344 



Canadian Forestry Journal January, ipi6. 



Users of the Forest. 



(a) Lumber Trade.— The lumber 

 industry is not the most important 

 user of the forest in the Okanagan, 

 or better perhaps, the income from 

 the lumber trade is not so great as 

 that from other activities dependent 

 on the forests. 



The annual cut of the district is 

 probably about 10,000 M. feet board 

 measure, which represents a total 

 value of $250,000 to $300,000. A very 

 large percentage of this cut is used 

 in the manufacture of fruit and ve- 

 getable boxes, and is, therefore, 

 through this branch of business de- 

 pendent upon the forest from an- 

 other aspect, rather than their cap- 

 acity to produce timber. 



In the Okanagan Valley there are 

 now operating six saw mills with a 

 total daily capacity of probably 225 

 M. per day. For several years, how- 

 ever, they have not been working 

 full time and the annual cut has 

 been low. At the time of writing, 

 however, the outlook seems to be 

 brighter, and several large orders 

 have been headed towards the local 

 mills. 



A very important part of the in- 

 dustry, as has been mentioned is the 

 manufacture of boxes and crates for 

 fruit and vegetables. There are 

 about 400.000 boxes and crates used 

 in the Okanagan in 1915 calling for 

 some 1,500 M. to 2,000 M. feet of 

 lumber. 



Other products besides lumber, 

 are railway ties, construction timber, 

 poles and mine props. 



The local market takes most of 

 the product, but owing, no doubt, to 

 the splendid campaign being carried 

 on in the prairies for the use of B. C. 

 wood, a wider market seems to be 

 opening out. Several orders have 

 already been received from the 

 prairies, and it is expected that there 

 will be a profitable trade established 

 in the near future. 



Better Times in Sight. 



The lumber interests have been 

 going through a very critical period. 



but better times are in sight, and the 

 future will probably see a fairly 

 large lumber business carried on, up 

 and down the Okanagan Valley. 

 With increased acreage under agri- 

 culture, increased output of fruit 

 and vegetables, and increase in po- 

 pulation, there will be need for more 

 flume stock, lumber for houses, 

 barns, etc., and a tremendous quan- 

 tity for boxes and crates. The out- 

 look is bright, and the lumbermen 

 are ready to grasp any opportunity 

 that offers to further their business 

 and incidentally the prosperity of 

 the entire district. 



The Water Supply. 



The Okanagan district is famous 

 for its fruit and vegetables. It is es- 

 sentially an agricultural district and 

 annually produces a crop of fruit 

 and vegetables valued at over $2,- 

 000,000. 



Owing to the scarcity of rainfall 

 the whole district is dependent upon 

 irrigation for the success of its crops. 

 There are approximately 900,000 

 acres of watershed tapped for irri- 



Scaling Western Yellow Pine logs. Note 

 contrast between heart and sapwood. 



