PRINCE ON HIS RANCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 15

PRINCE ON HIS RANCH.

SHADOW OF THE ROCKIES.

A PROFITABLE VENTURE.

RAISING OF PEDIGREE STOCK. [rsosi oca own ctmitEsroxDENT. ] VANCOUVER. July 27. The Prince of Wales, after an absence of three years, is about to revisit his ranch, the "E.P." (Edward Prince), at Pekisko, Highwood River, Alberta. He will arrive 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, Mr. George Lane, and managed by Professor Carlyle, formerly agricultural expert at United States universities. The Prince purchased 1400 acres and leased an additional 2boo acres, which has. it is understood, 3ince become freehold. Lhe 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 Porcheron, are known and represented among the farm Stock of Western Canada. Not a little mterest 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 14 hands. The " E.P." ranch has the most modern equipment, and is still under the care of Professor Carlyle. Pure-bred 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, which consists of draught horses for the heavy work of the West. A Shorthorn bull from the Prince's ranch fetched 4000 guineas at the Royal Show in England. The ranch pays its way and declares a healthy profit on each year's operations. Prince's Work on Eanch. 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 as "Baron Renfrew." A group of these Western farmers, on the Prince's last visit, met him at the little wayside station, and the Prince stayed long enough to give each a hearty 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 were the main element of dinner on the first day of the Prince's last visit to his ranch. The Prince ate his dinner, garbed in blue overalls, after a hard morning's work, filling the silo and stocking. A picnic, on the banks of the river, in the course of 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 lor the use of the Prince's guests. Abundance of Trout and Game.

For a sportsman, the ranch has man;/ opportunities. Across the open lawn in front of the homestead descends an icecold 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 extensive acres that reach out and across the verdant valleys of the foothills, whipping trout, shooting partridge, exchanging greetings with neisihbouring farmers, asking after their families, and suggesting means for improv ing western stock. For it is in this wav fhat the prospective ruler of the British Empire indulges his fancy when he is ic residence as owner of the ranch.