
246 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, 
river is at present much encumbered by jams of drift timber, and beaver 
dams. 
636. Roseau Lake, is a shallow expanse of open water in the midst 
of a great region of reedy swamp. It lies about four miles south of the 
Line. The East Roseau enters at its southern part, and the West Roseau 
flows out on the same side, at less than a mile distant from it. 
637. The upper part of the West Roseau River, for about ten miles 
following its course, has banks sufficiently high to support a small growth 
of poplar, oak, and willow bushes. The trees then disappear, the current 
becomes much more sluggish, and the river enters the Great Roseau 
Swamp. This vast muskeg is absolutely without trees or bushes of any 
kind, but is covered by a rank growth of grass and reeds, and interspersed 
with small ponds and lagoons. The distance through the swamp, 
following the course of the river, which is exceedingly tortuous, must 
be at least twenty miles. For a few miles before reaching the forty- 
ninth parallel, the river is again fringed with trees—oak and elm being 
abundant. 
638. A short distance south of the Line, and before re-crossing it, 
the first island occurs, and boulders become plentiful in the bed of the 
river, which, though unencumbered and deep from Roseau Lake to this 
point, now becomes shallow and rapid, and so continues till the border of 
the Red River prairie is reached. The banks are high throughout, and 
this belt of country, about twenty miles: in width, is of much improved 
appearance. The sub-soil is of gravel and fine sand—as already noted in 
connection with the drift deposits—and most of the surface is dry, though 
large swamps still occur. It is partly of a prairie character, but is 
broken up by extensive groves, which are usually of poplar. The soil, 
though lighter than that of the Red River Valley, shows in some places a 
considerable depth of vegetable mould; and would be warm and easily 
worked, and bring crops rapidly to maturity with careful cultivation. 
The presence of so much limestone debris in the drift, has a favourable 
influence. 
Poplar, oak, and elm, attain a large size along the margin of the 
river in this part of its course. 
639. In this region of oak and poplar ‘ openings,’ there is, to some 
extent, a mingling of eastern and northern woodland plants, with those of 
the plains. East of the edge of the true prairie land, the coniferous 
forest comes to an end, in about longitude 96° 30’; and coniferous trees 
are not again found in any foree—with the single exception of the moun- 
