PRINCE’S RANCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1927, Page 7

PRINCE’S RANCH

HARD WORK AND SPORT. VANCOUVER, July 27. The Prince of Wales, after an absence of three years, will revisit his ranch the “E.P.,’ at Pekisko, Highwood River, Alberta, arriving there about the third week in August. This beautiful property, in the first range of the Rockies, was purchased by the Prince in 1920. He was then on a visit to the Bar U ranch, owned by a pioneer, George Lane, and managed by Professor Carlyle, formerly agricultural expert at United States universities. The Prince purchased 1400 acres, which has, it is understood, since become freehold.

The homestead, a low, wooden structure, has a, superb setting, protected on the north and west, by a grove of Balm of Gilead trees, which follow the course of the swift-running Highwood River right through the property. Behind are the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies.

The Prince’s pedigree stock, mainly Shorthorn cattle and Percheron, are known and represented among the farm stock of Western Canada. Not a little interest attaches to the success of his experiment with the tiny Dartmoor ponies, which he introduced from England, for the purpose of providing mounts for the prairie school children. The Prince believes he can raise the height of this sturdy breed of pony hack to fourteen hands. The “E.P.” ranch has the most modern equipment, and is still under the care of Professor Carlyle. Purebred stock continues to be imported from England, from the Prince’s main farm, Stoke Climsland. near Tavistock. Thoroughbred racing stock is also produced, as a side line to the chief production of the property, draught horses for the heavy work of the West. A shorthorn bull from the Prince’s ranch fetched four thousand guineas at the Royal Show in England. The ranch pays its way, and declared a healthy profit on each year’s operations.

When the Prince is at his ranch there is no junketing or public reception. By now, his neighbours in Alberta have come to respect his incognito of Baron Renfrew. A group of these Western farmers, on the Prince’s last visit, met at the little wayside station, and the Prince stayed long enough to give each a hedrty hand-shake, before he was on the road for Highwood River, where next day he put in six hours’ hard work among his hands, cutting and storing fodder for the winter. The furnishings of the homestead are of the plain, utilitarian type. His private car on the railroad is known as “Killarney.” Corned beef and cabbage was the main element of dinner on the first day of the Prince’s visit on his ranch. The Prince ate his dinner, garbed in blue overalls, after a hard morning’s work, filling the silo and stooking. A picnic on the banks of the river during that trip, is one of the happiest memories to-day of the Alberta farmers who attended it. There were ample stocks of good, plain food, and a barrel of beer was conveniently placed under a tree for the use of his guests.

For a sportsman the ranch has many opportunities. Across the open lawn in front of the homestead, descends an ice-cold mountain stream in which the speckled trout jump gaily at any grasshoppers thrown to them. There is plenty of duck, while the Rockies offer variety in mountain sheep, goat, deer, bear, and other big game.

Until about the end of October the Prince will spend his time directing the management of his stock, horses, and sheep, in riding over the extensive acres that reach out and across the verdant valleys of the foothills, whipping trout, shooting partridge, exchanging greetings with neighbouring farmers, asking after their families, and suggesting means for improving Western stock. For it is in this way that the prospective ruler of the British Empire indulges his fancy when he is in residence as owner of the “E.P.” ranch in Alberta.