The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-07-15

seekers and investors who have had
their attention turned westward. The
rich character of the soil, the equable
and beneficial climate and the prof.
table markets near at hand form
combination so ideal for horticulture,
dairying and other branches of agri-
culture that the industry has proved
exceedingly profitable. The prosper
Gus condition of the farmers in this
valley and the stories of fortunes made
from comparatively small tracts OF
land, have been features that nave
been exploited abroad to such erect
that a large influx of homeseekers and
investors from other portions OF the
country has resulted, and expansion,
growth and enhancement of land val
ues are taking place with remarkable
rapidity.
The famous portion of this valley
reaching from the ChilliWack district
to the mouth of the mighty Fraser riv-
er, has proved unusually fertile and
productive and is developing at rate
which has surprised even the most
sanguine of those who always predict
ed the greatness of that section. This
district alone is over seventy miles
long and includes the important mu-
sion, Sumas, Matsqui, Langley, Ma
pie Ridge, Coquitlam, Surrey, Delta,
Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster
and South Vancouver.
Along the banks of the Fraser river
and the many small streams that drain
the district, ideal land is found for
dairy farms and the production OF hay
and grain The land is of rich deep,
black loan of inexhaustible fertility
and capable of producing very large
crops. The farm crops OF this rich
valley consists principally Of hay, oats
and roots. Three tons of hay per acre
is only an average yield and four tons
have often been reaped from an acre
in one season by the more careful
and scientific farmers. Oats yield
enormously in this district, crops OF
from 80 to 120 bushels per acre not
heing uncommon Roots of all kinds
grow in abundance and make profit
able and sustaining food for all kinds
of stock.
Dairy farming is undoubtedly the
most important branch of agricultural
pursuit, and has been found to be the
most profitable. Land that will pro"
duce from two to four tons of hay
will naturally provide rich pasture for
large herds of cattle, and the long sea.
sons and mild climate keep the grass
fresh and green from early in the
spring until Christmas, during which
season the dairy herds grow fat on
the rich and luxuriant clover. During
the mild season of winter the m1lch
COWS need shelter only at night. When
the profitable markets are taken into
consideration it can be readily under
stood that dairying in the Fraser Val
ley is a profitable branch OF agricul-
ture. During the past year, butter IN
the markets of this district has never
gone below % cents per pound, sell
inc in the summer months at an av-
erage price of thirty cents and dur
ing the winter at an average price OF
forty cents. Milk and cream like
wise bring top notch prices. A num-
Der of large creameries in the district
furnish the dairymen with ready
market for their products. Feeding
on the rich grasses throughout the
greater portion of the year, mich
COWS become very prolific in their
yields. w. J. Hawkshaw, dairyman
living at Chilliwack, who has met with
only the usual success OF dairymen IN
that region states that he has a herd
of twenty mich COWS which last year
averaged him $50 head for cream
alone. In speaking of his method OF
operation, he states that he pastures
his COWS on his meadows until about
May oath, at which time he takes them
off to allow the hay to grow. In the
month of July he cuts about three
tons of hay to the acre, which he uses
to feed his cattle with during the win
ter months, selling considerable sur
plus which he has left over. He states
that his farm, 100 acres of which is