42 THE THIRD ZONE. 



cariboo and moose frequent the Fertile Belt, though the musk- 

 ox confines himself to the more northern regions. Wolves 

 have -been almost exterminated in the neighbourhood of the 

 Red River settlement. The half-breeds and Indians possess 

 peculiarly hardy and sagacious horses, which are trained for 

 hunting the buffalo. Their dogs are large and powerful, and 

 four of them will draw a sleigh with one man over the snow 

 at the rate of six miles an hour. Herds of cattle, as well as 

 horses and hogs, are left out during the whole winter, it 

 being necessary only should a thaw come on, succeeded by 

 a frost to supply them with food ; otherwise, unable to break 

 through the coating of ice thus formed, they are liable to 

 starve. 



The farmers of the Red River settlement grow wheat, barley, 

 oats, flax, hemp, hops, turnips, and even tobacco, though 

 Indian com grows best, and can always be relied on. Wheat, 

 however, is the staple crop of Red River. It is a splendid 

 country for sheep pasturage, and did easier means of transport- 

 ing the wool exist, or could it be made into cloth or blankets 

 in the settlement, no doubt great attention would be given to 

 the rearing of sheep. 



THE THIRD ZONE. THE DISMAL SWAMP IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Returning again to the east coast, about the latitude of 

 Chesapeake Bay and Cape Hatteras, we find a low level region 

 known as the Atlantic plain, running parallel to the coast, on 

 which the long-leaved or peach-pines flourish. This region is 

 generally called the Pine Barrens. Wild vines encircle the 

 trees, and among them are seen the white berries of the 

 mistletoe. In winter these Pine Ban-ens retain much of their 

 verdure, and constitute one of the marked features of the 



