History of Agriculture
on Salt Spring Island
Farms, Farmers and Farming
1859 - 1885
by
Morton B. Stratton
August 15, 1991
1
History of Agriculture
on Salt Spring Island
Farms, Farmers and Farming
1859 - 1885
by
Morton B. Stratton
August 15, 1991
3
4
SettlementandthestruggleforSurvival1859-1885
Theheydayofthesmallfamilyfarmfrom1885to1914
TheFarmerandSociety(organisations,andthelifeofthefarmer)
WorldWarI-labourshortage,badweather,soildepletion-endofanera
BetweentheWars
-1918tomid1920’sDifficultYears
-midtolate1920’sTheProperousYears
-1930’sTheGreatDepression
Postscript-Post-Wardeclineoffarmingasthemainstayoftheislandeconomy
FinalWord:
“Despitetheexodusfromthefarmandthechangeintheisland’spopulation,
ifonetakesthetimeinthe1990’stovisitthefarmersmarketsinGanges
onaSaturdaymorning,orwatchthecomingandgoingofpatronsatthefarm
storesandnurseries,itwouldappearthatcreativeuseisstillbeingmade
ofthesoil.TheoldC.P.R.boatsaregone,cattle,hogsandsheepare
seldomseenontheferriesgoingoffislandtomarket,butthereisstillan
amazingvarietyofsmall-scaleagriculturalproductionasisevidencedalso
inthemarvellousexhibitsondisplayattherejuvenatedFallFair”
HISTORYOFAGRICULTUREONSALTSPRINGISLAND-
by MortonStratton
CONTENTS
I.GENERALINTRODUCTION p.3
II.SETTLEMENTANDTHESTRUGGLEFORSURVIVAL-1859-1885
1. AreasofSettlement-TheFarmersMoveIn
p.5
2. ClearingtheLandandGettingEstablished
p. 8
3. ProblemsandObstacles-FacingtheChallenge(headingnotinoriginalMSp.10guess)
4.CommunityBuilding-TheTransitiontoaNewEra
p.14
III.AGRICULTURALEXPANSIONANDMATURITY1885-1914
1.PopulationgrowthandchangesinthesocialclimateofruralSaltSpring.p.17
2.TheMatureOneFamilySubsistenceFarm
p.24
3.SmallFarmSpecialization-Potatoes
p.27
4.SmallFarmSpecialization-TreeFruits(Orchards)
p.27
5.SmallFarmSpecialization-DairyingandtheGangesCreamery p.29
5.SmallFarmSpecialization-PoultryRaising
p.34
(Chickens,Ducks,GeeseandTurkeys)
6.SheepRaising
p,36
7.SmallFruitCulture,BeekeepingandOtherAbortiveEnterprises
p.37
IV.THEFARMERANDSOCIETY 1.Farmers’OrganizationsandGovernmentAssistancetoAgriculture
p.39
2.TheProblemsofFarmersonSaltSpring p.44
3.TheFarmer’sWayofLife p.48
4.SignsofChange p,51
V.WorldWarI(1914-1918)-“asortofmilepostofeverything” VI.1918-1939“TheBestandWorstofTimes”
1. Introduction
2. ThedifficultYears:1918tothemid20’s 3. TheMoreProsperousMiddleandLate20’s
a)TheDairyIndustry
b)OtherLinesofSmallFarmProduction c)SomeSpecialtyFarmOperationsofthe20’s
d)ExpansionofFarmActivitiestoMusgraveMountain
e)TheFarmWayofLifeinthe1920’s
f)Farmers’Organizations 4. TheGreatDepressionandAfter a)Signsoftrouble b.TheGreatDepressionofthe1930’s
VII.Postscript(1939-1945,andPost-War,andsummaryto1980’s)
FOOTNOTES(1914ff)
p.56
p.54
p.57
p,56
p.57
p.57
p.59
p.60
p.62
p.63
p.65
p.67
p.67
p.68
p.74
p.78-86
5
I.HISTORYOFAGRICULTUREONSALTSPRINGISLAND--
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
EdwardMallandaineinhisBritishColumbiaDirectory,1887saysofSaltSpringIsland:“Itwillbe
alwaysrememberedasabsolutelythefirstagriculturalsettlementinthethenColonyofVancouver
[Island].”(1)ThepioneerfarmersoftheSaanichPeninsulaandtheCowichanValleymighthave
quibbledwiththisassertionbutinanycasefromthedaythefirstparty
(includingMallandaine)setfootonshoreatVesuvius(2)untilafterWorldWarIISaltSpring
remainedalmostexclusivelyafarmingcommunity.Therewassomefinesandstoneexportedfrom
thenorthwestcoastoftheislandbetweenVesuviusandSoutheyPoint.(3)Andseveralfarmers
dreamedofstrikingitrichfromgold,silver,coalandevensalt.(4)Butitwasnottobe.Norin
factwereanyrealfortunesmadefromfarming.EightypercentofSaltSpringisrugged,rocky
mountainsideandthetwentypercentofthelandsuitableforagriculturewasmostlyscatteredin
littlepocketsinlow-lyingareasunderonehundredmetreswheresoilhadaccumulatedsincethe
retreatoftheglaciers.(5)Farmingonalargescalewassimplynotpossible.Giventhelimitations
setbytheenvironment,pioneeringespeciallywasnoteasy.ReverendWilsonwasquiterightin
commentingin1895:“Foralongtimelifeontheislandwasofaveryroughcharacter,andtheyhad
muchtocontendwith.”(6)
Inaperceptiveessayon“EarlyDaysonSaltspringIsland”A.F.Fluckeperhapsbestsetsthetonefor
adiscussionofagricultureandthefarminglifeonourrugged,woodedisland.
“SaltspringIslandissimplythestoryofpioneeragriculturalsettlement,fromthefirstsomewhat
unenthusiasticpre-emptionsofunsurveyedlandbywould-besettlerswhoselimitedresources
wouldsupplythemwithnothingbetterthroughlongyearsofstrugglewitharuggedterrainthat
yieldedonlygrudginglytotheaxeandplough,andaninsecurityoflifeandlivelihoodthatgave
risetomanytensionsandfrictionstoanislandcommunity,self-respectingandinmanyways
self-sufficient.Itisthestoryofdeterminedfarmers,inaperiodwhencontactwiththeoutside
worldmeantastruggleofadayormoreovertracklesshillstothenearestboat-landingand
governmentalauthoritywasdistantandnottoointerestedinapolyglotofsquabblingsettlersand
theirproblems,whoseizedtheirlittleparcelsofland,enduredsolitude,sometimesprivation,and
notinfrequentlydangerfromanimalandhumanenemies,andwhofinallyestablishedthemselvesin
afirmagriculturalsecurity....Takenasawhole,thenaturalresourcesoftheislandsymbolizesolid
mediocrity.Therewasalittleofthisandalittleofthat--afewminerals,afewfertileareas,alittle
building-stone,alittlemarketabletimber--butnooutstandingblessingsthatcouldbringrewards
disproportionatetothelabourinvolved.ThestoryofSaltspring,likethatofmanyanotherpioneer
settlement,isthestoryofsheerhardwork,redeemedonlybytheequableclimateandthenatural
beautyoftheisland.”(7)
6
Andforthefirsttwoorthreedecadestherewasverylittletimeevenfortheenjoymentofthe
climateandscenery.Butbythe1880’safewfarmerswhowereeithermoretenaciousorwhohad
hituponthemorefavouredlocationswerewellestablished.Marketswereopeningupfortheir
produce,neighboursweremovinginandasenseofcommunitywasbuilding.Ifevertherewere
“goodolddays”onSaltSpringitwasintheyearsfromabout1885totheoutbreakofWorldWar
Iin1914.Immigrants,manywellheeled,movedin,agriculturaloutputexpandedrapidly(fora
timeSaltSpringwasthethirdmostimportantfruitproducingareaintheprovince),theamenities
oflifedeveloped--roads,schools,churches,agriculturalsocieties,aresidentdoctor,frequent
steamerservicetotheoutsideworld.Loghousesgavewaytomorecomfortableandstylishframe
dwellings;bigbarnswereerected,somefarmmachinerywasimportedandtheGangesCreamery
laidthebasisforaprofitabledairyindustry.TheJerseyherdsscatteredthroughtheislandmust
havebeenaprettysightindeed.Butitwasnottolast.
ThedepartureoftheyoungermentoservetheircountryinWorldWarIdisruptedtherelatively
prosperousruraleconomy.Normalroutineswerebroken.Thetwoagriculturalsocietiesalmost
suspendedtheiractivitiesandfeltobligedafterthewartojoinforcesinordertosurvive.The
dislocationscausedbywar,theadventofmechanization(tractors,theautomobile),theintroduction
ofimprovementslikeelectricity,theopeningofeasiercontactswiththeoutsideworldand,of
course,thetraumaoftheGreatDepressionofthe1930’sandWorldWarIIcombinedtoprofoundly
alterthecharacteroflifeontheisland.Thepioneerdayswereperhapsgoneby1920;(8)whatwas
leftofthe“goodolddays”disappearedforeverduringtheDepressionandWorldWarII.What
emergedwasvibrantandexcitingbutverydifferent--itwasnolongerthesemi-isolatedruralfarm
communityoftheyearspreceding.
II.SETTLEMENTANDTHESTRUGGLEFORSURVIVAL-1859-1885
1.AreasofSettlement-TheFarmersMoveIn
ThebasicpatternofsettlementonSaltSpringwasquiteapparentbythe1880’s.Almost
simultaneouslyclustersoffarmsdevelopedintheNorthEndandtheSouthEnd,quiteisolated
fromeachother.Farmers,seekingthericherbottomlands,almostentirelyavoidedtheplateauarea
betweenthetopofLee’sHillandGangesHill.ButevenwithintheNorthEndandtheSouthEnd
discretecommunitiesdeveloped,separatedbyhillsormountainscoveredwithdenseandalmost
tracklessforest.Inthisearlyperiodcommunicationbetweentheseisolatedareasofsettlementwas
usuallyeasierwiththeoutsideworld(Victoria,Sidney,Cowichan,Nanaimoorthemainland)than
witheachother.
ItwasthecollapseoftheFraserRivergoldboom whichbroughtthefirstsettlersalmostin
desperationtotheisolatedandruggedGulfIslands,includingSaltSpring.Manywereinsemi-
7
indigentcircumstancesandwithnofarmingexperienceorequipment.Havingfailedtomakeitin
thegoldfields,perhapstheycouldatleastsurvivebyfarming.Theyearsafter1858weretraumatic
onesforVictoriaanditshinterland.Asleepylittletownofthreehundredpeoplehadbeenunundated
in1858bynearlytwenty-fivethousandmenofmanynationalities--British,Australian,Canadian,
German,etc.Fromtheirmakeshifttentcitytheypouredovertothemainlandavidtomaketheir
fortuneingold.Butthebonanzawasshort-livedandtherewasanexodusin1859backtoVictoria
anddowntotheUnitedStates.Afew,however,chosetoremainandattemptagoatfarminginthe
Saanichpeninsula,theCowichanandChemainusvalleys,andtheGulfIslands.Thosewhocould
affordtheofficialpriceof1poundperacreforlandsettlednearerVictoria;thosewhocouldn’tput
pressureonthegovernmenttoestablishamakeshiftpre-emptionsystemwhichpermittedthemto
settlewithoutevenaninitialpaymentonunsurveyedlandatChemainusandSaltSpring.Itwas
understoodthatwhenthelandwasproperlysurveyedtheywouldbeexpectedtopaythegoingrate
(asitturnedoutlandonSaltSpringinthe19thcenturycostjust$1.00peracre.)(9)
Thefirstofthisrag-tagbandincludedsomenegroeswho,unliketheothers,werenotonthe
reboundfromthegoldrushbutratherwereseekingescapefromdiscriminationandsegregationin
CaliforniainthefreerairoftheColonyofVancouverIsland.PossiblybecausetheNorthEndwas
morereadilyaccessible,throughVesuviusBay,viatheestablishedsteamerservicebetweenVictoria
andthecoalminingandagriculturalcentreofNanaimotheveryfirstofthesesettlersarrivedin
thenorthwestoftheislandratherthanintheSouthEnd.Mostpre-emptedlandinthedeep-soiled
andfertileVesuvius-CentralSettlement-GangesHarbouruplandcorridor.LouisandSylviaStark
(1860),ex-slaves,settledforadecadeonthehigherlandnorthofVesuviusHarbour.JohnPatton
Booth,ayoungbachelorfromtheOrkneys,intimeSaltSpring’sleadingcitizen,choselandalong
eithersideofBoothCanal(1859).ManyofthenegrofamilieswerescatteredaroundSt.Mary’s
LakefromnearBroadwellmountainonthewest(AbrahamCopeland1860),tosouthofthelake
(W.L.Harrison(1860),andeastofthelake(ArmsteadBuckner1859).JohnNorton(1860),oneof
fourPortuguesewhocametoSaltSpring,developedafinefarmonthegentleslopeleadingdown
towardGangesHarbour.OntheharbouritselftheonlyearlysettlerwasHenryLinekerandhis
wife(thefirstwhitewomanontheisland)1859.JohnC.Jones(1860),nevermuchofafarmer,
butmuchrespectedasthefirstschoolteacher,tooklandjustsouthofJohnNorton.Partingfrom
theothersafewofthefirstgroupofsettlersstruckoutoverthemountainridgenorthofSt.Mary’s
LakeandestablishedthedetachedbutformanyyearsratherflourishingBegg’sSettlementonthe
gentlenortheastfacingslopeaboveTrincomaliChannel.TheleaderwasJonathonBegg(1859),
accompaniedbyHenrySampson(1859),anex-HudsonBayCo.employeeatFortRupert,Edward
Walkerandothers.Betweenthisarea,latercalledFernwood,andLongHarbourontheridge
dividingthemHiramWhims(1860),oneofthenegrogroup,establishedanuplandfarminanarea
latersettledalsobyWillisStarkandhismother,Sylvia.Inthelate1860stheinitialsettlementon
theNorthEndwasprettywellestablishedafterEstalonBittancourt(bornintheAzores)developed
afarm,stonequarryandstoreonVesuviusBay,LouisStarkandfamilymovedtothenortheast
shoreofGangesHarbouroppositeGoatIsland(1869)andtheKanaka(Hawaiian),DanielFredison,
pre-emptedonMansellRoadattheheadofLongHarbour.(10)Forseveraldecadesaccesstothe
outsideworldforallofthesesettlers,difficultthoughitwasfortheFernwoodfarmers,was
bywayofVesuvius.
8
Thesuccessoftheseearlyarrivalsinferretingoutthebestpotentialfarmlandinthisheavily
forestedisland,crossedonlybydeertracksandIndiantrails,seemsinretrospectalmostuncanny.
ButthosewhomovedontotheSouthEndfromtheearly1860stothemid-80sseemedequallyas
fortunateasthosetothenorth.Ofcoursealloftheislandwascoveredwithold-growthforestandon
thedeepalluviumoftheBurgoyneValleystretchingfromBurgoyneBaytoFulfordHarbour,where
giant trees6’-7’indiameterwerenotunusual,(11)theaspectmustinfacthavebeenratheropen,
notunlikeCathedralGroveonVancouverIslandtoday.
ThefirstsettlerintheBurgoyneValley,JohnMaxwell(1860),unlikemostoftheotherfirst
generationpioneers,bothmadeandsavedmoneyonthegoldfields.Itwastothealmostflatwest
endofthevalleyatthefootofMt.Maxwellthatheandhispartner,JohnLunney,broughttheirherd
ofTexasLonghornsandestablishedthefirstandonlycattleranchonSaltSpringIsland.Coming
fromVictoriaacoupleofyearslatertheyoungbachelormarketgardener,JosephAkerman(1862),
chosehispre-emptiononeithersideofFulfordCreekaboutmidwayupthevalley.Justdown
fromhimin1864afellowcountrymanofJohnMaxwell,theyoungIrishman,MichaelGyves,
pre-emptedamongthegiantcedars.InthatsameyearFredFoordwasattractedtotheprettybasin
surroundingthelakebearinghisnameupontheplateauattheheadofFulfordCreek.Influenced
perhapsbythemildsoutherlyexposureofthesouthshoreoftheisland,TheodoreTrage(1860),
futureorchardistandgraduateinhorticultureoftheUniversityofHeidelberg,Germany,established
hispre-emptionbetweenReginaldHillandFulfordHarbour.AboutadecadelaterHenryRuckle
(1872)appropriatedtheBeaverPointareaforhimselfandestablishedwhathasbecometheoldest
familyfarminBritishColumbia.Equallyisolatedwasthefarmestablishedinthesameyeartothe
westofIsabellaPointbyPaulKahana(laterTahouney),thefirstoftheKanakaswhomovedup
fromSanJuanIsland.Andaworlduntoitself,connectedonlybyseatotheCowichanValley,was
thesheepranchestablishedbythePimburybrothers(1874)ontherockywesternflanksofMt.
BruceandMt.Tuam.(12)
Inconclusion,mentionshouldbemadeofsomeimportantpioneerfamilieswhomovedontoSalt
Springlateintheearlyformativeperiod--theAlexanderMcLennanfamily(1882)downtowards
BeaverPoint,CharlesHorelonLee’sHilloverlookingtheMaxwellproperty,andintheNorthEnd,
WilliamandHenryCaldwell(1884)intheWalkerHookareaandonMansellRoad,JoelBroadwell
(1882),westofSt.Mary’sLake,HenrySteens(1884)northofCentralandSamuelBeddis(1884),
quiteisolatedfromeveryone,welldownthesouthshoreofGangesHarbourneartheoutletof
CusheonCreek.(13)By1885muchofthebestlandwithapotentialforagriculturehadbeenpreempted.Whichisnottosay,however,thatithadbeendeveloped.Infact,asofadecadelater,only
about6%oftheareaclaimedhadbeencleared.WhichledtheMinisterofAgriculturetocomplain
1892:“thereistoogreatadispositiononthepartoffarmersandotherstoacquirelargetractsofland
andkeepthemlockedup.”(14)Andagainin1897,“Thereisverylittlegovernmentlandavailable
forpre-emption.”(15)Butthatisanotherstory;forthetimebeingitwasfirstcome,firstserved
asSaltSpringpioneerfamilieslaidclaimtoareaswhichtheythen,throughendlesslabour,slowly
fashionedintofarms.
9
2.ClearingtheLandandGettingEstablished
“Itmeantslowhardworktoclearahomesteadfromtheforest,”saysMargaretShawWalter,
daughterofaGalianopioneer,“fellingtrees,burningthem,diggingamongthestumpstoplant
potatoes,withvegetablesanddifferentgrains;gettingsomefowlsandlateron,cattlebydegrees.”
(16)Havingpickedasiteforthecabin,oftenatthebottomofahillnearaspringorstreamonthe
edgeofafuturefield,workbegan.AsdescribedbytheCaldwellssomeyearslater:“Thefirststep
wastocutacircularclearingoutoftheforest.Thisclearingwasnearawatersupplyandwasthree
hundredfeetindiametersothecabincouldbeerectedoutofdangeroffallingtrees.Insomecases
thetreetrunksweresevenfeetindiameter,makingtheuseofasawimpractical.Inacaselike
thatthesettlersdrilledtwowideholesinthelog[tree]withanauger,theseholesenabledthemto
setfiresinsidethetreesandburnthemintosectionsthatwerethenpiledaroundthestumpsand
burnedleavingadepositofash.”(17)Thissametechniquewasingeneraluse.OnMayneIslandfor
example,theearlypioneersreported,“Withoutexpensivesaws,theeasiestmethodtoclearlandwas
toboreholeswithanaugerintothecentersofthelargefirandcedartrees,thenfilltheholeswith
hotcoals.”(18)Ofcourse,sawswereusedtoo.YoungJohnBeddisinhisDiarymakesrepeated
referencestobothmethods.“Saweddowntrees,”“Sawedtrees,”“Sawedandboredtrees,”“Bored
logs.”Andofcourse,almosteverythingthatcamedownhadtobeburned.Onlyalittlewassaved
forhouses,barnsandsnakefences.AheavypallofsmokemusthavedriftedoverSaltSpringIsland
forgenerationsasthissameslashingandburningtocleartheforestisdescribedbyPhilipsina
pamphletpublishedin1902bytheFarmers’Institute.“Thefellingoftimber...isdoneinwinterand
thetreesbeinglefttodrythroughthesummer,afireisrunovertheminthefall;thelogsthatremain
beingcutup,piledandburnt,thelandisthenseededdowntograssorbrokenupforafirstcropof
potatoes.”(19)Onlyinthemid-20satatimewhenyoungCharlesHorelhelpedJimAkerman“slash
andburn”afieldontheisland,wasthismethodmadeillegal.(20)
Havingclearedanareaoftrees,farmingamongthestumpscouldatlastbegin.Thefirstcropgrown
wasusuallypotatoesorpeas.AnearlypioneeronNorthPenderrecalled:“Thefirstploughingwas
awfulferny;therewasanawfullotofbrackeninthefields.Sothefirstploughingwe’dsowpeas
andwe’dfeedthemtothepigsinthepods.”(21)Orpotatoescouldbeplanted,evenifthefarmer
hadtoomanystumpsinthefieldforittobeploughedorhecouldnotyetaffordthecostofoxen
andaplough.WearetoldthatLouisStarkonhispre-emptionaboveVesuvius“graftedandplanted
fruittreesamongthestumps”and“soonhadenoughlandclearedtoraisegrainfortheirownuse.”
(22)Grainwasgrownforthecattle,chickensandturkeysneededforsurvivalintheearlyyears.
Clearingthelandwasanendlesstaskandonesharedbythewiveswhoweresoonbroughtintothe
wilderness.JosephAkermanworkedforayearonhispre-emptionandthenwenttoVictoriaand
foundhisbridenewlyarrivedona“brideship”.HenryRucklehadthirtyacresclearedwithintwo
yearsbutwaitedanotherthreebeforemarrying.Trage,MaxwellandGyvesallsoonmarriedIndian
girls.Inmodernparlancethiswasanequalopportunity
society.WearetoldbyBeaHamiltonthatMichaelGyvesandhisIndianwifeworkedtogetherto
cleartheland,withoxenandstoneboathaulingofftonsofrockandpullingstumps.Amodern
10
historian, discussingtheexploitationofimmigrantwomeninCanadahasthistosay:“Evenworse
wasthelifeoftheimmigrantwomenhomesteadingintheWest.Oftensheworkedsidebysidewith
herhusband,clearingtheland,removingstumps,buildingfences,seeding,threshingormilking.
Whileshealonewasresponsibleforthechildrenandthehouseholdchores.”(23)
Theclearingofstumps,sooftenreferredto,wasataskthatspreadovermanyyears;even,asearly
photosshow,aftermoremodernframehomesstoodamongthestumps.Intheearliestdays(until
the1880’s)therewerenohorsesontheisland,buteveryfarmer,whenhecouldaffordit,hada
yokeofoxen.Valuedincidentallyfortheirmilk,butalsobecausetheywerebettersuitedtothejob
asMargaretWalterexplains:“Thenwhenstumpsoftreeswerefewer,ayokeofoxentoplough
betweenthem,ataskquiteunsuitedtohorses,whichwhenbroughtupsuddenlybyburiedroots
mightmake evenapanickyefforttocarryon,which,likelyasnot,wouldmeananoverturnedor
brokenplough,whereasthepatientoxenwouldhalttillmatterswereadjusted.”(24)
Althoughstatisticsarenotavailable,clearingthelandandestablishmentofrelativelyself-sufficient
farmsmusthaveproceededfairlyrapidly.TheVictoriaBritishColonistreportedin1860that
seventyresidentlandholderswerehardatworkclearing,ploughingandfencing.Manyhada
considerableacreageplantedwithbarley,oatsandpotatoes,andwereengagedinraisingcattle,
pigsandothersmallerstockwhichwouldbelikelytofindareadysaleintheVictoriamarket.(25)
In1864theColonist“guessed”thenumberofcattleontheislandwouldexceedfivehundred.(26)
AndadecadelaterAshdownGreen,whohadjustcompletedapreliminarysurveyoftheSouthEnd
forthegovernment,notedinhisDiarythatinthecourseofhisworkhehadseen225cattleand148
pigs.ThelargestcattleherdwasMaxwell’s(100head),buttheSparrowbrothershad66,Henry
Ruckle17,TheodoreTrage13,andMeinersdorf12.ThePimburybrothersonthewestsidehad350
sheep--theonlysheephenoted.(27)
3. ProblemsandObstacles
ThereferenceabovetotheVictoriamarketisimportant--foralmostfromthebeginningthe
homesteaderswereobligedtolookbeyondtheirlonelyclaimstotheoutsideworld.Nonewere
entirelyself-sufficient.Staplessuchasflour,sugar,teaandsalthadtobebought,asdidsome
hardwareandhandtools.Sotooinitiallywithseedpotatoesandpeasandthealmostindispensable
oxen.Itemsasdifferentasnails,coaloil,otameal,flowerseeds,shoesandblanketshadtobe
purchasedfromthestore.(AlltheseitemsarementionedinyoungJohnBeddis’Diary).Bea
Hamiltonrightlyremarks”:“Thevirginlandhadtopayforthelaborputintoher,andithadtomake
returnsalmostimmediatelytoenablethefarmertocarryon.”(Emphasismine).(28)Fortunatelyfor
SaltSpringfarmers,almostunlimitedmarketsexistedinVictoriaandNanaimoforallthesurplus
theycouldproduce.Apparentlythecitiesgrewfasterthantheagriculturalinfrastructurearound
them.
Formostfarmers,saletothemarketswasasmall-scalebusiness--somesmallfruits,vegetablesor
11
potatoes,perhapssomechickensandpigs.AttheSouthEnd,wearetold,sometobaccoaswell,
andbeef.JohnMaxwell,theonlyrealcapitalistatthetime,wasshippingabouttwentyheadof
cattleamonth.Intheearly60shehadimported100Longhorns,bringingthemupfromOregonto
Victoria,thenoverthenewlycut5’wideGoldstreamTrail(1861)toCowichanandbyboatand
aswimtohisbeachonthebay.(29)ButMaxwellwasanexception.MoretypicalwasTheodore
TragewhorowedhisstrawberriesandothersmallfruitsovertoVictoria.(30)MichaelGyveshas
thedistinctionofbeingthefirstexporterofanindustrialcommodityfromtheSouthEnd--cedar
shakesmadefromthehuge7’ diametertreesthathadattractedhimtohispre-emptioninBurgoyne
Valley.
Missingfromthelistofearlyexportsarethetreefruitswhichbythe1880sand1890sbecamethe
mainstayoftheislandeconomy.Butfruittreestoproducefruitforhomeconsumptioncertainly
wereplantedfromtheearliestdays.RecallthereferencetoLouisStarkplantingfruittreesamong
thestumps.PerhapshewasoneofthefirstcustomersofJonathanBegg.Theyearaftersettlingin
theFernwoodareain1859Beggnotonlyopenedastoreandpostofficebutalsoadvertizedthathe
had“commencedaNurseryofFruitandOrnamentalTrees,”anoperationcarriedonsoonby“Brinn
andGriffiths”(insomesources“BrianandGriffin”).(31)Demandmusthavebeengoodonthe
island.TheColonistin1864reported:“Thenurseryforfruittrees,nowinthehandsofBrianand
Griffin,maysafelybesetdownasthelargestinthewholecolonyofVancouverIsland.”(32)
ThesamenoticeintheColonistalsoreportedthat“everythingwasprogressingveryfavorablyon
theIsland.”Perhapsso,butitmightbewelltoqualifythisbyconsideringsomeofthepestsand
problemswithwhichthefarmershadtocontend.Someofthepestsofthe1860sand70swerenot
unlikethoseofthe1890soreventhe1990s.Oneofmanycomplaintsregisteredaboutdeerwas
thattotheDepartmentofAgriculturebyGeorgeDukeswhenhereported:“Deeraretroublesome,
destroyingeverything,evendiggingpotatoes.”(33)Inthedaysbeforewirefencestheycouldbe
muchmoredamagingthanatpresent.SamuelBeddis,forexample,reportedfivehundredyoung
fruittreesdestroyedbydeerinfiveyears.(34)Farmerswerestillcomplainingaboutdeerattheturn
ofthecentury,aswearetoday.
Thesamewiththeloveablebutpeskybirds.Speakingofrobinsandjays,Rev.Wilsoncommented
later:“Theyconsumethecherries,pickapplesoffthetreesandthepotatoesoutofthegroundand
doallthedamagetheycantothegraincrops.”(35)Thepheasantswereevenmoredamagingtothe
grain.
Thepredationsofcougars(panthers),wolvesandbearswerebothmoreunbearableandmore
short-livedthantheproblemswithbirds.Unbearable,becausetheynotonlykeptMarthaAkerman
awakeatnightbutalsobecausetheythreatenedthefarmers’livestock.Summarizingandperhaps
exaggeratingtheproblemlater,Wilsonwrotein1895:“Panthersandwolvesinthosedaysswarmed
ontheislandandpreventedanyattemptatkeepingcattleorsheep...Therewerealsoafewbears
atthattimeontheisland,andtheywouldcomearoundtheranchers’loghutsandkilltheirpigsat
12
theirverydoors...”(36)PerhapstheStarkshadtoldhimhowthebearspreyedontheiryoungpigs
attheVesuviusfarm.Buttheproblemwasrelativelyshortlivedsimplybecauseitwassoserious.
AgaininWilson’swords:“...adeterminedwarwaswagedagainstthembyownersoflivestock,and
by shootingandtrappingandtheuseofpoisontheywereafterawhileexterminated...”(37)Andif
apantherswamover,farmerstookupacollectionandthegovernmentpaid$7.50andthehunters
soondispatchedit.InhisParish&HomemagazineforSeptember1897Wilsonsaysthatthelast
wolvesdisappearedinthelate70’sandthatthelastbear,abigfellowthathadkilled6fathogs,was
shotbyJ.P.Boothabout1883.(38)
Butthematterofpestswastheleastofthefarmers’problems.MaraudingandmischievousIndians
wereespeciallytroublesomeinthe1860’s;inadequatefacilitiesfortransportationofproduceto
marketwasaperennialsourceofcomplaintfordecades,andtherewas,ofcourse,theweather.To
readthepromotionalliteratureandothertestimonialsfromthenineteenthcenturyonecouldhardly
imagineweathertohavebeenaproblem.Asearlyas1865MatthewMacfie,fiveyearsaresident
onthecoastandaFellowoftheRoyalGeographicalSociety,wroteinhisbookVancouverIsland
andBritishColumbiathattheclimatewas“genial,productive,andsolubrious....Showersarerare
duringthesummer,andwhentheydofalltheyareaccommodatingenoughtocomeatnightwhen
nooneisinconveniencedbytheirdescent....InVancouverIslandspringislater[thaninEngland],
summerdrier,autumnlonger,andwintermilder.”(39)Macfie’sopinionontheclimatewasechoed
byfarmersagenerationlateronSaltSpring.Butforthenewcomerstotheisland,livinginpoorly
heated,drafty,leakinglogcabins,and,wearetold,inagenerallylowstateofhealthwithno
medicalservices,asuccessionoftwoveryseverewintersin1861and1864wasatimeofsevere
testing.Thewinterof1861-62killedoffnearlyonehundredheadofcattleandmanysettlerswere
dangerouslylowonprovisions.Afterthesecondseverewinterin1864-65theColumnistreported
thatoverhalftheislandlivestockhadbeenlostthroughacombinationofbadweather,wolves,
cougars,bearsandIndians.Andwearetoldthesevereweather
reducedthenumberofresidentsbyone-third.(40)
Actuallymorepeopleprobablylefttheislandinthe1860’sbecauseoftheIndianproblemthan
becauseoftheoccasionalbadwinter.Thoughfew,ifany,Indianslivedontheislandyearround,
itwasapartofthehunting,fishingandclamminggroundsofboththeSaanichbandstothesouth
andtheCowichanstothewest.AnditwasontheannualmigrationroutesoftheHaidasandother
northerntribes.Understandably,theyregardedthenewcomersasintruders,theirhostilityonly
aggravatedbyresentmentagainsttheitinerantwhiskeytradersonthecoast.(41)Thenegroes
sufferedmostfromtheirresentmentbecauseasFluckeobserves,theIndiansinsistedonregarding
thenegroesasinferiortothemselves,withnoclaimtotherespectnormallyshowntothewhites.
(42)Wasthisbecausethewhiteswereassociatedwiththegunboatsandrathersummaryand
arbitraryjusticeofthegovernmentdowninVictoria?Inanycase,thewholeofSaltSpringwas
shockedbythemurder,eightmonthsapart,oftwonegroes,WilliamRobinsonandGilesCurtis
-bothshotinthebackandCurtiswithhisthroatcut.(43)Itwasthefearcreatedbythesemurders
onhispropertywhichcausedLouisStarktotransferhispre-emptionovertoGangesHarbourin
1869andithelpstoexplainalsowhyofthefifteennegrofamiliesonSaltSpringin1861onlyafew
remainedadecadeorsolater.(44)
13
TheIndiansalsocreatedasenseofuneasinesseverywhereontheislandbecauseofacertainamount
ofpilferingandpettythievery.Thiswasnodoubtbasedinpartonadifferentconceptofproperty
rights.(45)AnnuallycomplaintsaroseoverthieveryastheIndiansonthewaynorthfromawinter
aroundVictoriastoppedtoraidthefarmers’gardens.ThestoryistoldofhowyoungDecieBeddis
kickedtheshinsofIndiansfoundinthefamilyvegetablegarden,sendingthemawaylaughing.Or
howin1861Jonathanbegg,cladonlyinhisnightshirtandsleepingcap,foundanumberofHaidas
helpingthemselvestoblanketsandgroceriesinhisstore.(46)Butmoreseriousforthesettlers
wastheslaughteroftheirlivestock.ThisbecameespeciallyseriousforJohnMaxwelldownat
BurgoyneuntilheandaposseofneighbourscaughtapartyofBellaBellasintheactledbyawhite
man,McCawley.Retreatinghastily,theIndiansmurderedMcCawley,thinkinghehadledthem
intoatrap.ThisturnedouttobetheendofMaxwell’sproblems.(47)Andinfactthethreatfrom
theIndianswasprettywellgonebythetimethegovernmentin1871,afterBritishColumbiajoined
Confederation,appointedHenrySampsonasthefirstresidentconstableontheisland.
InconsideringtheproblemsandtheobstaclesthatchallengedthefirstgenerationofsettlersonSalt
Springsurelyoneofthemostpersistentwasthatofdevelopingadequatecommunicationsbetween
theseparatedcommunitiesontheislandandbetweenthefarmerswherevertheywerelocatedand
theirmarketsandsourcesofsupplyinVictoriaandNanaimo.Intheperiodto1885onlyabeginning
wasmadeinmeetingtheseneeds.Unfortunatelythedocumentationapparentlydoesn’texistto
properlydiscussthedevelopmentofroadsontheisland.Ithasbeenmentionedearlierthatfromthe
veryfirstthefarmersneededaccesstoVictoriaorNanaimobothtoselltheirexcessproduceand
tobuyessentialsupplies.AttheNorthEndtheonlywharfwasatVesuvius,whichwasregularly
servedafter1864bythesteamerFideliteronherrunfromVictoriatoNanaimo.Aroughroadfrom
theSt.Mary’sLakeareatoVesuviuswasprobablythefirstontheisland.Butthe
farmersatBegg’sSettlementwerestillisolated.In1865EdwardMallandaineandJonathanBegg
requested,unsuccessfullyasitturnedout,thattheFidelitercallatFernwoodtoo.Theypointedout
intheirpetitiontoGovernorDouglasthatlandcommunicationacrossthemountainfromFernwood
toVesuviuswasextremelydifficult,haulingproducebeingawellnighimpossibletask.(48)When
LouisStarkmovedtotheeastsideofGangesHarbourhetoofelttheneedforaroadtoVesuvius.
Thegovernmentwassympathetictohisneedbuthisneighbours,JohnNortonandArmstead
Buckner,perhapsduetosomelocalpersonalfeuding,blockedStark’sefforts.Ratherpathetically,he
wrotetheChiefCommissionerofLandandWorks,“Asentralroadisallthatweaskforandletus
makelittleroadsandpigtrailstocometoitbyourownlabour.”(49)
Actually,thelegislationprovidingforroadconstructionhadbeeninplacesince1860butalmost
nothinghadbeendone.UndertheprovisionsoftheRoadActofthatyearthreecommissionersfor
roadsforSaltSpringwereappointed,butonlyJonathanBeggwasresidentontheisland.Bylaw
everymaleabove18yearsofagewithalandedinterestinaroaddistrictwasboundtoperformsix
days’labouronthehighwayseachyear.ButonSaltSpringmanyoftheearlypre-emptorswerein
factnon-residentandthosewhoweren’t,theRuckles,Akermans,Nortonsandotherswereatthis
time,asBeggpointedouttoGovernorDouglas,toopoortobeabletodevotetheirtimeatroad
making.SolittlewasdoneuntilafterBritishColumbiajoinedCanadain1871whenJohnPatton
BoothwaselectedasSaltSpring’sfirstrepresentativetotheprovincialparliament.Oneofhisfirst
14
actionswasto
requestfromtheProvincialSecretary$1,000“tomakearoadconnectingthedifferentsettlements
together;someportionsoftheinhabitantsbeingentirelydebarredfromalluseofthesteameras
ameansofconveyingfreightforwantofaroad.”(50)Justhowthismoneywasspentisnoton
record.
At theSouthEndthefirstpublicwharfwasatJohnMaxwell’spropertyonBurgoyneBayabout
1869. Untilthen,saysBeaHamilton,sloops,schoonersandIndiancanoescarriedfarmersandtheir
producetothemarketsinVictoria.WhenMaxwell’scattlebusinessdemandedabetterwharfhe
offeredthreeacresoflandtothegovernmentprovideditentrustthelandandthewharftoagroup
oftrusteesforthemutualbenefitofthesettlers.ThomasWilliams,FrederickFoordandMaxwell
himself wereappointed.(51)ButtherestillwasnosteamercallingattheSouthEnd.Aroadlinking
thefarmsthelengthofBurgoynevalleymusthaveexistedalready.Butthefarmersonthesouth
coast,Ruckle,Trage,Kahana,andintimeMcLennan,King,Pappenburgerandotherswerestill
probablynotservedintothe1880’sbyeitheradequateroadsorasteamerservice.Itwasnotuntil
1895thatHenryRucklebuiltawharfonhispropertyandsteamboatsbeganregularlytoservethe
BeaverPointarea.(52)
4.CommunityBuilding-TheTransitiontoaNewEra
Butinspiteofinadequatecommunicationsandthealmostneverendingtoilontheirland,there
wereindicationsthatbythemid-80’sislandfarmerswerebeginningtofeellessisolatedandthat
therewasbeginningtodevelopsomesenseofcommunity.Aprematureandill-fatedexperimentat
politicalintegration,thecreationof“TheCorporationoftheTownshipofSaltSpringIsland”from
1873to1883onlyarousedandexacerbatedsomeofthedivisionsamongislandresidents.Itwould
appearthatinthiscasethedivisionswerelessamatterofsectionalrivalryandmoreoneofpersonal
resentmentandmistrustleadingtochargesofabuseofpower,thelatterstemmingespeciallyfrom
differencesofopiniononhowmuchshouldbespentonpublicimprovementssuchasroads.(53)
Althoughtheattempttocreateaunifiedlocalsystemofgovernmentfailed,itdidatleastarouse
anawarenessoftheislandasaunityandbroughtvaryinggroupsofneighbourstogetherbrieflyin
acommonefforttoopposethisorthatabuseofpowerastheysawit.TheCorporationleftabitter
memorybutatleastlefttheislandersmuchmoreawareofoneanother!Therewere,however,
lesspoliticaldevelopmentsthatalsoworkedinthedirectionofcommunitybuilding.Some,such
asthecreationofschoolsandthemissionaryoutreachfromNanaimoandCowichan,thoughnot
specificallylinkedtothehistoryofagricultureandhenceoutsidethescopeofthisessay,shouldbe
mentionedhere.ThefarmersoftheNorthEndhaderectedalogschoolhouseby1864ona100acre
parcelofgovernmentlandatCentralSettlementsetasideforpublicuse.Teachingattheschoolwas
amuchrespectednegro,JohnC.Jones,agraduateofOberlinCollegeinnorthernOhio.Jonesalso
travelledregularlytoBegg’sSettlement(Fernwood)toinstructthefewchildreninthatcommunity.
(54)
ItinerantmissionarieslikewisemovedamongthefamiliesonSaltSpring,bringingthemtogether
15
afterthemid60’sinmonthlymeetingsheldinprivatehomesor,later,inschoolhouses.Boththe
AnglicansandtheWesleyanMethodistswereactiveinthisworktravellingfirstfromNanaimoand
laterfromCowichanandMapleBay.(55)
ItwasinfactasaresultofthecommunitybuildingworkoftheAnglicanmissionary,theRev.Wm.
ReeceofCowichan,whosecircuitin1865includedboththeChemainusareaandSaltSpringIsland,
thattherecameintobeingthefirstsignificantorganizationopentoSaltSpringfarmersasfarmers.
Thiswasasocietydedicatedbothtosociabilityandtotheimprovementofagriculture.Itistrue
thatin1860theColonisthadannouncedthatameetingofinterestedpartieshadbeenheldandthat
thefarmersofSaltSpringIslandhadformed“TheSaltSpringIslandAgriculturalAssociation.”
OfficersincludedJ.Begg,J.LinekerandJ.Boothandthreeothers,allfromtheNorthEnd.(56)
Butnomoreisheardofthegroup.SoitwasreallytheworkoftheRev.Reecethatledtothe
firstpermanentagriculturalorganizationinthearea--the“Cowichan,SaltSpringandChemainus
AgriculturalSociety.”Itwasorganizedin1868andwascontinuingtoholditsagricultural
exhibitionsafterWorldWarII.(57)
Thiscooperativeventure,whichincludedSaltSpringfarmers,originatedwithasocialget-together
atReece’shome.HehadcalledhisparishionerstogetherforafirstHarvestFestivalin1866.Atthe
timeofthethirdfestivalin1868,alsoheldattheparsonage,“Mr.Reecesuggestedthatthefarmers
bringtheirbestanimals,aswellassamplesoftheirproduce,to
thechurch.Thecowsandcalvesandoxen,pigsandsheepweretetheredorpennedinthefield
adjoiningtheparsonagebarn,thesheavesofgrain,thepotatoesandturnipswerelaidoutontrestle
tables.”Thepatternoftheagriculturalfallfairwasobviouslywellestablishedbythemid-19th
century.ItwasonthepromptingofMr.Reeceatthisthirdfestivesocial
eventthattheagriculturalsocietywasformed.Aposteradvertisingthetwelfthannualexhibition
ofthisorganizationin1887indicatesthatladiesworkhadalsobecomeanimportantpartofthis
communityevent.(58)TherecordsdonotrevealhowmanySaltSpringfarmersparticipatedbutit
wasopentoallandatleastsomeremainedactiveinthesocietyuntilthelastdecadeofthecentury.
(59)
InsofarastherewasdevelopingasenseofcommunityandcommoninterestsonSaltSpringitwas
certainlyfacilitatedbyacertainsocialhomogeneityandlackofsocialprejudice.Thereismuch
evidenceindicatingthattherewasinfactlittleracialanimosity.Thiswasbothencouragedbyand
reflectedinthefrequencyofintermarriagesbetweenwhites,negores,and,
intheearliestdays,Indians.JamesPilton,inhisinterestingM.A.thesis,NegroSettlementin
BritishColumbia,suggeststhatatthetimeoftheIndiantroubles“anyneighbour,regardlessofhis
colour,wasadecidedasset.”Furthermore,headds,“mostofthesettlerswerefartoobusyworking
theirlandstobeconcernedaboutcomplexionaldifferences.Astimewentonthedifferencesin
racebecamelessmarked,forwhitesmarriednegroes,negroesmarriedIndians,andseveralwhites
keptIndiancommonlawwives.Intimetheiroffspringintermarried,andtheIslandbecamesucha
meltingpotthatdiscriminationbecauseofcolourcouldhardlyflourish.”(60)
16
By1885thissocietyofsturdyfarmersofmanyracesandsocialbackgroundswascomingtoa
certainmaturity.Theyearsaheadweretoseemanychanges.Therewasaninfluxofnewandoften
wealthierimmigrants.Farmingformanybecamemoreofacapitalistenterprisegearedtothelargescaleexportofproductstothenearbycitymarketsandbeyond.Notably,therewasadramatic
growthintheproductionoffruitontheisland.Andintime,withtheopeningofacreamery,
dairyingwouldbecomeamajorfarmingactivity.Machinerytoowouldrevolutionizeroutinesand
takesomeofthebackbreakinglabouroutofthefarmer’slife.Bythemid-80sthemostdifficult
yearswerecomingtoaclose.
III.AGRICULTURALEXPANSIONANDMATURITY1885-1914
1.PopulationgrowthandchangesinthesocialclimateofruralSaltSpring.
ThedevelopmentofamatureandrelativelyprosperousfarmsocietyonSaltSpringwasinparta
productoftherapidpopulationgrowthinthedecadesbeforeWorldWarIandtheaccompanying
changesinthesocialclimateontheisland.Andthesewereonlythelocalmanifestationofbroader
developmentsaffectingthewholeofCanadaandespeciallytheCanadianWest.Forthewholeof
theWesttheperiodfrom1885to1914wasoneofrapidgrowthandalmostincredibleoptimism.
ScanningthepagesofMantoMan,British
Columbia’smostpopularmonthlymagazine,atthatperiod,oneisstruckbyasocietyonthemove.
Thearticlesdescribetherapiddevelopmentandvastpotentialofthelandandtheadvertisementsare
crowdedwithoffersoflandforsale.
`TherapidpopulationexpansioninBritishColumbia,whichSaltSpringIslandsharedinpart,
reflectedthenaturalphysicaladvantagesoftheprovince(temperateclimate,vastresourcesofland,
timber,etc.)butwasmoreparticularlyduetotwoaspectsofFederalGovernmentpolicy.Onewas
thepushingtocompletionof thetranscontinentalrailway.WiththecomingoftheCandianPacific
RailwaytoVancouverin1885settlerspouredinto
BritishColumbiafromOntarioandtheMaritimes.ThisinfluxfromeasternCanadawasswelled
bynewarrivalsfromtheBritishIslesenticedintosettlinginCanadabyanactiveprogramof
advertisingdesignedtoattractintotheWesttheagriculturalsettlersneededtoproducetheraw
materialsandfoodstuffsrequiredinOntarioandQuebec.PosterswereeverywhereintheOld
Countryenticing young couplestocometoCanada.(1)
Thisspiritofboosterismand turningoutofpropagandaliteraturedesignedtoattractsettlersand
promotedevelopmentoperatedatthelocalaswellasthenationallevel.TheReverendE.F.Wilson
hadonlyjustsettledintohisdutiesasRectoroftheAnglicancommunityonSaltSpringwhenhe
turnedhismindinNovember1894towritingapamphletontheisland.(2)“Thepeoplegenerally
seemedtoapprove,”hewrote,“thinkingitwouldhelptobringsettlerstotheisland.”Thelocal
governmentgave$100towarditanditwassoldthroughouttheislandsandelsewherefor25cents
acopy.Anextraordinaryamountofusefulinformationonthisland,itsphysicalcharacter,farm
lifeandsocialinstitutionswashighlightedbyveryoptimisticassessmentsofitspotentialasa
homefornewsettlers.“Thereappearstobeanairofcomfortandcontentmentabouttheplace,”
17
hewrote.“Whateverisputintothegroundissuretogrow.”Withaneyetothecompetitionfrom
thePrairieProvincesheadded,“Tenorfifteenacreswithanorchardandpoultryyardandacow
ortwo,inBritishColumbia,hasprobablygreatersustainingpowerthanahundredacresoflandin
theprairieregion.”ReverendWilsonbuttressedhisargumentswithtestimonialsfromsomeofthe
island’sleadingfarmers.JosephAkerman:“AnyonewithafamilycomingfromtheOldCountry,
couldnotstrikeaneasierplacetolivein.Cropsarealwayssure.”TheodoreTrage:“Everymanon
thisislandwhowasableandwillingtoworkhasgotalongwell.”FredFoord:“ForfruitgrowingI
considerthereisnoplaceinBritishColumbiatoequalit.Winterweatheronlylastsashortwhile.”
HenryRuckle:”Amanwhounderstandsfarmingandhasalittlecapitalwilldoaswellorbetterhere
thananyplacinNorthAmerica.DairyingandpoultryIconsider
paythebest,andfruitgrowingisalsoveryprofitable.”
PerhapstogainbroadersupportforhismessageontheislandWilsonranaregularadinhisparish
magazineforhispamphletforintendingsettlers.Andasanagencyfordealingwithinquiries
whichcamefromasfarafieldasthePrairiesandeasternCanadaheorganizedinthefallof1896
asortofproto-ChamberofCommerce.AnewsitemintheSaltSpringIslandParishandHome
forSeptember1896announced:“Aclubhasbeensetonfoothavingforitsobjecttheprogress
andimprovementofSaltSpringIsland.”(3)WellknownlocalfarmerssuchasHenryBullock,Joel
Broadwell,JohnCollins,W.E.Scottandothersjoined“TheSaltSpringIslandClub.”Membersmet
monthlyinoneanother’shomesfordinnerandasocialevening.ForseveralyearstheParishand
Homefeaturedanaddirectingintendingsettlersdesiringinformationontheislandtocontactthe
SecretaryoftheClub,EdwardWalter,TheMaples,Ganges.(4)
Thetwoprincipalorganizations,beforetheendofthecentury,werealsoactiveinpromotingSalt
Springtopotentialfarmers.Anotherexamplewasthepamphletwrittenin1902byF.M.Philips,
localwriterandartistandamemberoftheSaltSpringIslandClub,whowroteanotherpamphlet
undertheauspicesoftheFarmers’InstitutewhichoutdidevenWilson’seffortof1895indescribing
theallurementsoflifeontheisland.(5)InanIntroduction,EdwardWalter,SecretaryoftheInsitute
explainedthatthepamphletwaspublished“inthebeliefthattherearemany,havingbutamoderate
incomecoupledwithaloveofcountrylife,whowouldbeglad,untrammelledbyconventions,
tomakeahomeforthemselvesbywork,bringuptheirchildrentoahealthyindependentlife,and
gratifythosetastesforshootingandfishingwhichtheirmeanswillnotpermitintheOldCountry.”
LikeWilson’spamphlet,Philips’littlebookletprovidesawealthofinformationonSaltSpringwith
perhapsmoreattentiontotheopportunitiesforthesportsman-“LoversoftheRodandGun.”The
movementontheislandtopressformoresettlerscarriedrightonthroughintoWorldWarI.Aslate
as1915theIsland’sAgriculturalandFruitGrowers’Associationinitscatalogueforthe1915Fall
Exhibitionranafull-pagemessage:“SaltSpringIslandoffersspecialfacilitiesfortherancherand
poultryman.Genialclimatethewholeyearround.Choicefruitlands,fishingandboating.Bringthe
family,spendadelightfulholidayandlookaround.”
SaltSpring’sfarmcommunitycertainlydidn’tsufferfromthefactthatoneofitsmostsuccessful
orchardists,Mr.W.E.Scott,becameDeputyMinisterofAgricultureforBritishColumbiafrom1910
18
to1916.Scottwasanenthusiasticboosterforagriculture.“Wecangrowinourgloriousprovince,”
hewrotein1910,“thefinestfruitintheworld...Wehaveroomformanythousandsofsettlers,
whereeverythingisconducivetosuccess...Theprovinceisontheeveofagreatexpansion...A
spiritofoptimismprevailseverywhere”andwillmakeofBritishColumbia“thebannerprovinceof
ourgloriousDominionofCanada.”(6)
InexplainingthesteadyandrapidgrowthofpopulationonSaltSpringIslandonemustset
alongsideofallthisdeliberatepropagandaandboosterismalotofquietword-of-mouthadvertising,
particularlyamongthemoreaffluent“betterclasses”ofEnglishandIrishsociety.Inincreasing
numberstheislandwasattracting,especiallyfromthe1890son,settlersofsomemeans-those
knownearlieras“gentlemanemigrants”butbythe1890susuallyas“remittancemen”.(7)They
addedaneededboostofcapitalfordevelopmentbutalsoanewsocialclassinsociety.Writes
JeanBarmaninhernewhistoryofBritishColumbia:“Adesireforcompanionablesurroundings
encouragedresidenceinVictoriaorsomeotherareaamenabletoagenteellifestyle.Favoriteplaces
evokingtheEnglishcountrysideweretheCowicahnValley,theGulfIslands,theOkanaganValley
andtheKootenays.Oftenbuttressedbyapensionorothersmallincome,thenewcomersgenteely
farmedorgrewfruit.”(8)Thisnewsocialelementhadnotbeenentirelylackingearlier,the
Pimburysinthe70sandtheMusgravesandMahonsinthe80s,butbecamemuchmorenumerous
inthe90s.FamiliessuchastheCroftons,Tolsons,Hamiltonsandbestknownofall,thebachelor,
HenryBullock,cametoplayanimportantpartinislandlife.Farmsocietybecamemorecomplex.
Socialdistinctions,conspicuouslylackingintheearlypioneeringdays,begantoappear.Bea
Hamiltonspeaksamusinglyofthedifferencesbetweenranchersandfarmers.The“ranchers”had
“homesteads”or“ranches”ownedbygentlemensonsofthe“goodfamilies”whoownedadress
suitandcouldaffordservants.[ManywereEnglishorIrishandChurchofEngland].The“farmers”
owned“farms”andworegoodsturdydenimoverallsandboughtready-mades[ManywereScots
andfrequentlyMethodist].But,sheadds,“Theyweregoodneighbors...Theyrespectedeach
otherand pokedfunateachother.”(9)ThesefeelingsarereflectedinLynBittancourt’smemoriesof
growingupinGangesattheturnofthecentury.PartofthecommunitywasveryEnglish,hesaid.
Theyhad theirshindigsandfeltbetterthananyoneelse.Andtheredefinitelywereclassdistinctions.
Manyweresentoutwiththeirremittancesbecause“theywerenogoodbackthere.”But,he
concluded,thereweremoreofthe“ordinarypeople”inGangesthan“theEnglish.”(10)These
“ordinarypeople”wereamongthemostcreativecontributorstoislandlife-eitherasfarmersorin
commerce-familiessuchastheRuckles,Mouats,CaldwellsandPattersonscometomind.
ItappearsthereneverwascompleteagreementonwhattypeofsettlerSaltSpringshouldseekto
attract. ThecorrespondentontheislandfortheSidneyandIslandsReviewcommentedin1913
thatsomeadssaytheislandisespeciallyadaptedtogentlementypeswithcapitalwhocouldenjoy
thescenery,sport,etc.and“supplementtheircapitaliftheydesiredbygentleeffortsatfruitand
poultryraising.”But,saysthecorrespondent,evidently
oneofthe “farmers”,iftheideaistodevelopislandresourcesthenitneeds“menwhomustcarve
theirway firsttoalivingandthentowhateverwealththeyarecapableofattaining.”(11)
19
ThefactsofpopulationgrowthonSaltSpringaredifficulttodocumentwithfiguresthatcanbe
comparedovertheperiod1885-1914,andmanyfiguresaresimplyguesses,butthetrendis
clear.(12)TheoneaccuratecountisintheCensusofCanadafor1891whichenumeratedatotalof
393personsontheisland.Ofadultmales,listedastoprofession,88werefarmers,5farmlabourers
orcoolies.Inotherwordsabout2/3oftheresidentswerefarmersandtheirfamilies.Thesefigures
arenottoodifferentfromthoseoftheMinisterofAgriculturewhoestimatedin1892“thatnearly
100farmersliveontheisland.”Andincidentallythepreponderanceofwell-establishedsettlers
fromtheBritishIslesiswelldocumentedbytheCensusfigures,too.Ofasampleof28well-known
farmers,mostlyactiveincommunityaffairs,twelvehadcomefromEngland,fivefromIreland,and
fourfromScotland.(ThereweretwofromPortugal,twofromeasternCanada,andoneeachfrom
theU.S.,GermanyandNorway).
TheRev.Wilsonappearstohavedoneacarefulcanvasonthegroundin1894/95andestimated
thecurrentpopulationat450.In1902Philipsstated“Thereare100occupiedfarmswithasettled
populationof430.”FouryearslatertheAgriculturalAssociationputSaltSpring’spopulationat
“over500”,in1912W.E.Scottsuggested900,andin1913anarticleinSaturdaySunsetreprinted
intheSidneyandIslandsReviewstatedtheislandthenhadabout1000people.Otherevidence
corroboratesthefactthatSaltSpringwasgrowing.ReverendWilson’smonthlyparishjournalover
atwelveyearperiodfrom1895-1906announcesthesteadyarrivalofnewfamilies.Thisisreflected
intheexpansionoftheVotersList,forexample,whichgrewfrom128in1894to213in1911.And,
nottobeignoredisinternalpopulationgrowth.Thiswasaneraoflargefamiliesasisdocumented
inthe1891Census.Ofthe28farmfamiliesearlierreferredto,25coupleshadatotalof122
childrenor
nearly5perfamily.InconclusionthiscommentfromWilsononsteamboatdaysin1905:“Itisno
unusualthingnowtoseeasmanyastwentyormorefarmers’wagons,buggiesandotherequipment
assembledunderthetreesatGangesWharfwhenthesteamboatcomes.in.Ratherdifferenttoten
yearsagowhentheremightbeseentetheredtothesametreeshalfadozenorsosaddledponiesand
perhapstwoorthreeoxteams.”(13)
ThepopulationgrowthduringthethreedecadesprecedingWorldWarIandtheeconomicexpansion
thataccompaniedit(tobediscussedlater)resultedinthesteadyenlargementofthecultivated
acreageofolderfarms,sometimesbytheoriginalownersortheirheirs,sometimesbynewowners
whobroughtinaninjectionofcapitalandenergy.Insomecasespartsoftheundevelopedacreageof
olderholdingsweresplitoff,soldanddevelopedintofarmsbynewarrivals.Orthenewcomerstook
overoldpreemptionsthathadbeenneglectedandimprovedthem.(14)
Asaresultofallthisactivitytheeasilyaccessibleandfarmablelandfromoneendoftheislandto
theotherhadbeenprettywelltakenupby1914(Notthatithadallbeenimproved,thattookmany
longyears,forthesoundofblastingpowderblowingstumpsfromthefieldswasheardeverywhere
rightthroughintothe1920s).Farmswerenolongerallisolatedinclearingsintheforest.Surveying
hisfirstelevenyearsonSaltSpringRev.WilsonnotedinhisDiary:“Theroadfrommyhouseto
GangesHarborwasinthoseearlydaysalmostall
20
thicklywooded.Mr.Norton’slargehousewasnewlybuilt,Mr.PurvisandMr.Cundellwere
building.Nowthe roadisclearandhasfieldsnearlyalltheway.”(15)Insomeareasfarmsstood
infairlycloseassociationwithoneanother-alongTrincomaliChannel,aroundSt.MaryLake,
aroundtheheadofGangesHarbour;morescattereddownBeddisRoadandovertheDivideand
thenclosetogetheragainuptheCranberryandoneithersideoftheroad
downBurgoyneValleytoFulford.MoreisolatedwerefarmsalongorofftheroadtoBeaverPoint.
ThesouthwestflankofMountTuamwasaworlduntoitself-orientedtowardCowichan.
OneofthelastareasontheislandopentopreemptionwastheCranberryMarshwhichby1894,
whenRev.Wilsonvisitedthis“wilddistrictinthecentreoftheisland,”hadalreadyattractedfour
orfivefamiliesandwas“nowbeinggraduallysettledup.”In1903aroadwasputthroughand
extendedrightuptoMaxwellLake.AftertheWardfarmwassubdividedtoformthenucleusofthe
Gangestownsite,RainbowRoadwasextendedin1913toconnectwithCol.Layard’sroadabove
BoothCanal.Thisalsothrewopenalargetractofhithertoinaccessiblebushland.Buttheverylast
preemptionsbeforethewarwereonthehillstothewestofFulfordHarbour.In1914/15seventeen
familiessoughttohomesteaduptheslopesofMt.Tuam,stillinaccessibleexceptoveradifficult
trailterminatingonthesummitattheHill-Brantfordranch.(16)
Anexampleortwofromeachdistrictwillservetoillustratetherapidchangesthatwere
transformingSaltSpringIslandintoarelativelyclose-knitagriculturalcommunityby1914.On
theNorthEndthefinepropertyfacingTrincomaliChannelonceownedbyJonathanBeggand
developedintoanurserybyBrinnandGriffithspassedthroughvarioushands,includingthoseof
JoelBroadwell,beforebecomingtheJamesseedfarmin1917.About1905James“Dun”Halley
boughtanddevelopedtheHamptonfarmonNorthBeachRoad.BetweenFernwoodandGanges
theCaldwellbrothers,earlierreferredto,openeduppropertyinthe1880sfromWalker’sHook
toMansellRoad.ThelattertookitsnamefromThomasMansellwhosoldhisranchinGanges
toFrankScottin1896andboughttheundevelopedacreageownedbytheKanakafamilyof
DanielFredison.OntheridgebetweenFernwoodandSt.MaryLakeMr.LePagefromVictoria
boughtpropertyin1905.Onthelakeitselfthreemajorblocksoflandheldbyblackfamilies
weredevelopedintoprosperousfarms.In1885ThomasW.MouatboughttheAbrahamCopeland
propertyonTrippRoad,builtanewhouseandoperatedadairyandpoultryfarmuntilhispremature
deathin1898.Hiswidow,Jane,rentedoutthefarmwhenshemovedtoGangesin1907.Onthe
eastsideofSt.MaryLaketheoldLeviDavispreemptionwaspurchasedin1895byJohnCollins,
recentlyarrivedwithhisfamilyfromEngland.Hebecameadairyman,beingveryactiveinthe
Farmers’Institute.JustayearpreviouslytheReverendWilsonhadboughttheArmsteadBuckner
propertywherethegolfcoursenowstandsandwiththehelpofhissonsoperatedasmallmixed
farm.OtherpropertieschangedhandsattheturnofthecenturyintheareaofCentralSettlement.
JohnPatonBoothsoldtoArthurWalterofBristolandmovedtohiswife’spropertyatFernwood.
JoelBroadwell,whoownedasheepranchonBroadwellmountainwestofthelakeaswellasthe
propertysurroundinghishouse,PostOfficeandstoreatCentral,retiredandmovedtoVancouver
in1901,leavinghispropertytohissonwhosoonmovedoffisland.Thepropertywassoldtheyear
afterthedeathsofbothJoelBroadwelland
hissonin1909.
21
DownintheGangesareapropertywaschanginghandsrapidlybythe1890sand“ranches”
developed,so-calledbecausethenewcomersinthisareawerefrombetteroffEnglishandIrish
families.Oneofthesenewcomerswastheyoungbachelor,HenryBullock,whocametoSaltSpring
in1892anddevelopeda300acreestate.Hebecamenotedforhiselegantandsometimeseccentric
lifestylebutwasinfactaninnovativeandverysuccessfulfarm
operator.ThefourScottbrothershadalsoarrivedfromEnglandinthesameyearasMr.Bullock.
Theoldestbrother,W.E.,boughttheformerLouisStarkpreemptionontheeastsideoftheharbour
anddevelopedoneofthelargestandmostsuccessfulorchardsontheisland.Hisbrother,Frank,
whosoldofftheacreageonwhichMahonHallstands,sharedfrontageattheendoftheharbour
withJackScovellfromIreland(whoin1903soldoff100acresto
FredCrofton)andCharlesTolson(whosoldtobrotherLeonardin1897whosoldtoA.Wardin
1903).Thesenewfarmsteadswereborderedonthewestbythewell-developedpropertyofoneof
theearlysettlers,JohnNorton.Thelatterretiredin1903,sellinghisfarmtoA.J.Smithandpartners.
SmithsoondevelopedoneofthefinestJerseydairyherdsontheisland,servingtheGangesarea
withfreshmilkforyears.
SouthofGangesdevelopmentoccurredinthreedirections.DownBeddisRoad,ameretrackwhen
SamuelBeddishomesteadedontheharbourin1884,hisbrother-in-law,RafflesPurdy,bought
property,gaveuphisteachingatCentral(1885-1897),anddevelopedanorchardof900trees.On
downBeddisRoadMr.CartwrightboughtuptheMonteithproperty.JustaboveBlackburnLake
wheretheGanges-FulfordRoadcrossedtheDivideaVermontYankee,SocratesTobiasConery,
purchasedanundevelopedpropertyaroundBlackburn
Lake(namedfortheBlackburnsfromScotlandwhopurchasedthefarmin1907)andconverted
itintooneofthemodeldairyfarmsontheisland.(17)Inthesameperiodsettlersbeganpushing
furtherupthevalleyintotheCranberryMarshDistrict.Whathadbeenawildanduninhabited
areawassettledbeforethewarbytheGardnersandRogersfamilies(bothhadbeenneighbourson
thesamestreetinStratford-On-Avon),theNobbsfamilies,theToynbeesandBrownsandseveral
others.PerhapsthebestknownofthesesettlerswasJohnRogerswhohadpreempted800acresin
1902or1903andoperatedasuccessfulsheepanddairyfarmuntilthemid-1950s.(18)Thelimit
ofsettlementuptheCranberrywasreachedwhentheDemainefamilyhomesteadedonproperty
borderingMaxwellLake.
DownintheValley,wheresettlementhadoccurredearlierinthecentury,changeswerefewer.
EdwardLeeabout1887hadmovedontoabeltofpropertyspanningthevalleyfromMusgrave
mountaintobelowtheHorelproperty.JusttothewesttheFurnessfamilywasstillbusy“slashing”
inthewinterof1899.AtBurgoyneBayearlypioneer,JohnMaxwell,diedin1897andhisfine
farmpassedtohisoldestson,James(andwhenJameswaslostinWorldWarItoJames’brother,
Dick).IntheFulfordareatwoprofessionalmenturnedfarmersofsortsbecamewell-known
residentsofSaltSpring.One,Wm.J.L.Hamilton,sonoftheArchdeaconofLondonderry,bought
fromTedAkermanin189766acreslocatedonthewaterfronthalfwaydownthewestsideof
FulfordHarbour.Havinginventedearlierinlifeoneofthefirstincandescentlightbulbs,heturned
22
horticulturistonSaltSpringanddevelopedanewvarietyofapplefromtheWealthyandKing
whichheappropriatelynamedMillionaire.(19)TheotherformerprofessionalwasJohnShaw,
anengineer-architectwhohadworkedintheshipyardsinGlasgowandNagasaki.Onhavinghis
employment terminated,hefellinlovewithFulfordHarbourwhich`remindedhimoftheScottish
lochs,boughttheAlexanderWilsonfarmacrossfromFulfordHallandonJanuary1,1909began
farming,“anoccupationaboutwhichheknewabsolutelynothing.”(20)Anothernewcomertothe
Fulfordareaaboutthesametime(c.1911)wasJohnHepburnwhowiththehelpoftwoIndians
clearedafarmonthehillaboveFulfordwherethesquaresilowasbuiltwhichstands
todayasafamiliarlandmark.Therewerealsochangesalongthesouthcoastoftheislandwhere
twootherpioneersdiedearlyinthecentury.TheodoreTrage’sfineorchardandsheepfarmpassed
onhisdeathin1902tohisson,Adolf,whosoldittoWeaverBridgman.Aportiononthewaterfront
becamethesummerhomeofMr.Longstaff,butthefarmcontinuedinoperationbytheBridgman
familyuntilafterWorldWarI.(21)AndatBeaverPointitself,afterHenryRuckle’sdeathin1913,
whatbecameintimetheoldestfamilyfarminBritishColumbiacontinuedtodevelopitsproductive
capacityundertheabovemanagementofhissons,AlfredandDanielHenry.(22)
FromtheseselectedbutsomewhatrandomexamplesitshouldbeapparentthatSaltSpringwas
indeedonthemovefrom1885to1914.Newfamiliesweremovinginandnewareaswereopened
upforfarming.And,significantly,farmingformanyfamilieswasmovingbeyondmeresubsistence
agriculturetooftenlargescalecommercialproduction.Fromacommunityofsubsistencefarms
therewasamajorshifttoproductionforprofit,whichputtheislandfarmersatthemercyofoften
uncertainoff-islandmarketsreachedbysteamerservicesthatwereusuallyinadequateatbest.
2.TheMatureOneFamilySubsistenceFarm
Althoughagrowingspecializationandproductionforprofitcametocharacterizemanyofthe
mostsuccessfulfarmersonSaltSpringbeforeWorldWarIitwouldbewelltoemphasizefirstthe
factthatprobablyforamajorityofthefarmersinthisperiodoperationswerestillgearedtobasic
survival.Whatexcesswasproducedforsalewasmostlyincidentaltoraisingthefoodstuffsneeded
tosupporttheirusuallylargefamilies.Duetotheconstraintsofnature(thelimitedareasorarable
land)andpopulationpressurefarmingwasformostasmall-scaleenterprise.Thoughtheexceptional
family,suchastheRuckles,mightaccumulateuptoathousandacres,orinthecaseofthewealthy
Irishfamily,theMusgraves,severalthousand,theseweretheunusualcases.Andinanycasethese
largerholdingsweremostlyinbushorsheepruns.Thecultivatedacreageofmostsmallfamily
farmswasprobablyintherangeof
20to30acres.Wilsonreportedthatin1900onlyabout1700acreswereundercultivation.(23)
Philipsin1902statestherewereabout100settledfarms-thisworksoutto17acresunder
cultivationperfarm.Thismaybeonthelowside.Buteveninthecaseofaselectedgroupof
thelargestfarmsdiscussedinWilson’s1895pamphlettheaverageacreageunderculviation,
includingseverallargeorchards,wasonly40to60acres.Apparentlythisisaboutthesizethatafarm
familycouldmanageworkingwithoxenorhorsesandemployingoccasionalcasuallabour.Butif
thefamilyfarmontheislandwassmallascomparedforexampletotheranchesoftheOkanagan
23
ortheCaribooitwasextraordinarilyversatile.Everyfarmhadanorchardandgarden,usuallyone
ormoremilkcows,pigsandchickenstodrinktheskimmilkleftoverfrommakingbutter,perhaps
turkeys,ducksandgeese,andsheeptoforageonthehills.Basicfieldcropsincludedhay,grain,and
rootsbythetontofeedthestock.Verylittlecashtradedhandsamongstthesemainlysubsistence
farmers.(24)But,asmentionedearlier,therewasalwaysanattempttoraisesomesurplusto
generatethemoneyneededtobuystaplesforthehouseholdlikeflourandsugar,andclothesfor
thefamily.Forthefarmoperations,too,therewasanincreasingneedforcash.Nurserystock,
livestock,seedgrain,fertilizer,andbasicequipmentsuchasplows,mowers,rakesandharrows
stillrequiredcash.Uptoabout1900islandfarmersimportedhayfromthemainlandaswellasfor
winterfeed.(25)Topayforthesenecessitiesfarmerssoldasavailabletheirexcessfruit,vegetables
andeggs.Potatoesweremarketedinlargequantities,somefarmersshippedlambsandwool,and
farmers’wivesmarketedsmallquantitiesofhomemadebutter.Mostfarmershadtobecontentwith
breakingevenattheendoftheyear.Eventhemoreprosperousfarmersofthisperiodaccumulated
verylittle,passingontotheirheirsrealestatethatwasincreasinginvaluebutverylittlecash.(26)
Examplesofthesmallfamilysubsistencefarmarelegionbutoneofthefewforwhichsomerecords
areavailablewasthatoftheRev.E.F.Wilson.(27)Inthesixteenyearshelivedat“Barnesbury”
heconvertedatractofbushandforestwithonlyasmallshackandoneortwootherbrokendown
buildingsintoawell-equippedfamilyfarmproducingenoughafterafewyearstoactuallyturna
profit.(28)Likemanyothersheboughtupanoldpreemptionthathadbeenlivedonbutnotreally
developed.Hepaid$900.cashforthe100acrepropertyofthelateArmsteadBuckner-oneofthe
originalblacksettlersof1859.Mostofitwasstillvirginbushandunfenced.Withthehelpofhis
threesonsandasteadystreamofcasuallabourers(youngboysfromEngland,itinerantmenlikethe
Swede,EricEricson,andan
occasionalJapaneseorChinese)thelandwascleared,barn,poultryandsheephousesbuilt,and
farmingoperationscommenced.Wilsonhadalargefamilytofeed;hisclericalstipendwasonly
$500/600ayearsohehopedtosupplementthis“bysomeprofitofthefarm,butitwassomeyears
beforeanyprofitshoweditself.”Fortunately,andinthisheisnotatypicalofSaltSpring,thefamily
receivedasmalllegacyfromEnglandin1895whichcoveredthecost
ofthelandandstockingthefarm.Everthemeticulousrecordkeeper,Wilsonnotedinhisdiary
eachNewYear’sDaythenumberoflivestockonthefarm.Typicaloftheearlyyearsis1896when
herecordedonehorse,threecows,onecalf,onehundredandtenchickens,threepigsandone
duck.Numbersfluctuatedovertheyearsbutadecadelaterthefarmsupportedthreehorses,six
cows,3calves,250chickensand2pigs.Onthreeoccasionsrabbitsarerecordedandtherewasone
apparentlyill-starredventureraisingpigeons.Withhisson,Llewellyn(usuallyofftotheKlondike
goldfields),hebuiltasiloforgreencloverin1901butitdidn’tworkout.“Oursilonotsatisfactory,
soturnedtheupperpartintoapigeonhouse,”hewroteinFebruary1902.Rev.Wilsonwasmore
successfulasanorchardistandeveninventedanapplepickingmachinewhichheputondisplayat
thefarm.
Thereweresomesmallchangestotheacreageovertheyears.Wilsonhadsold14acrestoMr.
Lundyin1899andhadgivenhissonssmallblocksofabout10acreseach.HerentedHudson’s
orchardandhayfieldattheNorthRd.in1899and,in1910Norman’swife,Ethel,bought30acres
24
ofPurvislandtothesouthofthemwithasplendidcropofhayonit.BythetimeWilsondeededthe
farmtosonNormanin1909andretiredtoCaliforniathefarmwas
actuallymakingsmallprofit.ThefiguresreportedbyNormantohisfatherin1910afterhisfirst
yearofoperatingthefarmaloneareinstructive,particularlysincetherearenootherstatisticsofthis
sort available.
NormanWilsonFarmAccountsNovember1909-November1910
ReceiptsPaymentsNetProfit
Poultry&eggs$523.61$320.10$203.51
Dairy925.79183.81741.98
Fruit451.2062.55388.65
Pigs180.7051.21129.49
Garden&field49.10Team44.87
Hay,seed223.05
Wages,board273.90
(Itshouldbenotedthatby1909Normanhadaherdoftencowsandin1910reportedheexpectedto
ship300boxesofapples.Hencetheprofitfortheyearofnearly$1,000isunderstandable.Whathis
netprofitfortheyearwas,afterpayingforhislivingexpenses,isnotknown).
3.SmallFarmSpecialization-Potatoes
However,notallfarmoperationsonSaltSpringremainedatornearthesubsistencelevel.There
wasagrowingspecializationandproductionforthemarket,firstofallinthedevelopmentof
orchards,then,aftertheopeningoftheGangescreameryin1904,inthedairyindustry,butalsoin
someothercomplimentaryspecializedactivitiessuchasthepoultryindustryandtheraisingofsmall
fruitsandpotatoes.Althoughinaggregateanoutstandingvolumeofproducewasshippedtomarket,
thedevelopmentmustbekeptinperspectiveforfarmingwasalwayssmallbusinessonSaltSpring
comparedtothemorefavouredpartsofCanadaortheadjoiningregionsoftheUnitedStatesand
eventhoselinesthatdidbest(suchasfruitandbutter)hadtheirproblemsanddidnotsurvivepast
theDepressionofthe1930sandWorldWarII.
Intheyearswhiletheirfruittreeswerecomingintofullproductionandrightupto1914farmers
weregeneratingconsiderablecashincomefromthesaleofpotatoesandotherrootcrops.Ofcourse
fromtheearliestdayssettlershadplantedpotatoesforhomeuseanditwassoonrecognizedthatall
rootcropsdidwellontheisland.By1894HenryRucklewasharvestingacropofsixtonsandin
1899Mr.S.Conerytook19tonsoffoftwoandthree-quarteracres.(29)AninvoiceofDecember
9,1913indicatesthatAlfredandHenryRuckleweretoship20tonsofpotatoestothewholesale
grocer,SimonLeiser&Co.,inVictoriaat$20perton.(30)Thepriceof$20pertonheldgood
allthroughthetwodecadesbeforethewar,perhapsforthereasonsuggestedbytheSaltSpring
25
correspondentoftheCowichanLeaderin1910:“Theexcellenceoftheisland-grownpotatoesis
steadilymakingitselfknown,andinmostinstancesdealersareonlytoogladtopayafewdollars
pertonmoretosecurethem.”(31)Evenaftertheirorchardscameintofullproductionanddairy
herdsweredeveloped,farmersliketheRucklescontinuedtoexportmajorquantitiesofpotatoes.
Theywereadependablerelativelydisease-freecropwithalargeyeildperacreandstoredwell.
4.SmallFarmSpecialization-TreeFruits(Orchards)
ThemajoragriculturaldevelopmentinBritishColumbiainthe1890swasthedevelopmentof
commercialorchards.Theprovincesoonbegantoacquirethereputationofbeingamajorfruit
growingregioninNorthAmericawhichitretainstoday.IntheOkanagancommercialdevelopment
oforchardsonalargescalebeganrathersuddenlyafter1892whentheC.P.R.extendeditsrailway
linefromKamloopstoOkanaganLandingnearVernon.Thefollowingyearitlaunchedanew,
modernferry,the“Aberdeen”,onOkanaganlakewitharegularscheduleofrunsdowntoPenticton.
TheOkanaganvalleywassoontransformedfromranchingtointensivesettlementutilizing
irrigationforgrowingfruit.(32)OnSaltSpringthedevelopmentbeganatleastadecadeearlierand
hereorchardingremainedgenerallyonlyapart,insomefewcasesaspecializedpart,ofthefamily
farm.UntilshortlybeforeWorldWarIthefruitgrowingareasofBritishColumbia(theOkanagan,
SaanichPeninsula,andSaltSpringIsland)werenotinseriouscompetitionwitheachother.Rather,
togethertheymadeBritishColumbiaamajorexportertotheEast.Thevolumewassufficientby
1903towarrantadailyfruittrainfromVictoriatoWinnipeg.AndwhenconstructionofthePanama
Canalbeganin1904itwasoptimisticallypredictedthatthiswouldopenuptheEuropeanmarketto
freshfruitfromBritishColumbia.(33)
MostofthebigorchardsonSaltSpringwereplantedoutinthe1880sorearly1890sandwerein
fullproductionbythelate‘90s.HenryRuckleandTheodoreTrageintheBeaverPointareaand
SamuelBeddisandRafflesPurdyonBeddisRoadhadtheirorchardsestablishedby1890.In1892
theScottbrotherscameoutfromEnglandanddevelopedontheearlierLouisStarkpreemptionon
GangesHarbourthelargestandmostsuccessfulorchardontheNorthEnd.InthesameyearHenry
BullockboughthisestatenorthofGangesanddevelopedafineorchardofappleandcherrytrees.
JohnPappenburger,EdLeeandothersplantedlargeorchardsonthesouthEndatthesametime,
followedadecadelaterbyJ.H.Monk,remnantsofwhosefineorchardstillstanddownStevens
Road.Andthereweremanyothers.ProbablythelargestorchardontheislandwasthatofTragewith
1600trees.W.E.Scottwith1200wasnotfarbehind;RafflesPurdyhad900/1000andHenryRuckle
600.Fruitgrowingbytheendofthecenturywasbigbusiness(34)
Statisticsontheproductionofislandorchardsarefragmentarybutthefewwhichareavailableare
suggestive.(35)HenryBullockissaidtohaveshipped2-3,000boxes(40lbs.each)inagoodyear
andEdLeeupto2,000boxes.Tragewasshippingfrom1800to2400boxesofapplesperyear
between1898and1902.Rev.WilsonreportsinhisChurchMonthlythattheScottbrotherswere
harvestingbigcropsofprunesfromtheir“Fruitvale”orchards-in1902upto20tonsweretobeput
26
throughtheevaporator.Noteveryyearwasagoodyear,however.In1905,duetowetweatherthe
Scott’sharvest,insteadof3,000cratesasanticipated,was“almostnil”.Threeyearsearlier,dueto
drought,Trage’sharvestofappleswasreducedfromananticipated3,000boxestoabout1800.But
thetotal tonnageoffruitshippedfromtheislandwasprobablymuchgreaterthanthatrepresented
by theoutputofthefewmajororchardists.Andthereisnowaytoputareallyaccuratedollarvalue
on theharvestthoughwedoknowthatapples,pears,andplumswereallbringingabout21/2cents
apoundinthe1890s.Thereisreasontobelievealsothatappleswereworthaboutthesamein
1913 whenanarticleintheSidneyandIslandsReviewreported:“Aconservativeestimateplaces
20,000 boxesofapplesastheannualshipmentofthatfruitalonefromtheisland.”(36)Assuming
40 lb.boxesofapplesworth2centsapoundtheannualharvestwouldhavebeenworth$16,000in
1913. TheproblemsassociatedwithagricultureonSaltSpringwillbediscussedlater.Letitjustbe
mentionedherethattwooftheprincipalproblemsfororchardistswerefindingsufficientseasonal
labourandgettingtheircropsmovedtotheoff-islandmarkets.Thefirstneedwasusuallymetbythe
employmentofJapaneseorChinesemigrantworkers.Gettingtheharvesttomarketreliedheavilyat
firstuponthesomewhatundependableandchangingsteamboatservice.Inthe1890sSaltSpring’s
majorports(BurgoyneandVesuviusonthewestside;Fernwood,Ganges,andBeaverPointonthe
east)weregenerallyservedatleastonceaweekbyshipsplyingfromVictoriatoNanaimo.After
1900servicewasgenerallytwiceaweektoNanaimoandfourtimesweeklytoVictoria,sometimes
more,andattimestherewasadirectservicetoVancouver.Tomeetthegrowingneedsofisland
farmersthegovernmentreplacedolderwharveswithnewonesatGangesin1902andatBeaver
Pointin1910.AtFulfordatotallynew1000footlongwharfbuiltin1914gavethisharbouradeep
waterlandingatalltides.(37)
Butthesteamersinservicebefore1900werenotsufficienttomeettheneedsoftheisland’s
burgeoningeconomy.AgrowingcrisiswasavertedwhentheMalcolmandPurvisStorewasbuilt
in1904inGanges.Itgavetheislandfarmingindustryaboostbyopeningupanexportingbusiness,
usingits30’Nomad,soonreplacedbythe60’Ganges.GilbertMouatworkedontheNomadhauling
producetomarketatnighttoLadysmithandsoonafter,in1907,hedroppedoutofColumbia
CollegeandwithhismotherboughtoutPercyPurvis
(JoeMalcolmhaddied).TheMouatBros.StoretookoverPurvis’exportbusiness.(38)But
competitiondevelopedintheexportbusinesswhenW.E.ScottandHenryBullock,whobothhad
largevolumesoffruittomove,joinedwithT.F.SpeedinopeningtheGulfIslandsTradingCo.
in1912.Muchfruitalsowenttomarketdirectfromthefarm.WillScotthadhisprivatewharfat
Fruitvalewherehisapples,pearsandplumscouldbetakenbyscowtomarket.AndtheRuckles
wereshippingfromtheirprivatewharfatBeaverPointafterabout1889(1895?).Fruitfromthe
BurgoynevalleywentoutbythepublicwharfatBurgoyneBay.
5.SmallFarmSpecialization-DairyingandtheGangesCreamery
DairycattlewereraisedonvirtuallyeverySaltSpringIslandfarmfrom1860onandafewbeef
cattlewerekeptforoxenorforhomeconsumption.ShorthornsandHerefordswerethepreferred
beefbreeds.(OnlytheMaxwellfamilyonBurgoyneBayareknowntohavespecializedinraising
27
beefcattlecommercially-firstJohnMaxwell,thenafterhisdeathin1897,hisson,James,right
downtoWorldWarI.(39)Dairyproductswereanecessityforsurvival.LouisStarkiscreditedwith
importingthefirstanimalsin1860.Bythe1880s
and1890sfarmfamilieswereearningsomesparecashbysellingbutterfromtimetotime.Butit
wasnotuntiltheGangesCreamerywasopenedin1904thatdairyingbecameamajorcommercial
componentofthesmallfamilyfarm.Herdsweresmall,however.Thereneverwasthesamedegree
ofspecializationsuchasmarkedthetreefruitindustry.
ReportsfromislandfarmerstotheMinistryofAgricultureaslateasthemid-1890sconcurredthat
“dairyingwasnotprosecutedtoanyextent.”(40)Ithadbeenrecognizedfromthebeginningthat
cattlewouldthriveontheisland.Wintersweremild;shelterwasneededforonlyashortperiod;and
grain,hayandrootcropsforwinterfeedalldidwell.Butuntiltheopeningofthecreameryin1904
providedasatisfactorymarketfortheirbutter.Cowswerekeptprimarilyformilkforthefamily,
thechickensandpigs.Somebutterwasmarketeddirectlybyindividualfamiliesinthe1890s.
Farmwiveschurnedbutterforsaleattimeswhencowswerefreshandtherewasmoremilkthan
couldbeconsumed.ButasMr.Tragereportedin1892:”Thereareonlyafewsettlerswhomake
themanufactureofbutteraspecialbusiness,pricesrangingfrom25centsto40centsperpound.
Cheeseisnotmadeatall.”(41)OneoftheveryfewwhodidwasMr.Conery,whogrewupina
miningcampinButte,MontanaandcametoSaltSpringintheearly90s.HeboughttheBlackburn
LakevalleybelowW.Dukes,and,evenbeforetheopeningofthecreamery,developedamodel
dairyfarm.ItwascertainlyhewhowasreportedbyRev.Wilsonin1895tobe“marketingasmuch
as1,000lbs.ofbutterinayear.”PerhapsitwasprocessedinthecreameryplantMr.Cundellwas
reportedtohaveboughtfromMalcolmandPurvisinMay1896.Conery’sherdofadozencows
in1895hadincreasedto“21goodmilkers”in1901andwasupto31cowsby1904whenthe
creameryopened.(42)While Mr.ConerywastheexceptiontherewereenoughfarmerswithJersey
cowsproducingtheirrichmilktopromptMr.JohnT.Collins,recentlyarrivedwithhisfamilyfrom
Englandandlivingonthefarmofhisfriend,HenryBullock,totryopeningacreamery.Anoldbar
onBullock’spropertywasconvertedin1896intoasmallbutterfactory,the“SaltSpringIsland
EnglishCreameryCo.”However,itwasnotsuccessful.Rev.WilsonnotesinhisdiaryMay15,
1897:“Mr.Collins,thisSpring,hasopenedacreameryonMr.Bullock’sland.Itdidnotanswer
verywell,andpeoplecomplainedofhiskeepingapigyardclosetoit.Webegansendingcreamto
himMay25th,butquitOct.6th.”(43)
TheColonistreportedin1898:“TheSaltSpringIslandCreameryhasquitmakingbutterforashort
timeonaccountofanaccidenttosomeofthemachinery.”Apparentlyitneverre-opened.
ButtheneedremainedforafacilitytoprocessislandcreamandMr.Bullockwasagainactivein
establishingwithinafewyearsamostsuccessfulandlonglastingagriculturalenterprise,the“Salt
SpringIslandCreameryAssociation.”Foroverfiftyyears(itcloseditsdoorsin1957)itwasa
mainstayoftheislandeconomy.ItwasorganizedinJuly1903asacooperative,oneofseveralin
theprovince,undertheDairyandLivestockAssociationAct.Asearlyas1893thegovernment
wassendingoutexpertlecturers“toenlightenthefarmersuponthenecessityofmakingauniform
qualityofbutteriftheywishedtocompetewiththeimportationsfromtheEastandelsewhere.”(44)
In1895acreamerycompanywasformedinDuncanwithgovernmentsupportandthiswasinthe
28
mindsofBullockandothersastheymovedtomakebuttermakingonSaltSpringIslandaviable
enterprise.IntheMarch1903issueofhisChurchMonthlyMr.Wilsonadvisedhisreaders:“Dairy
farmersandtheirwivesareaskedtoattendameetingatCentralHall(noticewillbegivenofadate)
todiscussthematterofestablishingapermanentcreameryonSaltSpringIslandonthesamelines
as
theCowichanandVictoriacreameries.Mr.A.H.Gardamistheprimemoverinthematter,andhe
hopesthatallinterestedinbuttermakingwillattend.”
ByJune,1903theSaltSpringIslandCreameryAssociationhadbeenorganizedwithacapital
of$5,000dividedinto500sharesworth$10.00eachwhichwereofferedforsaletoisland
dairymen.(45)HenryBullockwaselectedPresidentandEdwardWalter,Secretary.Directors
includedsuchwell-knownfarmersasS.T.Conery,W.E.Scott,EdLeeandJamesHorel.InJulythe
AssociationletoutacontracttoA.R.Bittancourt(whowasjustcompletingconstructionofMahon
Hall)and RobertMasontoconstructoflocalstonethecreamerybuildingwhichstillstandstodayas
thewestsideofabakerybuildingatthefootofGanges
Hill.OnAugust1thecornerstonewaslaidbyMrs.W.E.Scott.AndinOctoberWilsoncouldreport
inhisChurchMonthly:“Thenewstonecreamerylooksverypicturesqueatthefootofthelong
mountainroad,and willsoonbeinoperation.”Actually,duetodelayinthearrivalofmachinery,it
didnotopenitsdoorsuntilearly1904butbyFebruaryitwas infullproductionwithMr.Knightas
itsfirstbuttermaker.
Duringtheearlymonths ofoperationbutterproductionwasatanabnormallyhighlevel.The
Victoriacreamerywasinstallingnewequipmentearlyin1904andwassendingitscreambyferry
totheGangesCreamery.ButterproductionfromthemilkofGangesareafarmers,theonlylocal
farmerstosupply thecreameryatfirst,averagedabout750lbs.perweekduringthefirstyear.
Outputpeakedatabout1400lbs.perweekinthespringanddroppedtoabout
550lbs.inthewintermonths.(Apparently producersbecamemoresophisticatedovertheyearsas
theCowichanLeaderreportedin1911:“Themajorityoffarmersinthesepartsarrangetohavetheir
cowsinfullmilkduringtheautumnandwintermonthswhen creamishighinpriceandwhenthey
areabletogivemoretimeandcaretotheirdairystock”).(46)Thevalueofbuttersoldintheyear
beginninginMay1904was$8,244.77.Thesmallscale,
evenalmostincidental,productionofmilk forthecreameryisrevealedinthisremarkbyRev.
WilsoninMay1904:“Thepatronagekeepsincreasing;andfarmerswhoatpresenthavebuttwoor
three cowstalkofincreasingtheirstocktofiveorsix.”
Althoughnofiguresareavailable,theGangesCreameryapparentlycontinuedtoprosper.Mr.Geoff
ScottsoonreplacedBullockasPresidentoftheAssociationandisreportedtohavecontinuedin
thatpositionuntilafterWorldWarII.ButtermakerscameandwentuntilArthurDraketookoverin
1912,holdingthatresponsibilityuntil1949.EvenbeforeMr.Drake,whoissocloselyassociated
withthecreameryinislandmemory,thereputationofSaltSpringbutterforqualitywasgrowing
underreputationofSaltSpringbutterforqualitywasgrowingunderbuttermakersCundelland
Derby tothe pointwherethecreameryhadgreatdifficultysupplyingthemanydemandsforits
29
product.InonlyonethingdidtheCreameryAssociationfail.Ithadbuiltafeedshedalongtheside
ofthecreamerybuilding.Butthefeedstore
apparentlyfailedtomeetthecompetitionfromtheMalcolm&PurvisStoreandin1906Rev.Wilso
refurbisheditandheldAnglicanservicesthereforhisGangesparishioners!(47)
Overtheyearsdairyherdscameandwent.Mr.ConerydiedinDecember1904;hisherdwas
dispersedandhisfarmsoldthreeyearslatertoMr.Blackburnwholetitgrowintoawildnerness.
Meanwhilenewherdswerecreated-mostnotablythatofA.J.Smithwhoimportedsomefine
purebredJerseysfromOregonforthefarmpurchasedin1903fromJohnNorton.(48)Forthirty
yearshewasamainsupplieroffreshmilkfortheGangesarea.BothMr.SmithandNormanWilson
werecommendedbytheCowichanLeaderin1910fortheir
wellmanageddairyoperations.AlthoughtheJerseycowprizedforitsrichermilkwasalwaysthe
mostnumerousbreedontheisland,by1914farmerswerealsoraisingGuernseys,Holsteinsand
Ayreshires.
ThebiggestboosttocreameryproductionbeforeWorldWarIcamewhenarrangementsweremade
forfarmersfromtheSouthEndtohavetheircreampickedupanddeliveredtoGanges.OnJune1,
1911anislandtraditionwasbornwhenJohnPappenburger,orchardist,mailcarrierandaneighbour
onthesouthcoasttotheRuckles,beganoperationofthecreamerywagon.Wearetoldherosethree
timesweeklyatabout2:00a.m.,madehisfirstpickupat
theRucklefarmandthenproceededovertoFulfordandupthevalleytoGanges,returninginthe
lateafternoondroppingoffemptycreamcansalonghisroute.(49)AgainwequotetheCowichan
Leader(May25,1911):
“Theplacingofacreamerywagononislandroadsisastepintherightdirection.Thedairying
businessisoneofthestablelinesoffarmingthatknowsfewfailuresanditwillbeagreat
encouragementtothosewhoarekeepingdairycattletobeprovidedwithasatisfactorymeansof
transportation.”(50)By1913theSidneyandIslandsReviewreportedthatwithaherdofabout500
dairycows,allinspectedbyaGovernmentveterinarianandfoundfreeoftuberculosis,dairyinghad
probablybecomethemostimportantindustryontheisland.(51)
Maintenanceoflivestock(cattle,butalsohorses,sheep,chickens,etc.)prettywelldictatedmany
oftheactivitiesonthefamilyfarm.Fornineortenmonthsayearthefarmerwasbusyraisingfood
forhislivestock.Fieldsofpeas,timothy,cloverandotherforagecropsweregrownandstored
inlargebarnsinthesummermonths.Rootcropsweregrowninprodigeousquantitiesonvery
smallacreages,partlyforcattlefeedandpartlyforexport.Thesweetmangel(mangold)wasa
basicwinterfeedforcattle.Everyfarmhaditsrootcellar.Carrotsweregrowntofeedthesheep.
ButpressedasalwaysforcashlargequantitiesofrootswerealsogrownforsaletoVictoriaor
elsewhere.FortheBeaverPointareain1896Mr.TragereportedtotheMinisterofAgriculturethe
productionof80tonsofturnips(Swedes)(almostentirelyforexport),60tonsofmangelsand60
tonsofcarrots-thecarrotssellingfor$10.00aton,mangelsandturnipsfor$6.00.Thefollowing
yearMr.TrageandMr.Purdyreportedatotalof250tonsofrootcropsgrowingintheirreporting
district.TheRucklefarmalonegrew60tonsofturnipsin1895,in1896Mr.Scotthadaheavycrop
30
ofturnipsandalsoharvested5tonsofcarrotsandin1899Mr.Conery,asmentionedearlier,raised
19 tonsof carrots.(Theysurelywerenotallfedtohiscows).(52)By1911itwasreportedbythe
CowichanLeaderthatkalewasalsobecomingpopularaswinterfeedforcattle.(53)
Raisinggrainwasanothertimeconsumingenterprise,particularlyifthefarmer
keptalargeflockofchickensasmanydid.Althoughwheatandoatswere
harvestedinlargequantitiesandsomebarleywasgrowntheislandnever
becameself-sufficientinfeedgrain.WhentheIroquoissankin1911andwas
notimmediatelyreplacedtherewasnearpanicasfeedstoresontheislandsaw
theirsuppliesdepleted.(54)In1914Mr.Blandy,proprietoroftheBurgoyne
Store,wasurginglocalfarmerstojoinaWinnipge/Calgarybasedgrainco-op
whichbroughtgrainatreducedpricestotheislandtwiceamonthonaspecial
grainboat.(55)Itwasthelabourandtediuminvolvedingraingrowingwhich
broughtsomeofthefirstmodernlabour-savingagriculturalmachinerytothe
islandbeforetheturnofthecentury-thebinderandthethrashingmachine.
Themajorroleofgrainandforageproductioninafarmer’slifeisperhaps
reflectedinthestatisticsfor1894whentheMinistryofAgriculturereported
that ofthe1,027acrescultivatedonSaltSpring(andnotdevotedtofruit
raising-13,739trees),thelargestacreage,532acres,wasinhay,164inoats,
111inpeas,and109inwheat.Rootcropsaccountedformostoftherest.(56)
5. SmallFarmSpecialization-PoultryRaising
(Chickens,Ducks,GeeseandTurkeys)
Reportsfromthesameperiodofthemid-90sindicatethatpoultrywereraised
inconsiderablequantity,butnotsystematicallyfollowed,thoughtheypaid
well.Asinthecaseofcattle,islandershadneverreallybeenwithoutpoultry
andeveninthe1880sthesaleofsurpluseggswasbringingingrocerymoney
forislandhousewives.Bytheturnofthecenturyfarmblocksof200-300hens
werenotuncommon,andinthedecadebeforeWorldWarIproductionofeggs,
breedingstockandlivebirdsforsaledevelopedasaspecialtyonsomefarms.
Truepoultryranches,however,didnotappearontheislanduntilafterWorld
WarIwhenfarmerssuchasTedParsonsandtheChanteluswentintoegg
productionasafull-timebusiness.
Theimportanceofthesaleofafeweggsforgrocerymoneyiswell
illustratedbyJohnBeddis’Diaryforthefirsthalfof1890.Evenattheageof
fifteenhewasacarefulrecordkeeperlikehisfatherandeachweekheorone
ofhisbrotherstookfromfivetotendozeneggsbylaunchdowntoGanges
anduptoMrs.Stevens’Church-HillFarmboardinghouseortoBroadwell’s
Store.Priceisnotmentionedbutitwasprobablyintheneighbourhoodof
31
25-30centsadozen.Themoneywasgenerallyusedtobuystaplesatthestore.
SylviaStarkpaidforhergroceriesbysellingeggstotheBroadwell’sStore(57)
andThomasWe.MouatwasquotedbyRev.Wilsonin1895assaying:
“Mypoultryalonepayfortheirowncostandfindusinflourandgroceries,
whichisprettywellforafamilyoften.”
Fiveyearslaterthesaleofeggsandlivebirdswasbecominganevenmore
importantpartofthesmallfarmincome.Becauseflockswereincreasingin
sizefarmersnowbegantoacquirebroodersandhatchtheirownbaby
chicks.(58)AninterestingarticlebyRev.WilsonintheMarch1900issueof
ParishandHomereportedthatHenryRucklewassaidtohavesold2,000dozen
eggslastseason,W.Akermanwasdoingthebiggestbusinessinducksand
geese,W.G.Scotthadthelargestnumberofturkeysontheisland(14turkey
hens!)andMr.Purvishadmarketedabout600chickens.Livefowlsandlive
broilersatthetimewerebringingabout$6.00and$4.00perdozenrespectively.
ProbablythefirstpoultryspecialistontheislandatthistimewasMr.
H.O.Allen,awell-knownVictoriabreederofOrpingtonchickensandPekin
ducks,whoboughtafarmborderingonRobertsLakein1902inthe
Cranberry.(59)By1906theBurgoynePostmaster,Mr.R.P.Edwards,was
alsobreedingpoultry.(60)
ReverendWilsonreportedthathisplacewasassumingaquitepicturesque
appearancewithchickenruns,aduckpond,duckhousesandawaterwheel.
In1911theCowichanLeadermentionedthatamonghismanyvarietiesofchoice
birdswereflocksofMinorcas,RhodeIslandReds,BuffRocks,Andulusians
andGreyDorkings.EdwardswasamemberoftheAmericanBuffPlymouth
RockClubandattheVancouverPoultryShowinFebruary1911wonseveral
prizesforhisBuffRocksandhisSilverGreyDorkings.Breedingstockofthe
lattervarietyhehadimportedfromtheOttawaExperimentalFarm.Inhis
displayadforhatchingeggsandbreedingstockintheCowichanLeaderin
thespringof1911EdwardsalsolistedforsaleSpeckledHamburgs,Black
MinorcasandBlueAndalusians.Hewasobviouslyatruepoultryfancier.
Mostislandpoultrymen,however,tendedtostaywiththetriedandtrue
varietiessuchasRocks,Reds,OrpingtonsorWyandottesfordual-purpose
fowlandLeghornsforegglayers.
By1910orsoonafterpoultryraisingwasbecomingsuchanincreasingly
importantpartofthesmallfarmeconomythatsomefarmerssuchasJohnShaw
wereturningtoitfromdairying.“Inthiscountry,”reportedtheCowichan
Leaderin1911,“thedifficultyofprocuringlabouratareasonableratehas
32
beenlargelythereasonforpeopleflyingtothehenforasolutionoftheir
difficulties.”(61)TheSidneyandIslandsReviewin1913reported:“Dairying
is,perhaps,themostimportantindustry,althoughthepoultryindustryin
recentyearshasattainedtolargeproportions.”(62)Itaddedthat21,000
casesofeggshadbeenshippedinthelastyearfromGangesWharfaloneand
live poultrytoavalueof$7,000.
Withthegrowthofthepoultryindustryandthearrivalontheislandoffarmers
interestedprimarilyinpoultrysuchasGeneralGreen-Wilkinson,whostarted
hispoultryfarmonMcGillRoadin1907,amovewassetafootin1913to
organizetheSaltSpringIslandPoultryAssociation.(63)TheRev.G.W.Dean
waselectedPresidentandH.Fletcher,Vice-President.Directorsincluded
T.H.McMurdo,HenryCaldwellandNormanWilson.
Poultryhadfromthebeginningbeenexhibitedattheannualexhibitionsof
theIslands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowers’Associationandin1912new
poultryshedshadbeenerectedonthegroundsnearMahonHall.Poultrywas
shownasusualinSeptember1913butthenewPoultryAssociationdecidedto
stageitsownseparateannualshowaswell.A“neatlittlecataloguewhich
containsalotofusefulinformationappertainingtotheisland”wasprepared
andtherewereabout200entriesattheirfirstshowheldinDecember1913in
thepoultrybuildinginGanges.WhiteLeghornsandBuffOrpingtonstopped
thelistbutmuchinterestwasshownintheWhiteWyandottes.Utilitybirds
weremuchmoreinfavourthanshowvarietiesaccordingtotheCowichan
Leader.(64)Thesecondannualshow,heldinDecember1914aftertheoutbreak
ofwarinEurope,wasanequalsuccess.Butby1915theWarhadtakenitstoll
inmembersandenthusiasm.NopoultryatallwereshownattheregularFallFair
andthethirdannualpoultryshowheldasusualinDecemberofthatyear“was
notnearlysogoodasinpreviousyears.”Anditrainedallday!
6. SheepRaising
Althoughnearlyeveryislandfarmerkeptafewsheepfortheirmeatandwool,
sheepraisingneverdevelopedasaspecializedbranchofagricultureexceptin
afewisolatedcases.Generallysheepwererelegatedtothehillierandless
productiveedgesofthefarm.InhisReportfor1891theMinisterofAgriculture
notedthatalargeportionoftheisland,beinghillyandwooded,wasdevoted
tosheepruns.“Theabsenceofwildanimals,andtheexcellentrunsthehills
afford,makesheepraisingmoreprofitableherethaninmostplaces,anda
largenumberarerearedallovertheisland.”(65)Butnoteverywhere.In1892
RafflesPurdycommentedthatpartsoftheNorthEndwerenotsuitablefor
sheepbecausetheyweretooheavilytimbered.Therewere,however,twoor
threelargeflockskeptwestofCentral-forexamplebyJ.P.Boothonthe
33
flanksofMt.ErskineandbyJoelBroadwellonthemountainwestofSt.Mary
Lake.AttheSouthEndsheepwereraisedinconsiderablenumbersbyJohn
Maxwell,whosepropertystretchedfromMt.MaxwellonthenorthtoMusgrave
Mountain(Mt.Bruce)tothesouth,andbyTheodoreTragemostofwhose839
acresweresheeprunin1895.TheRuckle’sconcentrationonsheepraisingcame
afterWorldWarIthoughevenbeforethewarHenryRucklewasshippingoff
somefatlambstomarket.Farmerswho,liketheRuckles,wereraisinglambs
forhomeuseorthemarketpreferredtheSouthdownbreed,thoseproducing
forwooltheMerinooraMerinocross.
TheonereallymajorsheepranchingareaonSaltSpring,anditwasan
exceptionalcase,wasthewesternslopeofMt.TuamandMt.Bruce(known
after1890asMusgraveMountain).Herethreewealthylandownersin
succession,inrelativeisolationfromtherestoftheisland,ransheepin
largenumbers.Sheepraisingonthesparselywoodedmountainstartedupin
themid1870safterthePimburybrothersfromEngland,builtawharfatthe
seashoreandahousejustabove.(66)Butthepeakofactivityoccurredinthe
yearsfrom1885to1892whenEdwardMusgrave,fourthsonofSirRichard
Musgrave,3rdBaronet,ofWaterford,Irelandlivedherewithhisfamilyona
7000acresheepranch.(67)Hishousewasnearthelittleinletnowcalled
MusgraveLandingwherethePimburyshadsettled.Thispropertystretching
fromIsabellaPointandCapeKeppelinthesouthuptothe“sugarloaf”at
thetopofthemountainandnorthtoJohnMaxwell’sfarmonBurgoyneBay
wasalmostallonevastsheeprun.Inthevicinityofthehouse,however,were
cottagesforthehiredhands,cowandhaybarns,anorchard,fencedfieldsfor
hay,oatsandrootcropsandthreeorfourfencedpaddocks.Preciousdetails
arepreservedontheoperationsofthisranchinthepersonalDiaryof
Mr.Musgrave’syoungScottishshepherd,AlexanderAitken,whoworkedon
theranchfromApril14,1891untilMay25,1892.Fromitwelearnthatover
1100sheepranwildoverthemountain.Theywereroundeduptwoorthree
timesayearwithhelpfromIndiansfromtheCowichanareaandoneortwo
KanakasfromFulfordHarbour.AftertheywereshorninJuneof1891nearly
4,000poundsofwoolwaspackedinsacksandshippedtoVictoriaviathe
steamerIsabelwhichstoppedoncallatMusgraveLandingonTuesdaysand
ThursdaysonitsrunfromVictoriatoNanaimo.About100“fatsheep”were
alsoshippedofftomarketthatsummerandtheDiaryrecordsthatthefamily
slaughteredasheepeveryweekforfood.Butprimarilythesheepwereraised
fortheirwool;nomentionismadeofthesaleoflambs.TowhatextentMr.
Musgrave’soperationwascontinuedintheyearsafterCapt.Trenchpurchased
thepropertyisuncertain.Rev.Wilsonmentionshimasanon-residentowner.
AtalaterdatetwosonsofCapt.TrenchlivedinhousesneartheLanding.
Inanycase,forafewbriefyearstheranchflourished--longenoughtogive
themountainitspopularname.Itshouldbenotedthatfortheislandasa
whole,sheepraisingisprobablyonthedeclineintheyearsbefore1914.In
34
thewordsoftheCowichanLeader:“Thewildernessofourmountainlandswill
alwaysmakesheepraisingoneoftheisland’sindustriesthoughthebestof
thefarmlandsaregivenovertotheJerseyandherrelatives.”
7. SmallFruitCulture,Beekeeping andOtherAbortiveEnterprises
Inconcludingthisdiscussionofagriculturalexpansion,noteshouldbetaken
ofafewthingsthatweretriedbrieflybutprovedunsuccessful.Oneofthefirst
wasthenurserybusiness.Fruittrees,ornamentalsandshrubswereindemand
throughoutthewholeperiod.JonathanBeggsensedthisneedand,asmentioned,
openedanurseryinconnectionwithhisstoreatFernwoodin1860.Beggsoon
lefttheislandandhisnurserywastakenoverbyBrinnandGriffiths.Whether
thisbusinesslastedbeyondthe1870sisnotknown.Inthe1880sandearly
1890swhenorchardswerebeingplantedallovertheisland,nurserystockwas
probablyboughtinVictoria.ReverendWilson’sParishandHomeandChurch
MonthlyranregularlyforelevenyearsadisplayadbytheLayritzNursery
locatedonCareyRoadinVictoria.TheRucklesareknowntohaveboughtfruit
treesandnuttreesandgrapevinesfromLayritzin1911.(68)
Foraverybriefperiod,from1896to1901,aprofessionalnurseryman,
AmbroseA.Berrow,operatedanurseryonlandtothesoutheastofCentral
Settlement.HisattractiveadintheSaltSpringIslandParishandHomefor
April1896reads:“AmbroseA.Berrow.Nurseryman,FloristandLandscape
Gardener.SaltSpringIsland.Ispreparedtotakecontractsforthelaying
outofGardens,PublicParksandCemeteries,alsotheExcavationof
OrnamentalLakes,ClearingLand,PlantingGardens,Orchards,Etc.Allkinds
ofNurseryStocksupplied.Plansfurnishedatreasonableterms.”Onewonders
whyhesoldouttoMr.Bullockin1901and,tohiswife’sdisgust,movedoff
islandtoChemainus.WerehisambitionstoograndforSaltSpringIsland?
Hadthedemandfornurserystock(especiallyfruittrees)peakedatthistime?
Orwasitbecauseheapparentlyfailedinanotherofhisinitiatives-the
wholesaleproductionofstrawberries?Wilsonrecordsthatin1897Berrow
shippedoutnearlyatonofstrawberries.(69)Butnomoreisheardofhis
berryproduction.ThisisprobablyforthereasonthatWilsonmentionsin
1903 -thedifficultiesofshippingandmarketingperishablefruitandthe
factstrawberrieswerebeingextensivelygrowninVictoriawheretheywere
notsubjecttouncertaintransportationtogettothemarketingoodcondition.
Thismay explaintheabortiveattemptofJoelBroadwellatraisingblack
currants.Inboth1896and1897hemarketedatonofcurrants!Thennomore
isheardofthem.(70)Broadwelltoomovedoffislandin1901.
35
Anothernotablefailurewasinbeekeeping.Theearlyorchardists,being
accustomedtohoneybeesaspollenizersoftheirfruittrees,apparentlytried
raisingbees.Theirreportsinthemid-90stotheDepartmentofAgriculture
wereunanaimousinsayingbeeshadbeenafailure-“nopastureforgathering
honey”saidPurdyin1891.(71)Trageconcurred:“Apicultureisafailurefrom
wantofpasture.”OnlyMr.Bullockmayhavebuckedthetrend.Heissaidto
havehad100beehives.(72)Mr.Bullockalsogainedareputationforhis
vegetablegardens.BeaHamiltoncomments:“Thevegetablesandfruits
grownontheestatewereoutstandinginsizeandquantity.Bingcherrieswere
solargethateachcherryhadtobeindividuallywrappedformarketing.
Corngrewtoseventeenfeetinheight;asparagusbedscoveredagoodtwo
acres.(73)TheasparaguswentbyC.P.R.ferriestoVictoriaandVancouver.
ButdespiteBullock’sreputation,marketgardening,pursuedwithsuchsuccess
bytheJapaneseonMayneIsland,neverbecameimportantonSaltSpring.
IV.THEFARMERANDSOCIETY
1.Farmers’OrganizationsandGovernmentAssistancetoAgriculture
AnimportantdimensiontothedevelopmentofagricultureonSaltSpring
Islandwastheemergenceinthelate1890softhreefarmers’organizations,
theCentralHallAssociation,theIslands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowers’
AssociationandtheFarmers’Institute.Thelasttwoespecially,with
governmentsupport,playedamajorroleintheimprovementofagricultural
methodsalongscientificlines.Realizingthatahealthyagriculturalbasewas
essentialtoastrongprovincialeconomythegovernmentofBritishColumbia
tookmanyinitiativestopromotescientificadvancesintheproductionof
marketingofagriculturalproductsandhencetheprosperityoffarmers.(74)
Governmentencouragementandadviceinorganizingcooperativecreameries
hasalreadybeenmentioned.Evenbeforethegovernmentin1873passedthe
“AgriculturalSocietiesIncorporationAct”topromotetheholdingofFallFairs,
SaltSpringfarmersin1868had,asdiscussedearlier,joinedtheirnearest
neighbourstothewestinformingthe“Cowichan,SaltSpringandChemainus
AgriculturalSociety.”Butthisorganizationby1890wasnolongerserving
theirneeds.WhentheEsquimaltandNanaimoRailwaywascompletedin
1886andDuncanCrossing(latertheCityofDuncan)becameastationonthe
railwayitquicklydevelopedintothecommercialcentreoftheCowichanValley.
AmovementwassoonsetonfoottomovethefallagriculturalshowfromMaple
BaytoDuncan.Althoughsomedisapprovedthismoveonthegroundthatit
wouldpreventSaltSpringfarmersfromtakinganyinterestintheshow,an
independentCowichanHallSocietywentaheadandbuiltahallinDuncan
anywayandthefairmoved.(75)Asfearedtheinlandlocationwasinconvenient
forourislandfarmerswhoceasedtoparticipate,andin1896aformalmove
wasmadetogetthe$200governmentsubsidyforSaltSpringfarmers
36
transferredtoanewsocietybeingformedontheisland.(76)
Tomeetlocalneedstwoinitiativesweretakenalmostsimultaneouslyin
December1895.OneledtothecreationoftheCentralHallSocietywhich
builtwhatwasoriginallyintendedasanagriculturalexhibitionhallbutwhich,
after1901,becamesimplyapubliccommunityhallformeetingsandsocial
events.(77)Bylate1895therewastalkontheislandoferectingapublichall
ateitherGangesHarbourorattheforkoftheroadsatCentral.OnDecember
14, 1895 apublicmeetingwascalledwithlocalfarmer,J.P.BoothM.P.P.,
aschairman.ItadoptedaschemepresentedbyJoelBroadwellforcreatinga
limitedliabilitycompany,valueofshares$5each,toerectapublichall“tobe
utilized forholdinganannualagriculturalshow,”besidesotherpurposes.
AcommitteewasappointedcomposedofBroadwell,ArthurWalter,A.Berrow,
HenryBullockandW.Robertson,alllocalfarmersoftheCentralarea.
CentralHallAssociationwascreatedandsubscriptionstaken;inApriltenders
wereinvitedforconstructionofthehallandabuildingcommitteewasstruck.
ThebuildingwascompletedintimetohouseSaltSpring’sfirstagricultural
expositiononOctober14,1896-butanexpositionorganizednotbythe
CentralHallAssociation,whichcametoconfineitselftooperationofcommunity
hall,butratherbyanothergroup,organizedatthesameperiod,butwithawider
geographicalrepresentation,whichfrom1896tothisdaytookoverthestaging
ofthefallshow.
Duringitsfirstyearofexistencethissecondorganizationwascalledthe
“HorticulturalandFruitGrowersAssociation-SaltSpringIsland.”(78)In
February1897itchangeditsnametothe“Islands’AgriculturalandFruit
GrowersAssociation.”Thisfarmersorganizationwasinitiallyanoffshootof
theprovincialFruitGrowersAssociation.OnDecember17,1895justthree
daysafterthemeetingheldtodiscusserectionofapublichall,meetingof
islandfruitgrowerswascalledtohearalectureattheStevens’Church-Hill
FarmbytheProvincialInspectoroffruitpests.J.P.Boothwasagaininthe
chair.Attheconclusionofthelectureandafterconsiderablediscussion
“Messrs.Ruckle,ScottandBerrowwereappointedacommitteetoorganize
alocalassociationinconnectionwiththeFruitGrowers’Associationof
BritishColumbia...”Atafollow-upmeetingDecember30,W.G.Scott,
TheodoreTrageandA.A.Berrowweregiventheresponsibilityofcanvassing
theislandforsubscribers.ByMarch,when50hadalreadysubscribed,itwas
decided“theadjoiningislandswillbecanvassed.”Thusbroadeningits
membership.Itsobjectiveswereenlargedaswell.InFebruaryitspurposehad
beenlimitedtoimprovingfruitcultureandmarketing.ButinMarchitwas
decided:“TheAssociationwillinterestitselfinagricultureandhorticulture
aswellasinfruitgrowing,”and,significantly,“afruit,vegetableand
agriculturalshowistobeheldontheIslandabouttheendofSeptember.”
37
InAprilentrieswereinvitedfromalltheneighbouringGulfIslandsandthe
groupwasonitswaytobecomingthemajororganizationofislandfarmers
intheyearstocome.ThefirstFallFair,heldOctober14,1896inthenewly
builtCentralHallundertheaegisoftheHorticulturalandFruitGrowers
AssociationwasopenedbyashortspeechbyReverendWilson.Thechief
judgeoflivestockwasS.F.Tolmie(muchlaterPremierofBritishColumbia).(79)
Atitsfirstannualmeeting,February3,1897,theHorticulturalAssociation
formallychangeditsnametothe“Islands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowers’
Association”tobetterexpressitsbroadermembershipandthepurpose
expressedinthenewlyadoptedconstitution:“ThepurposeofthisSocietyshall
betoencourageandstimulatethegeneraldevelopmentofalltheagriculturalandhorticultural
resourcesofSaltSpringandadjacentIslands.”TheConstitution
furtherprovided:“TheSocietyshallholdanannualexhibitionandcompetition
ofLiveStock,Fruits,FieldandGardenProduce,HouseholdArts,andanything
thatmaybeusefulandprofitabletothesettlersoftheIslands.”(80)
Havingsuccessfullyembarkeduponitsmissionofpromotingthebettermentof
islandagriculturebythepromotionofafallfair,thesocietyalmostimmediately
sensedtheneedforhavingitsownexhibitiongroundswithanadequatehall,
shedsforlivestock,poultry,etc.andspacefortheathleticandsocialeventsthat
cametobeanintegralpartoftheannualcelebration.Itwasalsorealizedthat
GangesHarbourwouldbeabetterlocationforafairdesignedtoattract
exhibitorsfromtheotherislandsandvisitorsfromVictoriaandelsewhere.
Thematterwastakenunderconsiderationin1898andtwoyearslaterthe
decisionwastaken“tobuildahallofitsownonGangesHarbour.”(81)Land
waspurchasedfromFrankScottandbythefallof1901workwaswell
underway.OnNovember6,1901thesocietydecidedtoenlargethehallandbuy
anadditional4acresforanexhibitionground.Tomeettheextraexpensethey
agreedtoborrow$1,000fromawell-knownlocallandowner,RossMahon.
Thehallwascompletedin1902.In1904itacquireditsname.RossMahonhad
diedinJune1903.Hisbrothersandsistersreturnedthemortgageinreturnfor
theassociationplacinginthehallabrassplatebearingthewords“Mahon
MemorialHall.”
Almostwithoutexceptiontheshowsheldintheyearsfrom1896to1914were
anunqualifiedsuccess,eachbeingreportedas“thebestever”.Theassociation
waswidelysupportedinthecommunitybyfarmersandbusinesspeoplealike.
Membershipfluctuatedfromalowof59in1905toahighof177in1912.
PrizemoneywasfreelydonatedbybothislandandVictoriamerchantsand
otherindividuals.(Theamountofgovernmentsubsidydependedonthe
amountofprizemoneydonated,aswellasonthenumberofmembers.)
38
Thefairbecameasocialeventofthefirstorderwithasmanyas1,000ormore
inattendance.TheC.P.R.ranaspecialferrybringingvisitorsfromVictoria
andtheotherislandsfortheday.Athleticcontestswereheldpittingteamsfrom
theNorthandSouthEndsagainsteachother,andonoccasionthebrassband
fromtheIndianResidentialSchoolonKuperIslandentertainedtheguests.(82)
Butbehindallthefestivitiesofthispremierislandsocialeventwastheserious
intentexpressedinthisadvicefromtheDirectorstotheexhibitorsof1915who
mighthavetakensecondplace:“AskfortheJudgewhoawardedthehonorsand
talk itoverwithhim,notyourneighbour,andafteryouhavelistenedtohis
arguments,letitsinkintoyourmindanddobetternextyear.Theseshowsare
givento stimulatefurtheractivityamongsttheranchersbothcommerciallyand
scientificallyandifyougohomewithoutlearningsomethingthedayhasbeen
lost.”(83)
Thethirdfarmers’organizationfoundedintheclosingyearsofthenineteenth
century,1898,wastheFarmers’Institute.(84)LiketheHorticulturalSocietyit
wasformedinresponsetoagovernmentinitiative.Itswork,thoughitattracted
lesspublicattentionthantheFallFairs,probablydidmoretodirectlyimprove
theskillsofislandfarmers.Itsmembership,whichfluctuatedinthepre-war
periodbetweenahighof81in1908andalowof12in1912,neverequalled
that ofthemorepublicizedgroupstagingthefairs.MembersoftheFarmers’
Institute,among themostprogressivefarmersoftheisland,weregenerallyalso
activeintheIslands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowers’Association.Thetwo
bodiesalwaysmaintainedagoodworkingrelationship,theInstitutebeing
allowedforinstance,toholditsmeetingsrentfreeinMahonHall.
Itwasin1897thattheprovincialgovernmentdecidedtotransplantinto
BritishColumbiaaneducationalprogramforfarmersthatwasprovinghighly
successfulinOntario.IthiredanagriculturalstudentfromOntariowhowent
aboutorganizingfarmersintogroupsunderthetermsofan“Actprovidingfor
theestablishmentofFarmers’Institutes.”Therewasa“fairattendance”when
thisyoungmanmetwithlocalfarmersJanuary17,1898attheBurgoyne
schoolhouse.LaterintheyearalocalFarmers’Institutewasformedonthe
island.Itsobject,asstatedintheActof1897,was“theencouragementand
improvementofagriculture,horticulture,arboriculture,manufactures,andother
usefularts.”Membershipfeewas50centsandforeachmemberenrolledit
receiveda50centsubsidyfromthegovernment.Membersweretoreceivefree
acopyofallpublicationsoftheDepartmentofAgriculture.ThelocalInstitute
wasentitledtotworegularmeetingsduringtheyeartowhichexpertspeakers
weresentatGovernmentexpenseandinadditionwererequiredtoholdtwo
supplementarymeetings,partlyattheirownexpense.Theyalsoparticipatedin
manyothergovernmentsupportedprogramsthroughtheyears.Forseveral
yearsJohnCollins,aprominentdairyfarmernearSt.MaryLake,wasPresident,
Rev.Wilson,Vice-President,andEdwardWalterofGangesHarbour,Secretary.
FarmersfromtheSouthEndsuchasJamesHorelandEdLeeservedonthe
39
BoardofDirectors.
OvertheyearstheFarmers’Institutesponsoredagreatvarietyofactivities.
MentionhasbeenmadeearlierofitssponsorshipofapamphletbyF.Philips
designedtoattractmoreandbetteroffsettlerstotheisland.Andfromthefirst
itofferedvariousprizesattheannualFallFair.Fromthebeginning,too,it
distributedpamphletsonstock,crops,etc.andby1904hadestablishedalending
libraryofup-to-datebooksonagriculturalsubjects-Henderson’sGardeningfor
Profit,StewartonSheep,HarrisonSwine,Mayhem’sHorseDoctor,Farming
byRennie,Low-PricedPoultryHouse,etc.etc.(85)
AlwaysamajorpartoftheInsitute’seducationaleffortswerethewinterand
springlecturesbyexpertsprovidedbythegovernment.Usuallytwolecturers
cametogether,onespeakingonenightattheBurgoyneschoolforexample,
andtheotheranightortwolateratGanges.In1908therecordindicatesthat
fivemeetingsinallwereheldontheisland,twoattheDivideSchool,andthe
othersatCentralHall,MahonHall,andFulfordHarbour.SincetheInsitutute
wasopentofarmersfromtheotherislandsmeetingswerealsoheldthree
timesonMayneandtwiceonPenderin1908.Theywereactuallymuchbetter
attendedthanthoseonSaltSpring!(86)ThepubliclecturesoftheFarmers’
Institutecoveredabroadrangeoftopicsofconcerntothefarmersuchas
clearinglandwithstumpingpowder,poultryraising,tuberculosisanddairying,
animalhusbandry,managementofcreameries,careoforchardsandfruitpacking.
SpeakersincludedsuccessfullocalfarmerssuchasJohnCollins(onDairying
forProfit),governmentexpertsfromtheDepartmentofAgriculture,including
theBoardofHorticulture,andevenvisitingprofessorsfromAmerican
agriculturalcolleges.
EquallyimportantintheworkoftheFarmers’Institutewerethefield
demonstrationsandcompetitions.In1899Mr.Stevens’orchardwasselected
asanexperimentalsprayingstation.Mr.MiddletonoftheBoardofHorticulture
gaveademonstrationonpruninginMr.Ward’sorchardatGanges,
“unfortunatelyinablindingsnowstorm.”Justbeforethewar,whenthemarketing
ofpoultrywasbecomingimportant,ademonstrationwasrequestedonthekilling
anddressingofpoultryformarket.Andthegovernmentconsideredestablishing
anexperimentalorchardontheislandandanexperimentalplotonNorman
Wilson’sfarmdevotedtopotatoes,kale,mangelsandcorn.Fieldcompetitions
werealsobeingorganizedintheyearsjustbeforethewar.Cropcompetitionsin
potatoandkaleculture,forexample,ploughingmatchesandevenannualprizes
forthebesthomevegetableandflowergardens.Inthelattercase,judgesfrom
off-islandweretovisitthegardensinJuneandSeptember.Competitorswere
obligedtomakethebestpossibleplotduringtheseasonandtoleaveitinthe
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bestconditionforwinter.
And,finally,oneofthemostpracticalprogramsofall,theInstitutemembers
sharedinthecooperativepurchaseofblastingpowderforclearingstumps
fromtheirfields.Thisprogram,begunbythegovernmentlatein1901,
remainedimportantrightintothe1920s.Startingrathersmall(1539casesin
1905)itgrewrapidly(17,000casesin1912)andin1914permissionwas
grantedbythegovernmenttobuildasmallpowdermagazinetostorestumping
powderonasmallislandadjacenttoGoatIsland.(87)Othercooperative
ventureswereinmindby1914-forexample,thepurchaseofamilkfever
machineandofafruittreesprayer.
TheFarmers’Instituteappearedtobeperforminganessentialserviceforisland
farmersintheyearsbefore1914althoughin1912itsmembershiphadfallen
temporarilytoonly12.Formerlocalfarmleader,W.E.Scott,thenDeputy
MinisterofAgriculture,suggestedinaspeechtotheIslands’Agricultural
Associationthat“ifthepeoplewishedtheymightamalgamatetheirInstitute
withtheirAgriculturalAssociation.”(88)Hiswordswereprophetic.Afterthe
lossesinWorldWarIdepletedtheranksofbothorganizations,theyandthe
membersofthePoultryAssociationvotedonFebruary11,1918toamalgamate
andformonesociety.(89)
2.TheProblemsofFarmersonSaltSpring
Theannoyancesassociatedwithpests,bothfurredandfeathered,were
probablysomewhatlessthaninearlieryears.Whiledeerstilldestroyedyoung
appletreesandatecarrots,peas,turnipsandpotatoesfarmersgainedsome
reliefwhentheGameLawof1895permittedthemtokilldeer“when
depasturingwithintheirfields.”“AgreatmanyfarmersonSaltSpring”,
Rev.Wilsonreported,“wouldbegladiftheaboveclauseintheAct[of1895]
couldbemadetoapplyalsotopheasants.”(90)Theoccasionalcougarstill
killedsheepandracoonsstillstolethefarmer’schickensbutthewolvesand
bearsweregone.Aquitespectacularbutisolatedplagueofcaterpillarsstruck
theislandin1900.IntheSaltSpringParishandHomeWilsonreportedthat
the“army”startedatGangesHarbouraboutmid-JulyandbyAugustwasall
overtheisland.“Potatoes,carrots,onions,beets,celery,rhubarb,turnips,
lettuces,cabbages,strawberryplants,clover,allaregoing,andthereseemsto
benoremedy.”Intheflowergardenstheyhadaspeciallikingforprimroses.
But,anorganicgardenerbeforehistime,Wilsonadvisedagainstpoisoning
thecaterpillarswithParisGreenasadvisedbytheDepartmentofAgriculture;
“abetterplanistoturnonchickens,ducksandturkeys.”(91)
41
Fluctuationsintheweatherwithsomeseasonsexcessivelywetandothersdry
orwithraincomingatthewrongtimeofyearhavealwaysbeenaproblemfor
farmersandSaltSpringwasnoexception.Mr.Conerygotuphis19tonsof
potatoesinthefallof1899butthenitwas“Rain,rain,rain-allthrough
November”(Wilson)andmanyfarmersfoundtheirrootsunderwater.
Thewinterof1900wasequallywet.Theearlymonthsof1906wereveryopen,
scarcelyaflakeofsnow,followedbyawonderfullymildspring.
“Then,”Mr.Wilsonagain,“cameastrongcoldwind,theglassdroppedseveral
degreesbelowthefreezingpoint,andallthegrowingplantsfellflat.”
Butfluctuationsintheweathercouldbetakeninstride.Amorepersistent
problemplaguedtheorchardsonalmosteveryfarm.Thedamp,wetcoastal
climatefavoureddiseasesandinsectpests.Reportsbyislandfarmersothe
DepartmentofAgricultureinthemid-1890srecitealitanyofdiseases(scab,
blight,scale)andinsects(greenfly,borer,barklouse,greenandblackaphids)
attackingtheirapples,plumsandcherries.Purdynotedthat“greenflyand
borersretardthegrowthofappletrees,”Broadwellthatsomethingwasstinging
theplumandgreenflywasinjuringappletrees,andJ.P.Booththatblight
“almostdestroyedthecrop.”(92)Incidentally,theserealisticreportsof1892
and1893areinsharpcontrasttotheoptimisticevaluationsprintedinWilson’s
pamphletof1895forintendingsettlers!Tocombattheproblemofdisease
orchardistsexperimentedwithnumerousvarietiesoffruittreestofindthose
suitedforthecoastclimate.Basedonveryincompletedata,thenamesof
twenty-eightapplevarietiesgrowninthe1890sareknown.(93)Thereis
reasontobelievetheactualnumbermayhavebeenmuchgreater.Thissearch
forbetter,morediseaseresistantvarieties(andprobablyjustvariety)persisted.
Atthe1915FallFairprizeswereofferedfortwenty-fourdifferentkindsof
apples.Diseasesandpestswereincreasinglybroughtundercontrol,usingspray
formulasandprogramsdevelopedbytheDepartmentofAgriculture.
Beyondtheproblemsandannoyancesduetopestsandweather,which,with
propermanagement,couldbeminimized,theSaltSpringfarmerwastosome
extentatthemercyofdevelopmentsoutsidetheislandoverwhichhehadvery
littlecontrol.Somestemmedfromtheisland’sgeographicsituation.Beingan
island,itwassomewhatisolatedfromitsmarkets.Andbeingasmalland
mountainousisland,itspopulationandhenceproductionwastoosmallto
warrantitsowntransportationservices.Itremainedheavilydependenton
steamerschedulessetupprimarilytoservetheheaviervolumeoftrade
betweenVictoria,NanaimoandVancouver.AfterthesinkingoftheIroquois
in1911,therewasanacutesenseofvulnerabilityandmeetingswereheldat
FulfordandGanges“toascertainthefeelingoftheislandinhabitantsonthe
questionofbuildingasteamboatfortheserviceofthegulfIslands.”Farmers
attheSouthEndledbyHenryRucklefavouredsuchaplan;butNorthEnd
42
interests,ledbytheMouatsandotherswhowerealreadyinnegotiationwith
theC.P.R.forbetterservice,defeatedtheideaandSaltSpringhadtowait
anothergenerationforitsownsteamer-promotedbytheMouats!(94)
Geographically,also,SaltSpringbeinganislandofverysmallfarms,found
itself atadisadvantageinrelationtoareasmorefavouredforlarge-scale
commercialproductionsuchastheOkanaganand,southoftheborder,the
stateofWashington.
SaltSpringfarmersneverreallysolvedtheproblemofeffectivelymarketing
theirproduce.Intheearlieryearsindividualfarmerstookwhatsurplusthey
had,whentheyhaditandsentitorcarrieditthemselvestowhatevermarket
wasavailable-wholesalersinVictoria,Ladysmith,Nanaimo,Vancouver,
NewWestminsterallreceivedsmallintermittentshipmentsfromindividual
islandfarmers.Underthecircumstances,itislittlewonderthatthey
complainedofgettingtheshortendofthestickoflowpricesreceived,of
producebeingrejected,ofveryslowpayment.Wilsonwascomplainingin1897
that wholesalegrocersweresettingtheirownpricesandifthemarketwas
overstockedjustdumpedthefruit,etc.andpaidnothing.And,evenifthey
paid,thefarmerwaitedaverylongtimeforhismoney.(95)
Thesituation improvedsomewhatwhentheproducerwasabletotradewitha
localagentsuchasMalcolmandPurvisorlater,MouatBros.,whodealtin
greatervolumewiththeoffislandwholesalersandcouldbargainforbetter
prices.(96)Betteryet,whentherewascompetitionbetweenMouatsandthe
TradingCompany.Butmorewasneeded,andinthedecadebefore1814there
wasanincreasingrealizationthattheanswerlayincooperativemarketingon
awidescale.Wilsonhadsuggestedasearlyas1897thatSaltSpringneededa
fruitmarkettocollect,packandshipislandfruit.Abetterandmoreuniform
productwouldresult.“Boxesmarked‘SaltSpringIslandFruitMart’would
soongetanameandcommandthebestprice.”(97)In1908W.E.Scottwas
activelyworkingtoorganizeaFruitGrowersExchangethatwouldutilize
MahonHallasthecentreforpackingandmarketingislandfruit.(98)
Buttheproblemsremained,aspointedoutintheCowichanLeaderin1910:
“it isquiteplainthataslongasindividualsmarkettheirfruitinahaphazard
waytherewillremainsomedisappointmentinthefruitindustry.”Avisitor
tothe islandin1911predictedafiascoifstepswerenottakentoprocure
cheaplabour,establishpropertransportationfacilities,andorganizea
cooperativesalesbureaufortheproductsofthefarm.Thesepointswere
underlinedintestimony presentedtoaRoyalCommissiononAgriculturein
BritishColumbiawhichheldhearingsinGangesApril18,1913.Mr.Hayward,
inparticular,stressedtheneedforcooperativemarketing.(99)Highlightedin
43
thesubmissionstotheRoyalCommissionweretwootherbasicproblemsfaced
bySaltSpringfarmers-outsidecompetitionandthecostoflabour.
Competitionwasparticularlycriticalforislandfruitgrowersanditcamefrom
twodirections,theOkanaganandWashington.TheOkanaganhaddeveloped
dramaticallyasafruitgrowingregioninthefirstdecadeofthetwentieth
century.Thenumberofappletreesincreasedfive-foldbetween1901and1914;
propertysellingfor$1.00anacrein1898fetched$1,000anacreadecade
later.(100)AlthoughGulfIslandsfruithadagoodreputation,Okanaganfruit
wasbetter.NeptuneGrimmer,aMayneIslandpioneer,recalledinaninterview
withDerekReimer:“Yearsagofruitfarmingwasquiteaprofitablething,but
whentheystartedgettingfruitfromtheOkanaganthey’dcompareourfruitwith
theOkanaganfruitanditjustlostfavour,that’salltherewastoit.”(101)
AmericancompetitiontoowascausingWashingtonfruittoreplacelocalfruit
inthemarketsofVictoriaandVancouver.Butnotbecauseittastedbetter.
TheCowichanLeaderregrettedin1911thatthethreatenedremovalofthe
presentsmalldutyonU.S.fruitwouldmakeitevenhardertocompete.
“ItisatpresentquitehardtofindpurchasersforIslandapples,evenwhenthey
areofmuchbetterqualitythantheforeignproduct.”For,itadded,“British
Columbia’sapplesareinaclassbythemselvesforflavourandquality.(102)
ThecompetitiveadvantageofAmericanfruitwasnotflavourbutratherthatit
wasbetterpackedandofbettercolourandcouldbeproducedmorecheaply.
LittlewonderthefarmersaddressingtheRoyalCommissioninGangespressed
forhighertariffsonimportedproduce.Andtheproblemwasnotjustwithtree
fruits.TheCowichanLeaderreportedin1911thatthestrawberryindustryin
BritishColumbiawasbeingthreatenedbylowerpricesduetocompetitionfrom
fruitgrowersonVashonIsland(nearSeattle)andtheSpokanedistrict.(103)
ThepressureonBritishColumbiafarmersfromforeigncompetitionwasinpart
duetoanotherpersistentproblemthatdevelopedaftertheturnofthecentury-
thehighcostofseasonalfarmlabouronwhichtheyhadbecomedependent,
particularlyatharvesttime.Thishadnotbeensomuchofaprobleminearlier
decades.HiredlabourhadbeenusedbyHenryRuckleandotherearlypioneers
anditcontinuedindemandforclearingland.Intheearlyperioditinerantwhites
andhalf-breedIndianshadmetthedemand.Wagesasreportedintheearly
1890swere$1.00to$2.00aday.(104)Sometimeabout1890Orientallabour
cameontotheisland.In1890MusgravehadaChinesefieldforemananda
ChinesecookonhisranchbelowSansumNarrows.RafflesPurdyemployeda
Japanesetohelpclearthelandforhisorchardsatthesameperiod.In1894
WilsonengagedaJapaneselabourertodigdrainsonhisnewlyacquired
property.BullockreliedontheJapaneseashisprimaryfieldhands.
Bythemid-90sbothChineseandJapaneselabourbecamecommon.(105)
W.E.Scottemployedasmanyas10Chineseatharvesttime.TheChinese
44
weredesperateforworkatthisperiod,havingbeendismissedfromthework
crewsoftheC.P.R.andlefthighanddryaftercompletionofthelineto
Vancouverin1885.(106)TheJapanesecameintotheprovinceinthelate‘80s
andearly‘90stoworkinthecanneriesatStevestonandthenfannedouttothe
GulfIslandsascharcoalburners,fishermenanditinerantlabourers.Apparently
manyJapanesewerebroughtinastempararyworkersfromVictoria,working
for50centsaday.(107)
Forreasonsnotentirelyclearitinerantlabourbecamescarcerandmore
expensiveaftertheturnofthecentury,yetwiththeincreaseincommercialfruit
growingfarmersontheislandwerebecomingmoreandmoredependentonit.
Asearlyas1903lackofseasonallabourwassaidtobemakingithardtogetthe
cropin.Referencewasmadeearlierindiscussingthedairyandpoultryindustries
that thedifficultyofprocuringlabouratareasonableratewasdrivingpeople
fromdairyingtothehen.SpeakingtotheRoyalCommissionin1913
W.J.Hamiltondeclaredthatdaylabourat$2.50to$3.00perdaywasprobhibitive
andJohnCollinsagreedsayingthat“labourwastoodearandthatmorewhite
labourwasneeded,butnotoftheclasssuppliedbytheSalvationArmy.”(108)
AgloomypictureofprospectsfortheSaltspringfarmerwaspaintedbyavisitor
in1911:“Whenmostofthesettlerscametotheislandtherewasanabundance
ofcheaplabour.Anynumberofyoungmencouldbehiredfor$15to$20amonth
andtheirboard.Nowthereareveryfewyoungmenavailable;thefeware
inexperienced,andtheonlylabourofferingisJapaneseorChineseatratesranging
from$40to$60amonthwithboard.”(109)Sofarmersaresufferinglosses,he
continued,and“farmsgouncultivated,orchardsunprunedandinmanyinstances
fruitungathered.”
ThereissomeevidencethatthepresenceofOrientalsanddependenceontheir
labourwasgeneratingracialsentiment.Partlythiswasnodoubtduetotheir
differentlifestyle.Rev.Wilsonnotedin1905“AChineseservantonthisisland
hasbeenfined$15forputtingacatintheoven.Hewasprosecutedbythe
S.P.C.A.”Partlyperhapsbecausetheywerebecomingavisibleminority.
TheCowichanLeader,reportingthat“12Chinamen”werenowatGanges,
wasoftheopinion“itisdoubtfulifthesearedesirableacquisitions.”(110)
Withoutasatisfactoryresolutionoftheirpersistentproblems,economictimes
becameparticularlyhardinthetwoyearsbeforethewarwhentherewasa
generaleconomicdownturnintheprovince.Pricesfelltorecordlows.,
TheappleindustryonSaltSpringwasallegedtobeinprecariouscondition
duetooverproduction.Cabbages,worthbut3centsto5centsapoundin
Victoria,werebeingfedtothecattle.Thiswasatimewhentherealestate
boomintheprovincecollapsed,British,EuropeanandAmericanventure
45
capitalwaswithdrawn,labourunrestwasturningtoviolenceintheNanaimo
coalfields,andchargesofcorruptionagainstPremierMcBridewere
increasing.(111)TherumoursofwarinEuropecompoundedthesenseof
uneasinessthatsettledonSaltSpringandtheprovinceinthesummerof1914.
3.TheFarmer’sWayofLife
ThoughtherewereafewfarmersonSaltSpringIsland,principallyaround
GangesHarbour,whocouldaffordtodo“alittle,butnotmuch,serious
ranching”(Bohemian,1911),mostmusthaveledalifeofalmostconstant,
heavywork.Revealingglimpsesintothedrudgeryandtediumoflifeonthe
farmareofferedbytwodiariesfromtheyear1890.JohnBeddis’entriesare
studdedwithreferencestolongdaysspentslashing,makingfires,stumping,
sawingdowntrees,makingfencesandworkinginthegardenofhisfather’s
orchardandfarmonGangesHarbour.InthesamewinterAlexanderAitkenwas
workingasashepherdandfarmhandontheMusgraveranch.Theseasonal
roundupofsheeponthemountainmusthavebeenawelcomerelieffromlong
periodsofcuttingfernsorslowlyfollowingtheoxenbehindtheplow.
HestartedplowinginlateNovemberandwasatitnearlyeverydayforover
threemonths.Andforhim,asfornearlyeveryotherfarmerontheisland,
itwastheroutineofplanting,harvestingandstoringthecrops.Forthedairy
farmersitwasthedisciplineofmilkingthecowssevendaysaweek,
“insicknessorhealth”,yearround;andforthepoultryfarmerfeedingthe
chickensandgatheringtheeggs.
IntheperiodbeforeWorldWarItherewasverylittlemachinerytolighten
thelabourandwellintothetwentiethcenturywhatlittletherewaswas
horse-powered.Thefirstworkhorsesweresaidtohavebeenbroughtontothe
islandbyHenryStevensintheearly1880s.(112)By1914horseshadnearly
supplantedoxenasdraughtanimals.Thoughtheydidnotlightenthefarmer’s
work,horsesspeededitup.Horsedrawnmowers,hayrakesandgrainbinders
wereincommonuseinthenineteenthcentury.
Theimportationofthefirsthorse-poweredthreshingmachinevirtually
revolutionizedthegrowingofgrain,thoughafewoldtimerslikeWillisStark
continuedtothreshtheirgrainwithaflail.(113)JoeNightingaleiscredited
withbringingthefirstthreshingmachinetotheislandabout1890.Mr.Rosman,
oftheNorthEndRoad,boughtaten-horsedrawnthresherin1902anddid
customthreshingoverthewholeislandfromhisownfarmcleardownto
HenryRuckle’satBeaverPoint.Twentyfarmersinallusedhismachinethe
firstyear,abouttwo-thirdsofthemintheSouthEnd.Averageyieldperfarm
wasabout200bushels,rangingfrom577bushelsforHenryRuckleandjust
46
20 forMr.Bullock.Thethreshingmachinewassuchalabour-savingdevice
that othersastheywereableboughttheirownmachineorjoinedtogetherto
buy oneasJohnMollett,EdLeeandJamesMaxwelldidin1904.Theimproved
horse-poweredstumppuller,suchasthemorepowerfulandsafer“Canada
StumpPuller”introducedin1912,wasalsoagreatboontofarmersforthe
labourandtheexpenseofclearinglandwaswidelyregardedasoneofthe
greatestdrawbackstogettingstartedinfarming.(114)Theuseofaheavysteam
tractortopullstumpsonthe Maxwellfarminthe1889swasunusual.Stumps
werenormallyremovedbyhorse-poweredstumppullersorblastingpowder.
Althoughthe Rucklescontinuedusinghorsesforgeneralfarmworkintothe
1940sHenryRucklehadactuallybeenoneofthefirsttotrythenewforms
ofmechanicalpower.In1904heboughtathreshingmachineforhisownuse
poweredbya6h.p.engine.Andin1911hissonAlfredpurchasedaBell
EnsilageCutterfromE.G.Prior&Co.,ofVictoria.(115)
Butlifewasnotallworkonthefarmandthefarmerdidenjoyasenseof
independence.ElizabethSamson,whogrewupintheFernwoodareainthis
period,madeaninterestingcommentaswellsayingthatwhatsherecalled
“aboutthoseearlydaysisasenseofnothavingmuch,yetneverfeelingpoor.”
Manyothershaveechoedthissentiment.Accountsofthisperiodand
especiallytheoldfamilyalbumsrevealthatweekends,holidaysandspecial
occasionswerecelebratedbynumerouspicnics,gamesandsocialoutings.
Avisitorontheisland,“Bohemian”,notedshortlybeforethewarthat“the
goodpeopleofSaltSpringIslandhavesolvedtheproblemoftakinglife
sensibly.Theymayhavetomilkthecows...buttheyneverneglectthemore
joyful‘convenances’oflife.Cricket,football,tennis,croquet,hockeyand
dancingareassiduouslycultivated...Myviewoflifeisthatthisisjustthebest
possiblewayofliving.”(116)Nodoubtfarmlifedidlookrosierwhenonedid
nothavetodothework.Butcertainlythequalityoflifewasimprovingand
theislandwasbeginningtopresentanattractiveappearancetooutsiders.
Aquiteromanticdescriptionoftheislandscenewasofferedbyavisitortothe
SouthEndin1912whodescribedinglowingtermstheBurgoynevalleywith
itsgurglingstream,largeclearedlevelfieldsandneathomesteads.“Thequaint
woodenchurchwithitstidyneatfencedgraveyardgivesanaspectofquiet
andpeacefulnessremindingonestronglyofanEnglishvillage.”(117)
Butevenlifeinthisidyllicsettinginwhatwereknownlateras“thegoodold
days,”couldhaveitsperils.Oneisstruckbythenumberofaccidentsonthe
farmlongbeforethedaysofthetractorandthechainsaw.ReverendWilson’s
unfoldingchronicleofSaltSpringlifeintheyearsfrom1895to1906is
studdedwithreferencestomishapsonthefarm.AlexanderMcLennanwas
badlygoredbyhisbull.HenryStevenshadaseriousfallfromthetopofa
loadofhay,landingonstones.DickMaxwellandLlewellynWilsonwere
47
injuredfallingoutofahayloft“onestrikinghisfacebadlyagainstabuggy
wheelandtheotherreceivingascalpwoundfromthefallingpitchfork.”
FrankScottwasthrownbackviolentlytothegroundwhenhisforksnapped
whileunloadinghay.NormanWilsonasaboygotbadlykickedbyahorse
andwaslaidupfortwoweeksandWilsonHarriswaskickedinthefaceby
hismare,seemedtobealmostrecovered,andthen“wasseizedwithparalysis
anddiedwithintwelvehours.”Andtherewereaccidentsontheroad.
JohnNortonandhispassengerhadaseriousaccidentatthefootof
(BakerRoad)CemeteryHillwhenhishorsewasfrightenedand“thebuggy
overturnedonarockyspotbristlingwithsmallsharpstumps.”
MoreunfortunatestillwasaJapanesekilledwhiledrivingaloadofhaydown
fromtheDivide.Hefellfromtheseatandawagonwheelpassedoverhishead.
Andaccidentshappenedtohorsestoo.In1905Mr.MonkoftheSouthEndhad
themisfortunetoloseavaluablehorseofftheBeaverPointwharf.(118)
Butthegreatestproblemforhorses,anditwastoradicallyalterthelivesoftheir
ownersaswell,wasthearrivalofautomobilesonSaltSpringIslandin1911.
Notonlydidautomobilescausepanictohorsesandlivestockandannoypeople
withtheirnoise,theywereinfacta“menacetothesafetyofthepublic.”
Fortwodecadesroadsontheislandweretoonarrow,windingandhillytomake
motoringanythingbutagravedangertovehicular(i.e.horsedrawn)trafficsaid
thelocalcorrespondentoftheCowichanLeader.(119)Rev.Wilsonhadmoved
toCaliforniaby1911buthischildrensenthimvividreportsofthedisruption
causedbytheautomobile.(120)“Ithinkyouareveryluckytobeawayfromthe
islandnowwiththisbeastlymotorcarabout,”wroteNorman.Evelynadded:
“Themotorcarsherenowaredreadful.Weareafraidtotakeoutourponycart.”
AndthentherewasMr.Blackburnandhiscar.InApril1911daughterKathleen
wroteherfather,“OurlatestexcitementontheIslandisalargemotor;itmakes
noiseenoughtofrighten100horses.”AddedNonainaletterofMay30,1911:
“Wecan’tgooutontheroadsnowasmotorcarsareallovertheplace.The
Blackburnsdriveupanddownjustlookingasiftheywantedtomeetsomemore
peopleandbuggiestosmashup.”NormanwassueingBlackburn,shereported,
becauseofanaccident.“Allhis[Norman’s]eggsandcreamweresmashedup
andthehorsesoterrifieditnearlykilledDiandmeatthegate...Peoplesay
Capt.Sears[oneofthefewsurvivorsoftherecentsinkingoftheIroquois]and
Blackburnoughttobeputinjailtogetherasapublicnuisance.”Butthe
automomilewasontheislandtostay.In1914afleetofnearlytwentyautoshad
afirst“autopicnic”assemblingatGangesandgoingforlunchtoVesuvius.
4.SignsofChange
Theapplicationoftheinternalcombustionenginetofarmneedsandthe
comingoftheautomobilewereonlytwoofthesignsintheyearsjustbefore
48
WorldWarIthatchangeswereoccurringthatwouldalterthecharacterof
SaltSpringasa peacefulandpurelyfarmingcommunity.Thefeelingwas
beginning todevelopthatfarmingontheislanddidn’tpay.Bohemianin1911
afterextollingthevirtuesoflifeonthis“singularlyattractiveandrestful”island
wentontostate,withoutreservation,“thatinspiteofalltheadvantageofsoil
andclimatefarmingdoesnotpay.”Hecitedtwocasesofhard-working,
intelligentfarmerswhooverthelastfifteenyearshadworkeddiligentlyto
succeedbuthadendeduppoorerthanwhentheystarted.And,headded,
“IamtoldthattheseconditionsaretypicaloftheIslandasawhole.”(121)
NormanWilson,runningasuccessfulsmallfamilyfarmapologizedforlate
paymentofhisrenttohisfatherin1914saying,“VerysorryIamratherlate,
butmoney ishardtoget.”(122)Balancingthepessimismwastheoptimistic
predictionbyMr.HamiltonofFulford.InJanuary1913hewroteintheSidney
andIslandsReview:“BetweentheservicegivenbyC.P.R.steamboat‘Joan’,
theSidney [Cordwood]railwayandtheprojectedSaanichElectricrailwayto
DeepCove,aneweraisopening.”TheFulfordHarbourDevelopmentLeague
hadsecuredsomenewresidentsofthebesttypeandlandvalueswererising.
Theelectricrailwayinparticularhethoughtshouldopenup“anewbranchofindustry...which
dependsupondailyaccesstomarkets...Irefertosmallfruit
growing,especiallystrawberries,thanwhichnobranchoffarmingpaysbetter.”(123)
Theprosperityofthefuturewasnottobewiththestrawberry,however,but
ratherwiththeisland’spopularityasanattractivelocaleforretireesandfor
peoplefromnearbyurbanareasseekingsitesforsummerhomes.Again
alludingtotheB.C.ElectricRailwaytheCowichanLeadercommentedthat
“Salt SpringIslandisparticularlywelladaptedforretiredprofessionalmenwith
smallincomes,whowishforaquietlifeinabeautifulsettingwithaglorious
climate.”(124)Infact,evenbeforecompletionoftherailway,SaltSpringwas
developingasahavenforrefugeesfromthecity.AnarticleinSaturdaySunset
in1913saidoftheGangesarea:“Theresidents...areforthemostpartretired
Old Countrypeopleofanexcellentclass...Thedistrictisparticularlysuitedto
finesummerresidencesandlatelythedemandforsmallacreageshasbeenvery
keen,withalargenumberofsalesofpiecesfromthreetotwentyacresatprices
rangingupto$300peracre.”(125)InthesameyeartheSidneyandIslands
ReviewpointedoutthatFulfordwasthenearestpointtoSidneyand“hasallthe
attractionsofthedistrictinacondensedform...Ayearortwowillseethisa
regularsummerresort.”(126)
Themovementawayfromagriculturetowardthedevelopmentofresidential
propertieswasfeltonseveralpartsoftheislandandsomeprosperousfarms
ofanearlierdaysufferedintheprocess.AfterTheodoreTrage’sdeath,hisson
Adolfsold offthefarmin1910.OnoneportionofitMr.Longstafferecteda
handsomeresidenceandonanotherA.W.BridgmanofVictoriabuilt“amost
49
picturesqueandcomfortablehomeontheshoresofthesamebay.”Inthesame
year,1910,PercyPurvisdisposedofseveralfineblocksofusefulfarmland
fromhisestatewestofGanges.ThefollowingyearE.J.Bittancourtstarted
sellingoffblocksofhislargepropertyatVesuvius.(127)Andin1912-1913the
Gangesareasuccumbedtodevelopmentpressure.NormanWilsonreportedthis
tohisfatherinCaliforniainaletterofMarch19,1912:“Mr.Wardhashadall
hisplace[theoldCharlesTolsonranch]surveyedoffintoblocksof1and5acres,
andishaving3roadsmaderightthroughituptoSpeeds’namedRainbow,
McPhillips,andHerefordRd.Theyhopeintimeoneofthemwillconnectwith
Layard’sRd.acrossthecanal.”And,finallyin1913itwasreportedthatthe
surveyorwasbusycuttingupFredCrofton’splaceintosmallacreage.
ThetransformationofSaltSpringfromafarmingcommunityintoaresidential
communitywherefarmingwasonlyasidelineorahobbywouldtakemorethan
agenerationtoaccomplish.Butthesignswerealreadypresentthatlifeinthe
futurewouldnotbequitethesameasithadbeenintheheydayofthesmall
familyfarmfrom1885to1914.
MortonB.Stratton
2/27/1992
V.WORLWARI(1914-1918)-“asortofmilepostofeverything”
WorldWarI,consideredatthetimetheGreatWar,draggedonoverfourlong,
difficultyears.Theyprovedtobeawatershedinthehistoryoffarmingon
SaltSpring.Neithertherecentgrowthofthefarmpopulationnorthe
prosperityofthelate19thandearly20thcenturiesweretobematchedinthe
yearsfrom1914to1939.Themostimmediateandobviousrepercussion
followingtheoutbreakofwarwasalabourshortageonthefarms.Nearly150
ablebodiedmaleswentofftoservetheircountryinagenuineburstof
patriotism.Nineteenofonehundredandfiftywholefttheislandfailedtoreturn.[1]
AmongthemwasJimMaxwell,whohadtakenoverpioneerJohnMaxwell’s
BurgoyneBayfarmfromhisfatheronthelatter’sdeathin1897.Onmanyfarms
womenoroldermenwerelefttodothefarmworkduringthewaryears.
Thelabourshortagewasaggravatedbythefactthattheflowofnewimmigrants
thathadcharacterizedthelasttwodecadesbeforethewarhaddriedup
completelyby1915whenthelastofthepre-emptorsmovedontothehillswest
ofFulfordHarbour.Theeraoftheremittancemanandpre-emptorwasbasically
over.WorldWarImarkedalinebetweentheofteneasyandsometimes
prosperousfarmlifeofmanyrecentbetter-to-doimmigrantsandthatoftheir
childrenafterWorldWarI.ThiswastruenotonlyonSaltSpringbutallover
theprovince.SaidateenagerfromtheInterior,broughttoCanadain1905:
50
“Itwasaveryhappy-go-luckysortoflifeinthoseearlydaysbeforeWorld
WarOne.Butthewarseemedtobeasortofmilepostofeverything.”[2]
Not onlywastherealabourshortageandfewnewrecruits,butfarmerswere
plaguedwithseveralyearsoflowpricesandadepletionofthefertilityof
thesoilduetothestrainofall-outwarproduction.J.C.Lang,whohad
boughtthe lovely Fernwoodfarmin1910,recordsinhisLogBookthat1914
and1915weregoodfruityearsbutwithbadpricesandespeciallynomarket
forhischerriesin1915.
AreportintheCowichanLeaderforSept.13,1915adds:
“Asplendidcropofapplesthisyearisliabletoprovealmostadrugonthe
market,aspricesrealizedhardlycoverthelabourofproductionand
shipment.”
Also,itreported,thewartimecampaignforcultivatingwastecitylots
“hassoreducedthedemandforvegetablesthattheycanonlybegrownand
shippedataloss.”
1917 wasnobetter-itwasabadfruityearbecauseoftheweather.[3]Itwas
notuntil1918and1919thatpricesimprovedandagoodprofitwaspossible,
saysMr.Lang.[4]
ThedrainonthesoilofwartimeproductionwasattestedtobyMr.W.T.
Burkitt,aveteranwhoin1920bought40acresoftheoldT.W.Mouatfarm
onSt.MaryLake.Hefoundafterhearrivedthatthelandgaveverylow
yieldsduetothefacttheMouatshadtakenoffcropsofwheatfouryears
inarowinsupportofthewareffort.[5]
Asmightbeexpected,thefarmers’organizationssufferedformthestrains
ofwar,too.TheannualFallFaircontinuedbutthePoultryAssociation,for
example,gaveupitsspecialshowafter1915asmanybreederswereoutof
businessorhadenlistedand“theshowwasnotnearlysogoodasinprevious
years.”[6]Wartimeshortagesandprioritiesmadeitdifficultalsoforthe
Farmers’Institutetokeepupitseducationalprograms.
EvenbeforethewarW.E.ScotthadsuggestedtothemembersoftheInstitute
thattheymergewiththeIslands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowers’Association.
51
MembershipintheInstitutewasonlyafractionofthatintheotherbodyand
inanycase,membersoftheInstitutewerealsomembersofbothgroups.
ThefirstinitiativeontheislandtowardamalgamationcamewhentheDirectors
oftheAgriculturalAssociationmovedonDecember20,1917towritethe
Farmers’InstituteandthePoultryAssociationwithregardtoamalgamation
andasktheirviewsonthematter.butapparentlytheSuperintendentof
Farmers’InstitutesofB.C.wasbehindthemove.Whenthemattercameup
attheAnnualMeetingoftheFarmers’InstituteheldJanuary10,1918,the
Minutesnote:
“IndiscussingamalgamationofInstitutewithAgriculturalSocietyitwas
decidedtosubmittheSuperintendent’sletterrespectingsametotheDirectors
oftheAgriculturalSocietyandarrange,ifapprovedof,tohaveajoint
meetingoftheDirectorsofthetwobodiesandbeguidedbydecisionofsuch
meetingoftheDirectors.”
Thingsproceededquickly,thoughnothingmoreisheardofthePoultry
Associationinthesenegotiations.Amalgamation“forthepresentyear”was
agreedonFeb.11,1918,officersforthenewsocietywereelectedaweek
laterwithJohnT.Collins,President,andonMarch11theby-lawsofthe
newlynamed“IslandsAgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociationandFarmers’
Institute”wereadoptedandtheaccounts,booksandeffectsoftheformer
InstitutewereturnedoverbyitsSecretary,Mr.Ashton,tothenewsociety.[7]
Givenalloftheirproblemsitisacredittothefarmersoftheislandthatthey
camethroughthewaryearsaswellastheydid.Inopeningthe1918FallFair,
Mr.M.B.Jackson,M.P.P.fortheIslands,congratulatedtheSocietyforafine
show“consideringthedifficultiesoflabourandtransportation,”andDr.Tolmie
referredtotheimprovedstockshown.Patriotismplayedapartinthis.Farmers
duringthewaryearshadbenspurredonbyfrequentappealssuchasthatprinted
intheProgrammeofthe21stAnnualExhibitionheldSeptember22,1917:
“IfGermanyistobebeatenandstaybeaten,itisthroughAgricultureithasto
beaccomplishedanditisthereforeduetoeveryman,womanandchildtodo
allintheirpowertoproducefood...TheIslandDistrictcandotheirlittlebit
bysupportingtheirhomeFair...BeBritish,magnanimous...doyourbitto
developAgriculture,andwhenalldolikewisethesafetyandsolidityofthe
Empireisassured.”[8]
Butdespitetheirbesteffortsandthatofotherfarmersintheprovince,itisthe
judgementofProf.OrmsbyoftheUniversityofBritishColumbiathat
agricultureand“particularlyfruitgrowing”werestilllanguishinginB.C.in
1918;notagoodsituationfromwhichtofacethedifficultyearsthatlayahead.
52
[9]Ihavefoundnospecificindicationwhereshouldbeplacedthefootnotenumberforthegeneral
reference
53
VI.1918-1939“TheBestandWorstofTimes”
1.Introduction
Itisnoteasytocharacterizethisperiodinaphraseortwo.JeanBarmaninher
recenthistoryofB.C.callstheperiodfrom1918to1945“TheBestandWorst
ofTimes”.[10]Itwascertainlyatimeofdisruptions,ofrapidchange(including
somemechanizationoffarmoperations),ofdeepandlongdepressionsand
evenofafewyearsofalmostboomtimes.Butthebriefinterludeofprosperity
inthemiddleandlate20’s(maybe5outof25or30years)wasprecededbythe
dislocations,hardshipsandinflationofWorldWarIwhichhadbeenfollowed
immediatelybyalongandsevereworld-widedepressionthatlasteduntilabout
1923.Andthegoodmiddleyearsofthedecadewerefollowedbytheevenmore
severeso-calledGreatDepressionofthe1930’swhichinitsturngaveway
ratherabruptlytothemoreprosperousyears(atleastforsome)ofWorldWarII.
Inthefewgoodyearsthereweresomeverypromisingdevelopmentsinthe
poultryanddairyindustriesbuttherelativeprosperityofcertainlinesof
agriculturedidnotreallyslowdowntheerosionofagricultureasthemainstay
oftheislandeconomy.Fortunatelyforthefarmers,manyofwhomownedlarge
areasofforestedland,thiswasaboomperiodforloggingontheisland.Andit
isinthisperiodthatsomeprofitedfromthefactthatmoreandmoreVancouver
businesspeoplewereinvestinginlandhereandbuildingsummerorretirement
homes.Butprofitscontinuedtodrainslowlyoutoftheorchardindustry
especially.DuringtheDepressionofthe30’swithaveryfewexceptionsnearly
everylineofagriculturestagnatedandmanyfarmswereabandoned.Withthe
influxofnon-farmersafterWorldWarIIseekingsummerorretirementhomes,
SaltSpring’stransitionfromafarmingtoaleisuredcommunityaccelerated.
2.ThedifficultYears:1918tothemid20’s
TheseweretoughtimesforSaltSpringfarmers-partlybecausetheinflation
ofthelaterwaryearswasfollowedworldwidebyaprolongedeconomic
recession.[11]Partly,too,becauseofthevagariesoftheweather.J.CC.Lang’s
LogBookrecordsthat1919,1920and1921wereallpoorfruityearsandthat
thesummersof1922,1924,1925and1926wereallmarkedbydroughtand
heat.DorothyJames,helpingwiththefamilyseedbusinessatFernwood,
recallsvividlytheterriblehotsummersoftheearly20’swhenfarmers’
shallowdugwellswentdryandtheyhadtohaulwaterfromthelakes.[12]
IntheDiariesofGeraldYoung,onefindsfrequententriesinthe1920’s
indicatingitwasnecessaryeveryyearinlatesummerandfallforhimtohaul
waterfromSt.MaryLakeinbarrelsforhisstock.[13]Severalfarmersgaveup
54
on farmingatthistime.JessieBond,oneofBullock’sboys,triedtomakeastart
atfarmingonhisSoldiersSettlementlandintheseyearsofdepressionandbad
weatherbutcouldn’tmakeendsmeetsoturnedforatimetologging.[14]
GeorgeHeinekey’sfather,whohadcomeherefromSouthAfricaintheearly
20’swhenGeorgewasabout4yearsold,triedfarmingonthesouthsideofthe
roadbetweenCentralandMobraebutgaveitupandmovedaway.[15]
JohnHepburnoffulfordhadcometotheislandabout1910withconsiderable
moneyin hispocket.HedevelopedafarmaboveFulfordontheBeaverPoint
Road.Butwhenhisbarnburneddownin1926,leavingthestillstandingsquare
concretesiloasalocallandmark,thefamilygaveupfarmingbecause,asthey
said,theprofithadalreadygoneoutofitforthem.[16]Surprisingly,Norman
Wilson,stillayoungman,gaveuphisnicefarmatCentralandleasedtheland
tothe JamesSeedCo.forafewyears(1917-1922)andsoonafterleaseditfor
tenyearsin1928tothenewlyorganizedSaltSpringgolfandCountryClub
andbecameitsgreenskeeper.[17]Tobesurenoteveryonegaveupsoeasilyand
inanycasetheeconomicclimateimprovedslowlyafter1923.
3. TheMoreProsperousMiddleandLate20’s
a)TheDairyIndustry
Inthedecadeofthe20’sdairyingreplacedtheorchardindustryasthe
mainstayofislandagriculture.SaltSpringwaswellknownatthetimefor
thedozensofsmallJerseyherdsscatteredfromoneendoftheislandtothe
other.ButDairyfarmingneversawthedegreeofspecializationthathad
earliermarkedtheproductionoftreefruits.Italwaysexistedinthe
contextofsmallmixedfarmingoperations.Dairiesof20ormorecowssuch
asthatofA.J.SmithnearGangesorthePricebrothersonFordLakewere
theexceptions.MoretypicalwerefarmerslikeGeraldYoungatFernwoodor
HarryBullock.Mr.Bullockhadonlyahalfdozencowsandthisasonlyone
partofthefarm’sproduction.Likemostofthemoreprogressivefarmers
HarryBullock,forexample,wasintomanythings.Hehad12acresoforchard
withseveralhundredfruittrees-apples,plums,pearsandthecherriesfor
whichhewasfamous.Hehiredlocalapplepickers.Theappleswereboxedand
storedintheoldcreameryonUpperGangesRoad.Downontheflatshegrew
halfanacreofasparagusforsale.Othervegetablesweregrownandstored
inhisrootcellar.HehiredJapanesetohelpwiththegardenwork.Mr.
Bullockalsokeptbees,pigs,chickensandabout20sheep.Therewasasmoke
housenearthebighousetosmokehamandfish.Allthisinadditiontothe
smallherdofregisteredJerseysthathadbeendevelopedforhimbyBill
EvansduringWorldWarI.[18]Buttheaggregateproductionofmilkfromthe
manysmallherdsontheislandsuchasBullock’swasconsiderable,foreven
55
thoseforwhomfarmingwasonlyasideline,likeTedBrownuptheCranberry,
keptacowortwoandsoldtheirsurplusmilk.
Thestabilityandprosperityofthedairyindustrywascentredinthe
cooperativecreamerythathadbegunoperationatthefootofGangesHillin
1904fortheproductionofbutter.Virtuallyeveryfarmerontheislandsold
tothecreamery.Somemightsellalittlemilktoaneighbour;andoneor
twolikeA.J.Smithinthe20’sandguyandMargaretCunninghaminthelate
30’ssoldbottledmilktothegrowingnon-farmpopulationintheNorthEnd.[19]
Butmostchilledthemilkonthefarm,separatedthecreaminaDeLaval
separatorboughtformMouatsandshippedittwiceaweektoGanges.
CreamwascollectedintheSouthEndinthe20’sbyJohnnyPappenburgeror
hisson,Tom,whoserouteranfromtheRucklefarmatBeaverPointto
FulfordandupBurgoyneValleypastthePriceBrothersMeresidefarmtothe
DivideHarryNoonranasimilarrouteintheNorthEnd.Farmerslikethe
GardnersorWaggsuptheCranberryorRafflesPurdydownBeddisRoad
deliveredtheirowncreamtoGanges.Twiceaweekalsocreamcameinto
GangeswharffromfarmsontheOuterIslands.
AttheCreamerythecreamwassortedintothreegradesandputintolarge
vatswhereitwasheatedto160ofortenminutes.thevatswerefiredby
cordwoodboughtlocallyat$2.25acord.Oncesterilized,thecreamwas
churnedintwolargechurns,oneproducing1000#ofbutter,theother500#.
Whenchurningwasoverthebuttermilkwaspumpedoutintoabigtankupthe
hillbehindthecreamery.Farmerscameandgotitfreeofchargetofeed
theirpigsandchickens.Thebutteritselfwaswrappedin1lb.packagesand
thenshippedoffin50lb.boxesviatheC.P.R.ferrytotheNorthwestern
CreameriesinVictoria,whosoldittothestores.SaltSpringbutterduring
theseyearswhenArthurDrakewasbuttermakerwasjustlyfamous.Notonly
diditwinprizesattheCanadianNationalExhibitioninToronto,buton
invitationaspecialbatchwaschurnedfortheKingandQueenwhenthey
visitedvictoriain1939.[20]
Peakoutputofthecreamerycamein1928when136farmersonSaltSpring
andtheOuterIslandswerereportedtobesupplyingcream,andabout140,000
lbs.ofbutterwereproducedannually.Itbecamenecessarytodoublethe
capitaloftheCreameryCompanyto$10,000in1927andreorganizetheold
Co-opastheSaltSpringIslandCreameryCo.Ltd.[21]
56
Itshouldbenotedthatthegovernmentplayedasupportiveroleforthe
dairyindustry.Itnotonlypassedlegislationfacilitatingtheorganization
ofcreameriesbutsoughtalsotoincreasethequalityandquantityofdairy
production.Thegovernmentsponsoredprogramoftuberculintestingofherds
wasmaintainedthroughoutthecenturyandSaltSpringherdsremained
tuberculinfree.Inthe20’sthegovernmentwasworkingwithfarmgroups
suchastheNorthSaltSpringIslandDairyAssociationtoimprovethe
qualityoftheirherds.TheDepartmentofAgricultureloanedhighproduction
bullsthatweremovedaroundperiodicallyfromonefarmtoanother.The
SidneyReview,forexample,reportedin1927thatonegovernmentbullwasto
bemovedformtheGangesareatoBeaverPointandanotherfromtheValleyto
Ganges.Itwouldappearthisprogramendedin1929.[22]
b)OtherLinesofSmallFarmProduction
HarryBullock’scasewasmentionedasanexampleofthefactthatdairying
existedasonlyoneofseveralenterprisesonthetypicalsmallfarm.This
pointdeservesemphasis.Pigs,forexample,wereraisedonnearlyeveryfarm
too,butone farmerwhomadeitaspecialtywasW.E.BurkittonTrippRoad.
Tobesure,hehadaprizeJerseyherdandsoldcreamtothecreameryand
kept10crossbredewes,thoughthelattersoonwandereduptotheAnglican
vicarageatCentralwhereReverendPophamappreciatedthemkeepingthegrass
cutaroundthehouse.ButBurkittwasmostproudofhispedigreeBerkshire
pigs.HeboughtachampionboarattheVictoriaAgriculturalShowwhichhe
usedtoproducethepedigreeboarshesoldthroughoutB.C.andevenintothe
Yukonandtoservicethesowsoffarmersontheisland.[23]
Otherfarmersfavouredtheraisingofsheep.BobAkerman’sfather,Ted,sold
creamtoGangeslikealltheothers,butheandBobafterhim,wheresheep
farmersatheart.bobwasamemberoftheSaltSpringSheepBreeders
Associationandlaterinthe1930’sranupto1,000sheeponthemountain
abovehisburgoyneValleyhome.
Poultryforeggproductionwasanotherpopularsourceofincomeonthemixed
farm.Alongwiththeirmanyotherfarmactivitiessuchaspotatogrowing,
dairying,beefcattleandsheep,theRuckleswereintoeggproduction.
DanielHenryRuckle,whocontinuedtooverseethefarm’soperationuntilhis
deathin197___,hadjoinedtheB.C.EggandPoultryCooperativeAssociation
in1928andintheyearsfollowingheandhisson,HenryGordon,andHenry’s
wife,Lotus,keptaflockof200-300layers.Otherfarmsoftheperiodthat
wentparticularlyintoeggproduction,andthereweremanyofthem,were
thoseofMajorGreenWilkinsononSimsonRoad,PaulBiononEpronRoad,
57
Mr.FletcheronMansellRoadandbobPricedownPriceRoad.Eggswere
normallysoldwholesalethroughMouats,whoretainedMr.Stevensasafull
timecandlerintheshedbesidethestore.
Theraisingofsmallfruitssuchasraspberriesandstrawberrieswasalso
partoftherepertoireofthemixedfamilyfarm.Intheearliestdays
TheodoreTragehadraisedandmarketedstrawberriesashadA.A.Berrowat
theturnofthecentury.butthedifficultyofgettingtheirperishablecrop
tooffislandmarketsingoodconditionhadalwaysbeenaproblem.Itwas
thisperennialproblemplustheexistenceontheislandinthe20’sofa
surplusofotherfruitsaswellthatledtotheshort-livedSaltSpring
IslandJamFactory.TheSidneyandIslandsReviewinJanuary1921suggested
thattheincreaseinacreageontheislandoffreshfruitsandstrawberries
wasanincentiveforthejamfactory,which,itsaid,wassoontobebuilt.
Operationactuallycommencedin1922whenthecooperative,operatingfroma
buildingonHerefordAvenue(nowasmallapartmentbuilding),had107
shareholdersandasubscribedcapitalof$2,700.sharescost25centseach.
Jamfromthissmallbusinesswasshippedoffin4lb.cans.Thefactory
advertisedregularlyintheFallFairProgrammesfortheperiod1922-25.In
August1924theSidneyReviewreportedthatithadputup600casesof
strawberryandraspberryjam.Butby1929productionhadceasedandthe
propertywasputupforsale-perhapsbecausethecompanyrefusedtheoffer
ofDavidSpencer’sstoreinVictoriatobuyallofitsproductionifthe
companywouldlethimmarketitunderthespencername.[26]
c)SomeSpecialtyFarmOperationsofthe20’s
Inadditiontothetypicalmixedfarmoftheperiod,therewereafew
specialtyfarmoperations.Certainlythemostsignificantoftheseinterms
ofitseconomicimpactontheisland’seconomywasthatoftheJames
BrothersSeedCo.Thisfamilybusinesshadbeenstartedin1915onParker
IslandbyP.T.James,atrainedhorticulturalistfromEngland,andthreeof
hissons.theirmailorderflowerandvegetableseedbusinessgrewso
rapidlythattheysoldParkerIslandfor$4,500in1917andmovedtoSalt
Spring.ForfouryearstheyleasedNormanWilson’sBarnesburyfarmandthen
from1922to1930thelargerJ.C.LangfarmatFernwood.thelatterhadthe
advantageofbettersoilandwater.AfterthewarwhenJackJamesjoinedthe
familybusiness,theirfruitandvegetableseedsweresoldworld-wideand
theyalsoshippedlargequantitiesofcorn,broccoli,potatoes,etc.to
Vancouvermarkets.DuringtheseyeartheelderMr.Jamessupervisedthe
greenhousework,hisoldestsonFred,trainedatArnoldArboretuminboston,
wasthegeneticist.Jackwaspublicityandsalesmanager.Thetwoyounger
brothers,HarryandJim,wereinchargeofcultivation,developingsome
58
specializedmachinerysuchasatransplantingmachinethatcouldplant800
cabbagesanhour.Thewomenofthefamily,includingJack’swife,Dorothy,
handledtheseedpackaging,shippingandofficework.
Bytheendofthe20’stheJamesseedoperationhadbecometoobigto
operateeffectivelyevenfromSaltSpring.Theirregularityofthemail
serviceandthetooinfrequentsteamshipservice(3timesaweek)hindered
theirworkandtheyhadoutgrowntheLangFarm.In1930theymovedtoa
larger300acrefarmattheheadofCowichanBayandcontinuedoperating
untilafterWorldWarII.[27]
Anotinsignificantfarmspecialtyofthe1920’swasthatofraisingpoultry
breedingstockforaleonandofftheisland.thishadbeendoneinasmall
waybeforeWorldWarIbyH.O.AllenintheCranberryandPostmasterR.P.
EdwardsintheValley.AfterthewarPercyLowtherwasadvertizingthe
LeghornbreedingstockofhisCottonwoodCreekPoultryFarm.Butthereally
bigproducerswereChaplinandOswaldwho,withthousandsofbirds,hadthe
biggestindustryintheVesuviusBayareainthe1920’s.In1924,oneofthe
Chaplin’sBarredRockswasthechampionproducerforthewholeofCanada.
By1927whenOswaldhadjoinedthebusiness,theywereshippingworld-wide.
theirprizebirdswereexhibitedasfarafieldasLondonandTokyoandwon
awardsattheWorldPoultryCongressinOttawa.[28]
Therewereafewotherinterestingspecialfarmoperationsontheisland
thatshouldatleastbementioned,thoughtheywerenotofgreateconomic
significanceandnotmuchisknownaboutthem:
•TheRichmondfamilyatVesuviushadaboutfiveacresofvioletsandinthe
mid-20’swerereportedtobeshippingthousandsofvioletstoVictoriathree
daysaweek.[29]
•DownSharpRoadintheflatlandsbetweenGangesHarbourandBoothCanala
littleJapanesecommunitydevelopedaflourishingmarketgardenbusiness.
Mrs.Murakamitellsusthatherfather,Mr.Okano,hadbeenafishermanin
Stevestonandhadmovedwithhisfamilyin1919toCroftonandsoonafterto
SaltSpring.Hecleared100acresofvirgintimber,establishedafarmwith
extensivemarketgardensandbuiltthefirstlargegreenhouseonthe
island.[30]
•DownneartheheadofFulfordHarbour,JohnShaw’sdaughterBettyrana
financiallyunsuccessfulsilverfoxbusinessintheyearsfrom1926to1930.
Inaninterestingaccountofthisenterpriseshetellsusthatshehandled
59
thefoxeswithtongs.Theywerefedtripeandothermeetscrapsfromthe
slaughteroperationuponTripproadrunbybobWoodfortheMouatstore.
shealsogottheheads,necksandpoorerpartsofrabbitsMrs.Eatonbought
fortheFulfordInn.Thesilvertippedpelts,whichwereofquitegood
quality,weresentEasttoafurauction.
•Duringthe20’stherewasalsoabigminkfarmbetweenFulfordandGanges
andachinchillarabbitfarmnearSt.MaryLake.[31]
•Moreeconomicallyviablethananyofthesesmallanimalfarmsweretwo
goatcheesefactoriesontheisland.OnewasthatofColonelBryantacross
theroadandupthemountainfromtheHepburnfarmnearFulford.Coloneland
Mrs.(Dr.)BryantretiredtoSaltSpringfrommilitaryserviceinIndia.
Duringthe20’sandperhapsrightintothe50’sCol.Bryantkeptaherdof
goats.withhiswife’shelphemadethecheeseeachdayandageditina
caveontheproperty.WithadvicefromProf.GoldingofU.B.C.,Col.Bryant
developedaRoquefort-typecheesethatwonafirstprizeinVancouver.His
cheesewasshippedtoSpencersinVictoria.[32]FrankandArnoldSmithon
MusgraveMountainalsoproducedgoat’smilkcheeseduringtheinter-war
years.
d)ExpansionofFarmActivitiestoMusgraveMountain
Anotherinterestingaspectoftheagriculturalhistoryoftheislandinthe
20’swastheemergenceofafragilefarmcommunityonthewestsideof
Musgravemountain.Itshistorydeservestobetold.Itishardtobelieveas
onedrivesthroughthatwilderness(slowlybeingtransformednowinto
residentialestates)thatitwashomeinthe20’stoasmanyas25farm
families.Prosperouswouldhardybethewordforthem,butthemerefactof
theirexistencespeakstotheoptimisticspiritoftheperiodandthedesire
ofpeoplethenasnowtoliveontheWestcoast.Backinthe19thcentury,
firstthePimburybrothers,thenEdwardMusgraveandafter1892Capt.Trench
ownedmostofthemountain.Therewereorchardsandcultivatedfieldsof
oats,rootcrops,etc.nearMusgraveLanding.Inthepre-Warperiodthese
menranover1,000sheepontheirholdingof6,660acres.Itwasbyfarthe
mostvaluablepropertyontheislandfromthepointofviewofthetaxmanbeingassessedin1915at$30,000.BeforeWorldWarICapt.Trench’stwo
sonseachhadahousedownnearthewaterabout1/2mileupthecoastfrom
MusgraveLanding.Apparentlyeventhen,though,theybegantoletmostof
theirholdingfurtherupthemountainreverttothegovernmentinlieuof
payingtaxes.
Homesteaders(reportedtobeveteransfromtheBoerWar)begantosettleon
60
themountain evenbeforeworldWarI.OneofthemoresuccessfulwasEdgar
Brantfordwhohadmadesomemoneywithhispacktraininthemining
districtsof theKootenays.Heestablishedhisso-calledupperranch,where
theroadtotheBuddhistRetreatnowbranchesofftheMusgraveroad.In
WorldWarIhewentofftowarandlefttheranchinthecareofhisuncle,
Mr.Hill.AnotherearlyhomesteaderwasGeorgeLaundry,whoestablisheda
sheepranchdowntheroadfromBrantfordin1910.Hisoldbarnisstillto
beseen,abitdilapidated,onthelefthandsideoftheroad.thesemenand
thehomesteadersthatfollowedthemwerenearlyallsheepfarmers.There
wasn’tenoughpastureandhayonthemountaintosupportdairyherds.The
CowichanLeaderreportedtherewere17familieshomesteadingonthemountain
in1915-andincidentallytheyalsoreportedthefamiliesdidn’texpectto
getadecentroadupthemountainuntilafterthewarwhentherewouldhave
tobeanelection.
JustafterWorldWarIcametheSmithbrotherswhoweretobecomethe
patriarchsofthemountain.TheOxfordeducatedSmithbrothers,Frank,
ArnoldandWalter,settledondownbelowtheLaundryranch.Frankhadgoats
andacheesefactoryinthe20’s.Asahobbyhediscussedmathproblemswith
professorsatU.B.C.Arnoldhelpedinthecheesefactoryanddevelopedan
orchard.Hishobbywaspaintingwatercolours-self-portraitsandcopiesof
oldmasters.HiswifeshippedofvastquantitiesofpreservestoVictoria
andinhersparetimewasschoolteacherforthelocalchildren.Walter,who
hadtriedhisluckinNewZealand,joinedhisbrothersandamongother
thingsoperatedtheMusgravePostOffice.In1926BobAkerman’sfatherput
throughthepresentroadacrossthemountainfromFulford.Butitwasonlya
trackandnotmuchused.WalmieNewman,wholiveddownattheLandingfrom
1925to1948,saysthesefamilieswerealldependentontheC.P.R.
steamships.OnMondaysandFridaysthefamilieswouldcomedowntothe
Landing.Theshipsbroughtinthemail,feedandsuppliesandtookawaythe
productsofthefarms-mostlywoolandmeat,justlikeboatdaysatGanges,
BeaverPointandallotherisolatedsettlementsonourcoast.
WhentheDepressioncame,mostofthesefamiliesonthemountainsidedrifted
awayforonereasonoranotherandtheMusgravecommunitywentinto
decline.[33])
e)TheFarmWayofLifeinthe1920’s
Probablythelife-styleoftheaveragefarmfamilyinthe20’swasnottoo
differentthanithadbeenbeforethewar.However,theproliferationofthe
automobileandbetterroadsmadetraveleasierandmorepleasantandhence
reducedtheisolationofallfamilies,especiallythoselivingin
61
communitieslikeBeaverPointortheCranberry.Somewhatofanoveltybefore
thewarandathreattothepeaceandquietoftheisland,carswere
becomingmorecommonplacebythemid20’s.WhenTedBrownwenttoworkin
RichardToynbee’snewgarageintheearly20’sheestimatestherewereabout
sixty-fivecarsontheisland,mostofthemModelTFords.[34]Bytheearly
30’swhenBobrushwasgrowingupasaboyonGangesHilltherewerestilla
fewhorsecartsontheroadbutmostofthetrafficbythattimewasModelT
orModelAFords.[35]
Thegradualintroductionofmoremachineryontothefarm,especiallytheuse
oftractorsinsteadofhorsesforfarmwork,tooksomeofthehardworkout
offarming-atleastforthosewhocouldaffordsuchexpensivemachinery.
Thoughimpossibletodocumentfullytheintroductionoftractorsandtractor
drawnequipmentwasapparentlyaslowprocess,eitherbecauseoftheexpense
involvedorsimplyduetoareluctancetochange.Itisknownthat
successfulfarmersliketheruckleswererelyingonhorsesforfieldworkup
tothe40’sandafewhorseswerestillbeingusedforfarmworkuntilCyril
Beech,whohadanicedairywhereBrinkworthyisnow,soldhispairof
dappledgreysinthe1960’sandboughtatractor.[36]Modernfarmmachinery
didappearhereandthere.ThomasReid,awealthydairymanfromScotland,
whotookovertheoldNightingalepropertyintheValleyin 1911,importeda
binderfromOntario(withamantoassembleit!)in1919.[37]Soonafterhe
boughtacaterpillartractorforusebyhisson,John,“wholovedmotors”
andsoldoffhishorses,certainlyoneofthefirstontheislandtodo
this.[38]Bullockgotatractorsoonafter1922.JohnHepburnwasreportedto
havesavedhistractorwhenhisbarnburnedin1926,andin1927TedBrown
boughtaninterestingtractorconversionkitforhisold1919Chevrolet
truck[39]
Fortunatelythegradualintroductionoftractors,tractordrawnploughs,
harrows,etc.andbeltdrivenmachinerysuchasensilagecuttersand
threshingmachines,thoughitlightenedtheworkonthefarm,didnot
altogethereliminatetheoldspiritofcooperationthatexistedinfarm
communities.Neighboursstillhelpedeachotherwiththeheavierchoressuch
asthreshing,silofillinganddiggingpotatoes,movingaroundwiththe
threshingmachine,forexample,fromfarmtofarmintheautumnmonths.also
someofthespecialchores,suchasbutcheringpigs,weredonecooperatively
inthesamefashion,saysJohnnyBennett.[40]
Electricitywastolightentheloadforalatergenerationontheisland.
OneofthefirstthingsMr.Burkittdidafterelectricitycametotheisland
in1937wastobuya2-unitmilkingmachineandawaterheaterandhavethe
62
barnwiredforelectriclights.Formostoftheperiodbetweenthewars,
though,thiswasalaboursavingconveniencedeniedtoallbutoneortwo.
P.C.MolletwasreportedbytheSidneyReviewin1926tohaveinstalledthe
firstDelcolightsystemontheislandforhishouseandhischickenplant.
InnovativeMr.bullockhadageneratingsysteminuseinthe20’saswell.[41]
f)Farmers’Organizations
Thespiritofworkingtogether,evidentinthesharingofheavyseasonal
tasks,wasreflectedalsointhemanyorganizationsservingtheinterestsof
farmersinthisperiod.Some,aboutwhichlittleisknown,suchasthesheep
BreedersAssociation,theNorthSaltSpringIslandDairyAssociation,and
thePoultryAssociationhavealreadybeenmentioned.Twoothers,notalready
mentioned,weretheSeedGrowersAssociationfoundedin1919atthe
promptingoftheJamesSeedCo.andactivethroughoutthe20’s,andthe
SouthSaltSpringLocaloftheUnitedFarmersofCanada(dateof
organizationunknown).[42]Bestknownofall,however,wasthebodythat
stagedtheannualFallFair-theIslands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowers
AssociationandFarmers’Institute.Ithadasomewhatchequeredcareerin
thedecadeofthe20’sandforsomereasonseemstohavedonebetterinthe
earlier20’sthaninthemoreprosperouslateryears.Membershippeakedat
131in1923andfelltoonly77in1928.[43]Theusualagricultural
exhibitionswerestagedeachSeptember,however.Thevarietyofitems
enteredintheshowsbyjustonefamily,theBurkittfamily,revealsahigh
levelofsupportforthisannualevent.Mr.BurkittinhisMemoirsspeaksof
the“highlysuccessfulagriculturalshows”ofthe20’sandhisfamily’s
participation:
“Inadditiontowinning1stand2ndwith ourhorsesandcowsandpigswehad
adisplayinthehallofbutter,cream,brownandwhiteeggs,bread,cakes,
jam, bottledfruit,sheavesofwheat,barley,corn(8’high),pies,plums,
cider,pears,allsortsofflowers,hops,evenpottedchickenandsalmon.
theonlythingwelackedfromthefarmwashoney.”[44]
Theone-yeartrialamalgamationofthetwomajorfarmers’organizations,
discussedearlier,beganin1918andwascontinuedonanannualbasisuntil
1928whenitwasfinallymadepermanent.ItwasmovedataGeneralMeeting
heldMarch23,1928thatthenameoftheorganizationberegisteredas“The
Island(i.e.justSaltSpring)AgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociation
andFarmers’Institute.[45]Onewondersaboutthelogicofthisbecausethe
pre-warFarmers’InstitutedidnotstageFallFairs-theprincipalactivity
ofthisrevampedorganizationofthe20’s.thenewlyadoptednamecontinued
63
untilMarch24,1937whenitwaschangedtothatstillinuse,“TheIslands
FarmersInstitute.[46]
Anotherorganizationoftheperiod,theSaltSpringIslandDevelopment
Association,thoughnotexclusivelyafarmersgroup,hadfarmersonits
BoardofDirectorsandconcerneditselfwithproblemsthataffected
farmers-notablytheneedforbettercommunicationlinkswithVancouverand
Victoria.Thisneedwasamajorconcernofcommercialinterestssuchasthe
Mouatstorewhichwasdeeplyinvolvedinwholesalingproductsofthefarm,
butitalsoreflectedthedesire,intheageoftheautomobile,ofboth
farmersandthegrowingnumberofretireesontheislandformoreconvenient
andfrequentcontactswiththeoutsideworld.
Theattempttocreatearepresentativebodytopresstheinterestsofthe
wholecommunitywasnotwithoutitsdifficulties.ActuallytheDevelopment
Association,createdin1926,hadbeenprecededfrom1919-1926byanearlier
body,thegulfIslandsboardofTrade.Thisgrouphadbeenconcerned
especiallywiththetransportationneedsoftheOuterIslandsandwith
concernsofalltheislandssuchastherepairofdeterioratingwharves,the
needforabettersystemofhandlingperishablegoodsonthe“Island
Princess”,betterrailwayservicefromPatBaytoVictoria,andespecially
theurgentneedfortelephoneservicetoVancouverIsland.Overtime,the
membersoftheOuterIslandsfounditdifficulttoattendmeetings.Atits
1926A.G.M.onlysevenattended,allfromSaltSpring,andtheyresolved
“thatinviewofthelackofsupportformthisandtheotherislands,we
herebydisbandasaBoardofTrade”.[47]
TheneedforsomecommunitybodywasstillaconcernonSaltSpring.On
November12,1926about80peopleattendedameetingtocreatean
organization“tolookafterandpromotetheinterestsofSaltSpringIsland.”
Poultryfarmer,L.Chaplin,waselectedpresidentofthenewS.S.I.
DevelopmentAssociation.[48]Butitsrecordwasnotmuchbetterthanthatof
thebodythatprecededit.SeveralislandfarmerssuchasC.P.Mollet,R.Price,
D.H.RuckleandHarrybullockweremembers.Itemsofconcerntofarmers
thatcameupfordiscussionwerebetterwharves(bothatFulfordandGanges),
betterC.P.R.steamshipschedulessoOuterIslandsfarmerscouldgettheir
creamtotheGangescreamerymorequickly,andbetteroff-islandmailservice
(anespeciallycriticalneedfortheJamesSeedCo.).butonly45attendedthe
2ndA.G.Min1928.Mr.Pricespokeofthedifficultyofgettingsubscriptions
suggestingthereweretoomanyorganizationontheislandaskingfor
support(!)[49],andinfact,theAssociationceasedtomeetuntilitwas
reorganizedwithnewofficersin1931.Oneofthefewaccomplishmentsofthis
64
firstDevelopmentAssociationwastostrikeacommitteeatMajorTurner’s
suggestionwhichinitiatednegotiationsleadingtothecreationin1928ofthe
SaltSpringIslandGolfandCountryClub.[50]Hardlyatoppriorityforfarmers.
Theneedforacommunityvoicestillwouldnotgoaway,however.Yetanother
public meetingwasheldAugust27,1931whichformedareorganized
DevelopmentAssociation.[51]Itlastedjustfouryears.Oneofitsfirstmoves
wastosuccessfullynegotiatedwiththeVictoriaPublicMarketAssociation
theopeningofastaffforSaltSpringfarmersunderthemanagementofMr.
W.G.Stewart.TheAssociationwasunfortunatelynotsuccessfulinitsother
efforttoexertpoliticalpressureontheprovincialgovernmenttogive
islandfarmersashareinsupplyingproducetoPiersIslandPenitentiary.[52]
ThefinalreincarnationoftheS.S.I.DevelopmentAssociationoccurredunder
GavinMouat’sleadershipin1939withthespecificpurposeofpressingfora
Vesuvius-Croftonferryservice.[53]
4.TheGreatDepressionandAfter
a)Signsoftrouble
Inrecountingthesuccessesofthefewinthe1920’sandtherelativeprosperity
ofthelate20’sinparticular,itiseasytooverlookthefactthatinthisperiod
manyfarmerswerenotdoingwellatall,thatfarmlifewaslookingless
attractivetotheyoungergeneration,andthatwiththegrowingurbanization
ofVancouverandVancouverIsland,SaltSpringwasslowlybeing
transformedbyitsretireesandsummervisitors.
Theerosionoftraditionallinesofagriculturewasmostevidentinthecontinuing
declineoftheorchardindustrybutonealsosensesapressureonfarmersto
surviveinthegrowingtendencyoffarmersandtheirchildren,evenbefore
WorldWarI,toseekwholeorpart-timeemploymentoffthefarm.Joseph
Akerman’sson,Ted,continuedtorunthefamilyfarmbutfor45years
servedasroadforemanattheSouthEnd.In1928partoftheoldAkerman
farmwassoldtotheFrenchfamilyandTed’sson,Jim,wenttoworkforthe
GangesCreamery.UpattheNorthEndHenryCaldwellfordecadessupplemented
hisfarmincomewithhisworkasaroadforemaninthatarea.TomReid’s
son,Johnwasanotherwholeftthefarmtoworkontheroads,inhiscase
drivingmotordrivenroadgradersandconstructionequipmentthatcameonto
theislandinthemid-20’s.[54]
65
Fortunatelyforfarmersfeelingthepinchinthe1920’s,thiswasaboom
periodforloggingontheisland.PeterMurray,inhisrecentbook,
HomesteadsandSnugHarbours,statesthesituationclearly:
“Asfarmingexpandedonthemainland,witheasieraccesstothenewmarkets
there,decliningpricesmademostagricultureunprofitableonSaltSpring.
Thementurnedtootherpursuits,chieflylogging,whichbecamethelargest
industryontheislandby1920.”[55]
Mostfarmersheldfairlylargeholdings.In1918theaveragefor45ofthe
largerfarmswas252acres,ofwhichperhaps30or40werecleared.[56]These
largeholdingsoftimberlandprovedavaluableresourcewhenfarmingbecame
lessrewarding.Butthisloggingboomwasshort-livedandhadcollapsedby
thelate20’ssothatmanyfarmerswereinavulnerableposition.[57]The
Depressionfollowingthestockmarketcrashof1929dealtanearfatalblow
tocommercialfarmoperationsandthrewnearlyeveryonebackonto
themselves-farmingformostbecameasubsistenceoperation.Mostmarkets
forcashcropsdriedupandmoneyalmostceasedtocirculate.[58]
b.TheGreatDepressionofthe1930’s
OneofthefirstcasualtiesoftheDepressionyearswasthefarmingoutpost
onMusgravemountain.[59]EdgarBrantfordabandonedhissheepfarmatthe
upperranchabout1930andboughtEdwardTrench’shouseand400acrefarm
downonthewater.Withperhaps70acresundercultivation,itwasreally
theonlygoodfarmlandonthewholemountain.Brantforddiedin1934,his
heirlivedinIndia,andthepropertyrandown.Butitwasboughttowards
theendofWorldWarIIbybrigadier-GeneralMilesSmeeton,thehousewas
restored,andthefarmbroughtbackintoproductionforatimeonamuch
reducedscale.
TheCliveTrenchproperty,nearertheLandingandnevermuchofafarm,was
boughtin1937byJohnKelloggofIllinois(norelationtotheCornFlakes
family).Hiswife,adaughterofthefamousWorldWarIaviator,BillyMitchell,
hadthemoney.Thiswastheirsummerhome.TheLaundryfamilygaveup
theirsheepranchin1937andmovedtoBurgoynevalleysothatthechildren
mightgotoschool.By1937nearlyalltheotherfarmfamilieshadmovedaway.
AthingofthepastweretheSundaypicnicstheyallusedtoenjoytogether
downbythewater.TheC.P.R.steamshipshadstoppedcallingyearsbeforeand
WalterSmithhadtogouptoBurgoyneBaynowtogetthemail.
66
WhenagroupofJapanesebegancuttingtalltreesforwharfpilingsin1929
(someoftheirnamesarerecordedonthebooksoftheMusgravePostOffice
nowin ourArchives)andwhentheFewbrotherstookovertheoldupper
Brantfordranchabout1930,activityonthemountainshiftedfromfarmingto
logging.Thoughtheyweregettingtoooldtofarmmuch,theSmithbrothers
stayedonuntilafterthewar.Frank,atleast,profitedfromthelogging
activitiesbytakingoversomeoftheabandonedpropertiesandsellingoff
thetimber.
ThedemiseoftheMusgravecommunitywasparalleledbythatofthe
Cranberry,anothersomewhatperipheralfarmareathatalreadyhadlostsome
ofitspioneerfarmersduringWorldWarI.[60]Otherareastoo,Vesuviusfor
example,werereducedinpopulation.ruthHeinekey,wholivedthereonthe
Goodrichfarmasagirlinthe1920’srecallsthatmanyintheareamoved
offislandafter1929,desertingtheirproperties.DownBeddisRoad,Geoff
Beddisturnedoverhisinterestinthefamilyfarmandorchardstohis
brother,Charles,andwentnorthtobecomeacommercialfishermanfor20
years.[61]VotersListsforthe30’sindicatethatthenumberoffarmersin
theGangesareadroppedfrom91in1933to72in1937,withsimilardrops
elsewhere.[62]
Nearlyeverylineofagricultureontheislandwasdealtacripplingblow.
ProductionattheGangesCreamerydropped;butterpricesdroppedto$0.30a
pound(lessthanin1893),andthecompany’sdividendfor1934wasonly3%justhalfthatof1926.[63]ThethrivingpoultryexportbusinessofChaplin&
OswaldatVesuviusfolded.Chaplin,likeseveralothersoftheperiod,went
backtoEngland.MurrayMcLennanonhisshareoftheoldfamilyfarmdown
BeaverPointRoadwasforcedoutofthechickenbusinessin1935bywhich
timeeggpriceshaddroppedto$0.12adozen.HemovedtoDuncan.[64]Another
casualtywastheRichmond’s5acrevioletandstrawberryfarmatVesuvius.
DowninBurgoyneValleyMikeGyvesgaveupfarmingandwentfulltimewith
theForestryService.[65]MembersoftheSaltSpringsheepBreeders’
Associationsawtheprofitsgooutofsheepraising,too,asthepriceof
lambsfelltoonly$2ahead.[66]ApplepricesdroppedsolowtheRuckles
begantopulluptheirtreesinthe30’stomakewayforpotatoes.Evenin
the20’s,MyrtleHollomanremembersthatshippingcostsbecametoohighfor
mostorchardiststomakeaprofitandthatappleswerebeingleftonthe
treestorot.[67]ThereismoretestimonytothiseffectintheDepression.
AlmostwithoutexceptionSaltSpringfarmersblamedthecollapseoffruit
pricesoncompetitionfromtheOkanaganappleindustry.Therewas,tobe
sure,somemarketforapplesforjuiceorsauce.Theywereusuallysoldin
bagsratherthanboxes-especiallywhenthepriceofboxesroseto$0.52
andtheapplesinthemwereonlyworth$0.50.[68]Thefruittreesdidn’tjust
67
stopbearingbecauseoftheDepression,ofcourse,andonemustadmirethe
tenacityofsuchorchardistsasJohnnyPappenburger,J.H.Monk,Charles
BeddisandRafflesPurdy’sdaughter,Mary,whokeptuptheirorchards
throughthesedifficulttimesandonintothepost-warperiod.The
difficultiesthefarmerswerefacingwasreflectedinthenearcollapseof
theworkoftheIslandsAgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociation.
Membershipdroppedto32in1930andtoonly20in1932,atwhichtimethe
organizationwasnearlybankruptandstillowedonamortgage.TheFall
Fairshadtobecancelledin1930,1932andin1934and1935.[69]Itwasnot
aneasytime.
Despitethislitanyoftroublesthosewhostuckwithitsurvivedthe
Depressionsurprisinglywellpreciselybecausemosthadself-sufficient
operationsandwerenottotallydependentonthesaleofcashcrops.There
ismuchtestimonytothefactthatthoughmoneywasscarcetherewasusually
foodonthetable.“Youeithermadedoordidwithout,”saidValReynolds
later;orasRuthHeinekeyputit,“Whatyoudidn’tgroworhuntyoudidn’t
eat.”JohnnyBennettrecalls:“Peoplelivedofftheirgardensandthebush.
Andtheyatesomeofthedarndestthings-likeasheep’sheadboiledwith
vegetables.”TheReverendWilsonhadsaidbackin1895thateverySalt
Springfarmerhadabutchershopatthisownbackdoor(i.e.grouse,deer
andpheasants).ThiswasnevertruerthanduringtheDepression.“Weonly
stoppedhuntingwhentheGameWardenwasontheisland,”saysBennett.So
greatwasthepressureonthedeerpopulationthatyouseldomsawthemin
daytime,recallsBobRush.[70]Deeraresuchanuisanceontheislandlatein
the20thcenturythatitishardtobelievethatduringtheDepressionin
1932W.M.Mouatfeltthatdeer(andgrouse)“wereinafairwaytobe
exterminated”andurgedtheSaltSpringIslandDevelopmentAssociationto
takemeasurestopreventthishappening.[71]
Withsolittlemoneyincirculationtheisland,tosomeextent,revertedto
abartereconomy.Formanytheonlycashincomewasthemonthlycreamery
cheque,“areallifesaverformanyfamilies,”saysCharlesHorel.[72]Bob
rush’sfatherwasoneofthetwoislanddoctorsandBobrecallsthat
familiesthatcouldn’taffordtopaytheirbillsinvitedtheRushesto
dinnerordonatedvegetablesandotherproducetothepatientsinthe
hospital.billswereoftensettledinthesamewayatislandstores.[73]Some
ingeniousideascroppedupinthistimewhenpeopleweretryingdesperately
tomakeadollarwherevertheycould.TwoweresuggestedtotheDevelopment
Association.Perhapsnottotallydisinterestedly,Capt.McIntoshproposedin
1931apheasantpropagationschemetogenerateextrarevenueforthe
farmers.Farmers,hesuggested,shouldformanassociationtoraise
pheasants.Hunterswouldthenbeaskedtopaythemforfeedingthebirdsand
68
forshootingrights.Nothingcameofthis,norofanotherideathat
lakeshoreownersmightearnalittleextraincomebyhavingboatsforhire
forfishermen.[74]
Adversity,ofcourse,candrawpeopletogetherandbringoutthebestinhumannature.Thiswas
dramaticallydemonstratedbythegenerosityofislandmerchantswhopermittedtheirlong-time
customersandfriendstorunupbillsintothethousandsofdollars.Pattersons,theTradingCompany
andMouat’scarriedmanyandislandfamilythroughtheDepression.ItwassaidGilbertMouat
would neverletafamilystarve“whethertheydeserveditornot.”[75]
Not everyonewasinsuchdesperatecircumstances.GavinMouat,forexample,boughtwhathad
oncebeentheBroadwellfarmnorthofVesuviusabout1928andthroughhardwork,clearingand
cultivating,madeit possibleforthelovelyMountainParkfarmtocomeintobeing.[76]Down
SharpRoadintheJapanesecommunity,Mr.andMrs.Murakami,whohadmarriedin1926,had
cleared10acresofasmall17acrefarmbythe1930’s.Theyhad31/2acresinflowersand31/2in
strawberriesandloganberries,andhadstartedachickenfarm.BytheendoftheDepression,when
theyhad3incubatorshatching1200chicksatatime,theyhadover3,000chickenskeptincoops
that Mr.Murakamihadbuilt.Tragically,in1942,theirpropertywasseizedandtheyweredeported
tothe interior.TherecentMurakamimarketgardenonRainbowRoaddatesonlyfrom1954.[77]
Twootherchickenrancheswithoriginsintheearly20’s,thoseoftheParsonsfamilyandthe
Chantelus,developedintothrivingfamilybusinessesinthedifficultDepressionyearsandcontinued
toflourishafterWorldWarII.OfgreatesthumaninterestisthatoftheBionfamilyandChantelu
children.Thoughnotsobigindollarterms,itisofexceptionalhumaninterestbecauseoneofthe
Chanteluchildren,Simone,isstillcarryingonatage86afamilyenterprisethatbeganwithher
uncleafterworldWarI.[78]FrancoisChantelu,anaccountantfortheBonMarchedepartment
storeinParis,movedtoSaltSpringin1910seekingapurerairforhiswife,Palmyre,whowas
sufferingfromT.B.WiththemweretheirsonJohnandtheirtwindaughters,SimonandPaulette,
borninParisin1907.AccompanyingtheChantelufamilywasPalmyre’sbrother,PaulBion,earlier
andelectricalengineerinSaigonandhiswife,Marie.PaulboughtafarmonEpronRoadfromMr.
Epron,whomhehadmetonthetraincomingoutfromOntario,andheandCharlieBeddisbuilta
houseinwhichthenewcomerslivedandwhereSimonstilllivestothisday.Togetherthefamilies
startedtheusualmixedfarm-cows,chickens,etc.Buttragedystruck.Palmyrediedin1911and
Francois,distraught,tookajobinVancouverandsoonmovedtoSanFrancisco.Hedidnotreturnto
thefarmuntilaftertheCrashof1929.In1914thewarcame.PaulBionwentoffandservedinthe
FrencharmyasaCaptainforfouryears.YoungJohnChantelufollowedhisfathertoSanFrancisco
andbecameastreetcaroperator.In1916(1914?)anothertragedy-Paulettewasstrickenwith
poliointhesameepidemicthatcrippledGilbertMouat.TheChantelusisters,inthewaryearsand
beyond,wereraisedbytheirAuntMarieandUnclePaul..
Onhisreturnfromwar,PaulhadgreatdreamsofimportingfromFrancebreedingstockofthe
69
popularutilitychickencalledSalmonFaverolles.Thisdidn’tworkout.Hesettledforlayingonas
manyas1,000LeghornsandsellingtheeggstoMouats.Simonefromherearliestyearshelpedwith
thechickensandotherfarmchores.Changescameinthe30’s.Francoisandson,John,returned
fromCaliforniaafterthestockmarketcollapseandboughtlandadjacenttotheBionfarm.Paul
diedin1938,bywhichtimeSimonewasrunningthechickenbusinesswiththehelpofhersister,
Paulette,whohelpedpickthemeatbirdsanddidtheaccounting,andofbrotherJohn.Johnhad
atruckanddeliverybusiness(hedidalotofdeliveriesforMouats)andtookdressedmeatbirds
tostoresandrestaurantsinVictoria.Theysoldalotofbroilersandheavierbirdsformeatbut
theyalsokeptegglayersaswell.BytheendoftheDepressiontheywereupto1,000birdsagain.
FatherFrancoisdiedin1966andthebusinesshadtobescaleddownafterJohn’sdeathin1969.
Theproductionofmeatbirdsstoppedaltogetherin1986.Simone,nowinhermid-80’siscarrying
onaloneevenafterhersister’sdeathafewyearsago.Allinall,aninspiringstoryofcourageand
tenacity-ofloveforthefarmandloyaltytotheircustomers-abusinessthathasbeeninoperation
forover70years.
ThestoryoftheParsonschickenbusinesslackstheelementsofpersonaltragedythatmarked
theChantelufamilyhistoryandisreallyastraightforwardaccountofhardwork,goodbusiness
judgement,expansionandsuccess.[79]TedParsonswasborninBristol,England,thedaybefore
Christmas1885.HecameasafouryearoldwithhisparentstoVictoriaandasayoungman
startedfarmingonSaltSpringin1911.Heandhisstep-father,Mr.Fletcher,bougha160acre
farmonMansellRoad.Tedandhiswife,Ruby,whomhemarriedin1912,settoworkclearing
thelandandestablishingtheusualmixedfarm.In1928onMr.Fletcher’sdeath,Tedtookoverthe
chickenbusinesswhichhisstepfatherhadbeendeveloping.(Mr.Fletcherhadbeenactiveinthe
PoultryAssociationbeforeandduringthewarandwasafrequentexhibitorattheFallFair.)Rapid
expansionofthischickenbusinessbeganafterTed’sson,Gordon,joinedhimasafulltimepartner
intheearly30’s.Itwasnotlongbeforetheyhad4,000Leghornlayinghens.Theyraisedtheir
ownbreedingstock,hadeight500eggincubatorsandhatchedthreebatchesofchicksayear.In
otherwords,theyset12,000eggseachspring.Thechickswereraisedinbigbrooderhouseswith
sunroomsattached.Theyoungcockerelsaswellastheretiredtwoyearoldhensweresoldtoan
oldChinamannamedLeewhocameoverwithhistruckfromVictoria.(Leealsoboughtformthe
Chantelus.)TheParsonsfiguredtomakeenoughfromthesesalesofroostersandholdhenstopay
forthecostofraisingthepullets.
FeedwaspurchasedfromMouatBros.(upto20tonsamonth)andinthe20’sandearly30’sthe
eggsweresoldthroughMouats.Becausethestorekeptafulltimeemployeetogradeandcandle
eggs,allthebigeggproducerslikeBobPrice(downPriceroad)forexampleandPaulBionsoldto
Mouatsaswell.
ItwasinthemidstoftheDepression,inthemid-30’s,thatTedandGordonmadewhatwastobe
averywisebusinessdecision.Theyestablishedarelationshipwithabigcommercialhatchery,
RumpandSendall,inLangley,andfromthistimeonsoldalmostalltheireggsatapremiumprice
ashatcheryeggs,sendingthecullsonly(wrongsize,shape,colour,etc.)toMouats.Atthistime
70
t,too,theystoppedkeepingtheirownbreedingstockandinsteadgotsexedpulletchicksfrom
thehatchery.BytheendoftheDepressiontheywereselling40casesofhatcheryeggsaweekto
Langley(atabout$0.50adozenand30dozentothecrate)andmaybe5or6casesaweekofculls
toMouats.In1946thishighlysuccessfulfamilybusinesswasturnedoverentirelybyTedtohisson,
Gordon,whocontinuedoperationsuntilabout1954whenthebusinesswassoldandbegantorun
down.
Itshouldbeemphasizedthatbusinesssuccesseswerefewandfarbetweeninthe30’s.Formostit
wasamatterofjusthangingon,inthehopethingswouldimproveintime.Thereisanimportant
pointthatshouldbemadehere.LifeinaruralcommunitysuchasSaltSpringintheearly20th
centurywasoneofrelativelylowexpectations.Happinessdidn’tdependsomuchonmoneyasit
doestoday.Thereisplentyoftestimonytothefactthatfamiliesthatstruggledtosurviveanddidn’t
havetwobitstorubbetweentheirfingersstilldidn’tfeelpoor.Ofcourse,itdidn’ttakeasmuch
moneyin the30’swhencigarettescost10to15centsapackage,gaswas25centsagallonand
Woodwards’monthlyflyerwasamonthly95centsheet(not$1.49)[80]CharlesHorel,whogrew
up on SaltSpringbetweenthewars,recalledlaterthatthoughtheywereprobablydesperatelypoor,
theydidn’trealizeit.Depressionorno,farmfamiliescontinuedtoenjoytheirspecialislandlifestyle
that hadcaughttheattentionofoutsidersevenbeforeWorldWarI.Theyhadtheirpicnics,corn
roastsonthebeach,dances,sportsandotheramusements.Lifewasnotallwork.GeraldYoung’s
farmDiaryissprinkledwithreferencestotheNorthSaltSpringTennisClub.Neighbours,including
theBions,metmonthlyforatennistea.TheseasonbeganinlateMayorJuneandlastedthrough
September.TwoorthreetimesduringthesummertheyplayedtheGangesclubinatournament-an
eventinvariablelostbytheNorthEndfarmers.Amajorregionalsportsrivalrywasthatbetweenthe
NorthandSouthEndteamsthatcametoaclimaxingamesattheannualFallFair.Nomatterhow
busylifemayhavebeenonthefarm,therewasalwaysinthisveryBritishsociety,timeforacupof
tea.[81]
SpeakingoftheseyearsbeforeWorldWarIIMaryInglinremarked:“Wedidn’t
feelharddoneby.”ThereisnotmuchbitternessinRuthHeinekey’schildhood
memoriesofaratherspartanlifeontheGoodrichplaceatVesuvius.Itiscertainlytruethatsummer
visitorssuchasthosethatcametoArnoldSmith’scabinsonMusgraveMountainortoMr.Burkitt’s
fishcamponSt.MaryLake,whichattractedpeoplefromasfarawayasCaliforniaandNewYork,
thoughtthisawonderfulplacetolive.Mr.Burkitt’sreplytovisitorswhosangthepraisesofSalt
Springwassimple:“True,true.Wedohaveawonderfullifeontheisland.Allwelackisthemoney
andtimetoenjoyit.”[82]
VI.POSTSCRIPT
TheoverallimpressiononegetswhenlookingbackoverthehistoryoffarmingonSaltSpringwas
thatitwasfarmingthehardway.Formostfamiliesmostofthetimeintheperiodfrom1859to
1945farmingwasonquiteasmallscale,wasalmostendlesshardwork(Mr.Burkittsayshelost
71
15lbs.everysummer),andthefinancialrewardswereoftenmeagreandprecarious.Nobigbucks
weremadeatfarmingonSaltSpring.Oneshouldnotbemisledbythehistorian’stendencytostress
thesuccessfulandtheexceptionalandconcludethattheyweretypical.Aninterestingcommentary
onislandlifeattheendofWorldWarIIisfoundinthewritingsofanewcomertotheislandatthat
time,Brig.Genl.MilesSmeeton:
“OurfirstramwealsofoundonSaltSpring.TheMouats,ofcourse,whoknewallaboutallthe
sheepontheisland,toldusabouthim.Hebelongedtoanoldfarmerwhowasgoingtokeepsheep
nolonger.BerylandIdroveoverthehillinthetruckandfoundthefarmupanarrowlane,with
thefencerailsoneachsideburiedinbrambleandwildroses.Thesmallhouseonalowhillinthe
centreofhislandwasbuiltofthelogsthatthefarmerhadcutfromtreesthathehadfelled,although
subsequentadditionshadbeenmadefromboardsiding.Hehadgraduallyextendedtheoriginal
clearingtomaketwoorthreefieldsandanorchard,withthebushbehindwaitingtoreturnwhenhe
shouldgrowtoooldtobattlewithit.
Atitsbesthehadrunperhapstwentyewes,keptacoupleofbreedingsows,acowortwo,andsome
hensforthehouse.Thishehadachievedwithimmenselabour,courageandinitiative.Nowhewas
toooldtobattleanylongerwithbrambleandthistleandtheinvadingbush,andtheoldagepension
hadmadeitunnecessary.Theweedsandthornsgrewalmostunnoticedabouttheyardandthefarm
buildingsthathehadmade.BerylandI-knowingalittlewhatittakeseventoremakeaplace-
werecontinuallyhumbledbythethoughtofallthehopeandefforthatmusthavegoneintomaking
thesesmallfarms,andwhatlittlevisiblerewardithadreapedinrestandcomfort.”[83]
Althougheconomicconditionshadpickedupsomewhatintheyearsfrom1939to1945,thedecline
offarmingasthemainstayoftheislandeconomycontinueduninterruptedinthepost-waryears.
Therewere,tobesure,afewnewinitiativessuchasthemajorturkeyfarmsoftheGearsinthe
ValleyandtheMilnersatCentral.[84]Foravarietyofreasons,however,oneoldfarmafteranother
wentoutofproduction.Thisisreflectedinthedemiseoftheonceflourishingdairyindustry.Due
toadiminishingsupplyofcream,aresultduepartlytothedeathofolderfarmersandpartlytothe
increasingcomplexityandcostofgovernmenthealthregulationstotheisland’ssmallproducers,
theCreameryslowlydeclined.ArthurDrake,after37yearsasmanager,retiredin1949.Hischief
assistant,JimAkerman,hadmovedonin1937tobecomemanageroftheCaribooCreameryin
Quesnel.TheGangesCreamerypassedbrieflyintoprivatehands(Mr.MackenzieofFernwood
Farm)andcloseditsdoorsin1957.PercyJones,manageratthetime,readitsepitaph:“Theold
farmersareretiringorpassingawayandtheyoungonesseemtobefindingotherwaysofmakinga
living.”[85]
Theoldappleorchards,too,thathadremainedinproductiontomid-centurywereonebyone
almostallabandonedortheirproductionbecameincidental.TheRuckles,forexample,stopped
pickingpearswhentheSidneycanneryclosed.[86]Sodidanearneighbour,J.H.Monk,who
movedoffislandbeyondSookein1946andturnedoverhisorchardtohisdaughterandher
husband,Mr.andMrs.Bapty.[87]CharlesBeddisdiedin1950whilepickingapplesontheold
72
familyfarm.thoughbrotherGeoffreyreturnedfromfishingafewyearslater,thefarmwasputin
thehandsofSaltspringLandsin1960forresidentialdevelopment.[88]ThenearbyPurdyorchard,
runinthepost-waryearsbyMaryandJohnInglin,waskeptuponlyuntil19780.Afewmoss
coveredun-prunedtrees,remnantsoftheoldorchards,stillexistofcourse,likethoseoftheFurness
family(laterTedandDaisyGear’s)intheValleyoroftheRev.Wilsonattheentrancetothegolf
course,orthepeartreesattheRuckleplace.
VisitorstoRuckleParktodaywillseelittleevidenceoftheversatilemixedfarmingoperations
thatgraduallywounddownafterWorldWarII.WilliamNormanRucklediedin1953andbythe
timehisbrother,HenryGordon,hadrelinquishedsupervisionofthefarmtohisdaughter,Gwen,
thepotatoes,beefcattle,poultryandorchardshadgivenwayentirelytosheep.[89]Uptheroad
afterthewar,alloftheoldMcLennanfarmhadpassedintothehandsoftworetiredfishermen,the
Stevensbrothers.Mixedfarmingwasgivenupandtheytoowententirelyintosheepranching.By
the1980’smostoftheirlandhadbeensoldoffandonlyafewsheepremained.[90]
OneofthelastcommercialfarmoperationsontheislandwasprobablythatoftheBurgoyneValley
Dairywhichcontinuedintothe1980’s.Longbeforethe80’smostwholivedonSaltSpring,though
theymayhavekeptafewsheeporpasturedafewbeefcattleandraisedagoodgarden,nolonger
madetheirlivingfromthefarm.[91]
LookingatSaltSpringinthecontextoftheprovinceandthelargerworlditseemsapparent
thatevenifagricultureontheislandhadnotbeenrelativelydifficult,givensoilandterrain,and
relativelyunrewardingfinancially,theislandwouldstillhaveevolvedfromafarmcommunityto
oneofretirees,touristandsummervisitors,urbandropoutsandtheservicepersonneltocarefor
theirneeds.
AsBritishColumbia’spopulationandeconomyexpanded,farmingbecamealessandless
advantageouswaytousetheisland’sspecialresources.Farmingcouldbedonemoreefficiently
intheFraserValley,ortheOkanaganorelsewhere.Withthegrowthofpopulationinsurrounding
areassuchasVancouverandVictoria,SaltSpring’sspecialadvantagewasasarelativelyquiet,
secludedresidentialhaven.Asitscharmsbecameknownlocally,theyintimespreadtotheworld
sothatpeoplewereattractedfromasfarawayasQuebecandCalifornia.Also,asBritishColumbia
developedeconomicallyandpeoplebecamemoremobile,SaltSpringbegan,asLotusRuckle
hassaid,toexportitsyoungpeopletoplaceswheretherewerebetterjobs.[92]Lifeasurban
professionalsseemedpreferableforthepostwargenerationtomindingthelocalfarm,millorstore.
Despitetheexodusfromthefarmandthechangeintheisland’spopulation,ifonetakesthetime
inthe1990’stovisitthefarmersmarketsinGangesonaSaturdaymorning,orwatchthecoming
andgoingofpatronsatthefarmstoresandnurseries,itwouldappearthatcreativeuseisstillbeing
madeofthesoil.TheoldC.P.R.boatsaregone,cattle,hogsandsheepareseldomseenontheferries
73
goingoffislandtomarket,butthereisstillanamazingvarietyofsmall-scaleagriculturalproduction
asisevidencedalsointhemarvellousexhibitsondisplayattherejuvenatedFallFair.
74
FOOTNOTES1914ff
1. IvanMouat,talktoSSIHistoricalSociety,(hereaftercitedasSSIHS),
November10,1992.
2. JeanBarman,“RaceandEthnicity”,inPeterWardandRobertMcDonald,
BritishColumbiaHistoricalReadings,(Vancouver,1981),p.616.
3. FarmpricesoftheperiodaredetailedbyFernwoodareafarmer,Gerald
Young,for1917.Someexamples:eggsretail,306to496adozen;roosters
live, 206 alb; oldhens,136;babychicks,206each;calves,166alb;
pigs,206alb;pears,11/46alb;apples,756abox.Eggandpearprices
werenodifferentthanthosereportedbyislandfarmersin1893;apple
priceswereactuallylowerin1917thanin1893.SeehisDiaryinSSI
Archives,(hereaftercitedasSSIA).
4. SeeJ.C.Lang’sLogBookinSSIA.
5. SameforW.T.Burkitt’sMemoirs.
6. CowichanLeader,December30,1915.
7. OnamalgamationseeIslands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociation,
MinuteBook,1912-1920,andFarmers’Institute,MinuteBook,1915-1920bothinSSIA.
8.ThisprogrammeandothersareinSSIA.
9.OnagricultureinBritishColumbiaintheearly20thcenturyseeMargaret
Ormsby,BritishColumbia,AHistory,(Toronto,1958),p.402.
10.JeanBarman,TheWestBeyondtheWest:AHistoryofBritishColumbia,
(Toronto,1996),p.236.
11.Apples,worth756aboxin1917,werebringing$1.50in1919.SeeYoung,
citedearlier,andWilliamCaldwell’sfarmaccountsinSSIA.
12.SharonWhite,articleonJamesSeedCo.,GulfIslandsDriftwood,Feb.5,
75
1986,p.13.
13.SeeGeraldYoung,Diaries,inSSIA.
14.LillianHorsdal,“FarmerBondofSaltSpring”,DailyColonist,June17,
1973,pp.4-5.
15.ConversationwithRuthHeinekey,November1,1993.
16.LillianHorsdal,“HepburnsofSaltSpring”,VictoriaDailyColonist,
March11,1973,p.10ff.
17.OnNormanWilsonandtheGolfCourseseeHalStone,ed.,SaltSpring
GolfandCountryClub1928-1988,(Ganges,1988).
18.OnBullock’sfarmoperationssee:PatrickDunae,Sept.9,1986,Tape
#60,SSIA;DaisyGear,July25,1990,Tape#71,SSIA;DonaldGoodman,
11/2/77,TapeFile10A,SSIA;Goodman,Oct.19,1990,Tape#85,SSIA;
Goodman,August,1990,MSreportofconversationwithRuthSandwell;Kimiko
Murakami,July11,1990,Tape#66,SSIA;IrenePalmer,July17,1990MS
interviewwithRuthSandwell.
19.JackSmithtape,File#38,SSIA;MargaretCunningham,July5,1990,Tape
#65,SSIA.
20.Conversation11/15/1992withJimandBobAkermanondetailsofcreamery
operation.ForPappenburgercreameryrouteseealso“Freshlocalhoney”,
GulfIslandsDriftwood,Dec.6,1989,p.B18;forproductionfiguressee
SidneyandIslandsReview,1924-1934,passim.
21.Murray,Homesteads,p.119;[A.F.[Flucke?],“SaltspringIsland,
1900-1945”,unsignedandundatedarticle[about1950?]inSSIA.Seealso
miscellaneousbusinessrecordsofcreameryinSSIA.
22.Ongovernmentsupportofagriculturesee:SidneyandIslandsReview,
76
April18,1913andSeptember29,1927;MSletterdated26January1929from
AlfredClark,Secy.,toH.Caldwell,Esq.,President,NorthS.S.I.Dairy
AssociationinCaldwellPapers,SSIA.
23. ForinterestingdetailsontheBurkittfarm,1920-1948,seehisMemoirs
inSSIA.
24. ConversationwithBobAkerman,11/15/92.
25. KenPedlow,RuckleProvincialPark:ADocumentaryHistory,(Victoria,
1984),p.29;conversationwithLotusRuckle,October1,1993.
26. Onthejamfactory:SidneyandIslandsReview,1920-1929,passim;J.C.
Lang,LogBook,1921entry;DaisyGear,July25,1990,tape#71,SSIA;
MargaretCunninghamtape,October,1965,tape#5,SSIA;ProgrammesofFall
Fair,1922-1925;IvanMouat,articleonSSIrealestatecompanyin
supplementtoGulfIslandsDriftwood,n.d.[late‘80’s?];conversationwith
RuthHeinekey,October1,1993.
27. MostdetailsonJamesSeedCo.fromDorothyJames.SeeSharonWhite
articlecitedFootnote#12;conversationwithMrs.James,October13,1983;
talk by Mrs.JamestoSSIHS,November8,1983;interviewwithRuthSandwell,
Aug.22,1990,tape#82,SSIA;articlesinSidneyReview,1921-1927,
especiallyAug.9,1923.
28. OnChaplinandOswald:RuthHeinekey,1977,tapeFile#8,SSIAand
conversationofOctober1,1993;alsoarticlesinSidneyReview,1924-1928.
29. Heinekeyconversationandtape;SidneyandIslandsReview,April5,
1923.
30. SeeMurakami,tape#66andDaisyGeartape#71citedearlier;also
SharonWhite,“War’sarrival...,”GulfIslandsDriftwood,March12,1986,
p. 13.
31. InformationonthesesmallanimalfarmsisfromBetty(neeShaw)
77
Drummond’stalktoSSIHS,May10,1993andherMSaccount,“RoseneathFox
Farm”inSSIA.
32.DetailsonCol.Bryant’scheesefactoryfromconversationswithMollie
(Mrs.Edward)Lacy,October6,1993andRubyAltonOctober7,1993,and
SidneyandIslandsReview,Sept.3,1925andDec.2,1926.
33.DiscussionofMusgravesettlementisbasedonDiaryofAlexanderAitken,
1890-91;MayTaylor,“MusgraveLandingSaltspring.RecalledbyWalmieNewman
wholivedtherefrom192-1948”,(MSinSSIA);MusgraveLandingPostOfficelistofregisteredletters,Sept.12,1923-March22,1941inSSIA;
CowichanLeader,1914-1915,passim;MilesSmeeton,AChangeofJungles,
(London,1962);conversationswithWm.Brawnell,1991,IreneLaundry,
October6,1993,andBobAkerman;andSSITaxAssessmentRoll1918inSSIA.
34.TedBrown,April13,1982,Tape:File#17,SSIA.
35.TalktoSSIHS,May11,1993.
36.OnRucklesseeB.C.Parkspamphlet,“RuckleProvincialPark”,(n.d.);on
CyrilBeechseeJohnnyBennett,August27,1990,tape#83,SSIA.
37.SidneyandIslandsReview,June12,1919.
38.InterestingdetailsontheThomasReidfamilyarerecordedbyhissonin
JohnDunlopReid,Autobiography,[1956?],inSSIA.
39.ConversationwithBruceSmith,November23,1992.
40.ConversationswithJohnnyBennett,August27,1990andwithBobAkerman,
Nov.15,1992;RonLee,tape:File#48,SSIA;Burkitt,Memoirs,p.116.
41.Burkitt,Memoirs,p.99;onMollett’sDelcoplant,SidneyandIslands
Review,Dec.9,1926;onBullockseefootnote18.
42.Littleisknownabouttheseorganizationsexceptthename.
78
43. Islands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociation,Ledger,1912____,
pp.226,322.
44.Burkitt,Memoirs,p.113.
45.Islands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociationandFarmers’
Institute,MinuteBook,1921-1940,p.130.
46.Same,p.326.
47.GulfIslandsBoardofTrade,MinuteBook,1919-1926,p.128inSSIA.
48.S.S.I.DevelopmentAssociation,MinuteBook,1926-1939,inthesame
volumeasthepreceding,pp.192,ff.
49.Same,p.244.
50.Same,p.225andpp.231-232andHalStone,citedearlier.
51.MinuteBook,pp.247-249.
52.SeealsoMScorrespondenceofAssociationinSSIA.
53.MinuteBook,pp.291-294.
54.Reid,Autobiography,p.11.
55.Murray,Homesteads,p.113;seealsoJoeGarner,“LoggingonSaltSpring
wasvitaltotheisland”,GulfIslandsDriftwood,Feb.27,1991,p.B15.
56.SSI[Tax]AssessmentRoll1918inSSIA.
79
57.CharlesHorel,January17,1986,tape#43,SSIA;JoeGarner,citedabove.
58.TheabsenceofmoneyismentionedbynearlyeveryonewholivedonSalt
SpringduringtheDepression.
59.Seesourcescitedinfootnote#33.
60.TedBrown,JessieWaggandMansonToynbee,October13,1992tape#_____
SSIA;articleonAudleyandThelmaGardner,GulfIslandsDriftwood,March
19,1986,p.13.
61.OnVesuvius:Heinekey,ascitedinfootnote#29;onGeoffBeddis:
conversationwithMaryInglin,May25,1981.
62.B.C.Voters’List,IslandsDistrict,1933and1937inSSIA.
63.SidneyandIslandsReview,Feb.4,1926andFeb.14,1934;conversation
withJimAkerman,11/15/92.
64.ConversationwithMaryDavidson,June11,1993.
65.OnMikeGyvesJr:BobandDorothy(neeGyves)Dodds,Aug.8,1990,tape
#76(1),andMaryBrenton(neeGyves)andCarolineGyvesMay5,1977,tape
9A,bothinSSIA,and“HisfathercametoislandwhencoastwentYank”,Gulf
IslandsDriftwood,June1,1967.
66.BobAkerman,April28,1990,tape:File11B,SSIA.
67.MyrtleHolloman,April18,1977,file10B,typedMS.
68.ConversationwithMaryInglin,October6,1993;Horsdalascitedin
footnote#16.
69.Islands’AgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociation,Ledger,p.353ff;
80
SidneyandIslandsReview,January31,1934.
70. SeealsoBobRush,talktoSSIHS,May11,1993;ValReynolds,July31,
1990, tape#74,SSIA,andearlierreferencestoHeinekeyandBennett.
71. SSIDevelopmentAssociation,MinuteBook,January9,1932,pp.262-3.
72. Apointfrequentlymadebyothersaswell.
73.IvanMouattellsastoryofhowoldPercyLowther,remindedofadebtto
thestoreofover$2,000,broughtinhislasthalfdozenWyandottehensina
gunny sackanddumpedthemunceremoniouslyatGilbertMouat’sfeetsayingin
disgust:“Ican’thelpitifmyhenswon’tlay.”Rumourscirculatedthat
somefarmsweregivenupfordebtintheDepressionyears--atimewhenfarms
werenearlyworthlessontherealestatemarket.
74. SSIDevelopmentAssociation,MinuteBook,pp.257and259.
75. CharlesHorel’sremark,August24,1990,tape*86(2),SSIA.On
generosityoftheTradingCompanyseeBobHele,August14,1990,tape#78,
SSIA.
76. See,attimeofhisdeath,aspecialeditionoftheGulfIslands
Driftwood,November27,1961.
77. SharonWhite,“War’sarrival...”articleonMurakamifamily,Gulf
IslandsDriftwood,March12,1986,p.13;“Kitsuyorirecalled”,GulfIslands
Driftwood,April6,1988,pp.B1-2;KimikoMurakami,July11,1990,tape
#66, SSIA.
78. ThisaccountisbasedonphoneconversationswithSimoneChantelu,
February20,1992,andwithaclosefamilyfriend,JanJang,January7,
1993. Also,MSletterfromMrs.JangtoPeggyTolson,July1,1991andtwo
tapesofinterviewswithSimoneChanteluonAugust19,andSeptember15,
1991,allinSSIA.
79.ThisisbasedentirelyonaconversationwithGordonParsons,September
81
29,1993.
80.Reid,Autobiography,p.20.
81.GeraldYoung’sDiariesor,foranearlierperiod,theDiaryofLt.Col.
B.W.Layard,1906-1919.
82.Burkitt,Memoirs,p.105.
83.Smeeton,AChangeofJungles,p.169.
84.DaisyGear,July25,1990,tape#71,SSIA;articleonArthurandJoan
Milner’sturkeyranchatCentralinGulfIslandsDriftwood,March31,1982,
p.32.
85.OncreameryafterWorldWarII:conversationwithGarnetYoung,November
10,1992;Spotlight,Ganges,B.C.,July15,1951;BurkittMemoirs,p.117;
S.Chantelu,Sept.15,1991,tape1A,SSIA;TedBrown,August21,1990,tape
*81,SSIA;VictoriaDailyColonist,Sept.15,1957,p.20.
86.SeeadofSidneyCanneryinProgramme,22ndAnnualExhibition[Salt
SpringIsland],Sept.18,1918.
87.ConversationwithMrs.Bapty,October1,1993.
88.GulfIslandsDriftwood,March31,1960.
89.“Islandshepherdesscaresforfamilyof227”,GulfIslandsDriftwood,
TheGulfIslander,summer1991,pp.B1-2.
90.OnStevensbrothers:AndrewStevens,January,1982,tape#15(1),and
Joan(neeStevens)Ingram,April10,1991,tape#______,bothinSSIA.
91.Thegradualpassingofthelastgenerationoftruefarmers,thebackbone
82
oftheruraleconomyoftheperiodbetweenthewars,isrevealedinthe
deathstatistics-14headsofwellknownfarmfamiliesdiedinthe1939’s,
7 inthe 40’s,17inthe50’s,asimilarnumberinthe60’s.Oneofthelast
ofthatgenerationwasprobablyTedParsonswhodiedin1981.
92. ConversationwithLotusRuckle,October1,1993.
83
84
85
86