which thrive best under irrigation methods should be chosen. There are some 

 varieties which do best under irrigation; others require humid conditions; others 

 have no preference. 



The total precipitation, including both rain and snow, is the principal factor in 

 determining whether irrigation will be necessary or advisable. In regions of exces- 

 sive precipitation drainage is necessary for practically all varieties of apples, but 

 there are some few kinds which 'seem to do much better than the average in low 

 or otherwise wet locations, such as Ben Davis and Golden Russet. 



The months of greatest precipitation are also of importance. Some districts 

 receive their precipitation principally in the winter-time, and there is in consequence 

 not enough moisture in the summer-time, without irrigation, to bring many* varieties 

 of apples to commercial size, while other varieties, such as Duchess, Alexander, Wolf 

 River, and King, will grow quite large enough. 



In those districts which have a limited summer precipitation without irrigation- 

 water available, such early maturing fruits as strawberries, cherries, and early plums 

 will succeed commercially, where longer season fruits, such as winter apples, would 

 bo unsatisfactory. 



It is because of the lack of summer moisture in Victoria that raspberries do not 

 succeed as well as strawberries, and similarly in the Lower Mainland, where the 

 moisture-supply continues later into June, raspberries are more successful, while the 

 strawberries are softened by the rain. 



Heavy rains in the blossoming season are injurious to fruit setting, and are 

 undesirable. Heavy precipitation in May and June lends itself to fungous diseases, 

 while heavy precipitation in September and October, such as is found in some 

 districts, materially interferes with the keeping quality of apples, their colour and 

 maturity. This question of the seasonal precipitation is a most important one in 

 the commercial production of fruit. 



Wind, or the absence of wind, is in some cases an important consideration. The 

 valley winds, characteristic of many sections near mountain-ranges, materially help 

 to prevent frost, but heavy winds cause injury by bruising cherries and other soft 

 fruits, and by causing apples to fall. Persistent winds from one direction made 

 tree-pruning a difficult matter, and wind-breaks may be essential to the success of 

 an orchard in such cases. 



Late spring and early fall frosts are material factors in choosing varieties of 

 fruit. In a section where late spring frosts are likely to occur, it is not advisable 

 to attempt peaches, Japanese plums, or cherries on a large scale, while walnuts, 

 apricots, and almonds require unusual freedom from late frosts. Early frosts in the 

 fall, if not too severe, are of material value in increasing the colour of late apples, 

 though extremely heavy early frosts are liable to damage nearly all kinds of fruit, 

 not excepting the hardest of winter apples. 



Hail is not unknown in the Interior of British Columbia, and may cause some 

 loss, but its occurrence is so rare that it effects no material damage, as in some 

 parts of France, where it is the cause of great loss to the grape-growing industry. 



Cloudiness, fog, and haze, which are more or less likely to occur on the Coast, 

 have an undesirable effect on many kinds of fruit; and on this account, locations 

 which, because of altitude, exposure to the south, and prevailing winds, or other 

 reasons, are most free from these, are likely to produce the best fruit. 



(2.) RELATION OF WINTER CLIMATE TO THE CHOICE OF VARIETIES. 



The average snowfall is reasonably constant throughout each district of British 

 Columbia, and may be reckoned with as such. In those sections where snowfall is 

 very heavy, amounting to 3 or 4 feet on the level, it is more desirable to have 

 varieties of trees which do not break down under the weight of snow. This can 

 be overcome to a considerable extent by proper methods of pruning, but not success- 

 fully by high heading, as is sometimes attempted. In all Interior sections where 

 winter temperatures may drop low, it is most desirable to have some snow covering 

 to protect the soil and to prevent root-freezing. In the irrigated districts the melting 

 snow supplies moisture for the early spring months, and where it is a fafrly constant 



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