28 The Agricultural llesottrces of Canada, 



8om(»one elso'-i farm for a year, or keep their money in their pockets 

 for a 8iniiliir term, till they get to know the country. This rushing 

 for land has been the cause of endless failures. It is also just as well 

 to ke<>p an eye open for "land sharks," who are rather plentiful. 

 The taxes in the North- West Territories are very light. In an old 

 district they are about $12 on a quarter-section of 160 acres. In 

 newer districts they would only be about $2. 



The attention of the Canadians has of late years been turned to 

 the production of beef. In lh02 they exported to Great Britain cattle 

 to the value of S7,48 1,613. A small part of this represents store 

 cattle exported to Scotland and England, where they have competed 

 with Welsh runts in the markets. This has been partly the cause 

 of the present low prices of cattle here. Bullocks weighing 180 lbs, 

 per quarter can be bought on the ranches for 3d. per lb. It is 

 estimated that the cost by rail and watei*, and other charges, to this 

 country, amount to 2d. per lb. Thus these animals can be sold in this 

 country at a profit for a little over 5d. per lb. The fact that as 

 fioon as the St. Lawrence becomes navigable, in May, we have for the 

 last two or three years experienced a drop, at a time when we used to 

 make the highest prices in the year, proves conclusively that M'e must 

 look to Canada — and especially these ranches — as formidable rivals. 

 If this competition develops in the next few years as it has done in 

 tile last year or two— and in my opinion this Canadian cattle trade is 

 yet but in its infancy — agriculturists on this side, with heavy rents, 

 tithes, taxes, and other charges to pay, will be compelled to emigrate, or 

 *' give it up." 



This '• Far West " province is situated on the Pacific Coast, 

 liriiisli and includes several islands, such as Vancouver, Queen 

 Columbia. Charlotte, &c., &c. The climate is more uniform than that 



of the other provinces, the summer not being so warm, 

 and in winter snow seldom remains on the ground. The appearance 

 and complexion of the inhabitants indicate that the climate is not 

 unlike that of the Old Country. It is recommended by medical men 

 as being very salubrious and healthy. Vegetation is green nearly all 

 the year round. They have in British Columbia a great deal more 

 rain than in either Manitoba or the North-West Territories. 



Unlike other parts of Canada, the principal resources of British 

 Columbia are its minerals, such as gold, silver, iron, copper, coal, 

 galena, mercury, platinum, plumbago, mica, slate, salt, &c., &c. Most 

 of these minerals give employment to a large number of men ; and 

 so does the timber trade of this province. A visit to the large 

 timber mills proves the enormous richness of its timber yield. The 

 Douglas fir, spruce, cedar, and hemlock gi-ow to an enormous size. 

 Much of the food of British Columbia — luilike the other Canadian 

 provinces — is imported. They get their flour from the North-West : 

 this fact proves that there is a demand, and where there is a demand 

 there is a price. I am convinced that more money can be made 

 from an acre of land there than in this country. There is a good 

 market for hay, cheese, batter, eggs, &c. The rich lands in the valleys 

 and along the river banks are admirably adapted to produce the articles 



