The sun., 1891-05-31

lfshed at Columbus o.. in 1856: Tho north
ern limit Of rye ia 65'. OF barley CT, and onts
oven further north. Wheat is cultivated IL
Norway to Drontheim latitude 64'; in Sweden
TO latitude 62', in western Russia to the en-
virons OF 81. Petersburg. latitude CO. IS; while
In central Russia the limit OF wheat cultivation
appears to coincide with the parallel OF 5S'
or 59'. It is well understood that the growth OF
ths cerealia and Of the most useful vegetables
depends chiefly on the intensity and duration Of
the summer heats. and is comparatively little
influenced BY tho severity OF the winter cold or
the lowness Of the mean temperature OF the
year. In Russia As we'll Is in north central
America the summer heats are as remarkable
as the winter cold. Tho northern shore Of
Lake Huron has the mean summer heat OF
Bordeaux. In southern France. or TO-
Fahrenheit. and Cumberland House on the
Saskatchewan exceeds in this respect Brussels
or Paris"
! can add nothing TO the demonstration by
innumerable explorations and reports that the
paviRable channels Of the Mackenzie and the
Mississippi are connected by territory OF 1900
miles in extent northwest Of st. Paul. Mimi.
having an average width OF 500 miles Il. .20O.OOO
square miles,. which is substantially identical
10 climate and natural resources. There Is a
agsat variety of illustrations. but shall limit
myself to q flower. The prairie's firstIing Of
the spring has the popular designation OF cro-
Gus" but is an anemone-A. Pateus. the purple
ansmone. tho wind fower-but prefer the
children's name. suggested By its soft. furry
coat. the " Gosling" flower. which. with its del
ioato lavender Ietals. is fully ten days in
advance OF other venruresome spring blos-
SONS. tits often gathered on tho Mississippi
bluffs near the Falls OF st. Anthony on the 18th
Of April It appears simultaneously on the
DRY elevations near Winnipeg. 1t was OBJ
served even earlier. on the 18th OF April during
the Saskatchewan campaign OF 1885. and is
reported by Major Butler In his wild North
Land F" as In profusion or Peace River. 1.50O
miles from St Paul. on the Goth OF April. Even
beyond 1000 miles. on the Yukon. within the
Arctic circle. Archdeacon Mcdonald. o mis-
stonary OF the Church OF England. has gath
cred tho flower on the 14th OF May. Equally
signifcant as this delicate herald OF the spring
aSs The records Of ice obstruction In rivers,
thsIr emancipation being Simultaneous from
Fort Smelling, Minnesota, to Fort Tcrmilion,
Athabasca
but limiting further discussion to the north
srn limit Of wheat cultivation. will venture
TO repeat tho results OF q special inquiry into
the capaclty for agricultural colonization of
the valleys OF the Athabasca and Peace rivers
between latitudes a. aud co. and longitudes
ll0' and 400. and an additional block OF terri
tory on the headwaters OF the Lizard River
from latitude 81 to CO. and longitude l2O' to
l2b'. these streams being tho most southern
tributaries. and. indeed the sources OF the
great Mackenzie. Tho southern moiety has
bson carefully explored by Prof. George NJ.
Dawson OF the Canadian Geological Survey.
and is properly called Athsbascs as COM
prising most OF the afiuents OF the river
OF that name. He estimates its area as
about $3.50 square miles, and adds
chat by far the largest part may bs
slassed AZ fertile. with an average elevation
shove the sea OF q little over 2.CO0 feet" In re-
spsct to tho Ponce River country, or the north
ern portion o. the district of Athabasca. Prof
Dawson Gays that tho ascsrtalned facts leave
No doubt on the SUFFICIENT length and warmth
OF the season to ripen wheat. oats. and barley.
with ~ the ordinary root crops and vegetables.
The whole region Is characterized by Arch-
Adshop Taohe Of 81. Boniface In his "Sketch
OF Northern America" In terms far more favor
sh.s than he employs with reforonce to the
A6nth Saskatchewan districts. He spoaks OF o
: fertile country. very well suited to coloniza-
tion" ON the Athabssca. and remarks that the
valley wstsred by the Posce River cannot
bot become peopled." Even moro specific has
hsen the testimony OF early traders and
travellers. Sir Alexander Mackenzie. as far
back a. 1767. saw ct trading station OF Peter
Pond. on tho Elk or Athabasca. rs fine q
kitchen garden IA ho ever saw in England"
Mr.. william McMHrray, an officer of the Hud-
SON Bay Company. informed mo that at u post
established by him In latitude 56' longitude
Ill'. he obtained good crops OF wheat, barley.
cats. and ell garden vegetables. Sir John
nicAsrdsop states that wheat Is raised with
-SEokI at Fort Lizard. latitude CO. 8 and lonGt-
~.