370 RKlM)Ur OK ollK K (•!• KXI'KKIMKNT .STATIONS. 



iiiniv lliaii (lie sii|>i>l_v. Iliixiii^ just fitjirl«'il on tinidtliy incaddws, \\»' arr not in a 

 I>ositiuii lo iiiaki' any pD.sitivLi statrim-iit a.s to llii' yield, l)ut we tliiiik it Kafe to isay 

 wo will m't $!(I0 per ton fur jjinnl timothy liay for ,«oMie time to come. 



We have a variety of w ilil berries near us, iiu-liuliiij; the gooHeberry, currant, rasp- 

 lii-rry, cranhi-rry (Ixitii hitrli ami low hush), lihichi rry, ami straw hcrry, but wc have 

 not yet <;iven these any attention in the way of cultivation. We are tryiii^^ the tame 

 strawl»erry, but as we {jot our first plants hust season can not say what can be done 

 successfully, or otherwise, until the end of the present season. 



Ixhiibarb is a succoss with us, also parsni]is. Uotli keep through the winter 

 months in the Held same as in the East. 



AVe are, respectfully, etc., W. II. Swinehart, 



Selkirk Ranch, Yukon Territory. 



REPORTS FROM SEED DISTRIBUTION. 



Followinj^ suniiiiaries arc from ii few of the reports which have been 

 received from the .seed distributed to settlers. They contain much 

 valuable information, and intending settlers and others who desire to 

 post themselves on Alaska can not do better than to read these letters, 

 as they will g;ive them an insight into the conditions in all parts of the 

 Territory: 



Rev. W. Duncan, Metlakahtla. — I am sorry to have to report unfavorably of our 

 garden work this year. Whether our nonsuccess was due to the seeds, the excessive 

 Avet weather, or to our ])ad management I can not say, l)ut we never have, that I can 

 remember, had such poor returns for our Jaljor at gardeninjj. 



Juxeph Jloivard, a native of Metlakahtla. — Cabbage, spinach, turnips, carrots, radishes, 

 peas, and lettuce were planted, seaweed and fish being used as a fertilizer with 

 excellent results. The rhul)arl) has also made a good growth. We planted it in 

 soil mixed with sand. All of the liower seeds grew nicely. We have only a little 

 garden, but hope next year to have more room to plant all the seeds you send us. 



Mr. Fred Patching, superintendent of the Naha salmon hatchery, Loring. — A start 

 was made at this place last spring. During the montli of May a few square feet 

 of ground were cleared and planted to vegetables. Cauliflower seeds were planted 

 in the new soil without any fertilizer whatever and did very well, some of the 

 heads weighing as much as 4 or 5 pounds, and very sweet and tender. Cabbage 

 planted at the same time in boxes and afterwards set out did not amount to anything 

 without fertilizer, but when I buried some fish under the plants they did very well. 

 Radishes did fine without fertilizer, and I raised the second crop on the same ground. 

 Lettuce was planted (the seed) without fertilizer and came up very slowly, and did 

 not grow over one-half an inch, and died out before the end of the season. Ruta- 

 bagas did fairly well without fertilizer wliere sown, and better where transplanted. 

 Turnips did very \\ ell without fertilizer, and some were about 8 inches in diameter 

 and very soli<l and nice. Carnjts did very well without fertilizer. Onion seed was 

 planted and used for green (jnioiis, also without fertilizer. I planted about 18 or 20 

 potatoes, also without fertilizer, and dug about 70 or 80 pounds. A bed about 4 feet 

 square was made, in which some fish were buried, and planted a package of rhubarb 

 seed and got about 35 nice healthy i)lants. 



I have read your suggestions to pioneer farmers, and will say that this place being 

 8 miles from salt water seaweed is out of the question, but have lots of fish (salmon 

 during the; shipping season in the fall), and if it can be used as a fertilizer it is the 

 easiest way of getting lid of it. This fall I si)aded up the ground and buried all the 

 fish the ground would cover, also built cribs and tilled them in with layers of dirt 

 and fish for use on new ground in the spring. In applying it last fall I had a trench 



