12 The Peace River District

very rich in river silt and black and sandy clay loams. Clay, sandy clay and
black loam, with a subsoil of the same, are the prevailing soils of the entire district.
Occasional sand ridges, usually covered with jack pine, are found, but these
comprise a very small percentage of the area. Some good land is covered with
light muskeg or is marshy, but much of this can be easily drained. The usual
run of soil is free from alkali, and well adapted to growing wheat. The district,
generally speaking, is level or slightly rolling. Very little gravelly land occurs,
and field stones and small boulders are found only in restricted areas, and even
there in small numbers. Generally speaking, the entire district is exceedingly
fertile, the percentage of barren land being practically nothing.

Numerous rivers and streams of pure water provide the district at large
with this necessary resource. However, the question of obtaining water on each
quarter-section, or in every small locality, requires careful study. There are
considerable areas of plateau lands where surface water is not found at all seasons
of the year and where the underground supply lies at a considerable depth.
Many artificial reservoirs, created by building dams across coulees or ravines,
have been made to serve the needs of the earlier years till wells could be secured.
In the Fort Vermilion district, good water is usually found at depths of from 18
to 40 feet. Other sections find water at depths of 50 or 60 feet, while less favoured
districts do not find water above the 100-foot level. A number of well-drilling
rigs are now at work in the drier areas and do not appear to meet with any
dificuly in obtaining satisfactory supplies of this vital fluid.

Richly productive and easy to till, the soil of this district is inviting to the
farmer and gardener. Bountiful yields, with a minimum of labour, tend to
encourage the increase of production and maintain the quality of product.
The lover of flowers or kitchen gardens is richly repaid for a few minutes spent
in planting and caring for the house garden. Flowers and vegetables grow with
a wonderful energy, and spread cheer and profit alike.

The following is an analysis* of a sample of soil taken from the prairies of
Pouce Coupé: moisture, 2-80; loss by ignition, 8-20; insoluble, 77-61; oxide
of iron, 3-50; alumina, 5-70; lime, 0-60; potash, 0-81; phosphorie acid,
0-20; nitrogen, 0-44; alkali, nil.

Timber

Much has been written about the vast prairies and lightly wooded sections
of the Peace River district. While these are extensive, the greater portion of
the district, taking into account the mountain slopes and deep valleys of its
outer bound, is thickly wooded with valuable timber. The principal varieties
include fir in the mountains, spruce, pine, tamarack, birch, poplar, cottonwood,
and willow. The upper reaches of the district, including the mountains and
foothills, are especially well wooded, but timber of good dimensions is found in
all the valleys throughout the entire district. Many large islands occur at
intervals along the Peace, and these are all thickly wooded with fine straight
spruce. Valuable timber limits on the Wapiti are yet untouched. The North

*Supplied by Dept. of Lands, Victoria, B.C.