ON AGRICULTURE TO CANADA 21 



had seen, but perhaps it was the first that convinced us of the wide 

 spaces, and the long avenues overhung with trees, and the lovely 

 lawns, and the artistic houses that characterise the beautiful cities 

 of Canada. Beyond the city, far as the eye can reach, there is forest 

 — spruce, pine, cedar, hemlock — some at least of which seed them- 

 selves and grow upon the earth as heather grows upon our highland 

 hills. After leaving the University we went to see some farms, six 

 or seven miles distant. A banquet by the citizens in our honour 

 closed the day's work. Early next morning we left Fredericton 

 by special train for Woodstock. Members of the Provincial Parlia- 

 ment and of the City Council were at the station, and at once we 

 set off in difEerent directions. We found the land to be of varying 

 quality, and some of the farms were getting back to the wilderness 



STEAMER ON ST JOHN RIVER 



out of which they had been carved. We saw one particularly 

 desolate place. The farmhouse was tenantless ; the byres were 

 empty. The call of the west is as irresistible in New Brunswick as 

 elsewhere in Eastern Canada. But here also were prosperous 

 farmers, thriving industries, and the signs of a progressive life. 



Quebec 



The night of the second day in the Province of New Brunswick 

 saw us making preparations to leave for Quebec. We ran through 

 the State of Maine, reaching Knowlton at 7.30 next morning. At 

 9 o'clock, the Hon. Sydney Fisher, Minister of Agriculture, made 

 his appearance, and gave us a hearty welcome. Accompanied by 

 Mr Fisher, we drove to Mr Whitman's farm in the vicinity of 

 Knowlton, where we inspected his cattle and examined his byre. 



