48 General Information about Canada, 



the heat is favourable to the growth of fruit ani the crops, and 

 in every way pheasant and beneficial, and the cold is not prejudicial 

 to health or lite. In fact, Canada is one of the healthiest countries 

 in the world. The .vinter lasts from the end of November or the 

 beginning of December to the end of March or middle of April ; 

 spring from April to May; summer fnom June to September; and 

 autumn from Oc*^^ober to the end of November. The seasons vary 

 sometimes, but the above is the average duration of the different 

 periods. The nature of the climate ot' a country may be measured 

 by its products. In winter most of the trades and manufactures are 

 carried on as usual, and, as regards farming, much the same work 

 is done on a Canadian farm in autumn a:id in winter as on 

 English, IScotch, or Irish homesteads. Ploughing is not possible, of 

 course, in the depth of winter, but it is done in the autumn and early 

 s|)ring, and in the winter months cattle have to be fed, the dairy 

 attended to, cereals threshed, machinery put in order, buildings repairea, 

 carting done, and wood-cutting, and preparations made for the spring 

 work, so that it is by no means an idle season. One thing is perfectly 

 certain — that the country would net have developed so rapidly as it 

 has done, and the population would not have grown to its present 

 proportions, had the climate been unfavourable to the health, pros- 

 })erity, and progress of the community. Of course there are good and 

 Ittid seasons in Canada, as everywhere else, but, taken, altogether, the 

 climate will compare very favourably with other countries in similar 

 latitudes. 



As the temperature in Manitoba and the North-Wr >t 

 Temperature. Territories is frequently referred to, it is desirable 

 to quote official statistics bearing on the quv ion. 

 The mean temperature at "Winnipeg in the summer is 00*3°, and during 

 the winter 1 ° ; Brandon, 58-1° and - 1-8° ; Eapid City, 62-2° and 27° ; 

 Portage-la-Prairie, 61-8° and 12-6°. In the North- West Territories, the 

 summer and winter mean temperatures at the specified places are as 

 follows:— Kegina, 59-2° and -2-4°; Calgary, 55-6° and 12-2"; Edmon- 

 ton, 55'2^ and 11*3°. It is very evident the temperature only very 

 occasionally reaches the various extreme limits that are sometimes 

 mentioned, or the mean winter temperatures could not be anytliing liko 

 the figures above quoted, v 



Beference has been made elsewhere to the agricultural 

 Products of products of Canada. The countr} also possesses great 

 Canada, wealth in the timber contained in the immense forests, and 



in the minerals of all kinds, including coal, gold, silver, 

 iron, copper, &c. Then, again, the fisheries along the extensive coasts, 

 both on the Atlantic side and on the Pacific, and in the inland waters, 

 are most valuable and varied, and are valued annually at several millions 

 sterling. The principal fishes are salmon, trout, cod, herring, mackerel, 

 halibut, and haddock. Oysters and lobsters are also most nume- 

 rous. The manufacturing industry already occupies a most important 

 position, and is growing more extensive every year. Almost every 

 kind of manufacture is carried on. This activity is not confined to 

 any one part ot Canada, but is apparent ia all the older provinces, 



