harmony of the inhabitants of this beautiful and important province.

The plan of education hitherto acted upon by the executive does not give satisfaction to the inhabitants. This arises, first, from the constitution of King's College, at York, excluding those who do not subscribe to the thirty-nine articles. Secondly, from the rules established for conducting, and the lands appropriated for supporting, the Royal Grammar School. There are also eleven district grammar schools; and, in the townships, about 450 common schools.

The legislature votes annually sums in aid of public instruction; but the manner of distribution and the plan of education are generally objected to by the inhabitants.

About 90l. per annum are paid by the Legislature to the masters of grammar schools, and from 5l. to 121. 10s. to the teachers of elementary schools. The remainder of their salaries is paid by the scholars.

In 1798, twelve townships, containing, after deducting two sevenths for crown and clergy reserves, above 550,000 acres, were appropriated to the intended purpose of education. The misapplication of these lands to the purpose of equal public instruction is a subject of complaint in the colony.

The people of Upper Canada are certainly intelligent, and general readers of ephemeral productions. Besides the periodicals of Great Britain, the United States, and the neighbouring colonies, which circulate in the province, the following newspapers are printed in the colony, viz.: -At York, the Upper Canada Gazette, the Colonial Advocate, Christian Guardian, Correspondent, Patriot, Canadian Freeman, and Cou

rier; at Kingston, Upper Canada Herald, Spectator, and Chronicle; at Brockville, the Recorder and Antidote; at Prescot, the Grenville Gazette; at Cornwall, the Observer; at Perth (where there was not a house within many miles of it 18 years ago) are two newspapers; at Niagara, the Gleaner and another paper; at St. Catherine's, the Farmer's Journal; at London, the Sun; at St. Thomas's, the Liberal, the Journal, and another paper; at Hamilton, the Free Press, and the Mercury; at Port Hope, the Telegraph; at Couburg, the Reformer and Star; at Sandwich, the Emigrant; at Belleville, the Phœnix. Many of these are semi-weekly; and there are several others, weekly and semi-weekly, which I have not a list of. The weekly and semi-weekly newspapers published in this province are about 35, besides a monthly magazine. Ten years ago, there were only four or five newspapers printed in the colony.

CHAP. XV.

AGRICULTURE. - OCCUPATIONS OF THE INHABITANTS. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES AND TRADE OF UPPER CANADA.

THE fertile lands, which occupy almost the whole surface of Upper Canada, are its solid and certain foundations of power and prosperity, of happiness and independence.

Agriculture, in all new countries, is necessarily conducted in a rude manner. For some years after the forests are levelled, husbandry is subjected to local peculiarities; and, perhaps, this circumstance, and that the necessaries of life, as well as its comforts and many of its luxuries, are more easily procured in Canada than in England, occasions, generally, in the farmer, an absence of that order and skill in husbandry which so greatly delight those who travel over the agricultural districts of Great Britain.

That slovenly cultivation is generally apparent in Upper Canada, as well as in all the British colonies, cannot be denied; neither do the early settlers willingly relinquish old and rude modes of husbandry. In new countries, however, time and example are sure to accomplish improvements; and these will hereafter probably unfold themselves rapidly in a province so eminently blessed with natural advantages as Upper Canada.

Agricultural societies have been established for some time; and improvements in husbandry, by the

introduction of knowledge and skilful farmers, are evidently prevailing in every district of the province. While travelling, we observe many large and wellcultivated farms, rich orchards, fine meadows, commodious dwelling-houses, large barns and cattlehouses. Dairies are also much better attended to than formerly; and implements of husbandry, carts, and waggons, are generally made in a workmanlike and convenient form. When we also consider the extraordinary increase of population, in a great measure occasioned by emigration from the agricultural counties of the United Kingdom, and the wellknown natural advantages of this colony for farming, we may feel assured that the cultivation of the soil will hereafter be attended to with much the same attention and skill as in England.

Wheat, which will always form the great staple agricultural production, is raised in large quantities, and of the very best quality; above Kingston it is generally sown in the fall. The returns are from twenty to sometimes forty bushels per acre; no grain appears so well adapted to the soil and climate.

Barley, except in the more humid districts, does not grow so well as wheat, and it is not so generally cultivated. Rye grows best on the high light lands. Indian corn thrives well, and forms an important production. Pumpkins are grown intermixed among the Indian corn plants. Oats grow, but the climate may be considered too hot for its general culture. Millet and small grains and seeds generally answer well. Flax and hemp may be cultivated with advantage. Buckwheat is also cultivated. An acre of good land will produce from 200 to 250 bushels of potatoes; but this most useful root, if cultivated in

rich heavy land, is inferior in quality to the potatoes grown in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, or in Lancashire, England. Peas thrive in the fields. The summer is rather too hot for beans. The principal grass is Timothy (Phleum pratense), the roots of which are very hardy: white and red clover grow well among it. Parsnips, carrots, vegetable marrows, cucumbers, water melons, and common melons of delicious flavour grow in abundance. A kind of coarse rice (Zizania aquatica), gathered by the Indians, grows naturally on wet grounds, near lakes.

Apples, pears, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and most of our garden fruits will grow abundantly, and are all deliciously flavoured.

Tobacco is grown in large quantities; it is considered not so good as that of Virginia, but this is attributed to negligence or want of skill in its cultivation.

Grapes ripen in the open air, and their culture was commenced in 1830, by some Germans who lately followed, from the banks of the Rhine, a number of their friends, who were soldiers in the British service during the American war.

It is considered by many that Upper Canada is not so well adapted for grazing as for grain. This cannot, however, be proved, until the country is more generally opened. Newly cleared lands, it is true, and all forest countries are for some time unfavourable to rearing sheep; but horses and horned cattle thrive remarkably well; so do swine, and poultry of all kinds.

The inhabitants of the province are generally employed in agricultural pursuits, much in the same way as those of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Seed-time is a little earlier, as spring opens