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On the Capabilities for Settlement of the Central Part of 
British North America. By James Hecror, M.D., 
F.G.S., &c.* * 
The following remarks refer to a portion of the British terri- 
tories to which much public attention was directed a few years 
ago—namely, the region which extends from Lake Superior 
to the Pacific Ocean, lying immediately north of the boundary 
line of the United States, and drained principally by the River 
Saskatchewan. 
As it was, and indeed—excepting that portion which falls 
within British Columbia—is still, under the direct control of 
the Hudson’s Bay Company, for the purposes of a fur-trading 
monopoly, a considerable amount of agitation was employed in 
Canada, and also at home, in order to have the country I treat 
of thrown open for settlement, and many statements have gone 
forth giving an exaggerated view of its worthlessness on the 
one hand, or of its wonderful qualities on the other. 
It is now, however, placed beyond doubt, principally through 
the labours of several Government expeditions, to one of which 
I had the honour to be attached, that there do exist within the 
British territories that I have mentioned extensive areas, with 
good and varied soil, adapted for agricultural colonisation, but 
which, from their geographical position, are necessarily subject 
to all the advantages and defects of a temperate continental 
climate. Thus the winter is long and severe, the spring short 
and uncertain, and the summer tends to scorch the vegetation. 
But yet in this region the winter is not more severe than 
that experienced in Canada; and in the western districts, which 
are removed from the influence of the great lakes, the spring 
commences almost a month earlier than on the shores of Lake 
Superior, which is five degrees of latitude further to the south, 
On the other hand, the higher latitude, combined with its 
increased altitude above the sea-level, reduces the effect of the 
sun’s heat in summer so much, that many crops which are 
readily raised in Canada will not meet with equal success in 
the Saskatchewan. All common cereals and green crops have 
been grown successfully, however, even though night frosts 
are experienced throughout the entire summer. 
* Read before the British Association, Manchester, September 10, 1861. 
