New-York tribune., 1907-01-07
NEW FRUIT LANDS.
Peaches and Grapes IN British Co
lsmsbia.

From The Victoria Daily Coloniet
1T is surprising the number OF people who have
come from the Northwest and gone In for fruit
growing in the interior districts OF British Columbia
and On Vancouver Island So remarked j. r.
Anderson Deputy Minister OF Agriculture. recently.
Pressed to give reason for the marked influx
during the last year, he referred to the extensive
advertising that had been done by the present gov
ernment through the Bureau OF Information. There
was no doubt that the success OF collection of the
fruit products of this country in competiton with
the best grown in tho other colonies the finest
possible 'ad'' for British Columbia.
Property In almost all districts, Mr.. Anderson
asserted. was increasing IN value. In practically
every district large numbers Of new faces we're
to be found In word, the country was pros
perfns, and the Indications that within q few
years the fruit output would be doubled and Per
haps trebled.
When discussing the possibilities Of the interior
districts OF British Columbia and the southern part
OF Vancouver Island for the growth OF fruit Mr.
Anderson became enthusiastic. He went into de-
TAIL showing a thorough insight into the condi-
tions prevailing in each distinct section and pre-
dicted in effect that the future of the province
from the standpoint mentioned not yet gen
orally realized. He believed that It's output would
be materially increased IN the next year. and that
ultimately its beautiful verdant valleys, lying
dormant, would become one immense orchard
which would supply the wants OF the millions OF
wheat growers living the prairies. and also
port largely TO the market always available across
the Atlantic.
Taking Ing up the question in his own ms,hodics
Here he explained the extremely hot summer ex-
perience permitted the cultivation OF variety OF
peaches, apricots. nectarnes and the grape. There
were large quantities Of lands available in ths ais
trct, he went which had not yet been takers up.
This, no doubt, due to the difficulties met vith
venient distance But It was understood that rail-
way would soon pass through the section. and then,
He believed that the country would become settled
very rapidly and that the simiikamsen would not
spect TO the growth OF fruit
Mr. Anderson remarked thes the majority o: The
were erown At at. Peaehiand. but hs was q The
last The country was Song ahaad too TSp!diy
P9 hs % %C soon so e t unable @ %
supply II with the limited areas at their command
asked lie thought the summerfand and Pentioton
sections would be found 70 enter into competition
places now. and the areas in use were constantly
Very little he continued, known about the
9soy09s fine agriSUltpral leu country lying south or
this district all kinds of fruit fourished but the
Ne6n TaS Ppp dd s aSs % X. s @ TSs %ha hs Tsa so
high estimation among the consumers OF the Old
SON stated that the f nast Specimen of H this ft
Which yn ,1o he OR his ba Lake IKE In
tR e 'V picked fo9t t o Dos S
which was Vas! supposed to Be the best prodgoed,, ~ ~
He predicted % "a. great future tagrcqltSrslly for
settled 70 any extent, but at the rate of the last
Few months development IL would not be long be-
fore the best of the land taken up and placed
under profitable cultivation,
od Of the apss
etc, which grown by the ranchers there He
then spoke of the productiveness OF the district In
the vicinity of Vernon especially far apples
were concerned.
Mr.. Anderson laid special emphasis upon the
recent development throughout the Kootenay Dis
trict. He pointed out that until short time ago
the prevailing opinion was that fruit could not be
grown to advantage there. few of those who
had displayed enough enterprise to experiment,
however had found out differently. and now were
prohting Recent reports showed that apples cher
ries and pears thrived amid the climatic environ
mepts OF that country Small fruits. also. could be
grown to advantage.
There only one drawback to the progress of
the district along the line OF fruit growing Mr.
Anderson said and that the necessity of going
to some expense in the clearing of land This was
not needed in of the valleys to be found scat
tered throughout the interior OF British Columbia
and therefore the Kootenays were somewhat handi-
capped Despite this, the district seemed TO be ad
yancing steadily, large blocks OF land having been
taken up during the last few months
Another large and fertile valley. Mr.. Anderson
s%aia % was that Of the upper Columbia. which lies
explained that it had not yet been exploited to any
extent but what had been done showed that the
land good and led the authorities to believe
that with the advent Of settlers it would prove an
exceedingly rioh section.
| For some time past largo numbers of INQUIRIES
| on an average of one hundred week,-have been
received by the department In regard to the agri-
cultural possibilities Of British Columbia Vanoooi-
Yer Island In particular