Western Canada and its Great Resources
The Testimony of Settlers, farmer Delegates and high Authorities

AND ITS GREAT RESOURCES. 3 a ye principle, for all their habits require a more northern latitude than is necessary to . m.ere £r°wth. The grasses are in perfection only in northern or cool regions, a t lough they will grow anywhere. It is in the north alone th it we raise animals from mea o« s, and are enabled to keep them fat and in good condition from hay and grass wit lout grain. It is there the grasses acquire succulence and consistency enough, not only to mature animals, but to make the richest butter and ch-ese. The tuberose, bul- bous and other roots cultivated for human and animal subsistence are similarly affected by e ima,te, and manifest habits in corroboration of the above principle. The Irish potato, a though from or near the tropics, will not come to perfection but in northern or cool countries, or in moist insular situations, as in Ireland. It is in such climates only that its roots acquire a farinaceous consistence and have size, flavour and nutriment enough to support animal life in the eminent way in which they are susceptible. In the south a orcing sun brings the potato to fructification before the roots have had time to attain their proper qualifications for nourishment. So for the suggestive illustrations of Dr. Forry, but I will venture to add a further instance from the central wheat district of North Americi. At its southern margin in irmesota and Iowa seldom more than two well-formed grains are found in each cluster or fascicle forming the row; in northern Minnesota, Dakota and Manitoba three grains scome habitual; and from heads of wheat brought to me from Prince Albert, on the Saskatchewan, and Fort Vermilion, on the Peace River, I have separated five well- formed grains from each cluster or group forming the head, which is decisive evidence that the perfection of the wheat plant is attained near the most northern limit of its successful growth.” The testimony of President J. J. Hill. Memo, of evidence given by Mr. James J. Hill, president of the Great Northern Railway of St. Paul, Minnesota, before a committee of the House of Commons of Canada in March, 1877. After discussing at great length the question of transportation and rates for the exportation of wheat to the sea-board and for the carrying of settlers from the sea-board into the North-west country, Mr. Hill proceeds to compare the Dakotas and Minnesota with the Canadian North-west. In. answer to a question put bv Mr. Bain, Mr. Hill said:— “ Take at the present time the place where the Mennonites settled at New Odessa, in Dakota, just north of Yankton. They went up there at the same time that your Mennonites went to Manitoba. A number remained in the United States and settled in southern Dakota, and the place where they settled they called New Odessa. It was named by themselves. They paid 29 cents to carry their wheat to Duluth. That is the rate to Duluth from Yankton. That section of the country is being rapidly settled up, and it is a rich agricultural section; but they have not as good land, and they have not the same amount of good land that they have in the Province of Manitoba; it is not as good. I have been over the country, and I am familiar with it; I know both Manitoba and that country. They are also more liable in Dakota, being closer to the sage brush country, to visitations from locusts. This country is also more easily affected by drought than Manitoba, and by dry seasons ; it is a prairie country, and the Provin of Manitoba is pretty well watei’ed. “ By Mr. Hagar : “ Q. And the soil is not equal to the soil on Red River ?—A. No; you will not find it in any other place on. the American, continent as good as it is in Manitoba unless it be in a little place on the Wabash, a short distance from Miami, nearly oppo- site St. Louis, called the Illinois bottom; but anywhere else I have never seen any soil so rich as it is along the Red River. 3