RtiOiiT OF TEE CUEMIfiT 197 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



This system is in operation in many parts of Canada and has proved satisfactory 

 wherever installed, so that it cannot be regarded as an experiment. It is in use in 

 rural homes, in several cheese factories and creameries, in asylums, factories, &c., 

 and in every instance, I believe, it is working efficiently. 



In the preparation of this article, the writer has consulted Dr. P. H. Bryce, Chief 

 Medical Officer of the Department of the Interior, who, when Secretary of the Pro- 

 vincial Board of Health for Ontario, was instrumental in introducing this system into 

 various public institutions. He authorizes the statement that after 15 years' experi- 

 ence this system properly installed has proved the most sanitary and most economical 

 method yet discovered for sewage disposal on a moderate scale. 



AN AGEICULTUEAL TOUR IN BPJTISH COLUMBIA. 



Accompanied by Mr. J. R, Anderson, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Victoria, 

 I visited during May and June of the present year the greater number of the more 

 important agricultural districts of that province, both on Vancouver Island and tha 

 main-k'.nd. This tour had been under contemplation for sorne time past, for the 

 number of inquiries regarding soils, croi>s, &c., &c., received from that province has been 

 steadily on the increase for several years, and it was felt that the information, the 

 advice thus sought could be more satisfactorily given if the writer had some personal 

 knowledge of the country, its soils, and methods of farming. Further, it was desirablo 

 to study more fully the climatic conditions prevailing in the various districts referred 

 to, as well as to obtain an insight into the practice of irrigation, largely used in the 

 Okanagan, Nicola and valleys and other parts of the 'dry belt' of British Columbia. The 

 itinerary was planned and arranged by Mr. Anderson, to whom I am greatly indebted 

 for much help and many kindnesses. It was at a time when one could best study the 

 soils and their crops and afford an opportunity of meeting the men working the land 

 on the land and discussing with them their failures and successes. The days, there- 

 fore, were spent largely in examining soils, crops, and conditions generally. We were 

 frequently accompanied through the fields by the farmer and his neighbours and this 

 enabled us to hold many impromptu meetings ' on the ground,' which proved of much 

 interest and value to all present. In the evenings, meetings of a more general character 

 were convened under the auspices of the local Farmers' Institute. In all, twenty-one 

 of these evening meetings were held and addressed, and with very few exceptions the 

 attendances were large. The interest of the people in agricultural matters was evident 

 at every point visited and there was a sincere desire on the part of all whom we met 

 in this way to benefit as far as possible by our visit. Considered from every point of 

 view, I look back upon this tour as possibly the most satisfactory I have ever made 

 to any province in the Dominion. The information gained must be of immense value 

 to me in the future when considering the farming problems of that province, and in 

 this connection, I desire to add that very much of the interest and enjoyment of the 

 trip was due to the intimate knowledge of the country by Mr. Anderson, who was not 

 only of the greatest service to me, but who strove to make my visit both pleasurable 

 and profitable, and in this was eminently successful. 



It will not be possible to give any detailed account of this survey trip here, but 

 an outline enumerating the places visited, together with one or two of the more salient 

 features of the districts examined, may prove of interest.* 



Vancouver Island — Nanaimo and Cedar. — Though there are clay lands in this 

 district their area appears to be limited. The larger part of the soil is of a light sandy 

 or gravelly nature, which is frequently deficient in humus. The value of clover — 



*A report of this tour, in extenso, has been written by Mr. AndrrGon. and will appear in 

 his forthcoming report of the Department of Agriculture for British Columbia. 



