The pleasure of travelling over snow roads is very great. Given a good road, the mercury near the cypher, no wind, bright moonlight, a pair of fast trotting horses and a sleigh well equipped with furs, and you have the perfection of locomotion. Sleigh-driving as an amusement is largely indulged in during the cold weather.

Throughout January several heavy snow falls may be looked for. Six inches of snow at one fall would be considered heavy, although sometimes, but rarely, ten inches or a foot will fall during a storm. The snow is light and dry and roads are easily made through it. Farmers like to see a heavy snow storin because it is regarded as a good protection to the grass roots, and in melting leaves a residuum of value as a fertilizer. Usually during each winter there are two or three days' storms, but as a general thing a snow storm is of not more than a day's duration. In January a few mild days with rain may be looked for.

February is a continuation of January in respect to the weather, but its average degree of cold is usually greater than that of any other month of the year.

March is sometimes stormy, but its average temperature is higher than that of the two preceding months. After the middle of the month mild weather, with rain, is common, and towards the close the snow begins to disappear from much-used roads and in sunny places.

Early in April all the snow melts except in the depths of the forests; the cutting and hauling of lumber is suspended and preparations are made for "stream-driving." About the middle of the month the ice in the rivers begins to break up and run out, so that when May comes in navigation is open. The ice in the lakes breaks up somewhat later. Vegetation begins to show signs of revival in April, and ploughing may be done in well-drained fields.

In May vegetation begins to make rapid progress and the

growth appears simply wonderful to a person not familiar with the New Brunswick climate. The deciduous trees put forth their leaves, the grass becomes green and flowers spring up almost before one has noticed that the snow has gone. A warm rain and a few days of bright sunshine completely transform the face of the country. Planting begins in May. In this month also the lumbermen begin to "drive" their logs out of the streams.

In June planting is continued and so rapidly do things mature in the sunny summers of New Brunswick that crops may be put in late. in this month and yet have an excellent chance of coming to perfection.

In July haying begins and, in favourable seasons, is concluded during the first fortnight in August. In July wild strawberries come to perfection and are found in abundance; towards the close of the month wild raspberries are ripe, and early garden vegetables are fit for use.

Towards the last of August the harvesting of early grain begins, and early apples are ready for marketing.

The harvest continues during September, which is generally the finest month in the year. By the last of this month all the crop, except that of roots will be gathered.

In October the root crop will be harvested, and in the last ten days of the month preparation will be made for winter. The grass will begin to fail in the pastures, and the nights will become colder with occasional frosts.

Early in November a fall of snow may be looked for, to be followed by a few days of most genial weather, known as "Indian summer." Rain and snow storms are common in November, but the snow does not remain upon the ground. About the middle of this month the rivers freeze -over, and the navigation of inland waters closes, although it sometimes opens again. Cattle must be fed at the barns during November, but sheep will continue to get a living

in the fields. In this month men and teams go to the woods to engage in lumbering.

December is the beginning of winter. The ice in the rivers and lakes becomes fixed; the snow remains on the ground; the fire-place or the stove is kept replenished with fuel all day, and by Christmas winter has fairly set in.

The effect of the winter upon agriculture is on the whole not disadvantageous. The heavy frosts render the ground friable and open, doing more good than could be accomplished by several ploughings. To the pulverizing action of the frost upon the soil is attributed the remarkable yield of root crops in New Brunswick. From the opinions expressed to the writer by one hundred and fifty practical farmers, this deduction may fairly be drawn: That an ordinary New Brunswick winter, so far from being injurious to the soil or the grass, is a positive benefit; but if there is less than the usual quantity of snow, or in localities where the natural drainage is poor and no artificial means are used to carry off the surplus water, hard frosts have an injurious effect upon the grass. Upon live stock, cared for properly, the winter has no injurious effect whatever. This is now conceded by all qualified to judge; so much so in fact that the most eminent experts, who have considered the subject, pronounce the Province to be admirably adapted for stock-raising.

FUEL.

In connection with the question of climate, that of fuel may be considered. It is not a question of much moment to the New Brunswick farmer, since he can get the best fuel in the world for the mere labor of cutting and hauling it. Rock maple and yellow birch are unsurpassed as a domestic fuel; the other varieties of wood are all valuable, though in a less degree than these. In addition to the wood supply, New Brunswick has a store of coal, hereinafter described, which is practically inexhaustible.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AS TO THE CLIMATE.

One great advantage which a settler will have in selecting New Brunswick as his home, is the absence of tornadoes, cyclones or other violent storms, destroying life and property, such as frequently occur in the Western States. Even heavy storms are uncommon, except on the exposed parts of the coast. During every summer local thunder showers are frequent, but the amount of damage done by them is inconsiderable. If heavy rains occur sudden floods do not result, as in the treeless regions of the West, but the moisture is held in the forests and lakes until it gradually finds its way to the rivers. Droughts are unknown and heavy freshets during the farming season are rare.

The official returns in the British War Office show that when New Brunswick was a military station, the health of the troops in garrison here was remarkably good; the Province in this respect standing among the first of all the British military stations. Fever and ague and malarial fevers are unknown. There is an abundance of the best of water everywhere; in fact, in all that is necessary to produce rugged men New Brunswick is unsurpassed. In all parts of North America the natives of this Province are admitted to be above the average in strength and endurance.

CHAPTER IV.

A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROVINCE.

New Brunswick is a Province of Canada.

The Dominion of Canada is a part of the British Empire. It is situated in North America, and embraces all of that continent lying north of the 49th degree of north latitude, except Alaska, formerly Russian America, and including the Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, which with the principal part of the Province of Ontario and a portion of the Province of Quebec, lie south of that parallel. Canada extends from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west. Its eastern provinces are nearer Europe and its western provinces nearer Asia than any other habitable part of America.

The Dominion is divided into the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, which border on the Atlantic; Ontario and Manitoba, which are in the interior, and British Columbia, which is on the Pacific Coast. It comprises also a vast area only partially explored, and known as the Northwest Territories, consisting largely of land excellently adapted for agriculture. The Capital of Canada is Ottawa.

The area of Canada is 3,471,392 square miles, or nearly equal to that of Europe.

The population of Canada is upwards of 4,500,000.*

*[The population of Canada by the census of 1881 was 4,315,000.]