198 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



which undoubtedly will grow well here — for replenishing the soil in this valuable 

 constituent was pointed out* The clay soils require similar treatment and would 

 also bo improved by an occasional liming. The use of swamp muck as a fertilizer was 

 explained and the most economic treatment for bringing these muck soils (which 

 occupy considerable areas in Vancouver Island) into successful cultivation, given. 

 Orchards here were found, as a rule, in sod. This is evidently a plan not best suited 

 for the soil and climatic conditions prevailing. Dairying is progressing and a creamery, 

 started about a year ago, is stated as making good progress and leading to the increase 

 in the number of milch cows, and consequently to more manure produced on the farm. 

 There seems no reason why pork production should not increase with the development 

 of the dairy industry and thus give the farmer an additional and luci-ative source of 

 revenue.. 



Comox and Courtenay. — This has already established an excellent reputation as a 

 dairying district, there being good pasture, excellent water and some very fine dairy 

 animals on practically all the farms visited. The co-operative creamery at Comox is 

 well patronized and is stated to be in a flourishing condition. Greater care is required 

 to keep the fields free of weeds, among which we noticed the Canada thistle and Velvet 

 Grass. This latter is almost worthless as a pasture grass or for hay, and efforts should 

 be made by ploughing up old pasture and re-seeding neglected fields to stamp it out. 

 A very noxious weed that is spreading here and elsewhere on the island is the Wild 

 Barley (Hordeum juhatum). Its awns are dagerous, causing sores in the jaws of the 

 cattle eating the grass. Since dairying will undoubtedly be the most important branch 

 of farming here, the value of com and the silo was pointed out. In both Nanaimo and 

 Comox districts the introduction of silos would no doubt be advantageous. 



From Courtenay we proceeded to Cumberland, and from that point drove to Park- 

 ville — ^most of the way being through a magnificent forest, chiefly of Douglas fir, cedar 

 and balsam. There are but few ranchee as yet along the road. The soil on the higher 

 ridges is light and gravelly, but much of the nature of a black sandy loam is 

 noticed in the lower levels. At Parkville there was an excellent meeting, at which 

 many matters of interest in connection with the treatment of soils, &c., were discussed. 



Alherni. — The drive from Parkville to Alberni (27 miles) traverses a most magni- 

 ficent primeval forest, one certainly that no effort should be spared to protect from 

 the ruthless axe of the lumberman. This region would, if reserved, make a national 

 park of unexcelled beauty and grandeur, for its scenery, especially in the vicinity of 

 Cameron lake, is very fine. Managed under the rules of good forestry, moreover, it 

 could be made remunerative, which we scarcely think will be the case once the trees 

 are gone, for the soil is very light and for the most part ill adapted to agriculture. 



At Alberni a beginning is being made in co-operative dairying, a creamery being 

 in course of construction a few miles from the village. This will materially help to 

 improve the farming prospects, by converting the raw material into a finished and more 

 concentrated product. There will then be a possibility of getting the produce to Victoria 

 and other markets, at present impossible owing to well nigh prohibitive freight rates. 

 The reclamation of muck lands was a subject here of much interest as there are large 

 areas now in swamp that might be made productive. 



On the Mainland — Agassiz and Chilliwaclc. — These were the first places visited. 

 Two days were spent with much profit on the Experimental Farm at Agassiz, and 

 under the experienced guidance of Mr, Sharpe, the Superintendent, much informa- 

 tion was gained as to the possibilities of the district, not only as a fruit-growing area, 

 but also as to its suitability for mixed farming. It was somewhat a matter of surprise 

 to me to find such excellent soil on the upper benches of the mountain here, soil of 

 better quality in fact than much of that occupying the flats level with the river, 

 the greater part of which at this point is of a very sandy or gravelly nature. The 

 luxuriance of the clover crop here showed that there should be little difficulty in econ- 

 omically maintaining the soil's fertility. 



