Читать книгу Fruit Ranching in British Columbia - John Thomas Bealby - Страница 9

According to the information given me beforehand, the winter in the Kootenays, especially along the immediate shores of the lake, was relatively mild as compared not only with that of the Dominion as a whole, but also with that of the rest of the province of British Columbia. During the ten years or more that meteorological observations of any scientific accuracy had been kept at Nelson, the lowest point ever touched by the thermometer in the winter was -6° Fahr. One or two cold snaps might be expected every winter; but, as a general rule, they were of short duration, and the thermometer seldom dropped below zero. At all events, the frost was never severe enough to do real injury to the fruit trees. Scientifically speaking, the thorough rest from all the various phases of reproductive activity enforced upon the tree by the comparative severity of the winter is of great value to it, and, no doubt, counterbalances the remarkably rapid manifestation of that same activity during the summer months. However that may be, it is indisputable that during the period from the blossoming to the maturing of the fruit the trees exhibit a wonderful display of vigour and an exceptional activity. The young twigs, representing the season's growth, not uncommonly run to a length of three, four, five, or even six feet. And this goes on very often simultaneously with the production of such a heavy crop of fruit as to necessitate the propping of the trees. It is nothing unusual to see the larger portion of the mature trees in a British Columbia orchard surrounded with props—six, twelve, a score, or more; and even quite young trees, five or six years old, will, if allowed to carry all the fruit they bring forth, call for the application of a "forest" of friendly supports. Consequently, were it not for the compulsory rest of the winter, the trees would pretty soon exhaust their natural energies.