Beginning with an expensive salary for Manager Laidlaw, the promoters erected ample farm buildings, barns, yards and stables.
Importations were made of well-bred cattle and horses.

Several years of mismanagement and helplessness resulted from this trial of a model farm, and it was given up at a total loss to the proprietors of L3,500.

The Assiniboine Wool Company was next started, but failed before the first payment of stock took place, without damage to anyone, so that, as was remarked, there was "much cry and little wool." The Flax and Hemp Company was the next unfortunate enterprise.

This failed on account of there being no market, so that farmers never reaped the successful crops which they had grown.

An expedition was made to Missouri, under Messrs.
Burke and Campbell, to introduce sheep into the settlement.