from which vast quantities of timber, chiefly pine, 

 are annually exported, and constitute a great source 

 of wealth to the province. These valleys are in most 

 cases along the line of the bands of limestone, whose 

 ruins contribute much to the fertility of the soil. 

 Lines of settled country running many miles into 

 the wilderness are found to follow these belts of 

 soft calcareous rock. 



The settlements in this region are along its.south- 

 ern border, and at no great altitude above the sea. In 

 the higher parts, the rigor of the climate scarcely 

 permits the cultivation of cereals. It is probable that 

 no great portion of this immense region will ever be 

 colonized, but that it will remain for ages to come 

 9 covered with forests. These, if husbanded with due 

 care, will remain a perpetual source of timber for 

 the use of the country and for exportation ; besides 

 affording, with proper facilities for transportation, 

 an abundant supply of fuel to the more thickly set- 

 tled districts, where the forests have nearly disap- 

 peared, and where from the severity of the long 

 winters, an abundant supply of fuel is of the first 

 necessity. There are other reasons why this great 

 forest-region should be protected. The vegetation, 

 and the soil which now cover the hill-sides, play a 

 most important part in retaining the waters which 

 here fall in the shape of rain or snow. But for this 

 covering of soil, the rivers and mill-streams which 

 here take their rise, would like the streams of 

 southern France, and of the north of Italy, be destruc- 

 tive torrents at certain seasons and almost dried-up 

 channels at others. The effect of this great wooded 

 area in tempering the northern winds, and moderat- 

 ing the extremes of climate is not to be overlooked 

 in estimating the value of the Laurentian rigion ; 

 which moreover as will be shown farther on, con- 



