There are four staples which make up the greatest expense of this mission: the pork, butter, drinks, and flour, which are sent; in time, the country may furnish these things. As to pork, if from the beginning of this year we had had a building, no more of it, or not much, would have had to be sent next year; we have two fat sows which are each suckling four little pigs, and these we have been obliged to feed all summer in our open court. Father Masse has raised these animals for us. If that point of which I have spoken were enclosed, they could be put there and during the summer nothing need be given them to eat; I mean that in a short time we shall be provided with pork, an article which would save us 400 livres. As to butter, we have two cows, two little heifers, and a little bull. M. de Caen having left his cattle here when he saw that he was ruined, we took of them three cows, and for [147] the family which is here, three others; they and we each gave to M. Giffard[8] a cow, so we have remaining the number that I have just stated. For lack of a building, they cost us more than they are worth, for our working people are obliged to neglect more necessary things for them; they spoil what we have sown; and they cannot be tended in the woods, for the insects torment them. They have come three years too soon, but they would have died if we had not taken them in; we took them when they were running wild. In time they will provide butter, and the oxen can be used for plowing, and will occasionally furnish meat.
Pour la boisson, il faudra faire de la bierre; mais nous attendrons encore que nous soyons bastis, et qu'il y ait une brasserie dressée: ces trois articles sont assurés avec le temps. Pour les blés, on a douté si la terre, où nous sommes, n'estoit point trop froide. Allons par ordre, et voyons la nature du sol: voicy deux années que tout ce qui est du jardinage, qui ne lève que trop, a été mangé par la vermine, qui provient ou du voisinage des bois, ou de ce que la terre n'est pas bien encor exercée et purifiée ny aérée. Au milieu de l'esté, cette vermine meurt, et nous avons de fort beaux jardinages.
As to drinks, we shall have to make some beer; but we shall wait until we have built, and until a brewery is erected; these three articles are assured, with time. As to grains, some people are inclined to think that the land where we are is too cold. Let us proceed systematically, and consider the nature of the soil: these last two years all the vegetables, which come up only too fast, have been eaten by insects, which come either from the neighborhood of the woods, or from that land which has not yet been worked and purified, nor exposed to the air. In midsummer these insects die, and we have very fine vegetables.
Pour les arbres fruitiers, je ne scay ce qui en sera. Nous avons deux allées, l'une de cent pieds [148] et plus, l'autre plus grande, plantées de sauvageons de part et d'autre fort bien repris; nous avons huit ou dix antes de pommiers et poiriers qui sont aussy fort bien reprises: nous verrons comme cela réussira. J'ay quelque créance que le froid nuit grandement aux fruits; dans quelques années nous en aurons l'expérience. On a vu icy autre fois des belles pommes.
As to the fruit trees, I do not know how they will turn out. We have two double rows of them, one of a hundred feet [148] or more, the other larger, planted on either side with wild trees which are well rooted. We have eight or ten rows of apple and pear trees, which are also very well rooted; we shall see how they will succeed. I have an idea that cold is very injurious to the fruit, but in a few years we shall know from experience. Formerly, some fine apples have been seen here.
Pour le bled d'inde, il meurit bien l'an passé; cette année il n'est pas beau.
As to the indian corn, it ripened very nicely the past year, but this year it is not so fine.
Pour les pois, je n'en ay point veu chez nous de beaux; la terre pousse trop. Ils réussissent fort bien [76] chez cette famille qui est en lieu hault et plus aéré.
As to peas, I have seen no good ones here; their growth is too rapid. They succeed very well with this family, who live in a higher and more airy location.
Le seigle a réussy deux ans. Nous en avons semé pour en faire l'expérience; il est fort beau.