against 1,760 feet at Nelson, the growing season is from April 16th to October 15th, 

 a total of 182 days, with a mean temperature for the six hottest weeks of 63.3 degrees. 

 Creston probably has a warmer and longer season than Nelson. As a general rule, 

 it might be stated that the season is shorter and cooler, between the limits mentioned 

 for Nelson and Revelstoke, as one goes north. 



The climate in general is very like that of some parts of Ontario, save that West 

 Kootenay is remarkable for its absence of winter injury in any form. 



The soils are extremely variable, but in a great proportion they are light and 

 deficient in most of the elements of plant-food. On the other hand, there is some 

 very fine soil, and here, as elsewhere, much depends on the land selected. 



While the district has been known for a number of years as a great mining 

 country, its development in fruit-growing is of comparatively recent origin, and at 

 the present time is just beginning to overtake local consumption of the mining and 

 lumbering communities in most lines of fruit. In a few years, however, shipments 

 to the outside must become larger and larger, especially in many varieties of apples 

 which are produced here to a very high degree of perfection, and which will always 

 command the favour of the market. The district is favoured in its location and its 

 freight rates to the Prairie, while a new line being constructed to Vancouver will, it 

 is expected, result in material improvement in service and in rates to the Coast. 

 The scattered character of the settlements, and the use of water rather than rail 

 transportation, result in a relatively higher cost of living and of production, which 

 may be said to be offset by the very satisfactory quality of the fruit. 



The varieties of fruit planted will be definitely dealt with in the 1912 Orchard 

 Survey Report, now being compiled in the offices of the Department. It might be 

 said at this time that peaches have been but very little planted, practically not at all 

 commercially. The same is true of apricots and grapes. Pears, crab-apples, plums, 

 and prunes have been planted to a small extent, sweet cherries rather more so. 

 Strawberries have been put in in considerable acreage, especially by the Doukhobor 

 Society. The principal fruit-plantings are of winter apples, principally Wagener, 

 Jonathan, Northern Spy, Mclntosh, Ontario, Cox's Orange, Wealthy, King, Graven- 

 stein, Rome Beauty, and Delicious. 



Generally speaking, conditions in this district are not favourable to the ship- 

 ment of soft fruits, except for such points as have quick rail facilities east or west. 

 Jam-making is now a well-established industry, and much more than the present 

 production could be used for this purpose. The great future for this country in 

 fruit-growing is undoubtedly in such varieties of winter apples as reach perfection. 

 The list of fruits recommended for planting are as follows: 

 Strawberries 



Magoon 1 



Dunlop I For shipping. 



Royal Sovereign I 

 Glen Mary ) 

 William Belt { For eanning ' 

 Raspberries 

 Cuthbert 

 Gooseberries 



Oregon Champion. 

 Downing. 

 Industry. 

 Red Currants 

 Cherry. 

 Fay. 

 Black Currants 



Naples. 



Sour Cherries 

 Olivet. 



Morello, English. 

 Early Richmond. 



48 



