47 



and traversible by roads and waterways. Its crust includes the most 

 valuable coal, petroleum and iron fields yet developed in the world. Two- 

 fifths of its area is covered with the best of glacial soils. 



(3) Climate. It lies in that part of the so-called temperate zone 

 where the summers are long and warm enough to ripen the cereal grains, 

 and the rainfall in the growing season is everywhere sufficient for agri- 

 culture. 



(4) Vc(/ctation. The natural vegetation includes large areas of conif- 

 erous and summer forests and prairie. The summer forests are easily con- 

 verted by clearing into grass and agricultural lands. 



(5) People. The bulk of population is of Baltic Caucasian stock, 

 which the presence of negroes, and the recent infiux of Alpine and Medi- 

 terranean inmiigrants, have not yet notably mcKlified. In race and culture 

 the region is an oversea colony of western and central Euroi)e. 



Here then we have an environment with infiuences and reactions suf- 

 ficiently complex to task the powers of the most accomplished scientific 

 geographer. I cannot in a part of an hour undertake to do it justice and 

 sliall attempt only to touch upon a few points. I can sum up its economics 

 in a brief table. 



LEADING PRODUCTS OF THE ATLANTIC PROVINCES OF NORTH AMERICA. 



North America. World. 

 Per cent. Per cent. 



Corn 99 SO 



Wheat SG 21 



Oats 90 



Barley 75 



Rye 94 



Potatoes 79 



Cotton 98 62 



Tobacco 70 32 



Rice 91 



Coal 90 40 



Iron Ore 98 40 



Petroleum 70 46 



Natural Gas 98 



Foreign Commerce 80 12 



Population - 70 5.6 



