194 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7-8 EDWARD VII., A. 1S08 



are supplied with water laid on for irrigation by a system of piping. Several of these 

 lots have been taken up and judging from the immense crops of fine vegetables and 

 fruits there can be no doubt as to the excellence «f the soil and the suitability of the 

 district for the growing of a large variety of horticultural produce. Some very fine 

 soil was noticed, but unfortunately through careless irrigation ' washing' had occurred 

 at several places. The district also is one favourable to fodder crops, alfalfa fields 

 bearing third crops, waist high, being seen. 



On much of the lower land, adjoining the Kettle river, and contiguous to Ameri- 

 can territory there is at present no water supply for irrigation and the trees and the 

 crops are consequently poor. A comprehensive scheme, how.wer, is under serious con- 

 sideration for pumping water from the Kettle river, ^^len this is in force some 

 2,000 acres of very good land vv^ill be rendered available for fruit-growing and general 

 farming. 



The orchard and extensive nursery grounds of Mr. Martin l^urrell were next 

 visited. They are located about three miles from the town and beautifully situated on 

 the lower benches of the Kettle and watered by creeks from the mountain. It is a 

 pleasure to record the excellent condition in which we found the nurseries ; the young 

 stock was healthy and vigorous, though unfortunately a considerable loss had been sus- 

 tained by an attack of the Flatheaded Apple Tree Borer. Very fine and luscious pears, 

 plums and peaches, in abundance were seen in the older ])lantations, and the apples 

 also, though this season not bearing so heavily, gave promise of a good crop. Much 

 of Mr. Burrell's soil is of an excellent type, rich and light and well adapted to fruit- 

 growiiig. With provision for irrigation this district will undoubtedly become one of 

 the most productive fruit-growing areas in British Columbia. 



In concluding tuis account of our tour I would say that this record of what we 

 saw and did constitutes but the first part of the work I had in mind. The itinerary 

 has put me in possession of information otherwise unattainable; it brought me into 

 direct contact with the men tilHug the soil and whom, I think, I am now in a better 

 position to help with advice. Further, as time permits, the large collection of soil 

 samples will be carefully analysed, and I have no doubt that this work will furnish 

 many interesting and helpful data for future guidance regarding soil management 

 and the nature of the fertilizers that may be necessary for the most profitable results. 

 To Mr. Anderson I am very much indebted. \Vithout him the tour would have 

 been much less valuable and far less pleasant. He is thoroughly conversant with the 

 country we travelled over and his knowledge of local conditions and possibilities were 

 of the greatest assistance to me every day of our itinerary. 



NOTES ON THE CHAEACTER OF THE SOIL BETWEEN LANGDON AND 

 GLEICHEN, ALBERTA, IN WESTERN SECTION OF IRRIGATION 

 BLOCK OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. 



At the request of Mr. J. S. Dennis, Superintendent of Irrigation, C.P.R., Cal- 

 gary, Alta., I made a survey of the lands which this company are placing under irri- 

 gation between Langdon and Gleichen, and are now being offered for settlement. Be- 

 tween two and three days were spent in this work, at the conclusion of the tour just 

 described, and from the notes taken during this rapid survey, I have pre])ared the 

 following brief report. Later it is expected to examine chemically samples of the soils 

 collected at various points in this district. 



The fi.rst examination was made a few hundred yards north of the railway station 

 at Langdon. The surface soil was found to be a black, heavy loam, evidently well 

 supplied with humus (semi-decomposed vegetable matter), and containing such a pro- 

 portion of clay as to constitute it a ' strong ' soil. Technically, it would be classified 

 as a clay loam. Several trials showed it to have a depth of from 4 to 6 inches. The 

 subsoil is a heavy, chocolate coloured clay. The probabilities are that analysis would 



