48 



doing well, but the prevailing opinion seems to be that the apple industry is 

 destined to be most successful and profitable in this district. 



Kelowna. 



On either side of Lake Okanagan, between Vernon and Kelowna, there are 

 a number of locations that are more or less important. The city of Kelowna is, 

 however, the centre and the most important fruit-producing point on the lake, 

 owing to the fact that in the valleys stretching away from the lake at this point 

 there are some thirty or forty thousand acres of land available for development, 

 and also because this place has been fortunate in having early attracted the 

 attention of some of the pioneers in fruit culture in the Valley. 



Irrigation Companies. 



Mr. T. W. Stirling and Mr. Pridham were probably the first two gentlemen 

 to undertake orcharding at this place in anything like an extensive manner, 

 and having become convinced of the possibilities offered for profitable orchard 

 culture here, they began planting in a moderate way about 1892. These orchards 

 were so successful that further plantings were encouraged. Their success led 

 to the organization of several strong companies whose object has been to provide 

 a satisfactory and comprehensive scheme of irrigation for the several areas of 

 land included in the valleys adjoining the town proper. In consequence, 

 there are at the present time four companies in operation, each of which has 

 expended large sums in establishing irrigation plants on a very extensive scale. 

 It is estimated that these companies will have expended $2,000,000 on com- 

 pletion of the work in hand. 



The oldest and first in point of development is known as the Kelowna Land 

 and Orchard Company, of which Mr. Stirling is President. His original orchards, 

 now under the control of the Bankhead Orchard Company, are probably the 

 finest in British Columbia. The Kelowna Land and Orchard Company origin- 

 ally held about eight thousand acres of land, of which area about three thousand 

 acres have been developed and one thousand acres already planted to orchards 

 during the last six years. The first plantings are now in bearing and have 

 already produced considerable fruit. 



The next company in order, known as the Central Okanagan Land Company, 

 is developing about eight thousand acres of fruit land and also furnishing the 

 water for an additional two thousand acres. The irrigation system established 

 by this company is of the most permanent, modern character, consisting of a 

 system of concrete conduits and pipes with steel flumes, having at present in 

 operation over 13 miles of concrete mains, to say nothing of the large number 

 of distributing systems which carry water to the various sections of this area. 

 A distribution of one acre foot of water is contemplated, an amount considered 

 to be ample for all necessary purposes. The water rental per acre ranges from 

 $2.50 to $8, according to the quantity of water required, the average cost 

 working out about $3 per acre per annum. About 2,500 acres of this company's 

 land is planted to orchard, varying in age from four years planted to the fifty 

 thousand trees which were planted last year. Some four year old trees are 

 bearing and in one instance a ten acre block produced one hundred boxes last 

 season. 



The Belgo-Canadian Fruitlands Company is allied to the Land and Agri- 

 cultural Company at Vernon, and is developing about six thousand acres of land, 

 nearly all suitable for the production of fruit. This company will have its water 

 available next season, having an immense storage reservoir about thirty miles 

 back in the mountains. Their land, as well as a large portion of that held by 

 the Central Okanagan Company, has been subdivided with reference to the 



