360 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Oct. 



tremes of climate is not to be overlooked in estimating the value 



of the Laurentian region 



The Eastern Townships. — Under this head, as already ex- 

 plained, is included the belt of hill-country south of the St. 

 Lawrence, with the region on its south-east side, extending to the 

 frontier, and forming a succession of valleys, which may be traced 

 from the head-waters of the Connecticut north-eastward to the Bay 

 of Chaleurs. It is true that the Eastern Townships, as now known, 

 do not embrace this northeastern extension ; but as it belongs to 

 them both geographically and geologically, it may be conveniently 

 included with them. 



The area whose limits are thus denned forms about one-tenth of 

 the province. The hills of the range which traverses it are com- 

 posed, like those of the Laurentian region, of crystalline rocks : 

 but these are softer than the greater part of the rocks on the north 

 shore, and yield by their wearing down a more abundant soil. 

 Some of the hills in this range attain an elevation of 4,000 feet 

 above the sea, and the. principal lakes in the valley on the south- 

 eastern side, Memphremagog, Ayhner, and St. Francis, are from 

 750 to about 900 feet above the sea-level. This region is well 

 wooded, and when cleared is found in most parts to have an abun- 

 dant soil, generally sandy and loamy in character, and well fitted 

 for grazing and for the cultivation of 'Indian corn and other grains. 

 Great attention is now paid to the rising of cattle, and the growing 

 of wool, and within the last few years the best breeds of sheep have 

 been successfully introduced from England and from Vermont. 

 Draining and improved methods of farming are in many parts prac- 

 tised, and the agricultural importance of the southern portions of 



this region is yearly increasing 



The Champaign Region. — The limits of the great plains of 

 Canada have already been defined in describing those of the two 

 preceding regions. These plains, which may be called the cham- 

 paign region, occupy about three tenths of the province, and are, 

 as we have seen, divided into two parts by a low and narrow isth- 

 mus of Laurentian country, which runs from the Ottawa to the 

 Adirondacks of New- York. To the eastward of this division, the 

 present region includes the country between that river and the St. 

 Lawrence, and all between the Laurentides on the north and the 

 Notre Dame hills on the south-east ; while to the westward it em- 

 braces the whole of the province south of the Laurentian region, 



