20 NATURAL RESOURCES OF QUEBEC
on the southern shore of James bay, root crops are grown annually and
pats have been successfully raised.
According to Dr. A. P. Low's report, the large area of country situated
to the south and southeast of James bay is covered by good clay soil
capped with sandy loam. With proper drainage this portion of Ungava
vould make excellent farm land.
Climate.—The climate ranges from cold temperate, on the southern
coasts, to arctic on Hudson strait and the high lands of the northern inte-
rior, and is generally so rigorous that it is very doubtful if the country will
ever be fit for agriculture north of latitude 51 degrees, except on the low-
lands near the coast of James bay. The highlands of the interior have
only two seasons, winter and summer, the abrupt changes occurring during
the first two weeks of June and September. The temperature during the
winter season is often very low on the interior high lands. At the North-
west River post on lake Melville, where the temperature is moderated by
the open sea, the average minimum winter temperature is 45 degree below
zero, Fah. In the interior the summer temperature rarely rises above
80 degrees.
Timber.—The forests of Ungava are continuous in natural growth
over the southern part to between latitudes 52 degrees and 54 degrees, the
only exception being the summits of rocky hills. To the northward of
latitude 53 degrees, the higher hills are treeless and the size and number
of the barren areas rapidly increase. In latitude 55 degrees, more than half
the surface of the country is treeless, woods being found only about the
margins of small lakes and the river vallevs, and the trees also decrease
in size.
Owing to the great destruction by forest fires, it is estimated that not
more than one-sixth of this territory, known as the sub-arctic zone, has
merchantable timber on it.
Along the Nottaway river region, where the rainfall is abundant, the
forest fires have not been so destructive. White spruce is perhaps the
most valuable tree of the district. It grows to large size along the rivers
and lakes. A considerable portion of the trees growing inland also attain
good size. The black spruce grows more plentifully and a large proportion
is of sufficient size for various useful purposes, such as fuel, buildings,
railway ties, and pulpwood. Balsam fir grows abundantly throughout
the region. White or canoe birch is plentiful in places. These extensive
forests if preserved from fire will constitute a valuable reserve for future
needs.
Minerals.— Little prospecting has been done in New Quebec and the
mineral resources are scarcely known. Iron ore appears to be the com-
monest and is distributed over large areas, being found along the east
