174 My Dogs in the Northland 



I did have some work for my dogs after I 

 had been in the country a short time. 



We found that potatoes and other vege- 

 tables grew to perfection in our garden, and 

 that even wheat and other grains, if sown 

 just as soon as the frost left the ground, 

 also ripened perfectly. 



So to help the Indians I secured, after a 

 good deal of trouble, a. good plough in the 

 Red River Settlement, I had to take it 

 in a row-boat four hundred miles to my 

 home. I made a harrow out of birch wood 

 and some iron teeth which I had dragged 

 out on my dog sled with seed grain. 



In the spring I harnessed up six or eight 

 dogs to my plough and without very much 

 trouble I succeeded in ploughing up several 

 small fields and gardens. The Indians had 

 nothing better than strong hoes, and so they 

 were pleased to have me help them prepare 

 their potato patches with the plough. 



After sowing my grain in my own fields, 

 I harnessed my dogs to my harrow and so 

 had all nicely covered. Some seasons I did 

 very well. 



Eight dogs arranged as four teams, 

 dragged the plough along through the soil 

 very well. The trouble was not that they 



