326 METEOROLOGY. 
Potatoes are particularly distinguished for abundance, size, and quality. 
Turnips, beets, &c.—All kinds of root crops grow well and obtain large dimensions. АП 
common garden vegetables grown in Canada being equalled, if not surpassed. 
Sugar.—Considerable quantities of sugar are made from the Ashleaved 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, (cottonwood.) On the ridges are small aspens and pines. Abundant good 
pine grows, however, east of Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg. 
Live stock.—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 prairies 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 great 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 40°, nearly,) there is: 
Summer nearly 4? warmer. 
Summer rains 21.74 inches more. 
Mean of spring and summer nearly 1? higher. 
Winter, 129.6 colder. 
Year, 8°.1 colder. 
Annual rain and melted snow, 17:85 inches more. Snow, 33.4 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 reiaains 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 TERRITORY. 
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, (Fort Owen,) latitude 46° 35’, longitude 113° 55’; altitude 3,284 feet; 13 
year’s observations: temperature, spring, 47°.0; summer, 69°.6; autumn 45°.5; winter, 219.6; 
year, 419.4, Compared with Taganrog this shows an excess of 09.6 in the year, and 5°.3 
for winter, the other seasons being much the same at each place. No records of moisture 
exist, but the abundance and качан» of the forests in that part of the Rocky mountains, as 
П as the actual products of agriculture, show that it is quite sufficient. Its climate is superior 
