MJ;.TEOEOLOGY. ^ 



Potatoes are particularly distinguished for abundance, size, and quality. 



Turnips, beets, d:c. — All kinds of root crops grow well and obtain large dimensions. All 

 common garden vegetables grown in Canada being equalled, if not surpassed. 



Sugar. — Considerable quantities of sugar are made from the Asblewood maple; but unless 

 the tree is protected and planted the supply is likely to fail. 



Flax and hemp were formerly much cultivated, but the want of markets or of machinery 

 caused them to be discontinued, though the product was of excellent quality. 



Lumber is to be got only in narrow strips, along the river banks, consisting of elm, oak, 

 maple, and poplar, (cotton-wood.) On the ridges are small aspens and pines. Abundant good 

 pine grows, however, east of Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg. 



Live stocfc.— Horses, cattle, and hogs are increasing, but sheep diminishing in number, there 

 being no use for their wool. They do not pay for raising. The j^rairies offer great advantages 

 for stock raising; but there being no market for beef, mutton, tallow, hides, wool, &c., few^ 

 comparatively, are raised. The abundance of buffalo, and the greater relative value of their 

 skins, meat, &c., with the strong inclination of the people to a hunter's life, also tend to pre- 

 vent stock raising. 



Climate. — Compared with Toronto, the results for the year show that at the Red river 

 settlement, latitude 50° 15', as compared with Toronto, (latitude 44°, nearly,) there is: 



Summer nearly 4° warmer. 



Summer rains 21^5*5 inches more. 



Mean of spring and summer nearly 1° higher. 



Winter, 12°. 62 colder. 



Year, 8°. 12 colder. 



Annual rain and melted snow, 17 j^^ inches more. Snow, 33j*j inches less. 



Winter extends through November, December, January, February, March. Spring and 

 autumn only two months each. 



The prevailing character of the winter months are long-continued, intense cold, with a clear, 

 dry atmosphere. Mercury often freezes and remains congealed for many days together. In 

 calm weather the intensity of the cold is not much felt, causing no suffering; in fact, the half- 

 breeds and Indians camp out in the open plain during the whole winter, their only protection 

 being a buffalo skin tent and plenty of robes. 



The salubrity of the climate is shown by the fact that one medical man is not overburdened 

 with work in a population nearly reaching 7,000. 



CLIMATE OF WASHINGTON TERBITORT. 



In the preceding pages the region having the most unfavorable climate of any on the route 

 has been selected for comparison with southern Russia as to its capacity for agriculture. West 

 of the Rocky mountains the comparison is much in favor of Washington Territory, as will 

 appear by the following records: 



Bitter Root valley, (Port Owen,) latitude 46.20, longitude 113.55; altitude 3,400 feet; 1^ 

 year's observations: temperature, spring, 47.00; summer, 69.60; autumn, 45.50; winter, 27.62; 

 year, 47.43. Compared with Taganrog this shows an excess of 0.63° in the year, and 5.32° 

 for winter, the other seasons being much the same at each place. No records of moisture 

 exist, but the abundance and luxuriance of the forests in that part of the Rocky mountains, as 

 well as the actual products of agriculture, show that it is quite sufficient. Its climate is superior 

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