WHEAT IN CANADA 285 



pean markets much more cheaply than by the 

 long railway haul to eastern ports. 



The natural outlet for Canadian wheat is the 

 Hudson Bay route. There is, however, even in 

 the summer the ever present danger of ice in 

 Hudson Strait, and the whole route is ice-bound 

 during much of the season when it is most urgently 

 needed for the wheat trade. The same is true to 

 a large extent of the St. Lawrence. Only a part 

 _of the year's export can be sent by way of Montreal 

 and Quebec before the river freezes over. This 

 results in the fact that much of the Canadian wheat 

 is sent through part of the United States ' in 

 bond." This means that the wheat is not to be 

 sold in United States markets, and that it is per- 

 mitted to pass through this country only to reach 

 an export city, where it is to be loaded into vessels 

 and sent to foreign markets. We can thus see 

 how Canadian 'climatic disadvantages serve to 

 assist the carrying trade of this country and in- 

 crease the volume of business of some of our 

 Atlantic seaports. The cities which gain most by 

 this condition are Portland, Boston, New York, and 

 .Baltimore. 



QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES 



1. Where in Canada is the greater part of the wheat- 

 producing area ? 



2. Explain how the climate of this part favors the pro- 

 duction of high grade wheat. 



