The Great North- West— Manitoba. 393 



territory there is but little waste land. In fact Manitoba contains 

 less waste or worthless land, acre for acre, than any other Province of 

 Canada. The climate is warm in summer and cold in winter. The 

 summer means range from 67° to 76° Fah., which has been compared 

 to western New York. But in winter the thermometer sinks to 30° 

 and often to 40° Fah., below zero. The atmosphere is however so 

 bright and dry that the climate is less severe than a temperature at 

 the freezing point in a humid atmosphere. The climate of the 

 adjacent territories is much the same, except that in portions of 

 Alberta and Athabaska territories, the winters are much milder, and 

 well adapted to stock-raising. 



It is now a well established fact that Manitoba, as well as the 

 territories to the west of it, are among the absolutely healthiest 

 countries on the face of the globe, and, in many respects, the most 

 pleasant to live in. There is no malaria, and there are no diseases 

 arising out of any natural causes within the Province. The only 

 drawbacks of the climate are extreme cold, and occasional severe 

 storms in winter. The liability to summer frosts is less than in the 

 farmed portions of New York State. Very little snow falls in the 

 country, the average depth never exceeding eighteen inches, and in 

 vast tracts of Alberta and Athabaska Territories, snow scarcely ever 

 makes its appearance at all, so that horses and cattle may graze 

 out of doors in luxury all winter. The snow disappears and seeding 

 begins in April, more than a fortnight earlier than in the Province 

 of Ontario. The Red and Assiniboine Rivers open at least a fort- 

 night earlier than the Ottawa River. May, June, July, August and 

 September may be regarded as summer months. Autumn lasts until 

 November, when winter sets in. The harvesting is done in August 

 and the early part of September. 



The soil of Manitoba is rich, deep, black mould or loam, resting 

 on a deep and very tenacious clay sub-soil. It is among the richest — 

 indeed it may justly be called the richest — soil in the world, especially 

 well adapted to the growth of wheat. This fact has been fully 

 established by celebrated chemists in both Scotland and Germany, 

 who have made a thorough analysis of the soil with the following 

 results : — 



