148 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



farmhouses are similar to those on Eed Eiver, but the 

 soil appears to be, if possible, of a better description. 



We were very hospitably entertained by Mr. Lane, the 

 gentleman in charge of the Hudson's Bay Company's Post 

 on the Assinniboine, twenty-two miles west of Fort Garry. 



Mr. Lane informed me that Indian corn did not always 

 ripen on that part of the river. Spring frosts rarely 

 affect it, but autumn frosts sometimes cut it off. He 

 thought that careless cultivation was the reason why it 

 did not progress fast enough to escape the early autumnal 

 frosts. Indian corn sown on dry points of the river 

 arrived at maturity much sooner than that which was 

 sown on the rich and moist prairie mould. 



Leaving Lane's Post, the. river is touched again at 

 the Eoman Catholic Mission of St. Francois Xavier. The 

 road now follows the general course of 'the river, in the 

 rear of the farms which, from this point to Fort Garry, 

 are not far apart. 



On the night of the 15th September, we stayed at the 

 house of Mr. Geo. Flett, fifteen miles west of Fort Garry. 

 Mr. Flett's turnips had been altogether consumed by the 

 grasshoppers, but his wheat was safe and good ; he says 

 that Indian corn succeeds well, and almost always ripens ; 

 it is his opinion that it may always be relied upon when 

 care is taken ; it does not progress quick enough on the 

 1 open prairie to escape every season the early autumnal 

 frosts ; on the points of the river where the soil is lighter 

 and dryer than in the open prairie, and where some 

 shelter may be obtained from the neighbouring timber, 

 he has never known it to fail. Mr. Flett finds the cut 

 worm the great enemy to his turnips ; his potatoes for 

 the summer crop are planted 1st June, and ready for 

 eating from the 10th to the 15th August ; the winter 

 supply he does not lift until October. Over the whole of 



