ITS VALUE IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES. 325 



obtained, so necessary to the French, and many neigh- 

 bours close at hand, by living in one long street. Many 

 farms can also be laid out, with little expense in road- 

 making. Behind the first row of farms along the road, a 

 second row is surveyed ; and beyond these a second road, 

 and a third row of farms. These are spoken of as the 

 second and third Concessions. They are farther from 

 churches, markets, mills, &c., than the first Concession, 

 and are therefore less esteemed. In this county, at 

 present, the seigneurs grant the uncleared back-lands 

 for an annual charge of 15s. to 30s. currency for the 

 farm of 90 arpents — 3 in front, and 30 deep — or 2d. to 

 4d. an acre. This is considerably greater than it used 

 to be, as in this county the value of uncleared land has 

 risen much during the last ten years. 



Immediately above this county, along the St Lawrence, 

 is that of Lotbiniere. Here cleared land sells for 50s. 

 an acre, and uncleared land has not increased in value 

 for ten years. Immediately below, again, is the county 

 of Bellechasse, in which also there are no new settlers. 

 Cleared farms, well situated, will sell for £400 to £600 ; 

 but the general value of land during the last ten years 

 has fallen 10 or 12 per cent. 



Inland again, beyond and behind Dorchester, is the 

 county of Megantic, which is described as very flourish- 

 ing. There are no immigrants ; but the population is 

 rapidly augmenting by natural increase. It is a purely 

 French Canadian district. The average value of cleared 

 land is about 6s. 3d. an acre, though some sells as high 

 as 20s. It produces sheep, cattle, and butter for the 

 Quebec market. It will be recollected that the price of 

 cleared land is not that of the fee-simple, the rents and 

 rights of the seigneur being always reserved. Probably, 

 this form of holding is one of the causes by which immi- 

 grants are deterred from penetrating into these Lowxr 

 Canadian counties. 



