When the stumps are removed, the plough may be used, though for the first or second time with some difficulty, from the roughness of the surface, and the remnants of decayed roots. After that, however, a farmer may follow the same agricultural process as in England, and, according to his management, may expect nearly the same produce as on a similar soil in this country.

The first crop or two upon newly cleared land, are of course much inferior to those of England. But without any other manure than the ashes of the burnt timber, an acre may easily be made to produce 150 or 160 bushels of potatoes, and 200 is not an extraordinary produce. In the same rough state of the land, the usual produce of grain is about 15 or 16 bushels of wheat, and 20 or 25 of barley or oats. From 10 cwt. to a ton, of timothy or clover hay, may be expected, if grass seeds are sown; but this is not usually practised in the early stage of clearing. When the clearing is completed, the land may easily be brought, by tolerable cultivation, to produce crops of double the

amount that can be raised in the first instance. But it must be allowed, that the settlers who manage their land with sufficient judgment form a very small proportion.

The quantity of land which may be brought into cultivation annually from the forest, varies with the dexterity of the workman, as well as the size of the timber: that of the island is seldom so heavy as in the more southern parts of America, where one man has frequently cleared ten acres in the course of a year, besides the other work of his farm. This, however, is a great exertion. In this island six or seven acres may in general be accomplished by an industrious settler, though not more expert at the axe than any active man may become in the course of two or three years' practice. A perfect novice could not do so much; but any one who does not accomplish two or three acres, must either be a very indifferent hand, or deficient in industry.

The climate is not capable of ripening Indian corn with certainty; but every article

that comes to maturity in England seems in Prince Edward's Island to reach as great perfection as can be expected from the slight and careless culture generally bestowed. The summer is rather warmer than that of England; the winter longer; but in severity not perhaps very different from that of the Netherlands. The cattle are often left to support themselves in the woods during the early part of winter; but, on the whole, from 1 to 1 ton of hay to each is considered as requisite for wintering. In summer, the cattle find abundance of food in the woods, sufficient at least for the young stock; but the settlers are too much in the habit of allowing those of all descriptions to take their chance alike. The consequence is, that the produce of the dairy is inconsiderable, and that the full aged cattle are not well fattened. The few who pay more attention, find their advantage in providing better pasture for their cows and feeding cattle. The sheep are more generally kept in inclosed pastures, as they cannot, without danger, be allowed to go into the woods.

These particulars may be sufficient to enable the intelligent agriculturist to form an estimate of the circumstances and ultimate situation to which any emigrant may probably attain, according to the degree of his industry.

The advancement already gained by the settlers, whose progress I have more particularly described, has been spoken of above as uncommon. This, however, is not to be understood as in comparison with that which might have been made in the same circumstances by natives of America. It is by no means unusual among settlers of that description, that the first crop they reap, after beginning to clear a new farm, is more than sufficient for the support of a family and for maintaining them in a degree of luxury,which to the Scotish peasantry would appear lute extravagance. But the Americans have a great advantage, in their perfect acquaintance with the woods, and in the dexterity which continual practice has given them in the use of the axe. No comparison can be stated between their case, and that of men

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who from a country where they had scarcely ever seen a tree, were taken at once to a situation, where they could with difficulty find room even to place their huts till they had cleared away the wood.

These people could not, perhaps, have attained a state of independence so soon, but for a combination of advantages rarely enjoyed by European emigrants. Their industry, with all the arrangements for giving it effect, would not have been sufficient, if their habits had been less hardy, or their ideas of the necessaries of life less moderate. So many instances indeed are quoted of the ill success of Europeans when placed at once in the heart of the wild woods, that I have heard several gentlemen of the highest abilities and experience in the United States, pronounce an unqualified opinion, that a new settlement could not be formed without a basis of native Americans.

The decisive experimental proof to the contrary that has been stated in these pages, seems to me of some consequence in a