62

LOWER CANADA.

rocks which extend into New Brunswick and the New Eng-land States. Here also the same classes of rocks have theirsurface covered with the same mixture of forest trees, con-sisting of beech, maple, birch, and elm, with a sprinklingof pines. A few spots are occupied entirely by tbe maple,from which sugar is obtained by boiling the juice collectedin spring, when the sap begins to flow.

In the afternoon I walked to the top of the hill, to obtaina view of the surrounding country. The weather was charm-ing, for the south wind had once more brought a delightfultemperature, quite in contrast to that of yesterday, whenthe cold north wind made it very uncomfortable. A beauti-ful little snake, the second I had seen in America, glidedacross our path, but, being pursued, it stood half erect andwaited our approach, when it was quickly dispatched with astone.

In ascending the flank of the hill, fine orchards of appletrees were once more observed on the poor granitic gravels,and many of the trees were loaded with fruit. The appledoes not thrive on the clay soils of the flats of the St. Law-rence, in consequence, I suppose, of their tenacious nature,while good orchards are met with throughout the island ofMontreal, where the soil rests upon the limestone and is morefriable.

A complete bird’s-eye view is got of an immense stretchof country from the top of the hill of St. Hilaire. TheRichelieu in its windings is lined on both banks with farm-houses, which have the appearance of one long stragglingvillage. The country between the Richelieu and the St.Lawrence is flat, and double rows of houses line the roadsthat intersect the treeless tract; while the long narrowstrips of farms, with their wooden fences, look like ridges inthe distance. Towards the south the country is mountain-ous and covered with timber.

The autumn frosts were rapidly changing the colour ofthe leaves. Indeed, in those parts where they were exposedto the winds they were withered, and many had alreadydropped off. In looking down into the sheltered hollows,however, where the leaves were only undergoing a mellowing