458 ILLINOIS AND UPPER CANADA. 



wheat is reaped, and ploughed down for manure to Indian 

 corn in the following spring, I have no doubt alternate crops 

 of wheat and Indian corn might be grown without the aid of 

 manures. 



In whatever point of view Illinois is regarded, as adapted for 

 herds and flocks, for wheat and India corn, for manufactures 

 and commerce, or for the abode of population generally, it 

 will be found to be one of the most favoured portions of North 

 America, and with the exception of population, possessing all 

 the elements of future prosperity and greatness. Time will 

 supply inhabitants, which the want of at present, however, 

 forms one of the many advantages of the country for agricul 

 tural emigration. 



When contrasting Illinois and Upper Canada, I shall not 

 again allude to the governments of the countries, or to their 

 channels of trade, but confine myself chiefly to their agricul 

 tural peculiarities. 



The most northerly portions of Illinois lie in the same lati 

 tude with the most southerly parts of Upper Canada ; and on 

 a general view of the countries, the one is four degrees to the 

 north of the other. After considering the different published 

 accounts of an American winter, I have been led to conclude, 

 that between thirty-five and fifty degrees of north latitude, 

 the length of winter increases nearly two weeks with each 

 degree of latitude, consequently the winter of Illinois may be 

 stated about two months shorter than that of Upper Canada. 

 Then, in point of climate, Illinois has greatly the advantage 

 in maturing all the valuable products of the soil, and by 

 affording time for cultivating the farm properly. Live stock 

 will also suffer much less during winter, and the artificial sup 

 plies of food necessary for this season, are much easier at 

 tained. 



The settler of Upper Canada has to struggle with the 

 forest before he obtains a site for his house. If he ventures 

 to keep a cow, she must browse on weeds and leaves of trees in 

 summer, and in winter on the boughs of felled trees ; the milk 

 and butter which she yields is of the worst quality, and scarce 

 ly repays the trouble of roaming after her in the woods. A 

 pig and poultry cannot be maintained at first, and many years 



