228 RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



All kinds of root crops grow well, and attain large di- 

 mensions. All common garden vegetables, which are 

 cultivated in Canada, are equalled, if not surpassed by 

 the productions of the rich prairie soil of Assinniboia. 

 Considerable quantities of sugar are made from the ash- 

 leaved maple on the Assinniboine. As no care is taken 

 of the trees furnishing this useful article, it is probable 

 that the supply from this source will soon cease. In cut- 

 ting wood for fuel, the " natives " do not seem to have 

 any special regard for the valuable trees. 



Some years since, at the instance, it is stated, of Sir 

 Geo. Simpson, flax and hemp were cultivated to a con- 

 siderable extent by the settlers at Eed Eiver. The product 

 was of excellent quality, and gave every promise of fur- 

 nishing a very valuable commodity for home manu- 

 facture, and for exportation. The cultivation of these 

 important crops was stimulated for a few years by 

 premiums given by the Hon. Hudson's Bay Company, but 

 when the premiums were withdrawn the cultivation soon 

 ceased. Many settlers with whom I conversed had grown 

 both of these vegetables, but that universal complaint, the 

 want of a market, or of machinery to work up the raw 

 product, led them to discontinue this very important and 

 profitable branch of husbandry. 



Live Stock. — The live stock of the settlements are re- 

 presented by 2,799 horses, 2,726 oxen, 3,883 cattle, 2,644 

 calves, 4,674 pigs, and 2,429 sheep. Since the census of 

 1849 an increase has taken place in all of the foregoing 

 items, with the exception of sheep : this useful animal ap- 

 pears to be fast diminishing at Eed Eiver, and little 

 wonder, when only one carding mill, and that not in 

 operation, as I was informed, exists in the settlement. 

 In 1856 there were 667 fewer sheep in Assinniboia than 

 in 1849, and 1130 less than in 1843. This decrease is 



