CHAPTER III. 



Fruit-growing Capabilities of the Kootenays. 



Any sensible man who contemplates investing 

 brain, muscle, and capital in British Columbia, 

 whether in mining, lumbering, or fruit-growing, will 

 naturally seek information from the Agent-General of 

 that province in London. And I am sure, from the 

 present distinguished holder of that office, the Hon. 

 J. H. Turner, formerly Prime Minister of British 

 Columbia, any and every inquirer will always receive 

 patient and courteous attention, and be given true, 

 disinterested information, as well as sound advice. 



When I myself was discussing with him the 

 subject of fruit-growing in the province which he 

 represents, he said, speaking of the flavour of apples : 

 " In my opinion the finest-flavoured apple is that 

 grown in England, the next in point of flavour is the 

 apple grown on Vancouver Island — but in saying this 

 I may be prejudiced, for forty years of my life 

 have been spent on that island — and after that comes 

 the apple of the interior of British Columbia." A 

 perfectly honest and candid opinion ! All the same, 

 it is an opinion which I for my part am not able to 

 indorse. Of the Vancouver Island apple I have no 

 experience whatever. Consequently I leave it entirely 



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