378 
Canadian Agriculture. 
equable English climate. But throughout the greater part of the winter 
season in Canada the sljy is bright and clear, and the weather thoroughly 
enjoj'able. Open sleighs are in use by all. Sleighing jrarties of pleasure are 
arranged for the period of full moon, thai they may return home over the 
snow, after an evening's enjoyment at some appointed rendezvous ; skating, 
snow-shoeing, and other out-door exercises are in imiversal favour; and the 
sound of the sleigh-bells in the open thoroughfares adds to the exhilarating 
sense produced by the i^ure bracing atmosphere. Snow accordingly brings 
with it no such ideas of discomfort as are associated with it in England, 
while by the farmer it is hailed as altogether beneficial. In the Province of 
Quebec the snow begins to lie early in November ; in Ontario it is fully a 
month later ; and it differs correspondingly at various localities throughout 
the Dominion. But everywhere the appearance of the snow is hailed as 
seasonable and beneficial. It protects the wheat sown in autumn from the 
frost, affords facilities to the farmer for bringing his produce to market, aids 
the lumberer in collecting the fruits of his labour in the forest at suitable 
points for transport by water with the sjDring freshets, and so contributes 
alike to business and pleasure. 
" January and February are the coldest months of the year. Throughout 
the whole of Canada steady sleighing is reckoned upon during those months. 
In Quebec and Manitoba a longer period of sleighing can be relied upon. In 
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, and also the Pacific 
coasts, the temperature is modified both in summer and winter according to 
vicinity to the sea. Abrupt changes of temperature occur both in summer 
and in winter. A period of great cold early in the month of January is so fre- 
quently followed by a complete change, that its periodicity is reckoned upon 
under the name of the January thaw. Snow finally disappears in Quebec 
about the middle of April. In Ontario it is generally gone a month earlier. 
" Ploughing usually commences in Ontario about the middle of April, and 
in favourable seasons is prolonged into the month of December. But 
throughout the Dominion, stretching as it does across the continent, and 
embracing an area nearly equal in size to Europe, the period varies with the 
locality, and is affected by the vicinity of the great lakes or other local 
influences. Cattle are turned out to graze in April, feeding in part upon the 
tender shoots of the spring forest growth, until the appearance of the young 
pasture with the disappearance of the snow. Before the end of July harvest 
begins ; and with the rapidity of growth under tlie warm Canadian skies, the 
hay, grain, and root-crops follow in swift succession; the cleared land is 
brought again under the plough, and the autumn sowing of wheat is carried 
on till another abrupt change brings the season to a close. In this way the 
Canadian climate is marked by the striking contrast of two seasons— summer 
and winter, — bringing with them alternations of fruitful labour and of repose, 
intermingled with profitable industry and pleasure. This characteristic 
prevails with slight variations throughout the greater part of the Dominion. 
. . . Winter begins with crisp clear weather, which grows increasingly cold 
and cloudy. The wind wheels to the north-east, and with it comes the snow, 
and the long steady winter of the Canadian year." 
The general character of the climate in Eastern Canada may 
be still further indicated by the following tables, containing a 
summary of the weather statistics for the year 1882 at four 
stations, in as many separate provinces. These tables are 
made up from the ' Report of the Meteorological Service of the 
Dominion of Canada for the year ending December 31, 1882,' 
which was published last year. 
