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of making them owners of the freehold of the soil which they have redeemed from the wilderness. Of this immense advantage by far the greater majority of the tenants have availed themselves, to such an extent, indeed, that at the close of 1886, of the 76,700 acres actually remaining unsold of the 843,981, purchased by the Government, only about one-half represented land held by parties who had not yet commenced to buy. The remainder may be set down as the avail- able uncultivated and vacant Government land. These consist of forest lands of medium quality, the very best having, of course, been taken up by the tenants in the first instance, and their price averages about one dollar per acre. Parties desiring to settle upon them are allowed ten years to purchase their holdings, by paying a deposit of not less than twenty per cent, of the whole amount, the remainder being divided into ten equal instalments payable annually, with five per cent interest on the balance left unpaid each year.

Although there is apparently little room for new settlers, yet Prince Edward Island is a desirable field for a certain class of immigrants, who. in search of a ready made farm, where they may have the social comforts of life within their reach, are prepared to pay a higher price rather than go westward. Such farms can be obtained in the Island, and various circumstances have contributed to place then. ;_ " market. The desire for change, and to see the world on a larger scale than is afforded them at home, has led manv of the youth to the great North-West, and to the busier life in the large cities of the United States. The adoption of other pursuits has also, in some cases, deprived the farmer of the assistance of his sons, and, having himself acquired a competency, he is often anxious to sell and remove into town. Others, again, have been unfortunate, and are burdened with debts, of which they desire to relieve themselves and start afresh. The price of such land varies much according to its quality, situ- ation, and buildings, but, with good buildings, a farm of 100 acres can be obtain- ed from $2Q to $35. (£4. to £7.) an acre. Facilities for travel and transportation are excellent, the roads are good, and few farmers are as much as six miles from a shipping place for their surplus produce. All the necessaries of life can be had at very low rates. Labour-saving machines of the mo<t approved kinds can be purchased or hired without any difficulty, the competition in this branch

being very keen. SOIL, CROPS, &c.

The Island is noted for the fertility of its soil, and it may confidently be asserted that, with the exception of a few bogs and swamps composed of a soft spongy turf, or a deep layer of wet black nnuld, the whole Island consists of highly valuable cultivable land. The soil. which is well watered with numerous springs and rivers, is formed for the most part of a rich layer of vegetable matter above a bright loam, resting upon a still clay and sandstone; the land, in its natural state, being covered with timber and shrub of every variety. The under- lying rock through the main part of the Island, belongs to the upper Permian, capped. about New London and Cavendish, with a triangular section of Triassic of considerable size; but in Prince County, west of Summerside, where the denu- dation has been greater, the lower Permian comes to the surface. All kinds of grain and vegetables grown in England ripen herein great perfection. The prin- cipal crops raised are wheat, oats, barley, potatoes and turnips, of which oats and potatoes are exported in very large quantities. Mr. J. P. Sheldon, Professor of Agriculture at the Wilts and Hants Agricultural College, DOWnton, near Salisbury, who visited the Island in 1880, thus writes of it :_“ In some respects this is one of the most beautiful Provinces in the Dominion, and it has probably the largest proportion of cultivable land. T he soil generallyis a red sandy loam, of one character throughout, but diflering in quality. On the whole, the grass land of the Island and the character of the sward, consisting as it does of indigenous clovers and a variety of finer grasses, reminded me strongly of some portions of old England. The people, too, are more English in appearance than