52 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 

 GENERAL CROPS IN THE COAST CLIMATE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



The crops in the coast climate of British Columbia have been very satisfactory. 

 The hay crop was particularly heavy. Oats and other grain also promised abundant 

 returns, a promise which has since been fully realized. 



KAMLOOPS TO VERNON. 



On the return journey a two days' drive was taken across the country from Kam- 

 loops to Vernon. We proceeded first a few miles east towards Ducks, then south-west 

 about 28 miles to Grand Prairie. All this part of the country was dry and no crops 

 were grown without irrigation. Grand Prairie consists of about 8,000 to 10,000 acres 

 of nearly level land, hemmed in by hills and mountain ridges with an abundant supply 

 of water for irrigation. A large proportion of this land is under cultivation and the 

 crops were very good. A large nuinber of pigs are raised in this valley, which when 

 sufficiently mature are driven to the nearest railway station and shipped to Vancouver. 



Leaving this small but prosperous community the following morning, we reached 

 Vernon in the evening. The road ran over many wooded hills and valleys where large 

 herds of cattle found pasture. Approaching Vernon the grain crops were remarkably 

 good. The' scenery was very interesting and the drive one to be long remembered. 



LORD Aberdeen's orchard. 



Five miles from Vernon we reach Coldstream, the estate of Lord Aberdeen, where 

 there is one of the largest and best orchards in Canada. The trees number many 

 thousand, are all well grown, and a large proportion of them were bearing fruit. The 

 crop of apples this year was a very large one. At Coldstream there are also large plan- 

 tations of plums, pears, cherries and small fruits and a veiy large field of hops. 



CALGARY TO MACLEOD. 



August 16. — Left Calgary at 7.45 a.m. for Macleod. From Calgary to Midnapore 

 there were some crops and a few settlers, but most of the land is devoted to the grazing 

 of horses. South of Midnapore the railway track had been submerged for some miles 

 owing to the heavy rains. Some good fields of oats were seen near DeWinton, some of 

 which were cut and in stook. Okotoks and High River are thriving towns on this line, 

 many settlers have lately come into this district and a considerable area of land is under 

 crop. South of this the country as far as Macleod is chiefly devoted to ranching. 



From Macleod to Lethbridge the journey was made after dark. The district of 

 which Lethbridge is the centre, is improving considerably, and since the new irrigation 

 ditch has been constructed and put in operation, many new settlers have come in. The 

 town also has improved much in appearance, the gardens are well supplied with water, 

 and the large public square in the centre has been planted with rows of trees (Dakota. 

 Cottonwood) which are growing well. 



LETHBRIDGE TO MORMON SETTLEMENTS. 



The Mormon settlements in this district are growing fast. A di'ive was taken to the 

 town of Stirling also to Raymond. Stirling which is only three years old has now a 

 population of 700 and the settlers have cropped 3,500 acres of land this year, about one- 

 half of which was wheat. A considerable quantity of winter wheat is grown here. 

 Raymond is about fifteen miles from Stirling. In my last annual report p. 84 I made 

 some reference to this new town, which was then being founded. In September, 1902, 

 when I first passed the site of this place, two or three tents were the only objects 

 visible on the wide stretching prairie; but in August, 1903, after a lapse of eleven 



