26 
ANNALS OP THE 
While residing last summer at Fort Garry (the Hudson Bay Co.'s post in the 
settlement) I had an opportunity of collecting specimens of plants, some of which 
are now exhibited to the Society. From want of the necessary material they were 
rather imperfectly prepared, but may perhaps serve to give a general idea of the 
botany of the immediate vicinity of the Fort. On referring to the list it will be 
observed that here, as in other prairie land, the richest family is the Compositae, 
many species of which are found. At the Fort we have not only the ordinary Prai- 
rie Composites, but a great abundance of such plants as Artemisia Absinthium, es- 
pecially on the drier and higher parts. Next in frequency come the Cruciferae, 
which generally follow man ; these are abundant in the immediate vicinity of the 
Fort. There are many species of Rosacese and Leguminosae, truly indigenous ; 
Umbelliferae are not unfrequent, and we have interesting representatives of Ranun- 
eulaceag, Xanthoxylaceae, Violaceae, Balsaminaceas, Caprifoliaceas, Rubiaceae, Ranun- 
culaceae, &c. The timber trees near the Fort are small groves of aspen and balsam 
poplar, and on the banks of the rivers oak, ash, elm, maple, aspen, and balsam 
poplar. 
As I had also an opportunity of collecting some specimens in the vicinity of 
the Trail, in coming from Fort Garry to St. Paul, I propose to give a description 
as short as possible of the character of the country coming down, so that it may be 
an assistance to those wishing to examine the specimens. 
From the Red River Settlement to Canada there are three routes, more or less 
in use. The oldest and the one now least used is known as the old Red River Trail. 
This, leaving the settlement, passes up on the west side of Red River to Pembina 
(a small settlement of half breeds immediately on the international boundary line), 
and distant sixty-five miles from Fort Garry. Crossing the Red River, the Trail 
takes a nearly south-west course, crossing all the eastern tributaries of the Red 
River, the larger of which are the Pine, Red Lake, Wild Rice, and Otter Tail 
Rivers, and ends at Otter Tail City, the first settlement on the American side. From 
here there is a bridged road to Crow Wing, seventy-five miles, and from thence to 
the city of St. Paul, a stage road of one hundred and fifty miles. Thence the tra- 
veller passes by steamboat and railroad to Canada. 
The second route is our Canadian route, which, I am sorry to say, is not so 
practicable as might be wished. This is a canoe route, passable about five or six 
months in the year, and always attended with a good deal of difficulty. This route 
is made by descending the Red River to Lake Winnipeg, ascending the Winnipeg 
River to Lake of the Woods, and from thence passing through the chain of rivers 
and lakes, and over the numerous portages or carrying places, to Fort William on 
Lake Superior. From Fort William there is a communication with Canada by the 
mail steamer Ploughhop, which leaves monthly during navigation for Collingwood. 
The third, known as the new route, is the one now most travelled, and the one 
