CAPABILITIES OF THE KOOTENAYS. 21 



have shown that we can produce as fine apples here 

 [Nelson] as in any part of Ontario or in the Northern 

 States. Peaches are grown here to perfection, and 

 I feel quite confident in asserting that the quality of 

 the small fruit produced, such as raspberries, goose- 

 berries, and black currants, is superior to any 

 produced elsewhere on the continent; in fact, the 

 Southern States, such as Virginia, Tennessee, and 

 Georgia, will not compare with this section in the 

 production of these fruits. The quality and size here 

 are far superior, and the yield per acre is at least 

 double that of anything I have ever seen or succeeded 

 in producing during my ten years' residence in these 

 vStates. One average gooseberry bush in my Nelson 

 garden bears finer fruit, and as much of it, as six of 

 my finest bushes did in West Virginia— and my 

 Virginian garden excelled in the production of goose- 

 berries in that country. 



" I find that I can grow vegetables, such as sweet 

 corn and tomatoes, just as well as I could in Virginia. 

 We can grow potatoes to perfection, and the Cham- 

 pion of England and Ne Plus Ultra peas reach a 

 height of eight feet in my garden. 



" I have not found irrigation necessary, and this 

 adds much to the superior quality of all our fruit. 



" The fruit-grower will find here an ideal home. 

 The climate is perfect; the soil is very rich and 

 productive, and the market the best. He will be 

 surrounded by beautiful scenery; and the shooting 

 and fishing are the best to be found anywhere." 



It was statements such as this — and if we tone 

 down one or two of its superlatives, it will pass for a 

 genuine and credible statement — coupled with facts 



