Burlington Plains, that peaceful stretch of country which lies along the shore of Hamilton Bay, between Hamilton and Burlington, and reaches back to the mountain ridge, is unsurpassed by any country for beauty and fertility.
At one time it was divided into a few immense grain farms, but as the farmers discovered its worth it has graduated into one of the most profitable fruit grown countries of the world. Here in this spot all fruits, except a few tropical varieties, can be and are raised in abundance.
The fruit farms are for the most part from ten to fifty acres in size, and as years of care, study, thought and experience have been expended on them, many are perfect works of art and are exceedingly profitable ones, too.
The soil is mostly a rich sandy loam, with here and there a streak of clay, which is admirably adapted to growing pears, plums and grapes. Nowhere can cherries be grown to such perfection, and the demand is increasing rapidly. Apples, plums and pears will yield abundantly year after year.
Small fruits, such as strawberries (which were introduced by the late Mr. William Bell nearly forty years ago) raspberries, blackberries, currants, etc., are raised every year by the carloads, and being much earlier than any other Canadian section command the top prices.
The tomato industry has developed most rapidly and wonderfully. Several years ago the writer grew a few tomatoes and one day took a dozen bushels to Hamilton market and could not dispose of them ; had to bring them home and feed them to the hogs. Now the tomatoes are grown by the thousand bushels and consumed in Hamilton by canning factories.
Asparagus is also a growing industry, and always commands a good price, and can be produced abundantly in many places. Vegetables of all kinds are grown here with profit.
Many growers in this vicinity calculate to have their farms average a hundred dollars to the acre per year, and have accomplished this for some years.
Three beautiful churches, two Methodist and one Episcopalian, are also found within a radius of two miles. The best of Public School advantages. The nearness to Hamilton, which has one of the largest markets in Canada and consumes a vast amount of produce, is a great point in favor of this locality.
The amount of fruit and vegetables shipped from this vicinity to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Brockville, Guelph, Detroit, etc., is simply enormous, and has amounted to over a thousand tons a year.
As for the picturesque, Canada can produce no more pleasing sight than this charmingly situated, highly cultivated, and beautifully laid out spot, with its pleasant drives, comfortable homes, and happy, contented, prosperous inhabitants.