Forr Fraser Division.

Binta, Knapp, and Cheslatta Lakes, and form a plateau of some considerable extent.
- Being of a higher altitude, and at present carrying a growth chiefly of 6-inch pine,
spruce, and poplar, it would, if systematically burnt over, be used to great advantage
as an ideal grazing country. Proof of this is found on the north shore of Cheslatta
Lake, which forms the southern limit of the plateau. Here the steep hillsides
_ preclude farming to advantage, but large areas, having been completely deforested
by fire, now carry sage-brush and a rank growth of grasses, including bunch-grass.
Speaking of the higher lands of the district generally, future development will devise
an economical treatment whereby they may serve their best purpose as grazing lands.

CLIMATE.

“Little can be said of the climate that has not really been already favourably
remarked. That is to say, that although the only actual records at hand are those
taken during the past season, indications and tradition sustain the logical conclusion
that the highly desirable climate of the surrounding and settled valleys is prevalent
over the district now under review. The maximum and minimum temperatures were
recorded every twenty-four hours. The following figures indicate the mean maximum
and minimum readings respectively for the months during which the temperatures
were under obseryation: June, 79 and 38 degrees; July, 69 and 40 degrees; August,
73 and 38 degrees; September, 63 and 33 degrees; October, 64 and 29 degrees; or
the mean maximum and minimum temperatures for the five months is 70 and 36
degrees. The warmest day was June 24th, when 95 degrees was recorded, and the
coldest night that of October 24th, with the thermometer at 19 degrees. Several
light summer frosts were recorded during the clear spells of weather. Subsequent
inquiries elicited the fact, however, that they were general during the past seasoir
and rather harder than is usually the case. Experiment is the criterion to be
depended upon, and in that behalf particular note was made of the fact that the
different varieties of garden produce, including potatoes, were successfully grown at
either extreme of the surveys; that is, at Uncha Lake, and on Indian Reserve No, 2
on Cheslatta Lake. About 300 Ib. of potatoes grown at the latter point were con-
sumed in camp, and the general consensus of opinion is that in quality they will
compare favourably with the finest crops grown elsewhere.

“Tn addition, it may be said that what has-been grown by the Indians on
Cheslatta Lake is an example of what the whole district will successfully produce.
Towards the end of September the following information was gathered relative to
crops: Potato, turnip, carrot, and pea seed was planted about May 5th and harvested
about September 20th; oats, also, planted about May 5th were 4 feet high and in
the milk stage on July 1st, and were cut for hay about the middle of September.
As to whether or not oats can be fully ripened, we could not determine.

2 “The Indians cut their crops fairly early to furnish feed during the winter for
their stock, so that no local evidence is at hand to show that oats will fully mature.
Little doubt can exist in the matter when it is considered that crops have been
successfully ripened during. past years in the surrounding settled valleys and in
the latitudes much farther north. :

= ; Sor.

“The prevailing soil is of a sandy nature, the quality of which varies according
to the situation of any particularized lands. ‘The rich sandy loams found especially
along the lower levels will add greatly to the desirability of these lands. From
Binta Lake a varying admixture of a whitish silt occurs, and it would appear that
these lands will require some system of irrigation before they are available for
the best purposes of extensive farming.

“As js usually the case in every extensive block of surveys, there are areas
here and there where the soil carries more or less loose stone, but which, however,
in the larger majority of cases may be easily ploughed out. As remarked before,
the prevailing soil of the district is sandy, which in particular instances will require