I 34 The Ar/ricultwal Ifesourcea of Canada. 



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! So far, I have written of the beauties of Canada and 



I l)rawhacJc9 of British Columbia, and the fertility of the soil, but have 



I Canada. said nothing of the drawbacks, which are comparatively 



1 few, and these to a certain extent may be remedied, 



f Ist. Prairie fires are great enemies which farmers have to contend with. 



I The Mounted Police are very active in helping to subdue them, and also 



i sharp in compelling farmers to attend to their fire guards, which is the 



I only remedy for overcoming that devouring element. It would be an 



I advantage, too, if fire guards along the lines of railway were compulsory, 



as sparks from the engines are a frequent source of prairie fires. 2nd. 



I Frost is also detrimental to the grain crops. "Wheat sometimes gets 



frozen, and becomes unsaleable for grinding. We find that crops sown 



and harvested in proper time are seldom troubled in that way; and 



even should the wheat get frozen, it will do for fattening hogs, and is 



good feed for cattle. 3rd. Sheep pay very well, but care must be taken 



i of them on account of wolves, which, however, are not very numerous. 



I The Government is offering a reward for their heads, and the probability 



I is they will shortly become extinct. 



I The Dominion Government has done, and is doing, a great deal for 



I the sons of the Canadian soil ; they are conscious of the fact that the 



I success of farmers is good for the country, as all industries must depend 



I more or less upon the tillers of the land. 



Our travels were as follows; — We left Liverpool on board the 

 s.s. "Vancouver" on the 24th of August last, and, after a very pleasant 

 chat with Mr. Dyke, the Government agent, who kindly assisted us 

 in every way, we steamed out of the harbour about 8.30 p.m. The 

 number of passengers on board was 850. We were fortunate in 

 having two choirs on board bound for the World's Fair. We all 

 enjoyed the healthy sea breeze, and the weather throughout was delight- 

 ful. With such a fine ship, fitted with every comfort, and with the 

 good attention of officers and crew, one could enjoy the sights of the 

 great Atlantic, viz., large icebergs, whales, &c. 



On August 31st, at 8.30 a.m., we sighted Labrador and the 

 • Arrival in north coast of Newfoundland. On September 1st we were 

 Cana'ia. in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; then on to Quebec, where we 

 remained about 3| hours. On September 3rd we landed at 

 Montreal, our voyage having taken a little over nine days. On September 

 4th, after arranging our transports, we had a look around this magnifi- 

 cent city. We ascended Mount Koyal by means of an elevator ; and a 

 fine tract of country there was to view. Harvesting was the chief opera- 

 tion with farmers, and, judging from the stooks, pretty good crops were 

 sure. Mount Eoyal is 900 ft. above the level of the rivers St. Lawrence 

 and Ottawa. Montreal, the chief city of Canada, has a population of 

 250,000. Leaving the city about 4 p.m., we got to Ottawa at 10.1 5 p.m. 

 Here we were fortunate enough to again meet General Laurie, who bad 

 I previously assisted us. He spared no trouble in taking ns to the 



principal places, and introducing us to Sir Adolphe Caron, Postmaster- 

 General, and most of the Government officials, including Mr. Lowe, 

 Deputy-Minister of Agriculture. The General has the welfare of 

 Canada still at heart, and, judging by the re-spect shown to his name 

 in the country, he must have served his constituency well. 



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