ALASKA EXPERIMP:NT STATIONS. 381 



./. F. Kfirxhtur, Ihihrr Creek Slutlon. — I liave a fine locality as to soil and lay of 

 land, facing the south on a large flat. It is about G miles from tiie Xanana Hiver 

 and about the same distance from Baker Creek Station. It is tempered by liot 

 s]>rings, which is no small affair, for they spread along the stream for a mile, hot 

 and warm water oozing out and forming three small streams which emi)ty into a 

 creek into the Tanana. 



The seeds you sent me were in fine condition and fresh, aa all came up. I received 

 a fresh package fmm the States in time to get in early. I hail lettuce, ra<lishes, 

 peas, beets, carmts, and turnips, all large enough to eat by July 4. In fact the let- 

 tuce and radishes were large enough to eat by the last of June. 



I wish you could see my garden as it looks now (August 22). Cabbage heading 

 Ijeautifully; potatoes in full bloom, and a late kind at that. If I had had Early Rose 

 I think I would have had potatoeti large enough to eat by this time. Cucumbers and 

 tomatoes are doing finely. The California sipuish is looking remarkably well. The 

 squashes are a.s large as my head. Turnips that a few weeks ago weighed 4 pounds 

 an' now as large as a man's head. The ruta-bagas are simply enormous, and potatoes 

 are filling out as well as I ever saw them. 1 have never seen vegetables grow as they 

 do anjund the springs. I had no frost here when it was freezing at Baker Creek 

 Station. I planted peas, Ijeets, radishes, turnips, and lettuce April 20, and they 

 were n\> May 1, and no frost to hurt them, though there was 3 feet of snow on 

 the benches only a sh(jrt distance away. I a2)preciate the difference in the climate, 

 and the heat on the ground one had to see to believe. 



J. L. LucclieKt, S. J., Holij Cross Mission, Koserefskij. — In general, results were 

 encouraging. The potatoes. Early Rose, are larger and better thaii ever. Soggy 

 potatoes are getting rare. We have such an abundance that, besides supjilying this 

 large institution and outlaying missions, we have enough to feed the cows. All the 

 other vegetaViles that are usually gnjwn here have given their wonted satisfaction. 

 Even tomatoes, though tried for the first time, were fit for table use. They were 

 pulled green, however, as they had not time <ir heat enough to ripen. 



We are still trying the grains, and by the samples sent you you will see that oats 

 and buckwheat are not far from success. As yet but few matured seeds f)n the ears, 

 but we hope by planting these seeds, grown in the country, that the ears will mature 

 more and more each succeeding season as the seed becomes acclimated. Corn failed, 

 owing to having the wrong brand of seed, I think. As for the hay crop, we have 

 more than enough, and our herd, more than doubled since you were here, need have 

 no fears of going hungry the coming winter. Clover blossoms for the first time 

 adorned our fields this summer. In fact it is hard to realize that this si)ot, once 

 covered with trees, brush, and moss, could in so short a time be brought to its present 

 fruitful and beautiful state. 



One of the sixlrrs itt IIolij Cross Mission. — In the si)ring of 1902 we planted some 

 Broad Windsor and Lima beans and both did well. We distributed much seed 

 among the Indians of this village and in Piment, and they seemed quite in earnest 

 to start little gardens, but the great drawback is the scarcity of tools. We are 

 lending ours t<j the Indians around this village whenever we can, and it is a great 

 encouragement. 



SOIL TEMPERATURES. 



Kcadinjjs, taken at 7 a. in., in doj^rccs Fahrenheit. Thermometers 

 planted O and 24 inches deep, respectively. Kadiation thermometer 

 shows the daily minimum temperature tJ inches above surface of 

 ground. 



