328 BOTANY, ETC., OF THE 
Strawberries, currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and other small fruits, 
are the proper production of this part of Lower Canada, as in the 
north of Europe. In the markets of Quebec and Montreal various 
wild berries are exposed for sale, as Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpum), 
and the fruits or haws of the different species of Orategus, which 
abound here, also the mealy berries of Viburnum prunifolium, that are 
not unpalatable, and taste exactly like those of our own Wayfaring-tree, 
V. Lantana. 
Quebec, September 28th.—Set off in the forenoon with a friend who 
accompanied me hither from Hamilton, for the falls of Montmorency, 
about nine miles below the city, passing through Beaufort. The 
weather fine, yet for awhile rather dubious ; but before midday it became. 
bright and clear, with a warm sun, a luxury I did not once enjoy in the 
town during my stay at Quebec. The country from thence to the 
falls is pretty, but vegetation has a pinched and stunted aspect, which 
may be as much owing to the natural sterility of the rocky soil below 
Quebec, as to the unfavourableness of the climate. Whichever be 
most to blame, the diminished stature of the ligneous vegetation, as 
compared with that around the sister city of Montreal, stands in pro- 
minent and unpleasing contrast. The cottages of the Canadian 
villagers are white-washed, and have an air of considerable neatness 
and comfort, but horticulture is sadly neglected by them, and in the 
few apple-orchards we passed, the produce was exceedingly small. I 
think I remarked patches of Indian corn in a few places, but the 
climate must be against the successful cultivation of that grain, at least 
to any extent, and I remarked little or no evidences of good farming, 
the inhabitants hereabouts being mostly small tenants on the seigneuries 
of the French proprietors. The trees and shrubs observed on the road 
were Ulmus Americana, a species of Ash, and two or three kinds of 
= Orategus, with red berries: the species of this genus, which are of 
difficult determination from description alone, and whose characters 
. and synonyms appear greatly confused, are amongst the most frequent 
of shrubs in Lower Canada, often forming entire thickets. Cichorium 
Intybus grew plentifully, and in flower, by the roadside ; whilst Zuphor- 
bia helioscopia and a tall green-flowered Amaranthus were observed 
.. abundantly in waste grounds in several places. On a fence I gathered 
a Vitis, which agreed with V< riparia in having the leaves subtri- 
lobate, ciliate on the margin, and pubescent underneath on the nerves 
