59 



estimated from twent}^ degrees above, to twenty-^ 

 five degrees below 0. The frost, whicli is sel- 

 dom interrupted during the winter, is almost 

 always accompanied with a cloudless sky and 

 pure dry air that makes it both pleasant and 

 healthy, and considerably diminishes the pierc- 

 ing quality it possesses when the atmosphere 

 is loaded with vapours. At the eastern ex- 

 tremity of the province, from its vicinity to the 

 sea, fogs are brought on by an easterly wind, 

 but to the westward they seldom prevail, and 

 even at Quebec are almost unknown. The 

 snow usually lies on the ground until the latter 

 end of April, when it is melted by the powerful 

 rays of the sun, rather than dissolved by the 

 progress of thaw, the air continuing still pure 

 and frosty ; when it has disappeared, the spring 

 may be said to commence ; and as the ground, 

 being protected by so thick a covering during 

 winter, is seldom frozen many inches deep, the 

 powers of vegetation almost immediately resume 

 their activity, and bring on the fine season with 

 a rapidity that would excite in a stranger to 

 the country the greatest degree of astonish- 

 ment. Rain prevails most in the spring and fall 

 of the year, but is seldom violent or of long 

 duration in the level parts of the province : to- 

 wards the mountains, however, their frequency 



