968 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [May i, 1882. 
is so dry and bracing that little inconvenience is ever 
felt. Several men, whom I know in the old country, told 
me that, after an experience of two or three seasons, they 
preferred the winter of Canada to that of Great Britain. 
So far from the winter being a dread, the Canad- 
ians seem proud of it, and have quite a round of 
visiting and amusement. Unless there is some chronic 
disease I am confident the climate of the North-west 
is the best that could be elected by one whose health 
had been undermined bya residence in the Tropics. 
One man told me that, on arriving in Canada, he 
was not expected "to live many weeks. " Now, " 
he said, " I am as well and strong as anyone could be." 
It is difficult to say whether a man going out 
with a capital of £300 could retire on « competency 
in 12 years. I can safely say many have been able 
to retire in that time on a competency. A man's suc- 
cess depends so much on himself ; his shrewdness and 
energy. One man will become rich, when another man 
will starve. From what I have seen of Ceylon, 1 think 
the settler in Manitoba would be much better off 
for neighbours than here. In the one country he is sur- 
rounded by half naked coolies ; in the other by his 
own race, and tongue, who are invariably most kind, 
civil, and hospitable to a stranger. In my opinion 
no one should go to Manitoba who is not prepared 
to rough it for a year or two ; after that it is 
plain sailing. I never met with anyone who could 
be induced to return to England to farm. 
The Chicago Tribune U. S. paper, says: — " The wheat- 
field of the Great North-west of which Winnipeg is 
the key comprizes 200,000,000 acres which in full 
crop would yield 5, 2U0, 000,000 bushels of wheat, more 
than tenfold the greatest wheat crop ever raised by 
the whole United States. This reckons the average 
yield at 26 bushels. The average yield of barley is 
about 40 bushels, oats 5<, potatoes 300. The Syn- 
dicate that is building the Canadian Pacific gets 
§25,000,000, and 25,000,000 acres of corn It will, when 
done, not only control the trans-continental carrying 
Vade up north, but dominate the wheat market of the 
world ! The road is being constructed, and its land de- 
partment is already in receipt of thousands of applica- 
ations for land. Winnipeg is at the confluence of the 
Red and Assinniboine Rivers. 'I he Canadian Pacific will 
have its general offices there. The Northern Pacific, 
St. Paul, North Western, Burlington, and Rock Island 
roads will all eventually build into the world's great 
wheatlields. Mind may not conceive, nor fondest 
anticipations foreshadow the future of this magnificent 
country equal according to all accounis to four Utah*, 
supposing every acre of land in Utah to be equal 
to Colonel Winder's farm, or any of the farms bor- 
dering Salt Lake City or any of the land at Bounti- 
ful." To quote Lord Dufferm (no m an authority) : — 
" Wherever 1 have gone, I have found numberless per- 
sons who came out without anything, and have since 
risen to competence and wealth. I have met no one 
who did not gladly acknowledge himself better off 
thais on his first arrival : and amongst thousands of 
persons with whom I have been brought in contact 
no matter what their race or nationality, none Beemed 
ever to regret that they had come here." To give a 
short sketch of the new railway route to Churchill 
Harbour on the side of Hudson's Bay, may also be 
interesting. It is understood to be the best harbour 
on the bay ; is entered by a channel about half a mile 
wide and twelve fathoms deep. The east side affords 
admirable sites for wharves, etc. 
How important this is, may be estimated from the 
fact that the distance between Churchill harbour and 
Liverpool is only 2,926 miles, while from Montreal 
via Cape Race it is 2,990 miles, and from New York, 
via Cope Clear 3 040 miles. This will furnish a sea- 
port 1,500 miles nearer than Quebec to the cen- 
tre of the North-West territory. Churcb.il Har- 
bour is only 400 miles from the edge of the 
great Wheatfield. A line of railway of 30 miles, 
will connect this port with lake Winnipeg, and hence 
by navigation to Winnipeg city, or by a comparatively 
short wanch from the head of lake Winnipeg, it will 
connect with the railway system of the North-west 
Supposing there be only four months of open naviga 
tion in Hudson's Bay and Hundson's Straits ; thi- 
line is probably destined to become the most imports 
ant, for its length, on the continent. 
I ommitted to say that the Nelson Valley Railway 
and Transportation Companies have selected Churchill 
harbour as their point of junction between the rail- 
way and navigation. 
A man with two or three grown-up sons, all deter- 
mined to work, cannot fail to succeed in Manitoba. 
The following is the expense of startiug a small farm : — 
One yoke of oxen $ 12000 
One waggon 8O.00 
Plough and harrow 25 00 
Chains, axes and shovels ... 30 00 
Stoves, bedsteads 60-00 
House and stable lf>0-0o 
Provisions 135 00 
Total 
$600 00 
A settler can get a grant of 160 acres of free land 
from Government. This, however, can only be done 
where land is not yet selected, either far to the west 
or removed from railway accommodation. I should 
recommend, rather than this, that he invests in good 
land, where railway and market facilities exist. 
Plenty of such land can be obtained at from 20 
to 40 shillings per acre. 
The best houses for settlers are made by Wade & 
Co , Washington, St. Chicago, and are sent reaay to 
put up. Two men will in four days put together a 
comfortable double wood house of four rooms with 
doors and windows complete. This will cost even 
with railway carriage less than the common log-house 
of the country. 1 should advise the settler immed- 
iately on arriving in Manitoba to go to Mr. Hespeler, 
or any other Government Agent, who will be glad to 
give every information to the new comer. But above 
all things, let him beware of the confidence men who 
are often to be found prowling about stations and too 
frequently rid the emigrant of his hard-earned cash. 
In some cases, it is advantageous for the settler 
to place his money in a bank where he will get good 
interest and look about the country before he finally 
decides upon a locality, or he may engage him self to 
a farmer giving his services for his boaid, and pursued, 
thus become acquainted with the mode of operations 
I need scarcely say that the settler must be careful 
to adapt himself to those methods of cultivation which 
experience has found to be the best rather than try 
to farm on a new country those practices which he has 
been accustomed to at home. 
I shall only mention, as an instance, the necessity 
of a light and wide furrow in breaking up prairie 
land in June or July, and the bark setting in the 
fall of the year. Land thus prepared is ready for 
sowing in the following spring : — 
The probable profits on a farm of 160 acres may 
thus be put down : — 
160 acres of wheat at 25 "i 
bushels per acre and 75 J- ... .. $ 3,000. 
cents per bushel ..J 
160 acres at $ 5 = $800 
Ploughing and 
sowing ... $6 = $960 
Harvesting and bringing to 
market ... $4= $640 ... ... $2,400. 
Profit 
