no AGRrf'iLTri.'Ar, i;Ksf»ri;cES. 



and its autumnal seasons aic as opi-n .unl Hm- as those of any of 

 the neiglilxmring colonic--. In jxiinl <>{' liili natural grasses, na 

 ])art of British Xoi'tli Anu-riia ])i(>iluees greater abundance. — 

 Newfoundland, in fact, a])pears to uw calculated to become es-- 

 sentially a rich grazing count ly, ami its varied agricultural 

 resources appear only to re([uirc roads and settlements to force 

 them into highly remunerative (U'\clopinent."' It should be re- 

 membered that lie spoke in the>c terms of the island, being 

 ac(|uainted only with the jioorest jiortions around a ])ortion of 

 the eastern coast and bays. Tlic very existence of the fine 

 valleys descrilied in the prccc(ling pages was unknown in his 

 day. 



SIK It. BONNYCASTI.E. 



Sir Eicharil Bonnycastle, a military officer of distinct ioiL who- 

 s]ient some years in the island, and has written one of the best 

 books on the country, was strongly impressed with its agricul- 

 tural resoui'ces. His work bears the date of 1842, and in it lie- 

 earnestly advocates colonization and agricultui'al development. 

 He speaks of Newfoundland as " possessing a climatt' of extra- 

 ordinary salubrity," ami jaedicted that if opened up for settle- 

 ment it Avould "take its rank amongst the more flourishing 

 colonies of the neighlinuring continent." He enumerated among 

 the vegetable productions which he saw groAving and thriving 

 admiral ily, cucumbei'S, melons, cabbages, cauliflowers, l)roccoli, 

 parsnips, carrots, peas, potatoes. "The garden straw! lerry and 

 raspberry of every variety thriw without more than the usual 

 care. Potatoes, oats, turni2>s and all the necessary \('getables 

 can readily l)e reared, even on the very wor.-t portions of such a 

 wilderness as that of the littoral." . . . "The veiy worst 

 portion of the soil is that in the neighbourhood ot St. .John's,. 

 and yet here, in all directions, the jilough speeds and the ancient 

 forest has vanished." 



Bonnycastle's reference to the soil in the neighbourhood of St. 

 .lohn's is correct. It is among.st the poorest in the island. More- 

 H\'er, as this is the most easterly projection of the coast, it is that 

 {m which the effects of the Arctic current are most felt and the 



