The land is low and flat with few hills. Drainage is a problem, especially in the village. Much of the land is unforested, but most farms have one or two woodlots. Specifically O'Leary is a business centre which provides goods and services to the farmers and fishermen in the surrounding areas populated by approximately five thousand people. Easy access to this centre is provided by four main roads which enter the community from north, south, east, and west. During the past few winters temperatures and amount of snow¬ fall have changed considerably. The trend is towards warmer temper¬ atures and less snowfall accumulation — the winter of 1982 being the exception. The highest temperature recorded at the local research station of the Department of Agriculture was 31 degrees Celsius on August 12, 1988; the lowest -29 degrees Celsius on January 22, 1984. Rainfall is sufficient throughout the growing season with few summers slightly drier than the average. Autumn rains usually bring enough moisture to provide a continuous water supply for the winter months. Seeding normally begins about May 10; all crops are harvested by October 31, but there is danger of frost early in September. Because of nearness to large bodies of water, nights cool rapidly. In general, both the type of soil and climate are suitable for agri¬ culture - the potato industry being of prime importance. "OVER ON THE ISLAND" By Helen Jean Champion Copyright Canada , 1939 By The Ryerson Press Published, 1939 Reprinted, 1946. Pages 253 to 255 O'Leary is a typical inland village, containing as it does the cus¬ tomary buildings - churches, bank, station, stores, and houses. Its sidewalk is a real treasure. Anyone who can walk from one end to the other without assuming a horizontal position at least once is a per¬ fect marvel. The sidewalk goes up in places, and then down, then flat, then up again and down. Then it gives up the ghost and breaks into pieces in hilly fashion. It is a unique sidewalk and one which conforms a real distinction to the person able to negotiate it safely. Something should be done. Those who can navigate it safely should