Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-08-14
An lgIsH AMERICA
A Visit TO Nova Scotia.


HALIFAX, August, 81.
NJ. Editor: To the brief notes sent Won
las; week, permit an additional letter par
tall, descriptive Of the
ANNAPOLIS AND cDRNwALII, VALLEYS
visited for the FIRST time b, scores Of tourists
TINS season. who are universe. in their sur
prises and enjoyments Of this region. When
our people take long journeys by sen and
land for health, recreation, and possible
chance. for investments. they sometimes
overlook the same attractions nearer home,
because distance lend, enchan;ment.''
Abou, eighty miles in length, averaging
from seven TO ten miles in width, IS this
nearly level belt of country traversed by tie
Annapolis and CORVALLIS rivers, lying be-
tween two ranges OF high hills, kuown IS
the North and South mountains.
Not all along the railroad are travellers
in view of the best portions of the magnfi-
cent fruit-growing and farming districts Of
these valleys but for more then two-rhiris
a the distance are seen extensive fields of
hay and grains, with more extensive apple
orchards, the aggregate product Of the lat
ter averaging half million Of bushels
YEARLY. which are largely shipped to Eng
land.
Great varieties of pums, pears and small
fruits are prof,aby raised, the farmers in-
forming US they realize from enc 10 two hun
bred dollars profit per acre. or late the
culture Of Strawberries has increased won
derfully in the valleys.
A fruit farmer interviewed said, Il expect
to live to see the time when there will
be daily steamer connecting the Annapolis
valley with the American markets. And
one steamer will not be able to carry the
productions. We will not only have the
vastly increased local mark cts, but also the
English and New England There are
more than loo square miles in this valley
admirably adapted for growth Of apples and
small fruits OF strawberry culture, he
said, at pays better than gold-mining. I've
a young orchard of two and half acres.
| expect TO gather 80 barrels of good apples.
1t has already produced six thousand 10000
quarts Of strawberries. Nov, after paving
all expenses, my apples will give me 800
my strawberries $500 or 5000 net from
my 2 IL acres" This was the experience
of Mr.. J. n. Coleman, of Lakevile.
The resources Of these valleys are not by
any means confined to these products. Min
erals ore found in great quantities in the
hills !; iron, copper, silver and gold. In the
neighborhood of Middleton. one of our
party gathered fine samples Of native copper
from very near the surface also bits of
quartz carrying little Jumps of gold. Capt.
tai, and systematic organic alton Of compan-
les are wanted to develop these remunera-
tive industries.
Near the eastern terminus Of these val
leys, about midway between Annapolis and
Halifax, lies the little village Of
GRAND-PRE
"On the shores of the Basin of Minas, dis
tant, secluded, and still" As our train
skirts the margin Of the vast, green, vel
vety meadow, giving the village its name.'
our genial conductor points out to the pas
sengers all the localities so wildly described
in the pathetic poem Evangeline. please
look at bluff Cape Blomidon! Just there in
its shadow. you see the beach below, where
the poor, prosecuted Acadians took their
forced departure from their homes, their
farms. their 6ocks and their country"
As the engine "slows up" to afford Us all
view of the "Land Of Evangeiine, the
conductor further informs US, "Here is the
Gaspereau river where the mournful process
sion gathered for leave-takings,-and up
there, is the site Of the little church, where