UEi'oirr or the chkmiht 201 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



here. On the roots of all those examined, noilnlcs were found. Potatoes and root crops ■ 

 also do very well. The chief agricultural industry is at present the production of beef 

 though \vc think, with railroad facilities to a market, the district would prove almost 

 equally suited to dairying and orcharding. The universal custom is to_ allow the cattlo 

 to find their own food in tlie v/oods on the mountains during the summer and to feed 

 them in the winter months on the hay cut from the irrigated fields already spoken of. 

 As the land is taken up, this primitive method of farming miist be more and m.orvi 

 abandone;!, and we are of the opinion that even in beef production the more modern 

 methods Avhich the changed conditions will render necessary to adopt, will be more 

 remunerative than those now in vogue. 



A day was spent in the vicinity of ISTicola, where there was further and abundant 

 evidence of the wonderful growth of both grasses and clovers. 



On the road between Xicola and Kamloops many excellent farms were visited, 

 though some fields, we regretted to notice, were badly infested with wild mustard. 

 Exceptionally fine crops of Alfalfa and Brome Grass were examined at 'Pattersons,' 

 about hall" way to Kamloops. Two, and frequently three, cuttings, I was told, were 

 taken from the former in the season, while the latter gives a large yield of hay and a 

 very heavy and palatable aftermath for grazing. 



Strange as it may seem, great injury to roads and fields had been caused in several 

 places along the route by freshets in the spring. With uncontrollable fury the waters 

 had burst forth from the ravines bringing huge boulders, stones, trees, &c.,.with them 

 and ruining thereby sometimes beyond hope of reclamation, considerable areas of fine 

 land. 



Unfortunately our programme did not allow time for an excursion to Grand 

 Prairie, where I am told there is an excellent farming section and a large number 

 of interested and intelligent men. 



From Kamloops a drive was taken on the north side of the Thompson river, along 

 which a ditch to bring water for irrigating purposes is being constructed. The water 

 will be conveyed about 1 7 miles from Jameson creek. It is expected when the schemo 

 is finished that several thousand acres can be brought into productive cultivation. 



The Ohanagan. — Proceeding from Sicamous to Okanagan Landing by rail wo 

 thence continued by boat to Summerland, a comparatively speaking new agricultural 

 development near the southern end of the Okanagan Lake. This and Peachland, fur- 

 ther north on the same side of the lake, were of particular interest to me, by reason of tho 

 methods by which they have been developed and exploited by the parties or companies 

 originally owning these sites. The land after careful survey, has been divided into five 

 and ten acre lots, allowances for roads, &c., being made. These lots are sold subject to 

 certain rules and taxes, among the latter being an annual rate (25 cents per acre at Sum- 

 merland) for irrigation water supplied by the company. The newer of the two places 

 ij Summcrlajid, and hero at present the greater activity is evident. Many of the lots 

 have been planted as orchards, and if not at present worked by the owner are managed 

 by the company, which, in addition to an initial charge for breaking and planting, 

 collect an annual fee for this care of the trees. The land before this operation has 

 a 'thin' look and is sparsely covered with tho native sage, (fcc, but with working and 

 the careful application of water, it can no doubt be marie productive. We should 

 strongly advi=o. however, better preparation of the soil, than has been the practice, 

 before setting out the trees, and we further believe that the fertility of the soil should 

 be kept up by the occasional growth of clover or some other legume. There is no 

 do\ibt as to the success of clover here — evidences wei'e clear as to that — and it is the 

 height of folly to imagine, as many do now, that nothing further than water is or 

 ever will be necessary. The climatic conditions we re<;ognize as most favourable, but 

 warmth and water, though all important, do not constitute all the factors necessary for 

 ])rofitable fruit growing. Most of the people who have taicen lots speak enthvisiastically 

 of the future and certainly the prospects are promising. Summerland is yet in its 



