10 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS.

growth in these parts. This is the characteristic growth about Tachie and Nulki
Lakes and in much of the area north of the river. This kind of land costs about
$40 to $50 per acre to clear. Where growth of this character occurs the soil is
almost uniformly deep and rich. Spruce does not cover a very large area of the
Fraser Lake or Nechako country. Almost the only exclusive growth is in a few
swamps. In some of these the soil is a heavy clay silt, but will make productive
land when drained. Where spruce grows thickly a rich soil is almost always found.
Willow is only found in small patches along creeks and lakes, and alder simply
forms an underbrush in some places among the pine and poplar. Birch is only
found occasionally and is yery small in size.

“The usual luxuriant growth of wild grass, peavine, vetches, meadow-rue, fire-
weed, ete., characteristic of the north, is found in abundance here. The luxuriance
of the growth is not apparent from the trail, most of it having been eaten off, but
farther back among the poplar-woods it is high and thick, furnishing excellent
grazing over thousands of acres. Yarrow is abundani, becoming quite weedy in
places. With clean farming and the use of clean seed it will not be found a serious
pest. Goldenrod is very common, and Indian paint-brush is thick in sandy places.
Wild lupine is found quite abundantly in many places. Many members of the mint
family are common, and wild, blue and yellow asters are very numerous. Wild
grasses reaching a height of 4 to 5 feet were thick all over the valley. Red-top is
especially thick in the meadows, and wild brome-grass grows very luxuriantly,
especially where the soil has been cultivated. Reed canary-grass 7 feet high was
seen at Fort Fraser. Service-berries and cranberries were ripe early in August,
and were very abundant in many places. Along the trail from Sinkut Lake to Prince
George blueberries were common, and salmon-berries were found in several places.

NECHAKO VALLEY A RiIcH AREA,

“Tn regard to the agricultural development of the Nechako Valley, there seems
no good reason why it should not become one of the richest areas in British Columbia.
Barley seems to ripen well in nearly every part. Oats were seen growing on twenty
different farms in the Nechako Valley. These fields varied in size from % acre up
to 25 acres, and it can be truthfully said there was not one poor crop among them.
Many of them, from their appearance in the field, would yield from 65 to 75 bushels
per acre. It is doubtful whether all of them ripened well, but where they did not
it would be doubtless largely attributable to poor seed and late-maturing varieties.
There seems little doubt that fall wheat and fall rye can be grown successfully in
the Nechako. Nearly all kinds of roots and the hardier vegetables do exceptionally
well and possess remarkable keeping qualities. While potatoes have not been
successful in every part, yet they have been in many parts, and doubtless will
become a surer crop as a larger area becomes cleared. Potato-beetles are unknown.
So far as present indications point, clover and alfalfa will survive the winter in
this climate quite successfully. All alfalfa and clover seed sown here should be
treated with nitro-culture immediately before sowing. Different cultures are needed
for the different clovers or for alfalfa. While one could not expect so many cuttings
from alfalfa in the Nechako as farther south, yet considering that it is grown farther
north in other parts of the world, there seems no doubt a fair degree of success may
be attained with it in northern British Columbia. Increased markets and facilities
for getting imports cheaper will increase settlement, and an increase of population
will mean a rapid development of this valley, for there is no tract of country in the
northern part of the Province where the soil is better, where the clearing will be less
costly, or where frosts are apt to disappear to so great an extent as in this valley.”

The Preemption Inspector for the district, speaking of this vicinity, said:
“Nechako Valley, which contains one of the largest areas of agricultural land in
the interior of the Province, is splendidly adapted for all kinds of farming, more
especially dairying and the raising of hogs and cattle. Hay, oats, barley, rye, etc.,
can be grown in unlimited quantities, besides vegetables of all descriptions.