Natural resources of Quebec

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1796289558

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-181093

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Natural resources of Quebec

Edition:: Rev. ed.

Place of publication:: Ottawa

Publisher:: Natural resources intelligence service

Year of publication:: 1929

Scope:: 132 p; illus., maps

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter IX. Settlement areas

Collection:: Economics Books

NATURAL RESOURCES OF QUEBEC ABITIBI 113 Abitibi district is situated in the county of Abitibi, between the boundary of the province of Ontario and the Bell river. It extends south from the 49th parallel of latitude to the Ottawa river and includes an area of about 8,000 square miles, over half of which is well suited to the growth of field crops. The clay belt, in which this district lies, is known to extend as far as 120 miles north of the Canadian National railway and, except for a few patches of marsh land and sandy ridges, the whole clay area is suitable for agriculture. The soil, though invariably acid, consists of bluish or reddish clay with 10 to 20 per cent of fine sand and is covered by a layer of humus and decayed vegetable matter varying from 4 inches to 7 or 8 feet in depth. It is well provided with the essential elements of fertility, namely, nitrogen, soluble phosphates and potash, and its pronounced acidity can be easily corrected by proper liming; but, even without the addition of any commercial fertilizer, biological and chemical changes in the soil resulting from aeration due to drainage and tillage are sufficient to develop a medium favourable to the growth of thrifty crops. Abitibi was opened to cultivation about the year 1912. To-day Abitibi is a county represented by a member of the Provincial Legislature, and possessing a Court House, Registry Office, a land agency, a mining bureau and several branches of banks. There are a number of industries. Already 20 parishes have been established and the population exceeds 18,000 souls recorded in the parishes. In the Abitibi district in 1926 there were 26 school municipalities, 96 schools, and 4,000 inscribed pupils. Farming has been carried on around lake Abitibi and along the railway from La Reine to Senneterre with very satisfactory results. The clearing of the land requires but comparatively little work because of the shallow habits of the forest in this region. The whole operation might be com- pleted in a short time, but, as a rule the work is distributed over a longer period, partly for economy of labour and also to secure greater product- ivity of the soil, which is improved by the partial decay of the roots of the stumps after the trees have been cut. In the meantime, shallow cultivation between stumps, while hastening the rot of the organic refuse left on and within the soil, gives the settler generous immediate returns in the form of potatoes, grain and hay. In addition he secures cash for his pulpwood, the yield of which averages about 10 cords an acre. Not infrequently, though, a thick layer of peatmoss interferes with immediate cultivation and repeated burning is resorted to. Id a few cases, some kind of rough drainage must be provided. The success of the burning operation is dependent on favourable climatic conditions. Too eften, after the fire has passed again and again over the same spot, very little humus is left, stumps and moss alike having been consumed. The use of RR105-=8

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