruit for exporting has also been started, and they expect to u^e 25,000 bushels of apples alone during this season. Building materials are very cheap. White bricks (very durable) cost $5 per thousantl ; lime, 2 cents jier bushel ; hard wood, $2 ; and soft, $1 per cord (4 (cet squire, S feet long). This, taUgn in conjunction with the extensive water-power available, prognosticates a busy future for this young town. It is also said to be probable that any new factory started would get a subsidy, and perhaps exemption for taxes from a certain tinni ; so there appears to be a good opening. We went round Mr. Tilson s farm. Tlie land is good and well cultivated; the country around is a fine farming district, and not inaptly named "Goshen." In driving around I came across two namesakes, George Curtis and W. Curtis, who came from Lincolnshire. They and another brother arrived in Canada with- out capital, and are now in the happy ]iosition of being their own landlorvls. The price of laml around Tilsonburg and Goshen varies from $30 to $60 per acre (£6 to /12), and though near the town rather light, is of a capital (piality. Continuing our journey to iJarrie, and having been joined by Professor Sheldon and Messrs. Sagar and Donaldson, we paid a visit to Bradford. Some of the land we traversed was inferior, but about Newmarket and forward to Bradford it was of good (juality. We were joined at Bradford by Dr. Morton, the Reeve of the township, afid drove out to Bond Head, calling at Colonel Tyrwhit s, who owns upwards of 200 acres of land in good cultivation. He has some good horses, cattle and sheep, and excellent root crops. We also visited Mr. Stoddard s farm, the greater part which is under-drained. This southern portion of Simcoe seems equal to the best parts of Ontario. At Mr. Stoddard s farm I had a conversation witli one of his men, who came from Whitby, York- shire. He had been there fifteen months, and during the first twelve months had managed to save $100. His wages were $110, including board and lodging, so that he had nothing but clothes to find. He is now getting $126 per annum, and hop''s to save a still larger sum this year. To use his own words, he " means to have a farm of his own before long. ' We then went on to Barrie, the county town of Lake .Simcoe. It is one of the largest counties in Ontario, the dimensions being roughly 156 miles by So, and, generally speaking, is a fine agricuhural country. Barrie is very prettily situated ujion a bay of Lake Simcoe. We left Barrie in o'-der to make a vi.-iit to the Muskoka tlistrict, and were accompanied by a party of gentlemen to Gravenhurst, where a railway is being made to connect with the Northern Pacific. I will give you generally my impres- sion of this ilistrict, as it is attracting a good deal of attention. Its scenery is very romantic; indeed, it is called the Wales of Canada. It is well watered. Part of the soil is good, and part i-^ rocky. I have seen some very fine samples of roots and grain raised in the district, and think it is likely to become an im|M)rtant district both for the growth of cereals and the raising of live stock. The popula- tion is increasing rapidly, so I was told, and the free grants of lands arc bein_iT availed of. On returning to Barrie we called on Mr. Bridges, who is a breedei of Hereford cattle. He owns a large amount of land — about 1,800 acres, I think. He has a I'arm of cleared land, and is clearing about eiirht\ acres every year. He told me that a good deal of the land has cost him nothing, the timl)er having realised more than the price of the land. Most of the farms in the district pre- sent similar features to that of Mr. Bridges', though to a more limited extent. Before leaving Canada I had an o|)i)ortunity of visiting the agricultural show at Hamilton. It comjirised many of the same features that I observed at the Toronto Exhibition ; indeed, many of the cattle and most of the general articles did duty at both places. Gravestones were shown at Toronto, hut coffins were also on view here — so that the usefulness of the shuws are rather extended, covering both the living and the dead. The machinery, hardware and carriages were very good, and the former exhibit excelled loronto, if anything — which is i^J^** i^Hl 08 Mr. George Curtis' Report. not a matter for surprise, when one is informed that Hamilton is the Birmingham of Canada. The horses and cattle were good classes. One fat ox, shown also at Toronto, scaled 2,850 lb. The pigs also, of the Suffolk and Berkshire breed, can be commended. I had the pleasure of an introduction to his Excellency the Governor-General (Marquis of Lome) here, and had an interesting interview. I found him very affable and pleasant. Just a few concluding remarks about the show. There was a cloth-cutting machine of very ingenious construction ; a splendid show of the Wanzer sewing- machines ; and I must not forget to mention tl>e implements shown by Mi. Copp — they deserve much commendation for their neatness and lightness. The fruit- show was also excellent, and as a conclusion I may say that I had a basket of very fine grapes given to me at Hamilton (grown by Mr. Hurd in the open air), which I brought to England, and when opened, after three weeks, were in perfect order. It, therefore, is not unlikely that this fruit may form a no inconsiderable feature in the ""ports of Canada at some future day. We next mas'-, our way to Niagara to see the famous falls of that place. The district between Hamilton and Niagara is famous for its fruit-growing, especially for peaches. It seems to be quite a profitable trade, and I was told the fruit of the district was celebrated all over the continent of America. The land about St. Catharines is light, and not very valuable for farming purposes. As to the falls, so many have given a description of these mighty waters that it is almost super- fluous to mention the subject ; but as no one h:is seen them with my eyes, I suppose I ought to say something about a spectacle so world-renowned. It is truly a sublime sight to behold. There is something akin to disappointment at first, but as the whole is gazed at, and its grandeur impressed upon the mind, it becomes awfully magnificent. The rapids above and below the falls are only less beautiful because less awe-inspiring. GENERAL SUMMARY. I have now finished my detailed report and propose to summarise, under con- venient heads, my opinions generally about the portions of the country that I had the privilege of visiting : Climate. — It may be said generally that the summer heat and winter cold are greater than in England. But it is only fair to remark that owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, the heat is not so inconvenient as it would be in our murky climate. At the same time it has a wonderful effect in bringing to maturity the fruits of the soil. Oats can be sown and reaped in three months, and fruits are grown to such perfection and in such luxuriance as to surprise one from the Old Country. Almost everything that grows in England will grow in Canada, but vegetables and roots attain a greater size in the latter, and melons, tomatoes, peaches, and excellent grapes ripen to perfection in the open air. As regards the winter, the degree of cold as registered by the thermometer is undoubtedly much greater than in this country, but the air is so dry and so exhilara- ting, that the season is looked forv/ard to as one of enjoyment. It would seem from this that the dampness of the air is a great factor in deciding the effects of cold, and I certainly heard no complaints in Canada of the winter. It has one drawback certainly, and that is the necessity of housing the cattle and sheep in the winter, but as shipments can notwithstanding be made at a profit, and as the cattle trade is being largely developed, this is apparently not considered a serious disad- vantage by our Ci.nadian cousins. I may add also that apple and peach trees are left unprotected during the winter without any injury to their vitality. Soil. — Speaking generally, the soil of Ontario is of a loamy nature, some light and some clayey, but in the latter case it does not appear to be so heavy and dif- ficult to work as the clay lands of Engl' .d. This may be owing to the clay lieing less tenacious, or by the pulverizing effects of the winter frost. I may say that I saw no real surface clay soil. There was, of course, sub-soil of that nature. In a country so large as the Province of Ontario many different kinds of soil arc naturally found— gO(xl, liad, and indifferent ; but the former seems to preponder- ate, af the diversified protlucts and the luxuriance of their growth demonstrate. 'H Mr. George Curtis^ Report. 69 But the land has not been used well. It must have been exceedingly rich at one time, but continued cropping and careless farming is bound to bring its results, anci the lesson cannot fail to be useful. The effects are seen in the better system of farming that is now being adopted, and the greater attention that is being given to dairy farming, to the fattening of live stock, and to the consequent extended growing of root crops, all of which will tend to recuperate the soil. Drainage, too, is now being looked after, and more in this direction may yet be done in some districts. Free Grants of Land. — Upon this point I cannot do better than quote the following extract, taken from a work issued by the Government of the Province of Ontario : " Every free-grant settler over eighteen years of age is entitled to select icx) acres, and every head of a family 200 acres. The conditions of settle- ment are set forth in the following clause of the Free Grants and Homestead Act, Revised Statutes of Ontario, cap. 24. sec. 8 : ' No patent shall issue for .iny land located under this Act, or under said regulations, until the expiration of live years from the date of such location, nor until the locatee, or those claiming under him, or some of them, have performed the following settlement duties, that is to say : have cleared and have under cultivation at least fifteen acres of the said land (whereof, at least two acres shall be cleared and cultivated annually during the five years next after the date of the location to be computed from such date), and have built a bouse thereon fit for habitation, at least sixteen feet by twenty feet, and have actually and continuously resided upon and cultivated the said land for tlie term of five years next succeeding the date of such location, and from thence up to the issue of the patent, except that the locatee shall be allowed one month from the date of the location to enter upon and occupy the land ; that absence from the said land for in all not more Iian six months during any one year (to be computed from the date of the location), shall not be held to be a cessation of such residence, provided such land be cultivated as aforesaid,' " J ust a word in regard to these free grants. No one should choose them in a hurry. There is plenty of good land, but as much care should be exercised in its selection as if it had to be bought, for it is a matter upon which the success of the settler primarily depends. Ontario as a lueldfor Settlement. — My opinion on this point is that a man has every chance of doing well in Ontario, and that many have succeeded is demonstrated by the examples which I found in the course of my travels. I may be askjd, and it is a fair question, whether I would care to live in the country myself and adopt it as my home? In response, I can say that if ever I did emi- grate, Canada is the country I would go to. Indeed, such a change as regards associations would be very little, as Ontario is much the same as England, its inhabitants all hailing from the Old Country, having been born here, or descended from earlier emigrants from our shores. In a pecuniary sense the change would be productive of great advantage. In the first place, a less capital is required ; one can buy as much land in Ontario for $1 as in England for a sovereign. This is a rough and ready calculation, but is sufficiently near the mark. For labourers Ontario offers great advantages to steady, hardworking and thrifty men. They get good wages, and may look forward to being able to start on their own account if they are careful. Most of the labourers are boarded and lodged in farmhouses, so that single men are preferred ; but in the neighbourhood of the towns and vil- lages this is a disadvantage not without remedy in the case of married couples. But I think Ontario farmers would be serving their own interests if they were to erect .ottages for the men, and thus foster a class similar to the farm labourer of England. Capital Required. — In the first place, I may say that improved farms vary in price from £i to ^16 per acre, which includes fences and all buildings, in fact a farm ready for occupation, while land of similar quality can be rented at from los. to 20s. per acre. It is, therefore, easy to calculate what capital a man ought to have. He would, of course, have to buy implements and cattle and seed, to enable him to make a start, and the amount to l^e expendetl under this head would, of course, depend upon the means of the farmer and the system which he would adopt. i»,^' (.!«' 70 Mr. George Curtis' Report. !■; may remark her" in parenthesis that land and buildings can be f)Ought in the Eastern Townships for ;^4 or jCs P^r acre. It is saiti tliat on a free giant a man should have j[/"ioo or /^I50. lie would not, of course, be able to put a whole farm into work at once with this amount of capital, but each year he would be getting a return and be adding to his capital, and thus bo able to extend his area each year. Until a man hatl enough ground under cultivalion to occupy him entirely he could earn good wages lor his labour in spare lime, which would also help him. Many have started with lillle or no capital, or at any rate much less than the figures named above; but this can only bo done by dint of hard work and self-den al, which, after all, are in any case the first elements of success. I may ackl that I did not come across any grumblers in my travels. The people seemed hai)py and contented. I may say, further, that I was s no difficulty in getting /id of all his ]}roduce. As regards barley, I am told that the greater portion of it is sent to the United States, where it is much esteemed. I»iplf.meiits.—-\ was much struck with the implenients I saw. They are light, yet strongly made and oasy to handle. The Americans used to control the markets tor these goods, but I am told they are now almost entirely superseded by Canadian manulacturos. ^ .Syslent of Farming. — I have mentioned this under the head of " Soil." The great fa.dt seems to have been the want of a sys'.em. Mixed farming, I am satis- fie 1, is the best thing an Ontario farmer can adopt. By raising cattle he is obliged to use his straw, and to grow root crops, thus affording the means of keepnig the soil well manured. It is true that wheat and other exports do not fetch the same price as they do here, but the cost of producing them is less. The The satis- : lie is L'ans of I not The Mr. George Curtis' Report. 71 Erice of food-stuffs is low ; bran, for instance, costing only a third of what it does ere. Exports. — The following figures are useful in showing the progress of Canada as an agricultural country. Exports in 1878 of wheal and tlour, 10,895,468 bushels; other grain, 12,923,871 bushels; in 1879, of wheat and flour, 12,671,435 bushels; other grain, 1 1,270,195 bushels. In 1778, 5,635,411 bushels ol wheat, and 2,621,581 bushels of other grain were imported into the Dominion; and in 1879, 4,768,733 bushels of wheat and 2,190,358 bushels of other grain. But most of this was lor exportation from Canadian ports, on account of cheap freights and better facilities for getting to the sea-board, and not for home use. In fact, the import of wheat decreased in 1S79 by i,ooc,ooo bushels, while the exports increased by 2,000,000 bushels. The export of flour in 1879 was also ecjual to 3,000,000 bushels. The following are the exports of butter, cheese, and eggs during 1878 and 1879: 1878, 13,006,626 lb. of butter; 38,054,2941b. of cheese, 5.268,170 doz. eggs; 1879, 14,307,977 lb. of butter; 46,414,035 lb. of cheese; 5,440,828 doz. eggs. Exports of hor.ses, cattle, sheep and swine: In 1S78, 14,207 horses, 30,456 cattle, 242,989 sheep, 3,201 swine; in 1879, 16,635 horses, 49,257 cattle, 308,393 sheep, 6,498 swine. These figures are taken Irom a work published by Mr. W. J. Patterson, the secretary of the Montreal Board of Traile. Lauds for Salt. — It may be asked, why can land so readily be bought if the prospects for a settler arc so good ? There are several leasons for this. One is that many of the settlers obtained their lands for little or nothing; have cleared them, erected buildings and have the farms under cultivation. They are now worth a good sum. \Vith the capital acquired by selling now they wish to take up Iresh lands and get those into cultivation, adding to their mesns in this way. I came across a man at Winghatn to whom this applies. Many go to Manitoba, which is attracting so much attention. Another reason is that the occupier may have got into years; his sons have taken to professions or commercial pursuits rather than farming, antl he desires to retire and live on his capital. I was informed ot this by a man at Milton who had a farm to sell. Then, again, some are due to bad farming. The occupiers have not used the soil well, and rather than take the trouble of adopting higher farming and manuring their lands, pre- fer to go to new land, where they can continue their unwise and shortsighted operations. Others wish to take larger farms. Social Aspects. — Just a few words upon this subject and I finish. The Can- adians possess the characteristics which are usually found on this side of the Atlantic; yet they seem to be a little different from the phlegmatic Englishman. In fact, ihey combine the "go " of the American with the caution of the Britisher. They are very sociable and hospital)!e, and I think, taking class for class, they live in better houses than we do in England, and are more extravagant in the way of furniture and "fixings." This I especially noticed in my visit to farmhouses. There is of course very little aristocracy, the distinction between classes being, I think, expressed by the words capital and labor; and there is more freedom and n.ore ecjuality between man and man in Canada than in England; which is gener- . ally the case, I believe, in most of our Colonies. Now I leave Canada. I enjoyetl the trip much, and made many friends, and shall always remember with feelings of pleasure my sojourn in that country ; and if I have not specially men- tioned all those to whom I am indebted, it is for want of space, and not that I have forgotten their kindness. On our way down the St. Lawrence the autumnal tints cf foliage formed a spectacle not easily forgotten, and would re(juire the brush of an artist, the minti of a poet, or the tongue of an orator to do it justice. I came back in the Allan L^ine steamer Sardinian, under the command of Captain Dutton. We had a congenial company of saloon passengers. There was .Miss Macpherson, of the Orphan Institution, of Gait, and Miss .Scott and Miss Combs, who had been with her to Canada. I was also pleased to meet John McLean, Esq., of Montreal, who was a passenger of the same ship that I went out in. We also had the Hon. D. A. Smith, Sir II. Allan, Mr. Lonsda'c, and Mr. Monson; also Mr. W. P. Cubit, a British delegate from Norfolk; Mr. \X iij. ;:?■ : ill ' l (' 72 Mr. George Curtis' Report. Hickson, of ♦lie Grand Trunk Railway, and many others of a like genial and intelligent stamp, of whose agreeable and instructive conversation I shall ever entertain a pleasing recollection. QUESTIONS, '* Mr. Curtis, who was loudly cheered, expressed his willingnes to answer any questions gentlemen desired to ask ; he courted the questions for the sake of giving information. "Mr. Davis (Gargrave) said the Craven farmers would be much benefitted if they could obtain from Canada, in the spring of the year, a supply of lean cattle ; and he inquired of Mr. Curtis if he thought the Canadian farmers could meet their wants in this respect. " Mr. Curtis replied that his impression was that the Canadian farmers could profitably supply us with lean cattle, but they wanted to send them in the autumn, whereas the Craven farmers wished to have them in the spring. The Canadians were undoubtedly going in more for cattle raising, and he believed lean cattle would in the futun; become a considerable item of the exports from that country. In support of this view he quoted the opinion of Mr. Hickson, the Manager of the Grand Trunk Railway, who was on board the vessel on which he returned to England. " In answer to the question as to whether the farm-buildings in Canada were of brick, stone or wood, Mr. Curtis said the stables and houses for cattle were generally of stone or brick up to the first story, and above that, of wood. " Question. — Are the roads very bad, and is it inconvenient travelling in the country districts ? " Mr. Curtis replied that at certain periods of the year travelling must be inconvenient. It was in the summer that he visited the country, and then the roads were very good ; and he was informed that in a great part of Ontario they were good, although it was admitted that for a week or two after the breaking up of a frost they were bad. The roads generally were gravelled, but the gravelling was such as would hardly deserve that name with us. " The chairman said it was admitted that the English farmer coidd not com- pete in wheat-growing with the virgin st)ils of Canada. He should like to know what Mr. Curtis's opinion was of the power of the exhausted soil of Canada as compared with the wheat-growing districts of England. " Mr. Curtis said it was a difficult (jueslion to answer. It was often dis- cussed in Canada in his presence. Sometimes one conclusion was come to, sometimes the contrary. He did not believe in some of the statistics which had been published in England. He did not think the Canadians could put wheat down in this country for 30s. a quarter, as had been asserted. His own impression was that Ontario would soon be beaten out of the field by the corn- growing districts of the Far West, just as England was beaten by Canada. Can- adians were much favoured by their climate, but we could grow vastly more per acre. He was told that the average this year in England was 27 to 28 bushels per acre Probably the average of Canada was not more than 20 bushels per acre, so that there were 7 or 8 bushels per acre in our favour. Then there was the cost of transit, and in his opinion we had no! much to fear from them. There would have to be a re-adjustment of rents in this country in the corn- growing districts, but he believed England was not going to be wiped out yet. " In reply to another question, Mr. Curtis said that Ontario generally was well watered. " On the motion of Mr. H. Holden, of HaltonEast, seconded by Mr. Davis, a vote of thanks was given to Mr. Curtis for his able report." — Craven Pioneer, November 20, 1880. REPORT OF MR. R. H. B. P. ANDERSON, Of ListOTtfel, Co. Kerry, Ireland. ON ONTARIO, MANITOBA, AND THE NORTH-WEST. Some months ago I was asked by a number of friends to go out to Canada and report on the country in general, and Manitoba in particular, as a field (br emigration. Accordingly, I lelt Ireland in July, that I might reach Canada while the crops were still growing, believing that in this state they are as good a criterion as it is possible to obtain of the soil and climate of a country. I have now returned afier a very pleasant and instructive trip, and have not only seen \.h» crops growing but some of the grain cut; have witnessed many of the ordinary Canadian farm operations; have seen their cattle early enough to be able to }udg« what they must have been after the longest and severest winter Canae " the dangers of the deej). " The extreme caution of the cajjtains when the slightest fog ai)peared was almost irritating to our lands- man's ignorance, but at the same time it made us feel perlectlysafe in their hands. The passage out occupied but seven days and a half; we were only four and a haW" days out of sight of land. On the fifth we were sailing up the St. Lawrence. One must see the glories of this magnificent river to be able to realise it. The arrange- ments on board the vessels for the comfort of all jiassengers, whether saloon, inter- mediate or steerage, are as complete as they could well be. With regard to that bugbear, sea-sickness. I can only say that he is (piite as black as he is paintedj but he seldom holds his victim long, and as he vanishes, .-is if in reparation for the mischief he has done, he leaves behind a feeling of health and elasticity which. . :.i _j»'-'- k^ 74 Mr. R. H. B. P. Andet-son's Report, makes one almost thankful for his visit ; besides, one suRers much more in the English Ciiannel in an ordinary steamer than in cros'-ing the Atlantic in an ocean boat. As to the travelling in Canada, when I say that I have travelled over some 6000 or 7000 miles of the North- American Continent, more than 5000 of which have been either by rail or steamboat, it will be alloweil that I am in a jiosition to speak of its dangers and inconveniences. S(j far as one could sec, there is an entire absence of that "go-ahead" recklessness which we associate with it, and which was one of its cliaracteristicn in olden times. The railway tracks are extremely well laid, and seem jierfectly safe; the sjieed does not exceed 35 miles per hour; the carriages are most comforlal)le, and the Pullman cars either as day or sleeping compartments are perfect. I have made a journey of 90 hours there with less fatigue ilian I would one of 12 hours here. Tiie carriages being close to one another, and connected at each end by a iilatform, a passenger can walk the full length of the train (often nearly a quarter ol a mile long) an(l enjoy the fresh • air outside the carriage tloor, avoiding the miserable feeling of confmement which one has in the carriages at home. The arrangements about luggage are sucli that it is almost impossible for it to go astray, or even give trouble to the owner. One is never in danger of being liungry when travelling, for if there be not a dining-car attached to the train, it is sure to stop at three stations during the day where good meals for a moderate charge can be had. l)Ut above all these, tiie extreme courtesy shown by all classes makes travel- ling deliglitful. The coarse and disgusting habits v e attribute to the American are a thing of the past, or else they have good feeling enough to restrain them- selves wliere indulging them would oflend ; and, strange to say, in a country where all aie smokers, a lady need not fear iiaving her delicate senses hurt by the use of "the noxious weed," for no one ever thinks of smoking excejit in a carriage set apart for the purpose. When, in addition to all these adva.ntages, there are intel- ligent and obliging officials, railway travelling need not be regarded with apprehen- sion. The river steamboats may well be called "floating palaces," and their man- agement seems to be in safe hands. I was extremely surjirised, though amused, to find that a rough day was quite enough to keep many of these boats from crossing Lake Ontario. On one occasion I was unfortunate enough to be one of fifty or sixty passengers on board the only boat that put out from Toronto for the day, and paid for the temerity of the captain by being more s''a-sick than I ever have been before or since. Of the good-nature of the Canadians I need hardly speak — it has become proverbial : I will only say that I have never experienced greater kinilness in my life than during my slay among them. Iiulependent the CJanadian certainly is, both in mind and manner — ]ierhaps to our old country idea, disagreeably so; but his independence falls far short of that self-assertion usually attributed to him. It is rather the independence of men " too full of sell-respect to be either servile or uncourteous." I may say, without fear of contradiction, that there is not a more law-abiding or loyal peo[)le in the world than the Canadians ; nor any country wliere a man, hav- ing acquired property, will have his title thereto more resj^ected than in Canada. Energy, perseverance and pluck no one will deny that they pos^^ess to an extraordinary degree who sees their beautiful cities and remembers that compara- tively a few years ago the ground on which they stand was clothed with primeval forests, the home of the Indian and the wolf. The hrst land I toucheil in Canada was at QueVjec. One of the first objects that attract attention before reaching Queliec (some nine miles from the city) are the Montmorency Falls, looking like a streak of silver down the side of the brown cliff. Quebec is beautifully situated on a hill commanding magnificent views of the river both above and below the city; but excepting these views, and the his- torical associations connected with it, the place is uninteresting. There is a large lumber trade done, and lately a new wharf has been built, also elevators, in the hope of securing some of the corn trade. I doubt the expectation being realised, Mr. K. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. 75 become in my nly is, so; but m. It rvile or •abiding ji, hav- anaila. lo an Limpara- iiimeval objects city) are brown views of the his- s a large in the realised, for it seems to mo that Montreal is the natural (present) port for the Wext. I say present, for, shoukl the Ilidson's I!ay ruuic be opened ami I believe that is now a certainty — the trade of Montreal will receive a seven low, for much of the giain coming lo Europe from not only the North-West bui the United States will be shippetl via I'ort Nelson. At I'oint Levi, directly opposite to, but divided from Quebec by the river, I saw some magiiilicent cattle and sheep taken oil a ship just arrived from Eii{'Jand. They romprisei.1 siiorlhorii and polled Angu;> cattle, and Colswold ami South Down sheep. Our Canadian cousins, alivr to everything by which the material prosi)erity of their country can be advanced, have seen the benefit to be derived from a good strain o( stock, and spare neither trouble nor exjiense to obtain it. I am inl'irmed that the land in the southern jjaris of the Province (Eastern Town- ships) is good. (yoing into Montreal, one passses through a splendid tubular bridge — the Victoria — some Invo miles long, crossing the St. Lawrence, and arrives at an untidy, wretched station — one c|uite unworthy of Montreal, which is, as regards size and importance at least, the chief city of Canada. Montreal is beautifully situated on an island formed by the rivers St. Lawrence and Ottawa, at the loot of Mount Royal — hence its name. The mount ha- ' ely been turned into a public park, wiiich will undoubtedly l)e one of the finu^t .n the world. The views from it are glorious. Montreal is a city of which the people are justly proud, and is the chief cutlet of Canadian commerce. Hero I had my first experience of Canadian hotels; in the arrange; .ent and management of which, as in most other things, they are ahead of us. Nothing is left undone to promote the comfort and convenience of guests. Their cliaiges are moderate, but their system of making them is very unlike ours ; one charge is made of so niuch per day, which includes everything — that is to say, beil, attendance, and four meals. At the very best hotels in Canada the charges range from los. to 1 2s. per day ; and for this sum you can live in a style and amid comforts you would look for in vain in Ireland. Neither has one to run the gauntlet between rows of waiters, " Boots," etc. , expecting to be "tipped,' on leaving a Canadian hotel. The island of Montreal, which is about thirty miles long by nine wide, contains good land, and the farmers in the neighborhood are well off. The next city I visited was Ottawa, the Canadian capital. Here I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Lowe, the secretary of the .Agricultural Ueparlnient, who kindly gave me much useful information, and put me in the* way of seeing the country to advantage. About twenty-live miles from Ottawa there is some prime land, and I was informed on the best autiiority that the whole valley of the Ottawa, which is com- posed of a light sandy loam, is admirai)ly suited for the cultivation of the vine, and is expected to be a wine-producing region in the immediate future ; indeed, I saw vineyards myself of several acres in extent, the vines looking healthy, and giving evident \nooi that they can be grown to advantage. They have a great many varieties oi hardy v.nes, which, with very little care, can be kept through the severest winter without receiving injury. France anti tjermany may yet find a rival in Canada for their light wines. Ottawa itself is nicely situated on the river Ottawa, and ci)ntains the Houses of I'arliament, which are really beautiful struc- tures. Erom them one has a s|)lendid view of the river. The ordinary buildings in the town are good, but the streets are anyt! ing t)ut well ke]3t, and there seems to be very liitle trade in the place except in lumber. I visited the Chaudiere Falls, close to the town. They are very tine. Here I was greatly struck with the utilitarian spirit of the Canadians, tlie waters being turned from their natural course over the falls to work mills for cutting timber. I went into one of the lumber mills close by, worked solely by the river, and was almost deafened by the eternal " whirr " of the saws. I was told that in this mill, during the three months it works, they cut upwards cf 40,000,000 feet of luinl)er. Both here and at Montreal I saw the true Canadian horse — small, slight, wiry and full of pluck — not adapted, apparently, for heavy work, yet astonishing the beholder by what it can do. iif !i| jifiw' 76 Mr. R. H. B. P, Anderson's Report. ONTARIO. The next city I shall mention is Toronto, the capital of Ontario, the richest Province of Canada. The city is sitviatetl on ihe shore of Lai years ago, there were but eiglu houses in it. An old country visitor looking round him, finds it tax his imagination to believe this. Toronto is the fountain-head of the Canadian educational system, which, so far as I can judge, seems perfect. 1st, There is the Public School, in which every child is eiii itled to receive a free education ; next comes the High .School, the charge for which is about £i a (piarler for each pu|)il. There is a Public School and High School in each district ; the High School course is a very comprehen- sive one. The master's tenure of office in these schools depends on liis success as a teacher, and as there is a wonderful amount of rivalry between them the pupils are sure of having every attention ; indeed, a gentleman who was for many years a most successful master, told me that the post is one of the most arduous that can well be imagined. After these schools comes the Collegiate Institute, and, lasily, the University itself, the fees for which amount to al)out £\o |ier armum. The pupils in each school are examined twice a year \iy public examiners, and those who show sufficient proficiency are raised to the next school above that in which they pass. I think the whole system, both as regards cheapness and thoroughness will favourably compare with any in this country. The Province of Ontario is a magnificent farming country ; it was here I first began to learn what a dangerous competitor in agricultural produce Great Britain and Ireland have in Canada. With a soil equal to any in the world, and practi- cally unlimited in extent; the very best strains of cattle and sheep that can be purchased for money increasing daily in number; labour-saving machinery of the very finest description, and farms extensive enough to warrant its use; cheap food; a country which can, and will in time, supply every want of its people ; and above all, a ])eople who seem to have erased the word "impossible" from their vocabu- lary, it does not require the gift of prophecy to say how the competition will end. One thing is absolutely certain— the small farmers of Ireland, even supposing they had no rent to pay, must succumb. The soil of Ontario of course varies, but, as a rule, is good, being from heavy clay to rich clay loam and sandy loam. In many districts the land is a good deal run down for want of proper farming ; for, taken as a whole, the Ontario farmers are not models I should advise my countrymen to copy. Among other faults, they entirely neglect the rotation of crops; and many seem to think manure unnecessary. However, they are rapidly improving in their methods, and I have met many excellent farmers who do justice to the soil they cultivate, and are, as a consequence, reaping a rich reward. The climate of Ontario is healthy, although severe. The heat in summer is intense ; the cold in winter, though not as great as that in the North-West, is, I am told, more trying, owing to the comparatively greater degree of dampness that exists. I am inclined to believe that the indiscriminate cutting away of the forest has injured the climate, and renders it more uncertain than it would otherwise l>e. The dry summers that sometimes occur are, I think, altiibutable to this cause. But that it is healthy in the extreme is beyond question ; both the people and the cattle being living proofs of it. When one sees the purest shorthorn cattle bearing the Canadian winter with shelter and food much inferior to that considered neces- gary for them in this country, yet in as good a condition as can be desired, one must conclude that the climate is a good one. The heavy yield of all descriptions of crop proves that it is one suited for the agriculturist. Melons, peaches, grapes, etc., ripening in the open air tell what the summer can do. imer is it, is, I ^ss that forest nse be. cause, [ind the bearing neces- ed, one riptions caches, Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. CATTLE, SHKEr, MORSKS, PIGS, ETC. 77 I did not visit any of the extensive herds of pure-bred cattle that Canada can boast of, l)eing satisfied that they existed. I may just s.iy that having first imported their stock from this side, they are now able to sell us animals for enor- mous figures. One that I have seen myself was bought as a nine-month-old calf by Mr. Talbot Crosby, from Mr. Cochrane, of Comptoii (10. Townships), fur, if I mistake not, ;^85o. I thought it more to my jiurpose tosee what class of cattle the ordinary farmer was al)le to rear, and great was my astonishment to 'inil on farms of 150 or 200 acres of laiul (the ordinary si/e of a Canadian farm), shorthorns of the very best families, which they cross with the native cow, producing very good animals indeed, either for the butcher or the dairy; anti sheep that would raise envy in the breasts of some of our flock masters in this country ; the South Downs surprised me much, as I was inclined to tliink the cold climate would not suit thorn, and expecletl they would be small and puny, but such was not the case. Up to the present, the Cotswold seems to be most in favour. The pigs, too, are excellent. 1 saw some Sufiblk and Herkshire jiigs in Ontario that would do credit to any br«;e(ler in this country. I may mention, in passing, having seen a beautiful short- horn cow, "Isabella," the property of a Mr. Russell, of Markham ; she was a perfect animal of her kind. I shall here say a few words on the prospect of the cattle trade with this country. I believe it to b° only in its infancy, and that five years hence Canada will be able to senil us one hunc'red pounds of beef for every one she sends at pres- ent, and of almost, if not quite, as good a cpiality as our home-fed beef. My reasons for this opinion are as follows : — Until a very few years ago, the Canadians had none but native cattle which, when crossed with a good breed, produce very fair animals, hut are themselves inferior except for the jiail ; and as they only recpiired these for dairy purposes or work-oxen, the calves, as a rule, were destroyed as soon as dropped. Now, not only are there several extensive herds of pure-bred cattle in the country, but it is no uncommon thing to find ordinary farm- ers with a couple of pure-bred bulls and good-sized herds of excellent "grades" (crosses between the native cow and shorthorn or polled Angus bulls, this last- named breed being admirably suited to the country). The calves are all reared, and as dairy farming has not paid so well the last few years, and the cattle trade with England has been tried and is found remunerative, many men have turned exclusively to rearing and feeding cattle for the Knglish market. At present the Canadians are, ai.d will be for some time to come, behind us as feeders; but they are fast finding out the increased value which oil-cakes and other concentrated foods give, not only to their beef, but to the manure. Up to the present by far the larger number of Canadian cattle sent to us are "disiillery fed." A man makes a contract with a distillery company for the "swill ;" and this, with hay, is all he gives his beasts. They thrive well and make good beef. When a farmer lies up his cattle he considers them worth about $2 per cwt. (of loo lb). lie can buy them lor this sum, and is fully satisfied if he gets $5 per cwt. for them when fin- ished. It appears to me that a little more time and a little more knowledge will make the cattle trade a great success — for Canada. But what about these coun- tries? I may here remark, that our railway companies might do worse than take a lesson from their Canadian brethren on the treatment of cattle while in their care. There is (|uite as great a ditTeience between the cattle-waggons in the two countries as between the passenger-cars. In Canada, cattle are taken on at once to their destination, and not kept for hours here or there on the road, as in this country. 1 saw some very good Clydesdale sires in Canada ; crossed with the Canadian mare they make a good animal, but heavy horses are not recpiired — indeed, would be undesirable there — at least for the farm. The Canadian horse is quite strong enough for the ordinary work, and is a marvel of activity and endurance. I heard some complaints in Manitoba of the mortality among horses imported there, but after sitting behind the same pair for six days, doing forty miles per day on an :( ■ If- ' i i 78 Mr. R. H, B. P. Anderson's Report. avtrage, an<' seeing the trealnient they often of necessity undergo in that country, I was only astonished that the death rate wj.s so low ; horses in this country would not last two days if ihey received similar treatment. 1 have run short of oats, and as a ccmsequence my poor cattle hat! to go lor twent\ -four hours with nothing to eat but soft prairie grass, as I was not always aijle to get even hay. Their gentleness, loo, is wonderlul. I had a striking example of this, having had to drive a pair of horses over ^i/.ty miles with their shoulders literally cut away; doing so nearly sickened me, but there was no help for it, and yet the noble brutes never even wniced. I have got into difficulties and out ol them again, wiiliout hurl to either horse or irap, that in this country would have lueant the utter deslruciion ol both. They seeui lo take everything in a most matter- of-fact manner ; if down, they will lie (juiet until freed, and yel are full of pli^v-k. CROl'S AND FRUIT. Considering the cultivation they get, crops of all kinds in Ontario were very good. 1 shall give what I was told was the average yield of some of the i)rincipal crojis, but 1 rtoi.dd say that it is al.isolutely alisuni to talk of the average yield of arty crop either in Ontario or the Norih-NVest, one man l)fci.,g able lo raise thirty bushels of wheal and lilly of barley to the acre, while his neighbor under similar coniliiions, but with l^ss skill, can only raise sixteen of the one and ihiriy-hve of the olher. " Average yields," under these circumstances, are no ciiteron of what the soil can dc ; it is my belief th;.l most of the arable lanil in Canutia, ii i)ro]:ierly workiil, will jjioduce crops as heavy as any laml in the world — of course allowing for climati': influences. Here are the yields as I got them; -Spring wheat, 14 10 19 buslieih per acre ; fall ditto, 24; barley about 40 ; oats, about 45 ; peas, 25 to 30; potatoes, 300 lo 400 ; turnips, 600 to 800 ; mangels, about i,oco. It must be renieml.v..ed thu: these crops are raised on land, for the most part, indifierently farmed ; crop atler crop of wheal being taken from it for years in succession with the lep..-,t j;ossible quantity of manure — indeed, •,. some cases none. The Canadians are utterly innocent of the use of artificial manures. But contact with old-country farmers, and the strong common-sense of the Canadian, will soon improve his farming ; and I think 1 am sale in saying that, wiih imprcved agriculture, an increased )ield of at least one-third would result. I saw a held of . carrots, mangels and turnips grown 1;^ 1 Mr. Renuie, of Scarborough, on virgin soil ; they were better than any J have ever seen in this country. Mr. Kennie, who is an exceedingly intelligent man, showed me, with honest pride, some of his ploughed land. No doubt the friable soil he had to deal with did not present the difficul lies to the plough that our heavier and more stony land does; but if Mr. Rennie throws down the gauntlet to the ploughmen of this country, I would advise none but the very l)esl to take it up. Timothy is the " lame " grass, as tliey call it, usually sown for pasture or hay ; they also use " orchard grass," answering to ou' cock's-foot, which is a good pasture grass. Timothy yields from two to three tons per acre at one cutting ; and when the season admits oi it there is usually a second cutting o.'' about equal weight. In Canada .he acre is a statute acre. Some of the larmers have tried " lucerne " as a soiling crop with great success ; on lair land it may be cut three times in the year, and yields from two lo three tons each cutting. Clovers do well ; bi't the best crop is maize, which is cut when about ten inches high, and gives a wonderful return. They have tried Italian rve-grass, but ii has been a complete failure. Taken altogether, C.nnada is ^ Jt such a fruit country as I had imagined. In Quebec little or none is grown , tlie same may be . ii-' of Manitoba and the Korth-West. Ontario, however, is exceptionally '> :[V.:(.\ for fruit-culture. Apples grow to perlection all ihnjugh the Province, ar ^ I'o homestead is comjjlcte wiihoiu its orchard of from five to ten acres. It struck me that most ol the farmers make a mistake in planting too many varieties, as they seldom have enough of any one kind for exportatic-n. The southern jjarl of the Province is a perlecl Iruit-garden, producing grapes, peaches, etc., in great abundance, and of Ti In the lure, plete t the have e is a -.dof Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. jf very good cjuality, though not equal to our hot-house grapes and peaches. If the niend)Ois o( the Fruit Orowers' Association are any judges of the suitability of the climate, etc. (and we must suppose they are), the more tender kinds ol fruit are not grown at all to the extent they i"'\o\n be. A mendier told uie that owing to the elevation of the country about '•- ,ielph and the nature of the soil, it might be taken for granted that any fruit winch could be raised in that district would do well in any part of the Province. At tiuclph I saw, in the garden of the Agricultural .School, aliout twenty varieties o( grnpes growing in the ojien air apparently to jierfection. I had also tiie pleasure of walking through Mr. .Stepiienson's extensive orchards, in which I saw a variety of fruits of wonderful excellence. DISEASICS OK CROI'S AND ANIMALS. Both cattle and crops are wonderfully free from disease ; in fact, neither horned cattle, sheep, nor horses seem to be affected with the diseases to which they are usually lial)le in these countries. Wheat suffers occasionally both from smut and rust, but to no great extent, and the fonner is |)reveniii)le. A dry summer generally leave- the turnips to the mercy of the fly. The pea is sometimes a good deal dam- aged by the ravagesof a iittle insect. The potato-bug, although known in Canada, is no longer regarded with the feelings of dismay it excited at first. A little Paris green, about i lb. to the acre, generally makes short work of this pest. It is a curious fact that it seliloni attacks [jotatoes planted in new land. sizp: of farms. The ordinary Ontario farm is from loo to 300 acres ; the capital considered necessary fi. pr, per working is from /^2 ids. to jC^ an acre. The lunises of the better ' las- la. mers are comfortable brick structures of the Swiss villa style, and are inr.ny d'.tgrees more elegant and comiortable iban the houses of better-off men at heme. 'I he same cannot always be saiized rivers. There is usually- suffi;uent tiinber on the farm for fuel and fencing purposes, and young plantations are biing made on many of them. Numbers of these farms are n(jw in the market, the j^rice, which includes all improvements, varying from ;^20 an acre round Toron'o to /^S in the more distant part of the I'rovincc. An excellent farm ca 1 t)e had, with well-built brick dwclling-house, out-offices, etc., in a good ilisirict, for abou^ ;^I2 r <.: a' e. There are three causes at work which place these farms in the market : 1st. Many farmers have so run down naturally good land that they finfi it no longer |)rotitable to farm it in the old way, and are either ignorant of how to bring it into heart again, or 'ave not capital enough to enable them to do so, and must therefore sell. 2nd. Many find the 200 acre farm too small tc kee]i a large family together. The sons, of course, wish to be settled in farms of their own, and .Manitoba or the North-West is the place they naturally turn to, and the capital realised by the sale of their 200 acres in Ontario is ample to start the largest family most advantageously in this new country. 3rd. Many farmers, having made money and liking town life, prefer I ,;11 their farms and go into business. - , . 8o Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. Let it be remembered that the capital the original settlers started with to clear away the mighty forests was the stiength of their muscular arms. Wf («• WAiJES AND TAXRS. Wages are high, good men receiving from ;^30 to ;^35 a year with board in Ontario ; womeii-servanis from ;^20 to £2^. Taxi^s are a mere bagatelle, amounting to about is. per acre, school-rate included. I was agreeably surprised to find that drunkenness is not common in Canada ; inileed, ] was struck by the absence of spirituous liquors at the dinner-table in the hotels, and was amused when told by a waiter that any doubt about the nationality v the work done, the system is a bad one= FREE LAND. ^' " There is stil son. e free i^rant land in Ontario, in the Muskoka dii'trict, piinci- pally bush. The land, I belie', e, is good, but I did not visit it. AGRICULTURAL COLLEC.E. I cannot conclude my remarks on Ontario without mentioning the Agricul- tural College at Guelph, Cuelph itself is n fair-sized town in the county of Wellington, in the centre of a well-cultivaied district. The land is pretty good, but not so rich as some other portions of the Province. There are several exten- sive breeders of both shorthorns and Ilorefords in the neighborhood ; indeed, all the cattle in the district were particularly fine. The college is about a mile from the town, and is supported by the Province of Ontario. The farm connected wit., it contains about 500 acres. I inspected the system of insuv.ction, which is very comi)l'te, inchuling not only ordinary agriculture anfl stock-raising, but a practical knowledge of chemistry and veterinary science, two \-ery valuable branches to the farmer, and very little known. The onlinary education of the student is not nCtjlecud, for I see an English and mathematical course laid dr. vn, which, it taken advantage of, will give the future rarmer something more than his bullocks to think and talk of. Nor is horticultur'e forgotten, and I saw for myself that the student had, in 'he extensive gardens connected with the college, ainjile opportu- nity of making himself acquainted with that art which will cnal)le him hereafter to beautify his homestead and supply his table with vegetable luxuries. Among 'he live-stock, six breeds of cattle are represented, i.e.. Shorthorns, Herefurd.-;, Devons, Aberdeen polls, Galloways, and Ayrshires. Of sheep they have Cotswolds, Leicesters, .South Downs, and Oxford Downs. There are also some very good Berkshire pigs. The fields, which, as nearly as possible, contain 20 acres each, are fenced with stra. :;1U bt)artl fences, and are extremely clean. Turn where you will, evidences of careful management and sound judgment meet you; but one would exi)ect nothing els; after having conversed with Profes- sor lirown, who has the pm.ctical working of the farm. Professor ]>rown is making some experiments in cattle feeding and breeding and with various cro()s, which I am sure will result in much good. From Mr. Mills, the able president, I received gr.;at kindness. Not only ilid he, in conjunction with Profes.sor Hrown, show me through the various departments of the college, etc., but afterward* drove me to several interesting places in the neighborhood. n^r^jiiff''' *\%'^''^:»'«*s^(^i-* Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. 8i MANITOBA. On my '.vay to Winnipeg I stopped a day at Chicago — a wonderful city, but one which, all the same, I should pieler to live out of. It bears aliout as much mark of the fearful tire which left it a heap of ashes a few years since as London docs of the "Great Fire;" and its magnificent stone buildings preclude the possibility of a repetition of such a disaster, I visited the stockyards, and (ound half the cattle and pig pens empty. I w.is informed it was a very small market. There were about 50,000 pigs arid some lo.ooo head of cattle I went through one of the large slaughtering-hf>uses (Fowler's), and saw the whole process of bacon- curing. It was marvellous, but very disgusting. They kill, on an average, 8000 pigs a day in this establishment. The corn-elevators in Chicago are worth see- ing ; I was surprised and delighted at the rajiitlity with which they either load or Uidoad a corn vessel. Some of them hold as much as 500,000 bushels, and one, I believe, is capable of containing 1,000,000. I stopped for a few hours at Minneapolis, celebrated for its wonderful mills. I went through one of them — the largest, they say, in the world — and was amazed at the perfect cleanliness of the whole place. There were numbers of ladies walk- ing about, looking at the various operations, and their black dresses were as free from dust as they would be in a drawing-room. While passing through Minnesota I saw one of the many ruses the Americans practise to prevent emigiants going into Manitoba, in which they see such a powerful competitor. I mention it here, as it may prevent many ])ersons being deceived. I left my own carriage and went into one full of emigrants, for the purpose ol questioning them as to their destination, prospects, etc. At one of the stations I remarked * vo Yankees, apparently farmers, chatting together in the telegraph-office. A little before the train started they got on board, but evidently wished to be thought strangers to each other. After a short time (me of them entered into conversation with a Scotch emigrant, anrl discoursed eloquently on the horrors of Manitoba — said it was a swamp that he had gone up there to farm, had lost nearly all he possessed, and given it up as a bad job. lie called the whole thing " a big take-in" on the part of the Canadian Government. The other fellow, meanwhile, joined in and recounted his experience to a ga|>ing audi- ence; and then both praised Minnesota and Dakota in the most extravagant terms, pointing out the verj' country we were passing through (splendid land some of it appeared to be) as a specimen of what they could get for next to nothing if they chose to settle in the neighborhoods in which they said they had ju>t taken up land — curiously enough, one in Minnesota, the other in Dakota. I don't know how it ended, but I have little doubt they induced some of their hearers to remain in the States. The men weie afterwards jjointed out to me as " touters. " I may say that great inducements were offered me by a land ; gent if I would consent to remain in Minnesota and get some ol my friends to :ome out and join me there. To anyone intending to go to Manitoba or the Nor h- West I would deciiledly say, do not be kept back by any of the numerous American agents you will meet, no matte- what ajjparent advantages they may offer you. Undoubtedly the land in Northern Minnesota and Dakota is nearly as good as that in Manitoba ; but most of the good lar 1 — indeed, Ai.L of it within conven- ient distance of the railway — is in the hands of the railway company, and is dearer than land in Canada. Another thing the settler must bear m mind is that the average yield of Minnesota is but iS bushels per acre, while that of Manitoba is 25. A short time after leaving the station of St. Vincent we were whirled acrf)ss that imaginary line which separates the United States from (Janada, and I was at last in that land which had been haunting me day and night for months past — Manitoba. Must I confess it, my feelings were at first anything but jubilant. At Winnipeg, however, the bustle and Inisiness-like air that pervaded the whole place, late as the hour was, nine at night, reassureij me somewhat, and this feel- ing was strengthened on reaching die " Queen's " hotel, where I was shown into a most comfortable bedroom, as nicely furnished a.s one could wish. Next morn- iWm-:' 82 Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. B: Iferv ing — Sunday — I explored the city, and was utterly astonished at what I saw. Some eight or nine years ago Winnipeg was a wretched village with a ciHi|)le of - hundred inhabitants ; now it is a thriving go-ahead little city of 12,000 or 13,000 inhal)itants, the floating population alone being estimated at 1000. I went into the Presbyterian place (jf worship and founme to the conclusion that one can't serve God and drive tjxen ; it is impossible." The best authorities, htiwever, tell me it is not impossible ; that aliuse seems to stupify the animal, hut that gentleness with a judicious use of the whip will make them do good work. I reached Winnipeg late at night, the last ten miles having been got over amid the glories oi the most m;xgnificent thunderstorm I ever wiinesse 1— the lightning was vivid beyond imagination. The thunder was not very loud or frequent, but the noise of the rain was quite sufficient to make up for this. Tiiere are usually a number of these thunder-storms during the summer, but very rarely i- any damage done hy them. Next day I lel"t Winnipeg, prejjared for camping out— and a most enjoyable way of living it is — an'l started in a south- westerly direction. I met my first mishaj) crossing the ferry just outside Winni- peg ; my horses fell "all of a heap" on the ferry-boat, Init lay quietlv till we relieved them, and then got up uninju.ed. We travelled for some miles close to the river; the land was first-rate, and much of it was covered with light timber. ■tf ' i ; I 84 Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. \^ |ii Near Morris I was struck by the peculiar appearance of some fields of wheat, part of which seemed to have failed, or to have suftered from some blight, while the rest was covered by a luxiriant crop. On in(|uiring the cause, the owner told me it was the effect of a hail-storm. These hail-storms someiiiiies do damage ; they generally occur in July, and are extremely partial, cutting the crops down in a belt perhaps a mile wide, but perfectly straight, right through the district visited. It IS well they are not very Irequent. The farmers, however, do not make much of it, as they say there is always enough left to pay them. The return is generally eight bushels instead of twenty-tive. Leaving Morris behind, I passed through an immense marsh on my way to the " Lowe Farm.' The Messrs. Lowe have something like i9,ocxD acres in this neighbourhood, in two farms. The land is excelleni, but too wet ; ii is admirably suited for stock-raising, as there is abund- ance of hay. There is some difficulty about the water supply, which, I am sure, will be overcome. They are fortunate enough to have one of the Government cuttings run near them, which will drain their land thoroughly, and it will then be fit for any purpose. I hail from this place a drive through many miles of flat, tree- less prairie, much of it marshy, and I could boast a fair experience in the art of extricating myself from a "slew," by the time I reached Nelsonviile ; the land about which jilace is very fine, rolling, dry and rich. Here I met a North of Ireland farmer, who seemed much pleased with the country ; he had taken up 320 acres. My next drive was through the Pembina Mountains. I was greatly pleased with tbe kud, which is rich and very easily worked. Three years ago there were not a d laen settlers in the whole district ; now tor fifty miles round there wetre few, if icnry, quarter sections unoccupied. In *he big Pembina Valley, which is a really b«=auliiul spot, I met two young Irishmen, Messrs. Armstrong and Atct.ison, whose only cause for grumbling was the scarcity of wives ; they told me if I could bring oiii a cargo of eligible young ladies I would make my fortune. Here two days' rain gave me a very disagreeable opportunity of judging what wet weather in Manitoba is. I was, however, none the worse for a thorough drench- ■ ing, nor ior having to let my clothes dry on me : I should not like to try the experiment in this country. Remarking on my escape to a settler, he said, *' Pooh ! I am here four years, and have never heard a man cough yet." I saw a good deal of the countiy in the direction of Rock Lake, but had not time to go as far as the Turtle Mountains. I next visited Mountain City, the pro])erty of Dr. Codd and Mr. liradley. As this embryo city occupies a good anti central position as regards some of the other towns, and is in the mii'ulle of a rich district, the owners may be congratulated. About ten miles east of Mountain City is the Mennonite Reserve, which stretches forty miles towards Emerson. These people have a tract of magnificent ianfi ; they are very thrifty and hard-working, and, as contract laboun-rs, are much better and cheaper than any others in the Province. But they arc not over-clean, either m their persons or in farming. Their crops were \ery good, but showed careless cultivatic)n. They grow very 'ne flax for seed. Their cattle also are very numerous and of fair (ju.-iluy. Ha\ ing spent a good wl\ile examining this settlement, I started for Emerson, which place I reached late in the e\'- mg, ami left it next day on my homeward journey, having travelled ovei .everfti '"«ntlred miles of the country ; and yet I feel it almost presumptuous t>' ^pcak as having seen it, so small was the portion I examined compared with ihc vast whole. I -.hall now give some idea of the crops, climate, etc., umler their various heads, and state the conclusions I drew from my visit. cluiate ani seasons. ite of Masnoba and the North-West is one of their most serious drawbacks, out we are inclined to look itpon it as a much more serious affair than it really is. l>escnptian will do little t" — '"-ve these impressioas: it must be C-perienced to be understood. At homt ,ive hea. ls geneaiBhr accompanied l^ oppressiveness, with its attendaa: weariness and inertia ; and cold, as a rule. HllilllifiilKilllliiM Mr, R. H. B. F. Anderson's Report. «5 with dampness, which makes it raw and piercing. Now this is not the case in Manitol)a or the North-West. The heat at loo" was undoubtedly very intense, but — and I speak from personal experience — without sultriness. I perspired freely, but otherwise felt no inconvenience, and had energy enough for any amount of work. This was an unusual degree of heat; the summer mean is, 1 believe, alfoul 70°. Usually during summer tliere is a pleasant breeze, and the higher the thermometer stands the more likely is there to be a bree/e. No matter how hot the ilay, the night is sure to be cool. In winter the cold is very grea; but nothing like what it is at home in proportion to the degrees of frost ; if it wert animal lift would cease, !or the thermometer sometimes sinks to 40'' and 50" be ow zero — just imagine what that woidd mean in England !— but when it does soil is certain to be accompanied by a bright and perlecily siill atmosphere and a warm sun. However, as a rule, it stands at from 10" to 15". As I had not an opportunity of exjjcriencing it myself, I was not content with the testimony of the ordinary set- tler concerning it, Init had that of such men as the Bishop of the Saskatchewan and clergymen of various denominations, as well as bankers and others, on who.se o|)inion I could rely. All agreed in saying that one feels no colder when the thermometer stands at 40' than when it is at 10" l)elow zero, and that winter is a delightful part of the year. JS'umbers ot peoi^le from Ontario said the climate of Manitoba compared favourably with that of Ontario. There are, however, slight deviations which are intensely disagreeable. In the summer there are sometimes extremely high winds and hail-storms, and in the winter storms of wind and snow -— " blizzards," as they are called. In spring and early autumn frosts sometimes occur, which do no good to the crops ; IaU all these things apply to the Western States of America just as much as they do to Manitoba. Indians camp out in their wretched, canvas-covered tents during the mostseverewinters, and white men, wiien hunting, have often to do the same, and think nothing of it. A curious fact is that Europeans, for the first two winters, bear the cold better than the Canadians themselves. Snow does not fall to any extent till the beginning of the year, and seldom exceeds an average of eighteen or twentv inches in depth. When the thaw comes it is unaccompanied by that abominable slushiness we have at homej the snow evaporates, leaving the ground dry. During spring and early summer an immense deal of rain falls ; drought, which so often ruins the farmer in the United States, never occurs here. The dews are so heavy that one would imagine there had been a fall of rain in the night. The sea.ons are as follows: Spring;, April and May ; Summer, June, julv and August, and part of September*; Autumn, part of September to tlie middle of November ; and then winter. Of course, in so extensive a country as Canada there is some slight difference in climate. In Ontario the harvest is ten days earlier than in Manitoba. All agree that as regards health the climate of the North-West cannot be surpassed. SOIL. ft The soil varies much, as it is natural to suppose, over flrilH^a tract : but as a rule it is a rich, black, vefjetable mould., working very Ifer -Sty — rich beyond imagination— and resting on a marly clav. The depth of 'iie surface soil varies a good deal, in some places not more thari ten or twelve inches, in others as many feet. I am informed that chemical analysis has jiroved the soil to be the best adapted of any in the world for the growth of *heat, and cen^inly practical experience bears this out. It is very easily workei, becoming as nne as powder. However, there are all descriptions of soil tc be had here, from the heaviest clay to the lightest sandy loam. PRODUCTS. 4 ' 'I Wheat, of course, is the principal product, barley next and then oats. Indian com (maize) does fairly in some places, but is not grnwn to any extent. Oali seem to ripen too fast, and while it yields a great number of bushels to the acre, 18 not up the mark as regards quality. Potatoes are an excellent crop, Iwth as 86 ^fr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. regards tiimntity and quality (th()iij;h I did meet some of a poor enough description); ait roots grow to perfi.;ction. Amony tiie grasses tiniotliy and coclerries, raspberries, currants and ])lums will do well, and grow abundantly in a wild state; and I have seen apple trees that looked as if tliey might bear — it seemed a struggle with them to hold their ground ; but peaches, grapes, etc., will not grow. Melons, tomatoes, etc., can be grown in any (piantily, and of the verv finest descri|)tion, in the open air. Those ! saw 1 tliought fmer than any I liad seen in Ontario. Garden vegetables of all dcscrijuions abound, and I was delighted by the blaze of color the fiower-gardens in honl of the Mennonites' houses presented. CULTIVATION. hi June and July, and, in a wet year, part of August, is the time for breaking the ]irairie; the sap is well up in the grass, etc., which is easily killed by the sum- mer heat when turned up, ar^d the ground is wet, making easy ploughing. The sod is merely pared, the more lightly the better; the furrow turned is about fifteen inches wide. In the autunm or spring the furrows are backset, the plough turn- ing about three inches of soil. In the sjiring the seed is sown, often without further ploughing, and harrowed in ; as often as not, rolling is neglected. Wheat is sown from the I5lh of Ajnil to the 15th of May, the earlier the l^etter ; oats till the end of May, and barley till the end of June. I have seen barley doing well that was sown on the loth of July. The (|uantity of seed per acre is about the same of each, viz., two bushels. Harvest begins in the middle of August ; pota- toes, turnijis, etc., can be sown till the 20th of June, and fall ploughing, the great secret of success, can be carried well into November. The hay harvest, in July, is a simj le alTair. Prairie hay costs about a dollar a ton by the time it is in the stack ; a crop can be raised on the turned-up sod, but except as a makeshift the first year, it ought not to be done, the yield is sure to be ]ioor. The farm- ing implements are all of the very best descriptiun, made with a view to the saving of labor. A man with a breaking plough and a good team can break or backset one aiid a half to two acres ])er day, and with a gang plough and four horses about double that cpianlily. With a self-binding rea|)ing machine attended by two stookers, from twelve to fifteen acres can be cut, bound, and stooked in a day. I have seen these machines do wonderfully clean work. Manure is of no value, and is either burned or carted to the nearest river (the Mennonites make fuel of it). It will be years before the land requires it, or indeed would bear it. I do not say that our liigh-chss English and Scotch farming is at all necessary for success, but I am persuaded, aiul it is proved, that care and skill are amply rewarded; no farmer neetl fear failure in Manitoba. I have, among my notes, a list of fourteen men all getting on well, who told me that until they came to Mani- toba they never lived out of town. MARKETS. Up to the present, and for some years to come, there is a ready market in the country tor all kinils of protluce, owing to the influx of settlers. The prices to be had for everything would almost pay in this country : wheat, in out-of-the- Mr. R. H. E. P. Anderson's Report. Bf way places, $1.50 to $2 per Inishel, and I havq l)een charged as liigh as $t a bushel lur uais — the general jirice is about 70 cents ; potatoes as liigh as 40 cents, and everything else ni proportion. Tiinoiliy hay sells readily for $15 per ton. Two shillings a bushel for wheat on the larni \soukl pay the grower. Long beh)re the country is settletl enough to lower these prices Liverpool will be the market for Manitoba and the N'orth-W'est. .Since my return from C'anada I had the pleasure of hearing that the Canadian (ilovermnent have maile arrangements with a nuiidier of luigiish capitalists for the construction of the Canailian Pacific Railway, binding them to have it (inished within ten years. The line will be about 2,800 miles long, so it is natural to suppose that within three years at furthest between 800 and 1000 miles of it will be comjileted ; this, with two or three branch lines, which are also under contract, will o|)en up and bring within marketable distance of Liverpool a tract of country that, no mailer how rajiidly settlement progresses, cannot all be taken u)), much less cultivated, for the next forty years ; besides this, in May of the ]iresent year, the (jovernnient granted a charter to a company, entitled the Winnipeg and I'udson's Bay (Jompany, who want to open up the Hudson's Bay route; they are bound to have the railway to Port Nelson openetl within six years. It is suppf sed that steamers, made on the same principle as the sealing steamers, will be able to navigate Hudson's Bay for three months of the year. This route will bring the great wheal lields of the North-West nearer to Liverjiool than New York is, so that on the score oi mar- kets for their produce the settlers have every reason to be satistied. I think I am safe in saying that it will be possible to place wheal from the Saskatchewan on the Liverpool market for about 28s. per c|uartcr, if not less, with profit to the farmer. Ami by the American storage system (our warehousing' plan extended) a farmer might almost sell his corn to a buyer in Liverpool wlnle it was still at the railway station nearest his homestead. By this I mean that a broker in Liverpool would feel himself safe in buying it. There is an elevator at almost every station for storing the corn. When it is taken in it is graded, and the owner is given a docket showing the grade and number of bushels, which docket is negoti- able anywhere. J CATTLE, SHEEP, AND HORSES thrive well, and in spite of the long winter, during wliich they musf be housed. Stock-raising is found very prolitable ; hay can be had in abundance, and cattle keep their condition well on it. I see no reason why they could not be shipped to England Irom Manitoba when the Canadian Pacific Railway is finished. At present there are not many well-bred cattle or sheep in the country, but the .lUm- ber is increasing rapiiUy year by year. I made searching incpiiries regarding the danger of spear-grass to sheep, and found it was very much exaggerated ; it is only to the careless or lazy farmer it presents any dift'iculty ; it is by no means common, and in the districts wdicre it grows it can l)e rendered harmless l)y eat- ing it down early, or by runni;ig a mowing-machine over the ])atches of ground coveretl by it. I heard some comjjlaints about the difi'culty of keeping horses in Manitoba. In my opinion, and I judge by what I saw, it would be entirely obviated by supplying plenty of gootl hay and oats. Horses cannot live on the prairie grass. Mules are extremely good, some of them magnificent brutes, standing seventeen hands high ; they seem to grow fat on the grass, and are altogether hardier and more adapted to the country in its present stale (till more timothy and oats are grown) than the hcrse, but they are much dearer. Oxen, however, are the mainstay of the farmer in cultivating his farm, in fact, in break- ing the prairie he could scarcely do without them- they are powerful brutes, and for oxen, are wonderfully active ; they cost nothing for keep, and also have the advantage of being cheaper than either horses or mules. An ox costs about £14, a horse about ^^25, ami a mule about ;^35. Good milch cows can be had for about ;^8 ; sheep, 12s. to i8s. each. I ft)rgot to say that the pig seems to be at home here as everywhere else. I saw some prize Berkshires, eighty miles from Winnipeg, that had been brought from Ontario, and seemed happy iii their new ifiF JJlTliliiiiwiiiMiiriiiliMiiriil 88 Mr. R. H. B. P. Aiidenon's Report. quarters. The ordinary diseases to which stock are liable in Ireland are unknown in anj part oi Canada, nor is there any, that I heard of, peculiar I* tije country. TREE CULTURE Lb comparatively easy. The soil must be dry, and in a state of thorough cultiva- tion. Make the pits one-half deeper ami wider than the roots require, and plant one inch hij^her than the old mark on the stem, at a distance of al)c)ut seven feet apart in every direction. In making a plantation, il possible, let a convex surface be presentelaced by handsome brick structures. Mr. R. H. B. F. Anderson's Report. % WATKR. The settler must, above all things, make sure that there is a good supply ot water in a neighhorhoorl before he decides on taking land there. Very often there is none but brackish water to be had in the whole district — sometimes none ai all ; but, as a rule, theie is an inexhaustible supply of delicious water to be had by digging from l6 to 40 feet for it. FUEL. TimV)er is the principal fuel, but there are large peat-bogs in the country which, when properly utilised, will yield a line supply of s[)lendid fuel. It is black, hard peat, and gives an intense heat. There is also an ample sujiply of coal in the Saskatchewan district, which will come into use ou the completion of the railway. 1 IJIBOUR. There are plenty of men to be had, but wages are high. A man will earn from 8s. 4d. to 12s. 6d. per day during the spring antl summer ; but £2,0 to £/^o a year with board is the usual hire for a man by the year. Women servants are scarce, and command almost as high wages as the men. Cultivating can be done by contract, and for men of capital is by no means a bad plan. Cultivating by contract costs — for ploughing, sowing, cutting, and threshing — alxjut £2 5s. the first year, and £1 13s. alter. The Mennonites do this kind of work cheaper and better than the Canadians. A Mennonite will break an acre of ground at $2.50, •while a Canadian charges $4. PROVISIONS, MACHINERY, ETC. Winnipeg is by no means a cheap place to live in, at present at least ; tea, coffee, sugar, and meat are fully a third dearer than in Ontario. However, this will not be for long, and even now makes very little difference to the settler. Farming implements are much dearer in Winnipeg than in Ontario. And I believe, in spite of what is said to the contrary, that it would pay the settler to bring the heavier articles of his outfit with him from Ontario. I was, however, glad to hear that lately several houses have opened on the "ready cash" system, and are selling much cheaper than the credit houses, as is but natural. But what pleased me most in the matter was that the farmers are nearly all taking advantage of them, which speaks well for the country. draina(;e and roads. These two may well go together, for until the country is properly drained there can be no roads, and the present tracks over the prairie have neither right nor title to the name. During Hne weather they are uncommonly pleasant for travelling on, as the beaten soil becomes as hard as meial, but a single shower changes the aspect terribly, and the traveller finds himself floundering in a mass of black, sticky mud. This is a characteristic of Manitoba only ; the Norlh- West is much higher and drier, and requires little if any drainage, so that the tracks are always in fair condition. Manitoba, on the other hand, is rather low and wet, but there is very little of it that cannot be easily drained, and the Government are spending $100,000 a year on drainage works; they are making deep cuttings all through the country, so the farmer can easily manage the rest by surface drainage ; this must soon have a wonderful effect. Within the last twelve months the Province of Manitoba has been divided into numicipal divisions, and each division is bound to see aftci the proper maintenance of its roads and other public works. , -^ ntfiMr r ^Mk^i^Bb •aiiMaaii^B^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) fe z ^ .

^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 V ^9) r^N V ^ 4t>^ \\ ^.^ <^.^ o\ % ^^ '<*) I m.0 '/, 90 Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. SCHOOLS AND TAXKS. The taxes in Manitoba are so light that they arc not worth mentioning ; they do not amount to more than a few pence an acre. Schools here, as in Ontario, are supported by taxation ; of course they are not yet very numerous, but they are quite adequate for the requirements of the country, and will, I am sure, be kept so. PURCHASE AND DIVISION OF LAND. The country is divided info belts, 5, 15, 20, and 50 miles wide on each side of the railway ; these belts are again divided into townships of 6 square milea each ; these sections again are divided into quarter sections of 160 acres each. Two sections in each township are set apart for school purposes, and two l>elong to the Hudson's I'.ay Company. The sections are uniformly numbered from the south-easteily to ihc north-westerly angle ; the odd-nund)ered sections in each township are railway lands, i.e., lands to be sold to realise funds for the construc- tion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the even-numbered sections are set apart for free homesteads and pre-emption lands. The lands are priced according to the belt in which they lie ; in other words, their distance from the railway. In IJelt A, the railway price is 20s. ; in 13, 16s. ; in C, 12s. ; D, 8s. ; and E, 4s. per acre. The pre-emntion price is generally half the railway price. Each settler who is either the head of a family, or a male over eighteen years of age, is entitled to 160 acres free, except for a fee of £2. He must have his name entered for it at the nearest land-office, and must reside on it tor three years, and cultivate it to a reasonable extent, according to his means. He is allowed two months, which is counted part of the three years, after having his name entereii, for moving his family on to the land. He can also be absent from his homestead six months out of each year. A second cjuarter section can be pre-empted, for which a fee of £2 has to be paid. No further payment is made till the end of the third year, wh«i;i fcnir-tenlhs of the price is required, after which payments at the rate of one-tenth each year for six years conqilete the purchase. Six per cent, interest is charged on the pre-emption money. Emigrants are received in Manitoba by agents specially appointed for the pur- pose, who will advise and guide the settlers to the lands that may have been selected by them. INSECT PESTS AND PRAIRIE FIRES. I made particular inquiries concerning the grasshoppers when in Canada, and found that when they do visit the country vegetation simply disappears along their line of march. They have, however, only appeared tive times within the la?>l sixty years, and the sel tiers are confident that they have seen the last of them. One gentleman told me that they entered his drawing-room through the window and destroyed the lace curtains in it. liy cultivation the eggs are destroyed, so that it is to be hoped the country will see them no more. M(Jsquitoes and black flies cause great annoyance, especially to the new-comer, during the summer months; bur drainage, the great enemy of these pests, has been carried on to a great extent throughout the country, so that it is likely they will become less troublesome ; they are not found in the towns, nor in the high dry parts of the country. Prairie (ires are becoming much less frequent than formerly ; however, numbers of them still occur every fall, doing considerable damage ; but it is only the careless or over-confident farmer who suffers, as the means of protection are simple and are within the reach of all. 'Hie potato-bug has not yet made its appearance in Manitoba, but they expect it to do so; it seldom attacks potatoes planted in new land ; they are not much afraid of it, and it has lost half its terrors best to those who know it. CONCLUSION. Two questions I was constantly asking myself while in Canada were: ist. Why do the Canadians come to Ireland ? If it be for the sake of scenery they Mr. R. H. B. P. Anderson's Report. 91 are unwise, for, to use an expression of their own, their scenery "whips ours all to bits." If it be for the sake of comparison, that they may think more of tlieir own country on their return, I can understand it. 2nd. Why do the Irish prefer hard work and misery at home to peace and plenty in that grand new world. I know tiiat numbers of Irish do go to Canada, and that numbers of them succeed also, but what I mean is, why that number is not quadrupled, and why men of a class to whom success would not be a prol)ability, t)ut a certainty, t.e., men who understand their business, and have a little capital, do not go out there. I could, if space permitted, give instance after instance of men who left Ireland paupers and are now well off, many of them rich ; but is there need that I should do so? Where is the Irish family who has not some relative on the other side of the Atlantic, and that has not over and over again received that extremely pleasing proof oi prosperity — a liank draft— from him ? liul these drafts, I am sorry to say, are oftener the fruit of woik done for others than for themselves, for I was struck by the fact that the Irish scKlom (|uit the large towns, in which they have to work really hard for their wages, while they leave these rich lands to be occu- pied by English, Scotch, and German farmers, who (quickly become independent and hajipy. This should not be so. If I am asked who ought t(jgo to Manitoba and the Nortli-West. I unhesitatingly say, any man who for any reason intends to emigrate to any place, and is not afraid of hard 'vork and some discomfort for a few years, and whose family can get on for a time without the aid of female servants. Such a man will, if he has pluck, succeed in time, though he went without a penny, l)Ut if he has /^loo or ;^2CX) in his pocket, he may expect to enjoy a prosperijus and happy home in the immediate future. Any one who can- not "rough it," or dislikes having his face blotched now and then by mosquito- bites, any "ne'er-do-weel," or drunkard had belter stay at home, or, for the benefit of humanity, drown himself on the way out, as he has no chance of succeeding. I would have no one going to Manitoba too sanguine or expecting too much — this is a great mistake, and very fruitful of disappointment. There are serious drawbacks to be encountered, many hardships and inconveniences to be endured, but none that a little pluck will not overcome, and none that will not be amply recompensed for by the comfort and independence to be gained by bearing them for a short season. There is an intensely cokl winter, a hot summer, bad roads, mosquitoes, and black tlies ; grasshoppers occasionally, hail-storms in summer sometimes, a prairie fire in autumn, and perhaps a slight frost in spring ; but, as a man said to me when I enlarged on these disadvantages, "I don't care a cent for them ! I can live, and live well, in spile of them all." And it is true; the rich soil, that with a little labour pours forth its abundance, is to be had for nothing. The climate is good for man, l>east, and crops. This, the appearance of all three puts beyond ([ueslion. The people are law-abiding and kind, the prices to be had for everything at present are very gf)od, anenehire. These form the commencement of the Laurentian Group, running through the Provinces ot Quebec and Ontario to Lake Superior, at various distances from the St. Lawrence and the lakes. We are now getting clear of the ice, and running thirteen knots an hour in smooth water. In the evening our concert came off, and, having two professors of music and some good singers on board, it was a great success, Saturday morning at daylight we were in the midst of the Gult, with no land in sieht, but in the afternoon were running up the River St. Lawrence, the shores of which were dotted with the white cottages of the French Canadians. At sun- down we arrived within a few miles of Quebec, but owing to a fog were obliged to bring up till the Sunday morning, when, after half an hour's sail, we reached our destination. .'f I THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF MONTREAL. A Special train awaited us, and we were quickly on our way to Montreal. We saw nothing of note till we reached the great Victoria Briilge, built by our Robert Stephenson, over the St. Lawrence. We stayed the night at Montreal, and on the following morning Judge Cross, a resident of the city, and one of our travelling companions from England, kindly sent his carriage to take myself and i 94 Mr. W. P. CuhitVs Report. a brother-delegate from Ireland to the summit of Mount Royal, where we had t magniticent view of this fine city and the majestic St. Lawrence, flowing through the country as far as the eye could reach. We coniinued our drive, visiting some of the adjacent farms, and were particularly struck with the naturally good claj loams- The farming was far from l)eing good ; but there was a notable excejjtion in the case of a Scotch farmer, whose land was clean, and who kejjt a good herd of Ayrshire cows, and had commenced the cultivation of roots. It was here we ;iaw the dreaded Colorado beetle in its work of destruction; but its ravages can now be hindered by the application of Paris green, with which the leaves are sprinkled. The home of this beetle is in the United States rather than in Canada, and I did not hear much of its ravages in my travels. The more striking characteristic of this neighbourhood was the apple-orchards, which were exceed- ingly productive, and this remark applies to almost every farm in Canada. OTTAWA. I We next made our way to Ottawa, the capital of the Dominion, which is situated in a picturesque position on the banks of the Ottawa. On our arrival we called upon Mr. John Lowe, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, from whom we recei\'ed passes for our intended journey to Ontario and Manitoba by railway and the lakes. An official was sent to show us over the Parliament buildings, which in tiesign anil style of architecture will rival Westminster. The Chaudi6re P'alls at Ottawa are well worth seeing ; a portion of the water power is utilised in driving a large number of saw and flour mills. An immense lumber trade is carried oh here, the stacks of sawn lumber, piled closely to the height of 20 feet, being said to cover 100 acres of ground. THE DISTRICT OF PORT HOPE. We then went on to Port Mope, where we were met as arranged by Colonel Williams, M.P. for the East Durham County — a true type of an English country gentleman, and a passenger in the Polynesian — who had arranged to take us a trip across the Cavan district, for which purpose we were provided with a pair- hoise "democrat" (a light sort of waggonette carrying six or eight passengers). We passed through some good land, inspecting some of the farms and farmsteads on our way. The soil is a friable loam, about 30 inches in depth, resting upon disintegrated limestone. It produces excellent swedes, and grain of good quality, and just the land I should have liked in my own country ; but from years of close cropi)ing and limited manuring, it is not producing anything like the crops we are in the habit of growing. These farms run from loo to 200 acres, and are, in almost every case, the property of the occupiers. Some of the oldest settlers are still living, w ho commenced clearing the forest fifty or sixty years ago, with scarce a shilling in their pockets, and are comparatively wealthy. We called on one sturdy old Irishman, eighty-three years of age, who had saved over $100,000 (^^20,000) and had commenced penniless. I could have filled my notebook with such cases. It was not capital these early pioneers then wanted, but strong arms and unflinching energy. It was perfectly marvel- lous to travel through this country and see what a vast area of forest has fallen before the axes of these hardy sons of toil. But the log-house and rough shanty are now being supplanted l)y neat brick dwellings, surrounded by veran- dahs and other signs of refinement. During the day we lunched with Mr. George Campbell, of Millbrook, then viewed his farm, which was clean and well cultivated. The few swedes that were grown were good ; indeed, almost all the Dominion of Canada is mijre or less favorable to the production of roots, yet it is surprising how few are grown. Proceeding on our way we called at other farms, and then returned to Millbrook The following morning, Colonel Williams took us for another drive through a good country along the shores of Lake Ontario ; h'-re I saw farms as good as any in England, but. as usual, cultivated upon the whipping system — much grain with but few cattle. We returned to Port Hope. I could \m% Mr. W. P. Cuhitfs Report. 95 BOt but come to the conclusion that undei a more liberal system of farming very nearly as much meat and grain could be produced as in our own country. We here took leave of our excellent and hospitable friend. A SUCCESSFUL EMIGRANT FROM NORFOLK. We next journeyed to Toronto, a well-built city, very English-like in the habits and manners of the people I did not remain here long, as I was anxious to visit some old servants, who k'ft my neighborhood some forty-seven years ago to better their position, it being a period of great agricultural dejiression. This couple landed at Quebec after six weeks' passage with but ten shillings in their pockets. Through many troubles and privations, they workeil their way as far west as Garafraxa, about 600 miles from Quebec. After a hard struggle, in bringing up a family of twelve children (four of whom they have lost), they saved sufficient money to purchase lOO acres of forest, had a raising bee, and in one day felled and squared sufficient timber to build the walls of a log-hut. The roof is put on by more skilled hands. It i-; said these Canadian woodsmen are so clever that with an axe, saw, and auger, they can build a house. Ilaviiig erected this dwelling, my friend commenced cutting down the surrounding timber. " I watched," says the wife, " with much anxiety the felling of the lir.-t tree, lest it might fall on my hou.sc (as does sometimes ha])pen) and destroy it." In the course of years the farm was cleared, end the soil being rich, these good people ultimately succeeded, and within the last year have sold their farm and are now living in comparative comfort upon their hard-earned savings. Their sons have also been placed on farms, and their daughters are settled in life. This is but one out of many similar ones. i AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND MODEL FARM. I started the following day with a buggy and pair of horses some twenty miles across country to the town of Guelph, where I visited the Model Farm and Agricultural College (supported by the Government of the Province), at which young men receive a jiractical as well as a scientific education in ^arming at a very trifling cost. I found both Mr. Mills (the president) and Mr. Brown (the manager) courteous and sensible men, well fitted (or the positions they held. I was invited to go through the farm, and to criticise freely, making any suggestions that I might think desirable. I saw some excellent cattle, especially a Hereford bull. The sheep were also remarkab.ly good. The roots were fairly planted, and good in size ; but although the mangel seed was obtained from one of our crack London seedsmen, the bulbs were of various species, presenting a most irregular appearance. It was Mr. Ikown's opinion that the cultivation of both mangel and swedes might be increased to advantage throughout the Provices, and that there would not be the difficulty, as had been represented to me, of getting them oflf before the advent of frost. Considerable alterations and additions were being made to the College Farm (for increased cattle and sheep accommodation) which, when complete, will render it one of the most valuable institutions in the Dominion. ENORMOUS ROOTS. I returned by rail to Toronto, which is surrounded by districts of great fertility, particularly towards the westward. In the township of Markham I passed some excellent land (clay loam) which, with draining and good farming, would grow first-rate crops of all descriptions. I believe Mr. Read went over the same land, and was driven by the same gentleman. Mr. Rennie, seedsman, Toronto. On his brother's farm they were busy selecting roots for the Markham show, the weights of which I carefully noted. I would here explain that prizes are not given to the best farm or field of roots, but to individual specimens, to grov/ which unlimited space is allotted. The following weights were r2corded : — g6 Mr. \V. P. Cubitus Report. Six long, red mangel, 213 lb., one of which was 54 lb. ; two mammoth squash (a kind of pumpkin), 556 lb. The heaviest was 303 lb., and girth 8 ft. Six white carrots, taken from the regular field crop, weighed over 4 lb. each. The general cultivation of this farm could not be surpassed — both ploughing and sowing were first-rate ; indeed, Mr. Kennie wished me to state that he was willing to enier his brother and brother-in-law to compete in any all-England ploughing matches which might henceforth take place. NIAGARA FALLS. — PEACH AND APPLE FARMING. On my again returning to Toronto, I went to the Falls of Niagara. They quite equalled my expectations. One is not surprised at the immense volume of water when the fact is known that it is the outpouring of Lakes Erie, Huron, Mich- gan, and Superior into Lake Ontario, thence finding its way by the River St. Law- rence into the sea. Large quantities of peaches and apples are grown throughout Ontario, but it is in the neighborhood of Niagara where they are cultivated in such luxuriance. Peach farming is very profitable. The trees are planted as in an apple-orchard, and when in mil bearing net a clear profit of about j^8 per acre. I was in company with a gentleman from Niagara who had 60 acres of his (arm in peach cultivation. THE TORONTO AGRICULTURAL SHOW. I passed the next three days at the annual Toronto exhibition, where farming stock, implements, and manufactured fabrics were shown. The implements are of the lightest and most effective kind, and were all in motion, driven by machinery beneath the platform on which they were pl.iced. I noticed a pecu- liarly constructed grass-cutter, the knife being driven without connecting rods. I am not sufficiently mechanical to explain its construction, but it seemed most ingenious, and, if successful, must sooner or later come into general use. I think our agricultural mechanics might with advantage attend these shows. The cereals and root-crops were an excellent exhibit. The cattle in so young a country could not, of course, compare v^ith tho?^ exhibited at our best English shows, but they were creditable. The Herefords, polled Angus, and Ayrshires were well represented from the Model Farm, but many were imported anmials. The short-, horns from the same farm were of medium quality, but this was amply compen- sated for by those sent by the other breeders of the district. We also noticed a splendid white four-year-old shorthorn, which would have made his mark at either Birmingham or London. There were others of the same kind worthy to compete with him. We also noted a splendid white cow (pure shorthorn), and a grand grade red cow four years old, showing what can be done by crossing with pure short- horns. There were also many specimens of younger cattle of considerable merit, but owing to the want of catalogues it was impossible to obtain the names of the owners and other desirable particulars. We saw a pair of beautiful cows, one bred by Cruikshank of Aberdeen (evidently of the Booth type), her companion a beautiful red (said to be imported by the States) of the Bates type, and a capitalmilker. Later on, large numbers of the polled Angus arrived, and there were good speci- mens of Canadian-bred Devons ; they were of a larger size than those of our home-breeding, and this applies generally to the cattle bred in the Dominion. I cannot afford to devote more space to this class, but must not omit to say that I saw nothing to surpass, or even equal, the magnificent Hereford bull that Mr. Brown showed me at the Model Farm. The pigs were in large numbers, quite equal ta the English breeds. Indeed, my companion, Mr. Christy, of Limerick, thought them generally better, and I noticed throughout the country that the swine were excellent. The horses were not so well represented, excepting a few good imported Clydesdales. The Canadian cart-horse is rather an undersized animal, but has more breeding than our English cart-horse, and I can testify to its pluck, speed, and endurance. On the prairies you can see the men riding upon elevated seats. •t Mr. W. P. Cuhitfs Report. 97 driving their horses abreast, in ploughs turning 14 and i6 inch furrows, at a pace ■which wouW astonish our country ploughmen. Incieetl, it would do many of our men good to send them across the Atlantic, if only to l)e initiated in the art of moving either on foot or otherwise. It has been Unmd that the Canadian horses arc much improved by crossing with our big Knglish carriage- horses, which gives strength with the activity so desirable. We also saw admirable animals (from a cross with the Clydesdale) employed about the railways, breweries and distilleries. Nor must I forget to mention the hack and harness horse*;, generally small, but surprising for their pace and endurance. Our English hacks are softer, and could not live with them in long journeys over heavy roads. I also saw many good carriage-horses and hunters. There are (ox-hounds in Toronto, but they run imaginary foxes over a trail ; and if the hurdle-race at this show is any criterion of the power and speed of the horses and of the skill of the riders, I am sure the Toronto hunt would be in the leading ruck with the fastest pack we have in England. Some sixteen or twenty started in this,*and raced (riders young and old) in scarlet uniform. " They are off!" The young fellows make the running, taking stiff hurdles at full speed, clearing them in splendid style, and this on a hard road, round a grass-plat. Three of them keep the lead, and come in neck and neck. In the centre of the show-ground, in a splendid building, was the exhibition of their home-made wares and fabrics. The latter were inferior to our English exhibits of the same clxss, but it must not be forgotten that Canada is only a young country as regards her manufactures. At the same time, I could not but think, if England manufactured for them a much better and cheaper article (to be free of duty), that it would be to the advantage of Canadians to apply iheii spare capital to the much-needed improvement of their style of agriculture ; but m(jre on this point shortly. I had almost forgotten to mention the sheep classes. The downs were well represented, and took the lead in short wools ; but the long-wools, especially the Cotswold and border Leicesters, were the favourites. Generally speaking, the sheep-breeding in Canada is behind that of cattle, and no doubt will remain so, the winters necessitating their being housed. EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS OF NORFOLK MEN IN TORONTO. Before leaving the hospitable city of Toronto, I must say a word or two respecting it. Less than ninety years ago it was but an Indian village, surrounded by dense forests ; and one would well-nigh conceive it to be a fairy tale when told that where the beaver gambolled in solitary streams rarely visited by white men, and where fever and ague reigned supreme, there has now arisen one of the healthiest and most handsome cities on the American continent, with a jiopulation (including suburbs) of over 80,000 souls ! Many of its citizens hail from our own country, and some of them have risen to eminence and wealth. One ins-.tance in particular I cannot fail to mention, showing that even our (|uiet county of Norfolk has produced other men besides Nelson possessed with indomitable perseverance and courage. I allude to the firm of Gooderham and Worts. The former was born at Scole, and served a.s a soldier of the Royal York Rangers in the West Indies, where his regiment took part in the taking of Martinique and Guadaloupe. The latter was born in Great Yarmouth, and received part of his education at a dame's school in the village of Stalham. In the course of a few years Mr. Goml- erham retired from the army ; and in the meantime Mr. James Worts, who had married Mr. Gooderham's only sister, finding little could be done in the old country without capital, proceeded in 1831 to Canada, to select a home for both families. Arriving at Quebec, he travelled through Montreal, Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara, and various other places, finally deciding on Toronto, and there commenced building a small windmill. The following year (1832) Mr. Gooderham sailed from London, bringing with him his own, Mr. Worts', and several other families, in all 54 souls, connected either by blood or marriage, arriviniT at Quebec all well after a six weeks' passage. Finding the windmill 98 Mr. W. P. Cubiirs Report. W;- i nearly completed, Mr. (iooderham united with Mr. Worts under the firm oi Gooderham and Worts, doing a retail business within the city, which only then contained a population of three or four thousand. I'rom this rather small beginning has grown a stupendous business. I regret lliat space will not allow me to follow the career of these wonderful men ; but suffice it to say that, after a time, they commenced distilling, ami now possess the largest distillery in the world. Their active season is from September to June, and the annual consumption is as f(jllows : 500,000 bushels of maize, 100,000 Ijushels of rye, 50,000 bushels of barley, 25,000 bushels of oats, and 10 tons of hops ; in other words, they absorb the annual produce of 31,500 acres of average land. The production of the establish- ment is on a scale as prodigious, being 8,000 imperial gallons of spirit per day. To consume the refuse of this distillery, aliout 2,500 bullocks arc annually fattened in the cattle-sheds. These are the property of Messrs. Lumbers, Reeves, Shields and TranklaiKl, the well-known butchers, dealers and drovers who have opened up the cattle-trade with England. In addition to this distillery refuse, each animal has a liberal supply of hay. Messrs. Gooderham and AVorts are also largely engaged in banking, being the chief proprietors of the Hank of Toronto, one of the most flourishing monetary institutions of the country. The Nipissing Railway is also largely owned by them, with no inconsiderable benefit to both citizens and agriculturists. Mr. Worts does not forget his native county, as many pictures in his mansion testify ; nor is he forgetful of our okl I'^nglish sports, being himself master of the Toronto foxhounds. In connection with agriculture there are large makings and lireweries. One that I inspected is carried on by a company, under the management of Mr. David Walker, proprieter of the Walker Hotel. Both the malthouse and the brewery are splendid buildings, and their pale ale is scarcely surpassed by the Burton brewers ; nor is this surprising, when such li.ie-colored and thin-skinned barley is produced in the surrounding districts. THE LAKES — THE TRANSPORT OF WHEAT AND CATTLE. I left '^oronto by train to Sarnia, en route to Winnipeg, via Lakes Huron and Superior, and had a splendid run of 800 miles. Towards the end of Lake Huron the scenery is fine, especially at the narrow channel separating the islands of Manitoulin and Cockburn. We also passed a number of rocky islands, covered with dwarf pine, larch and fir. They rise abruptly from the lake, and are so close to each other as to aHord but a narrow passage for vessels. Leaving Lake Huron we entered the river Sault Ste. Marie (known as the Soo, the pronunciation of Sault), dividing Canada from the States. Here are the rapids from Lake Superior, to avoid which we passed through a canal capable of floating vessels of considerable burthen, the rise of th^ locks l)eing sixteen feet, bringing us to a level with Lake Superior. After 200 or 300 miles' sailing, we reached Thunder Bay, the proposed terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which is to be the route for conveying grain and other produce from Manitoba and the North-West Territory, at least till such time as the contemplated line on the north of Lake Superior to Lake Nippissing be completed, the latter link being necessary to form a continuous line from the Atlantic to the Pacific. I may here state that when the line to Thunder Bay from Winnipeg is finished -in the year 1882, according to the contract — it is the opinion of Mr. Joseph Hickson, the general manager of the Grand Trunk Railway, also a large farmer and breeder, that wheat can be landed in London or Liverpool from Manitoba at from 32s. to 35s. per quarter, leaving a fair profit to both jiroducer, merchant and carrier. It is also the opinion of Mr. Hickson and others conversant with the trade, that a considerable profit has been realized upon cattle at the prices they have recently made in England. I take the following figures presented to me from reliable authorities : Bullock at Chicago, 1,200 lbs. live weight, at 4 cents per lb. (outside price), $48 ; conveyance by rail to seaboard, $6 ; conveyance to London or Liverpool, $25; total, $79, equal to £\(> 9s. 2d.; shrinkage and ofTal on 1,200 lbs., 440 lbs. ; thus leaving a balance of 760 lbs., which at 7d. per lb. realizes ;^22 3s. 4d, showing a profit (sinking the hide, etc.) of £^ 14s. 2d., which com- Mr. W. P. Cubiti's Report. 99 pensatesthe importer for trouble, commission and fooincluding a run of 1,200 miles by rail and alnuit 800 by lake, we were in the city of Winnipeg, containing about 12,000 inhabitants. It has some good shops and ]iublic buildings, and the people seem to be driving a primi-ble trade. We took u|) oui cpiarters at the (Queen's Hotel : but the weather was wet and the country w.is not seen to advaniage. Kor miles round Winnipeg and along the line of the (Jaiiadian I'acific it w.-is, with few exceptions, wet and swampy, the season having l)ecn an exceptionally wet one. The soil, however, is rich, but will retpiirc thorough drainage before it can be successfully cultivated in such seasons. We drove out some twenty miles to Ileadingley to look over a farm of more than 2000 acres, belonging to the brothers IJoyle, conveniently situateil on the banks of the Assinibuine and a stream called Sturgeon Creek. This firn\ has opened an office at Winnipeg with the intention o( looking after young men desirous of settling in the country. They will give them the benefit of their advice and experience, and thus prevent their being victimised by land-sharks, who have bought up large tracts of land on spec- ulation in the hope of making fortunes at the expense ol the emigrants. Messrs. Boyle intend taking pupils, for whom they will jjurchase land, and are open to act as buyers for other parties in Kngland. We had the pleasure of crossing the Atlantic with Mr. Henry Moyle, on his way from New Zealand, and can recom- mend these young Englishmen to any recpiiring advice and assistance. Upon examination of their farm we found three feet of rich black soil before touching solid clay, l)Ut it struck us that thorough drainage would improve it very much. On our return to Winnipeg we found the mayor, the railway contractor, and other kind friends, had organised a shooting expedition, and took us the follow- ing day some 40 miles up the prairie for a day's sport among the wild-ducks and prairie chickens, the majority of the party camping out for the night. .Some of us, however, preferred returning to visit the Winnipeg show of grain and vege- tables the day following. The wheat we saw was exceedingly fine, and is valued by millers far and near. Some of the swedes weighed over 22lb. each, cabbages averaging 4^ feet in circumference, potatoes exceeding 2lb. each, and •quash 138 lb. There were also onions, carrots, parsnips, and other vegetables shown of considerable merit. AN ACCOUNT OF DR. SUTHERLAND'S JOURNEY IN THE NORTH-WEST. The day after we prepared for a journey of about 300 miles up the country as far as Turtle Mountain, intending to return by way of I'embina Mountain. We provided ourselves with all necessary camping equipage, including guns for duck and prairie birds ; but finding the loads so bad and in places almost impassable from the heavy rains — owing to the exceptionally wet season, such a one not having been experienced for thirty years I was told — I only proceeded a day's drive beyond Portage la Piairie. I found around this place a good farming district, the land being much drier and more undulating. My friend and his companion pushed onwards, but I returned to Winnipeg, where I met with Mr. Eraser Rae, one of the Times' correspondents, also the Lieutenant-Governor f the North-West Territory (Mr. Laird), from whom I received valuable information. I also gained much knowledge of the country from Dr. Sutherland, of Toronto, and a practical farmer from Niagara, the former of whom accompanied the latter in a journey of 1,600 miles— the details of which are so interesting and so well authenticated by those who had travelled through the same district, that, in the interest of my readers, I give them verbatim : lOO Mr. W, P. CubiU's Report. 'IE ' •'The route usually taken in journeys of this description is to enter the country by way of Manitoba and proceee found in good con lition in the spring. Thus far, farming has been tried only on a limited scale , )ut en Mgh ha.s been done to demonstrate the richness of the soil, and to show i .1 wheat, bar' y, oats, and various vegeinbles can be grown successfully. " I'rom Fort irry on How River to the crossing ai Klk Rivn, .. 'i.tance of 100 miles, the country consists chiefly of rolling prairie, much o!" ,iit soil being of good (; ''ty. From Klk River to Edmonton, on the North Sa^lvatchewan, there is a considerable growth of poplar, with stretches of open prairie ' twcen, the soil being rich and 'veil ada|)ted for farming purposes. In this region the winter is too cold to admit of cattle being left unprotected; but the supply of natural hay is abundant. "Of the country from Edmonton eastward to Fort Caileton, a distance ol gome 500 miles, I cannot speak in positive terms, as my journey wa-; made by skifi" down the river, and hence I had no opportunity of examining the (|ualiiv ol the soil or the general features of the country except in immediate jjroximity to the stream ; but at certain points where we landed, such as Fort I'itt and Hattie- ford, we found that barley produced a good harvest, and that the various kinds of garden vegetables, even the more tender sorts, grew luxuriantly. "The next locality that I examined with any degree of care is known as the Prince .\Il)ert .Settlement. It lies at the confluence of the north and south branches of the .Saskatchewan, and extends up the south bank of the former stream for some 40 miles. It is about 200 miles north of the latitude of Winni- peg, and is distant from the latter place, by the usual trail, about 550 miles in a north-westerly direction. The soil throughout the settlement is good ; but the pa.st summer has been unusually wet, and in some cases the crops were touched by early frosts before they were fully matured. "The country lying between the crossing of the South Saskatchewan and the western boundary of the Province of Manitoba I need not describe in detail. Suffice it to say at present that with the exception of an alkali plain of consider- able extent, the land is of gootom is to start very early in the morning, drive for two or three hours, light tire, and halt for breakfast, and allow the horses to feed and rest for at least two hours. Then drive for, say, three hours more, another rest, and then drive till it is time to camp for the night. The sole food of the native horses is the grass of the prairie, anly over 100,000,000 acres, by far the larger portion of which are believed to be well suited for the production of wheat and other grain. The northern portion, known as the Peace River district, owing to ihe depression at that part of the Rocky Mountains, is quite equal to the climate of the more southern part. These immense territories, in the course of a few years, will undoubtedly be under culti- vation, as a main railway is being constructed— with several branch lines— to connect the Can?.dian system of railways with the Pacific coast. When this arrangement is complete, a prodigious amount of wheat and other grain will be exported. Even now it is computed that wheat in those Provinces cm already be grown at a cost not exceeding 40 cents, or is. 8d, per bushel. The quality is very fine, and will make superior flour ; indeed, it is eagerly selected by the millers of the Western States." USEFUL ADVICE TO FRESH COLONISTS. Having thus given the opinion of men so tloroughly and pra.tically acquainted with these immense Provinces, I venture to male a few remarks of my own on so important a topic. Whilst ackno-.vledging the natural fertility of the soil of Mani- toba and the North-West Territories, I am constrained to say that it will not i)e possible to colonise them rapidly, especially by those who have long enjoyed the civilisation and comforts of England, until they become more opened by railway communication. The man to face such a country should be young and hardy, with any amount of pluck and perseverance. Mai^y such are already there and are very hopeful of the future, but I think there is misapprehension as to the capital required. It has been said that a man may fairly start upon a section of 160 acres with a capital of less than £\^o. In rny opinion, much more than that amount will be necessary. Shelter will be required for himself and cattle, and also food for the first year. To start with but one pair of oxen is a slow beginning ; still, many are trying it. Capital is needed in Manitoba as elsewhere, and the more one has the sooner he will make money. For instance, if a man stari wiih about /2000 he could purchase and bring rapidly into cultivation 800 or 1000 acres, providing himself with a house, and his cattle with necessary shelter. He should depend on stock paying as much as his tillage and crops, and might start with a strong herd of young, growing cattle, or commence breeding them. Good working Mr. W. P. Cubitt's /Report. .103 oxen are worth ;^20 per pair, and in three years will be growing into big animals. They must be sheltered during winter, but no elaborate buildings are required, simple sheds ol rough timber being sufficient. Any quantity of prairie hay may be had for the mowing, and summer food gratis for years to come. The straw should not be burned, as is now customary ; but stacked round the cattle-sheds for warmth ;ind bedding, preserving the manure till such time as the soil retjuires it. I do not believe in the too general American plm of taking all out of the soil, and putting little or nothing back. The one system leads to ultimate poverty, the other to wealth. In respect to the free grants of lands and purchase of ailditional quantities, all particulars may be obtained from the (Government agents. Hut a word of caution is necessary to the inexperienced, viz. : they must by no means buy wet or swampy lands, much of which is to l)e found in the neighborhood ol Winnipeg. Further westward there are millions of acres of dry rolling prairie to be had at nominal prices, indeed i6o acres can be had free of cosi by any /'o>ia fide settler. So great has been the fever of speculation in Manitt incredible to me, but I found hundreds could testify to the fact. But how is it these industrious men are drifting mto difficulties? It is from the continued system of grain cropping, and the absence of root culture, which would enable them to feed more cattle, and convert their straw into valu- able manure ; and whilst so much good clay-loam abounds — and other land wiih a strong subsoil — why is it more land is not laid down to permanent pasture, thus le-isening the cost of tillage, especially as labour is so scarce and dear ? .Single men are mostly employed as laborers, and they are boarded in the farmhouses. If there were more cottages scattered through the agricultural districts as homes for married men, a resident pea.santry might be established, so much more reliable than this nomadic labour, and recuperative withal. The farmers say. What are we to do with m( 1 in winter? I say, with so much of their land so well adapted for root-culture, they should go in for beef-raising by stall-feeding. I do not, however, wish it to be understood that I am passing a sweeping condemnation upon all the Ontario farmers or farming. Far from it ; for I had the pleasure of visiting many farms, especially on those rich soils west of Toronto, where agricul- turists were quite alive to the necessity of cittle-raising and leeding, and are making great strides in that direction. But these were not the men desirous of selling thei.- farms. It is scarcely necessary for me to say that these remarks do not apply to Manitoba and the North-West Territory. Farmers going into the latter Provinces, where the soil is virgin, need not follow the unwise system pur- sued in the older parts of Canada, and there is no reason why they should not succeed, if they are not alraid of hard work, and are possessed of some capital. The following is a conversation I had in the Toronto cattle-yards with Messrs. Franklin & Co., butchers, packers, and cattle exporters to England. In looking over the bullocks they were preparing for shipment, they informed me that during the previous four weeks they had purchased over 2,000 head from the farmers in the township of Lolx), within twenty miles of London (Canada), a district noticed for its rich grass, the soil being clay-loam. These cattle wer« brought from farms of from 100 to 2C» acres, each farm feeding from thirty to seventy head. They Mr. W. P. CubitVs Report. lO'i were bought by the owners in a lean state at from £?> to £g each, and sold otit the grass at from ;^I3 to £16 per head. Much of the land in the western part of Ontario can be devoted to grazing purposes. The princijjal feeders during winter are located in the counties of Wellington, Guelph, Elora, Fergus, Gait, Waterloo, and the adjoining neighborhoods. They agreed with me that if cattle were sup- plied with a fair amount of linseed cake, both on the grass and in the folds, it would be profitable to the farmer. They added : " But it must be borne in mind that the export trade is only of recent date. Five years ago only a thousand head had been shipped to Great Britain. Our markets previously had been Albany, Boston, and New York ; but the outrageous duty of 20 per cent, laid upon us by the Americans for all live stock, and their own increasing supplies, prevented the trade proving very remunerative, and farmers received no encouragement. But now that they have an assured market in England the improvement has been rapid, and we are yearly increasing our exports. The improved price, together with the demand, has caused our farmers to take a deeper interest in their stock ; and the Canadian Government have established an Agricultural Commission, which wii' do a great deal of good and furnioh information of such a character that must result in greater zeal. We have the best-Vilooded animals in Canada, and with strict attention and more liberality in feeding, need be second to none in the world." It will thus be seen that Messrs. Franklin coincide with me in the fact that raising more cattle must henceforth be the paramount object of Canadian farmers, that is, if they wish to improve their position. It is lamentable that in so fine a country — the greater portion of the soil of which is equal to anything on this side of the Atlantic — so many farmers should be anxious to dispose of their land, which, with more liberal treatment, would amply repay for increased outlay. If the necessary capital can be obtained, tHere is no excuse tor niggardly farming. With good roots, abundant hay, cheap corn, and linseed cake of the finest quality to be had in the country at such reasonable rates, with miller's offal to be obtained at nominal prices, and bran, which possesses so many nutritive properties, selling at less than six cents per stone, there can be no excuse for farmers not keeping more stock upon their farms. If the English land were cultivated upon so penu- rious a principle general bankruptcy would be the result. Here a man with 100 acres in tillage would be expected to stall-feed from twenty-five to thiity-five bullocks, upon each of which he would spend some £$ or £6 per head (in addition to roots) upon artificial feeding. It is not surprising that with such farming in Canada so much land should be for sale in Ontario, and now offering at prices ranging from £\o to £1$ per acre, which cost the early pioneer little or nothing. In favoured localities it might perhaps command higher rates, but present prospects would seem to denote a further reduction. It may be asked if the purchase of such land would not be a fair speculation for English farmers. My reply must be in the affirmative, provided that two or three occupations could be laid together. In Canada, farms are occasionally rented at from $2 to $5 per acre, but they are neither subject to tithe nor poor-rate. From is. to 2s. per acre would cover educational and other charges. Connected with the question of tithes is the fact that poor as Canada is in comparison v.ith England, her people build churches (many Episcopalian), and pay their own ministers ; nor can a stranger travelling through any of her country districts fail to notice that her peo- ple have more reverence for religion and more loyalty to their sovereign than the mhabitants of many older countries. After a most enjoyable and instructive visit, of which I shall long retain pleasing recollections, I took my leave of Canada, and embarked on board the Allan steamship Sardinian on Saturday, October 9th, THE RETURN VOYAGE. !i' Our return voyage was all that could be desired, and, Imrring a dela} of eight hours during a fog off Belle Isle, we ran, according to log, an average of 300 miles daily, arriving in Liverpool at two p.m. on Monday, October l8th. We only brought home about fifty saloon passengers, amongst whom were Sir Hugh Allan, the principal {owner of the Allan Line, and Bishop Toke, of the Reformed ^KJ io6 Mr. W. P. Cubitt's Report. National Church. Another of our passengers was Miss Annie Macpherson, ot Spitalfields, London, who interested me in her work among the perishing children of that great city. During the past ten years she has rescued and trained several thousands of children, and has crossed the ocean twenty-four times. On an average, 250 children have gone with her to her Farm Home at Gait, Ontario, where they remain till proper situations are found for them. Many a sorrowful story of desertion fills her heart ; orphans and others thrown upon the streets by the inhumanity of drunken parents. She assured me that Canada had been a God-opened way for these waifs, and that 98 out of every 100 were doing well. They are principally placed with farmers, who agree to keep them, giving them board and lodging and six months' schooling each year. They get $25 for their services, with an annual increase ; so that at seventeen or eighteen young men are able to hire themselves out at good wages. Ten pounds enables Miss Macpherson to resce another life and give it a start in Canada. May God speed the work ! i THE REPORT 'OF MR. PETER IMRIE, Of Ca7uder-Cuilt, Maty hill, Lanark, ON MANITOBA AND THE NORTH-WEST. The immense territory indicated by these titles is of the most varied qualities. Vast tracts are barren and worthless — vast tracts are extremely fertile. Again, narrowing down our view to any particular locality, it will be found, just as at home, that a very fine piece of land may lie alongside a very middling piece. Bog and dry land, especially, are varieties to be found in very frequent contiguity. So also in the same section you will often find the soil much thinner at one place than at another. And, again, over so enormous an expanse of territory there are necessarily varieties of climate, which of course also materially affect the agricul- tural properties of the localities in which they prevail. On the whole, therefore, it is not safe to indulge in general statements regarding this Territory. And on the other hand, it is beyond the bounds of practicability for us to treat of every locality particularly. We will therefore attempt to treat of a small part only ; and, indeed, for all practical purposes of emigration, it is not necessary to do any- thing more than that, as emigrants going out now will naturally settle either amongst those already out or just beyond them. We will therefore confine our remarks almost entirely to those parts of the country that are already settled, and a little way beyond. This will not carry us more than 250 miles west of Winnipeg. The Red River Valley, in which Winnipeg is situated, is covered to a depth of probably over two feet on an average with the richest soil I saw in all my travels. But a very large proport'^n of it is too wet for cultivation. These boggy part M heavy crops of hay — rather coarse-looking stuff, but undeniably nutritious, and not distasteful to the beasts. It is an open question whether these wet tracts will admit of being thoroughly drained, owing to the extremely level character of the valley. I feel pretty sure that tile drains will not do, at all events, both because of there being too little fall, and because of the severity of the frosts, which will go deeper than the tiles could be put, and would be certain to disturb them seriously. I fancy, therefore, that open drainage would be the only kind prac- ticable, and this is already being taken in hand by the Government. The plan of the Government is to cut good-sized ditches at right angles to the rivers, and to let the settlers drain their lands into these, by means of plough furrows, or shallow open drains. Fortunately the soil is well suited to this sort of drainage, for it has been found that once a ditch is cut and set running, it has no tendency to fill up, but rather wears gradually deeper and wider, so that in time these Government ditches will no doubt become small rivers. These ditches will, of course, require i< oe paid for by means of taxation. If the Red River Valley land can be drained at anything like a small figure, I have no doubt it would pay to do it even just now, as when dr}', it is undeniably the best wheat land on the American conti- nent. In any case, it will pay to drain it some day, no matter what the cost ; though of course it would be foolish in the Government, or any individual pro- prietor, to lay out any heavy expenditure on it just now, while there is yet abundance of nearly as good land dry and ready for the plough in the immediate neighborhood. As for the naturally dry land of the Red River Valley in Manitoba, all I can say is that there is nothing like t. The wheat crops which it produces do not, it is true, show such an average i ; would be considered great in England ; but that H ■■■ im io8 Mr. Peter Imrie's Report on Manitoba and the N. W. is not the fault of the land. I suppose the farmers find that it pays them better to till a big breadth badly than a small breadth well. At all events, that is what they seem inclined to do. But withal, the extent under cultivation is still insig- nificant in comparison with what is lying in its natural state. About 40 bushels to the acre is the best yield of wheat I came across, even in the Red River Valley ; and I doubt if ihe average this year would be much over half that, owing to the exceptionally late and wet seeding-time. But with really careful management, including a little manure and an occasional fallowing, I cannot but think the average wheat-yield of dry land in the Red River Valley should reach 50 bushels, or even more than that in the northern half of the valley. The further south you go the land loses in strength and gains in dryness, until away far south, in the States of Minnesota and Dakota, it becomes quite sandy. All Manitoba, however, is strong enough. There is a large tract of generally dry land from Poplar Point to Portage la Prairie, or, say, from forty miles west of Winnipeg onwards to seventy miles west of that city. I would almost venture to say that, take it all over, there is not a better tract of land than this, and of equal extent, in all Manitoba. The value of land in this quarter is a thing not easy to fix. Some men seek as high as $15 tier acre, while others, with equally good land, would sell it at half that, or even ess. This district is already penetrated by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Of course there is no free-grant land now obtainable here, so that it may not suit emigrants of small means ; but, for men with ;[^icxx)or upwards of capital, I incline to think it is worthy of attention. Its better situation and its higher quality render it all its price more valuable than the lands of the Far West. Wood and water are also pretty easily procurable hereabouts. As a result of a good deal of inquiry, I believe wheat can be produced in this quarter at 2s. per bushel just now ; but, with the natural development of facilities, it may probably become practicable to produce it proiitably at even a lower figure, the land wants so little labour and so little manure. When the new railway is ready, as it will be very soon, it will be easy to deliver this wheat in England at about is. 6d. per bushel; so that once Manitoba gets fairly set agoing, it is hard to see how wheat in Eng- land is to average over 3s. 6d. per bushel. But it will take time to come to that. For the present, farmers in Manitoba have so little capital in comparison with the extent of their lands, that only very trifling areas get put under crop. There can be no mistake, however, as to the merits of the country for wheat-growing. No part of the United States (so far as I have seen or heard), nor Ontario, nor Great Britain, can possibly compete with it, taking land at its present prices in Manitoba and in these other places respec- tively ; so that, once the wheat-growing capabilities of Manitoba are extensively utilised, the value of wheat-growing land in these other places must seriously deteriorate. Wet land in the Red River Valley is not worth over $2 per acre ; half that would be as much as it would bring if far from Winnipeg or from the nev railway. The Mennonites have some very fine land reserved for them. The term of reservation, however, has nearly expired now ; and as a large portion has not yet been settled by these people, the same will be thrown open for general settle- ment. Of that I was assured by the authorit-°s. Assuming that this will be done, I would incline to recommend emigrants to have an eye to these Mennonite lands. I drove through one of the settlements — the one to the west and north- west of Emerson— and am safe to say it is well worthy of attention. The soil is barely so strong as that from Poplar Point to Portage la Prairie, but it is strong enough, and veiy evenly and satisfactorily dry. The proximity of the Mennonites is also an advantage, as it ensures an abundant supply of labour. I believe these Mennonites are peaceable enough people ; but it is absurd to com- pare them, as has often been done, to the members of the Society of Friends. This Mennonite land is within comparatively easy access of Emerson railway station, so that, on the whole, I think farmers with means might advantageously invest in it, if the Government be prepared to sell at a reasonable rate — say $5 per acre ; and I scarcely expect, from anything I know, that they will ask more. Mr, Peter Itnrie's Report on Manitoba and the N, W. 109 At that price, an energetic man of fair means — say £2 per acre — would be able to clear on the cost of his land the very first year, so that he would ever after- wards be as well off as if he had taken up free-grant land, and he would, of course, have his immediate market, and otherwise advantageous situation, all to the good. Emigrants with means should certainly keep these circumstances in view. If they go away P'ar West, where there is no railway, nor market for pro- duce, they must sit still till such arrive. If, on the other hand, they spend $5 to $10 an acre in the purchase of first-class land immediately accessible to a market or to a railway, they may clear off all the purchase-money the while the settler on the free-grant lands further west is waiting for the railway to arrive before he can begin operations at all extensively. Throughout the Red River Valley (and it is larger than all Scotland) there are many tracts of fine land besides the two I have referred to. And then there are also many sections which are partly dry and partly wet ; but for the present these need not be particularly referred to, except to say that anyone whose fancy lies towards a place of that kind would require to be careful where he planted his house, so as to ensure for himself a dry road to the outer world at all seasons. I do not know that I need explain that a vast extent of the Led River Valley is in the hands of speculators, who bought it up from the Half-breeds. These Half-breeds had 1,400,000 acres allotted to them by Government, a great deal of which has got into the hands of various speculators in Winnipeg and elsewhere. In many such cases a bottle of whisky was sufficient to buy a farm. Then again, all the land, for two to four miles back, along the banks of the Red River and the Assiniboine, was originally allotted in strips to the discharged servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, who still hold them to a considerable extent, but are mostly willing to sell at reasonable rates. If I were buying a farm in Manitoba, I would think it an important advantage to have one or more of these river strips in addition to any other land I might have, so as to ensure a supply of wood, which, for the present at least, grows hardly anywhere in Manitoba, except along the banks of these large rivers. The unlimited supply of water is also an advan- tage, though there are few places in which water may not be had by means of wells. It is well enough known that the river water is not very good, and that the well water even is not all good ; in fact, much of it is verj' middling, and plenty of it very bad. There seems little reason to doubt, however, that good water will be found in ample quantities in all localities by means of deeper wells than can be conveniently sunk by settlers generally just now. In concluding my remarks on the soil of this most splendid valley, I have to say that, for the present at least, it is disagreeable in wet weather. The mud is something quite incomparable in point of stickiness, and the rain brings forth small frogs in millions. The settlers make soup from the hind legs of these creatures, and declare jt to be very fine. I never tasted it. There is not such a thing as a hard road in the country, so that the mud is a thing that cannot be escaped if one goes out of doors at all in wet weather. Even the streets of Winnipeg are still innocent of all hard material, except the footpaths, so that, after a day's rain, the horses are up beyond their knees and the carts to their axles. Things, however, will no doubt gradually grow right in all these respects ; for it is really inconceivable that a country so extremely capable of furnishing forth the necessj.ries of life should remain for ever disagreeable in any respect that admits of being mended by the inhabitants. Of course it will take time to bring about these, improvements, but probably not a long time.* There are abundant supplies of gravel and road-metal now obtainable for Winni- peg by means of the railway. In the country districts, however, metal roads may remain scarce for many a day; and, in fact, with the exception of two or three months in the year, they are not wanted ; for in the dry weather the land itself makes an exceptionally good road, fit to stand any amount of traffic; and then, in the winter months, the whole country is as hard as iron. * Note. - Manitoba is now being divided into municipal districts ; and one of the first duties those corporations will be in regard to roads in the Province. I ( M: 1 V I lr«HCT no Mr. Peter Imtie's Report on Manitoba and the N. W. & >■■' Another momentary drawback to Manitoba is the presence of so many black- birds ; there are millions of them. Unless something is done to keep them down, they will practically diminish the yield of wheat to a serious extent. However, as they are good for eating, I have no doui)t they will be kept duly down by-and- by. The mosquitoes are also a little troublesome, but not very. Of all the drawbacks to Manitoba, however, the most material one, and in my humble opinion the only one worth calling a drawback, is an occasional plague of locusts, or some such insects, which eat up every green thing. I believe that, on an average of years, their ravages do not amount to anything insufferable ; but if they were to happen to come for two or three years in close succession, they might leave very little food for man or beast. Judging from past experience, however, the chances of so calamitous a visitation are not great. During the present century they have appeared in devastating numbers only three or four times, and that at long intervals. So, if they be no worse in the future than they have been in the past, no one need shun the country on their account. The long winter is also a thing to be considered. The country is as hard as iron for five months, and the temperature much lower than we know anything at all about in Scotland. I is not unbearable, however. People who have lived through it for years look quite well ; and, indeed, they declare it to be by no means so disagreeable as the raw wet wintry weather of the British Isles. It is seldom that one catches cold out there. The dry clear air seems to prevent that, in wet and cold weather alike. I myself have slept in damp clothes, with the wind whistling through the tent about my ears, and still awoke in the morning fresh and well, and without a vestige of cold. If you expose yourself thoughtlessly in winter, you may get frozen to death ; but you won't catch cold. The climate is, in fact, undeniably healthy ; but care must be taken in winter not to go far from the house without ample precautions, in the shape of buffalo robes or other warm clothing. Of course nothing can be done on the land during these winter months ; but still a good deal of employment may be found in putting up housing, hauling wood, threshing and taking grain to market or railway station, attending to cattle, etc. Speaking of cattle, I may say that I doubt if they will ever be other than a secondary consideration in the Red River Valley. The long winter, and the necessity for house feeding, will always make it dear to raise them there, in com- ' parison, at all events, with the cost of raising them away in the Far West, neat the base of the Rocky Mountains, where the winters are greatly milder, and the cattle never require to be housed at all. At the same time it is the fact that there is a decided scarcity of cattle in the country at present ; and so long as that may happen to continue, the rearing of them cannot fail to be profitable. Looking beyond the accidents of the moment, however, wheat is the thing to make the country rich. That is the product with which it can defy the competition of the rest of the world. That and potatoes ; but they, of course, are not so well suited for export. I never saw such a country for potatoes — ten tons to the acre — with no manure, and no cultivation worthy of the name. Turnips, carrots, and other vegetables also very strong. I saw no beans growing, but I cannot help thinking it might be a good country for them, and that they would be a good crop to alter- nate occasionally with the wheat. Oats grow healthy and strong, and heavy to the acre, but not heavy to the bushel ; they ripen too fast. By-and-by it is very likely that a variety better suited to the climate may be found. So also with wheat ; it would be a great thing for the country if they could find a varie'y that would stand through the winter ; at present, spring wheat is the only sort culti- vated. It would divide the work much better if the wheat sowing could be got over in autumn, and no doubt it would help to lead to heavier crops as well. The labour question is one that has not yet presented any difficulty. Labourers, it is true, are not plentiful, but the demand for them is not great either. Were capital poured at all freely into the country, I have little doubt labourers would also turn up. From away far south, in the United States, large numbers of men set out annually to reap the harvest northwards, and northwards sc th of all Mr. Peter Iinrie's Report on Manitoba and the N. IV. iii through Dakota. They will no doubt go over the border into Manitoba as soon as they are wanted. Then there are Alennonites, and Indians, and Half-breeds, who, though lazy, are fond of dollars, and will doubtless grow gradually willirig to do a good deal to get them. For a long time there will also he a stream of fresh emigrants annually, many of whom will probably incline to hire themselves out for a season before settling down. We shall now proceed to the North-West Territory, where those emigrants must go who want to take up the free-grant lands. Before leaving the Red River Valley, however, I would like to say that if, by the time this report gets published, it should happen that the unsettled Mennonite lands, already referred to, are offered by the Government as free grants, rather than for sale, it would, I think, be more immediately profitable to settle on them, rather than go further west. The point will no doubt be decided shortly, so that anyone going out next season will easily obtain the information from any of the emigration agents. Leaving the Red River Valley about 25 miles to the west of Portage la Prairie, or 90 miles to the west of Winnipeg, we pass through a section of rising sandy land, which would incline one to think that the Red River Valley may at one time have been a great lake, and this its margin. The character of the country is now very different from what we have been accustomed to since we entered the Red River Valley, at Glyndon, in Minnesota. From then till now, all the land we have seen has been as flat as a table, and in many places riot a tree nor a hut to be seen— nothing but grass, as far as the eye could reach. We felt the monotony of the scene somewhat oppressive at first, but soon got used to it. Now, however, that we have got out of the Red River Valley, we are away from all that ; and on these sandy ridges we feel as if we were at home, except for the scarcity of houses and of population. This sort of land extends from the Red River Valley to the Big Plain, a distance of perhaps 15 miles. There are odd bits of very good land amongst these ridges — sandier than in the Red River Valley, and will not stand such heavy cropping, but still very good, deep, black land. I stayed overnight with a gentleman who had purchased 480 acres of it, at about $2 per acre, with abundance of wood and water of best quality. He has also the advantage of being surrounded by that sandy land, which is not likely to get settled up for many a day, and so he may have the use of it gratis. The Big Plain, which we enter after half a day's journey over the mixed stretch just referred to, is almost ac inonotonous as the Red River Valley. No trees and no streams, but still plenty of good water in wells. There are a good many settlers on the plain, and room for a good many more. The land is nice dry reliable-looking stuff, but just a trifle too sandy. The black soil, however, is deep, probably 18 inches on an average, and the crops are healthy and of fair weight ; wheat perhaps 20 to 25 bushels per acre. Grass does not grow strong here ; the soil is too dry and sandy for it. This plain will be, I think, about a thousand square miles in extent. I did not see much wet land on it — certainly not more than enough for hay. On the whole it is a moderately good place to settle. But, of course, its qualities will not last so long as where the land is heavier. After leaving the Big Plain, we pass through a region of ponds and brush- wood for 20 miles, with very few settlers ; this brings us close to Minnedosa, on the Little Saskatchewan, and then we find a few settlers. All this broken, pondy land is of decidedly superior quality, and it is said that many of the pools admit of easy drainage. That, however, is an expense to which no one will think of going for the present. For grazing it is fine as it is, and there is an unlimited supply of hay ; so, any one who is deteniiined to try stock farming, with quite a limited extent of ploughing, might do very well here. These ponds are alive with ducks. Minnedosa is called a city, but it is quite a small place. There are several good stores in it, saw-mill, grist-mill, smithy, stopping-houses, etc. The Little Saskatchewan is a considerable river of good water, and plenty of timber on its banks higher up. For 10 miles west of Minnedosa the land continues bushy and pondy. For the next 20 miles there is rolling prairie, mostly of pretty good quality, with swampy bits every here and there, only suitable for hay. In all this stretch of 20 miles we found no good water, and almost no trees, and very f i ! 1 II 112 Mr. Peter Imrie's Report on Manitoba and the N. W. few settlers. I would have a suspicion that this stretch is afflicted with the presence of too much alkali. The taste of the water and the appearance of the grass both indicate something of that kind. The next few miles are too low-lving and wet for ploughing ; and then Shoal Lake, a mounted police station) is reacned, 40 miles from Minnedosa. Shoal Lake is clear tine water, with a gravelly beach — a pretty place, with a most comfortable stopping-house. All the land to the north-east of Shoal Lake, towards Riding Mountain, is pretty well settled, chiefly by Scotch. But towards the south there are few settlers, though the land is good, and the water good, but timber somewhat scarce, while to the north it is abundant. This quarter is worthy of some attention. It has been neglected owing to a place of superior attractions having been discovered fur.her west. But many of the best sections of the latter have now been taken up, so that the large district down the Oak River, to the south of Shoal Lake, may now afford as good free-grant land as may be found, unless by going still further west than the superior district above referred to. The soil hereabouts is 12 to 18 inches deep, resting on a good subsoil of medium stiffness, not too sandy. A blacksmith is much wanted at Shoal Lake. A joiner also might probably do well. Of course they would take up free-grant land. From Shoal Lake westwards to the village of Birtle, on Bird Tail Creek, 20 miles, the land continues generally good, and some of it everything that one could wish. It is not yet extensively settled ; but many of the very best lots are taken up. There is a good deal of first-class hay land hereabouts, the marshes being* large, and not too wet. Most of them admit of easy drainage into the creeks, which mostly run in deep gorges out in this quarter. In this tract of 20 miles, between Shoal Lake and Bird Tail Creek, there is still an abundance of free- grant land of good quality open for settlement. The land oflfice for it is at Birtle, and the gentlemen in charge are very capable and obliging. The country is diversified somewhat, and pleasant to look at ; and the soil almost all of satisfac- tory strength and depth. Altogether it is a decidedly good locality. When I was there the land was not all surveyed, and immigrants then arriving were in some difficulty where to squat, as, if they happened to settle on land that was not free-grant land, they might subsequently be compelled either to remove or pay a price for it. Next season there will be no difficulty of that kind in this quarter at least. Of course it is to be remembered that this place is over 200 miles from Win- nipeg, and that until the Canadian Pacific Railway is extended this length, there will be no reliable market for produce. Incoming settlers may want a little, and in some seasons the Government may possibly want to buy a good deal to feed the Indians ; but neither of these markets can be considered sufficient. Of course, even without the railway, no settler is in danger of starving in such a fertile country ; but if once the railway were there, I cannot but think that the settlers might soon find themselves getting into really comfortable circumstances. The workmen engaged in making the railway will want a lot of farm produce. In travelling from Birtle to Fort EUice, I went a round-about way, by the east side of Bird Tail Creek, and through an Indian reserve. On this route I passed over some of the very finest land imaginable — within an ace of being as strong as the Red River land, with natural grass that could not be surpassed, abundance of fine water and wood, and a sufficiently diversified landscape. I can- not conceive any immigrant to this quarter ever regretting his choice of a home. Here the great River Assiniboine flows very tortuously through an immense gorge about half a mile wide and 200 to 300 feet down below the level of the sur- rounding prairie. For two or three miles back from the river, on either bank, the land is quite too light and sandy, but after that it is mostly good. Journeying northwards from Fort Eilice to Shell River, we pass over, first two or three miles of light land — for the next ten miles the land is stronger, soil two feet deep, with a nice moderately strong subsoil — all fit for ploughmg, except a few large hay marshes, which could be very easily dtained, but they are probably more useful as they are. Beyond this the land grows still stronger as we get north towards Shell River, but is a good deal more broken, more ponds, more wood, more bush. As It fir str an of Mr. Peter Imrie's Report on Manitoba and the N. W. 113 a rule, in this North-West Territory, it has seemed to me that the strongest lands are almost all encumbered a good deal with ponds and brushwood ; which indeed is only natural, as the lighter, sandier land will neither liold water nor grow rubbish (or anything else) so well as the stronger soil«. Consequently, anyone who is bent upon having the very best class of soil must, as a rule, make up his mind to some extra preliminary labour at clearing and draining l»efore he can have the 7v/ioie of his land ready for the plough. On all sections, however, there is a large proportion of immediately p!oughal)le land. Very little of the large tract bounded on the west and south by the Assiniboine, on the north-west by Shell River, and on the east by Bird Tail Creek, is yet occupied, except along the banks of Bird-Tail Creek, and about thirty families at Shell River settlement. All of the settlers in these parts to whom I spoke appeared to be really cheerful and satisfied ; and I incline to think they well may. As good a farm can be got here as to the east of Bird Tail Creek, to which I have already referred ; and a better one may be had in either of these localities than at any point for many miles further west, beyond the Assiniboine. In fact, once this Shell River district and all east of it gets taken up, it is not unlikely that immigrants to the North-West may pass over more than loo miles of poor or middling country so as to get to the neighliourhood of the Touchwood Hills, where the best class of land is said to be quite plentiful. Away up here in the North-West there is one considerable drawback, as compared with the Red River Valley, and that is that the seasons for seeding and reaping are shorter by several d.iys — perhaps even a week or ten days sometimes. Settlers up here would therefore probably do well not to go in too exclusively for cropping. A finer district for dairy-farming could hardly be imagined. 2^t/i August. — Drove from Fort Ellice with Mr. McDonald, Hudson's Bay Company's factor, ten miles north-east, to see Mr. Dawson from Lincolnshire, who settled here last year ; parsed over a large tract of most desirable land. Mr. Dawson is on the west bank of Snake Creek, and has good crops and a splendid farm. He has just purchased eight or nine very fine Galloway cattle. Mr. McD(mald (who knows all this country well) informs me that away to the south of Fort Ellice the land is good, but destitute of timber, except along the river bank. Mr. McDonald thinks highly of the land away westwards by the Qu'appelle, and in the Touchwood Hill district, although for the first eighteen miles west of the Assiniboine it is not good. This is also the report of Mr. McLean, the Hudson's Bay factor from Fort Qu'appelle, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at F'ort Ellice. Mr. McDonald also informs me that to the north-north-west of Shell River the country generally is only suitable for cattle, being a good deal broken, and the seasons rather uncertain. The wood region does not begin till north of Fort Felly, which is 120 miles north of F'ort Ellice. Mr. Marcus Smith, of the Canadian Pacific Railway Survey, called at F'ort Ellice to-day. He has been up and down the country surveying for nine years, and gave much valuable and reliable information, which is interwoven here and there throughout this report. We now turn homewards, with a feeling that we shall look in vain for any finer farms than are to be found on the best sections of the Bird Tail Creek and Shell River districts ; and as there is comparatively little of it yet taken up, I have no doubt all immigrants for the next year or two may find lots to their mind. Driving south-east from Fort Ellice, along the north bank of the Assiniboine, we find the first sixty miles to be rolling treeles^ prairie — much of the soil rather too light, but still here and there a piece satisfactorily strong ; very few settlers on all this. On one of the Indian reserves I saw some really good crops, and most creditably managed ; in fact, I did not see any more tidy farming in Canada. I am sorry to say, however, that the Indians are not so industrious throughout the entire country as they seem to be on this reserve. The land composing the reserve referred to is pretty sandy, and of course easier to manage than the stronger soils ; in that respect it is well suited for beginners, like the Indians ; and I would almost venture to suggest to the Dominion Government the propriety of seeing that all the Indian reserves should be composed of land of that class. ! II !*1 ^!« 114 Mr. Peter Imrie's Report on Maniioba and the N. W. On other reserves, where the land was immensely stronger, but of course less easy to manage, I found a much less satisfactory result. At the mouth ces, also a few deer. A finer country than this for hunting in could hardly be imagined. In this clear, exhilarating atmosphere good horses can hardly be tired out. Lang's Valley, at the bend of the Souris, is (juite a dip down from the level of the surrounding prairie ; it is not an extensive tract. There is a nice little stream of water run- ning through it, the last we shall see for a good while. Most of the land in the valley is good hay land ; some of it dry enough to plough. Mr. Lang praises the land away west by Plum Creek. Leaving Lang's Valley, we enter on a vast expanse of slightly rolling prairie, which extends southwards for twenty miles or so to the Turtle Mountains, and westwards hunilreds of miles. On the borders of this plain, ailjoining Lang's Valley, there is some timber, anil the only settler on it told me he fountl good water by digging an eight-foot well. A large tract of the land just here is worthy of special attention. Where the well above referred to was sunk the black soil is two feet deep, with layers of clay and sand underneat'.i. The black soil is a sandy loam of medium strength — really useful land, ant: will be easy to work. No drainage will be necessary hereabouts, nor any clearing away of bush. There are a few hay marshes, but not more than will be wanted ; and every other acre is immediately tit for ploughing. Along the banks of the Souris there is sufficient timber for immediately adjoining settlers ; and when it runs down there will, I believe, always be a practicability of getting boards at the Milford saw-mill. On the whole, I think I might venture to specially recommend this (juarter to the attention of any immigrants who feel as if they might be disheartened by the ponds and brushwood of the stronger lands up about the Shell River. But let it not be supposed that all this vast Souris plain is equally good. I spent several days on it, taking a very zigzag course ; and I do not know that I found any of it better than the piece, of about a township in extent (say thirty-six square miles) in the vicinity of Lang's Valley, already referred to. Peyond that, westward for about fifteen miles, there is a good deal of the land gravelly, with very thin soil ; and also a good deal of it stony. Hut, intersjiersed therewith, one also comes across many a good bit ; and of course anyone going in during the next yea; or two will have no difficulty in securing such, as there is only one settler, or two at most, there yet. I travelled for days over this plain without encountering a human being, or seeing any trace of one — a boundless grass park with nothing on it now but a stray fox, or deer, or skunk, and a few buffalo i« ■iMJ) Ii6 Mr. Peter Inirie's Report on Manitoba and the N. W. bones. There are no buftalo hereabouts now ; at one time there were hundreds of thousands. Travelling further west, we find no change in the character of the country ; but, on turning southwards, away from the neighbourhood of the Souris, we begin to cross more fretjuent patches of fine laud. The prairie gets to be more rolling, and the hay marshes more numerous, and some of them very large. On the whole, howe /er, I am doubtful if this vast Souris Plain contains more than thirty or forty per cent, of firf ':lass ploughable land. But in saying that, I ought to explain that I am speaku.g with the fastidiousness of a Manitoban, and so condemn all land that requires money to be expended on it to make it ploughable and fertile — a uoctrine which is quite correct in a country where there is so much faultless land to be had for nothing, or thereabouts. We now steer direct for the Turtle Mountains, which necessite'.es our crossing a terrible marsh, whose area cannot be much under 40 square miles. I would rather go a good Int round about than cross that marsh again. In the middle of it is White Lake, where there are innumerable ducks ; we also saw large flocks of wild geese ; and, out on the Souris Plain, there are more prairie fowl than we encountered in any other quarter — altogether an extraordinary locality for wild fowl. The Turtle Moun- tains lie along the border of the United States ; and, for 5 or 6 miles north oi them, there extend tracts of really good land, on which there are a good many settlers, but still plenty of room. Emigrants who think of settling here should leave the train at Emerson. In many respects this is a particularly desirable locality. There is abundance of timber on the Turtle Mountains> and numerous streams of splendid water flow from these mountains northwards. The soil is of various qualities, but, for the next year or two at least, all immigrants may easily obtain a good I)it. It is very much like the Souris Plain soil — perhaps a shade stronger — black sandy loam, 12 to 18 inches, or perhaps 2 feet in some places; subsoil pretty stiff", but not more so than they like it out hereabouts. There is also plenty of lime in the district. There is but little scrub, and, on the whole, not too much marsh or hay-land, some parts too stony, but no immigrant need settle on these for the present. J am told there are now 150 settlers in the district, but there is still room foi thousands. The Land Office is at White Lake. The greatest drawback to this district is that there is no immediate prospect of a railway ; but, for my part, I cannot see how so fine a tract of country is to remam either unsettled or unrailwayed for any great length of time. In any case, so large a district cannot fail to furnish a moderate market from incoming settlers for a year or two. Altogether, with its abundant wood ami water, this is a comfort- able-looking spot to pitch upon, and theie is plenty of room. Emigrants coming out in the wet season, however, should not look near it, as the streams which flow across the trail are then big, and there ar" no bridges, and to ford them is an enterprise to which I will never recommen^' any honest man. In point of fact, there can be little sweet travelling anywhere in Manitoba during the wet season. From Turtle Mountains eastward, to Badger Creek, the land continues to be pretty much as above described, except that the gravelly and stony ridges become rather more frequent, -nd of course we are always getting .'"urther away from the fine timl)er-supply of the Turtle Mountains. Down Badger Creek, which is a small river of beautiful water, with some timber along its banks, I an. told there is still sufficient free-grant land, of high quality,' for quite a number of settlers. At Rock Lake, several miles down, there are 150 settlers already. Driving 16 miles further east, over rather a rough-looking country, to Clearwater village, we see no signs of settlers till we get to the village, where there are a good many, and all apparently more comfortable than those further west are yet. In fact, many of them appear pretty well-to-do. I learn that all the land hereabouts is either settled or bought up, and so also all to the east of this, over which we have yet to pass. From Clearwater to Pembina saw good crops of oats, fair crops of wheat, and most excellent potatoes. This tract is very level, and of high quality, almost every acre of it fit for ploughing ; but it is not to be had for less than $3 to $5 per acre. This class of land continues for a few miles east of Pembina River Cross- Mr. Peter Imrie's Report on Manitoba and the N. \V. 117 ing. After that the land gets even better, but is so boggy and scrubby that only a small proportion of it is fit for ploughing. Passing on to within five miles of Mountain City, we enter on a tract of as useful land as we have seen anywhere. Saw a man who came from Ontario three years ago with $500, and took up 320 acres, for which he has now refused $3,500. The land here undulates a little, is dry and well-wooded, and about strong enough. Elack soil as much as three feet deep. I do not know that we have seen any bj'.er land for general purposes than this part of the Pembina Mountain distri.'. Wheat is said to average 35 bushels after the first year, which, from all ; saw, I half incline to believe. There are to be three cattle shows hereabouts within the next three or four weeks. Many of the settlers are now in course of getting nice frame houses erected in front of their original log shanties. Churches and schools are in progress, and in some instances completed ; and altogether the country is assum- ing a look of comfort which, considering that it is only three or four years out of prairiehood, may well cheer and encourage settlers in tlie further west. A few miles east of Mountain City we dip again into the Red River Valley, with its dead-level magnificent wheat land, little good water to be seen, and trees only in the distance. I have now done. In concluding I merely want to say that, notwithstanding the high quality of the soil, Manitoba is not a country for every sort of person to go to. As Bailie Nicol Jarvie would remark, it is far away from all the " com- forts o' the Saut Market." So, any person to whom these are a necessity had better delay coming to Manitoba, for a few years at least. It is many in respects a sort of agricultural paradise, but for the present it is rather a dreary one. That dreariness, however, is just the price which present immigrants have to pay for their estates, and I really c;umo> think them dear at the cost. The feeling of loneliness must be worse in win^,;J■ time ; and to combat it, I would almost venture to suggest that every man going, out thcic should take a wife with him, and that two or three should go together, and build their huts alongside each other. It is grievous to see so many bachelors as there are in Manitolia, wasting half their time upon household work, and wearying for want of society, when both evils might have been prevented by a little forethought and courage. No doubt one cannot but have a feeling of unwilliiigness to ask a woman to enter on a life of even temporary roughness ; but after some little experience of it myself, both in tent and shanty, I feel safe to say that no one need shrink from the !?xperiment; in my humble opinion, it is neither disagreeable nor dangerous. I close with the following sketch by a gentleman who has been three years settled near Morris, on the Red River, where he has 560 acres of fine strong land, viz: Consider that a settler with a yoke of oxen should raise 30 acres of wheat, besides sufficient vegetables for his own use ; with two horses he could probably do 40 acres ; expenses of living, say $50 a year, if done economically. After three years a man starting with no spare capital ought to be in a position to hire one man, and so double his crop ; but to accomplish this requires diligence and economy. To begin ■ Ightly, a man requires nearly ;^200. I le may do with half that, but his progress will be sUjwer, and his discomforts greater. This gentle- man recently purchased 240 acres of first-class land, all arable, on the east side of the Red River, at $3 per acre. Considers it even stronger than on the west side of the river, but requires more careful culti\ation ; considers that money is most certainly to be made by growing wheat in the Red River Valley, but not without patience and perseverance as well as capital. Considers the conditions of life hard, both as to weather and work, and circumstances, but still not intolerable. He himself works out all winter, hauling wood, building stables, etc., etc., and wears no underclothing, If the man had a wife, I cannot see but that he and she would be as well off as Adam and Eve. i " m ■If 1 1:1 .iJ' !l • m REPORT OF MR. JESSE SPARROW, Woodlands Farm, Doynton, Bath. Having been selected as the delegate from the county of Gloucester, at the invitation of the Canadian Government, to visit the Dominion and to report upon its suitability as a field for the settlement of agriculturists, I now proceed to make my report, I started on my mission on August lith, 1880, and embarked on board the steamer Peruvian of the Allan Line, which sailed on the 12th for Quebec. While on board I was introduced to Professor Sheldon, of the Wilts and Hants Agricul- tural College, who was also proceeding to Canada. We made a very favourable voyage, and landed at Quebec at mid-day on the 21st August. W'e had an intro- duction to Professor McEachran, the Government Veterinary Inspector, who watches the cattle trade from all the ports. He drove us to the heights of one of the forts formerly used for gaiiison purposes, but now fitted up with capital sheds and yards capable of accommo- dating over 200 head of cattle. There was a quantity of stock in quarantine at the time of our visit. Amongst them some very fine Herefords and some excel- lent Aberdeen bulls, also a few shorthorns, and other breeds, in all about 150. There were also different breeds of sheep, comprising Cotswolds, Shropshires, and Southdowns. We then drove back, and crossed the river St. Lawrence to Quebec, the river being little less than a mile wide. We took the train the same night for Montreal, and I availed myself of the comforts of the sleeping-cars. The pleasure of railway travelling in Canada is far beyond what we are used to in England. The cars aie built in the Pullman sys- tem. There are sleeping-cars, dining-cars, smoknig-cars, an 1 all have lavatory conveniences ; and one can walk from the back car to the front while the train is in motion. We spent the Sunday in Montreal (a city of about 160,000 inhabi- tants), and explored the beautiful Mount Royal Park, whence the visitor has a good view of the city and the River St. Lawrence, with the Lachine Rapids in the distance, and the grand Victoria Bridge with its twenty-four abutments. I left by the Grand Trunk Railway en route for Ottawa on Monday, and travelled through an agricultural district occupied by French Canadians. There were some very good farms around Morrisburg station, near Prescott. The countsy from Montreal to Prescott is rather level. I was surprised at the scarcity of sheep in this neighborhood. The few I did see looked remarkably well and the appear- ance of the principal part of the land, light, sandy and gravelly loam, indicated that sheep could be raised with advantage to the farmer. Alter changing at Prescott, the train passed through some uncultivated land. A great deal of this forest was on fire for several miles, the smoke filling the air. Nearer Ottawa a change for the better was perceivable, and I saw some pretty- looking farm-houses and farms. Arriving at Ottawa, I met my friend Professor Sheldon, who came round by steamboat. We went and reported ourselves to Mr. J. Lowe, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. It was agreed that I should go through the Eastern Townships of Quebec, and ihen on through the Province of Ontario, Professor Sheldon going on to Manitoba. I stayed at Ottawa through the day, and in the afternoon went to see the saw-mills, at Hull, on the Ottawa River. We went over them, and it will repay one who is fond of machinery to inspect them. There are about 300 hands employed at each of the saw-mills in the neighborhood, some of which are going night and day. They are ■■■■Ml Mr. Jesse Sparrow's Report. 119 driven by water-power of great strength. Close to these mills are the Chaudiere Falls. We also had a drive out through the country to the township of Nepean, county of Carleton, where a farmer had two farms for sale, with residences, barns, stables, etc., near church and chapel, and close to turnpike road — price for both, $7,cxx). Drove back by the River Rideau, where a Scotch- farmer has purchased a large farm. It looks ver}' well ; grows splendid swedes. He has had it well fenced. On August 25 I lelt Ottawa by steamboat for Montreal. We had to change and travel by train for about twelve miles, owing to some falls in the river ; and then took to boat again, and were soon out in the St. Lawrence River, passed through the Lachine Rapids, under the Victoria Bridge, and arrived at Montreal. I drove into the country along the upper Lachine Road to see Mr. Pennor's farm. He was not at home, so we did not go over the whole of it. There are about 200 acres. He had 20 very good Ayrshire cows grazing in one of the fields ; they looked healthy. His mangels and swedes promised a good crop ; the pota- toes were also good, as well as beans and maize (or Indian corn), and, by the appearance of the stubble, he must have had splendid crops of oats and wheat. Around this neighbourhood there are splendid orchards in full bearing ; the trees are allowed to head near the ground. They looked very healthy, and most of them were so laden with choice fruit that many of their branches drooped to the ground. We also drove to Mr. Joseph Hickson's, Cote St. Paul. He has just imported some very fine Herefords, Aberdeen polls, or Galloways, and has a few good shorthorns ; also, an excellent show of poultry of several kinds. We next went to Sherbrooke. On the way there are some very good farms, especially between Montreal and Acton stations, farmed principally by F'rench Canadians. Sherbrooke is a nice city of about 5000 inhabitants, containing cloth and other mills. I stayed there two hours, then took the train for Eaton. The land in this district is rather rough, much of it in a wild or forest state. Some of the timber — spruce, cedar, hemlock and maple — is fine. On our way we met a gentleman from Toronto, who has just purchased 1,040 acres of timber land near Lake Megantic. He seemed much pleased with his bargain. He was formerly from Yorkshire, England. We left Eaton the same afternoon for Lake Megantic. This is a new line, and passes through a dense fortst, which seems sometimes to darken the road. Settlements occasionally appear : one was called Burj', an English settlement ; and another Scotchtown, a Scotch settlement ; and I noticed some others. The town at the foot of Lake Megantic is called Agnes. Two years ago it was bush- land ; now it contains four hotels, two stores, and several houses. The lake is about 12 miles long by 2 wide. Most of the land is taken up by settlers and spec- ulators. I believe this place will become a great resort for visitors during the summer months. The lake abounds with fish, and, at certain seasons of the year, with wild duck. We remained there over Sunday, and then returned to Eaton, in the county of Compton, where the Hon. J. H. Pope, the Minister of Agriculture, resides. He was in England at the time, respecting the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, He has a splendid farm of about 1000 acres, and capital barns and other buildings. I was introduced to his son, who drove me over the farm. I was shown lands that a few years ago were in a rough and wild state, and was sur- prised to see how quickly they can be brought into cultivation. The stumps of trees are not drawn until they become decayed (from 6 to 8 years), when they can easily be got up. Meantime the lands grow good feed for cattle, and are called pastures. He called my attention to one of these pieces. After clearing away the stumps and once ploughing, it was put to oats last spring, and a yield of from 60 to 65 bushels per acre is expected. It was put down to clover and timothy, and looks very promising for a good crop next year. Two or three tons per acre, I have often been told, grow in this country ; the second crop averaging from i to l}i ton per acre. He has 200 oxen and heifers, and generally brings out 50 by the first of May, and 150 by the 1st of August. It is very surprising, I was :'f ; ( 1 i :p-| I ■■'. I20 Mr. Jesse Sparrow's Report. told, how quickly they fatten on the clover pastures during the summer months. I noticed some very fine yokes of working oxen on this farm, and some good horses. I was driven around the country and shown some cheap farms for sale. Farms in this part can be bought from £^ los. to £6 per acre, with dwelling house, barns, and other buildings, and good water accommodation. Each farm has its " bush " and maple grove. The " bush" is a portion of the forest left for firewood and lor building and repairing purposes. Sugar is extracted from the maple tree, which grows in this country. They tap the trees in the spring of the year by boring a hole into the stem, and hang a bucket or similar vessel under it to catch the sap. We left Eaton by rail for Sheibrooke, and drove to the Hon. J. Cochrane's estate, at Compton. This is one of the prettiest villages I have seen in this part of the country. We halted at Compton a short time, and visited the blacksmith's shop, and the carpenter's and wheelwright's shop. The blacksmith's anvils are erected on higher blocks than in England, and the men stand more erect at their work ; at the carpenter's shop a new farmer's waggon was being made. The car- riage and wheels were put together very well ; the weight was about half a ton. About a mile further and we came to Mr. Cochrane's farm, situated on one of the ranges of hills thai, abound in this part of the country ; the hills seem as fertile as the plains — indeed, the apple trees thrive much better on the hills than in the plains. We drove in through a fine gateway. He has a pretty villa-shaped house, the lawn being on our left hand and the conservatory and garden on our right ; then through another gate and we came upon the barns, stables, cattle sheds and other buildings, around a large yard. The farm is called " Hillhurst," and some of the cattle take their name from it. It was purchased by Mr. Cochrane about 15 years ago, and contains about 1,100 acres. Mr. Cochrane received us, and we inspected his cattle, sheep, pigs, etc. The cattle need no comment from me. They are well known, and show what can be done in this country. I took a note of some of the animals. A dark roan shorthorn cow, loth Duchess of Airdrie, is a magnificent creature, and was purchased by Mr. Cochrane from England, at a cost of 2,300 guineas, but has given him good returns. In the autunyi of 1877 he sent a consignment of 32 head of cattle to England, where they were sold by Mr. Thornton for ;i^i6,325 8s. Two realised respectively 4, 100 guineas and 4,300 guineas, the latter price being paid by the Earl of IJective for the 5th Duchess of Hillhurst, and the former by Mr. Loder for the 3rd Duchess of Hillhurst. These two cows were descended from the celebrated cow, lotli Duchess of Airdrie. Her last calf, a splendid creature, dark roan, calved April 6th, 1880 — weight, 50olbs. ; sire, 3rd Duke of Oneida. He has many other fine animals, particularly two bulls, one a dark roan, Duke of Oneida, nine years, and a dark red, Duke of Oxford, five years. Mr. Cochrane is about to start breeding in the Norlh- West Territories, and is importing a stock of Herefords as a foundation for his herd. I was surprised to find this valuable herd grazing on the pastures, and but little high feeding indulged in. The most remarkable feature of the herd is the good health maintained. The swedes and mangel on the farm are very good. He said he had just thrashed some of his wheat, which yielded nearly 30 bushels per acre. After driving back to Sherbrooke, a distance of 18 miles, we took the rail to Sta'istead. Next day we went through the country. Near the town are some nice farms. I noticed one for sale — 100 acres, close to a good road, with brick dwelling-house, good barns, and water — price $5000. Then we drove on to Barnston, about 12 miles from Stanstead. I thought this district was equal to Mr. Cochrane's. I went over a farm for sale — 420 acres, about 300 cultivable, the rest Vjush, or timber-lands — price $7000 ; I should say the dwelling-house on this farir i . rather small, but the barns and yards are very good, so is the water. Next mo., mg we drove to Lake Magog, a distance of 20 miles through much uncultivated land. Magog is a very nice little town. The lake abounds with fish. The Hon. G. G. Sievens, M. P., very kindly drove us around the country. Some of the farms lookwl very well, others rather rough. We called at a farm house in the evening. The farmer, his wife, and daughter were sitting in thei Mr. Jesse Sparrow's Report. 121 rocking-chairs under the verandah, enjoying the cool of the evening. He had some capital Indian corn ; two of the cones I brought home with me. This farmer, like many others, seemed very proud of his place. He showed us round his buildings, the gardens, and orchards. The land in the Eastern Townships is principally undulating. That portion nnder cultivation is very fertile, and good crops of cereals, roots, fruits, and Tegetables are produced. Its suitability for cattle-raising is demonstrated by an inspection of the herds of the Hon. Mr. Pope, Hon. Mr. Cochrane, and many others I could mention. The scenery is very beautiful, and the district contains much wooded land. Farms, including the necessary buildings, can be purchased at from £i^ to ^lo an acre, while l)ush-land can be bought from the Government of the Province at from is. gd. to 4s. per acre. I then left the Eastern Townships for Toronto, the capital of Ontario, distant from Montreal about 330 miles, and on the way met some cattle-trains laden with beasts for the Montreal markets. The greater part of the country from Montreal to Toronto is level. There are some very nice farms near Kingston, where I stopped during the night. I was shown round by the (Jovern- ment agent. Phosphate of lime is found here and in other parts of the country. It is very much used as a fertilizer. Toronto is a very fine city facing Lake Ontario, containing splendid buildings and long streets. The Exhibition was just commencing, and lasted twelve days. The Grand Park, in which it was held, is situate about one mile from the town by the car road, or two miles by boat. The exhibits in the central building put me in mind of the Exhibition in London in 1851, on a small scale. The grounds were well laid out for the accommodation of the cattle, sheep, pigs, machinery, implements, and for the dogs and poultry exhibited at the show. The horse- ring for the trotting races and other purposes was of good size — three times round to the mile. The horses as a class were good ; the cattle were excellent, and quite equal to any that I have seen at our district shows in England. I was much attracted by a Durham ox which weighed 2,800 lb.; a four-year-old heifer of the same breed weiglied about a ton. There can be no doubt that during the past few years cattle raising has become an important industry in this Province, and its growth has been very rapid. In 1878 only 18,655 cattle and 41,250 sheep were exported to Great Britain, while the exportation during the present year (up to the end of November) has been : cattle, 49,650 ; sheep, 81,543. The breed of cattle, too, is improving. The fruit show was better than any I have ever seen ; apples and pears grow in abundance in this Province, as well as peaches, grapes, and plums. A few words on bee-farming will doubtless interest my readers. The largest exhibitor at the show was Mr. 1). A. [ones, of Beeton, county Sinicoe. He has several hives of bees, and has recently been importing from Cyprus and Palestine with a view to improve his stock. Last year he sold 7,500 lbs. of honey, the wholesale price of which was 12 cents per lb., and also further quantities at retail prices which I did not ascertain. I spent five days at this show, and enjoyed it very much ; but it would enable visitors to take a far greater interest if catalogues, giving particulars of the exhibits, were prepared and sold, as in this country. While at the show I was invited to inspect a farm about twenty-eight miles away. It was about 400 acres in extent, nearly all cleared, well fenced, and with about twenty acres of young orchard. The soil is a rich sandy loam. There is an excellent dwelling-house on the farm and good out-buildings, one barn fitted up for tying fifty head of cattle, and there is also stable-room for nine horses. The farm is situated only one-and-a-half mile from a railway station, and two miles from Lake Ontario. The price asked is ;^ 14 an acre. I also visited another farm, four miles from Toronto. The owner came from England some fort\' years ago with another gentleman ; when they arrived at Toronto one had ah, while the other had to borrow money to carry him to the «nd of his journey. Now one has two farms of 180 acres each, in a good state of cultivation, and has just purchased a little property near Toronto, and Ji' » 122 Mr. Jesse Sparrow's Report. erected a nice villa-residence, where he intends to spend the remainder of his days ; the other owns a farm of loo acres. While at Toronto I of course took an opportunity of visiting the Niagara Falls, which form a very grand sight. From Toronto I went on to Hamilton, a city of about 35,000 inhabitants. While at this place I came across a relation of one of my neighbors, who was very pleased to see me. While driving through this district I was much struck with the abundance of fruit grown, and its excellent quality. The apple trade is rapidly becoming an important industry in the Province of Ontario, and large tiued that apple, pear and plum trees are being extensively cultivated. Farms, with buildings, fencing, etc., can be purchased very cheaply, and at prices m 'lich would seem ridiculously low in this country, from $20 to $40 per acre (from ^{,"4 to ;^8). While at Fredericton we had the pleasure of an introduction to the Lieutenant- Governor of the Province, the Hon. R. D. Willmott. We had an opportunity of driving across to Gibsontown. We saw Mr. Gibson (after whom the town is named), who is the proprietor of large saw-mills, situated on a river which flows into the St. John. This gentleman is a self-made man, like many others I met. As the saying is, he rose from nothing. Now he has a splendid house for his own use, another for his son, and a little way off are dwellings for his foremen and clerks, and cottages for his workmen, showing that he does not forget his employes in his own success. A new grist-mill has just been erected which is turning out large quantities of flour every day. Mr. Gibson has also erected a church at his own expense. Mr. Gibson started work r'ith no capital but an axe, and has risen up from an ordinary workmftn to his present position. To give an idea of his wealth, and to show what may be done in the country, I was told he recently sold his interest in the New Brunswick Railway for $800,000, or ^ 160,000, • From this place we took the train to the Grand Falls, passing many nice farms, and at times through dense forests. There was an agricultural show the day before we reached there, but the management detained the productions until our arrival in order t^at we might be able to form an idea of the exhibits. I can- not speak in disadvantageous terms of any of them when all were so good. I was especially struck with the enormous size of the vegetables, particularly the potatoes and cabbage. I also noticed some specimens of blankets, etc., woven by the farmers' wives and daughters ; and the butter I saw was also exceedingly good. While at the Grand P'alls we visited the new Danish settlement, about twelve miles distant. They were having their little show, too, on the day of our visit ; but it was a very primitive sort of affair. These people settled here some years ago, most of them with only a few dollars each. Each family or adult obtained a Government grant of 100 acres of this forest land. When the timber is cleared they plant and grow their crops between the stumps, and the soil being a rich sandy loam and very fertile, gives excellent crops. The cattle on show were tied to the stumps of the trees, and the sheep and pigs in peculiar sort of pens. Inside the shed which had i)een put up were exhibits of produce. The exhibitors were continually calling me aside to look at the wheat, barley, oats, carrots, and cucumbers, some of which were six feet long, and many kinds of vegetable •"larrow. In fact they seemed very proud of their exhibition, and considering the ivay in which they had started, and the ground they had to work upon, covered as it was with forest, it must be admitted that they have done very well. We next took train for Woodstock, and on our way visited a large farm which was for sale. It contains about 800 acres, with over half a mile frontage on the river, and 200 acres of it are cleared. The farm-house is small and there are two barns. I walked over it and inspected the land, which was very rich, being a nice light loam, with very little sand in it. I thought it would make a: magnificent farm when all was cleared, especially considering the facilities for transport. The price was $9000, I took a tour through this district and found that farms generally could be bought at from $15 to $20 per acre ; the soil is deep and good, and is well watered. . Mr. Jesse Sparrow's Report. 127 Round Jacksonville orchards are very numerous, every cottage having fruit trees round it, more or less. We are informed that there are thousamls of acres of land in New ikunswick just as good as that which I have described, waiting for people to cultivate it. Arriving at Woodstock we went to inspect the iron works, which it is expected will l)e a success. The district of Woodstock is much noted for the apples and plums which grow there. We then niiide our way hack to Fredericton to look at another farm for sale, about 9 miles from that place. It was about 600 acres in extent, with some rich pastures, scjme of which I thought was as good as any I had seen in England. A portion of it is intervale land. There is no tarm-house on this farm, but good barn accommodation. I was told it was to be sold at a very low price, but I did not ascertain the figure. We went on to St. John, and thence started for Sussex, on October 25th. It was rather cold, but the weather was brilliant. Nearing Rothsay we came in view of the river Kennebccassis, on which the great oar^man Renforth died a few years ago. It is a noble river, and has equal facilities for yachting, boating and the like. Upon the j^icturesque hills which line its banks are many pretty villa residences and rich intervale lands. While at .Sussex we visited Mr Arlon's farm; he has 30 cows in milk. We also saw Mr. McMonikale's Ayrshires. He has a fine one-year-old Jersey bull, and a stud of 22 horses. We also inspected the farms of Major Arnold and Mr. Fairwealher. We then went to Sackville through the Tantramar Marsh. It is about nine miles long by four miles wide, and there are others adjoining it. The land forms very rich pasture and yields immense crops of hay, and seemed to be well adapted for grazing purposes. The value of these lands (and I do not think I have seen better in Canada) varies from $50 to $150 per acre. At Fort Cumberland we inspected Mr. letter's farm in Westmoreland parish. We were shown a pair of steers, bred from the Government-imported bull "Barrington"; they weighed about 2,500 lbs. each ; they had been grazing on the marsh lands. On our way back to .Sackville we called at Mr. Josiah Wood's farm. He has about 350 acres of this rich marsh land, ami tells me that from 1 1 acres of swedes he expected to have 10,000 bushels. He sells from 150 to 200 tons of hay every year ; he has 50 capital three-year-old steers in one herd, and said he was going to buy 40 more for winter grazing. While in this neighborhood we went to see Mr. W^oodman's farm. Mr. Woodman is also one of the largest timber merchants in the country, but is also a practical farmer. His piggeries were very well constructed, and he has several fat pigs. We then made our way to (^)ue]:iec, and took passage for home on board the steamship A/oraviafi, of the Allan line. The trip was a very enjoyable one, the accommodation being excellent. CONCLUSION. In concluding my report I wish to say that from my experience and from what I was told on good authority, the climate of Canada is hotter in summer and colder in winter than that of England. The i)eople seem to be very healthy and temper- ate in their habits, and I consider the climate to be a very suitable one for Englishmen. The inducements to a British farmer to settle in Canada are far greater than they used to be, for they need not now go through the hardship of clearing the forest, as improved farms can be bought at such moderate prices. For those who wish to make their own farms, free-grant lands can still be obtained in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and the North-West Territories. Government lands can also be bought in these districts for small sums. The number of farms for sale is .iccounted for by the fact that most of the owners obtained the land practically for nothing, and by hard work have made them to be of considerable value ; and they think there is a better chance of providing a competency for themselves and a good income for their sons in the fertile Provinces of Manitoba and the North-West Territories, which are now being opened up. It may be said that the same thing will apply to the British farmer also ; but it i' H 128 Mr. Jesse Sparrow's Report. It seems to ine that Canadian farmers are more suited for pioneer life than English- men, and the latter, in taking up lands in the older Provinces, will find the life more like that they have been accustomed to, and they are suited to liring the soil into a proper state of cultivation, which has in many cases l)een neglected. I saw some exceedingly tine cattle in Canada, and some have fetched very high prices, particularly those raised in the Province of Quebec by Mr. Cochrane, and those from the How Park Farm, at Brantford, Ontario. The cattle trade is becoming a very important one in the ohler Provinces o( Canada, and if proper care is taken in improving the stock- -and this appears to be receiving attention — I see no reascm why she, with her large extent of land, should not step into the front rank as a cattle exporting country. My impression is that a farmer, with willing sons and daughters, wanting to improve his position, could make more in Canada in two (jr three years than he would all his lifetime under the present state of things in England. I do not mean to say he would get rich, but he would be able to live comfortably and get something that is valued quite as much, /. e., independence. He would provide a home for his wife and family that is not likely to be taken away from them, and there is no question of raising rents or tithes. What I have said applies, of course, more particularly to the older Provinces. Manitoba and the North-West I have not seen, and I leave any remarks on that district to my fellow-delegates. Large quantities of cheese, butter, cattle, cereals, fruits and eggs are being exported, and my reader will have noticed the quantity of honey one man has been able to sell. Canada can truly be said to be a country of peace and plenty, and the scenes I met there are far different to those we see on this side. The country is gradually rising in importance, its finances are improving, and it has a vast extent of land calculated to hold 200,cxx),ooo of people, and yet at the present time the population only amounts to 4,000,000. There can be no doubt that many farmers in Canada have not treated the land as it deserved, and it is surprising that so many shoul' Ciive succeeded under the circumstances ; but it shows what the soil i? capable f i, ir 1 tiiat the climate cannot be injurious in its effect upon the agriculture of the c^'Ul^ ,-y. T cannot do better than conclude my report with an '\t .act from an account of a tour made through Canada some thirty-one years ago, and which has in part been fulfilled, and is being more verified year by year ; "A country so magnificent, a soil so prolific, water communication so abun- dant, and a people, moreover, in whose veins British blood flows, and who are in the possession of the principles, freedoir., and laws of England safely planted in their soil, must rise to greatness and power. Our language, our institutions, and our religion will prevail. A mighty empire will rise up, enriched with knowledge and possessed with all the appliances of political power and wealth. We wish them well ; they are our children, and in all future time and contingencies they will be our brethren. They will carry out and perpetuate all that is valuable in our system, and plant Old England on a new soil." THE REPORT OF MR. GEORGE BRODERICK, Of Halves, IVens ley dale, Yorkshire. "On Tuesdity evening at 'he Board School Room, Hawes, a crowded meeting was held to receive a leport from Mr. Broderick, in regard to the visit he paid to Canada, as the delegate of the farmers of Wensleydale, to inquire into the suitability of the Dominion for emigration. The matter is one of absorbing moment, as was shown by the extreme interest evinced on Tuesday night. "Amongst the audience were a large number of young men, who perhaps considered the occasion as concerning them equally as much as the farmers, and rapt attention was given throughout to the remarks of Mr. Broderick. His report goes into minute details, which are very valuable indeed to all those who annot make headway in the mother country, while agriculturists of all classes wil. glean information of a very serviceable character by a perusal of the report, which we produce in extenso. "The chair was taken by Mr. Willis, who in the course of the evening took occasion to refer to the question of emigration. They would be, he felt assured, thoroughly grateful to Mr. Broderick tor the pains he had taken in giving them correct information in regard to emigration. Certainly all would feel that falsification was given to the Maithusian theory that the world is over-populated, and would be convinced, he might almost say, that there was no danger of this over-population-of- the- world theory being corroborated by facts for thousands ot years to come, while there were such large tracts of excellent land in Canada and other parts of the world to fall back upon. He had had some little conversation with Mr. Broderick before they entered that room, and had asked that gentleman whether he was satisfied with what he had seen, anil the reply was that he was perfectly satisfied with the country he hail visited, and was well pleased at the course that had been taken to secure unbiassed information. Lord Bolton's agent had also been out, and had gone over some of the parts of the country travelled by Mr. Broderick, and he said, ' If you have a good situation in England, a comfortable farm, and are doing well, I would not advise you to go ; but if people cannot get on in England, there is a very good prospect of doing well there.' Mr. Grahame, the representative of the Canadian Government at Glasgow, would always be glad to give information to any one inclined tc emigrate, and he (the chairman) would conclude by saying, ' Look at the population we have in Eng- land, ami the way in which people have to struggle to get on, while there is an excellent opening in Canada for men of spirit and enterprise, with a strong right arm and willing to work." — Darlington and Stockton Times, December 25, i88o. Mr. Broderick, who was received with immense heering, then said : — I have come to the most difficult part of the task I undertook some five or six months ago, when you appointed me your delegate to go out and view the Dominion of Canada, and draw up an unbiassed report upon its fitness as a field for emigration. Before entering on my report, I wish it to be understood that I am reporting solely on behalf of yourselves and the British farmers generally, and not, as may possibly be imagined by some, for and in the interests of the Canadian Government or people. That Government invited the English farmers to send out delegates from among themselves to report for their own benefit and interests, and as such I have understood my mission. I may further state that there was no attempt on the part of the Government to influence my judgment. On the contrary, I was allowed the freest choice of the parts I should visit, and I just went where I liked. I make this statement because I have seen the Govern- ' li _J*' 130 Mr, George Broderick's Report. ment accused by detractors of Canada of showing the delegates only the best parts and the snug side of everything. On account of the short time and space at my disposal in which to deal with so large a subject, I shall endeavoui-, as far as possible, to drop all personal narrative, and to dismiss description of the kind and hospitable manner in which I was everywhere received and treated, as irrelevant to the object of my report. I shall describe everything as near as I can, just as I saw it, good or bad. I sailed from Liverpool on a beautiful evening, the 22nd of July, in the good ship $armatian,oi the Allan Line, and early on the 29th we passed the lone rock, Belle Isle, and through the straits which lie between it and Newfoundland, and during the day sailed down the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The weather changed rapidly from a wintry coldness among the icebergs off Belle Isle to extreme heat on the St. Lawrence, which we reached the following day. The scenery along the banks of the St. Lawrence vp to Quebec is very fine in places, but there is not much good land, a great deal being hilly, rocky, and covered with small wood, mostly fir. We arrived at the tiistoric and picturesque City of Quebec on the 31st, and on the 2nd of August took the train on the Grand Trunk Railway for Ottawa. On our way from Quebec to Richmond, on the south of the St. Lawrence, we passed a great deal of very indifferent land, composed mostly of a thin soil on a light-coloured sandy subsoil, wooded with small spruce, larch, etc, with a good deal of scrubby underwood and a great abundance of wild rasp- berries. I did not see much settlement till we passed Richmond, between which place and Montreal the land is somewhat better. It is owned and cultivated by a French population. We arrived at Montreal about eight in the evening and started again at ten o'clock for Ottawa. Ottawa is the capital of the Dominion and the seat of Government. It is a nicely situated city, mostly built of brick and stone. It is surrounded by a fairly good agricultural country, and there are iron and phosphate mines in the vicinity. At Ottawa the delegates all met Mr. Lowe, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, and it was there arranged that Mr. Sagar and Mr. Curtis should stay in Ontario, and that Mr. Irvine, Mr. Anderson and myself should go on to Manitoba and the North-West Territori" , which we did. My report will there- fore refer mostly to that part of the country, as T spent the larger part of my time, there. We arranged to go by steamboat through the lakes, but on arriving at Toronto we found that we had a day or two to wait, so we filled in the time by going to Niagara Falls. The land for a good way along the north shore of Lake Huron is settled, and is, I should say, fairly good land, but we could not see much of it. At the north end there are a great many islands, some of them very pretty, mostly wooded. We passed from Lake Huron through the River St. Marie, passing the rapids into Lake Superior. The north shore of this lake presents a hillocky appearance, not very high, but rocky, and almost devoid of soil, ye ^;overed by small pine-wo' .1, which appears to grow in the crevices of the rock. This class of country ^^ -cms to prevail along the entire length of the lake, except around Thundev Bay, where the hills are much higher, but still rocky and wooded. In Thunder i3ay we called at Prince Arthur '; Landing, a small town, and Fort William, the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway now in process of construction. There is some fair land about here, and there seems a fail prospect of a town growing up, as it is the nearest shipping port to Winnipeg on the new railway. We arrived at Duluth, an American town at the extreme western point of Lake Superior, and took the train that evening on the Northern Pacific Railway. It was a mild warm evening, r.nd before dark we parsed some very fine and rugged scenery, through pine-clad valleys, over dizzy ceaking wooden bridges, and rocky streairis, the rocks set on edge instead of horizontally. We then got to a level country, and came, to some swampy flat land, rather peaty, but generally cohered with small fir and poplar. Sometimes in the wettest parts the fir trees were not more than five or six feet high, with only a little Ijit of green on the top, and the branche-? hung with grey moss. Where the land is dryer the wood is ''•"Mu Mr. George BrodericWs Report. 131 IS heavier. There were occasional lakes, some with swampy shores, others closely fringed and overhung with wood. We travelled all night, and in the morning I had my first experience of prairie land. We changed at Glyndon on to the Manitoba Railway, and in an hour or two got fairly out upon the prairie. Look where I would, there was nothing but an almost trackless extent of land almost as flat as a sea stretching away to the horizon, which formed a true circle all round us. There were a few settlements scattered all along; fields of corn and patches of ploughing without fences around them. Occasionally we crossed a sluggish creek, its course marked out by a winding belt of trees stretching away into the distance. I was told that we were in the Red River Valley, and the State of Minnesota. The railway runs in a straight line, and is formed by cutting a ditch on either side ; the soil from the ditches is thrown into the middle, and on it are laid the sleepers and rails. The ditches show a section of the soil, which, although of good quality, is not «qual to that of Manitoba. During the whole of that day we travelled over this unbroken flj '. At night the sun set red in the west, and seemed to sink below us before it disappeared, and we appeared to be on the highest part of the land, though in reality it was quite flat. We arrived at St. Boniface about eleven o'clock at ni^ht, and crossed the Red River by ferry to Winnipeg. The next day I devoted to an inspection of that now 'vorld-famed city. It is situated at the junction of the Assiniboine River with the Red River, Ten years ago there were only a few hundred people squatted on the place ; now its inhabitants number ten or twelve thousand. If building goes on as fast as it is doing at present, it promises fairly to become a second Chicago before long. There are many very fine brick and stone buildings, and private houses. A good many fortunes have been made already, and there are many wealthy citizens. Building-ground that was ten years ago bought for a mere trifle per acre is now selling by the foot at high prices. Thus in ten years a town has sprung up bigger and with more capital invested than all the towns of Wensleydale put together. Before going further, it ;oay be well to give a brief geographical descrip- tion of the Dominion. As you know, ii consists of the northern half of the great American continent. The eastern part, or the Provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario, has been pretty wel settled up for a long lime. Settlement went on to the we^t of Ontario till it was stopped by the great barren, rocky tract of land which stretches froui about the east end of Lake Superior north towards the Hudson's Bay ; and reaches westward perhaps a thousand miles, till it is cut off by f e fertile Red River Vallev.. of which I have spoken. This valley is jerhaps 200 miles wide in some pl.ices. It reaches from the great water divide of rhe !;."intin'.;nt which crosses Minnesota and Dakota to the Hudson's Bay; it is air" ' a dead level, and is .-.upposed to have been an old sea or lake bottom. \. . of this again, for neaiiy 200 miles, to the Pacific Ocean, lies a more or less fertile tract of prairie land, almost untouched by white men. Thus, you see, the country is, agriculturally speaking, divided into two distinct parts. From the older Provinces of Canada, as well as fron^ the Eastern States, for various reasons, there has been for a long time past a co: .stant tendency on the part of many of the settlers to emigrate to the great Western prairies, and, as the great fertile prairies of Nrrth-West Canada were not generally known or accessible to the public, they were obliged to go lo the We:;lern States. And hence the idea got abroad that the Caradiano were dissatisfied with this country, and were going to the States ; but in reality there were as many luaving the Eastern States for the same reason. It ,., only within the last ten years that the British North- West has been brought prominently before public nt)tice, and since that time quite a new state of things has set in. Numbers of Canadians are selling their farms and going there instead of to the Slates. A great many are going from England and Scotland, and even from the United States themselves. A railway has been made from the Northern Pacific Railway to Wiimipeg, and ••mother great railway, called the Canadian Pacific, is in process of construction, and will soon be made through to the Pacific coast, thoroughly opening up an '1 mm 132 Mr. George Broderick's Report. immense tract of country ; several branch railways are also being surveyed. The result is, and is likely to be for a long time to come, an immense influx of immigration. To return to my travels. I first went down the new Canadian Pacific Railway to Cross Lake — the end of the hne opened about loo miles east of Winnipeg. For a good distance the land is good, but rather wet. Before we arrived at Cross Lake, we had got right into the barren, rocky country I have before referred to. it is not absolutely barren. There aie patches of fair land that may at some future time be sought out. There is a good deal of timber, and, it is supposed, i. great deal of mineral wealth. At Winnipeg Mr. Hespeler provided us with a team of horses and spring waggon, driver, and camping equipments, and we set out for the West. We went by the Portage road along the north bank of the Assiniboine River. About Headingly, and for a distance of about thirty miles west, there is some very good dry land under fair cultivation. It is a thick black loam on a clay subsoil, and is drained by the Assiniboine and the numerous creeks that intersect it. After this we passed some twenty miles of swampy land, till w° came to Poplar Point ; and from there to Pcrtage-la-Prairie, a distance of twen.y or thirty miles, is, I think, about the best land I s«w. It is no thicker or better soil, but is drier than most of the Red River land. It is mostly pretty fairly cultivated, and there were some really good crops of wheat and oats. We called and looked over the larm of Mr. Brown, a very nice man, who came from Ontario about eight years ago. He said one of his fields had been cropped seventeen years when he bought it. He grew the eighteenth crop, and it yielded 40 bushels of wheat per acre. The same field has not yet been manured, and this year had a fair crop of wheat. But he does not think his wheat has averaged quite 30 bushels per acre since he came. He thinks that by manuring, and with the high cultivation as practised in England, there would be no difficulty in averaging 40 bushels of wheat per acre. He had a few good roots, and a patch of clover which he sowed when he first came, and which has grown ever since ; he thinks clover and timothy (our foxtail) will stand the climate very well. His soil is from a foot to two feet thick. We went on to Portage-la- Prairie, and then on to Mr. McKenzie's at Burn- side, where we stayed a day and a night. Portage-la- Prairie is a growing town on the Assiniboine, next in size to Winnipeg and Emerson, and is surrounded by very good land. Mr. McKenzie has some good crops, and keeps a large herd of cattle. They feed on prairie grass in summer and prairie hay in winter, and most ot them were nearly fat. He has sometimes had as many as 200 cattle at a time, but has not lost a beast since he came. One spring he sold twelve fat bullocks that had been fed on nothing but prairie hay all winter. Speaking of prairie hay leads me to a description of it. My first impression of the wild prairie grass of the Red River Valley was that it was rather coarse, and what we should call sour. Where the land is dry it looks rather short, Init on closer inspection it proved to have a considerable amount of good herbage amongst it. There is generally a great deal ot yellow flower, giving it the appearance of a meadow full ot buttercups. On the swamps and wet land it is certainly coarse, yet many people mow it for hay Ijecause the yield is heavier, but I did not think it nearly so good as hay off drier land, and in this opinion I was supported by most of the best farmers. The quantity and quality vary very much in difFere' :t parts. That part of McKenzie's farm w'lich I saw is mostly dry, and op u there were some very good meadows, whion might yield two tons of hay per a, at. Cattle turned out into these natural meadows have plenty to go at, n'"! 'irinf^ good judges of land, choose the best herbage. This may account for their d' ing so well. Cows also give large quantities of very rich uiilk and butter on prairie grass, Mr. McKenzie sells most of his cattle to immigrants. Good tv/o-year-old heifers, he says, are worth from £$ to £6, Cows from £6 to ;^lo each. Beef about 4d. per lb. We weie still in what is considered the Red River Valley, but after going about 30 miles west of McKenzie's, or about loo miles west of Winnipeg, and fi I Mr. George Broderick's Report. 133 trossing some swamp land, full of ponds, and willow scrub, and poplar, and over a bad road, we came to an abrupt rise, presenting every appearance of a sea beach, some 50 to 100 feet high; behind, and running parallel with this, is a belt ol sand-hills, irregular in form, supporting very little grass, but with a few stunted oaks and pine, often half burnt through by prairie fires. In the hollows between these hills are occasional bits ot good land covered with poplar, birch, hazel, etc. There are any number of ha/el-nuts, wild cherries, wild rasps, and strawberries in their season. Amonc; the brushwood wild hops and clematis twine in great profusion. On one of these patches Mr. Snow, a son of one of the delegates who went out last year, has settled. Beyond this we crossed what is known as the Big Plain. It is of more or . ■ iandy black soil, supporting very little grass ; it is rather too dry, I should !•;&) .lOugh it grows fair good crops of wheat and oats. There is here a good c -il of free-grr.nt land not taken up yet. After crossing some forty miles of this plain we came to what is known as the Rolling Prairie, from any poini of which can be had an extensive view ; it presents a kind of tumultuous, billowy appear- ance. In some places it is very hillocky and irregular. In others it is formed of gently sloping hills and hollows, ranging from a few hundred yards to several miles in extent, very like some of the midland counties of England ; but through all its unevenness it maintains a kind of general level. The particular pan to which I am now referring, that between the Big Plain and the Little Saskatchewan River, about thirty miles across, is broken by an immense number of ponds. One could scarcely get a mile section without half a dozen ponds on it. The ridges are generally rich black loam, supporting fairly good grass ; the hollows are either marshy sleughs or ponds, which could generally be drained one into another. I believe a single drain into the bottom ot a sleugh would dry the whole of it, and if dry it would be almost unsurpassable land, as the fertility of the hillsides has been filtering into it for ages. Around the ponds there is gen*"; ul w How scrub, a\?d scattered about are small woods and clumps of poplar, \;r,ir.g the country a park-like appearance. On the ponds are almost innumerr'.Llc 'vifl lucks. I have sometimes counted on small ponds two or three hundred ar. T r._,ild scarc:;ly ever look up without seeing some in the air. They are genciili; . .'y iame, and I could have shot scores out of our waggon as we went along. We next ca " to Minnedosa, a small place consisting of a few log-houses and stores, a stopping-house, a blacksmith's shop, and a saw and grist mill. It is about a yea' old. If the Pacific Railway passes through it, as its people hope, it may b<-„ome a big town. There is a rival town called Odanah about a mile off. From here we passed some fairly good land and pastures, then some widely undulating land, till we came to Little Shoal Lake, where we stayed all nigat. Our road passed through a shallow corner of the lake, out of which a police- man was pulling large jack fish with a very rude fishing-rod. Around Shoal Lake there is ome very good land, though rather broken by ponds and marshes. The scenei^' ' • ery pretty and park-like. "\ere we went west again over some very good land to Birtle, on the ;..fk, a youn,T town in a rather deep valley, but surrounded by very of which most of the best free-grant sections were taken up last summer. I saw here a cattle dealer who had about eighty cattle for sale. He had nine p.^re-bred Galloways, a young bull, and eight cows and heifers, for which he asked ;^I40. He was selling cows at about ;^io each. We next went forward to Fort Ellice, a Hudson's Bay Company station, on the Assiniboine, Valley about 250 miles west of Winnipeg. It is about the head of navigation on the Assiniboine River. The valley is here about 300 feet deep, a mile and a half or two miles across ; the sides are steep, the bottom Hat and very fertile, but apt to be wet. There is no rock in possession in the sides ; the full depth seems t(i be cut through a bed of glacial drift composed mostly of rounded granite boulders and gravelly clay. The country all the way from Winnipeg is thinly settled, and there is a good deal of free-grant land not taken up. Bird good Taii Iruu; i' T34 Mr. George Broderick's Report. We took a drive with Mr. McDonald, the chief factor of the lort, to the farm of Mr, Dawson, a few miles to the north. Mr. Dawson went out from Lincohi- shire last year ; he has taken up two mile sections of land, "' 1,280 acres, and splendid land it is. It is fine friable black loam two or * .tee I'oet thick, gently undulating, and there is a great deal of wild tares or ■ etches among the grass, which makes splendid feed. We wnt back to Fort Ellice, and there met Mr. Marcus Smith, the Chief surveyor . ^ the Pacific Railway. He has been six or eight times across to the Pacific Co;i , escribes the land as being very fertile nearly all the way, and especially in rth and Peace River district. The climate, he says, is much milder towai. r^e West Coast. Snow seldom lies long in the winter. From Fort Ellice we went north to the Shell River, a tributary of the Assini- boine. The land all the way after we left the banks of the Assiniboine Valley is very good. There is very fine grass and a great deal of wild tares all the way. There was an almost continual downpour of rain all the day, and it was beginning to get dark when we came upon the camp of Mr. Rifenstine's company of land- surveyors, near a small stream, so we pitched our tent beside them. The cook had supper ready for them, and they presently made their appearance, all drenched. Mr. Rifenstine asked us to have supper with them, and I got some ot the best soup I think I ever tasted. They described the land to the north as excellent, and said they had been among wild tares that day through which it was difficult to v/alk. About fifty families settled there last spring, though it is not yet surveyed. This tract of land, which may be described as lying between the Assiniboine, the Shell River, and the Bird Tail Creek, is on the whole extremely good. It is of rich black loam, from one to three feet thick, and generally dry, but with occasional 'ponds. There is a fair amount of poplar-wood scattered about, sufficient for fuel and building purposes. Its rich meadows and fields ot tares make it a likely place for cattle-raising, I should say. We came back by Fort Ellice, and then down by a trail that runs nearer to the Assiniboine than the one hy which we went. Those trails are merely tracks over the prairies, made by the passage of carts and wagons, and are in some placer, very good and in others very bad. We made the acquaintance of Mr. Herchmer, a gentleman ori{;inally from England. He is the Government Indian agent. We went with him through two of the Indian Reserves. These Indians are of the Sioux tribe, and the Government have given them reserves of land, pro- vided them with oxen and agricultural implements, and are trying to teach them to farm. Some have really nice plots of wheat, Indian corn, and all kinds of garden produce — some take extreme pains with their gardens, and have them very neat. Mr. Herchmer speaks highly of the honesty of the Indians when fairly treated. They are very loyal, and nearly always asked after the Queen. We camped one night near the lower reserve, and next day Mr. Herch- mer left his tent and equipments till he came back at night. There were Indians all round, and they might easily have gone with the whole thing ; but he said he was in the habit of leaving it there, and he had never lost anything, and said they were quite safe as long as there were no white men about. The land for several miles back from the valley is sandy and gravelly — liable to dro.ight. On the alluvial bottom of the valley it is very good land, but mostly wet. Our next stopping-place was Rapid City, a thriving young town about two years old, on the Little Saskatchewan, lower down than Minnedosa and Odanah. There is good land all around, but rather broken. Most of the free-grants are taken up. We next crossed the Assiniboine River at the Rapids, through Grand Valley, a tract of good land soutii-west of the river, and passed the Brandon Hills — some low wocded hills, but which can be seen from a great distance. We went on to Millford, a small place on the Souris River, a river that runs from the south-west to the Assiniboine, then up the south side of the Souris, and called on Messrs. Callander & Reed, two young gentlemen from Edinburgh, with whom Mr. Imrie was acquainted. They have taken up some good land on Oak Creek. From there we went forward over some uneven hilly country, and past some very pretty lakes till we came to Lang's Valley. It is a long, deepish valley with flat Mr. George Broderick's Report. 135 as they bottom, but not very much good land in it. There is only one settlement, that 01 Mr. Lang, after whom it is named. Immediately south ot this valley is some very good land. We left the trail and went west over the trackless prairie on the Souris Plain. This country, as its name implies, is very level, and there is a large quantity of good land. I remember one piece between two creeks, a little beyond Lang's Valley, — some six or eight miles square, or twenty or thirty thousand acres — good soil, supporting good meadow-grass nearly knee-deep, and th^ whole of it might have been mown with a machine — or machines, I should say, as one machine would have been worn out long before it could have got through it all. The grass here is more like our coarser meadow-grasses, without many flowers, or weeds, as they are called out there. After going west into the bend of the Souris, we turned south to the Turtle Mountains, and crossed an immense treeless plain of variable land. I noticed the deserted tracks of the buffalo worn deep in the soil by the feet of many generations of these bovine animals. The granite boulders, too, were polished on the corners by the buffaloes rubbing themselves, and there is a trench around them, worn by the tramping of their feet. The buffaloes are nearly killed out now, and their bones are plentifully scattered over the plains. Before we reached the Turtle Mountains we crossed an immense marsh, which surrounds White Lake at the foot of that hill. The Turtle Mountain is a long, gently sloping ridge rather than a mountain, but it can be seen a long way over the plains. There is some very good land on the slopes, and some good wood on the top. A great many settlers have gone into this district during the summer. From here we went east by a trail running a little north of the United States boundary ; we passed through the Rock Lake and F'embina Mountain districts, where there is a vast quantity of very good land and many settlers. We got into the Red River Valley again, and passed through a Mennonite Reserve — very good land — and then on to Emerson, a thriving little town on the Red River, where it crosses the International Boundary. From there we went north, along the west bank of the river, over a great deal of very rich land of deep black loam, tolerably dry, and growing good crops, to Winnipeg. We had thus accomplished a journey of about 8cx) miles. Mr, Imrie left next day to go to Nova Scotia, and I accepted an invitation from tl-.e Mayor of Winnipeg and Premier of the Province (Mr. Norciuay and Mr. Walker) to go with a shooting-party to Meadow Lea, the then western terminus of the Pacific Railway. Our party had a special train placed at its disposal, and a special siding made at the terminus, through the courtesy of Mr. Ryan, the contractor. We had fair sport. On the way the road crosses some good dry land and a great deal of marsh. I met Mr. Cowlard, who went out from Corn wall, England, and has been farmmg out there about eight years. He considers that cattle-farming pays best. He had made butter all the summer, and put it down ill pails ; he was taking it to Winnipeg, where he had sold it beforehand for Is. o)4'i- per lb. Not so bad, I thought, where good land can be had for nearly nothing. I saw the modus operandi of Canadian railway construction, which is really wonderful. I have not time here to go into a description; suffice it to say that it was being put forward at the rate of nearly a mile a day, with comparatively few men. From Winnipeg the Hon. Mr. Norquay and Mr. Ross, M.P.L., drove Mr. Dyke, of Liverpool, and myself, down to Kildonan and St. Paul by the Red River side, then across the river to Bird Hill, a gravel hill, from which a good view of the surrounding country is obtained. Kildonan and St. Paul were settled by Scotchmen sent out by Lord Selkirk n.bout 60 years ago. The land is very good and dry, but badly farmed as a rule. S(jme of it has been cropped for 50 years without manure ; this I quite believed, as I saw the manure lying in heaps of uninistakeable age. Mr. McBeth, a gentleman of whom some of the delegates spoke last year, showed me a field off which he had taken 50 crops without man- ure, and which still continued productive, but he admitted that it would not grow the crops it did at first. He said he once reaped 48 bushels of wheat per acre off his farm. 'i ^m 136 Mr. George Broderick's Report. To sum up, then, betore leaving this district : I considered the Red Rirer land the most fertile. It is generally a soapy kind of black loam, and when rubbed between the fingers one cannot detect a grain of sand. It may average about two feet thick and rests on a clay subsoil of indefinite thickness, which is really of the same character as the soil, but has not been blackened and mellowed by atmospheric exposure. This rule does not hold good all through, as there are places where it is more or less sandy, and in some places even gravelly and sandy. But a great part of the valley is marshy, and for really profitable cultivation requires to be drained, which means considerable expense, and on account of its extreme flatness, it cannot, in many cases, very well be done by private individ- uals, and the Government are already making extensive drainage works. When the soil is too wet it becomes so sticky that the best steel plough will not clean itself, but when it is in proper condition it works very light and friable. But I must say that when the land is dry, as it is along the river banks and near creeks, it really cannot be surpassed for production. I believe that under a good English system of farming there would be little difficulty in growing 40 or 50 bushels of wheat per acre. However, when all things are considered, I think I should prefer the Western prairies where you can pick land of rich black loam two or three feet thick, that is naturally dry, and can be worked in any kind of weather save frost. The natural grass out there, too, is of better quality. Wood and water are things that an immigrant would require to consider. In some places, though, this is generally only local ; the water is alkaline and not fit for drinking purposes. This is most frequent in the Red River Valley. I have seen places where pools dried that were quite encrusted with alkali, looking like hoar-frost. But as a rule, fair water can be had by sinking wells ten or twelve feet deep, and in some places there are good springs. Wood is scarce in many parts of the Red River Valley and on some of the great plains, but along the rivers and in many parts of the prairie there is a sufficiency. It is a great desideratum to have wood on or near a farm, as it is the only fuel and building material available at first to the settler, though in some parts of the Province they are beginning to i)uild of brick. As we are all grazing farmers here, and I was specially instructed to look to the cattle-raising interests, you may think I have dwelt too much upon corn-growing and arable cultivation of land ; but I have found it absolutely necessary, as almost everybody, and especially those intending to take up free grants, must go into ploughing to some extent, since it is one of the conditions on which the iand is granted, that thirty acres be brought und^r cultivation in three years ; and to get clover and the cultivated grasses it is necessary to plough, and it will pay well to take a crop or two of wheat before sowing down. But it would be quite possible for a man to go into cattle- farming on the natuial prairie grass, and if he keeps well to the front he can have, the use of looo or 50,000 acres, if he likes. I have talked with many of the best farmers on the subject of cattle-farming, and they all agree that it will pay best for anyone who has sufficient capital to start it. The reason that this branch is so little gone into is because the great bulk of the immigrants are men without much capital. They therefore go to ploughing, as it does not require so much capital, and yields a quicker return. I believe that breeding horses would pay extremely well, that is, fair useful, though rather light, farm-horses, similar to what we have about here, and they are just about as dear. The Canadian horses are lighter than the farm horses used in most parts of England. On account of the great immigration, which is likely to continue for a long time to come, there will probably be a strong demand for horses, which will keep up the price. I will give you a list of prices of cattle which was provided me by Mr. Burt, a horse and cattle dealer of Winnipeg : Fair grade two-year-old heifers, from £^ to £^ each ; fair grade three-year-old heifers, spring down, ;^5 to £,y ; cows in calf, or with calves running with them, £6 to ^ 10 ; working oxen, ;^20 to ;^30 per span ; fair good horses, ;[f20 to ;^30 each ; ponies, £(> to ;i^i5 — average about j^io. Beef is worth 3d. to 4d. per lb. in the carcase ; mutton about 5d. per lb. ; h Mr. George Broderick's Report. ^57 butter and cheese nearly as much as they are here ; milk sells in the towns at 2^d. per quart. These prices agree with those given me by most of the farmers. Government land (i.e. Railway lands) can be bought at from 4s. 2d. to £l per acre, according to distance from the Pacific Railway. Good land near Winnipeg, Emerson, Portage-la-Prairie, can be bought at from £1 to /"a per acre. Wages run about as follows : Good farm labourers, from £4 to/'5 per month, with board '1 the year round, or ;^5 to ;^6 in summer and harvest time. On the railway worKs they pay 6s. to 7s. per day for good hands. Carpenters and black- smiths get from 8s. to 12s. per day. Good bricklayers and plasterers from 12s. to 14s. a day. Blacksmiths charge 2s. 6d. a shoe for shoeing horses, and is. a shoe for resetting. All the labourers I talked with say that good men have no difficulty in getting work, but they have to work hard. With regard to the capital required to make a start in farming, it is generally considered that a man with a clear ;f 100 when he gets there can make a good start on the free-grant lands, and instances are not unknown where men have started without anything — they have taken up grants, built houses and cultivated a little to keep up their claim, and have worked for wages in the meantime. But I should certainly advise any one to take all the capital he can lay hold of, the more the better, and if they have moke than they wish to invest in farming, it can be let on good land security at 8 or 10 per cent, interest. A settler will find difficulties to contend with during the first two or three years. After that, and when he has got accustomed to the country and its ways, he may live as comfortably as he can here. II he be a man without much capital and takes up free-grant land, no matter how good that land is, it is in the natural state, without house or fences, and as there is really no money actually scattered about on it, it stands to reason that he cannot get anything out of it without spending a considerable amount of labour. There is a house to l)uil(l, but this at first is built ot wood, and is put up very quickly, especially if he can get a native Canadian or two to help him, which they are always ready to do; they understand building wood houses, and if they have the wood got to the place they will erect a decent house in a week. The first year he does not get much crop off his land, and he spends it principally in breaking, that is, ploughing the sod up two inches thick in the spring, and back^^' ''ing about 4 inches deep in the autumn, if he is going in for ploughing. If ! going to raise cattle he will be building sheds, stacking hay, etc. But when he has been on his farm 3 years, got a neat house and cattle sheds, with a good stock, or a lot of land under crop, he may live very comfortably, and will have no harder to work than here. His 160 acres of land that he got for a £2 fee, and his 160 acres pre-emption that he got for eight or ten shillings per acre, will in all probability be worth £1 or £1 los. per acre, and thus he will have made ^320 or more, independent of his crops, in three years. His land is his own absolutely; he has no rent to pay, and very light taxes. A man with more capital, of course, can do greater things. All this depends upon the man himself. If he is not prepared to face a few hardships and a little isolation at first, he will never like the North- West; but perhaps he woidd never like anywhere. A re<|uisite (piality to fit a man for emigration to Canada is the power of adaptability to circumstances. Everything is a little different to what it is at home, and there are many new things to learn. The l)est plan for an immigrant is to make the accjuaintance of a few old farmers, who will teach him anything ho recpiires. One of the worst difficulties the immigrant has to contend with at first is the bad roads, which in spring are very soft, and in some places almost impassable ; but it must be borne in mind that there are no highway rates, and that as the country gets settled and divided into municipalities, the roads are sure to be seen to — now it is nobody's business. There is a great diflerence of opinion as to which is the best time of the year to go ; early spring would be the best but for the difficulty of transit ; but on the whole I think August is the best, at any rate for those that have money. The occasional visits of locusts is a thing that requires mentioning, but there were none when I w^as there, and there have not been for about five years, and J I ■I 138 Mr. George Broderick's Report. the farmers who have experienced them do not appear to fear them much, a.s their ravages are generally only local, and at the worst are not near so bad as they are in the Western States of America, their natural breeding-place. They are not at present troubled by the Colorado potato beetle, the weevil in wheat, and the pea beetle, which is found in the United States and Eastern Canada. The weather, while I was there, was very pleasant on the whole, though the settlers all said it . was unusually wet for that season of the year. The air was generally very dry, and I never enjoyed better health in my life. I was told that the winter commences in November and ends about the middle of April or beginning of May ; it is generally continuous frost all through, and occasionally teaches an extreme degree of cold. During last winter, which was exceptionally severe, the thermometer once or twice got down to about 48" or 50' below zero ; but I saw a register which generally ranged from 10" above to ro" below zero. The summer comes on very quickly, and is hot enough to grow any kind of grain and root-crops, and will ripen tomatoes. I find that I shall have to cut my report much sliorter than I had intended. I intended to have gone into the details of sheep-bree per acre. I next went to Halifax, Nova .Scotia. I visited the districts of Windsor, the Annapolis Valley, and the districts round Truro and Colchester. All these arc large valleys, up the bottom of which the tide rises a long way. There has been a great deal of land reclaimed from the sea, which is known as dyke land. It lies below high-water mark. The tide has been banked out. The soil is com- posed of a very tine reddish silt of indefinite thickness, which has been deposited by the tide. It is perhaps equal to any land in America for production. The tides come up the river with great force, and bring up a great deal of mud. Many farmers cart the mud into their higher land for manure. Adjoining the dykes is generally a belt of good dry land known as intervale. It is of a sandy red soil, very similar to the red land in the Eden Valley of Westmoreland. Above this, on the mountains, is red sandy land, not so good, and generally covered with wood. Colonel Blair, Mr. Longworth, and others, at the instigation of Dr. Clay, called a meeting of farmers at Truro, for the purpose of giving me the opportunity of asking questions and hearing their opinions about farming in the district, and the prospects of immigrants. There were a great many conflicting statements made, from which I drew the general conclusion that the selling price of dyke land is from ;^io to ^60 per acre, and in a few instances it hail sold as high as ;^8o. The intervale land could be bought for from £2 to ;^l6 or ;{'20 per acre, accord- ing to quality, and uncleared wood land from 2s. to £1 per acre. It was generally agreed that dyke land will grow from two to four tons of hay per acre, and has done it in some cases for generations without manure ; 600 to 1,000 bushels of turnips, and from 200 to 430 bushels of potatoes can be grown lo the acre, and fair crops of cereals. Ap^jles grow to great perfection in some parts of the Province — as to this I can add my own testimony, having seen the trees almost laden down and the ground strewn with their fruit. They were selling at from 4s. to 8s. per barrel of 2^ bushels. It was gener.illy agreed that a man should have considerable ca{)ital to start farming in Nova Scotia, as it di)e> not pay to borrow money at 6 or 8 per cent. It is considered that cattle-farming pays best, especially since the F'Inglisli market has become available for their beef. In this respect they have a great advantage over Ontario and the Western .States, the inland carriage being lighter. Heef selh in Nova Scotia at 4d. tf) 5d. ]ier lb. in the carcase. I spent a few days with .Mr. Simpson, the manager of the Drurnmond C!olliery, at Wesiville, Nova Scotia. I went through the ct^Iliery ; the seam is 16 feet thick of the \ery best coal, and it looks more like a quarr)- than a coal-mine. There are other I wo seams below, one 10 feet and the other 6 leet thick. 1 was toki that the .VIbion mine clo.se by is 32 feel thick. Mr. Simp.son drove me roimd l)y Pictou Harbour in sight of Green Hill, where there is some very good land. Of the Eastern Provinces I think Ontario and Nova .Scotia are the best farmed. I was favourably impressed with the Eastern Town- ships, where I believe good land is the cheapest. Nova Scotia certainly has a great advantage in being nearest the English market. I noticed especially that the farm-houses of Canada generally are decidedly better than the farm-houses in England. I have met scores of farmers in Ontario and the lower Provinces whj ■MM 140 Mr. George BrodeHck's Report. went out •riginally from England or Scotland with scarcely anything, who have cleared and cultivated perhaps 200 or 300 acres of land, and are now living in houses equal to any in tlawes. Society is a little different in Canada to what it is here. There is not nearly so much caste as in England. The Canadian people are very sociable. A man takes a position there according to his personal merits and conduct rather than to his wealth, though I should be far from saying that wealth has no influence. The Canadians are very loyal to the English Crown — in fact, far more so than the English themselves — and I never met a man who advocated secession from the Empire. A story was told me at Belleville of an American who came into an hotel there, the Dafoe House, and proposed a toast not very complimentary to her Majesty the Queen. He was allowed to drink his toast in silence, but he shortly afterwards left the house minus many fragments of clothing, and has not been seen around there since. Though I have in many cases given my own opinion, I wish you to rely upon the facts and information I have given, and your own judgment, rather than be guided by mine, as people don't all think alike ; but if I had to give any advice as to the class of people best suited to emigrate, I should say the farmer's son who has been brought up with a good knowledge of farming, is not unacquainted with work, and can get together a little capital, might improve his position by going to Canada, and stand a good chance of becoming wealthy. His occupation at home too frequenti' is spending the first halt of his life in making rejieated applications for farms, ai not getting one till his best days are spent, and when he has got one perhai e only makes a bare living the rest of his life. In Canada he can certainly j_ ae any day. The labourer may do well, but he will have to go out to the North tVest, where he can get free-grant lands and where wages are much higher than in the older Provinces. A man with capital can do well either in the North-West or in the older Provinces. Middle-aged men, of this class espec- ially, will probably like the older and more settled Provinces best, and I should not advise men with money, unless they wish to make more very fast or are fond of a rough life, to go to the North-West. However, to make anything out in the older Provinces certainly requires a good deal of capital, and a man who has not got this will make more money and live easier in the North-West. CSentlemen's sons, who may have had a good education l)ut have no acquaintance with busi- ness or work, and are without money, are not of much use in Canada ; nor are kid-gloved farmers, unless they have a super-abundance of wits, which is not always the case. The best guarantee of success is the fact that so many have already suc- ceeded. I could instance scores who started with scarcely anything, who faced the forest and had to almost hew a farm out of wood, as it were, but who are now well off. How much more better chance then has a man going out into the prairies now, where he may drive a plough for miles without obstruction, ..ud where the land is better than ever it was in the forest ? There is yet another consideration in his favour— nearly all the good wild land of the United States is taken up, so that the great emigration that is going from Europe, and the natural increase of the fifty millions of people of America, will be driven into the fertile fields of the North-West of Canada. The result will probably be such a rush and an enterprise as was never before known on the Continent of America ; and it is quite possible that young men who buy land now at a few dollars an acre, may live to see it worth ^ 10 or ^20 per acre. I strongly deprecate the statements that have been made by many, that the land in Canada will bear cropping forever without manure ; that, in fact, in Manitoba it is altogether unnecessary, and would be foolish to apply manure to the land. Now, nothing can be more absurd than this. It is apparent every- where in the older Provinces of Canada and the United States that the land is being ruined by this system. There is a great deal of land that at first grew from 30 to 40 bushels of wheat per acre, but will not now grow a crop sufficient to pay expenses, and artificial manures have now to be resorted to. I believe the wheat crops in the Eastern States of America do not average 15 bushels per acre. Mr. George Broderick's Report. 141 .fifK^i!'''''-^'' ^1^°'" ^^''^^'''' "" '^^ ^'^ November, and arrived at Liverpool on the 1 0th, having been away nearly four months. I was not sick either way, and I can assure you that crossing the Atlantic is not half so fearful as many suppose ; indeed, it is really a pleasure. I looked T .^"^ K. ..'^^^''''^^ quarters of the ship, the Sar»jat/an, of the Allan Line, and thought the accomodation, the food, and the treatment of the passengers very good for the money. ' ^ •' MR. BROOKRICK ON iJANATM. Ki 1 "/.T*"''^^'^'^^'';^'''' ^ '"ostii-iterestinggathcring which the otherniiditassera. bled at Hawes crowding the largest room in the village, to hear the report of Mr. lirodcrick. This gentleman, some months ago, was appointed the delegate of the Wensleydale farmers, to go and inspect Canada with a view of ascertaining its fitness for emigration. So many falsehoods have been concocted and promulgated in regard to various parts of the Dominion, that the independent testimony of an able man like Mr. Broderick should be extremely acceptable and valuable. Indeed, irrespective oi opinion, the facts and figures embodied in the report (winch this paper publishes) should be carefully perused by all interested in agri- culture. The question is returning to public notice with great force. We are likely to have many comments upon it in the future, and any opportunity of increasing our store of information upon the subject should not be neglected, especially when the weakness as well as the strength of the country is so ably demonstrated. The figures in-regard to the value of stock, the price of meat, wages, etc., will surprise many of our humdrum tillers of the soil/— /)ar/in-rfaH ana iitockton Itmes, January ist, 1881. "' i r THE RKPOKT OF MK. JOHN SAGAK, of Wadditii^ton, near Clitluivc, Lancashire. " The report of Mr. Sajjar, of Wadtlinglon, the gentleman who in Ma^ last i/»ent to Canada as the representative of the Clitheroe farmers, was submitted to a meeting of farmers and oth ifs, held in the Swan and Royal Hotel, on Monday. The meeting, at which there were about fifty persons present, was presided over by Mr.W. Tomlinson, farmer, of (Jrapes Lane, who, after the reading of the repori, invited questions bearing upcm the subject of which it treated. Questions were put by Mr. Dickinson of Bradford, Mr. Johnson, the Rev, W. L. Roberts, and others, all of which were satisfactorily answered. Mr. Thomas (irahame. Agent of the Canadian Government, -..as present, and made a short speech, and the meeting conclu'^d with a vote of thanks to Mr. .Sagar for having so well filled his position as dei; irale of the Clitheroe farmers." — Preston Guardian, December i8th, 1880. The following is the text of the report : At a meeting of ihe farmers of this district held in Clithenje, in May last, at the instance of the (I jvernment of Canada, T had the honor of being selected as your delegate to proceed to that country to inspect its resources and to report as to its suitability for the settlement of Hritish farmers. Before commencing my report, it may be well to mention the circumstances which I understand led to myself and fellow-delegates being appointed. For many years a large emigration has been taking place from England, Scotland, and Ireland, '.he greater projiortion of which has gone to the United States. To account for this, several cavises have been assigned. In the first place, many people have gone out tj join their friends; and I have h«»ard it stated that of the exodus of this year to '.he United States the ocean pas- sages of a very large number were prepaid in America. Then, again, people have got hold of the idea that the Canadian climate is one long winter. Representa- tions of its scenery are almost ?!ways wintry in aspect ; and, again, until Manitoba and the North-West Territories were opened uj) recently, Canada had no prairie land which could compete with the Western States of America. But now all this is changed, and it is now certain that Canada possesses prairies greater in extent than those in the States, and ecjually fertile. This is admitted by the Americans themselves, although many of them who are interested in the sales of land describe Canada — in which they recognise a powerful competitor- as a country to be avoided. It was, therefore, with a view to place the country in its proper light before those who had thoughts of emigrating that the (lovernment of tlanada invitefi farmers to visit the Dominion and report their independent opinions as to its agri- cultural position and capabilities. As to Manitoba and the North-West Territory I cannot speak personally, as I did not go there — Mr. Curtis, of the Skipton district, and my.self having con- fined our inspection to the I'rovince of Ontario. Several delegates were selected, in different jmrts ; but as the country is so large, our party had to be divided in order to admit of its bemg thoroughly investigated ; and when I say that the Province of Ontario contains an area of about 200,cxx) square miles, it will be seen that we had a goo:ne stay at Mr. Robert Marsh's farm, where we viewed his flock of South Down sheep, of which he i • justly proud. His sheep are all from imported rams and principally from imported ewes, and show in their faces, fleeces, and form that they are pure bred. Mr. Marsh has been trying lucerne, and speaks favourably of it. He thinks that in rich land it might be cut three times a year, and that il would yield 2 to 3 tons per acre at each cutting. He took nine medals and nine diplomas at the Centennial Exhibition, and in all 80 prizes last year. From here we proceeded to the extensive premises of Mr. William Russell. Mr. James Russell shows with pride a gold medal won by his shorthorn, "Isabella," as the best animal, male or female, shown at the Centennial. He also siiows five silvesr medals, one bronze, and one Canadian (,'ommissioners' medal, all won at that exhibition, and all for shorthorns. He has now a flock of l2oCotswold sheep, with winners from the Englisli Royal Exhibition at its head ; * also 35 shorthorns, with "British Statesman," an imported bull, at the. head of the herd. Also some very fine Berkshire pigs, from a first-prize sow at the Royal. Mr. Russell has 300 acres here and 150 .1 couple of miles to thl; west, and he and his boys keep it in excellent condition. Some of the Cotswolds were weighed, with the following result: 4-year-old ewe, 345 lb.; 3-year-old ewe, 323 lb.; 2-year-oid ewe, 323 !b. ; i-year-old ewe, 310 lb. We had a discussion as to the respective merits of the various breeds of sheep, and it was stated that for the best mutton the South Down was to be preferred, but for the best wool and mutton combined the Cotswold bove the palm. The shorthorns were turned out into the yard and examined, and they were really a creditable lot of animals. Some of the calves were very fine. While on the subject of the Toronto district, 1 do not think it will be out 01 place for me to quote in full a cutting I have taken irom the agricultural columns of the Tonnto IVeekly Mail, for October 29th, 1S80, a leading newspaper of the Dominion, vhich gives an idea of what can be done in the way of growing roots in the Provi ice. I shall have to make some remarks on this subject later on : "There is no feature of Canadian farming which astonishes n-nculturists from the old country so much as our crops of roots. Brought up w.ii the idea that the height of good farming consists in the raising of fine - ,)?-crops for feeding cattle, and being assured that there arc no farmers like t'eu own, they are surprised when they arrive in Ontario to see mangel wurzels sugar beets, swede turnips and carrots heavier crops and finer specimens than they have ever seen before. Mr. William Rennie, seedsman, of this city, recognising the value of this fact, and knowing that our regular fall shows come too early (or the exhi- bition of mature roots, instituted some years since a root-show, which has annually brought fotv'drd an excellent exhibition of roots as well as other farm products. This year the exhibition was held yesterday, and th' whole exhibit is now to be shipped to Mr. John Dyke, Government agent at ^averpool, to be placed on exhibition. " Mr. E. Stock, of Etobicoke, sh( wed some excellent roots, among which may be mentioned long red mr.;igeis, one of which weighed 73 lb., the heaviest weight on record ; red globe mangels ; yellow globe mangels, the heaviest ol which is 58 lb,; six swede turnips, two of which are exceedingly large ; also gray- stone and whitestone turnips, white and red carrots, red, white, and yellow onions, and parsnips. He also showed sonie long red mangels, which were sown 25tb June, and pulled 25th October, one of which weighs lS}i lb. " Mr. S. Rennie, of Mark}iam, also showed some remarkably fine specimens of his skill in farming. Long vellow mangels, long red mangels, red and yellow globe mangels, the yellow weighing 55 lb.; white carrots, a beautifiil sample; parsnips: a citron, weighing 33 lb.; a field pumpkin, weighing 37 lb.; and, to cap all, a mammoth squash, weighing 303 lb. 1^ 146 Mr, John Sagar^s Report. ^Is i:h> i m^ " Mr. 11. |. Clark, of Muskoka, exhibited a vegetable marrow weighing 14 lb.; Mr. John binlis, of Leslieville, some very fine yellow and red onions; and Mr. John Wright, of Parkdale, among other articles, some grey stone turnips, weighing 10 lb. apiece. Messrs. George Leslie & Sons, of Toronto Nurseries, exhibit specimens of shipping apples. " During our stay at Hamilton we had several pleasant drives into the country. One of the tirst places we visited was the vineyard of Mr. Thomas Barnes — the name of his place is Carrock Lodge— and were shown over the vineyard and tarni by the proprietor. Various kinds of grapes were shown, and the methods of cultivation explained to us. The vines were heavily laden with fruit, and I must say I had no idea that Canada was capable of growing the grape to such perfection, considering that the latitude was about 46 degrees north. This does not point u) the climate being such a terrible affair when we consider that these grapes grow and ripen in the open air and are left unprotected during the winter. The same remark also applies to the fruit-trees, apples and pears, to peaches, melons, tomatoes, and such like. In travelling along the road I was much struck with the neat and substantial farmhouses, far better than the average in this country, and tne furniture I noticed in those I visited is of a more costly and better description. Our party next visited Mr. Jardine, at Vine Vale Farm, where a fine herd ot Ayrshire cattle were let out for inspection, and, taking animal for animal, I think Kngland and .Scotland would find very few to equal it. Two or three of the animals were especially fine. The whole herd of about forty are, with one exception, native-bred, and have taken a number of medals at difi'erent fairs. After viewing the cattle we were shown over Mr. Jardine's hop-house, and saw some of (he hops which were just being cured. There is great competition among hop-gatherers here, as in England, as to who can place the first in market. Mr. Jardine was ahead this year, having placed his on the market on the 26th of July. The last of this season's produce he harvested during the first week in August. Our next journey was through a portion of Halton County, bordering on Lake Ontario, in the neighborhood of Burlington. We had the pleasure of being accompanied by Mr. II. Hurd and his brother. A short stop was made at Oakl.inds Farm, where we saw a fine crop of corn ; the stalks were so tall that we h.id to look up at them. The next farm visited was Mr. Kurd's, at Burling- ton, the attractive feature being an extensive cultivation of fruit. The farm consists of 75 acres, on which are 600 bearing apple-trees and 1,500 pear-trees just coming into bearing ; and, besides, there were 25 acres of nursery stock and an excellent crop of oats and barley. The farm is all under-drained, and every- thing was in prime condition. We next went to view Mr. O. T. .Springer's farm, close by, where there was an orchard of 2,ocx3 apple-trees in full fruit. The drive was continued to the farm of Mr. John Fothergill, known as the old Baxter Farm, and one of the finest in this part of Ontario. It consists of 200 .icres, only 30 of which are in l)ush, nearly all the remainder being under cultivation. On arriving at the farm, we were met by Mr. Fothergill in person, who gave us a cordial reception. We first inspected the stock, of which ^Ir. Fothergill has a tine collection. Some 25 head of cattle were shown, all thorough-breds, mostly of the shorthorn Durham breed, and generally imported animals. We wer,; then escorted over the farm to view the grain and root crops, which were generally commendable. There were fine fields of oats and barley, promising heavy yields to the acre, while the root-crops were also very good. One fielti of turnips, thirteen acres in extent, deserved special attention. The ground had been thoroughly manured in the ordinary way, and, in addition, 400 lb. of Kingston phosphate per acre had been applied. The good eflect of this fertiliser was seen in the result of an experiment which Mr. Fothergill had made to test its value. Two rows which haS"u^.z;''i' Report. The educational system of the I'ros ince is very complete, and the tuition is free. Taxes are light, ranging from about ;i^5 los. tO;^6 per loo acres, including school-rates. The church is self-supporting, and consequently there are no tithes. « The roads are good, generally about 66 feet wide, and the markets are easily reached. The Province is very much like a district of England, villages and towns scattered about ; but still it cannot i)e said to be thickly populated, the inhabitants only numbering about 1,800,000. There is a good opening for agricultural labourers, who can get 4s. to 5s. a day, or;^30 10/35 per year, and board. A careful, hard-working man has a good prospect beforenim. Domestic servants are in great demand, the wages ranging from /lo to £1$ per annum. The average crop of wheat, so far as I could learn, was from 20 to 34 bushels [xit acre ; oats, 36 to 40 ; barley about the same ; Indian corn 40 bushels. Pota- toes were excellent. I pulled up some roots on which there were from 10 to 13 tubers. The price of wheat ranged from 90 to 95 cents per bushel ; butter, 25 cents per lb. ; eggs, 25 cents per dozen ; beef and mutton, 2^d. to sd. per lb. Living is certainly cheaper than in England, and clothes, of Canadian stuffs, are about the same price ; of course, if one required English goods, a higher price has to he paid. I had almost forgotten to mention my visit to the Muskoka district, which is now being opened up. It contains much soil that is good, bad and indifferent, many parts being rocky. It is, however, considered to have a good future before it, both as a wheat growing country and for cattle-raising, and some of the produce shown to me certainly seemed to bear this out. Now, as regards the climate, it is certainly hotter than in England during the summer, or the fruits could not be brought to the perfection that is apparent, but the heat is not felt to so great an extent as it would be in England. Owing to the great lakes and to the dryness ot the air, the thermometer at 90° in tiie shade is not so uncomfortable as one would expect. The winter is longer than we are accustomed to, and .more severe ; Imt the Canadians look forward to it with no unpleasant feelings. They say that the air is so dry, clear, and bracing that the season is most exhiliarating and enjoyable. The worst feature about it is that cattle and sheep have to be carefully housed; but when roots are grown, and the iattening of stock more practised, this need not be any great disadvantage. As to this, I may say that I hear tiiat a Toronto syndicate have contracted with the Allan Steamship Line to convey 21,000 head of cattle to the English markets dur- ing the next three years. I came across an interesting letter, elated October, 1879, '" one of the books recently published by the (Jovernment of Ontario. It is by one of the Protessors (Mr. lirown) of the Agricultural College at Guelph; and being, therefore, reliable, I quote portions of it, as it may be of interest to my readers. I'KOM A 'llKlTISlI lARMf.R IN ONTARIO I'O ItRlTISII KAR.MKRS. "... .My claim to be an authority on this subject is a twenty years' daily professional intercourse among yourselves, and an eight years" one as practical and as intimate with Canadian fanners. Nt)vv, just as I make a specialty of address- ing a particular cla.ss of agriculturalists, so I shall confine my remarks to a partic- ular part of this Dominion (Ontario) .... Two-thirds of this garden is under cul- tivation ; the remainder consists of woodland, swamp, pasture, and water. Com- paratively few tree stumps remain to mark the progress of clearing during the last half century, for this short perio,i (uhel would amply repay the grower in Manitoba, and, at present prices in London or Glasgow for American wheat, would leave a large margin for freight and other expenses. I will here state the cost of raising wheat per acre on our own land for the years 1X79 and 1880, likewise the average amount of produce for these two crops. First, the cost, which I shall give at contract prices : Ploughing .• . . $2,00 Seed 90 vSowing and harrowing 50 ( Reaping 65 Harvesting | sJocWng ■.'.'.■.■.'.■.■.■. '.V. . ! ! 1 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Iss j V, Carrying and stacking I.io j Thxashing 1.70 2.95 Average of Crops for 1879-80, 28 bush, per acre at 75c. $8.o5 = ;^i 13 I . 2i.oo=;^4 63 $i2.95 = ;^2 132 Cost of production per bushel, is, 3d., leavmg a margin of nearly $13 per acre. This certainly is above an average yield for Manitoba at the present time, but I believe that with good management and fair seasons the average will come up to this or even more. If I mistake not, the two Royal Commissioners, Messrs. Read and Pell, stated that wheat could not be sent from Manitoba to Liverpool to pay the grower below 47s. per quarter ; I have been unable to get a definite quotation of freights from Winnipeg to Liverpool or Glasgow, but the following is an approximate : Wheat has already been sent from Winnipeg to Montreal — by rail to Duluth, thence by steamer to Montreal — at 30 cents per bushel. From Montreal to Glas- gow freights for wheat have ranged from 68 cents to $1.44 per quarter, say, on an average, $1.06. This gives From Winnipeg to Montreal 30 cents per bushel $2.40 per quarter. " Montreal to Glasgow 1.06 " " Insurance, landing charges, etc., including weighing and allowance for shorts .36 Cost of production per quarter. Total cost per quarter $3.82 = 15s. 9d. 10 o i 25s. 9d. 158 Mr. James RiddelVs Paper. If these rates are correct — and i have every reason to believe the.y are — it is evident Messrs. Read and Pell have been led into error in their statements. American wheat at the present time is worth 53s. per quarter in Glasgow, which shows a large margin for the growers' profit in Manitoba. As soon as the Cana- dian Pacific Railway and the Hudson's Bay routes are opened, there cannot be a doubt that the cost of transit will be reduced. Cattle-rearing is likely to pay well, as it is attended with little expense. They keep their condition through the winter (where wind-brakes are provided) on marsh hay, and this can be had in abundance in almost any kind of season. It is cut in July or August, the earlier the better fodder it makes. Thf marshes are level, and mowing machines make good work in the cutting. The expense of making this hay does not exceed $1 per ton, and the usual winter allowance per head of various ages is 2^ tons. At present, cattle are allowed to graze on any unfenced land during the summer, and find any amount of feed, such as wild tares, peas, and grasses. The best season for cows to calve is about the end of April. Young cows "^re worth $35 per head ; a three-year-old steer, ready for work, $50 to $60. Sheep can also be raised with pro.'"t. They can be kept during the winter with- out covermg, and get fat on hay grown on dry prairie, this being finer than the marsh hay. A cross between the Lincoln and Cotswold will be found as profit- able as any. Mutton is worth 12 cents per lb., and wool 30 to 35 cents. The climate has beeii represented as being almost impossible to live in. It must be admitted that the winters are more severe than in Britain, but the air is so clear and dry that the cold is not much felt. Writers on Iowa and other States seem to attach much importance to the severity of our winters, but it must be borne in mind that most of them have never experienced a winter in Manitoba. I have noticed a letter in a Scotch newspaper from a Mr. Lauder, Dunfermline, giving a most alarming account of the climate and soil of Manitoba. I find that many of the statements he makes are quite incorrect, and no wonder, as he was only there for a very short time during summer on a hunting expeciMou. As an instance of his inaccuracy, he states that there are eight months of winter and only four of summer. Instead of this, there are four and a half months of winter, and the rest spring, summer and autumn ! I have no idea of entering into the comparative merits of Manitoba with Iowa, or any other country, but it would be an injustice if I did not add my te?:ti- mony to the advantages of Manitoba as a rleld for emigration. It has been said that Manitoba and the North- West Territory wi'l be the grainery of the v orld, and its rapid development, the amount of capital and skill which is Iieing expended on the cultivation of its soil, and the towns and villages that have sprung up, are all strong evidences of the progress that has been made. Winnipeg, in 1874, had a population of only 5,000 inhabitants, while now it is fully more than double. Emerson, Portage la Prairie, Nelsonville, and Rapid City, and many other villages, have also become places of importance. With the privileges offered in Manitoba and the North-West Territory, where free grants of land are offered to the agriculturist, where land can be purchased for less than is paid in Britain for merely occupying it, where all improvements are one's own, where education 'i free, and, in fact, where nearly all the comforts of the Old Country are to be had, it is surprisi ig at this time of continued depression in British farming, how few have availed ti. mselves of such a favour- able opening. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF TENANT FARMERS' DELEGATES OF PREVIOUS YEAR. The following are extracts having special reference to Manitoba and the Canadian North-West, from the reports of the Tenant Farmers' Delegates of the previous year, published separately : — Mr. Biggar, The Grange., Dalbeattie. — "As a field for when: raising, I would much prefer Manitoba to Dakota. The first cost of the land is less ; the soil is deeper, and will stand more cropping ; the sample of wheat is better, and the produce five to ten bushels per acre more, all of which is profit. " Mr. George Cowan, Annan, speaking of Mr. Mackenzie s farm at Burn- ■side, says: — "I was certainly surprised at the wonderful fertility of the soil, which is a rich black loam, averaging about 18 inches of surface soil, on friable ■clay subsoil, 5 and 6 feet in depth, beneath which is a thin layti of sand, lying on a stiff clay. The land is quite dry, and is well watered by a fine stream which flows through it. " " The land between Rapid City and the Assiniboine, which iies to the south- ward, 25 miles distant, is a nice loam with clay subsoil on top of gravel. I was very highly impressed with the fertility of the soil, some of it being without excep- tion the richest I have ever seen, and I have little doubt it will continue for many years to produce excellent crops of grain without any manure, and with very little expense in cultivation." Mr. John Logan, Earlston, Berwick, says : — "All the land around this dis- trict (Assiniboine) is very good, being four feet deep of black loam, as we saw from a sandpit." Mr. John Snow, Midlothian. — " Along the Red River and .tout Winnipeg the soil is very strong black vegetable mould, and I have no doubt most of it would carry paying crops of wheat for thirty years ; but it is very flat, and I must •say that I like the country better west of Winnipeg, and the furthest point we 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 produced was good, as you will see from the samples of each I now show you. I also show you samples from other parts ; and, as I will show you further on, ihe Americans themselves admit that we have ground better adapted for growing wheat and raising cattle than they have. " "We saw that a black vegetable mould covered the surface from 18 inches to 2, 3 or 4 feet deep." Mr. Robert Peat, Silloth, Cumber land.— -Soil. — "Contrary to my expecta- tions, instead of finding a wet swamp, as I pictured to my own mind, I found a deep, black, loamy soil, varying in depth from 2}^ to 2,% feet; and in some places where it has been cut through on the banks of some rivers, it has been found to the depth of 10 c; 12 feet, and is specially adapted for the growing of wheat, being preferrec' by the millers to almost any other on account of its being so dry and thin skinned. It has been known to grow wheat for many years in succes- sion without manure. If the report was coriect, the soil I have sent down to you has grown wheat for thirty years, and the last crop yielded 35 bushels per acre." w. It 1 60 Extracts from Reports. Mk. John Maxwki.l, Carlisle. — " The soil throughout the country is a rich black loam, 6 inches to 6 feet deep, almost entirely free from stones, and varying in quality in different districts, on a subsoil of strong or triable clay or sand. "The average wheat yield in Manitoba and the North- West would appear to range from 20 to 30 bushels per acre, and the weight from 60 to 63 lbs. per bushel. Barley and oats yield good averages, and also potatoes and other root crops. " The following figures, taken from the reports of the delegates of the English and Scotch tenant farmers, may also be found interesting on this point : — Mr. James Biggar, of the Grfmge, Dalbeattie, says: — "We heard very dif- ferent statements of the yield of wheat, varying from 25 to 40 bushels. McLean, a farmer, near Portage, had 1,230 bushels of Fife wheat off 40 acres. Another man, a native of Ross-shire, who was ploughing his own land, told us he had cropped it for seventeen years in succession, his last crop yielding 35 bushels per acre. Mr. Ryan, M.P., a good authority, said the average of wheat might safely be taken at 25 to 30 bushels, and of oats 60 bushels. . . . Next day we drove over Messrs. Riddell's farm ; their wheat has averaged fully 30 bushels per acre. " Mr. George Cowan, Glenluce, Wi^oiiiit, says: — "Mr. Mackenzie's farm is at Burnside, about nine miles from Portage la Prairie. . . He favoured me with his average for the seasons of 1877 and 1878, and his estimate for the present year. Wheat crop, 1877, 4^ bushels; 1878, 36 bushels; this year (1879) he expects it to be close on 40 bushels, average weight 60 to 62 lbs. ; but he has grown it as high as 64 lbs. per bushel. Oats last year (1878) he had a yield of 88 bushels from two bushels of seed sown on one acre; this year (1879) his estimate is from 75 to 80 bushels per acre. Mr. M. also grows excellent root crops, his swede turnips averaging 30 to 35 tons ; and potatoes, without any care in cultivation, sometimes even not being moulded up, yield between 300 and 400 bushels of 60 lbs. Onions, when cultivated, are also very prolific, yielding as much as 300 bushels per acre. Mangel also grows very heavy crops, but I did not see any on the ground." " We spent a short time on the farm of Mr. McBeth, and walked over a field whiv . I was informed had been continuously under crop for fifty-four years. . I was told it would average 28 or 30 bushels per acre. Mr. R. W. Gordon, Annan. — "Wheat may safely be estimated to yield with reasonable cultivation 30 bushels of 60 lbs., and oats 60 bushels of 32 lbs." Mr. Logan, Earlston, speaking of the yield about High Bluff says : — " The land here has grown wheat for forty years in succession, yielding from 25 up to 40 bushels per acre. There are not many oats sown here but the general produce is 70 bushels per acre. " "We arrived at Portage on Saturday afternoon. ... He told us he had grown good crops at an average ol 32 bushels per acre of 60 lbs. weight." Mr. Snow, Fountain Hall, Midlothian. — I consider I keep safely within the mark when I say that taking a good piece of land, it will produce 40 bushels the first year, and an average of 30 bushels for thirty years, without manure." Mr. John Maxwell, Carlide. — " I give an estimate of the cost of wheat crop in Dakota. The same system may be adopted in the Canadian North-West to advantage, as the average yield, so far as can be learned on present information, will be 8 to 10 bushels per acre higher than the yield in Dakota, United States Territory, and ever)' extra bushel produced tends to reduce the first cost per bushel to the producer.