20 ESSAYS ON "WHEAT 



parture for the United States. The other party, consist- 

 ing of Scotch settlers, were not so easily chilled by disap- 

 pointments and, without any hesitation, resumed work on 

 their cheerless farms. The seeding season was already 

 very adyaneed, yet barley, potatoes, and even a little wheat 

 sowed as late as June 22 came to maturity.*-^ 



XII. Prosperity in 18Z9 



After the disastrous year 1826 which, however, served 

 to purge the settlement of its human dross, conditions 

 greatly improved, and by 1830 the colony was thriving as 

 it had never done before. The saturation of the soil with 

 the flood water was favorable to succeeding harvests, and 

 several good crops were now reaped. Ross states that 

 from a field sowed with 10 bushels he obtained 255 bushels ; 

 and that from another field, sowing 8 bushels, which had 

 been left fallow for two years running, during which it 

 had been plowed three different times and then sown in 

 drills, he obtained for a first crop 280 bushels.*^ 



The population now became increased by the arrival of 

 a number of settlers who were of a much more desirable 

 type than those who had left after the flood ; and many new 

 houses were erected to accommodate them. This rapid 

 progress and the excellent crops soon fully restored confi- 

 dence in the future of the colony. Governor Donald 

 Mackensie, writing to Colvile in August, 1829, grew en- 

 thusiastic concerning the improvement which had taken 

 place and in colorful language referred to : the corn " rich 

 and flourishing," " the boundless prairie " with cattle like 

 " herds of buffalo brousing," the groups of haymakers 



*i A. Ross, loc. cit., pp. 98-107. Of the disastrous events in the 

 year 182tt, "Ross, who was an eyewitness, gives a' very vivid de- 

 scription. 



i^IUd., p. 112. 



