
CAPABILITIES WITH REFERENCE TO SETTLEMENT. 271 
tamarack (Larix Americana) growing on a scarcely less flooded soil. In 
some places, low, swampy savannah fronts directly on the lake, and this 
I have seen fringed after a gale, by a belt many feet in width, of 
brown vegetable pulp, equally impossible to walk on, and impassable 
for the canoe. On other parts of the coast, on gaining the summit 
of a peaty bank a few feet in height, which is breaking off under the 
action of the waves, an expanse of swamp, with small dead tamarack 
trees, stretches as far as the eye can reach. 
624. In the shallow water of the lake, a large species of rush abounds, 
and is used by the Indians for making mats. The root is also eaten at 
certain seasons. Where the water is quite shoal, and in reaches pro- 
tected from the full force of the waves, thé roseau grass (Phragmites com- 
munis) covers great areas. It does not appear to be tough enough for 
the manufacture of paper, and I do not know any other purpose to which 
it can be applied. The wild, or Indian rice (Zizania aquatica,—ma-nu-min 
of the Chippeways) does not occur abundantly in the southern part of 
the lake, so far as I have seen, but must grow luxuriently in some parts 
of the northern division, and especially in Lac Plat, where the Indians 
collect large quantities of the seed in autumn, for winter use. The plant 
appears to thrive best, where growing up through several feet of water in 
sheltered lagoons and inlets, and certain areas formerly noted for its pro- 
duction, have of late years, from the higher level of the water, become 
unproductive. Scarcely sufficient attention seems to have been given to 
this native grain. Growing far to the north, in areas altogether unsuited 
for other crops, it seems to afford a prospect of utilizing great regions of 
lake and swamp, otherwise irreclaimable. Its growth might no doubt be 
encouraged by the use of proper precautions, and improved varieties 
result from careful selection. The grain, though dark in colour, is 
palatable, and the straw is now coming somewhat extensively into use in 
the manufacture of paper. 
625. Many of the less deeply submerged swamps would yield large 
quantities of natural hay. Those in the vicinity of the North-west Angle 
are already made to furnish hay for the stock kept there, which though 
rather coarse, it is found to be nutritious. 
626. The flora of the country surrounding the Lake of the Woods, 
closely resembles that characteristic of the Laurentian region, north of 
the St. Lawrence River, and differs from that of the prairie country to the 
west. A few western and southern forms, however, occur in association 
with those of eastern and northern aspect. The majority of the forest 
