LIBRARY OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY DISTRICTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. British Columbia is divided into the following districts :— Acres. Kootenay (East and West) 15,000,000 Yale 15,500,000 Lillooet 10,000,000 Westminster 4,900,000 Cariboo 96,000,000 Cassiar 100,000,000 Comox (Mainland) 4,000,000 Vancouver Island 10,000,000 Each of these great districts would require a separate and detailed description in order to set forth its particular advantages of soil, climate, mineral and timber resources, and diversity of scenery, but space forbids more than brief mention. THE KOOTENAYS. Kootenay District (or " The Kootenays") forms the south-eastern portion of British Columbia, west of the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and is drained by the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. East Kootenay contains a large extent of agricultural land, much of which requires irrigation, but suited to fruit growing and all kinds of grain and vegetables. Most of the land is well timbered and lumbering is, next to mining, the principal industry. There are considerable areas of fertile land in West Kootenay and a good deal of it is being utilised for fruit growing. The fame of the Koote- nay mines is world-wide, the mountains being rich in gold, silver, copper and lead, and the eastern valleys underlaid with coal and petroleum. British Columbia mining has reached its highest development in Kootenay and, as a consequence, many prosperous cities and towns have been established. The development of the Crow's Nest coal fields and the activity in metalliferous mining has caused a rapid increase in population, especially in East Kootenay, where it is estimated to have more than trebled since 1901. The valleys of the Kootenay District contain large areas of arable land suitable to fruit-growing, mixed farming, and dairying. The numerous lakes and streams furnish water for irrigation, where required,and afford cheap trans- portation, during the season of navigation. The Columbia-Kootenay Valley extends from the Big Bend of the Columbia River to the International Boundary, At the Big Bend it merges into the Canoe River Valley, which extends northward to Tete Jaune Cache. South of Golden on the main line of the C.P.R., the Upper Columbia Valley extends southward to the Columbia Lakes, the source of the Columbia River, at Canal Plats. At this point the Kootenay River passes within a few hundred yards of the Columbia, flowing southward, while the Columbia flows north, although there is scarcely an appreciable diffierence in the level of the two steams. This valley, from Golden to the International Boundary, is one of the finest stretches of country in North America, for natural beauty, fertility of soil, and mineral and timber wealth. West of the Purcell Range a magnificent valley is formed by the Kootenay Lakes, while another, equally important, lies west of the Selkirk Mountains, watered by the Arrow Lakes. 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA—DISTRICTS. YALE. Lying west of the Kootenays is the splendid Yale district, rich in minerals and timber, and possessing one of the largest areas of agricultural land in the Province. It includes the rich valleys of the Okanagan, Nicola, Similkameen, Kettle River, and North and South Thompson, and the Boundary, and has been appropriately named " The Garden of British Columbia." The main line of the Canadian Pacific passes nearly through the centre of Yale from east to west, while the Okanagan branch and the lake steamers give access to the southern portions. New branch lines are projected, and some are in course of construction, which will serve to open up a very large mining and agricul- tural area. Among these are the Kettle Valley and the Victoria, Vancouver and Eastern Railways, which are being built through to the Coast. Cattle raising on a large scale has been one of the chief industries, but many of the ranges are now divided into small parcels which are being eagerly bought by fruit growers and small farmers. The district is very rich in minerals and coal, but development has been delayed by lack of transportation facilities—a drawback which will soon be removed. LILLOOET. In natural features Lillooet resembles Yale. It is largely a pastoral country, well adapted to dairying, cattle raising and fruit growing, Placer and hydraulic mining are carried on successfully and quartz mining is making fair progress, only railway communication is needed to insure success. WESTMINSTER. One of the richest agricultural districts of the Province is Westminster, which includes all the fertile valley of the Lower Eraser. The climate is mild, with much rain in winter. The timber is very heavy and the under- brush thick. Westminster is the centre of the great lumbering and salmon canning industries. Its agricultural advantages are unexcelled in the Province, heavy crops of hay, grain and roots being the rule, and the fruit growing to perfection and in profusion. A great deal of the land in the Eraser Valley has been reclaimed by dyking. CARIBOO AND CASSIAR. The great northern districts of Cariboo and Cassiar are practically unex- plored and undeveloped, although in the early days parts of them were invaded by a great army of placer miners, who recovered about $50,000,000 in gold from the creeks and benches. Hydraulic mining on a large scale is being carried on by several wealthy companies at different points in the district with fair success, and individual miners and dredging companies are doing well in Atlin. Large coal measures have been located on the Telkwa River, and at other points, and copper ore is found in many localities. The coun- try is lightly timbered and promises in time to become an important cattle rais- ing and agricultural district, as there are many fertile valleys, which even now. despite the absence of railways, are attracting settlers. In the southern part of Cariboo, along the main waggon road, are several flourishing ranches which produce cattle, grain and vegetables, finding a ready market in the mining camps. Southern Cassiar and the central portion of Cariboo will be opened to settlement by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, the construction of which is now in progress. BRITISH COLUMBIA—POULTRY RAISING. 29 many elements necessary to constitute it a great dairying country, the products of which should include cheese and condensed milk. There are extensive areas of pastoral land in the interior, while increased cultivation in the lower country will form the necessary feeding ground. With a plentiful supply of good water and luxuriant and nutritious grasses, there is every required facility added. The coast climate is most favourable to the dairying industry. Clover, one of the most valuable plants in cultivation, is practically a weed in British Columbia west of the Coast Range. Once it gets established in the soil it is almost impossible to get it out. Lucerne, or alfalfa, is succeeding admirably. In Okanagan Valley, Thompson River Valley and many other points three heavy crops of this nutritious fodder are produced annually. There are several co-operative and private creameries established in the Province, all doing well and earning satisfactory dividends. The Pro- vincial Government aids the establishment of co-operative creameries by loaning the promoters one-half of the cost of the creamery building, plant and fixtures, repayable in eight instalments with interest at five per cent., the first of such instalments to be paid at the expiration of three years, and the other seven annually thereafter. The Government assists the establishment of cheese-factories on the same terms as those in which aid fs granted to creameries. With the growth of the cities and towns the business of supplying milk and cream is becoming an important and profitable branch of the dairying industry. POULTRY RAISING. Poultry raising is an important branch of general farming which is gradually developing in British Columbia, but not to the extent which its importance warrants. The home market is nowhere nearly supplied either with eggs or poultry, large quantities being imported from Manitoba, Ontario, California, Washington, Nebraska and Oregon. The value of eggs and poultry imported in 1912 was $1,840,467. Good prices prevail at all seasons, the average wholesale prices for eggs on the coast being: Fresh eggs, 35 cents per doz.; case eggs, 22 cents per doz.; while the retail price for fresh eggs averaged 37i cents per doz., ranging from 25 cents to 75 cents. Fowls bring from $6 to 89 per doz.; chickens, $8 to 10$ , ducks, $6 to $12; geese, $2 to $3 each, and turkeys from 25 to 35 cents per pound. A practical poultry raiser who has made a success of the business on Vancouver Island, says: "I have no hesitation in saying that there are good profits in the business, conducted on a strictly commercial basis. In fact, I know of no other branch of agriculture which is so profitable, having in view the amount of capital to be invested and the expense of conducting it. . . . Properly managed, in any number, poultry ought to reap a profit of at least $1 per head per annum." Where co-operative methods are adopted much larger returns are made. Actual experience shows that the business is very profitable. In a recent report to the Department of Agriculture a well-known farmer, X,v N \ a* • • I r ^ •i^ \^.\ v, ',