In this district there is probably more land than in any other district of similar 

 size in the entire Interior suitable for commercial fruit-growing. No figures are, 

 however, available for either the amount of cultivated land or the amount of culti- 

 vable land here. 



The climate may be taken as dry, usually warm in summer, and mild in winter. 

 The total precipitation, as shown by carefully kept records at Vernon and Kelowna, 

 is between 12 and 15 inches annually, of,, which slightly the greater half falls between 

 October and March, inclusive. The snowfall is fairly reliable, though not deep, and 

 furnishes sleighing for some months at levels of 1,500 feet or more, but is not 

 constant or of much value on the lower levels. While the winter is usually bright 

 and sunny, there are cold snaps, accompanied by wind, which affect peaches and 

 the tenderer fruit-trees. Overirrigation and severe pruning have caused what are 

 normally perfectly hardy varieties of apples to suffer as well, but in general there 

 have been few mistakes made, and the fruit industry is in a very healthy condition. 

 In the growing season, which averages in length from April 5th to October 22nd, 

 a total of 200 days, the average precipitation is about 7 inches, so that irrigation 

 is necessary as soon as the orchard Is planted. The mean temperature of the six 

 hottest weeks is 66.3 degrees, indicating warm days, but reasonably cool nights. 



What is said about soils in other Dry Belt districts is true here. There is a 

 very large percentage of good fruit-growing soil in this section, and not many 

 orchards have been planted in entirely unsuitable locations. It is advisable here, 

 as everywhere else, for the intending fruit-grower to learn by personal observation 

 what is the character of his soil and subsoil. 



The district is well organized to supply its markets and to meet its competition, 

 and for a number of years the growers have secured the full market returns for their 

 produce. The greater part of the output is marketed in Alberta and Saskatchewan, 

 but, with increased production, more and more is going to the Coast, which has been 

 heretofore neglected in favour of the slightly higher-priced market to the East. 



At the present time, Jonathan, Mclutosh, Wealthy, Transcendent crab-apples, 

 Wagener, and Italian prunes have been the principal fruits shipped, in quantity 

 about in the order named. 



The orchard survey conducted by the Department of Agriculture in the summer 

 of 1911 showed the following plantings in the Vernon District: 



" In the area surveyed (3,188% acres) the fruit-trees planted totalled as 

 follows : 



" Apples 223,615 



Prunes 16,042 



Pears 7,477 



Peaches 2,120 



Cherries 3,555 



Plums 7,282 



Apricots SO 



The percentage of varieties of apples planted are as follows: 



" Summer and early fall 3.2 per cent. 



Wealthy 9.1 



Mclntosh Red 9.3 



Crab 9.0 



King t).3 



Jonathan 21.2 



Wagener 14.5 



Grimes Golden 3.0 



Northern Spy 2.5 



Spitzenberg 2.2 



Newtown Pippin 1.7 



Other fall varieties 1.4 



Other winter varieties 11.5 



(This latter includes Snow, Greening, Sutton Beauty, 

 Baldwin, Delicious, Canada Baldwin, etc.) 



35 



