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 CANADA COMPANY’S OFFICE, 
 
 Frederick Street, Toronto, 5th June, 1843. 
 
 THE CANADA COMPANY 
 
 bnfi ,29lfit2 
 
 Having had numerous enquiries from various parts of British North America, and 
 especially from the United States, upon Canada West, (late Upper Canada,), by 
 Settlers, who are anxious to migrate to this section of the Province, have been 
 induced to arrange those questions, with the respective answers, and to print them 
 in a form for general circulation; believing, that as the data is furnished by 
 intelligent and experienced gentlemen, who have readily contributed their assistance, 
 the information herein given, in a succinct form, will prove very useful and interesting 
 to those individuals who may contemplate moving into Canada West. 
 
 .noiinyJJii iomjm Ihv/ 11002 Ji JctlJ tduob slJli! fci eisril ihmodibi .nv/oru 
 
 Query No. 1. — Situation of the Company's Lands, particularly as to Roads, ‘NatoigMlb 
 Waters, 8yc. ? 
 
 Answer, — The Company have Lands in almost every part of Canada West; they consist of scattered Lots of 200 
 acres each, and of blocks : The principal block, of about 1,000,000 acres, is the Huron District, situated on Lake 
 Huron, with a lake frontage of sixty miles, intersected by two grand leading roads, on which mo^e. pains and labour 
 have been bestowed, than on any other roads of the same extent and magnitude in the Province. (See account of the 
 IJuvcm, District, gjiyqn in, “A Statement of .the. Satisfactory Results vvhich have attended Emigration to Upper Canada,” 
 published by Smith & Co., No.. 65, Cornhill, London, 1842. See, also, the separate memorandum upon that District, 
 and the Company’s prospectus for this year, (1844,) which may be had at their Offices.); The other blocks, of from 
 3000 to 9000 acres, lie in the Western District, and are in most cases within six to eight miles of navigable water. The 
 roads in the Western District, owing^ to the proximity of navigable waters, have not hitherto been so closely attended 
 to as ih many- other parts of the Province; excellent plank roads, however, are now in actual progress. ThW^aitt^ia 
 lots contain from 80 to *200 acres each, and are to be met with in almost every Township in the Province, and generally 
 surrounded by settlements. 
 
 lo eioY n a /. A 
 
 Query No. 2. — Price, per Acre, of the Company's Lands ? 
 
 nteiCI 
 
 Answer. — The prices of the Company’s lands vary considerably, but the following may be considered as near the 
 
 average, iil the several portions of the Province: 
 
 ( g9bisq2 ;.*0I V £ o) N3. grauboiq vh dghf8 tisane 1 ; bOI .&£ oJ Ay .?.r r gaooii ,.<w 
 
 Huron District ? . . .V?. 11 3 a 
 
 Western District ........... v ). « * .< . . ; 89 a 
 
 London, Brock, and Talbot Districts 12 6 a 
 
 Gore District 11 3 a 
 
 Wellington District • • /. . . . ,1* 11 3 a 
 
 Home and Simcoe Districts . i 4 1 > 8 9 a 
 
 Newcastle, Colborne, Midland, and Victoria Districts 8 9 a 
 
 Johnstown District .......... 2 0 a 
 
 Bathurst, Eastern, Ottawa, and Dalhousie Districts 2 0 a 
 
 i 3 l 
 
 15 0 Currency;- per acre. 
 
 12 
 
 17 
 
 17 
 
 25 
 
 17 
 
 15 
 
 15 
 
 12 
 
 
 •“I* 
 
 .44*. 
 
 Some few lots in each District may be higher in price than the above quotations. 
 
 Query No. 3. — The Price of Clearing Wild Lands, and how Cleared ? 
 
 Answer. — The clearing of wild land is always to be understpod as clearing, fencing, and leaving repdy for a crop, r jr^ 
 ten acre fields, the stumps find roots of the trees alone being left to encumber the operations of the farmer. The price 
 varies greatly according to circumstances, but may be quoted as $ 10, or £2 10s. currency, in moderately timbered land 
 in old settlements, and increasing according to remoteness of the settlement to £3 — and even to £ 4 10s. per acre: The 
 payment at these prices is always understood to be made in cash, except a special written bargain to the contrary is 
 entered into. The plain lands being very thinly timbered, cost less for clearing, but require a more expensive mode 
 of tillage; although plain farmers, or those farmers who improve upon that system, generally get a return for their 
 labour in a much shorter time. Plains are generally sandy, and yield regular*. average and certain .i crops, without 
 reference k> the seasons, it requires a larger capital to commence operations on plain, than on timbered lands. ’ 
 
Query No. 4 . — General Rotation of Crops, and Mode of putting them into the Ground? 
 
 Answer. — As Wheat (the boast of Canada) succeeds best on a new fallow, (newly cleared and burnt land being so 
 called,) it is always the first crop. Farmers with capital, seed the fallow down with grasses, and wait five or six years, 
 but the farmer with limited means puts the land into crop the next jear, either with potatoes or Spring grain; then 
 follows wheat again, every alternate year, until he has power to clear enough new land for his wheat crop each year, — 
 when the old land is laid down in meadow, and otherwise cropped, without much attention to the usual general rules of 
 good farming, until the stumps rot sufficiently to admit of the free use of the plough. The best English and Scotch 
 <MnWefs* then adopt thd ctistoriiary three or four field system, or otherwise Wheat and Winter and Summer fallow, each 
 alternate year : The first crops are always put in with the harrow alone. It is, however, almost impossible to speak 
 positively in reply to this question, as it seems to be quite a matter of convenience, or perhaps caprice, as to the manner 
 in which the estivation* shall proceed. W,e have farmers from all parts of Great Britain;, Europe, and the United 
 States, and eagh person assimilates his .practice, as much as possible, to the customs to which he has been used— or 
 thinks best for the country. 
 
 Query No. 5 .— Produce of Crops in average years, per Acre? 
 
 Answ^Rj— The produce, per acre, of all crops, varies much from year to { y ear in Qanada, owing to ffie late and 
 early frosts. It is, however; generally considered that the following is a fair average of ten years Wheat, 25 bushels; 
 Barley, 1 50 bushels; Oats, 40 bushels; Rye, 30 bushels; Potatoes, 250 bushels per Acre.’— Swedish Turnips, Mangel 
 Wurtzel, and other roots of a similar kind, are not generally sufficiently cultivated to enable an average< yield to be 
 given, but it may very safely be said that, with similar care, culture, and attention, the produce will not be less per 
 acre tftan^n England. I*lax is sometimes cultivated on a small scale for the seed, but although many parts of the 
 Province are especially well adapted for its extensive and profitable production, little of either Flax or Hemp is yet 
 grown, although there is little doubt that it soon will attract attention. 
 
 Query No. 6. Cost of the usual and necessary Farm Buildings and Furniture? 
 
 Answer. — A comfortable Log House, 16 feet by 24, two floors, with shingled roof, £ 9 ; Log Barn, 24 by 40 feet, £ 10 ; 
 Frame House, of same dimensions, £50; Do. Barn, £70; suitable Sheds, &c., £20. Tables, 10s. to 17s. 6d.; Stump 
 Bedsteads, 15s. to 20s. each ; Chairs, per dozen, £l 5s.; Boilers, Saucepans, Kettles, Knives and Forks, &c. &c., about 
 50 per ceht. ov'Or the usual Sterling retail prices in England. It must be borne in mind that the Settler very seldom 
 spends Moitey in erecting his buildings, they being generally built by himself, with the assistance of his neighbours, 
 and added to as his wants and increasing prosperity may from time to time require. The cost of Household Furniture, 
 or mther the quantity required, varies with the ideas of almost every family. In most cases, the Household Furniture 
 of a new settler will not be found to exceed in value £ 10 ; sometimes not half that sum, and is often altogether 
 rr,olt • manufa<Hfrred by ! the Settlor himself. 
 
 b oa i l n 
 
 Queries No. 7 & 8 .— Prices of various kinds of Farm Live Stock? Do. of Dead Stock? 
 iOhumj 1 m. Do. of Clothing? Do. of Provisions? 
 
 Answer. — Yoke of Oxen, £l0to£l2 10s.; Cows, £2 10s. to £3; Farm Horses, each, £l0to£l5, lower in some 
 Districts; this kind of property has fallen in value one-third Within the last (wo yeafs. Sheep, 10s. to 20s. each. 
 
 Waggon, £15 to £20; double, Harness, £6 to £7 10s.; common Saddle and Bridle, £3 15s.; a pair of Drags, 
 £ 1 10s.; Ploughs, £ 1 15s.; Winnowing Machines, £6 to £6 15$,; Pails, 2s.; Sacks for grain, Is. 3 d. to Is, 6d. each ; 
 American Scyth?, 4s.; £leap Hooks, Is. 9d. to 2s. 10 d.; Farmers’ Sleigh for produce, £7 to £7 10s. ; Spades, 3s. 9d . ; 
 Bedding Feathers, Is. 1 per lb.; Wool, Is. 2d. per lb.; Hay, £2 10s. per ton ; Oats, Is. per bushel. 
 
 Clothing, 50 per cent, addition on old country prices ; Crockery and common Cutlery of all kinds, very cheap. 
 
 Provisions.— Pork, 15s. to 20s. per 100 lbs.; Flour, £l per barrel of 196 lbs.; Cheese, £l 10s. per cvvt.; Butter, 
 £2 16s. per cvvt. ; Whisky, is. to Is. 3d. per gallon; Beef, £ 1 to £l 5s. per cwt., sometimes lower; Oatmeal, 7s. per cwt. 
 
 The average of the prices of Wheat at Toronto, per bushel of 60 lb., from the year 1832 to 1843, is here given, as the 
 most approximate scale ruling those of other parts of Canada West:-*— 
 
 Years. 
 
 1832 
 
 1833 . ......... 
 
 s. 
 
 4 
 
 d. 
 
 •6 
 
 Years. 
 
 1836 
 
 s. 
 
 .. ! 5 
 
 d. 
 
 o 
 
 Years. 
 
 1840 
 
 s. 
 
 ; t 4 
 
 d. 
 
 ni 
 
 4 
 
 ■ 2 M 
 
 1837 
 
 8 
 
 0 
 
 1841 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 1834 
 
 
 4 
 
 1838 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 1842 
 
 1843 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 1835 Wi Y,:>- 
 
 3 
 
 ■'9,.. 
 
 1839 
 
 •VV 
 
 0 
 
 first 5 months 3 
 
 Query No. 9. — Time when the Frost puts an end to Farming Operations, and when it leaves 
 the Ground? 
 
 Answer. — The time of the setting in of the Frost, and of its departure, varies in Canada extremely in different years. 
 But no prudent man ought to calculate on being able to do any thing in the open field after the first of November, or before 
 the first day of April. Fodder must be provided for Cattle sufficient to last till the middle of May, as although a surplus 
 may be left from the early setting in of the Spring, yet cases have been known (and the present remarkable year in the 
 United States and Canada amongst the number) of great distress prevailing from want of proper attention on this head. 
 
8 
 
 Query No. IQ.—Farniers Avocations during JV inter ? 
 
 Answer.— The new Settler's avocations dnribg the Winter Months are generally confined to taking care of his cattle and 
 chopping, — that is, felling and cutting up the trees ready for burning in the Spring. The underbrush must be cleared off 
 before the snow falls. The family, when industrious, find their time fully employed in spinning and other female occu- 
 pations ; and, when it is considered that almost every article of convenience or luxury must be made at home or be dispensed 
 with, it may easily be imagined that the duties of a Farmer's Wife and grown-up Daughters are numerous and unceasing, — 
 for in proportion with their industry and abilities will be their domestic comfort and happiness. In the Summer, from the 
 scarcity of labour, all assist in the fields —the child of even five years old being usefully and healthily employed in some 
 occupation befitting his age and strength.. Ampngst too many Canadian Farmers, however, the Winter is a season of idleness 
 and enjoyment, a great portion of it being spent in amusement and visiting, to the manifest neglect of their farms and 
 impoverishment of themselves gnd families. 
 
 Query No. 11 . — What description of Fruits and Garden Produce does Canada afford ? 
 
 Answer. — All the Fruits generally found in England thrive remarkably well in Canada— but the Plum, Apple, Strawberry, 
 Raspberry, and Melon, attain a luxuriance of growth and perfection unknown in England. The Melon planted in the opfcn 
 ground in most years produces excellent crops. In many places Vines prosper well. Peaches are indigenous South of the 
 parallel of 43°, or if not absolutely indigenous, grow rapidly from the stone and bear fruit within a few years, although 
 good and rich flavoured Grapes and Peaches are seldom met with owing to their culture being neglected. The same 
 observations apply to all Garden produce, which will attain a degree of luxuriance unknown perhaps in Britain, with far 
 less care and culture. () , > J; - K ;; n i mid asdsf h doidw omil sdt ni loall In 
 
 Query No, 12. — Wages of Male and Female Servants, and Prices of Job Work, such as 
 Carpenters and other Tradesmen ? 
 
 Answer.— Farm Servants per month, with Board, £2 ; Ditto, without Board, £3. Female Servants, £l per Month, 
 with Board. Day Labourers, 3s. 9d. without Board. The Wages of Carpenters and other Tradesmen vary considerably 
 according to the ability of the workman — they all range, however, between 5s. and 10s. per day, taking these as the lowest 
 and highest prices. 
 
 (. * q ? r e *• ....... noilmmll ot Ifjo'iJnnF/. movl 
 
 Query No. 13>- Taxes payable by the Settlers ? 
 
 Answer.— Great alterations have lately been made in the Laws relating to Assessments — the whole power being now 
 vested in the several District Councils, to impose what Taxes they please, up to a certain limited sum in the Pound, on the 
 valuation of property. Each District elects its own Council, and may therefore be said to Tax itself. All the Taxes raised 
 by the Council are expended within the District. Alterations are expected to be made in the District Council Act during 
 the coming Session of the Legislature ; it is perhaps useless to go into particulars— but all the Taxes taken together are 
 extremely trifling, and to an old countryman or person from the United States, will scarcely be felt, being only 1 |d. in the 
 £l, upon assessed property. 
 
 Query No. 14 . — Public Offices liable to be served by Settlers ? 
 
 Answer.*— Every Householder is liable to serve, in the Township where he resides, the following Offices, viz:— Pound 
 Keeper, Fence Viewer, Road Master, Township Clerk, Assessor, Collector, and School Commissioner. The Statute requires 
 District Councillors to possess Freehold Property of the value of £300 ; Members of Parliament to the value of £800. 
 Freeholders only are eligible to vote for Members of the Provincial Parliament. 
 
 Query No. 15.— Places of Religious Worship and Schools ? 
 
 Answer. — Places of Religious Worship are numerous throughout Canada. Some idea may be formed of this, by stating 
 the fact, that, in the Town of Guelph there are seven Churches and Chapels; in Chatham, W. D., four Churches: both 
 these places are comparatively new settlements. As to Schools — in Tj'owns and well-settled localities, Education is cheap 
 in the extreme, and good. In the country and new settlements, so good a selection cannot be made, but there are few parts 
 of Canada where a man can be at a loss to give his children a decent English Education at a very cheap rate. In the new 
 District of Huron, there are twenty-five places of religious worship, and numerous schools. 
 
 Query No. 16 . — Climate of Canada West, and the Highest and Lowest Temperature ? 
 
 Answer. — It is impossible better to answer this question, thap by referring to the Government Meteorological Observations, 
 made at Toronto, for the years 1841 and 1842, from which the following Mean is taken : 
 
 Mean degree of 
 
 
 Jan'. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Mar. 
 
 April. 
 
 May. 
 
 June. 
 
 July. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 
 Temperature, by 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The parts of 
 a Degree are 
 
 Farenheit’s 
 
 Thermometer. 
 
 1841. 
 
 24° 
 
 23° 
 
 31° 
 
 42° 
 
 57° 
 
 69 p 
 
 64° 
 
 65° 
 
 59° 
 
 40° 
 
 36° 
 
 24° 
 
 
 1842. 
 
 25° 
 
 26° 
 
 33° 
 
 55° 
 
 50° 
 
 52° 
 
 62° 
 
 63° 
 
 55° 
 
 48 p 
 
 34° 
 
 22° 
 
 omitted. 
 
 .soriivcVi 0 rb o? 
 
 Rain in inches, on 
 surface, during 
 1842. 
 
 
 2.170 
 
 3.625 
 
 3.150 
 
 3.740 
 
 1.275 
 
 5.755 
 
 3.050 
 
 2.500 
 
 6.160 
 
 5.175 
 
 5.310 
 
 0.880 
 
 
4 
 
 Query No. 17 . 
 
 - 1 he probable expense of supporting a Family of Jive or six grown persons 
 bru. until they could get sufficient from the Land to support themselves? 
 
 Ho b9i£9fo scfjgum riarnebabnu sfT -:°nnq& edL ni •onirriud tol vbnai saati arfj ait ttaiitn ■ hm* \ 
 
 Answer.— Information from several persons has been received on this head : the amount must necessarily vary according 
 
 bsgnsqsib t0 the wants . anfl usa n es of the family. Many persons will do with one-half of what others require— and it is impossible, 
 therefor e, 8j ,ve any decided information on this point, — the prices of produce and provisions before given, will enable 
 each individual to judge for themselves,— but the medium may perhaps fairly be taken at £36 for a family of six grown-up 
 persons for tvvelve months, in which time an industrious family should be able to raise a crop for themselves. 
 
 Query No. 18 . — Arc JVilcl Beasts troublesome to new Settlers ? 
 
 Answer.— N o. Some severe seasons, Wolves may annoy the Farmer, but to a small extent. Sheep are, however, in 
 
 the more settled districts, generally protected by a fold ; and the Farmer may now and then lose a stray Hog by the Bears 
 
 but many men have been settled ten years in the Province without seeing either Wolf or Bear. 
 
 Query No. 19^ f$$iat is the common Game of the Country 'l 
 
 The game in some parts is plentiful, and consists of Deer, Wood Grouse (called Partridges), Quails, Rabbits (called 
 Hares), and great variety of Wild Ducks and Qeese. Wild Turkeys are numerous in the London and Western Districts. 
 Fish are also most abundant in all the Lakes and Rivers, and excellent of their kind ; but an observation made by an old 
 Farmer and wealthy SMler may be add^rf Urthis answer, as it is a very true one, viz : — That a new Settler can earn a Quarter 
 of Beef in the time which it takes him to hunt for a Quarter of Venison. 
 
 Query No. 20. —Cost of Transportation by the Navigable Waters , and afterwards by Land, 
 to the Company' s Settlements ? 
 
 9bi«i»3lt; 8 ' VER '. — 71,0 C ost of Conveyance by Steamboats varies slightly each year, but the following rates of Passage will be 
 j round sufficiently correct:— 
 
 From Montreal to Toronto Cabin, £3 10 
 
 From Montreal to Hamilton “ 3 15 
 
 From Toronto to Hamilton QV6 
 
 From Kingston to Toronto “ 1 5 
 
 won f 797/oqFroro '^dhe^erW'Td^tO'. . . r! .‘J . . . . Y. r . L qfJ ' « * fn 1$ 
 
 sdt no rbanoT 0 Ftom>LeWfetbn ; id Toronto u 0 10 
 
 T , r . . H * ) nwo 8ii ^ladfe Johtettf rhel vhSnmn In rrnhn f r, 
 
 lahub lo/ISn pb T%\ 1S, the h,re of a Team of tw0 Horses, Waggon and Driver, which will take 18 cwt. of. load, may 
 generally )e reckoned at 8d. per mile to the journey’s end,— supposing the Team to come back empty, cheaper land travelling 
 than this can, however, often be obtained bv making a bargain. 
 
 lei 
 
 ,(itu 
 
 ^Idii 
 
 J?.9VJ 
 
 E/L 13c 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 0 
 
 
 Steerage, £l 10 
 
 “ 1 12 
 
 — * • 0 ;2 
 
 0 10 
 
 “ 0 10 
 
 “ 0 s v 
 
 gnn 
 
 sir i9dj^ t qj"n*97 v "aSmff 
 
 aril ni .bjr *?no gi can > however ». often be obtained bv making a bargain. 
 
 * Opposition ; and rates are lower just now. 
 
 Query No. 21. — Communications with the United States ? 
 
 bnuoR- 
 
 .0081 h 
 
 rftod :i 
 qj39ffo c 
 
 'iMvM — .M . 0/1 YH3U0 
 
 Answer.— Steamers ply daily from Lewiston, Qoeenston, and Niagara, to Toronto and Hamilton, distant 40 miles. 
 There are two Steamers plying three times a'-week from Rochester to Toronto, Kingston, and Hamilton. The distance, by 
 Railway, from Buffalo to Lewiston, is 20 miles. Die Kent Steamer leaves Buffalo every Monday and Thursday for Port 
 Stanley, opening an easy, cheap, and quick communication with the London, Huron, Western, Talbot, Brock, and Gore 
 Districts. Ihe Waterloo Steamer plies between Buffalo and Chippewa, from whence there is a Railway to Queenston. 
 he Steamer Brothers, Captain Eberts, in connection with a daily line of Stages from London, leaves Chatham, in the 
 
 estern District, for Detroit and Amherstburgh, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings,— returning the alternate days 
 at seven o’clock, a. m. ’ 
 
 Note.— The prices given are in Halifax Currency, of which S 1, or 5s., ( is equal to 8s. York. 
 
 W ith reference to the prices given in this statement, it will be well to bear in mind, that the last twelve month has been a 
 period of extraordinary depression it. the foalue of Agricultural Productions, and that prices have ruled .lower than has been 
 no '™ or many years. Ihere have been many causes acting to this result, but perhaps the leading cause has been the free 
 introduction into Canada, of United States produce. The Provincial fiscal regulations, which will be in fprey next month 
 wi , it is expected, operate beneficially to the Canadian Agriculturist; and if to those the free importation of Canadian pro- 
 duce. into the U nited Kingdom, be conceded by the Imperial Government, the prosperity of this Province will be ensured 
 and numbers of farmers with capital, enabled to hire labour, will, there is reason fo believe, emigrate and settle in Canada. ' 
 
 FREDERICK WIDDER, 
 
 Commissioner. 
 
 lo ahr>q odT * S 1 ‘ : ; °o?. v-s -l o | r \ onn j — or.|, | o f r < > ( ^ j 
 
 , p . The 1 ’ er i m3 / , u P° 11 whlctl lhe Company dispose of their lands in Canada West, and the best mode of transmitting money 
 in.fo S- r °« b t f ° Und m ' he P ros P ec,us of the Company, which, together with all further information necessary for an 
 
 *. hZ- 5»; b -’ la, ' r - - *7 r “* v - **> »■ 
 
 ~'~fo 
 
 rC3C>7 /. 7 
 12 Y3 Ars/*PE