Thomas Turner's Farm, Vernon, Prince Edward Island.
Up to the middle of the nineteenth century most immigrants were land-hungry, often coming from those dispossessed in their former homelands. Acquisition and development of a farmstead was usually the basic objective of their emigration. Farming, like most staples-oriented activities, featured seasons of intense activity followed by rest, or work in some other sector of the economy. Because of the ready availability of alternative work, the hard labour of clearing the land sometimes took longer than in other parts of North America. This contributed to the underdevelopment of Maritimes farming, a fact commented upon by many nineteenth century observers. Although certain areas, Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, New Brunswick's Saint John Valley and much of Prince Edward Island, could produce regular crop surpluses, the region remained a net importer of agricultural products throughout the nineteenth century. Root crops and animal products were exported to Newfoundland and the West Indies, while grains were imported from other parts of North America. A farmstead such as this one located on Prince Edward Island was out of the question for most immigrant workers. A substantial dwelling, outbuildings and cleared fields could only result from generations of hard labour, possible only where soil conditions permitted continuous cultivation and where there was sufficient skill to adapt to evolving market trends.
