The most populous Province of the Dominion of Canada; established in 1867. Previous to 1791 formed part of the Province of Quebec; from 1791 to 1840 known as Upper Canada; in 1840 reunited with Quebec, under the name of Canada.
Area, census of 1881, 101,733 square miles. Total land occupied, 19,259,909 acres; improved, 11,294,109 acres, of which 8,370,266 acres were under crops; 2,619,038 acres in pasture, and 304,805 acres in gardens and orchards.
Temperature at Toronto: winter, 4.8° to 62.5°; summer, 38.7° to 92.7°; mean temperature, 44.16°. Rainfall at Toronto, 28.43 inches.
The surface of the country is diversified by numerous lakes and rivers. The agricultural resources are very great, and the mineral wealth varied and rich.
Public affairs are administered by a Lieutenant Governor, assisted by an Executive Council of 6, and a House of Assembly of 89 members. Capital, Toronto; pop. 86,415. Ottawa, the capital of the Dominion; pop., 27,412. Ontario sends 24 members to the Dominion Senate.
Agricultural products, 1881: wheat, 27,406,091 bushels; barley, 14,279,841 bushels; oats, 40,209,929 bushels; rye, 1,598,871 bushels; peas and beans, 9,434,872 bushels; buckwheat, 841,649 bushels; corn, 8,096,782 bushels; potatoes, 18,994,559 bushels; turnips, 33,856,721 bushels; other root crops, 6,479,222 bushels; hay, 2,038,659 tons; grass and clover seed, 173,219 bushels; flaxseed, 38,208 bushels; tobacco, 160,251 pounds; hops, 615,967 pounds.
Latest reported orchard products: apples, 11,400,517 bushels; grapes, 3,697,555 pounds; other fruits, 644,707 bushels.
Amount of butter produced on farms, 54,862,365 pounds; cheese, 1,701,721 pounds; wool, 6,013,216 pounds; cloth, flannel and linen, 1,440,199 yards. Maple sugar produced 1881, 4,169,706 pounds; honey, 1,197,628 pounds; flax and hemp, 1,073,197 pounds. Value of fur product, $129,578.
Number of farm animals in the Province, 1881: horses, 590,298; oxen, 23,263; milch cows and other cattle, 1,678,904; sheep, 1,359,178; swine, 700,922.
Latest reported timber product: white pine, 12,262,570 cu. ft.; red pine, 1,848,927 cu. ft.; oak, 5,448,263 cu. ft.; tamarack 1,515,360 cu. ft.; walnut, 741,431 cu. ft.; birch and maple, 612,760 cu. ft.; elm, 2,925,382 cu. ft.; all other timber, 26,577,869 cu. ft.; number of pine logs, 14,945,670; other logs, 7,621,610.