height have been noted. ‘Other sections carry a soil that is more or less
gravelly in parts and contains small loose boulders. Broadly speaking, it
may be said that the soils are of a very desirable nature, and the gravelly
or tocky areas, where met with, are in the minority, and are so distributed
as to result in no depreciation to any particular section of Jand. As to
what agricultural purposes these soils may be best adapted would be
determined as a result of more or less experiment in the future. On
every hand is evidence that the loams are very fertile. A vigorous
growth of grasses, shrubs, and weeds spring up where the fire has opened
the country and seed has found its way. Special mention must be made
of the smaller wild fruits, which, where found, grow most luxuriantly
and bear heavily. Among these is included black and red currants,
raspberries, gooseberries, etc.

“Tn taking up the topographical map of the surveyed areas, and
with particular reference to the main block, lying south of and along the
Nation River, considerable and disconnected areas of wet swamp or
muskeg lands will be noted. Inasmuch as this block comprises about
50,000 acres and includes some of the most promising lands as yet
surveyed, a few remarks as to the nature of these swamps may not be
out of order.

“ As a general rule, these wet lands either carry a growth of small
willow and swamp-grasses, or the pure grass without willow, and may
perhaps with more truth, in many cases, be called wet meadows rather
than swamps. [ewer in number, but generally more extensive in area,
are the spruce swamps or muskegs, some of which are covered with a
growth of spruce with willow thickets; while others are more open with
deep moss, such as are found in almost any part of the Northern Interior.

““As may be seen, these wet lands or swamps are not individually
extensive, and except in the cases of small strips of boggy lands along
the shores of the smaller lakes, have apparently been formed because
of insufficient outlet to the surface waters, as a result of the blocking-up
of the outlet. This is effected by natural causes where the flow of water
is small, but in the majority of cases, where there are well-defined creeks,
it is evident that the water has been dammed back by beavers, as extensive
workings, some very old and others new, are to be found anywhere. As
a rule the contour of the ground is such as to permit of natural drainage,
and, being shallow and of firm bottom, these wet lands lend themselves
with little labour to complete drainage.

“These areas must be drained before they are available for the best
purposes of farming, and as this may be accomplished in the majority
of cases both expeditiously and inexpensively, and considering also the
advantages of good soil, easily cleared or already open land, it is
reasonable to suppose that these wet lands will, as a rule, prove attractive
to intending settlers.

“Perhaps in speaking of the agricultural possibilities of the country
gencrally, and to what kinds or purposes of farming it is best suited,
more or less caution should be used in view of the fact that the country

Seventeen.