Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-15
agricultural.
From the New World.
AGRICULTURAL TOUR
IN THE U. STATES AND u. CANADA.
BY CAPTAIN BARcLAT.
coNTINUED.
CHAPTER lX.


in the States--Features of the country-Cleareu
land-Means of transport and markets wanting
-Speculators in land-Favornble settlement for
lahoring people only--Expense OF Cultivation
Visit L, Mr.. Ferguson at Notwithstanding
with the Chief of Observation-Disclosures to Sir
Allen Macnab--His treatmentb by Wing Govern-
ment-My purpose efvisting Upper Canada al
luded Temperatufe-Return to Toronto
Bishop Strachan. MAY, loli.
TORONTO, the capital of Upper Canada,
pleasantly situated on the banks OF Lake On
tario, is said now to contain 1000 inhabitants.
The streets are good, the buildings respectable,
and two handsome churches, one Presbyterian
and the other Episcopalian. add much to the
appearance of the town. OF the latter church
Bishop Strachan native OF Aberdeen is MIN
lister.
Nv arrangements did not admit of my re-
naming here for more than one day on the
present occasion, and after the pleasure OF meet
ing with my old friend Alexander Wood who,
in the course Of the forty years he has resided
and carried on business in this town, has ac-
quired a large fortune, embarked In steamer
for Hamilton. There | arrived on the 2Sth OF
MAY, and had the qualification OF finding my
daughter in good health.
| remained at Hamilton until the 9Th OF
June, and in the interval made frequent excur-
sions in the province, taking every opportunity
of acquainting myself with its present sltua-
lion.
On entering Canada | had been impressed
with a marked difference between it and the U.
States. In the latter the people were every
where distinguished by that cheerfuness and
appearance of contentment which attend acilvi-
" and exer,on in peaceful pursuits. In Cana
da there prevailed an almost universal gloom,
the consequence of recent internal commoiion;
OF tbs, still existing conflict and rancor of poll
teal feeling; or of the wihered hopes of many
who, having speculated largely IN land, have
received little or no return for their money.
This was my early impression, and anything
have sin9e observed or by inquiry ascertained,
has served TO confirm il, and TO satisfy me mat
of the two countries the States held out Tor ag-
ricultural pursuits, by far the greater advanla-
pes 10 persons possessed Of any c1Piiai.
With the exception OF portions OF cleared
land varying from fifty acres in some situations,
to several hundreds in others. Upper Canada
is an immense and irackless forest, forlorn and
forbidding at best, and in many places rendered
more gloomy and repulsive, by the trees hav'
ing been burnt preparatory to being cut down.
and consequently now presenting to the eye
nothing but bare and blackened poles. !,
, And with regard ,owhat is called cleared
land, it consists of no more than patch here
and there, on which the huge pines that Tor a.
ges had been tenants of the soil, have by The
application of fire and axe been rednced TO
siumps four feet in heights so thick sci as 10
many places to bid defiance TO the ploug''' and
TO preclude any mode of cultivation excePi
sowing and hand raking the seed.
There are here no railways, and no inferior
waler.carriage, advantages so amply enjoyed
in the States, and although there are roads,
they are of snch description as to be nearly
impossible, excepting in winter when the
sleigh is made use OF.
Upper Canada. too. is comparatively destl-
tute of local markets, or OF any proper ou.e'
for the surplus produce OF the land; ior He
population is not only thin and widely scatter
ed, but themselves chiefly AGRICULTURAL each
family therefore raising sufficient tor lis own
supply; and there are no towns OF any maghi-
,uje to create any considerable demand LOT 'he
surplus, nor If there were, are easy means oil
transport afforded.
In such circumstances, it is by no means
surprising TO find that the greater number o.
those who had specula'ed in land have suffered
erievous disappointment, and that oil ihose
coming under the description OF gentlemen
who had attempted to convert the forest INTO
corn land by the force of money, the. greater
number quickly got rid of IT and then el'her
betook themselves to other pursuits, or as some
times happened, becoming disguised and recK-
less, gave themselves up TO dissipation
There is, however, one description OF per-
am 10 whom settlement in these forests may
nroye tolerable-.-,he laborer, and especially the
hardy Highlander who glad 10 escape from
priva,ion at home and delighted TO roam at
LARGO. NAV with his own hands and assisted
by family of sons, erect rude hoveI OF log,
gradually clear quantity of land sufficient Tor
a subsistence, and in the course OF time come
to possess a small property, the height oil ms
ambition. Except to such persons clearing
land here cannot be attractive or made Tenu-
neraiing.
The affection which in most cases applies to
tho cultivation of waste land on a large scale
in Scotland applies here with redonbled force
-..,ba expense Of the improvement IS more than,
when improved, the land is worth.
7, NAV give some idea of the disadvantage
under which the clearing Of land IN Upper Gan
ada must be accomplished, to advert TO what
takes place in clearing FIR wood m scotland.
There. although labor costs little more man
one.half Of It's PRICE in Canada. and although
The LARGEST tees are but as walking shcks 10
cornnaSison with the Canadian pines, wood
Isnd canno, be cleared and put 10 condition Tor
a corn crop, for less than L 20 per acre. The
cron of trees NAV 90 far. perhaps do more ihan
ansver This expense; but in Upper Canada, 10
clearing land. the trees are altogether saioeiess
snd Weld 10 return for the trouble and expense
Of cutting them down and collecting their In