210 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD V!!., A. 1902 



not rising an inch above the surface of the ground. It was remarkable that not a 

 single strawberry plant was found on this mountain, although they are plentiful on 

 the Vancouver Island mountains. Insect life was equally abundant with the vege- 

 tation. This sea of flowers was visited by swarms of mountain butterflies, Melitcea 

 anicia, Db.-IIew., Argynnis chariclea, Schneid., Lycoena aquilo, Bdv., and L. anna, 

 Edw., with Parnassius clodius, Men., in the valleys. The most interesting species 

 found c« Mount Che-am is Erebia vidleri, Elwes, a species discovered in British Col- 

 umbia 30 years ago by Captain Vidler, but of which nothing was known as to locality 

 and date of capture. No other locality as yet is known than this mountain where 

 I rediscovered it in 1893, and took three specimens in August. This year I took 13 on 

 August 15 and Messrs. Tom "Wilson and A. Bush took as many more. Large collec- 

 tions were made of insects in various other orders, which were brought back safely to 

 Ottawa. We descended the mountain on August 16, and left on the 17th for the upper 

 country, reaching Kamloops early on the morning of the 18th. On the 19th we drove 

 62 miles down the Nicola valley to Nicola Lake. On the way grass on the ranges, trees 

 in coulees and crops at several places were found to be considerably injured by grass- 

 hoppers, mainly a species much resembling the Rocky Mountain Locust (Melanophis 

 sprelus), and identified by Mr. E. M. Walker as M. affinis. 



Nicola Lake, August 19. — A good meeting was held at this pretty little town. 

 Injurious insects, locusts, cutworms, and fruit pests were the subjects of the address, 

 and also Nature Study and the Value of Farmers' Institutes. Leaving Nicola Lake 

 early on the 20th, before the sun got too hot for comfortable driving, we took breakfast 

 at Mr. O'Rourke's hotel, Quilchena, and reached Kamloops by 7 p.m. We left again 

 at 3 a.m. by rail, reaching Sicamous by 6 o'clock on August 21 and Enderby by 9 

 o'clock. The day was spent in collecting and packing our specimens. 



Enderby, August 21. — The first meeting in the rich Okanagan valley was held 

 at this place, and was an excellent meeting. Grain crops, Brome Gras3, and Injurious 

 Insects were fully discussed, and many inquiries were made concerning weeds. Wild 

 Oats are very prevalent in this valley. After the meeting several farmers waited and 

 an informal discussion, which brought out many useful points, was continued for 

 another hour. Leaving Enderby at 9 o'clock on August 22, the next stop was made 

 at Armstrong, where I had the pleasure of examining Mrs. "Walton's collection of in- 

 sects, and then Mr. Walton kindly drove me to Vernon. 



Vernon, August 22. — A meeting was held in the town hall in the afternoon, which 

 was well attended. Fruit, grain and fodder crops were discussed, as well as their in- 

 sect enemies. Rattlesnakes, which are not uncommon in the locality, were also a sub- 

 ject of debate. It was thought that the virulence of the poison of the variety occurring 

 in this valley was not as great as that of those farther to the south. The Awnless 

 Brome Grass had not succeeded as well here as it had in some other parts of British 

 Columbia and in the Prairie Provinces. 



After the meeting a visit was paid to Lord Aberdeen's ranch at Coldstream, where 

 the capabilities of this fertile district are plainly visible. Good management and hor- 

 ticultural skill have combined to make this a model of what a successful fruit farm 

 can be in this district. 



Leaving Vernon on the morning of the next day, we took the steamer Aberdeen to 

 Kelowna, reaching that place by 3.30. The afternoon was spent in collecting along 

 the shores of Lake Okanagan and in the woods. 



Kelowna, August 23. — This was the old Okanagan Mission, but the enterprise and 

 activity of the members of the Kelowna Shippers' Union have made a new place of it. 

 Here fruit of the best quality is produced in larger quantities every year, and every 

 boat that leaves the wharf carries a freight of delicious fruit to less favoured localities. 

 The suitability of the soil to produce an excellent quality of cigar tobacco is now well 

 known, and a thriving cigar factory has been established, with expert makers of home- 

 made and home-grown cigars, which are gaining favour daily over the whole Domin- 



