CLIMATE OF THE VALLEY OF RED RIVER. 365 



invaded and filled up the Valley of the Qu'appelle. 

 These existing records of prevailing winds during the 

 period when the dunes are not frozen, show that while 

 the south-west is the most effective as a summer surface 

 wind in Eupert's Land under the 99th meridian, on the 

 South Branch of the Saskatchewan, eight degrees further 

 west, westerly winds prevail. 



THE CLIMATE OF THE VALLEY OF THE RED RIVER. 



The climate of the Valley of Eed Eiver exhibits the 

 extremes of many characteristics which belong to the 

 interior of continents in corresponding latitudes. High 

 summer temperatures, with winter cold of extraordinary 

 severity appear to prevail in the district called Assinniboia, 

 as in the interior of North-Eastern Europe and Asia. It 

 cannot fail to be noticed, however, that the general 

 absence of late spring and early autumn frosts, with an 

 abundant fall of rain during the agricultural months, are 

 its distinguishing features in relation to husbandry. The 

 melon, growing in the open air and arriving at perfect 

 maturity in August and September, Indian corn succeed- 

 ing invariably when due precautions are used to ensure 

 ripening before the middle of September, are strong- 

 proofs of the almost uniform absence of summer frosts. 



A comparison with the climate of Toronto * for 

 corresponding months of the years 1855 and 1856, 

 reveals, some very curious and interesting facts, which 

 may possess importance. Limiting our attention at pre- 

 sent to the summer months we find from inspection of the 

 following table of comparison, that the summer of Eed 

 Eiver during the year of comparison was more than 



* This comparison, given on the next page but one, was made by Mr. 

 James Walter, assistant at the Observatory, Toronto. 



