office of expekiment stations. 185 



Experiment Stations in Alaska. 



The third appropriation for agricultural investigations in Alaska 

 was made for the fiscal year beginning Julj^ 1, 1899, but a portion of 

 this appropriation was made available in the spring of that year. The 

 appropriation was increased from $10,000 to 112,000, and the terms of 

 the approj)riation were changed so that the Secretary of Agriculture 

 was authorized to expend this fund "to investigate and report to Con- 

 gress uj)on the agricultural resources and capabilities of Alaska and 

 to establish and maintain agricultural experiment stations in said 

 Territory, including the erection of buildings and all other expenses 

 essential to the maintenance of such stations." The terms of this 

 appropriation indicated that experiment stations were to be regularly 

 maintained in Alaska as in other parts of the United States, and plans 

 were therefore at once made for putting our work in that Territory- on 

 a permanent basis. As it was decided that on the whole Sitka, the 

 capital of Alaska, would be the most convenient place in which to 

 establish a central office and laboratory and from which to supervise 

 investigations along the coast, as well as in the interior, and to dis- 

 seminate information regarding these investigations in different parts 

 of the Territorv, it was deemed essential that a building should be 

 erected at that place, which might serve as headquarters for these 

 investigations. Plans were therefore drawn for a simple but sub- 

 stantial wooden building containing ten rooms, which might be used 

 as offices, laboratories, and quarters for the special agent in charge. 

 Castle Hill, a lot in Sitka, which was set aside a number of years ago 

 as a site for Government buildings, afterwards located elsewhere, was 

 selected as the site for the experiment station headquarters, having 

 been reserved for this purpose by an order of the President. The 

 construction of the station building on this site was begun as soon as 

 a contract could be made. This building was inclosed and the lower 

 story was partially finished, but the amount of funds available from 

 that appropriation did not warrant completion. 



Prof. C. C. Georgeson was continued as special agent in charge of 

 the investigations, and the regular force was increased by the appoint- 

 ment of two assistants and one laborer. Provision was also made for 

 engaging the services of other temporary assistants and laborers as 

 occasion might demand. A considerable number of farm implements 

 and four work oxen were purchased. 



The clearing of the land for experimental purjDOses was undertaken 

 at Sitka and at Kenai, in Cook Inlet, on the reservations made for 

 that purpose the previous summer. Much difficulty was experienced 

 in obtaining suitable laborers to assist in the work at Sitka, and the 

 task of clearing and draining the land proved more formidable than 

 was expected. Some 6 acres of new ground, however, was cleared 

 and i^artially drained. A road was also built along one side of the 

 farm and another up to the station building on Castle Hill. At Kenai 

 about 3 acres of land was cleared and a combined log barn and imple- 

 ment shed erected. A log silo was also constructed there and filled 

 with native grasses. 



The experimental work was similar to that of the previous year, 

 and consisted largely in gro'oing different varieties of cereals, forage 

 plants, flax, and vegetables at Sitka, Kenai, and Kadiak. Experi- 

 ments were also made in making and storing silage and in making 

 hay from native grasses. The correction of the acidity of new land 

 with lime was successfully tried. Further information regarding agri- 



