188 FRUIT RANCHING. 



produce Wealthy apples three years after planting, 

 and Northern Spy in the fourth year. The Northern 

 Spy will produce about four boxes and the Wealthy 

 four or five boxes per tree in five years. The price 



ranges from $1.50 (6s.) to $2 (8s.) per box 



There is no danger of the market being overcrowded, 

 as the influx of settlers into the Canadian North- West 

 is greater than the increase in fruit production. The 

 English market, the best in the world, is also clamour- 

 ing for our apples, and winter varieties of Kootenay 

 apples command the highest price there. The new 

 official class ' Fancy ^ has been created to designate 

 the apples produced in Kootenay, which exceed in 

 quality the requirements of the highest class under 

 previous regulations. The province has stringent 

 inspection laws, and vigorous means are taken to 

 assure the cleanliness of all orchards and of all stock 



and fruit imported Orchard land unimproved 



sells from $100 (£20) to $150 (£30) per acre, and 

 clearing costs $35 an acre, and upwards. A ten- 

 acre orchard can be planted and brought to a paying 

 basis in four years for about $3,500. If planted in 

 fruit trees only, a revenue of $175 (£35) per acre will 

 be secured. If planted in the meantime with such 

 crops as strawberries and potatoes it would yield 

 at least $375 (£75) per acre the second year." 



To the statements contained in this excerpt no 

 exception can be taken, apart from the value put 

 upon wholly unimproved land. Such land can be 

 bought at prices ranging from $50 (£10) to $100 

 (£20). The estimate of ^$3,500 (£700) for bringing 

 a ten-acre orchard from the state of virgin forest to 

 the stage of a producing orchard is, I should judge, 

 about correct. 



