184 FRUIT RANCHING. 



peaches at the rate of $2,450 (£490) per acre. The 

 same gentleman has had a return of $1,380 (£276) 

 per acre for cherries. Mr. Johnstone's average gross 

 return for cherries is at the rate of $1,050 (£210) per 

 acre. I myself have half-a-dozen cherry trees, ten to 

 twelve years old, which for three or more years past 

 have produced more that $20 (£4) worth of fruit each. 

 This, with sixty trees to the acre, would give an 

 average yield of $1,200 (£240) per acre. Mr. J. D. 

 Honsberger, at Grand Forks, has cleared off an eight- 

 acre orchard of twelve-year-old prunes a net profit of 

 $275 (£55) per acre. A fruit-grower at Ladner, in 

 ihe delta of the Fraser River, sold one year $900 

 (£180) worth of raspberries off an acre, and in the 

 following year $820 (£164) worth. Mr. John Ilyslop 

 also has had returns from raspberries at the rate of 

 $900 (£180) per acre. 



To take a couple of instances of mixed fruit grow- 

 ing. I am told in a private letter that a man at 

 Salmon Arm " bought 80 acres five years ago, paying 

 tlierefor $400 (£80), $100 cash and $100 per year at 

 8 per cent. After making his first payment he had 

 $32 left, and for a time was disabled with a cut foot. 

 He left his wife in England, and supported her there 

 by working in the woods or on the roads. He planted 

 raspberries and strawberries, and now has his place 

 paid for, a nice little cottage, and a team of horses. 

 His wife is with him, and for two years he has not 

 worked for others." Another settler established him- 

 self at " Maple Ridge fourteen years ago, with 

 approximately $3,500 (£700). He bought ten acres, 

 built a comfortable cottage, planted four acres of 

 plums, apples, etc., and three acres of strawberries. 



