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 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANA 
 
 EXAJIINATIO.V or 
 
 JAMES GOROON MOW AT, 
 
 3!KKOUI-: THF. 
 
 SELECT F 
 
 .Ml 
 
 (>M.\inTEE ll\ AGIIItTLTURE AM) COLOXIZATiON. 
 
 ON 'I'MK 
 
 CLIMATOLOGY OF CANADA, 
 
 IN IIKI.A'I'lilN TO 
 
 AGlllOULTmiE AXI) HOimCLl/rURE, 
 
 21ST AND 28TH AUGUST, 1891. 
 
 FEINTKl) BY OIU)Elt OF I'ARLIAMKNT. 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 ons 
 ion 
 il 
 
 Pj-aotlcil va'Te of comparative (•liinatol()i»'y. p .T,^. Olimatic variafion 
 in Ontario and Britis-h Columbia, and tlic causes, 4, VI, 1,"). Duratio 
 of the Prostless season at various points of observation, 5, 12. Isotherm:, 
 lines and how they should he drawn for practical ii'ui(lance to liorticul 
 ture,l). Area, in Ontario, adapteil to peach n'rowth, (i. 12. Compaiative 
 capabilities and areas of the vine lands in Ontario and olher countries- 
 wine |)roduction per acre, 7. 11. Comparative ten)])orature of European, 
 Canadian and other vine hinds, 7, 14. Cotton growing in Ontario, 7, 1-. 
 Climatic survey recommended, in the interest of fruit culture, 8, KJ. 
 Fruit growing in Xova Scotia and New IJrunswiek, 8, 12, i:>. Smudge 
 Urea as a preventative to damage l)y Summer Frosts, 8. Fxceptional 
 cdimutic ])henomcna — how best guarded against ott'ects of, 0. Barley 
 growing in Canada, comparative climatic conditions iind ])rices, H. 
 Climate of till' Mclven/.ie liiver Basin, 10. Semi-tropical fruits which 
 thrive in South-western Ontario, 12. Allierta — clim.'ito of, 5, 15. Com- 
 parative mean tem])eiature at various points in Euro])e and Caiuula, 7, 
 14, 1'). Irrigation, 4, 15. 1(5. OkMiagan Valley, 4, 15. Accii nidated 
 material aviidable for a climatic survey of Canada., 15-21. 
 
 v.v.^^y 
 
 : h V 
 
«B 
 
 » i" 
 
EVIDENCE 
 
 lil'.HOnK TlIK 
 
 ' mm STAMIINT. fOMMlTTi:E 0\ AGHHTOTRE AM) COLONIZATION, 
 
 ON TllV. 
 
 CLIMATOLOGY OF CANADA, 
 
 IN ItlM.ATION TO 
 
 AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE, 
 
 31st and 98lU Au-iist, l8'Jl. 
 
 * 
 
 House Ok' Commons, Committee KooM 46, 
 
 Friday, :i 1st AuguBt, 1801. 
 
 The Stiinding Committee on AgrienlMu-o snul Coloiii/.alinii in session. 
 
 Ml'. Sproiile, Cliiiirmiui, presiding. 
 
 T (ioKDov MoWAT, ClimutolouMst, was oalltMl and examined on the 
 Climatoloiiy of Canada in its lelation to Agiirultiire ami IL.rticullure. 
 Hr. -Mowi'rt' addressing the Committee said :— 
 
 I h'lve to thaidc von for thf oppoflunitv ymi htive given me to-(hiy, of 
 presenting my vieVs .,n a matter whid, I tidnk has a very important 
 Larin.r on the experimental work so ahly condnctcd thn)ngh..ut the 
 Dnmi.iion bv our A-riciitunil Department, an<l, also, on the interest ot 
 tlu' settlers "in our new distriets, and of the fruit growers ot the older 
 j'rovincesof the Dominion. The matter about whudi I wish to spealc 
 is the application of Climatology to Agrieulture. Ihere is a particuhif 
 iiece^sii V for this in Canada. Many of the climates oi the old wor d are 
 comi.arativelv well known, and fruit growing has been earned almost 
 as lar toward's its eolder boundary as it can be. Kven in the western 
 parts of Siberia the elimate is tully known, and several leading teature.s 
 otUciallv charted; baton this eontinent we know too little ol wliat 
 o„r rliinate really is und to what extent it atieets our agruultuial 
 
 '"oul- Suit trees have been brought from the west of Kurope, where tor <>n|^ 
 a thousand years thev have been accustomed to mild winters, and the.) {--^..f;-',,, 
 are inloK.rant of the'eold of the northern and north-eastern pai^s ot this ,,^„,,^,,. 
 vonlinent whore fruits aceustomed to the .severe winters of Northern 
 Asia and Kastern Kurope would flourish. Our api.le trees are more ten- 
 der than the ai)i)le trees ol Hasten! IJussia. Our leading grape, wluch 
 yields mon. p'olitieally than the grape of We>to.-n Kurope i. a vecen ll..C:uu,.,an 
 develonnu-nl from our wild grape, the rums labrasca. Ihe ,g'nipj3_ ^t ^nq,,. a .mtiv.. 
 WeMern Kurope, ciiuts rinifcM, will not en.lureourcohi winters; in winch a..v,.l,.i..urnt. 
 respect it is not uidike some ol the other fruits introduced from hnrope. 
 
 tlio 
 
 our own eounti'vcorresi)onding to the i,ii|,uit;uKr of 
 
 • ' ■ ■' IvlUlWlfllgt' 
 
 Jt we Knew ine man_\ emiiiui.> >-. «-,,. ■■-- ■ ; • , , 1 i ,, ;u„,n ;i k mwl.duv 
 
 various (dimates of Kur<.pe and Northern Asia, wo could put under tribute ;V;;^„,,,,,,,. 
 the whole of the temperate parUof the old world, from northern (dnna 
 
6 
 
 CLIMATOLOar OF CANADA IN REr,ATIOK TU AQRICULTURE. 
 
 tivt' CliiMiito- 
 Intfy tn Htic- 
 (t)wsful fniit 
 KnnviiiK in 
 C'atmda. 
 
 Cliniiitic coin 
 Itiiri.soiiH, 
 
 <'liiii;itic' vn- 
 lit'tics in (In- 
 tarid and the 
 canscs. 
 
 Variety of tli- 
 matic condi- 
 tions in IJ.C. 
 
 ■ 
 
 wcstwurds, arwl uitroduco with lens wusto of effort, aii.i miiol. earlier 
 roHultH, nowf..nnH'of vo.!,^otation that would ho i)r()tilal)h' to our fruit 
 «:rowcr« and fannors throughout (Mir c-oldor and nioro northern diHfrict. 
 ^^l' have ound out, for example, thatthe Kussian apricot is hardi.-r ihail 
 any variety wo icnovv of on thin con'in Md. The apple trees of Kasterii 
 K..8HU. are found to ho hardier, and it may ho that in Ki«tern Siheria we 
 may necure ntdl hardier tbrniH. ft would hirwell that wo nhould know 
 tie exaet climate in which particular iiuHsian apples Hucceed or reach 
 their northern limit. St. Petersburg does not -ive us the hardiest 
 apples. Moscow has severer winters; while around Niji.i Novgorod the 
 AVintercimateapi.roaches the severity of Winnii.eg, and yet apple* 
 succeed there. We can scarcely look for good results from the intro. 
 duction ot apples from St. Potorsl.urg into climates colder in winter than 
 
 that of Ottawa. St Petersburg is not c ler in winter than Ottawa; 
 
 but the district of Nijni Novgonxi, much further south than 8t Peters' 
 burg, t'ompares with our winter climate about as far north as the llei.'rht 
 of Land.-i= ahere IS anotl.er reason why the climate of Canada shoul.rbo 
 investigated in detail. The Province of ( )ntaiuo has a larger variety of 
 local climate than any other level country of similar extent on the face of 
 the globe. This is owing to the action of the great lakes and also to the 
 small lakes, which exorcise a very important local influence. We have 
 between the north shore of Lake Suporio,- and the north shore of Lake 
 hne as great difference in the moan temperature of winter as there i* 
 between the mean winter temperature of the shore ot Lake Erie and 
 the shores of the (hilf of Mexico. We have summers as cool as those 
 of the north of Scotland, and summers as warm as those of central 
 and much of Southern 1< ranee; summers as warm as in the north of 
 Italy, and warmer than the coast of Portugal are found in some parts 
 of southern Ontario and Hriiish Columbia. It may bo easily seen how 
 wo could lay hastern Europe under tribute to us, from the fact, that 
 iiucharest in Houmania has a temperature differing but little either in 
 summer or winter from that of Toronto. That is the country from which 
 ^vo might liope for the introduction of valuable varieties of millet and 
 other grains as well as fruits. It is a country which has developed 
 agriciilture considerably, and its productions are well worthy of bein-' 
 considered, because of the similarity of the climates of much of SoutlT- 
 eastern Europe to that of a part of Canada, 
 
 British Columbia is another country which shows a vevy remarkal.lo 
 variety of climate, apart, even from its differences in altitude. At tlicj 
 oxperimontal farm at Agassiz, wliich fairly represents the coast climate 
 of ttie lower Eraser, the summer is tliat of the south or the middle of 
 England— and the summer is a good long one of about 2U()davs between 
 tfie last killing frost of Spring and the Hrst frost of Autumi'i. Ninety 
 miles urtlier up the Thompson Jliver we have a summer a little cooler 
 than tliat of Cincinnati, and warmer than the summer of Los Angeles in 
 Southern California. The excess over Agassiz, in July, is 14 or L^ 
 degrees. The ordinary winter is not too severe for the peach and vine 
 i-urtlier up the river, in Kamloops, the weather is a little colder, but still 
 the peach is grown. The very small rainfall is a drawback in the 
 Ihompson Valley, still irrigation is managed along that river at a cost 
 often not Exceeding $2 per aero. Southern California, famous for it« 
 great resources in fruits, entirely depends on irrigation. Of the 
 Okanagan Valley we know too little. There are few records of climatic 
 observations, and very little is known of its capability for various agri- 
 
 *"TheHeightof Land '"—the ridge which separates tlie great water-slied of the St. 
 Lawrence, to the ^orth and East, from the slope facing Hudson's Bay. 
 
PIlOKEHSOn 3. (lORDON MOWAT. 
 
 cultural prodiifitioiiB, oxoopt fnnii tho iiiiuloqimto reports of triivollor* 
 and rccriit sottlorn. Wo can fi^m-Hs Hoinowlitit oftlio natme of its cliniato 
 from tilt' fact that its level ahovo tho bcu in not liii;hor tlian (iuolph. 
 Tho Arrow LaUc and KoDtonay Vulloyrf uro but sliiihtly highor. Tho 
 Ukana^'an Valley hu- a breadth of aral>lc land of twcMty-six nulcs in 
 »«onio j)lacos. Its climate^ varies exceedingly. Into one ])art of the 
 
 ^s to 
 are 
 
 valley, ])i-olial)ly suHicient of tho mointure of tiie I'acilic iKinelratec 
 
 allow farming to bo carried on without ii'rigation, while oilier parts 
 
 li'.rgelv excluded by intervening inounlainH from its raintall. Ono part, 
 
 owing to local topdgraphy, may escape very severe oxtremes of cold in 
 
 wintei', while other jiarts, owing to tho neighbourhood ol wide plateaus in 
 
 tho direction of tho cold winds, may have nliort jiorio Is of cold almost as* 
 
 severe as tho-;eof the Norfh-Wost. Thco is nomo reason to hope that 
 
 eomo parts of that valley will he found cajiable of growing tho poach an(i 
 
 tho vino. How far fruit culture can bo carried eastward from tho coast, 
 
 we do not know, but there are tho means of ascortaining in tho considor- 
 
 ution of to])ograpliical conditions as well as in tho investigation of per- 
 
 htipH thirty or forty records, taken at ditleront times, to enable us to 
 
 arrive at valuable, and often accurate, determinations as to the climatic 
 
 capacity of inland British Columbia. Were the climate of the inland 
 
 ])art of British Columbia, south of tho lino of the Canadian Pacitic Rail 
 
 way studied, the evidence atlorded of agricultural capacity would lie a 
 
 revelation to the people of Kastern Cantida. nosides its valleys, very 
 
 much of this region is under an elevation of l,(iOO feet — tho height of rintcauiol 
 
 northern Grey, in western Ontario — and there are further large areas '*-^- 
 
 M-hich do not' roach up to 2,00(1 foot. In many jjlacos, especially where 
 
 irrigation is |)racticable, we could hope for moi'e or less piotitablo agii- 
 
 culture, and we could certainly hope for a great tleal from fruit culture. 
 
 Evor^' ono at all acquiiinted with Alberta knows that, there, a large mimatdlciKy 
 variety of climate exists. In facta \cry considerable section of the ^'f Allicitii. 
 Dominion has, in greater or less degree, marked differences of climate. In 
 illustration — at Moose Fort, lune miles from James' Bay (on the average Cuniiarativo 
 of four years, for which 1 have made com|)arison of the length of the frost- dumtion of 
 loss season), there isan interval of 111 days between the last descent of the ^,;^■J,'■','^^tTa■ 
 mercury to 32 degrees in spring, and the first descent to that point in lidus points of 
 autumn". This perioil is fourteen days longer than at Beatrice in Muskoka, Ciuimk 
 three days longer than at Htony Mountain, Manitoba, and six days longer 
 than at I'ort Arthur, and, combined with tho average temperature of 
 the growing season, indicates a considerable agricultural capacity. The 
 inthionco oi'. lames' Bay, which being very shallow is covered with ice 
 in winter and v,-armed by the sun in summer, is to I'Ctard tho spring, 
 and prolong Summer and Autumn. The first fall to SI degrees, at Moose 
 Fort occurs on the average yof until 28th September. Largo differ- 
 ences exist in the length of the frost less season in the comparatively 
 level area of ] eninsular, Ontario. There are differences of about fifty 
 days within titty miles. At Woodstock the season between frosts (of ;52 
 <logrees) averages only 127 days. At Stratford, higher and more to the 
 north, and also'more within the influence of Lake Huron, tho average 
 is ten days lon<ror. At Hamilton the jieriod is ITt! days, at Windsor 
 172 davs, and at Peleo over 200, In (Quebec there is a difference between 
 Montreal and Cranbourne, in the Eastern Townships, of sixty-four days. ' 
 Sometimes in Ontario the width of a township, or even a distance of 
 less than a mile, separates localities which, though sometimes nearly 
 alike in their general temperature, differ a fortnight oi' even a month 
 in the length o'f their frostloss jieriods, and therefore differ very greatly 
 in their capacity for growing certain vegetables and varieties of fruit 
 
 I 
 
8 
 
 CMMATOlOOY or CANAftA W ftEJ.ATK'M fO AUHlCUtl'UlU.. 
 
 s 
 
 Illlpiil'tlUII 
 
 • ■tfiMt.t cif (lif 
 fcr< iifi's ill 
 I'llKtIl cif tin 
 
 frilftlt'HM MI'll- 
 MIIIH, ll|Hltl 
 llH'ill il^'l'il'lll 
 tlll'lll |ll'l>(llll 
 tilll|«. 
 
 Efffct of mis- 
 <y)nce|)tiiili i>f 
 I'liiiiMti' ii|>iiii 
 griiwiiiK of 
 cwtaiii fruits. 
 
 1: 
 
 Tnadeqiiacy of 
 nnliiiiiry iso- 
 tliiTiiiul liiii'^ 
 to loc:il I'l- 
 fHiirciiii'iits 
 iiiid (.'oiidi 
 tions. 
 
 Availablt' 
 materials for 
 oorrftct diiiia- 
 
 Wild ^raiii. Dilloreiici'M sucli aw lhoHt'--iliiroioiicoH ovon ofji fi'W <liiyN— 
 of'ltn control tho ri|H'iiiiiu of now wood, and tlio question somotimuH «>f 
 whotlior or not u partinilai' varioly canon tlio avoraiio lie tMiltivatfil 
 with HUcc'osH. It is t>vidcnt, tiiori-tbro, that tlioy vjionld Ik^ considored in 
 ilii'ir rtdutidh to oiuwtli ol'varitdios ol'l'niit and oniin \\y tixintj, wilii 
 as nmeii j)r(>ciMion us possildo, tin.' Isotlicrni ot'tlu' f^rowini,' season, tin) 
 length of tlu! |)oriod iiotwiu-n frosts, and tlii' cxtrenios altaiiiod of wintor 
 cold, yon woidd know if _yoii could i;row a |iaiticul;ir varielv if tho 
 wnplo, vino or pcarh in u particular locality havino- certain conditions of 
 flimato, you inij^ht expect it to succeed on Hiiitai»le soils, wherovor «Ih0 
 niinilar (diinatic conditions were niapi)ed out Readily, alt over the 
 country', the northerly or rather I he cold limit ol successful cidtureof 
 :iny variety ilependont on climate, could thus he ascertained Hesidos 
 uidinti; the experimental work of the (iovernment, it woidd aid oiir fai- 
 tners and seientitic fruit ojrowers and save u very large amount of disap- 
 pointmeid and wasti-d oi- misdirected ellort. The excellent service dono 
 ly the l-'iMiit (I rowers .\ssociations could be i,'reatly ine reused heyond 
 present possihililies, because the work of tostinii; varieties and iheir 
 jiiiitability to locality could bo conducted on an intelligible basis instead 
 of with tho uncertainty and sometimes inisconcoption that i^ust exist 
 now. Tho associations at j)iesent have only a vague idea of modilfei-- 
 ences existing between our local (dimates, and it is very important 
 to fa<ilitato tlieir work by altording them doHnitp information as to 
 those ditferonees. 
 
 I'each culture has been neglectod in some localities, through a mis- 
 conception as to tht proper varieties to plaid in particiilai' (dimatos, ams 
 the general capacity of Western Oidario Icjr this fruit has been iindef- 
 estimated. So far as climatic conditions are concerned, there is reason 
 to think that on suitable soils, the cultivation of some variety or other 
 of tho poach is possible over an ari'a in Ontario of nearly !i,0(M» scjuaiti 
 miles. The Crawford, which re([uires u mild climate, is grown along 
 the shore of Lake Huron, and even on tho south shore of the (Georgian 
 Bay. Inland, as in the (J rand IJivor valley, below (ialt, where the (.Vaw- 
 I'ord fails, orchai'ds of hardy, while-fleshed varieties flourish A 
 knowledge of peculiarities ot loeal climate would enable farmers to grow 
 this fruit with success in very many iidand localities instead of conclud- 
 ing, as has been concluded in very many instances, that because a variety 
 has been tried by some one ;ind has failed, the local climate is wholly 
 unsuitable for jieach culture 
 
 The ordinary isothermal line, drawn with a free nana, is useful ju 
 its wa\-, but inadequate for the science of the fruit-grower or expori- 
 tnenter. To bo of greatest utility, isotherms should bond .and twist with 
 the to|)ographical features of the country, tho neighbourhood of lake.H, 
 iS:o. The length of tho frostless season should be indicated ly lines, aiitl 
 tho average and extreme wintor cold should also bo indicated. With our 
 leading fruit districts mapped out in this waj-, fruit-growi'rs coidd also 
 determine accurately what varieties of fruit to grow on certain soils in 
 certain localities, and experimental work could bo conducted, not only 
 with greater ctHciency, but with much greater economy than otherwi.srt 
 would be possible. J)etermination as to tho best varieties to be grown 
 could be reached quickly, instead of re([uiring the waiting for a long 
 process of years of testing, and after all encountering failure and (lis- 
 ajipointment of fair prospects through those occasional oxlremo irregu- 
 larities of the weather which climatology could indicate as features of 
 tho climate. For mapping the climatic conditions in several large and 
 iin])ortant areas of the dominion, there is abundance of material accunui- 
 latcd, .For remote parts, where meteorological information is more or 
 
rK(il'£S8<m J. OOKIMiM UOWAT. 
 
 ■ -■««M|<*MmA>> 
 
 
 los* «('nnt_) fiort' nra ftonsldoruttons oftopoijraptiy uti'! niotiHuniMoinflii- ticmnnimiKol 
 cnci's Uiiowh to cliimilolDi^y, that would iiM in jiiriviii;; at vuliialilc ap- '"'"'"''"" 
 
 {)roxiinaIi! coiicliisioiis Tliort' iif jirolii.lily liotut'cn .'{OO uihI 40(* 
 oi-aliticf» wlioro vot'onls aro. )r fitivi' Ik'cii inailc t'oi tin- iiiet(Mii'oloi,Mcai 
 fervice. Hmm- )t' tlio infoiniation ticn'iecj ihr ny;rifultiire lias het-i 
 j)iiblisl)C'(1, liiif n'(|iiiiTH ••(•(hiclion ton «ominoi( !msi« lor eoinpuriHoii, 
 <»tla'r information siicti as the U'liiitli of the t'rostlos* wiwon, couMW 
 olilaiiuMl liy iMvi'stii.i-iitiori iltlir \iM|)iiiplislH'il rccoKls. 
 
 Till' .jfreai '.-apadty nt parts )t' Cariadu t'oi Irtiit ^n'owili/,', ttlul the 
 great pio.sent (lovclopniont of till! industry, untS Its creator t'utuiv poH- 
 hihilitii's, iir^'u thu wisdom of till' 'iivostiifatioii siin-ifcstoil As tn wliaf 
 iniiflit III" done in 'lie di'Vcioinncnt of some of our triiit indiistrit-s, and a.- 
 imlicaiioiis of oiu uaiialtililies in fruit ifrowin;,', I may mention., that from hupfiiDrifv nf 
 iR'i'sonal examiiiatioi' of our vineyards I have found liiat the averai;o yield \'^'V'' <li^t^il•t■.^ 
 I)enieroof()ntari(< vineyards planted with our eoinmoii Concord ,u;'"M*^N '^^ |,Ta|"'K\''miM'i!c 
 ahoul twoand adialttiniesas threat a.-* llieyield anywherein theOld World. uMcmuiMn ' 
 
 Th 
 
 d of 
 
 r renc 
 
 vinevanls nom 
 
 isr)L' 
 
 is-ii. 
 
 •fore 
 
 lie "itli li'iiilin^,' 
 villi' liinil 
 
 lie average y'.M(. _,... _ ._. - - . ^ 
 
 .piiylloxera prevailed was ahoiil 1,!ll> Lcallons jier acri". In no eoiint ry in |.;",'.,,p,I.''ii"i't'lH} 
 Eiuope, nor at ihe i'ape noi in Australia, is the avoraire ahove 2lt» i;-ai- iinantity of 
 Ions, The avera/,'e of the Toneord vineyards ot the Nia.^^ara and IjaUo "i_">; i";"'"^'* 
 Eiie eountry is alioiii CM) n'ailons pei ac;c This u,i'ape is ec^'.-idered in '""' ''*'"■'' 
 Europe an excellent claret grapt- and has l)eeii largely introluced from 
 Arnei'lca. In four departments of the soutii of France there are iJltO, 1)1)0 
 aerof planted witli the Conci)rd It was introduced from America us a 
 stock for n-raftinu; heeaiiNC it was |)hylloxera-i)r()of. hui the growers soon 
 founrli that it yielded wine of as good iK|ualit\ as the Kuropean grapo 
 tiiid more aliundaiitly. In I'ortugai, too, they aie now cultivating it 
 freely. 80 successful lias this grapo been that it promises to become thd 
 prineip.il claret grape of the world. I niontion tliesc facts to illustrate 
 the great eapabiiity )f Ontario for t'rtiit WV I10W produce about a 
 million gallons of claret, besides n large r|iiantitv of sweet wine. It 
 18 not imi)iol)i!ble that within a short time, if tlie requisite care and nt- 
 tention are ])aid to developing this inilustry, the export of Canadian win© 
 may rival in total value — and may far exceed in total prodt- -our cattli- 
 {ind cheese ex|)()rts combined. Several of our i;ine growers are makini 
 dry wines well adapted in point of (juality lo secure u large demano 'i 
 the British marUot. it is important not only for the- fruit growers inii 
 for 'the sake of encouraging the immigration of farmers, that our climatic 
 capacitv tor fruit growing ^hould l)c known The impression produced 
 liy iHibiishing the actual facts of the case in JMirope woulil he distinctly 
 favourable in disabusing the minds ot' British farmers, of the misconcep- 
 tion." entertained in I'cgard to Canada: A country that grows the vino C(mipiiraTlv4» 
 is associated in their minds with the sunny lands of iMirope. It is of in- <'li!nat(ilo>,'y 
 terest to notice that at Vevay (near (ieneva) one of the wine producing 
 centres of Kurope, the mean letnperature of the summer season is about 
 tliat of much ot Muskoka: V^ienna which is in a wine country and fur- 
 • ther south than Tokay, one of the best wine distiiets in l-'urope, has a 
 mean temperature ((i'ti.t ileg.l for the tive warmest months, exactly tlifl 
 ^amc as Hamilton, Ontario! Windsor, Ont., (li7-;5; und Spcnce's Uridge, 
 K.C. (OS'l) have summers still warmer. 
 
 Cotton has been grown on Pelee Island for 2(1 years ami without tlie eottim kicw- 
 special manuring given in the back ))arts ot the Carolinas, to mature the inyinUntuiio. 
 iiroj) before the t'ro.si eomes, i'elee has a longer frostless si'ason than 
 much of the inland portion of the Southern States. Facts such as t bests 
 
 • ['dee TslaiuT, situate ill tiiH West riKt nf Lal«' Kiir, 'I'll.' Tslaud is il luilcsT.mn 1>,V 
 •icarlv .") miles wide, and distinit ciKlit miles, smitli West, fmiii Point Pelee in Kssex county, 
 lV>vlnce oi Ontario, Latitude 41 -4(1 ^'o^th^,l,()n^,'itllde 8'.>" 3!t Wtst of U 1 eenwuls. 
 
 f Kuroiieau 
 111(1 ( 'anadiau 
 illy lanil.'>. 
 
JO 
 
 CLIMATOLOOY OF CANADA IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE, 
 
 Mi'tliiul (if (il)- 
 taiiiiiiK I't'liii- 
 lilc cliinatic 
 infiinnutiiin in 
 Caiiaihi, liJi'iil 
 and (,'fnii'al 
 
 Tlic ai'iilo 
 Ki'iiwii.j,' ro. 
 gion in Xovji> 
 ycotia. 
 
 f Jliniate of 
 IJui'liec, 
 
 IV'afli anit 
 vine i'ejj;iims 
 lit Ontario, 
 
 Practical lire- 
 cantion 
 
 a^'ainst local 
 ;-iinnnicr frost.- 
 
 nre encouraging to fruit growers in Canada iini. ,.i lukl holp to counteract 
 a tendency to underestimate our cliinatic capa^iiy. 
 
 1 may now briefly Hummarizo some of the featu'es of the work whicii 
 I Huggcst should lie iindei'taiceii in the a])plication of climatology t« 
 agricidture, There slioulu bo a sort of climatic survey made of the 
 whole Dominion, taking into account the average tempertilure^ ot the 
 growing season, the length of time between the last frosts of spring and 
 ihe tirst; of autumn ; the average rainfall, the average and occasional, 
 extremes of winter cold, ami such other comlitior.s of local climate as 
 have a direct bearing on agriculture, The large amount (,f meteorologicii 
 data accumulating for many years in the meteorc. logiciil office would 
 furnish a basis for this work. liaihvay surveys could aid. So also eleva- 
 tion and many other considerations of local and general topography, such 
 ar (he existence of small lakes, raountains, cold producing plateaux, the 
 direction of the axes of valleys and the (diaracter of their surroundings, 
 etc. The records could be supplemented for our remote and northern 
 districts by correspondence with Hudson Bay posts, and with missionariei* 
 and others, so as to arrive at valuable tentative conclusions for such 
 regions as have sparsely supjdied observiilions, 
 
 Snbsidiarj' to this genenil plan, should !>e an investigation of the 
 climatic capacity of our ])rincipal fruit Provin ;es anddistri( es. in Novas 
 Scotia, for instance, the AnnajMjIis valley has been producing by tar the 
 greater proportion of the aj)ple crop ot the ])rovince, but there are many 
 other parts where, on suitable soils, the climati; admits of ajtple grosving 
 with equal or nearly equal success. There is reason to think from a 
 consideration ot the climate, that over a wide area across to the Atlantic 
 coast, and almost as far south as Yai'mouth. most varieties of the apple, 
 on suitable soils, could be grown almost as well as at Annapolis. 'J'he 
 climtitic capacity of the Province of Quebec is vor}' much underestimtited 
 The Lake St. John district has capticities which are not fully realized iu 
 most parts of Quebec, and scarcely at all in Ontario. The country 
 north-east of Lake St. John, which a railway is very likely to traverse 
 before many years, has a warmer climate than might be supposed possible 
 at first glance, from the tem))erature which prevails tilong the shore of 
 the lower St. Lawrence. 
 
 There should be an investigtition made of the ]H'acii and vine climate* 
 ofOiuario, and of the loctil climate of Xorthern Ontario where little 
 lakes exist, on the southern and eastern shores of which the frostless 
 season is sometimes three weeks to a month longer than in the hinds at 
 only a short distance away. A difference of from ten days to two weeks 
 in the frostless ])eriod usuall}' exists between the western side iind the 
 eastern side of a small lake. The east and south sides have a longer 
 season, bectiuse they are awtiy from the north-west winds. By taking 
 advantiige of these little lakes, theculUire of a particular fruit or vtiriety 
 of fruit might be extended, in spots beyond its genertil limit, and thus 
 add to the resources of the settlers of our colder districts. We can pos- 
 sibly extend the cultivation of some viirielies of tree-fruit up to the height _ 
 of hind. 
 
 Another thing that might be investigated is ibi' utility of smudge tires, 
 Smudge fires are not mucdi used in lOnghind, because alter the time that 
 the first severe weather occurs the temperature is usually too low to 
 allow furlhergardening ; but in the interior of Kuiop*^ ihe climate is very 
 much the same in resjK'ct to the occurrence of frost iis on the continent 
 of Aiiierica. We generally have in September <d' early in October. 
 one or two nights of frost that would kill tender vegetiibles, siudi as 
 tomatoes, and yet afterwards there are two or three v.'eeks of warm 
 weather which would admit of gardening being carried on if the ])revious 
 
 t 
 
I'KOKESSOR 
 
 GORDON .MO WAT, 
 
 11 
 
 i 
 
 froHt liail nnl kllloil ovoryiliin,^ woitii ^-lowing. On flie fonliiiont ot" 
 Europe sininln'o tiros ai'e used to pfoveiit tliOKO tVonts. A sinolce so thin 
 tliut it (iocs not iiiilc tlio stars slioiild sutTifiontly fheclc radiation of lieat 
 }o maintain tho tcnipcratiirc on lli<( suitacc ot tlio ground six or oii;'lit 
 dog-icH's. and tliat is usiuiliv siilliricnt to save g-ardcns fVoin early t'lo-^t, 
 Tlicre are eonditions in tlio Xorlh-West and in Ontario in re<j;ard to 
 toinperatiiie, fVoni widcdi one may judire of tlio approacli of frost. In 
 Western (Ontario wiien tlie mereiiry is as low, ai six o'eloek. as tifiy 
 ule.u'recs, on a ealm, clear evi'nii..;-, at least a liu-lit frost on the followini,^ 
 moi'ning may bo expeeted, while in the North-West jiroliahly a hii^hor 
 1oni]Hiraturo at that hour would allow for a frost hi'torc the following 
 ^unris(^ I thiid< that test of theclTeet of smudge tires wo dd show results 
 that eould ho put to pvaetieal acrourd \<y market gaideners, and even hy 
 farmers in the Xorlh-\Ve>t and Maiutolia. Of eoiirse llnTe would ho a 
 great deal of Iri'ulile in dealing with large fields, biit smudge lireseould 
 be easily ap,)lied in |)i'eventing daniagts to orchards, hop yards and 
 gardens," and in preventing destruction of hlossonis liy the later spring 
 frosts 
 
 Anotlier matter worthy of investigation is tlie prevention of ^htmage Kx(f|itional 
 
 P.O orchards hv Ions' continued pcrioils of unfavoiirahle weather There 'ininii^^tiiiipog 
 1 ■' . . 1 tr^^it 1 1 no.! T'' 11-4 1 1 \iiit:i\(niriihle 
 
 was >ii(h a jieriod between 187!^ and 1S8"J. U nseasonahle wiiitei' weather t„ „roliiuds. 
 
 Iirckeii hy severe tVosts occurred, and also extreme heat and drought in 
 
 ulu^ siiminer of 18S1, The rain-fall, for years, was less than usual. The^e 
 
 gonerai conddions ohiained from Arkansas to Ottawa, and iVom Chicago 
 
 to New Jer.-^ey. Over this largo area, yelle-ws ^uhse(|uently prevailed in 
 
 the peaidi orchards, dry ml attacked the vines, the appU' and othei' trees 
 
 sulVereil iioni premaiure decay, and funu'us growths played havoc with 
 
 the plums. The lule holds in plant lite as in animal life that ifa jdant 
 
 is weakened in vitality it becomes subject to paia>iies. We can recog- 
 
 luze tho occurrence of these conditions of wealhei', almost every year, 
 
 in some ))art of the country or another, and coidd advise the farmers 
 
 where ])artienlarly unfuvt)urablo conditions are noted at any time, to 
 
 specially cultivate tlie..- orcdiards and thus prevent the destruction of 
 
 many trees oi' mitigate at lea-^l the (dl'eets of the had weather. 
 
 1 think", that in connection with this work, articles inserled in British 
 agricultural and other journals, descriptive of our fruit indtisMies and 
 conlairiirig suii:ible climatic comparisons presonltd in an attractive way. 
 would be useful in inducing British farmers of means to emigrate .to 
 older Provinces as well as to the Norlh-West. The price ot land in 
 
 Ontario might thi^ 
 to our climate and ir- 
 
 be enidianccit by showing the real tacts in relation 
 
 capacity. 
 
 There is anoiher (|Uestion worthy id' mention in Uiis connectiiui : (hat Poniiiarativo 
 is, our capability for growing two-rowed barley. We liave been exper- '■,''''';''^V'?"|\, 
 imonting with seed from i'jigland — from a cooler and moister climate |,|.,,'|^."j'| ,',(■' 
 
 han our own. It is objected to two-rowed barley that our summer is l!uilr\ in 
 oo wa'iu at the lime oiir barley matures; othei's say thai oui' climate is '|,''"|1;J'|;|'""' 
 oo cold and the season too short. The Saale barlev is grown in a warmer '"'"'"• 
 
 llian the l-'.ny-li^ 
 
 climate than that of I'lngland, atid yet it is better 
 barley. Some ot' tho Austrian barley districts are warmer than tho 
 Saale' valley, and correspond in climate with some parts of Ontario; j'ot 
 the best haVlc}' from the^e parts of Austria has bnnight an average, for 
 years, of over 81.20. It may be that by an examination of the climates 
 of the groat .Austrian barley districts and of the Saale country wo could 
 find parallels in various parts of Canada — ]irobal)ly in parts of Now 
 Brunswick and portions ot' the eastern townshi]i> as well as further west, 
 
 11 
 
 I 
 
12 
 
 Cr-TMATOLOnY OP CANADA IN RKLATION TO AOIUCULVURK. 
 
 Bii Mr. Watson 
 
 Cliuiatii' (!(■- 
 tcnniiiiUiiiii < 
 
 ill' .Mnrkcn- 
 
 ii' liivii' 
 Basin. 
 
 Q. What is Iho jji-ico of the two-rowoil harlov vou are icferriiiir to? 
 —A. §1.40 has for a lorij;- lime Ik'cmi the aveia^'e'tor the Saale ami ?'' •^:'i 
 for the Austrian harley. 
 
 The (h'tcrmlMaticii of whet her we have l)arh'v elitnatos eorresnondiiio' 
 HI e.s>eMtial eonditions with tho.soofthe he^t Iwrk'y distriets ii, l':,ir..|)o" 
 would <io miieli to an early and prolilahle delerni'i.ialion of tlie eoiir.e' 
 tanner ui various pails of the eountrv, should pursue in rei>ard to harlev 
 ,irr.,win- It wnuld.ir. thesr ,listriet>. lead to earlier and tulier utilisati,m 
 of the advantages tjie l',iitisii market can atfonl. This would ho iho 
 case e>peeially where I he we.-ilher (turin- t h,. past few seasons tes(in.,- 
 the seed, ]ias Deoii less favourable than u^ual and has resulted in .rraiii 
 soniewl.at inferu)r to that most in demand in Britian. In the seh^'tiou 
 
 seed -ram of van..tios b.'st ada|)ted to the various two-rowed harlev 
 elunates, liie invcstloaii,,,. of these elimates and their e.-rrespcndeneies 
 m {-.ui-ope IS important. This investiirafiuu also posses.soH a "•cneral 
 oommereial impnrianee to the eountry at lar-e as well as to the 'farmer 
 
 1 nia.v Ik' that some of our l.arlry countries will he f.-uihl ad.apted 
 elimatieally to iheu-r.iwth o| two-rowc<l -rain, while others are hotter 
 fttted to continue cultivation for the United Slates maikets 
 
 Jn view ol contemplated railways and other developments in thecoun- 
 Iry between Manilob:, and Jludso.fs Jiav. between Sault Ste. .Marie and 
 Labrador, an.l m the Mackenzie h'ivvM- l.a>in. it miuhi prov.. of advantao'o 
 in oaiidmo- I arbament as to land -rants that mav be asked a^ well •i-.'Tn 
 the -eneral railway policy, ifsuch a-rieuliiiral iiVouives as thes.. re-i-ms 
 pos-esssl.ouM be measured from thostaiKlpoini nrclim.atic capacil v"'The 
 summer c!imaiev,.ry rapidly improves in ivcedin- southward and west- 
 ward from the chilly .s|„,rcs of Hudson's Hav ; and there are climatic 
 reasons lor thinkin- that the couniry eastwanl of Lakes St. .lohi, and 
 
 31istassmii.s richer ill a,nri,.ul I uralre>ourees and in elimatiecapacitv than 
 IS popularly ima-med. .\ deman<l has been m.ad.Mui the (iovernmcnt for 
 ,f ■•u. <.x],loraiory Mirvey of the .Macken/.ie b'iverbasin where the climate is 
 known to be mild compared with equal latitudes totheea>lward It would 
 ma iiieaMire. satisfy the public .Icmand. if an invest i-ation of lb,, agri- 
 cultural capacilyoftheciimateofihai -real vallev were made Clim-Tiie 
 records, correspondence with misMMUarie^ and oihers would shed much 
 li.yb, on Ih.. vaiyin- a-rieultural rcsoiuvos oltlie vallev, and -letermine 
 whether in its milder parts, wlieat and other -nuns mi-ht be protjiablv 
 gm)wn. Ill re-aid to all the re-ions mentioiiel, ii wouldthiow lio|,t in "i 
 iarue nieasiir<> (»n how far a population CMnneeled with lailwavs nr other 
 enterprises eould depend .ui l,,cal supplier for subsistence 
 
 T 
 
 rv 
 
 I here are other thin-s eoniu'Ctod with the ap|ilb-ation of .dimatolo. 
 
 o. a-ricultuioand fruit -rowin- which, h.-.d time p.Miuiited. I woidd 
 
 have prcler.ed lo mentinn. 1 thank y.Mi lor voiir p:,iicni aiiention to 
 
 my reinaik< which are. owin- to ilio latcn.'ss of mv hoarin..- of tlie 
 
 ineetin- of t he Comniit tee, not presented in as ...m.paci form as eould 
 
 to the 
 ind a-ri- 
 
 JCtloU 
 
 I*' 
 
 4 
 
 'e Wished. I Ihiiik the woik l.i-oposcd.in savin- (d' e.xpenditure 
 .overnmont,inec<.n(uny in and i'ct ter direction (d'expenmental an 
 cultural work all. .ver the country, would much aid in the properdireet^o 
 ot trill ,-rowin- -enerally. and -d' tree planlin- in the North-Wesi jt 
 would have the protitablo result of prevent in- mu.d. waste ofmonev and 
 eiort bv farmers ai.l Iriiit ^n'owers, and, especiallv in the newer poll ion> 
 of the J)omiiuoti. o| direetin- attention to. and eiieoura-ino- the set- 
 tlcm<.nt ot excellent districts which would otherwise remain Ion- undis- 
 covered, and <d iTcveutin-disappninlment and waste of oiiorl ihro h 
 
 mistaken jud-mcnt as to liie capability of particuliir districts 
 
 ■ 
 
intDl'KS.SOR J. (illHIXiN MOWAT. 
 
 13 
 
 /)// Mr. Fenjusun : 
 
 Q. Yoii drew iittcntion to tlie CDiiiiiaiiitivo Viihic ot'tlic Cnnadiaii and 
 French gra])t>, and tln-ir wihi- [irdducinn' powoi'. 1 iukUm stand thai the 
 ifi'e'aur i i(dino,-s ol' the Canadian l,'i a])L' larijoly do],ends upon tlie (yianliry 
 of f«acrliai ini' ? — A. The umoiiiil ut' saccdianno in llie <;Taj)e is rliiefly 
 governed liy the licat oi' tlie ^ea^on. 
 
 Q. 's it 111)! I rue tiiat the iiuaiitity ofMi^ar hiru'idy (h'pends upon iho 
 li|-inhlne.-s ol'l iir Mtn^hinedu|•ln;; the lime when l he i;i'ape i> nialurinj;' 7 — 
 A. Jiith in (tiilario and on ihe liiiiiie, sine l^; ower,- hnd; upon a liot 
 Aug-n>l ;!- imporliinl in ^e(•ul•||l<i• a good and Nti'on;;- wine. 
 
 Q. \\ iiiit 1 wi-h to know i> wiietiier we liave a liettei' growing jieiiod 
 in >uinnie: — ti>w.ii'd> I lie end of >uninier — for the grape, than they have 
 on lln' liMiine? — A. Yes; and we have a furthei' advanlage. In ihe 
 eenlral and noiM hern pai I,- of Murope elowdy and ofn'n rainy weather 
 setN in altoiil ihe iidddle of S-ptendier, in ('anada it does not hegin till 
 Oc'toher — geiieial!y file in ()eii>fei', 'I'he eaily e)oudine>> mean- delay 
 in thi^ maliiring ol the giape. and ihe rain- insohi' the wa-hing away 
 fr(nu ! he gi'iipi' of 1 he '■ Imooiii' whiidi In a >]H'eies of yoasl plant, and Mius 
 fernH'iiiin::- proieeds more >lowly and les^ ^atisfaeloriiy. Along the Rhine Cnananative 
 where I hey prod iiei" h inn I red- of million- oi' gal Ions of wine per annum, lie' ^^inl■ pioduc- 
 "•ra lie thoiMU.u' Ids' ma! are-, on an avei auc onl\- oin'c in three \eai->. l''rosts "'K '■'■-'"ii'<'''« 
 oeeiii' t'venas early a.- August. H i- a vei'y eommon Hung lor \-ine growers i.',.iuicf iuui 
 to pi(d< off green herrie.- Iu'l'oic throwing the fumdies into ihe vais. (Aiuuda. 
 The eoiiditions of summer on the iJhini' are inferior fo,' giape growing 
 to tho.-e on ihe lower ( )llawa. 'I'hei'e are in Onlaiio ;inii tin' Si. Law- 
 rence valley, nt'ail_\- wU.tluO -i|uare miles of lerriloiy (diniatieally 
 adapted to grape eiilliii-e. In l-"ranee r),(K)(f (HlO aei'es aix' tles'oled to 
 grapi' growing and l,UilO,0(l(i.lMlil galhuis of wine are pro luei'd, yet the 
 elimale of ihe inosi of i''ran(H' i- nol more siiilahle lor ihe i)roduetion of 
 wiin' than llial of a eon-ideralil>' pari of Ontario. Thehesl wine elimates 'finiiiciatiuv 
 are htlwei'n a mean lemperalure of lil and To degrees tor the ihiee 'i>''l- ','j'J',, '^^I'l^jf"!'" 
 summt'i' nnmilis. Our wini's are -ironger liian llio IJhine wines and ,,f uinf pro- 
 many of the wine- of eeiiir.al I'^rain-e. owing to the greal heat of (un'ilucts. 
 sumniei'. lvNei'|iting in we-lei'n Xew ^'oi k and in if.e noiihcrn tit'r of 
 eounlii'- in ()liio. ihf I'nited Slate- nowhere I'as! of ihr IiO'd<ies, is as 
 well ;ida]ih'd for 1 lie giape as ,-oul hei'ii ()nlario. In 1 he Ohio valley ihe. 
 heal and moi.-ture are loo greal and mildew plays havoc wilh ihe vine» 
 yard-. Souilu'rn California is not lielter adapted for elaiels, lliaii 
 ,SoulliciMi ( )nlario. 
 
 Commit IKK TJoom, 1(1, 
 
 iMun.vY, lisih August, ISiU. 
 
 The Commillee on Agiiculfui'e auA Colonization in se-.-ion, 
 
 ^rr. James Cordon .Mowal was re-called in t'ontinua'ioii of Tiin 
 examination al ihe hisi preceding nieeling of the Committee, on the 
 Ciimalology of (';inaoa. In nsponse lo ihe in\ilalion of the Chair, 
 to proceed wilh hi- lemaiks on ihe suhjeci under ieview. 
 
 .Mr. Mowal -aid ■ 
 
 Mr. Chairman and Ctuillomen, — At tlie last ii\eeling of the Com- 
 millei', in a ramhiing way. i covered a good deal of the ground that I 
 niiglii oiheiwise have had to lak'e up lo-day. Many hei-c have hetinl 
 that evidence, and it is lie'i't't'oie unneei's^ary to repeal il. ISii! I wi-li 
 to c'lll allenlion lo ;i few facts in regard lo Climatology that 1 ]ieih:ip:i 
 did nol bring on; luily ihen, I jiropo-ei|. that a, t'limalie Survey oi' lliO 
 
14 
 
 CMMATOLOOV OP CANADA IN l,K,,AT,o.v TO AORICUr/rURE. 
 
 nitfci-cnccs ill 
 lfii>,'th (if rlir 
 frcistlcss sr.-i- 
 soin, locall.v 
 
 J)nmmio„ |.ema,le. W, Unw a (Icln^ioal Survev u..W ii a.,sM-.... , 
 
 c una.,. clilK-rs .cma,l<aMy wi.lnn verv sho .L u '. hi . l" 
 
 ^aI u;s .,() ,lay, w.tin,, a distance. sonuMinics of o(l milc^ 'n,.,, r,o vs 
 ;;;'P1'- ^ ar^,. rang, of dinuUc, u vast ..ang. of "no si lidos In 
 
 U-n. mv o1 s.unnuu-, and a -in.!. w...kin ih.r, ,,.,:, ! i„. ^'* • 
 """ '''" ^"'^^^"' '"■ ""•■ ■^'""» '"■ .H.r anl.K.s ,1.;., cannot 
 
 (Mil line llu 
 
 a|)|.l,. 
 
 ({(■iiiai'lvMlilc 
 variety (if 
 fruit pRxlucts 
 
 Kxtcnt ,111(1 
 
 climate of Ottawa succeed a-imirahlv aloie.- ll^. Si Jr.wrcncn 
 
 nver. Some varieties tl.at will no. tioi,,,sl, ..n the "^u lands .fVw^^^^^^^^ 
 
 succee, tu-o miles l,elow, alon,.- ih. hordes of 1 luUi Vfo have n' 
 
 . his .a„..n ,., the dittW-ence of .dimate in ,he .H^avr V i' v-" 
 
 allej nm.ono sou.hwardfromfhedeoruinn Bav .hrou.-h the , , i ,1 o 
 
 ney Twenty milcs i.dand. even the peach is'lcnown'^t. ece 1 Tl , 
 
 ' vTi»^\ owini^ to (lea necu iariiic>^ If n-,, n.; i, i . i i 
 
 o;... i.nmense fniit and I... ic;;i,;;;;d\.a I;;. - ^r s'^ itta [''uiaf ;;:^ 
 
 Moiild know what the... p..culi,.,rith.s are. W isfock la ne of tie 
 
 shor.es,ln.stessseaM,nsinMMith-westernOntari,K.herc.'e n -'7 lits 
 
 32';i™;^ ';i^;i'^'';'"'n ""' "" "-'.";"•■">■' ''^--^ •"• ■'><'--.y^ 
 
 n.i l.rv i". • ' ■' •'^■'•'■''.^••' "* '"'•'■ years. Hamilton, a^.-ain has 
 l^hdajso a similar pe,„,d. and P.dee Island has no fewer tip „ -^i ,1.! 
 
 An, '' ild ul liM'i'l,'"' f ^ ^'•' 1." ••^' ^1-"^— <.i-u'lho';;'ddf^:f 
 
 Ap . land the l.rs ki in- frost of amumn not iiniil Xovemhei— .ivin- 
 
 earl3 seven mon.hsofa,M.as,>naln,,,stentirelvfre(. from lV.,.tThedi.^V^>^? 
 ices ,n vegetation fr-un parts of the inland -coanlies i, eon^e , t .. 
 
 u- ,; ^Nia^ara Kiver, protected not onlv from the north-west 
 
 dant cops. I have.ee.i almonds nr„wn that will conipTire will, .h. f, it 
 
 on nil *"''■'' ^i"''' """"" '"'^ ''^'«" ^-''^^vn for 20 yea., wifh- 
 
 m special manure. The guano which is used in parts^'f xi,, 
 Carolina is no. needed here. Sorghum, both the (' ineso ,nd h 
 
 ^^puiallj in l.ssex. All the npccies of the Magnolia known on ihi- 
 continent hut one, grow in southern Ontario, tliese are s ,; 
 o ^vhat the extreme capacity of our climate is on .1.^ n e The 
 ^^'^^:::1J ■•^'""•■'^^:' "'« ^"l-'- -lay,c..uld he grown on s li, h- st h 
 
 ^l 
 
 Pi; 
 
 n,i,„.i,,.,f ,: .v;, ;,, " ""' '"" "■'■•■'■. "•'.'■. '- 'I !>■-' gc'ivii .„, s„ii„i,i.. soil-, 
 
 iS:sL,- ™;t (!:;;" ;;''Kv";:,Tr''i"'^ 
 
 *da. i „ '^^toigi.Mi i.u.liom Thornhury or.Ueafon up .,. Owen Sound Ft 
 
 si^rown along the coa>t of Lake Huron and here and t eii^ f r ' shor 
 
 c eds ev,;;' ;::; : -"''"''""', ""'? ""^''^'' ^-•-^'- "•^' •- - •• - - 
 
 ct s c^en neai SI. .Marys and up the (iraiid River to near the town .,t 
 <ra It. Some variety or otho;- of the peach may be said to be ■•,, 1 f 
 ^. tiva,i,,n over a grea, part of tl.e westeni pen '. a V n ^Jo 
 I ^.ibly in som.. ayourable situations, on nnnnv ilopes. , .> p. p 1^ 
 ^.I'ceud on a limited scale-perhaps nearly ueommerciai scalJ- n vi S 
 fecotiu. In the Annap,dis valley Ind inland, a little i>li cirof Va;.m: iilh 
 
 i 
 
PROFESSOR J. GORDCN MOWAT. 
 
 15 
 
 lluro, with 
 ■I'y ilealiiiij 
 iiiiico to a 
 : TlKil (iiir 
 
 I Noullicni 
 
 II lu't\Vi'(Ml 
 
 auliiiiin — 
 lit 50 days 
 liililios in 
 llio moan 
 leiiy;tli of 
 ir variidy 
 ii cannot 
 Lawri'uc'o 
 ol' G'rcy, 
 ! have an 
 A'alli'v— a 
 iijilands ot 
 i-c'd. Tlio 
 II' intt'i'ioi' 
 ■aii(ao;f of 
 that wo 
 no of the 
 • 127 (lays 
 (Tciiry to 
 iXuU\. Iiiis 
 -'00 days, 
 middle oC 
 ■ — ^ivihif 
 'lioditnT- 
 luence of 
 .'en Lake 
 )ith-\vc's) 
 n a little 
 ars abiin- 
 t hermit 
 ;-n>t and 
 lis with- 
 f North 
 and the 
 Ontario, 
 on this 
 <ti'ations 
 lo. The 
 lilc soils 
 <-' over u 
 t' shores 
 md. It 
 ' a short 
 ach sue* 
 town of 
 pulile of 
 )ntano. 
 (di imiy 
 n Xovii 
 ■mouth, 
 
 we may hope to find— jiidi,nnfr entirely from climatic considerations- 
 some areas where varieties of the peach may he ,i,no\vn a little, especi- 
 ally tlio-e varieties that do not reqnire as irreat heat as tlie Crawford. 
 In l'>ritish (Johimhia the poach climate includes many favourahle 
 situations on the eastern side of Vancouver Island : (the other side is too 
 wet,) and the low lands at the month of the Fiasor ; al.so probahly the 
 Thompson valley. The records of temperature show that u|) the 
 Thomi)son valley are climates— as tiir at least as summer is concerned 
 — hettor adapted for peach culture than those of the coast 
 district or than much of southern California. For the vino, the area 
 capable of ^rrowini^ it in (.'anada, with equal succo.'^s, extends from a 
 little above (,>ii(d)ec, over a lar^o part of Ontario; south of the 4Ulh 
 paralltd. In jjart of Xow IJrunswiclc — in the interior — it would also 
 succc'd; with the trouble lakon that is common in Ontario and Quebec, 
 of lay ini;; the vines down in winter. There are other sections in the 
 AIariiimeProvinc(^sthatconldoTowi;'rapeswithi)rolit,l)uttoalessei'extent 
 than the most I'avourable parts of ^N'ew lirunswick. The best grape 
 climate in British Columbia is not on the coast, but in the interior? To 
 the interioi- we have reason to look for a large — perhaps the laigest— 
 proportion of the fruit that will bo sent from British Columbia To the 
 North-West Teriitorios. The coast climate will produce good t'ruit, 
 possibly a little interior in flavour; but in the interior, wo ma>-. 1 am 
 inclined to think, exjjoct better flavoured fruit, frrigation will be 
 necessary ih most of the inland parts where it is grown, as it is in 
 southern California. 
 
 As to the diilerences of climate that make this Climatic Survey de- 
 sirable, we will return to Ontario again. Small lakes are found over the 
 northern and eastern parts of the Province of Ontario. In regai'd to 
 diilerences of temperature near these lakes, a distance of six'^miles. 
 with only lit tie diHeience in elevation, produced in one case a difference 
 of.'iO days in the fiosiless period— the figures being 127 and 97 between 
 the two stations conijiared. The season i'n the neiu'Iibourhood of the lake 
 was the longer. The west sides of lakes in eastern Canada have not .so 
 long a season as the east or southern sides. This is owing to the fact 
 thai our frosts generally occur from the west and north-westr The water 
 111 these small lakes becomosheated upby thesummer sun; this lengthens 
 the aiiiumn season, admitting of the ri]K'iiiiig of new wood in'~^many 
 varietie^^ of fruit trees that would fail in average situations in the country 
 around. We may hope by knowing what these peculiarities are and 
 mapping them out. toexiend fruit growing along the margin of those lakes 
 eoiiMderably beyond the present northern limit, and in that way add 
 considerably to the resources of settlers in our northern and oastorrj 
 ccMinlies. A suggestion may be made towards tjie utilization of somts 
 "if the dilfercMices of climate. The ripening season of the strawberry, in 
 iiiuch of Ontario, is pretty well over in the early part of .lulv, but along 
 the nortli-oastern and northern shores of liake' Superior, the summer il 
 St I cool that the berry ripens according to locality al various times in 
 August and later. Settlers in those parts of the'countrv minht easily ' 
 obtain, were the ir'ide organized, a cousiiierablo increase to their incoina 
 by the shipment . , -rawberries. Advantage has been taken of ditfer- 
 «nces in cUmates in .n^mv Brunswick and al(»iig the shores of tiaspe, tt, 
 such an exient, that St. .lohn and Boston are receiving shipments of 
 strawberries two or three weeks later than formerly. In (he north ot 
 Scotland a like variety in the time of berry-ripening" prevails. That in 
 Ontario we have a greater variety in tlie lipenitig >eason of this berry- 
 over two inoiith.s— is not to be wondered at when we find (ho climate on 
 the north shore of Lake Sii].erior differing- iu nioau temponvturo both in 
 
 Caii.si's 
 (lucinir 
 tie (lillt 
 in (.■')iiti 
 lut'iiSitii 
 
 pro- 
 I'liiiia- 
 
 ll'lU'l'.S 
 
 h'uous 
 
16 
 
 flJMATnr.or.V nv CANADA in RELATIo.V T(t AGRlCI-LTrRE. 
 
 >t' llie Liiko Krie sliore, as mtioli uh 
 (iillers Iroiii tlu- climuto along the Giilfof 
 
 Ui 
 
 8iimmor iind wiiitor, from the ciimati 
 the clitnale of Lake Eric 
 Mexico. 
 
 What the value of the far iiortluMii wil.ls of Ontario is we do 
 not Know A gieat hog is said to exist over much of the interior but 
 at .Moose JMyt. nine miles up the Moose River, the mean temperature of 
 summer is aliout the same as in the north of Hngland ; the July a little 
 warmer Ihe fall is warmer than at Winnipeg; Ihespring is later and 
 colder. Ihemean length of the season between hilling' frosts is HI 
 .lays, or six days longer than at I'ort Arthur, and fourteiMi days lon..-or 
 than at Beatrice, near Lake Muskoka. That fact, combined with '?he 
 general temperature and season, would indicate a considerable agricul- 
 turui capacity in that district. It is well lo know what the capacity ot 
 ar northern Ontario is, as railways are projected and v-ery 
 likely to be earned through, before long, to the shores of James 
 I ay, perhaps to tap the alleged coal tields. 1 1 is important, too, 
 that we should know something of the climate of northern 
 Ontario and Quebec along these lines. As to the climate away 
 to the north and norlh-east of Lake St. John, there are reasons to think- 
 that the temperature, owing to thi^ vastness of the Labrador peninsula 
 has warmer summers than is popularly imagined. The cool shores alon<.' 
 the Itiver St. Lawrence give no indication of the real heat of thai 
 interior and tiie probability is that the summer there is much more 
 favourable than is commonly supposed for the growth of vegetables and 
 1\^V-'^'m,''*""™'*" «"'"'i'"«. "'e supply of which 'would be a partial means 
 of livelihood to settlers who may be drawn in there through spruce 
 lumbering, railway or mining industries. Eiiiish Columbia atfords the 
 most forcible illustrations of large differences in climate within short 
 (iistances. lake the case of Agassiz and Spence's Bridge on the Thomp- 
 son Kiver. Ihe distance between these two ),laces is about ninety 
 miles. The summer of the former place has a mean temperature a little 
 over sixty degrees in July, while at the latter the mean temperature is 
 soventy-hve degrees. This is very nearlv the temperature of this month 
 in Cincinnati about the same as at Philiidelidiia, hi-li.'r than at 
 Jerusalem or Syria, an.l only tbree decrees short' of Alexandria in 
 hgypt. At Spence's Bridge the month of March is as warm as April in 
 ioroiito: and the month of April as a Toionto May, and the month of 
 May has almost exactly the .same mean temperature as a Toronto June- 
 the season is very long, fully live months without frost, and over seven 
 months of growing weather. The winter .season is very cold— about the 
 temperature of Kingston in Ontario,— but with this ditforence that in 
 ordiL.ry seasons the thermometer falls little— sometimes not at ail- 
 below zero. It may be that in portions of the valley near this station 
 at very hmg intervals— intervals of manv years- fnJsts occur that will 
 interfere in some measure with the successful culture of the i)eaeli ■ in, 
 regard to this the evidence is not yet ([uite clear. Okanagan valley 'has 
 an elevation of .-ibout 1,000 feel, or less than a larne pan of 
 the midland counties of Western Ontario, or of Grey where 
 the altitude rises to 1,(;00 or 1,700 feet. The valley is Exposed to 
 occasional hot winds from the interior .d' Washington territory but the 
 climate is, in Us main characteristics, uv.ivh the same as in the Thompson 
 valley, though probably differing much in different parts of the villley 
 on account of the surroundings. Pr„m wide high plateaux which touch 
 the borders of the valley here and there, the cold produced by ra.lialion 
 may pour, under the infiuenceof certain winds, into the valley and produce 
 locally a cold extreme not found in other jiorlions ot the "valley The 
 Arrow Lake YMcy and the Kootenay Valley have un elevaiion but 
 
 1^ ^ 
 
PROPESSiiK ,1, <;i(IU)()N MiiWAT. 
 
 17 
 
 little hif^her than that of the Okanagaii ; it is important that the peouli- 
 aritios of their climatic capacity should iio known. Sottlorw are pouring 
 into the OUanagan (•()uutry, ami unaljic as they must Itc, with hut a tew 
 years of personal experience, to judgeof the capacities of theelimatc, they 
 may make serious mistakes of various kinds in agriculture. They may, 
 forinstance, he misled by the ordiiiaryleuijieratureof the winters and make 
 serious mistakes in the planting of fruit trees in situations, which, owing 
 to the surroundings, ai-e unfavourable, and neglect other situations 
 where owing to different surroundings fruitgrowing could be carried on 
 with success. lUuHtraiions are ([uite familial' both in Canada and 
 the lJnite<l States, where the middle slopes of a valley are climatically 'iv 
 more favourable to fruit growing than the flats above and the valley ^'j*. 
 beneath. In other cases again the plateau is the most favourable, and ^ 
 still in other cases the valley. This is governed largely by the 
 direction of the valley with I'espect to certain winds and also by various 
 other circumstances and local surroundings. In British Columbia, if in 
 the direction of a cold movement of air from the north or north-east 
 there exists near hy, a narrow plateau or mountain range, the cold would 
 not be nearly so severe as where the plateau is ot wide extcuit and great 
 elevation. There are very many circumstances of local tojjography 
 which have to be taken into account in aiding in the determination of 
 the peculiarities of local climate or in supplementing the meteorological 
 records. Two valleys or two portions ot the same valley atsimilar ele- 
 vation may possess very different climates. AVhere there is a small 
 mountain range in the direction of the prevailing winds, a valley is not 
 liable, other influences being equal, to so great cold as where there is a 
 wide ohnated plateau in the same direction. This difference, as I have 
 said, may be found in different parts of the same valley; the climate 
 differing radically according to the character of the surroundings. 
 AVherever these peculiarities exist they would have to be taken into 
 consideiation in the mapping in detail of the climate. To the climato- 
 logist the inlluences of surrinindings are large'y measurable. Analogies 
 dei'ived from all over the world permit a climate so varied as 
 British Columliia's, with even meagre records to be so investigated as 
 to afford valuable consideraLions to the farmer and fruit grower. In 
 Alberta theilimate varies almost as much as in the interior of British 
 Columbia, though generally the valleys, owing to their greater eleva- 
 tion, are colder. 1 think that much maybe done in ordinary agricul- 
 ture in some of these valleys—those in wliich the surroundings are such 
 as to indicate favourable efimafic conditions, and less of summer frosts 
 than usual. This is a matter for test and future investigation. Along 
 the slopes of the Kockies the rainfall is suflicient in som«' of the valleys 
 for agriculture without the aid ot irrigation. This is triu; also of much 
 of tlK^ plain country, for the rainfall, although light, is usiudiy well dis- 
 tributed over the eariv summer, ami dew is often abundant at night in 
 l^ome localities. There is a part of the North-West lying in the district 
 of Swift Current and Medicine Hat that probably will require irriga- 
 tion for the successful prosecution of agriculture; but perhaps very 
 little luM'd be siiid of this at i)resent as with so large a surplus of free 
 and cheap land elsewhere, irrigation is somewhat premature. But the 
 time will ecune when the country will demand irrigation, for irrigaticm 
 will be a necessif}-, if good crops on the average, are to he tioped for in 
 this laru'c section of the N"orlh-\Vesl. It is in place for nw to state here 
 that this portion of the North-West has a warnuM- summer than Mani- 
 toba, and a decidedly warmer average for tln^ year. Medi<'iiu> Hat is the 
 warmest meteorological station in the North-West— with a .Inly moan 
 of over 67 degrees, and ait :mnual mean (over 42 degrees) as high as* 
 2 
 
 i|i(ij,T;i|iliy 
 
 illfl'CtillK 
 
 llUltr. 
 
18 
 
 'T-lMAT'ilddV OK CANADA IN HKI.ATKiN 
 
 TO Aiilllcl I.TI UK, 
 
 liases fill- ii 
 colTfft el in 
 tic survey i 
 Caiuula, (le 
 tilled 
 
 (lie 
 
 I! 
 
 Mni.trofil, ami .n.icl. of Kasicrn Ontari... l^n.lor ,.qual r<.M.liti.,nH 
 
 han can l.o oh.anu.j Crom H.nilar >oils wIkto .1,. cn,/n(rv has To.l™ 
 
 pla.nsll.at arepasscl hyMow, |,y tl.c practical farmer, lo , llin. S 
 heomcv wl.oro the m.Us arc favourable, pmti.ahle p„rlio,.. nl ,1.' ,«,{ 
 
 J<!l Mr. Triiir : 
 
 q. in lelereiK-o t., irri-atinM, where \voni,| y,,,, ,.x,,e,.i ,,, ,„,,„|, 
 Avater from at a .suHieienL ..ievalio,, V-A. lu n.anv h.ealKie ' i t 
 
 nn/iX';>.T •/'"'" ""■,:^'"""r •" "'^ fi'-l<i-- ■"■<l.e southern pa is 
 sinH ' P 'l-'"<>t>(,os of water are (o he found in son.e loe.lKios 
 •iLi o'li : ^^''«'-^<''." «1<>I'« -f thoun.lerelavisfavoural.lean' 
 
 a mt^softhewaterpere.,latini;lhr,.„-.hf,,,,n salt lakes and marsh"' 
 l.nt this .s a matter of, u-.olo,i:y. and eareful attenlio,, wouhl have to bo 
 ,^.ven to he geological structure of the local .lintricts. I v d 1 o i 
 matter of scienhtic observation to ascer.am whether tic cluu ute , Hho 
 slopes jndicated a sufficiently large supply of water. 1, -Iocs o ll ,1 
 ;u\S Te"l^''''' the surface n>ay be! l>nt what .he slope is ,elo ^l o 
 s uface. We have an illustration of what 1 have just sta ed in southern 
 ntano On tne ^an-ly slope fVoni near IngerM.iV , low to alric 
 the water pereolateH along the hard-pan an.l i's so abun la nt' 
 
 n one place J found that the simj.le expedient of placing a I'ew yard ' .' f' 
 .le down on the hard-pan. an<l transversely to the slope of the ha n 
 and connecting tins intercepting tile with the surface/resulted i a ' 
 clants reams of water. By methods the Hume in pri.eiple there niy be 
 ound large quantities of water in manv locali.ici in he Wl West 
 vh.ch o ten can be cheaply turned to account for in^igation Tl e e t 
 nuch of the country, however, that cannot, bv any of' the mean lev 
 to be resorted to withii, a ceniury. be profitably irrigated ^ 
 
 Bif Mr. Darin : 
 
 tion"^ ' ""^^r^t'"f y"" !" -^ay that what the Xorth-West needs is irrign- 
 It \7C "* ■ ''"^. '^ " '' "'•■'*'^''' '"1' f*'« .1,'t'ological department f. v - 
 
 what the pro8,u.cts in any particular dist rk-t are ofgett m' w , ! ThJ. 
 are por ions that will need irrigation, for the averi'^re rain n s me 
 
 ( MnH 1 1 ' ' ^■''*""^' '■"' "^ ""^ iH.iinious effect of swarape The 
 wlftVi'^''' ,''';!"'• '^* ''" peculiarly subject to frosts. ow"g to the 
 wetness of the soil. Owing to the fcatu'ies of' much ..f the cou try "hire 
 are grave difficulties in the way of a practical solution of tin' at\er 
 . The ,,opo.als which 1 wish to make in regard tr. a climatic lui-Vey 
 
 A Clinialic Survey of the Dominion, with the special view to -.sccr 
 
 tanung the agneultural capabilities of, he cliniate.^\3achH.alit^^S 
 srvey to take into account the average temperature 1 erowin 
 ■season, the average length of time Ictween the last Hllin -'"f V ^^ 
 si.nng and th.. first of autumn, the ave;a;.;a;;d e S epU Si ^oM o[ 
 
 veT 'r ";'7"«^: '-'^'"^'^ll '"'-' -'^1' other conditions of' , 1^ : ,na e t 
 Jia\e a direct bearing on agriculture ""laie ,ks 
 
 arai>nj, ilm.iu,,,,, u., lo 1,11 ilop',»,„l Inm, railu-aj- a,„l ,„i„,,. s„n-,n-.. 
 
I'UdKKSSdU .1. (JORIHIN MuWAl', 
 
 19 
 
 (2.) A^fDrtaiiiMii'iit ol' corroHpoiidoiicc between local (^linuitOH in 
 Ctiniida, anil local climatos on the continent, with u view to iiiscertaininif 
 how tin- vc;;t'tal)les of the old world can ho cultivated in corresponding 
 cliinutes in the Dominion. 
 
 Material. — Luru:e aecuniiiliition of data furnished hy the meteoro- 
 lo'Mcal services and societies of I'^urope in regard to Siheiia, Russia, 
 Hnn^arv, (lerniany, Kranco and Britain, ami liiand in the form of rejjorts, 
 abstriictsjonrnals' c*tc., in tho meteorological ottices jit Toronto; agri- 
 cultural repoils of governmenl< and societies in Kurope, forestry roportH, 
 corresponilence t(» he had. 
 
 With respect to this 1 wish tocali your attention to an important con- 
 sideration: The tVuil trees which make up our orcluirds and with which 
 fruit growers have long heen experimenting, are nearly all introduced 
 from The old world and are derived from varieties thathiive been gi'own 
 for bund red, ■> of years in western lOurope where the winters are niild. 
 Therefore, they a)'e not the best titted to endure the severe winters of the 
 more nort'b-eastern jiarts of America. The vine of the west of Europe 
 is more tender than the ordinary (Vuil trees with legard to winter, und 
 in eastern .Vnu'rica can be eullivatcd not mu(di further north than the 
 Ohio river. The winter climales further north are generally too cold for 
 it. As we proceed eastward, in Kurope, we tind the conditions to 
 apiuoaeh those of this continent in Houmania and along the Dainibe 
 the climate is decidedly eidder in winter. IJiudiarest ditl'ors but little 
 from Toronto in the teinperature of either summer or winter. Moscow 
 is colder in winter than (iu(diec, and St. Petersburg, is about as cold as 
 at Ottawa. The winter climate beyond Xijni Xovgorotl approaches the 
 winter . limate of Winnijx'g. In'those parts, for hundreds of years, 
 hardier varieties of fruits have been grown than in western Kiirope. 
 They have simply become habituated to the climate. It is, therefore, 
 to eastern Europe, from the Danidjcto the Baltic iind eastward to the Urals 
 ami beyond, that we must look for new varieties of fruit to introduce into 
 Canada. Hungary and Austria and eastern (iermany as well as Russia can 
 furnishveiydesirableforinsof vegetation for Canada. Theniore this matter 
 is explored with a view to ascertaining the climate in which these fruits 
 are grown — the length of the frostless season and the cold of winter, and 
 the niean temiieratuie of tho growing season— the more likely are we to 
 make our experimental work etiicient and economical. By investigating 
 those climatic conditions wecan reach many results at once, or in live to ten 
 years, that would otherwise take twenty to thirty years. As it is now we can 
 only slowly learn the climatic capacities of particular districts. Russia 
 has spent "money liberally in arriving at a knowledge of her own climate 
 and mapping some of tiie conclusions leached. The Austro-Hungarian 
 fJovernment'" ha> done the same thing, (rerniany has abundance of 
 ineterological diita. 
 
 Sul)sidiarv to these general lines of investigation are the following: — 
 
 (a) Investigation of the ot the |,eculiaritics an.l ditVerences of the local 
 climates of the fruit districts of Ontario, with a view to economy in and 
 better direction of elVoil and expenditure in fruit n'rowing and expei'i- 
 Iiienting with varieties of fruit and vegetable.-. 
 
 (b) 1 nvestiuat ion ofthepeculiaritiesandditVerencesot tin' local climates 
 of the fruit districts of .\ova Scotia. 
 
 Cc) rnveslii;ation of the iteculiarities and dillerenees of the local cli- 
 mates ofthelVuit districts of liritish Columbia, with sjKTial attention M 
 the great dilVerenccs existinu' east of the Cascade mountains. 
 
 (d) Investigation e ])eculiarities ol Climate in .\lberta. 
 
 Siilisidiary 
 liiisi' lines tor 
 a rcirri'i-t I'li- 
 iiiatic miip- 
 piiij; (if tile 
 Ddiiiiiiidu (if 
 Ciiiiiuli*. 
 
20 
 
 CMMATOl.nOV Oi' r.VNAliA IN UELATln.V To A(llUi'i;i,TiraE. 
 
 (('.) Iiivi'rtti^fntioii ot'llic |itH'iiliiiri(ioM n|' cliniiilc in (^iioU'c, (.'Hpcoiiilly 
 tin- La ko St. .lohii contilrv iiiid iiiliiinl region nnrlh-oiiHtwiiKl towaiclH 
 rjiihrador. 
 
 (/) liivostif^atioii of iho pi'ciiliuritics of'cliiualc iuid (il'tlii' local a^i'i- 
 c'liltiii'al (•:ii)aeity ot'tlio Mackcii/.ic liivi-r (•oiinlry. 
 
 (y) liivo.sliifation of the peculiarities ot climate ol the iiortlioi'ii half 
 ol the Hudso > Bay Railway route. 
 
 (A) liivchtiH-iiiioii ot' the peculiai ilies of cliniate of .VortluMii Ontario 
 and (Jueliec, heyond the heii^'ht of land. 
 
 (;') liivcstiifation of tlu' peculiarities of tho peach climates ot Ontario 
 and British v'olumhia. 
 
 (A) Investii;ation of the apple climates of (!anada and Ifiissia. 
 
 (0 Invc-tii!;ation of tho vinc-i,'ro\viiin' climates of Canada, Miiropc and 
 tho United .Slates. 
 
 (;/() InvoKtin'ation of northern climates of Canada adapted to i^iowing 
 striiwboiries and other cultivated small fruits. 
 
 (n) Investii^ation ot the northern Cansidian climates, with special 
 re^^ard to Ihcir fitness for u'rowiiiLi^ oats, harlc}', potatoes, ami such other 
 voj^etals as nuyht support any agricultural settlements, formed t(» snp- 
 ])ly local mininjf and other industries. 
 
 (o) Investiifation into the ettects of swamps on local climate. 
 
 (p) Investigation into the effect oi' the lakes — especially small lakes—. 
 of Kaslein and Northern Canada on the lengthening of the frostless 
 season on their eastern and southern horders. and of thus permitting the 
 cultivation of fruits, grains and other vegetals heyond their general 
 northern limit. 
 
 ((/) Investigation into I he etfects of mountain ranges and vallej's on 
 the local climates and agricultural capabilities of tlu* interior of British 
 Columbia and of Alberta. 
 
 (r) Investigation (it'deemed prudent) of the best means of remedying 
 the aridity of portions of the Xorth-West. 
 
 (s) Investigation into the relation between periods of drought and 
 extreme weather depressing to the vitality of fruit trees and tho 
 pi'evalence of parasitic diseases of fruit which follows isuch (lej)resBing 
 weather, with a view to promptly counteracting and mitigating the 
 etfects that may be feared at any time in any district subjected to such 
 weather. 
 
 (t) Investigation into the utility of smudge fii'es in pr(u-cnting tho 
 destruction of fruit blossoms in spring and of prolonging the gardening 
 season in autumn. 
 
 (w) Investigation into the ditterenees of valley, hill-sido and plateau 
 climates. 
 
 (v) Investigation into the climatic conditions of parts of Kastern 
 "Rui'ope, where more hardy vaiieties of fruit are grown than those 
 familial' to America. 
 
 (w) Investigation of the climatic conditions of the Saale, Austrian 
 ftnd other Huropean districts noted for the ([ualily of the two-rowe<l 
 barley they ])roducc, with a view of demonstrating whtaher or not ( 'anada 
 iitlords barley climates conesponding in essential respects, and of aiiling 
 in the selection of the varieties of that grain best adapted to our variouH 
 barley climates. 
 
 (.1') Comparison, when desired, of a current i^-eason in any locality 
 with the normal season of such locality, with a view to aiding in eorre(^t 
 ileductions from results reported to tiie Department of AgricuUuro Uy 
 farmers wht> had iiet'ii tnaking e.Kperinienlrt. 
 
l'KUI-'KHSi»ll J. Ut>Rl» IN Mi>W.\|'. 
 
 21 
 
 (.'!) Articles in Brilisli a<,rri(Miltiiriil JoiiiiialH on (/'anadiiin fiuit ami 
 otliiT unriciiltural iiidiiHfrios ui»l dihlricts, with a view to attmctinL.'' tlio 
 immiiiialion of liiitish farmers, 'riicst^ artidt:- to I'rnlxxiv, wImmt 
 «k)sirai)lc, appropriate coinpai'isons iiotwccn iMiropoan and Canadian 
 local clirnaU's. 
 
 (4). Addrosses lo lannorH' inHliiutcH and tViiil f^roworn' tnec^tinf^is on 
 till) Hiibjoct niuttiM- oC sonio of tlio special lines of on(|niry indicalcil 
 above. 
 
 ("»). Scrutiny of prices eiirreni and domandH of the (Viiit business 
 abroad, with a view to tlic extension of the Canadian exportof f'-iiit, 
 and thi^ openinj; of new markets. 
 
 (<)). Special repoi'ts for the guidance of tbe (lovernnient in i'c;L;ard lo 
 lanil i^rants to ijiilway.s or other enterprises in parts of the Dominion 
 where the aifi'iciiltural and limber I'esonrecH are not well known. 
 
 .N[oHt of the ohjcetH of the work proposed are obvious and require no 
 mention. 
 
 The investigation jtroposed will load lo greater etl'eetivenesK in the SuiniMuiy 
 experimental work of the Deparlnu'nt ot Aurieulture and to economy in i'ii.l"'>ti'i>t . 
 tlie ilirection of widely oxteniled experiments ; to earlier and more trust- t^'i'^j!',",!,]' '!^*^^^\ 
 worthy conclusions from tlie experiments made by farmers for one or cihiiiik rcial 
 more seasons as tlu^e seasons may differ in esseniiai respects from the i'i'«'i'''^'. f'';.'i>i 
 
 1 he work would n'reatly aid in the proHlabie extension and conduct Hurvi •>. 
 of fruit irrowin^i;, and, throuifh accurate map)>injir of the peculiar ditt'or- 
 ences of climate in the fruit n'rowinn' districts, ii;reully faeililato thetest- 
 ini; of varieties and ineroase the valuer of experiments with them; it 
 would also save much money throunh enabling- the department to better 
 utilize piivute exjieriment and experience with varieties grown in par- 
 ticular climates, and to avoid, by allowing experimental work to be con- 
 fine<l mainly to methods of culture, much of the outlay on experimental 
 fruit farms which may be established and which have been demanded by 
 fruit gi'owers. The investigation into the climatic conditionsot the best 
 two-rowed barley districts in Hurope and the ascertainmeut of the dis- 
 tricts in Canada where conditions exist similiar in evervlhing that re- 
 lates to the growth of this grain would g;eatly encourage the develop- 
 ment of an exjiort trade in barley and at once remove the serious doubt 
 8o often expressed on grounds of climatic unsuitableness as to the success 
 of the Government's attemjtt to encouiage the growth of two-rowed 
 barley. 
 
 Jt is of the utmost importance to our farmers and to the commerce of 
 the country that we should ascertain whether we have, districts highly 
 adaj)le(l foi- two-rowed barley. It seems probable from climatic consider- 
 ations that in eastern Canada, a part of New Brunswick, for example, 
 att'ords a climate very suitable foi' it and a section, too, of southern Quebec 
 and the northern pait of the peninsula ot Ontario. It is important to 
 ascertain whether in these and other parts of the Dominion we may look 
 for success in this direction. 
 
 Tbe investigation woul<l tbi'ow valuable light on the question of the 
 culture of old world trees in the North-West, and facilitate and give 
 J)etter direction to experiments with fruits introduced or wliiidi may be 
 introduced from the colder parts of the old worltl. The investigation, 
 there is strong leason to believe, would show that some of tbe iidand 
 valleys of iiritish Columbia possess remarkable climaiic capability for 
 fruit growing. The en((uiry suggested into the agricultural capacity of 
 the Mackenzie IJivei- Hasin would, at tritling cost, do something to 
 natisty till' ilem:ind for an explonitinn of that ri'M'iiui and would n|it;ii!! in 
 this [tarticular respect I'esulls much more trustworthy than could be 
 
CLIMATnl.iiQV lU' CANAKA IN ItKI.AI'h'N I'd AilllirinTIRK. 
 
 i)l»tiiiiieil liy iIh' o\|)lni;i(iMii a^kcil tcir, 'I'lic iiivivilii^alioii into llio 
 clini.'ilic «'a|>:ic'ily of tlic .Miirki'ii/ic K'ivt'i' I'c^'iun, tlic cdiMilry hctwtu'ri 
 fiiiUc \Viimi|K)^ iuul lliiilsdii hiiy Jirul llic ((tiiiilry alnnn- ami ln^ynml llio 
 lioiiflil oflaml from llif valU^y of the Mooso to llaiiiilton liilft wmild bo 
 of wM'viri' to tlic (lovfrnmi'ht by ciialiliiiii- llii'iii lo lictk^r inoasiirti tint 
 ufjriniltiiral ri'xmrcos of tlu'so r(';:ioii-^ and tliorcfoic svoiiM aid in lliisir 
 dtH-ision UH to railway iMilt)ri)ris(*> projoclod or lo lie projoctod in thoso 
 ifU'ioiis and thus lio coiidinivi' to ocononiy. Tim (diinalio siirvt'y 
 jn'oposcd witli iMiropi'aii foniparisoiiK would show many Jocalitii'H iii 
 Xova Scotia, t^iu'licc, Ontario and Mrilisli Colnniliia to possess capaliiiitiiis 
 tor fruit culture hillii'rto scari'i'ly su-pcctcd. Amoniist ollici' tliin^'H, tlio 
 survey would lie would bo liUtdy lo iloinonstrato that about l>,((0() sipiiiri) 
 miles in Ontario besides a considerable aerean'c in ibe iiiterioi'of l$riti>b 
 ('oluinbia as well as near tlu^ coast, is adapted to llie cullivatioii of ome 
 variety or other of Ibe pea(di. and that a very lart,'e portion of Ontarii.- 
 is equal to any other po."lion of America and superior to the ( )bio Valley 
 and to mueli of the wine ^"rowinii portion of l']uro|)e for the oxten-iv» 
 prosecution of some iinpoi'tanl branches ot viticulture. 
 
 Conjoined with re>ults obtained in tbissurvey articles on Canadian friiif 
 and other aifiieiiltural industries in Mritish Ai,'rieultural .Journals would 
 prove a most potent and at the same time almo.st costless means of 
 attractiiii^' to Canada British and other farmers of wealth and intclliu'enco 
 
 The survey would in those new sections where local topon-rapby 
 exercises a eontrolliiii;- inlliieiKU' on ai^'ricnltiircv prevent waste of (^llort 
 and with it disiippointment. and wouhl yivir a more intelliifcni direction 
 lo the affriciiltural occupation of ibe lan<l, 
 
 " Bij Mr. Arinstroiuj: 
 
 Q. How many would you rc(iuire to underlake all Hii-' Work— -hnvr 
 many hands in tlu' various portions of the hoiniiiioii? I am under the 
 impression that you rocommcnd a bureau to be tornied for this purpose? 
 — A. Oh, no. I (lo not wish to i,nve so formidable an idea of the enterprise 
 as that. The meteoroloijical data to be used has nearly all been fur- 
 nished already by the ineteoi(iloi;-ical service. The printed abstracts of the 
 service do not, however, ijivo all that is needed from the records for the 
 service of a_i,n'iculture. The manuscripts would have to be studied 
 carefully. One man can do the whole work. More or loss mappinuj 
 would be required. In this the isothermal lines shoiUd not be drawn 
 witli the free hand genei idly used for the ])urpose ; tlie isotlicrmals should 
 curve and twist with the conti<j,uration of each district so as to show 
 where possible, tlie "fradations of climate in detail. The maps should 
 show the number of days between the last frcsi "f sj)rini;- ai\d the first 
 frost of autumn (a very importani mailer, in the sjn-wlh of fr'dt Mnd 
 cereals) and the measure of ordinary and odasional e.\ i'eines of cold. . 
 
 /if/ Mr. Walsh : 
 
 is at bam! 
 
IMUtKEHSOli .1. (iiilliMiN AIOWAT. 
 
 23 
 
 Ihj Mr. Trow : 
 
 Q. Ill I'ullowiii^ up tll(>^e I'opurtN (idih viirioiis MourccH, do you 
 tliiiik l!i;it tlicy iiro all rolialilo?- A. V»uy noiiily till (.!' llit'iii. Tlio 
 C'aimiliaii iiu'ti'oroloi,Mr!il Hi'i'vifo i'- vny carofiil ari'ii acciiiatt). IiiHtni. 
 midits of'c'ouivo ul'e rarely porCi'd. Intt errors on the iiiHtriiineiits are 
 known liy coiiiiuirison witli a hlaiidanl, ami applied to the observalion. 
 The instiiinieiils are exposed lo the air oii a imiforiii HyHtein, ho that 
 iesiilt> iiiay he I'oiiipared faiily. Thoro are oeea.Hionally statioiiM peciiU 
 arily Hitiialed, hill the local iiilliieiiee eaii hu easily measured approxi 
 iiialoly and allowed tor. Nearly all the reeords are tlioroii;,'hly 
 Iriislwoilhy. (ireat care has heci\ shown hy Mr. Carpnieal and his htafV 
 ill tlu^ work that they have done. 
 
 ii. With roforeiico to those porlions of our Dominion — Puleo Island 
 ana around liake Ontario — their ;feiieral charaelor ailmits ot' close in- 
 vestJLcalion. Those western sections ol our country that have not been 
 I'lilly ex|ilored, will it not require some f'urthor search hof'ore data could 
 he eonipiied ? — A. For a considerable helt of territory in tlie North-WesI 
 there are records that ci)uld he made the basis of fairly close ajiproxi- 
 mation to accurary in (jctaii. For the .southern part <.f Hritisii Coliim^ 
 i»ia, south of the latitude of the Thompson Uivur, the records admit oC the 
 drawiiiff ()f valuable conclusions <j:oiierally, as well as here and there of 
 detailed indication of the diffiM ciiees of climate in important districts. As 
 the observations of the inelcoroloniciil service becomes more extendevl 
 in the rcmoto parts of the country, relative approximations could i;'ive 
 way to the detailed mapjiiiig that some of our older districts admit of. 
 Topoi;-rapliicaI considerations would have, of course, to be ajijilied to sup- 
 plemeni iiieteorolo/i'ical records. In most of our iri'eat fruit i;-rowini,' 
 districts, a close mappiiio- of the dillerences ol climate is |)racticablelrom 
 the material accumulated. The Fruit (irowers' Association, especially 
 the association of Ontario, has' been laboiiriiii;- with yreat ditliculty in 
 the admirable work of testin;.'' varieties, ihroiijrli jack of detinito iiifor. 
 niation in re^'ard to ditfercnccs and pecularities of local climate. Their 
 work woiil d be yreatly faciiitaleii — in fact, stimulus would be ^'iven to 
 it — if Hindi conditiniiH as the cold of winter, the leiijj;tli of the frostlesH 
 
 season, and the isot hernials of the 
 
 I'owiiiff season were detinitcly ascer- 
 
 tained riiid indicated. The advaiilaife this \\N)iild briny in determining 
 the varieties of fruits best adapleil to local climate, is obvious. 
 
 Q. How about testing new varieties ? — A I refer to those common in 
 America and those recently introduced from the old world. It takes 
 time to test a newly originated variety. You do not know the sensitivi- 
 ness <if a new variety to the extreme f'rosin such as occur jierhaps onlj' 
 once in ten years; but with respect to Fiiropean varieties introduced, we 
 have Himply to compare the I'^iii'opean (dimate with our own. 
 
 Q. Would not the soil have an influence? — A. Yes, to a large extent. 
 The soil in which fruit, or even a variety siicceeils best is generally well 
 known. Tills atl'ects (diietly (piality ami quantity. 
 
 (^. You tliink it would not have so much to do with the soil as the 
 climate? — A. No; the (dimate is the chief consideration. Whether you 
 can grow a thing at all or not, on any soil in any iiarticular iocarity, 
 deiiends on the (dimate. It' Hie (dimate permits ot successful ciillivation, 
 of course a cultivator will choose the best soil. 
 
 Having read the preceding transcript of my evidence, I liiid it cor 
 rect. 
 
 J. GORDOiN MO WAT, 
 
 Climatoloyist.