ALASKA EXI'EKIMKNT STATIONS. 371 



ppatled out ami then IiIUmI witli «ilnion tiiid the dirt (hij,' from next trench, covered 

 them, and tlie operation \va.s repeated until the ^'round \va.s all dri'.^sed. 



R. L. I'dtij, Hoirhm. — Vi'<,'etahles were raise<l from seeds distril)uted last year. 

 The gardens were planted on Uall i.xland, about 80 miles from Howkan, in what is 

 known as Saw Mill Cove, on the east side of the island. All jjinjund was new, iiaving 

 been cleared of brush, etc., aljcnit six weeks l)efore planting, i used seawee<l, as 

 reconnnended by the Department, at about 30 tons to an acre, and for new ground 1 

 consider the showing as splendid. 



( iarden No. 1, i.lante<l on .\pril L'."), containing (KX) s<iuare feet. Lettuce wa.< tender, 

 extra line (juality, ami lawted until October 20; Flat Dutcli turnii)S, si»lendid, lasted 

 until Noveml>er 1; radishes were crisp and line, on table twenty-four days after 

 planting, ami had them fresh and crisp until November 10; the kale this year was of 

 the l)est, enjoyed by all, is still growing finely (January .']) without cover, expect plenty 

 of early greens; Windsor l)eans, only fair, planted too late; parsnips and peaa were 

 in abundance and of the finest quality. 



Owing to press of work in mill 1 <li<l not get garden No. 2, containing 600 square 

 feet, ])!ante<l until May 5. Carrots, l)eets, and onions were produced; turnips were 

 splendid and in abundance; celery, very line, but not large— of this we had a great 

 deal; cauliflower was set out too late, as heads did not grow large, very few being 

 more than 4 inches in diameter, but as we had a large nundjer of plants, size of heads 

 did not matter. We all agree that it was as good as we ever tasted anywhere. Cab- 

 bage was put out rather too late; heads were small, but most excellent. 1 think 

 cabbage needs other food in connection with seaweed. Spinach very fine and in 

 large supply. The rhubarb sown was very fine. It was planted April 15 in large 

 deep box, fertilized with manure from chicken house, and it grew very large and 

 ten<ler. We used it (piite a immber of times — something rather out of the common 

 for the first year. Balance of the ground was planted to potatoes, which gave a fine 

 crop. 



Jolin K. SiiiilJi, Iluirkan. — I am sorry that 1 am not al)le to make a more favorable 

 reixirt on the seeds sent me by the Di'parlment of Agriculture. This year I have, 

 as most people living around here had, to l)e away during the fishing season, and 

 my garden was of course neglected, but for the last eight years I have had a good 

 garden. 



I find that potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, and celery do very well here; car- 

 rots, beets, and parsnips not so good ; lettuce, radishes, and peas, excellently ; black and 

 reil currants, medium crop; nt>^pberries, medium; gooseberries, not so good, an<l apples 

 so far liave been a failure. 1 am trying to get a Russian crab apple. I have some 

 apples grafted on to the native cralj apple, and will report whether successful or not 

 in a year or tw<j. I find that the best fertilizers for raising crops on new soil are 

 seaweed and slaked lime and decayed dam shells. I spreail plenty of seaweed 

 every fall on my groun«l and dig it nn<ler in the spring, and when i)ianting my potii- 

 toes u.«e it in the hills. I distributed the seed 1 did not use to the natives. It is 

 hard to get them Ui jtlant except in the way they are accustomed to, but some of 

 them I have gotten t<i try cabbage, kale, lettuce, and radishes, and a good many of 

 them are growing different kinds of lierries. 



Mm. Annie liUiijltH-k, Juneau. — Your kindne.«s in forwarding me seeds Iwre fruit 

 by supplying us witli vegetables all summer and con.xiderable left for fall n.«e. It is 

 wonderful how tliey grow here, and the size is all that is desire<l. I find that some 

 varieties are better than otiiers; notaldy the rumid r:i<lishesan<l curly lettuce do much 

 iK'tter than the others. Our cauliflower, cabbage, and beets have been a failure 

 owing to a large green worni that is called here, rightly or wrongly, "army worm." 

 During the la>^t two seasons my riiul)arb, spinach, an<l cress salad went to seed very 

 early from .<ome cause, but all gn-w well. Kale and turnips came up well, but the 

 worms soon finished them, also the ruta-l»agas, and toward tiie last they trietl a let- 



