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O N T H E T R A I L T O P E A C E R I V E R 89
Trappers and traders are confined to the water, as a rule,
and see little land away from the shores of streams and lakes.
The only people who, through their employments, knew the
interior well were the Indians and half- breed hunters. It
was the statements of these, therefore, and of the few prosperous
farmers and stockmen scattered here and there, which
afforded us our only reliable knowledge.
The most extensive prairies adjacent to the Upper Peace
River are those to the north already described. The nearest
on the south side are the prairies of Spirit River, a small
stream which divides several townships of Jirst- class black,
loamy soil, well wooded in parts, but with considerable
prairie. The nearest farmer and rancher to Dunvegan, . Mr.
C. Brymner, who had lived for ten years on S p i r i t River, told
me that during seven of these, though frost had touched his
grain, particularly i n June, it had done little serious harm.
I t was a fine hay country, he said, even the ridge hay being
good, and therefore a good region for cattle, he himself having
at the time over a hundred head, which fed out late in
the fall and very early i n the spring, owing to the Chinook
winds, which enter the region and temper its climate. Southeast
of Fort St. John there is a considerable area known as
Pooscapee's Prairie, getting its name from an old Indian
chief, and which was well spoken of, but which we did not
see.
A much more extensive open country, however, is the Grand
P r a i r i e , to the south- west of the Crossing, which connects
with the S p i r i t River country, and is drained by the Smoky
R i v e r and its branches, and by its tributary, the Wapiti.
There is no dispute as to whether this should or should not
be called a prairie country. As a matter of fact, it is an
extensive district suitable for immediate cultivation, and containing,
as well, valuable timber for lumber, fencing and
building.
The first inquiry the intending immigrant makes is about
frost. At the Dunvegan and St. Augustine Mission farms,
Object Description
Description
| Title | Page 101 |
| OCR | O N T H E T R A I L T O P E A C E R I V E R 89 Trappers and traders are confined to the water, as a rule, and see little land away from the shores of streams and lakes. The only people who, through their employments, knew the interior well were the Indians and half- breed hunters. It was the statements of these, therefore, and of the few prosperous farmers and stockmen scattered here and there, which afforded us our only reliable knowledge. The most extensive prairies adjacent to the Upper Peace River are those to the north already described. The nearest on the south side are the prairies of Spirit River, a small stream which divides several townships of Jirst- class black, loamy soil, well wooded in parts, but with considerable prairie. The nearest farmer and rancher to Dunvegan, . Mr. C. Brymner, who had lived for ten years on S p i r i t River, told me that during seven of these, though frost had touched his grain, particularly i n June, it had done little serious harm. I t was a fine hay country, he said, even the ridge hay being good, and therefore a good region for cattle, he himself having at the time over a hundred head, which fed out late in the fall and very early i n the spring, owing to the Chinook winds, which enter the region and temper its climate. Southeast of Fort St. John there is a considerable area known as Pooscapee's Prairie, getting its name from an old Indian chief, and which was well spoken of, but which we did not see. A much more extensive open country, however, is the Grand P r a i r i e , to the south- west of the Crossing, which connects with the S p i r i t River country, and is drained by the Smoky R i v e r and its branches, and by its tributary, the Wapiti. There is no dispute as to whether this should or should not be called a prairie country. As a matter of fact, it is an extensive district suitable for immediate cultivation, and containing, as well, valuable timber for lumber, fencing and building. The first inquiry the intending immigrant makes is about frost. At the Dunvegan and St. Augustine Mission farms, |
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