Population and Lifestyle
The rural farmer is the backbone of Canada East. Only 20% of the population lives in cities. The French-Canadian farmers, known as the habitants, live on long strip farms that hug the shores of the St. Lawrence and other rivers. They pride themselves with their french language and customs. Their clothing, celebrations, food and houses are distictinctive. They build their stone houses and make most of their funiture from the abundant wood supply. These houses have steep sloped roofs to keep off the snow in winter. Their clothes are also homemade. Most of the food they eat is produced on their farms. The most important farm products are potatoes, rye, buckwheat, maple sugar and livestock.
Most of the people outside the towns and cities are farmers. Lumber, however, is the primary natural resource of Canada East. In the bush, hundreds of workers cut trees and square them with board axes. Then they float the logs to St. Lawrence River during the spring floods. Sawmills turn the logs into planks and boards for sale in the United States. Factories in Canada East make shingles, furniture, matches, washboards, door frames and windows.
Most of the people outside the towns and cities are farmers. Lumber, however, is the primary natural resource of Canada East. In the bush, hundreds of workers cut trees and square them with board axes. Then they float the logs to St. Lawrence River during the spring floods. Sawmills turn the logs into planks and boards for sale in the United States. Factories in Canada East make shingles, furniture, matches, washboards, door frames and windows.
