PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 



4819 



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 



pine are the chief species of trees. With an 

 abundance of timber the province naturally 

 turned to shipbuilding, but after 1880 this in- 

 dustry declined and has since almost disap- 

 peared. Timber is still cut in considerable 

 quantities, but is put to less picturesque uses. 

 The Soil and Its Products. It is noteworthy 

 that ninety-five per cent of the 15,000 farmers 

 in the province own their farms. As soon as 

 land was cleared the early settlers began to 

 cultivate the soil. Practically the entire island, 



INorthPt. 



PRISCE EDWARD 

 ISLAND 



OUTLINE MAP 



Showing boundaries, chief cities and the high- 

 est point of land in the province. 



except certain areas of swampy land, is suitable 

 for cultivation. The soil, a light loam, is cov- 

 ered in most places by a layer of decayed vege- 

 table matter, and itself rests on clay and sand- 

 stone. As the settlers for generations drew out 

 of the soil all they could, and replaced little or 

 nothing, in time large sections showed signs of 

 exhaustion, from which agriculture has not yet 

 fully recovered. The fertilizer now in general 

 use is called "mussel mud," and is dredged 

 from river beds and bays on the island. Oats, 

 potatoes and turnips are the leading crops ; the 

 yearly yield of oats and potatoes is from six 

 to eight million bushels each, and of turnips 

 about four to five million bushels. Some wheat 

 is raised, but only enough for local purposes. 



Hogs and cattle are raised in the province in 

 considerable numbers, but horses constitute two- 

 Is of the value of the live stock ($8,000,- 

 000). Dairy farming is growing in importance, 

 and since about 1890 butter and cheese have 

 been produced on a commercial scale. The 

 first cheese factory was opened in 1892, and the 

 first creamery in 1894. One of Prince Edward 

 Island's industries fur farming was unique for 

 a number of years, but has been copied in other 

 provinces and in various parta of the United 

 States. The mainstay of the business is the 



Research Questions on 



Prince Edward 



Island 



(An Outline Hultable for Prince r.i- 

 ward Inland will be found with the 

 article "Province.") 



When did this province have its larg- 

 est population? 



How did the opening up of regions far 

 to the west affect this eastern province? 



How does Prince Edward Island rank 

 among the provinces of the Dominion as 

 to area? As to population? 



What is the average density of popu- 

 lation? How does this compare with 

 that of the Dominion as a whole? With 

 that of the other provinces? 



Why are there few steep cliffs on the 

 shore line? 



How long would it take a man walk- 

 ing at the rate of a rr.Ile in fifteen min- 

 utes to cross the island at its narrowest 

 point? 



How does the smallest province of the 

 Dominion compare in area with the 

 smallest state in the United States? 

 How do the two compare in number of 

 inhabitants? In density of population? 



How many provinces the size of 

 Prince Edward Island would it take to 

 make a Dominion as large as Canada? 



What climatic advantage has the 

 island over the neighboring island and 

 mainland? 



In a representative gathering of 1.000 

 Prince Edward Inland farmers, how 

 many, 'on an average, would own their 

 own farm?? 



Why did large portions of the agri- 

 cultural land become exhausted? 



What interesting industry, now prac- 

 ticed In some of the other provinces, 

 was for years confined to Prince EJ- 

 ward Island? 



How large a percentage of the popu- 

 lation is engaged in fishing? In farm- 

 ing? 



What is "mussel mud," and for what 

 is it used? 



How many houses are there in the 

 legislative assembly? How many of 

 the provinces resemble Prince EdwarJ 

 Island in this respect? 



Who was the first white man who 

 visited the island? What did he think 

 it was? 



What did the French call the island? 

 In whose honor was the present name 

 given ? 



How long had the Dominion of 

 Canada exirted before Prince Edward 

 I I uul became part of it? 



silver fox. A single silver-fox skin is valued, 

 in normal times, at from $300 to $2,000. The 

 island is said to have about 3,000 silver fo\cs 

 in captivity, of a capital value of $15,000,000 

 or more. Other fur-bearing animals, including 

 tin beaver, mink, muskrat and skunk, are also 

 being raised for their fur. 



The Fisheries. Although relatively a small 

 part of the Dominion's fisheries, the Prince 

 Edward Island fisheries are of great value in 

 proportion to the population of tho province. 



