ENPages
(seq. 11)
7
idea of fallowing, but, in the Succeeding year plow up the Stubble for another wheat Crop, which, they continue as long as the land will yield it, and then leave it to recover itself, sometimes however changing for beans. The woodlands, when charred, they plant with pease, potatoes, Cabbages &c the latter production is very usefull to Them; They keep under the snow in Winter very sound.
As to enclosures, they have only a ring fence and one or two near the house, not always that sometimes none, But but what part the marsh lands from the woods. Cattle in summer are turned into undrained Marshes and the Woods and in Winter are theeparts Starved.
Canada
is much colder in the Winter than Nova Scotia which may be accounted for by the distance from the Sea yet is the Climate generally preferrable the
air
(seq. 12)
8
air is clear and pure and the Inhabitants in general enjoy as good health as any set of people in all America. That the Climate is better we may also gather from the productions Pompions and Melons Apples and Pears are cultivated in Common wheras in Nova Scotia tho we cannot say the Country is absolutely without them yet is the Vegetation weak in comparison. In this I speak of the northern part of Canada about Quebec for as to the South of it in the Neighbourhood of Montreal it is far more mild as appears by several plants commonly found there and to the south which will not live at Quebec. The North west wind blow through winter with a Severity scarcely credible it plainly comes through all walls that are not very thick a candle is blown out when held against a wall that is only brick and half thick all the inside of
such
(seq. 13)
9
such walls are covered with snow blown through on the side next against the northwest and the walls must be of a vast thickness at the same time that the house is well sheltered by wood and hill for the people within not to feel the wind blow on them. This dreadful northwest wind is felt throughout the Continent even to Charles Town South Carolina and it has been absolutely aserted that it has blown over the whole Atlantic Ocean and been felt in Europe. It is this wind which renders the Climate of all North America so peculiar that no other is similar to it hence arises the severe fronts felt there in.
✣ In Boston they plaster the inside of the walls of their houses above which they first lath & plaster after which the Room is painted or papered ~ It effectually prevents the wind and Snow from penetrating and keeps the house quite warm IL from Grindlaw
(seq. 14)
10
in such southern latitudes that the like is never known in Europe. Sharp fronts are sometimes felt in Florida in {latitude} 30º which is that of Egypt and Morrocco
This is owing to the northwest winds. The acquire thus extreme coldness from the immense extent of snowy Continent over which they blow possibly from the North pole whereas the Continent of Europe and Asia ends in 75º an open sea being to the north
The wind in Canada is more severe than in Nova Scotia the snows are also as deep and as universal but the air is clear being free from the Fogs which render the latter country so extremly disagreeable. The winter is not however absolutely without employment ~ Wrapt up well in furrs winter expeditions are undertaken and sawing and cutting lumber go on tho not with near so much alacrity and effect as in the more southern Colonies where the workmen are employed as regularly as in Summer ~
The
(seq. 15)
11
The soil in Canada is of two sorts the stoney and the pure loam or mould without stones both are cultivated but the latter is much best it is black or reddish and is certainly as fine land as any in the world and were it in a more favourable Climate would yield as rich productions There are vast tracts of it in Canada which would in many parts of England sell at twentyfive shillings an acre but are here uncultivated all the settlements and Farms in this Country being only on the banks of the River principally that of St. Lawrence
The Cultivated Country is a narrow slip on each side of the river scarcely any where half a mile broad unless it spreads on account of other streams that fall into the principal one. In some places however the Cultivated country is some miles broad particularly near the three Towns
Respecting the vegetable productions of of this Colony there are found almost all the useful plants that are
cultivated