11 



in good condition, thus showing good shipping qualities. Strawberry-plants 

 are producing about 1 IT>. per plant with average care. 



With the same care as given in the best small-fruit sections they will 

 produce much heavier. Bush fruits also are fine, producing well under culti- 

 vation, and are found growing wild. 



TREE FRUITS. 



Tree fruits are doing well where they have received fair treatment. 

 There is a small orchard on the Thornhill Ranch, along the river-bank, at 

 Little Canyon a picture a section of which is included here where the 

 trees are doing well and bearing good crops of fruit, even in the face of semi-: 

 neglect 



On the other hand, trees that have been planted in the small clearings 

 away from the river have practically all sftccumbed to sun-scald, frost, or 

 mice injury, or have been broken down by snow. These unfavourable results 

 might be attributed to several causes, viz.: (1.) Many of the trees were 

 planted on the land immediately after clearing, some even before the stumps 

 were removed, and as a consequence the trees did not make a healthy growth 

 and were more liable to injuries as mentioned above. (2.) Facilities for 

 cultivation were such that most of the trees received poor treatment. The 

 " growing season " months were fairly dry, this being unfavourable to growth 

 unless good cultivation had been given. With a wet fall the trees made most 

 of their growth at that season, thus going into the winter in an immature 

 condition and being more susceptible to injury. (3.) The average clearing is 

 little more than two acres in extent and surrounded by timber. This permits 

 but little circulation of air in the clearing, and as a consequence favours 

 extreme and sudden changes of temperature, which results in frost injury and 

 sun-scald. Snow also remains longer here, and as a consequence becomes 

 deep and causes injury. (4.) Little protection has been made against any of 

 the above injuries. 



Careful consideration of the above is enough to discourage the opinion 

 of casual observers, that the district is not favourable for the production of 

 tree fruits. The chief difficulties in growing the trees at the present time are 

 due to injury by mice, sun-scald, frost, and deep snow. These conditions will 

 be reduced to a minimum in large clearings under favourable conditions of 

 soil, cultivation, etc., and with the same care as given in the recognized fruit 

 districts, there is no apparent reasons why tree fruits should not prove a 

 success. The trees that were distributed this year should be closely watched, 

 as the conditions under which a number of them were planted were not 

 favourable to good results, and should not be considered in determining the 

 possibilities of the district. A high quality of fruit should be produced. 

 Cherries, especially the sour varieties, do well in the orchards in bearing. 

 Plums, prunes, pears, and apples are also doing well in the bearing orchards, 

 the trees appearing thrifty and free from pests. It is a well-known fact that 

 the nearer fruit can be produced to the northern limit of production the 

 higher the quality. This should guarantee the production of a high quality 

 of fruit in the district. 



Transportation facilities up to the present have not been conducive to 

 extensive development work, but with the completion of the Grand Trunk 

 Pacific Railway a market will be provided for this district that should take 

 all that can be produced. The Government is opening up trails and roads 



