38 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



February, 1908 



main line, with which connections are 

 made at Sicamous Jet. From that 

 point the cars make quick time to 

 either the coast or northwest points. 



Several methods of improving the 

 service are under consideration by the 

 railway companies. One is the sending 

 of the cars on barges as far as Kelowna, 

 which would permit loading at that 

 point and do away with breaking bulk 

 until the cars' destination is reached. 

 Another is the extension of the C.P.R. 

 from Midway to the lower end of 

 Okanagan Lake. Still another wa'S 

 mentioned to our representative when 

 in Penticton. The Great Northern 

 Railway is extending its lines in the 

 Similkameen Valley through Keremeos. 

 It is from this point that prominent 

 land owners are endeavoring to have 

 the G.N.R. build a branch to Penticton. 

 If this latter plan is carried out, it will 

 give a shorter route to the coast and to 

 the northwest for fruit grown in southern 

 Okanagan districts, as the G.N.R. will 

 ultimately serve both of those sections. 



KINDS OF FRUITS GROWN 



The Okanagan district as far south 

 as Kelowna is becoming well known for 

 the high quahty of its apples and small 

 fruits. South of this point — in Peach- 

 land, Summerland, and Penticton, the 

 land is more suited for the growing of 

 peaches and strawberries. The climate 

 is a few degrees warmer, and the rain- 

 fall less than in the northern part of 

 the valley. Large crops of peaches, 

 reported of excellent quality, were har- 

 vested at Peachland during the past 

 season. 



CABBAGES AT ARMSTRONG 



Vegetables are grown in large quan- 

 tities, as was shown our representative 

 while at Armstrong. One of the largest 

 vegetable farms in the valley is known 

 as Irish's Cabbage Farm. Mr. O. J. 



of cabbages were planted this year, 

 which produced 160 tons. 



These were not all marketed at one 

 time. Early cabbages were ready for 

 sale in July and from that time until 

 late in October there was a continual 

 harvest. Large quantities of the cab- 

 bages maturing late were stored for 

 winter shipping, which will be continued 

 until next May. The pabbages were 



Pruning on Coldstream Estate 



planted close, which prevented the 

 growth of monster specimens, and gave 

 a more marketable size. The crop 

 was averaging twenty tons to the acre, 

 and brought $18 to $35 a ton. This 

 year Mr. Irish utiHzed part of his land 

 to grow potatoes; one acre produced 

 fourteen tons, 140 pounds, which were 

 sold for $20 a ton. Mr. Irish expects 

 to plant forty acres next year, which 

 will necessitate the erection of a cold 

 storage plant. 



VERNON AND VICINITY 



Our representative drove from Arm- 



Land for Fruit" Growing at Vernon, B.C. Typical of the District. 



Irish, late of Sloan, Iowa, believes there 

 is money to be made in the growing of 

 cabbages and potatoes, and while visit- 

 ing in the Okanagan last year, he decid- 

 ed to locate at Armstrong. Ten acres 



strong to Vernon, and inspected many 

 of the fruit farms and properties on the 

 way. There are large tracts of good 

 land which as yet are not under cultiva- 

 tion. One of£the largest in the vicinity 



of Armstrong is controlled by Th( 

 Kirton Orchard Co., of Winnipeg. The 

 land appears to be well suited for th* 

 growing of applet and small fruits. 0& 

 a farm adjoining this property is a^ 

 orchard that is producing large quanti- 

 ties of apples. Grapes and walnuts art 

 also grown to maturity. Irrigation « 

 unnecessary as the rainfall is ample to 

 afford all the moisture necessary fo| 

 the crops. The land is covered with i 

 light growth of timber and it is easily 

 cleared. 



Lakeview is another property well 

 adapted to fruit growing, to which 

 another addition has recently been made 

 by Judge Spink's orchard. Part of this 

 land is planted with fruit trees which 

 will be in bearing next year. Mutrie & 

 Mutrie, of Vernon, are subdividing their 

 property, and should find no difficulty 

 in disposing of it owing to its excellent 

 location. 



Vernon is beautifully situated where 

 the roads radiate leading to the north- 

 em towns, to White Valley and Kelowna 

 and to Grand Prairie and Kamloops. 

 rich fruit and farming lands on every 

 side. The town is the largest in the 

 Okanagan Valley and is one of the 

 largest shipping points for fruit in 

 British Columbia. Most of the fruit 

 grown in the vicinity is sold through 

 the Farmers' Exchange, an association 

 operating on similar lines to the co:^ 

 operative associations of Ontario. Mr. 

 T. G. Wanless, the secretary, believes 

 there is a bright future for fruit growing 

 in the district around Vernon. Mr. 

 Wanless has consented to act as the 

 special representative of The C.-vnadian 

 Horticulturist in the Vernon part of 

 the valley. 



The Coldstream Ranch, which is the 

 largest orchard in British Columbia and 

 one of the largest in Canada, is located 

 five miles south of Vernon. The great 

 success of this ranch and the high class 

 of fruit produced has made the land sur- 

 roimding Vernon in great demand by 

 settlers. 



At Okanagan Landing, connections 

 are made for Kelowna. This town has 

 been well termed the "Orchard City" 

 of the Okanagan Vallev. As the steamer 

 approaches the wharf a fine view of the 

 town and surrounding county is seen. 

 Kelowna lies on bottom lands and is 

 almost surrounded bv orchards. One 

 of the best known orchards is owned h\ 

 W. R. Stirling ; it is now in good bear 

 ing. Another orchard well worth men 

 tioning is that owned by Mr. S. Sproule. 



The opinion was exoressed to our 

 representative while in Kelowna that a 

 large amount of the land in this district, 

 which is mostlv light loam, would grow 

 good crops without irrigation under 

 normal conditions. During an exces- U 

 sively dry summer would be the onlv time " 

 irrigation would be necessary. System- 



