Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/773

* NOVA SCOTIA. 657 NOVA SCOTIA. importance, the annual product being about $2,- oOO.OOO and $1,500,000 respectively. AciUH'Ui.TURE AND G..MK. Tlic Valley lands of Nova .Scotia are exceedingly fertile. Even the reckless method of cultivation often indulged in has failed to exhaust this fertility. The hill lands are more rocky and less fruitful. The flora is nnich the same as is found in other sections of Canada south of the Saint Lawrence. As a result of its somewhat insular climate, however, a few species are found which are unknown in other parts of the continent. Forests ori^iinally cov- ered the greater portion of the luovince, tho varieties of trees being well dividecl between the hard and soft woixls, the former being more com- mon in the protected valleys. At many points the original forests have been removed, resulting in a notewortliy climatic change — noteworthy be- cause dill'erent from that which usually follows forest removals — namely, the moist coast air gains a more easy access to the interior, increas- ing the degree of moisture of both atmosphere and soil. Tamarack, spruce, balsam, and other soft woods have taken the place of the beech, maple, elm, walnut, and other hard woods, where these have been removed. Furthermore extra drainage is required and the agricultural indus- try has been materially modified. The iier acre yield of almost every crop raised is scarcely exceeded in any part of the continent. The cultivation of the soil, however, is confined to the valleys and has not more than lield its own for a long time. Oats and potatoes are the most favored crops; hay, barley, wheat, buck- wheat, and rye are next in importance. The root crops — especially turnips — receive much atten- tion. The greatest agricultural activity centres in the protected -Annapolis and Cornwallis val- leys, which have Ijccome renowned for their pro- duction of fine fruits. Fruit-raising is receiv- ing increased attention, and apples constitute one of the principal articles of export, their repu- tation having been won both by virtue of their flavor and their keeping qualities. The broken land is well adapted to grazing and the usual varieties of domestic animals are bred. Cattle, however, are the only species which has re- ceived much attention. Cattle were formerly raised chietly for the butcher, but more recently for dairy purposes. The butter and cheese prod- ducts arc becoming important sources of revenue, and dairy farming will apparently control the industrial activity of the future. In many districts biids and wild animals — ■ bears, foxes, wolves, deer, and smaller varieties — are in sufficient numbers to afford excellent hunting. JI.XlF.4CTrRES AND TRANSPORTATION. The maritime situation of Nova Scotia is most favor- able for iiurposes of trade with European and Atlantic seaboard States. The coast line (about 1000 miles long) has an unusual numlier of in- dentntiiins, which ofl'cr exceptional harbor facili- ties. The harbors on the .Atlantic and the Bay of Fundy coasts are accessible the year round. Halifax (q.v. ), on the Atlantic coast, is the har- bor most frequented. The registered vessels built by the province number 155 steamers and Iflfifi sail boats. The tonnage for both the over- sea and coastwise vessels which enter and leave the harbors is rapidlv increasing, amountinsr in inOO to a total of ,"!, 700,000 and ia.OOO.OOO respec- tively. The Intercolonial Railroad, with termi- nals in Halifax on the east and in Sydney on the north coast, connects Nova Scotia with the other Canadian provinces. Other lines traverse the southern part of the peninsula, making a total of 04.3 miles for the province in 1901. As in the other provinces. Oovernment subsidies have great- ly aided in railroad eonstruAion. The largest items of export are fish, coal, lumber, and min- erals, while the imports consist largely of West India (noduce and British and American manu- factured products. No industry of the province has so bright a prospect as manufacturing. Aside from ship- building, which li; j;reatlv declined, manufac- turing has never been important. Nova Scotia has the exceptional advantage at home of the iron ore, coal, and limestone (used as llux), and there- fore seems destined to be a seat of iron and steel manufacturing in<lustries. Coke is being manu- factured, aiul at Sydney in Cape Breton the iron and steel inilustry is being developed on an ex- tensive scale. The forests afford a large supply of tanning barks. This has given rise to the 1 aiming industry,. other natural advantage to manufacturing is the great water power afi'orded by the streams of the province. There are a number of cotton mills. Sugar is manufac- tured at Halifax. Extensive fruit-raising ex- plains the number of canning factories. Butter and chee.se factories are increasing in number. Banks. In 18S19 the chartered bank branches numbered 60. The clearing-house transactions in Halifax in 1000 amounted to .$77,600,000. The post-office savings l)anks numbered 50 ( lilOO), with 13,125 depositors an<l an average deposit of .$261.44. There were also (1900) 15 Government savings banks, having 15,470 depositors, with an average deposit of $:!0fi.64. GovERN.MENT. Nova Scotia was incorporated with the Dominion of Canada in 1S67, and is represented in the Canadian Parliament by 10 Senators and 20 members of the Lower House. It has a!.?o its own local Legislature and a Lieu- lenant-(!overnor. This otlicial is appointed by the (Jovernor-General of the Dominion and his Council. The Legislatiire consists of a Council and a Hou.se of Assemldy elected by the counties • — which are 18 in number — and by the cities, the municipal imits of government being counties and towns. The people elect a county council — each polling district having one re|)resentative — which in turn appoints the other county ofFicers. It is necessary to secure the sanction of the people in order to borrow money, and the Lieutenant- Governor of the |uovince has a right of veto upon the money-boirowing powers, as well as the by-laws pas.sed by the Council. The capital of the province is Halifax. The principal sources of revenue for the Pro- vincial Government consist of the Dominion sub- sidy of about $432,000 annually and the mine royalties. These royalties are becoming almost as great as the Dominion subsidies. The total receipts for 1000 exceeded .$1,000,000. and the exiienditurcs were $037,000. The same .vear the net debt of the province amounted to $2,713,000. In 1900 the charitable institutions cost the province $128,000. These consist of a deaf and dumb institution, a blind institution, a general hospital, and 24 poor-houses. Persons sentenced for crime are sent to the Dominion penitentiary, maintained for the Maritime Provinces at Dor- chester. N. B.