The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07

very little 10 known on this side OF the border.
MIR. Greenough. 1t seems, has been brought,
for many years. by business relations, into con-
tact with the habitdnts. that Is to say. the farm
ers descended from tho early French ~settlers.
and for a considerable period he lived almost
constantly among them. What is set forth In
this book is the record Of his observations and
experiences In certain country parishes peo-
pied by French Canadian agriculturists.
L.
By habitdnt L. simply meant the peas
ant Of French origin. The name was
given to those pioneer emigrants who
intended to inhabit the country and
till the soil. as distinguished from officials.
traders. and others who did not expect to re-
side permanently in the New World. Tho
Canada OF which we hear In this book Is the
lower part OF the valley Of the st. Lawrence.
which is now known as the province Of Quebec.
Its scenery. climate. institutions, people, and
history are all unique. being unlike those OF any
Of the other provinces. Mr.. Greenough begins
by correcting some current misconceptions.
In the first place. Quebec lie much less further
north than most persons imagine It to be. As
a matter OF fact. it Is 1.025 miles south Of st.
Petersburg. 625 miles south Of Glasgow, 1926
miles south Of London and $50 miles south OF
Paris. 1t is on almost the same parallel of lati-
tuuO "hASu phcbc5 JHEOuRn LVOub IN FRANCO
and divides Switzerland from Italy. 1t is also
a mistake to suppose that the climate OF the
province in winter Is that OF the Arctic regions.
The climate is cold. 1t is true. but. being dry
and clear. 1t Is endurable; far less trying
than the damp atmosphere Of eastern New
England. even when there is o difference
Of 100 or 15' by the thermometer. The Rreat-
est cold that the author has personally recorded
was 3S' below zero. That was In the woods;
probably. in the city Of Quebec, or In espe-
cially exposed places. it was at that time
Az or As below. This intense cold. however,
lasted only q few hours. and it did not prevent
the lumbermen from working as usual. OF
course. feet and fingers. ears and faces
would soon be frozen IL carelessly exposed
to such q temperature. but the working
man. thickly clad in three or four heavy
flannel shirts and pairs Of trousers. and,
with several pairs Of stockings on his feet, ex-
periences no inconvenience. From about 1Os
above to TO- below zero. when there Is no wind,
is reputed very comfortable winter weather.
and the Canadian climate furnishes q good
deal of 1t. Such q temperature certainly is not
cold enough to interfere with any business or
pleasure that the people may have in hand.
Those who dwell further south may
think that in Quebec the spring comes
on late: once started. however. vege-
tation advances with wonderful rapidity.
Fields are usually covered with snow till the
middle Of April. but in two or three days
after 1t is gone the grass is up fresh and bright.
The ground seldom gets frozen deep before 1t
is covered with snow. and 80 soon as the snow
Is gone tho frost is out. and on dry land plough
ing may be begun at once. As the spring comes
late. so the autumn comes early. Heavy frosts
may be expected In September. and by the
middle OF October everything liable to be dam
aged by cold weather should be harvested.
The growth Of crops is so rapid that 1t is por-
ceptible from day to day. The latter part of
May and the whole Of June are beautiful with
the ever-changing hues of springing grass and
bursting vegetation. There 10 no dallying for
the hdbtant. Nature keeps him busy, and
every day shows what she Ia doing for him.
The main body OF improved and cultivated
land north OF the Lower st. Lawrence is the tract
lying between the river and the Laurentian
Hills. which seem to come Town to the waters
edge at Les Eboulements. about 65 miles
below Quebec. and extend nearly west. losing
their distinctive name somewhere about
north OF Montreal. although. in point Of fact,
the range continues to and beyond the head OF
Lake Superior. As tho general course of the
river is toward the northeast. tho width OF
this cultivable strip generally increases as
one goes west. Near Quebec 1t does not Ox-
coed nine miles, and continues to be of about
the sam width for some sixty or seventy miles
west Of II, On the south side OF tho st. Law
renee. approaching what. are known as the
gently rolling and the soil is fertile and easily
worked. There the buildings have somewhat
o. the appearance characte ristic OF q well -to-do
New, England farming community. North OF
The 81 Lawrence. also, to the west OF the city OF
Three Rivers IA bout ninety miles west OF Oue-
beel, wide. rich and wcli-cultivated farms,
Amply provided with substantial buiidings,
stretch far away from the rivers bank.
III.