ASCENT AND SCENERY. 43 



slates, as far as the head of what is called the Long 

 Reach. Then turning us sharply to the left, and nar- 

 rowing the river for a few miles, a ridge of granite, 

 visible only on one side of the stream, succeeded to the 

 trap ; after passing which we emerged into an open and 

 flatter region, over which grey sandstones, of the coal 

 formation, extended and accompanied us all the way to 

 Fredericton. 



The trap country reminded me of some of the thinly- 

 peopled districts on our Highland lakes. It was covered 

 in many places with a sandy drift, and bore, in general, 

 a mixture of broad and narrow leaved trees. On the 

 granite, broad-leaved or hard wood prevailed, the poorest 

 soils bearing only the white birch. Endless pine forests 

 covered the sandstone soils, where drift from other for- 

 mations, or the sorting action of flowing water, had not 

 modified their natural character. 



Through the first twenty miles of this sandstone forma- 

 tion extends a very beautiful portion of the river. From 

 the north-east enters the Washademoak River; and fifteen 

 or twenty miles above its mouth, the Salmon River, after 

 traversing the Grand Lake, escapes into the St John. At 

 the mouths of both these rivers, the St John widens, and 

 is studded with several large and fertile islands ; while 

 the low intervale land, as it is called, stretches some- 

 times a couple of miles from its banks. Gagetown and 

 Scovell's Point, on its opposite shores, are centres of 

 rich land, which appeared to be tolerably well farmed. 



Many emigrants, with money to purchase farms at two 

 to four pounds an acre, might settle comfortably here. 

 This alluvial land has been long famed for its grass and 

 its produce of hay. In this country, where hay has 

 hitherto been the chief reliance for the winter food of 

 stock, the produce in hay is generally considered a test of 

 the value of a farm, either to rent or to buy. In renting 

 land, not a very frequent practice, a pound of rent for 



