186 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



cultural conditions in different parts of Alaska was obtained through 

 circulars of in(iuiry. Seeds were also disti-ibuted in a number of dif- 

 ferent regiojis. The results of the work this j^ear confirmed those 

 previously obtained in these investigations. Sufficient evidence has 

 been obtained to show definitely that a considerable variety of vege- 

 tables can be successfulh" grown in different parts of Alaska. It has 

 also been shown that in southeastern Alaska and in Cook Inlet oats, 

 barley, buckwheat, and spring wheat will mature with careful culture, 

 and that the failure of many attempts to grow crops in Alaska has 

 been due to the natural aciditj^ of the soil and the lack of drainage. 

 When these difficulties are removed by proper treatment, the land is 

 fertile and productive. 



After the close of the operations of the season of 1899 Professor 

 Georgesou returned to Washington and prepared his annual report, 

 which was transmitted to Congress in January, 1900, and published 

 as House Doc. No. 314 (Fifty-sixth Congress, first session), and after- 

 wards as Bulletin No. 82 of this Office. Plans were made to continue 

 the work at Sitka and Kenai along the same lines as heretofore, includ- 

 ing experiments in growing different varieties of oats, barle}^ wheat, 

 buckwheat, flax, clover, grasses, and many kinds of vegetables. Inves- 

 tigations will also be made with reference to methods of culture and 

 treatment of the soil, especially with lime, and the utilization of native 

 and cultivated grasses and forage plants, especially in the form of 

 silage and hay, for the maintenance of live stock. 



The clearing- of land will be continued, special attention being given 

 to studies of economical methods of removing the trees and moss and 

 draining the soil. 



Owing to the fact that the appropriation made by Congress at its 

 last session did not become available until May 25, 1900, or some two 

 months later than the previous year, it was impracticable to under- 

 take as much field work as during the previoiis season, and in a num- 

 ber of ways the work for this year was materially hindered. As this 

 appropriation was for only the same amount as last year, it was not 

 feasible to plan for the completion of the headquarters building at 

 Sitka. Arrangements were, however, made to finish the lower story, 

 so that the butlding might be used for office purposes and the storing 

 of samples of soil and collections of native and cultivated plants made 

 as a result of these investigations. In order to undertake definite 

 investigations in the interior of Alaska, a third assistant was employed. 

 For this service Mr. Isaac Jones, a graduate of the Kansas Agricul- 

 tural College, who had spent some time at Dawson and other points 

 in the interior of Alaska, was selected. It was expected that Profes- 

 sor Georgesou and Mr. Jones would leave Sitka as soon as navigation 

 opened in the spring of 1900, and proceed up the Yukon River, stop- 

 ping at points where attempts had been made to grow crops. They 

 were to examine the region along the river with special reference to 

 its agricultural capabilities and the selection of a few places where 

 experiments might best be carried on. The}^ were to go to other parts 

 of the interior for the same purposes, as far as might be practicable 

 during the present season. Mr. Jones was to remain in that region 

 during the winter at whatever jjoint might be selected as a headquar- 

 ters for future operations. In this way it was hoped that it might be 

 feasible during the season of 1901 to conduct experiments not only at 

 the point where Mr. Jones should be located, but at several other 

 places in the interior to which seeds might be sent and which Mr. 

 Jones might visit during the season sufficientlj^ to supervise the experi- 



