40 The Ayricultural liesources of Canada. 



1886, its site was covered with a dense forest. In July of that 

 vear a (ire, spreadin<? from tb'i surrounding forest, swept away every 

 house but one in the place. A more beautiful town than it is now 

 would be hard to find. 



We then crossed the Straits of Georgia, and found ourselves 

 Victoria, at Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. It has a 

 '"'": •• population of 20,000, ?ind is situated at the southern 

 extremity of Vancouver Island. From here may be observed the 

 beautiful Olympic Mountains, and the white cone of Mount Baker. 

 It is a fine country, and there is a certain amount of agriculture. We 

 \^•ere heartily welcomed by the ex-Mayor and other gentlemen. On 

 October 2nd we left for Nanaimo. Through the exceeding kindness 

 of Mr. Dunsmuir, a special train was arranged for our transport. 

 The fine timber we saw is evidence of the strength of the soil. I 

 should like to see more of the land tilled on this rich little island. 

 The coal is worked successfully, seams being from 3 ft. to 9 ft., and 

 miners' wages are from $3 to $4 per day (12s. to IGs.). We also 

 visited the New Vancouver Colliery, where an abundance of coal is 

 brought to the surface. Leaving Nanaimo, we were next bound for 

 Harrison, and proceeded down the Eraser to Chilliwack, where 

 we arrived about 3 p.m. on October 3rd. This country is very 

 like parts of Wales ; it looks very flourishing, but. is rather subject 

 to rain. We first went to Eden Farm, the property of Mr, 

 Wells, who is a very good farmer, with land of excellent quality. 

 He keeps a dairy of 60 cows, and calculates that each cow turns 

 him in £\2 per annum. His young stock is a credit to 

 the land and its owner. We also visited the hop yards, which are 

 quite an experiment, and to all appearance satisfactory. He is 

 much pleased with his return. "How about picking the hops?" I 

 asked, labour being so scarce. "No trouble at all," he replied; "the 

 Indians pick them at $1 per measure, and they make about iS2 per day." 

 Land in this district is very rich, but dear to buy after being cleared — 

 $150 per acre. Leaving this place much pleased, we proceeded to 

 Banff, a station and village in the " Eockies," among the hot sulphur 

 springs, where we enjoyed a bath. Staying at this place one night, we 

 returned to Calgary on the 6th October. Next morning we started for 

 McLeod, where we arrived at 4 p.m. We had the pleasure of witness- 

 ing an Indian horse race. In the evening we were visited by two 

 Indians — minor chiefs — who were very friendly disposed. Through the 

 kind assistance of Major Steel we were furnished with eight magnificent 

 horses, also men, and were driven to the Cardstone district — a settle- 

 ment of Mormons, named after Mr. Card, the first settler, and now 

 chief of the settlement. ''■ ifi'i fi;;! ,t < i /.rwiij-fi*: >j a';i!* :o y;uh,;-r.r 



The Mormons are an industrious people, and are doing 

 Mormons, very well ; they turn out a quantity of butter and cheese, 



and they also raise good grain. Wheat averages 20 

 bushels per acre. The settlement is composed of 100 families, and 

 coijimands 50,000 acres of land ; 400 cows are milked, and the total 

 return of cheese this year is 35,000 lbs. They have a milk factory, 

 and buy milk at 8 cents (4d.) per gallon. These people originally 

 came from Salt Lake, but they do not practise polygamy. Mr. Card 



