Agricultural Research in Alaska— Irwin 7 



the winter period is also receiving attention. No marked in- 

 crease in milk production was registered when artificial light 

 was used. However, heifers exposed to added light had more 

 than twice as many heat periods and the conception rate was 

 markedly higher than for heifers receiving normal light. An 

 increase of approximately 10% in winter egg production was 

 recorded by extending the light period two hours per day in 

 the laying house. 



Investigation is being conducted at the Experimental Fur 

 Station at Petersburg on fur bearing animals, by use of various 

 fish by-products used in feeding mixtures, on fur quality and 

 physical condition. Considerable quantities of fish offal are 

 available at a very low cost at the canneries in southeast Alaska. 

 Feeding salmon waste to young mink at the weaning stage has 

 caused severe losses. Biologists at the station have identified the 

 condition as "Yellow Fat Disease," locally known among Alaska 

 mink farmers as "Watery Flide." Plans are now in progress to 

 secure the services of a qualified pathologist to conduct research 

 on this and other disease problems of fur and farm animals, 

 and of poultry. 



The agronomy department is concerned at present principally 

 with research on introduced varieties of cereals and forage 

 crops. Thousands of strains of crop plants are now being grown 

 at the station in plots and evaluated for germ plasm adapted to 

 our relatively young and cold soils and our cool climatic en- 

 vironment. Crops receiving major attention are bromegrass, 

 alfalfa, alsike clover, sweet clover, barley, oats and wheat. Other 

 promising crops are also receiving attention. Winter hardiness, 

 quality, disease resistance, lodging resistance and early maturity 

 are characteristics sought in varieties to be used in plant breed- 

 ing. Superior crop varieties based on research work are an- 

 nually recommended to Alaska farmers by the agronomy de- 

 partment. The 1950 recommendations are included in Station 

 Circular No. 11, Recommended Varieties of Field Crops for 

 Alaska. 



Two recently recommended varieties of cereals are Edda 

 barley and Siberian 3 oats. Approximately ten tons of each of 



