REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 203 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Coldstream ranch, the estate of Lord Aberdeen, Mr. Ricardo, the manager, having 

 kindly extended to us his hospitality. Mr. Ricardo not only took us over the larger 

 portion of this magnificent and well-kept estate, but drove us over a considerable part 

 of the surrounding country- In this way I was able to learn much of the character 

 of the soil, the methods of irrigation in vogue, and the capabilities of this highly 

 favoured district. 



A visit to the Commonage was of much interest. This district lies only a few miles 

 from Vernon, but unfortunately has practically no water supply available for irri- 

 gation purposes. For the past few years, I understand, the farmers here have done 

 fairly well (the district has been settled about six years) owing largely to a succes- 

 sion of wet seasons. This year being exceptionally dry, the crops are very short. It 

 is certainly a hazardous undertaking when farming is attempted here without the aid 

 of irrigation. Excellent meetings were held under the auspices of the Farmers' In- 

 scitute at Vernon and Commonage. 



Armstrong. — It is held that here and northward there is a sufficient rainfall for 

 agricultural purposes and therefore irrigation is not practised. However, the present 

 season had been a very dry one and as a result very short grain crops were obtained. 

 Much of the soil is very heavy and had become refractory owing to poor methods of 

 farming. It stood badly in need of humus. Wliere hay was grown, both the crop and 

 the soil were better. The soil generally is a strong one, but it already stands in need 

 of much better treatment — which may be outlined as comprising, the growth of clover, 

 more attention to rotation of crops, the use of tile drainage, and the application of 

 lime. We, further, are of the opinion that both dairying and fruit growing might be 

 considerably developed with advantage to the district. 



From Armstrong the drive to Enderby was taken, spending a day or two on the 

 road at Sir Arthur Stepney's ranch, now in charge of Mr. Heggie. It is only right 

 that I should add, this ranch is being conducted on rational lines, the land constantly 

 improving rather than deteriorating. As already remarked, much of the land in this 

 district of Spallumcheen is unprofitable, due to the continuous growth of wheat. 



At Enderby the general conditions of soil, &c., are much the same as at Armstrong. 

 It has been a wheat-growing district and in consequence the land has suffered. Wliore 

 Alfalfa and clovers are grown, excellent crops are obtained and the land is steadily 

 improving. If the farmers can only get away from this practice of wheat after wheat 

 and grow the legumes more largely, this district will assuredly hold its reputation as 

 amongst the richest farming areas in the province. 



From Enderby we went to Mara on the Spallumcheen river, where a number of 

 low lying, mucky lands Acere inspected and instruction given for their reclamation. 



The last locality visited in British Columbia was Salmon Arm, on Shuswap Lake. 

 Some very promising orchards were seen here, and the district is considered as one 

 eminently adapted to the apple. Though a certain amount of dairying and mixed 

 farming is carried on, it is evident that the future growth of the district is intimately 

 connected with its development as a fruit-growing centre. We were enabled to see 

 many comparatively large areas that had been recently planted, and all gave promise 



of good returns. 



In conclusion, I should like to thank all those who helped to make this toiir of 

 buch great interest and pleasure to me; many devoting time to driving me over the 

 counti-y in the various districts, explaining much which otherwise would have been 

 obscure, and many kindly and hospitably entertaining me. I should also like to sny, 

 as a last word, how gratifying it was to meet so many who were anxious to benefit by 

 our visit. Never have I had the pleasure of speaking to more interested and en- 

 thusiastic men than those I met on the field and at the meetings of this visit to British 

 Columbia. 



