6 
NATURAL RESOURCES OF QUEBEC 
ties that flourish in southern Ontario. Strawberries are grown in large 
juantities and the famous musk melons of the island of Montreal are in 
jemand at high prices in the United States. 
Tobacco has been grown since the early days of the colony and a 
tobacco manufacturing industry has been developed. In the manufacture 
of maple sugar Quebec stands first among the provinces. Bee-keeping 
A corner of the Ouebec country where farmers enjoy prosperity 
s growing in importance, favourable conditions for this industry being 
available throughout the province, especially in the southern Laurentian 
olateau. 
In the following sections the main branches of agricultural industry 
in Quebec will be treated in some detail. 
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO AGRICULTURE Co 
Agricultural Societies.—Government assistance to agriculture has 
peen especially generous. Grants have increased from $609,962 in 1913-14 
to $1,928,784 in 1927. This is expended for the maintenance of agricul- 
tural schools, for a staff of lecturers and other officials and for the support 
of societies and 797 farmers’ clubs having an aggregate membership of 
52,084. There are in addition numerous other agricultural associations 
of a co-operative character, grouped under one central ‘“‘Federated Co- 
operative of Quebec,” with a reported membership of 14,563 in 1927.