304 
Canadian Agriculture. 
so well in the North- West, and the magnificent hops which grow 
wild, cannot there mingle their infusions as they do in many 
lands where Red Indians are not. However, the prohibitive 
law is not irrevocable, but it will probably remain in force just 
so long as the weakness of the Indians for alcoholic liquors 
may appear to render it expedient. The prohibition is said 
to have had a very beneficial effect during the time that the 
•large body of workmen engaged in laying the Canadian Pacific 
Railway passed through the land. Enthusiastic dwellers on 
the prairie say that the very air is intoxicating, and though it 
did not produce this effect on me, I am quite prepared to admit 
that it is invigorating. 
TJie Settlements.— A brief reference to a few of the settle- 
ments in Manitoba and the North- West may prove interesting 
to readers who have' given attention to thej subject of emigra- 
tion. The Selkirk settlement, which has already been men- 
tioned, began with a grant of land near Fort Garry, made by the 
Hudson's Bay Company to Lord Selkirk in 1811. The follow- 
ing year the first immigrants arrived from Scotland, and landing 
at York Factory on Hudson's Bay, proceeded southwards to the 
Red River. Four years later another body of settlers arrived, 
and one or two of these are still living, notably, Mr. R. McBeth, 
Kildonan, on whose land wheat has been grown continuously for 
fifty years, and the yield remains as good as ever. Many of the 
descendants of these old settlers are now among the wealthiest 
farmers of Manitoba and the North- West. 
The crofters in the Gordon-Cathcart settlement, who went out 
in 1883, under the scheme of emigration elaborated by Lady 
Gordon-Cathcart, have, so far, made excellent progress, and were 
joined by other crofters last year, so that there are now located 
on the settlement, which extends over about 250 square miles, 
some 60 families. They have mostly settled on a very moderate 
expenditure, the means for which were advanced to them on 
easy terms ; but although they appear to have succeeded ad- 
mirably hitherto, and to be well pleased with their prospects, 
sufficient time has not elapsed to permit me to speak very 
<lefinitely. They are located at Wapella, Assiniboia. 
The same reservation applies to the East London settlement 
at Moosomin, in the extreme east of Assiniboia. This was a 
more hazardous experiment than in the case of the crofters, for 
most of the settlers from London were quite unacquainted not 
only with farm-life, but even with country-life, and a more 
marked contrast than that which exists between the prairie and 
the East-end of London can hardly be conceived. The settlement 
at present consists of about 20 families, and from the reports of 
