160 FRUIT RANCHING. 



retention of moisture; they find the requisite moisture 

 in the "seepage," or subsoil irrigation, which goes 

 on all summer down the mountain sides. Hence the 

 value of planting an orchard on a slope. In the case 

 of young fruit trees, mulching either with finely 

 pulverised, well cultivated natural surface soil, or 

 with farmyard manure, or some cover crop, is a fairly 

 elTective substitute for "seepage" irrigation. At 

 Bonnington, in default of anything better, we 

 mulched our young, newly-planted trees with the 

 foliage of the wild salmon-berry, a few stones being 

 placed on the leaves to prevent them from being 

 blown away. The expedient served its purpose 

 perfectly. 



As regards the situation, practically the same 

 remarks apply; orchards appear to thrive and grow 

 well in any aspect. Mr. J. R. Anderson, late Deputy- 

 Minister of Agriculture for the Province of British 

 Columbia, in Bulletin No. 12, entitled " Information 

 for Fruit Growers," and dated August 28th, 1905, 

 says (p. 3): " Experience has shown that eastern and 

 southern exposures are not well adapted for orchards, 

 such exposures tending to promote early growth, and 

 in the case of late frosts the influence of the early 

 morning sun acting injuriously on the trees. A 

 north-western exposure, other conditions being 

 favourable, is, I believe, the ideal site for an orchard 

 in British Columbia. On such an exposure the 

 unduly early growth is retarded, the influence of the 

 early morning sun is minimised, and the full effect 

 of the afternoon sun, at the season when it is of the 

 greatest utility, is secured. An excellent plan to 

 retard the growth of trees, in those parts where the 



