194 CLIMATE PROPITIOUS TO CPvOPS. 



is in the average yield of maize in Ohio, one of the great 

 maize regions, which is greater than in New Brunswick, 

 where it is an uncertain crop, cultivated extensively only 

 in a few more favoured localities. 



The result of this comparison surprised me showing 

 a larger productive power in the cultivated land of this 

 province, as a whole, than in that of any of the western 

 countries named, and which, with us at home, have 

 hitherto been considered more favoured in soil or climate, 

 or in both. The favourable issue of the comparison is 

 probably to be ascribed to the newness or virgin state of 

 the land in New Brunswick. If the exhausting system 

 of culture now generally practised be continued, the 

 averages will probably soon fall as low at least as any of 

 those I have quoted. 



One thing, however, comes clearly out of the New 

 Brunswick averages, if they are to be relied upon, that 

 the climate of this province the length and severity of 

 its winters, that is has in itself no injurious influence 

 upon the fertility of the soil : in other words, the climate 

 does not unfit it for becoming as productive as its soils 

 would be in our more favoured corner of the world. If 

 the summer be short, the heat is great, and the growth 

 rapid in proportion. 



The chief evils of the climate, in its relation to rural 

 affairs, are the long period during which it is necessary 

 to keep stock of all kinds under cover, and the compara 

 tively short autumn and spring for the performance of 

 the ploughing, clearing, and other mechanical operations 

 upon the land. It is only fair, however, to add, in ex 

 tenuation of these evils, that many believe house-feeding 

 all the year round to be the most profitable under all 

 circumstances, and that in some countries this method is 

 universally practised ; and, again, that the severe frosts 

 of winter so open and mellow the soil, that, as a skilful 

 Scotch farmer on the river St John assured me, &quot; they 



