CHAPTER XIII.

Cereals, Root Crops, Seed Time and Harvest, Roads, &c.

Barley-Its great Weight in the North-Bay of Quinte Barley-Additional 100,000,-

000 Acres Suited to Barley North of the Wheat Belt-Uses of Barley in the West-

Testimony Regarding its Culture in Manitoba-Average Yield for Four Years-Com-

pared with the United States-Enormous Yield of Oats-Testimony of Residents in

Manitoba Average sixty Bushels per Acre-Nearly Three Times Greater than Ohio

-100 Bushels per Acre often Raised-Potatoes a sure Crop to the Arctic Circle-

Rotten ones Unknown-Chipweyans as Potato Cultivators-Remarkable size of

Potatoes at Hay Lakes-Late Growth of Potatoes-Feeding Stock an Easy Matter-

Pumpkins, Melons, and Cucumbers in the North-Melons Grow and Ripen North of

St. Petersburg, or 1,200 Miles Northwest of Winnipeg and 900 Miles North of the

Boundary-Extent and Capacity of the Country Beyond the Range of Average Com-

prehension Testimony of Residents Regarding the Productive Powers of the Soil-

Timothy an Excellent Crop-Good Fall Pasture-Wild Hops-Clover-Flax-Hemp

-Why all Crops Succeed so Well-Southern Russia a Parallel Case-Commencement

of Spring-Setting in of Winter-Seed-time in the North-West-Varies in Certain

Localities-Harvest Time-Earliest in the Qu'Appelle Valley-Always Free from

Frost-Qu'Appelle Valley Compared with Saskatchewan-Time for Taking up Roots

-Testimony Regarding Seed Time and Harvest-Roads of the West merely Cart

Trails-No real Roads other than Railways in the Country-Description of Leading

Trails-How Trails are Formed-Where they Lead to-No Attempts made to

Improve them-Travellers Tell of their Own Incapacity-Experienced men Never get

"Stuck"-How to Cross a "slew" with Loaded Carts-Trails or Roads of Ten

Years Since How they were Formed-Indian Trails-Roads of the Future.

CHAPTER XIV.

Grasses of the Plains, Forests, and Mountains.

Pastures of the Prairies-Their Value in Various Sections-Design of the Chapter-List

of Grasses, their Habitats-List of Cyperaceae, their Habitats-List of Rushes-List

of Leguminosa (Pea Family)—Why Certain Grasses have Various Names-Effects of

Burning the Grass-"Wild Oat" of Southwestern Manitoba a Bugbear-Sheep

Killing by its Awns a Myth-Description of the Grass-How it Injures Man or

Beast-Hay made of this Grass-Its Effects on Horses-Really the best Grass on the

Plains-Hay Grasses-Manitoba Hay-Practical Remarks on Manitoba Hay-Testi-

mony of Residents Regarding the Hay Crop-Sand Hill Grasses-Bunch Grasses-

Buffalo Grasses-"Grama-grass "-Grasses of the Alkali Lands-Valuable Grasses-

Grasses of the Bow River Country-Spring Food of Horses-Summer Food-Winter

Grass of the Prairie-Winter Pasture in the Forest-Only one Poor Grass in Ninety-

six-Value of the Pea Family-Artemisia Frigida as a Forage Plant-Eurota lanata-

Analyses of Grasses.

CHAPTER XV.

Stock Raising.

Method of the Chapter-Cypress Hills-General Description, Altitude, Wood, Water,

Grass-Value for Summer Pasture-Winter Pasture North of the Hills-Shel-

ter in the Coulées-Plain North of the Hills—Its Description and Character-

Bow River and Cypress Hills Compared-Summer Pasture Everywhere-Enumera-

tion of Localities-All Equally Valuable-Ponies can Winter Anywhere-The Reason

of This-Prairie Grass real Hay in Winter-Why Canadian Horses Die-How to

Remedy This-Mr. Mackenzie's Opinion-Canadian Horses must be Fed-Cattle

Succeed Well as they are always Grass Fed―Ponies use the Hoof; Cattle the Nose

to Procure their Food in Winter-When Cattle must be Fed-Incidents on the

Prairie in Winter-Mr. Selwyn's Testimony-Dr. Dawson's Testimony-Wild Cattle

Winter out-Winter Shelter a Necessity-Other Locations as Good as Bow

River-Country West of Cypress Hills-Hand Hills as They are Now-Descrip-

tion of the Hills-The "Store "-Country West of Sounding Lake-Tail Creek-

Remains of Former Fights-Bow River Country-Natural Hay-Country Better

Suited for Pasture than Farming-Description of the District-Root Crops easily

Raised for Cattle Feed-Winter Storms Never do Harm if Food is Abundant-Sheep

Raising-Keeping Hogs, easily Fattened-Animals easily Fattened in the North-

Illustrations of this Fact-Riga Exports Hides and Tallow-Our Plains of same

Character as Russian Ones-Food Abundant Everywhere—An Irish Delegate's Views

on Stock Raising-Mr. Spence's Opinions Regarding the same Matter-Testimony of

Settlers Regarding Cold.

American Writers Ignore our North-West, or Speak of its Sterility-Bow River District

Defined-Montana Stock-raisers Testify to the Superiority of the Bow River District

-Description of North-Western Montana-It Improves as We Go North-Cattle

now in the Bow River Country-No Loss from Winter Storms-Renting Grazing

Lands Statistics of Stock in Montana-Chinook Winds-Description of the Rocky

Mountains-How to Stock a Ranche-Sort of Cattle to Choose-Comparison of

Varieties of Stock-Capital Necessary to Establish a Ranche-Size of a Ranche-The

Rate of Increase-Profits on the Investment-Will There be a Market?-Another

Estimate of Cost and Profit-Is it Wise to Lay in Some Hay-Sort of Men for Herds-

men-Men and Cattle Should be Comfortable-The C. P. R. to cross the Bow River

District-Sheep-farming as a Future Business-Every Requirement in the Region in

Question-A Perfect Sheep's Paradise-No Sheep Ever Lost by Severe Weather in

Montana-Little Disease among Sheep-Profit from Sheep Farming in Colorado-

Equally as Good in Bow River Country-Breeding and Rearing Horses-Conclusion.

CHAPTER XVII.

Water Supply.

Supposed Insufficient Rainfall-Souris Plain Thought to be a Desert-Settlement

Proves the Contrary-Brackish and Pure Water-Where Saline Lakes and Ponds are

Situated-Want of Running Streams Accounted for-Rainfall quite Sufficient—

Prairie Fires the Cause of Apparent Scarcity-Surface Water Scarce in many Locali-

ties-Brackish Water always Preferred by Horses and Cattle-Moderately deep Wells

Supply good Water-Cause of Poor Water on the Manitoba or Red River Prairie-

Artesian Wells a Success at Winnipeg-How to Obtain good Water in any Part of

the Country-Statements of Actual Settlers Regarding the Water Supply.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Fuel Supplies.

Scarcity of Fuel not Real-Views of the Canadian, the Englishman, and the Yankee-

Supply of Southwestern Manitoba-Turtle Mountain-Moose Mountain a Source

of Supply-Scarcity of Wood West of This-Cypress Hills-Government Reserves

Fuel-Fuel Generally Sufficient in Manitoba-Supply for Pheasant Plain-Scarcity

of Wood West of Touchwood Hills-Eagle Hills Supply-Fuel Abundant North of the

Prairie-Peat Deposits Abundant-Their Distribution-Peat on nearly all Farms

now-Mineral Fuels near the Boundary-Analyses of Coals-Value of the Lignites-

St. Mary's River Coal-Analyses of Coals by Prof. Haanel-Souris Coal Field-Coal

at Cypress Hills-Coal on Bow River-Its Value as Fuel-Red Deer River Coals—

Crawling Valley Coal-Saskatchewan Coal-Eighteen feet Seam above Edmonton-

Analyses of these Coals-211 Miles of Coal Exposures on the Saskatchewan-25,000

Square Miles of a Coal Field-Edmonton the Centre of this Coal Field-Coal on the

Pembina River-Peace River Coal-Coal at the Arctic Sea-Extent of Coal Field-

No want of Fuel in the Future.

CHAPTER XIX.

Timber Supply.

Minnesota Considered-Lake of the Woods-Line of the C. P. R.-Varieties of Timber-

Where Located-Beren's River-No Pine West of Lake Winnipeg-Distribution of

White Spruce-Black Spruce-Scrub Pine-"Cypress "-Balsam Poplar-Aspen

Poplar-Cottonwood-Oak-Elm-Ash-" Sugar Maple "-Birch, Tamarac and

Black Willow-Timber on Winnipegoosis-Supply for Rapid City, Minnedosa,

Odanah, Birtle-Riding Mountain-Duck and Porcupine Mountains-Timber North

of the Saskatchewan-Athabasca Valley-At Edmonton-On Turtle Mountain-

Cypress Hills-St., Mary's River-Timber in Bow River Country-Pheasant, File,

and Touchwood Hills-Eagle Hills-Battle River-Red Deer River-Tributaries of

South Saskatchewan-Conclusion.

CHAPTER XX.

Mammals of the North-West.

Introduction-Enumeration of the Carnivora, of the Ungulata, of the Chiroptera, of the

Insectivora, of the Rodentia-The American Panther, its General Appearance and

Range The Canadian Lynx, its Description and Distribution-Hunting on Peace

River-Foxes, Anecdotes Respecting them-Wolves-The Coyote-The Grey Wolf,

his Habits-Occurrence on the Plains-When easily Taken-Anecdotes Illustrative of

their Cunning and Tenacity of Life-Pine Marten and Fisher-Wolverines, the

Enemies of the Trappers-Anecdotes of the Wolverine-Mink and Otter-Skunks-

Eaten by Hunters-Badgers and their Habits-Danger of Riding on Horseback-

Mode of Killing Badgers-Notes on the Black Bear-Their Habits-The Terrible

Grizzly-Fears of the Indians on Peace River-Nearly all Carry Scars Inflicted by Bears

-Description of One Killed at the Hand Hills-Indian Woman Killed by a Grizzly—

The Cabree or Prong-Horned Antelope-Black Tailed Deer-Wapiti or American Elk,

its Distribution-The Moose-Hunting Moose an Art-Starvation on Peace River in

1875-Caribou Found in the North-Hunting on the Barren Grounds-The Rocky

Mountain Goat-Description of It-Hunting in Bow River Pass-The Big Horn or

Rocky Mountain Sheep-Measurement of their Horns-Musk Ox of the Barren

Grounds-Its general Appearance and Habits-Warmth of its Covering-The Buffalo,

its Distribution-Wood Buffalo on the Athabasca-Their Present Scarcity-Buffalo

Hunting in the Past-Mode of Camping in the Indian Country-Mode of Running

Buffalo-Exciting Scenes-The Charge, Conflict and Pursuit-The Buffalo Pound in

Former Days-How the Indians Slaughtered the Buffalo-Doctor Hector's Account-

Moles and Shrews, Rich Soil where they Are-Gophers and Prairie Dogs, their Habits

-Mode of Catching Prairie Dogs-Beaver-Stories Related of their Instinct-Con-

struction of their Dams-Beaver Houses-Their Construction-Muskrats, their Num-

bers and Habits-Character of Country they Inhabit-Muskrats as Weather Prophets

-The Foolishness of the Prophets-How the Muskrat Builds his House-Pouched

Gopher and Jumping Mice-Porcupines and their Habits-The Prairie and Woodland

Hares-Great Numbers of the Latter-Rocky Mountain Hare.

CHAPTER XXI.

Birds of the North-West.

Large Numbers Breed in the Country-Enumeration of Singing Birds-Notes on the

Thrushes, Warblers, Swallows, Finches-Prairie Birds-Peculiarities of the Cow-bird

-Blackbirds a Great Nuisance-The Fly-catchers, Enumeration of the Species-

Night Hawks, Humming Birds, and Woodpeckers-All these are Forest Species-

Range of the Humming Birds-Hawks a: 1 Owls-The Owl of the Prairie-Hawks

very Beautiful and Abundant-Their Habits-The Wild Pigeon-Prairie Chicken,

Ptarmigan and Grouse-Enumeration of the Waders-Numerous both in Species and

Numbers-Plover-Avocets-Godwits-Sandpipers and Snipe in Myriads-Bitterns

and Cranes often Numerous-Enumeration of the Ducks, Geese, and Swans-Their

Breeding Places-Notes on the River Ducks-Countless Myriads in the Fall-Game

Birds Around or in a Pond-A Common Sight-How to Procure a Supper-The Mer-

gansers or Sheldrakes-Pelicans, their Habits and Breeding Places-Their Modes of

Fishing-Gulls and Terns-Very Abundant on the Larger Lakes-Their Summer

Haunts-Loons, Grebe and Dab-chicks-Habits of the Grebe-The Great Western

Grebe-Synoptical Table of the Birds-Notes on the Prairie Birds-Birds near Bran-

don in 1880-At Flat Creek-At Moose Mountain-Souris Plain-Around Salt

Ponds-Multitudes of Ducks and Prairie Chickens-Taking to the Stubble Fields--

Notes on the Hawks-On the Owls-On the Gulls.

CHAPTER XXII.

Notes on Reptiles, Fishes, and Insects.

List of Reptiles-Snakes in Spring and Autumn-Gathering of Snakes at Livingstone-

Snakes in Bullrush Lake-Fishing for Siredons-Rattlesnakes-Lizards-Toads

and Frogs-List of Fishes-The Perches-The "Dore "-Carp Family-Their Great

Numbers-Not Considered Good Food-Dried for Dogs and Bait-The Pike or Jack

Fish-Its Habits-The Cat Fish-Salmon Family-Arctic Salmon-Mountain Trout

-Arctic Trout-Anecdotes-Bow River Trout-White Fish-Their great Value-

White Fish in the Prairie Region-In the Forest Region-West of the Mountains-

The little White Fish or Herring-The Gold-eye-Fishing for. Gold-eyes in the

Rivers of the Prairie-Western Pickerel-Its Value-The Loche or Burbot-The

Sturgeon-Fish Supply of the Saskatchewan Valley and Prairie Country-Qu'Appelle

and Long Lake Fisheries-Notes on Insects-Butterflies of the Prairie-Myriads in

June-Absence of Moths-Coleoptera or Beetles-Grasshoppers and their Allies-

Grasshopper Plague-Its Causes and Prevention-Conclusion.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Minerals of the North-West.

Boundary of the Laurentian Series-Lower Silurian Rocks-Limestone at the Stone

Fort near Winnipeg-Building Stone of Winnipeg-Devonian Series along Lakes

Manitoba and Winnipegoosis-Salt Deposits in these Rocks-Pure Salt Collected in

1881-Description of the Manufacture of Salt on Lake Winnipegoosis-Devonian

Rocks on Peace River-Gypsum, Salt, and Petroleum-Gypsum on Peace River-

Salt Springs of Salt River-Tar Springs on the Athabasca-Cretaceous Series-Its

Extension-Limestone and other Boulders-Gravel and Sand-Niobrara Limestone-

Souris Coa. Field-Coal in the Peace River Country-Lignite Tertiary-Its Probable

Extension-Coal Deposits of Immense Extent-Pure Hematite in connection with

the Coal-In the Saskatchewan Country-At Edmonton-Along Peace River-Its

Probable Value-Gold on the Saskatchewan-On Peace River-Gold Washing Seldom

Remunerative-Brick Clays-Their Great Value and Probable Extent-Concluding

Remarks.