REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 103 



to their limits in supplying information, plants, etc., to the peoi)le 

 for whom they are working. The published results of some of their 

 scientific investigations are attracting attention and they are receiv- 

 ing wide publicity through scientific and review journals. 



With the rapid development of their work the stations need addi- 

 tional buildings and funds for their support. The Hawaii S^tation 

 needs a new laboratory building for its horticultural and agronomic 

 work; the Porto Rico Station needs a plant laboratory where breed- 

 ing, fertilizer, and other experiments can be carried on under con- 

 trolled conditions; and a similar building is needed for the plant- 

 breeding work in Alaska. 



The popularizing of the stations' work through demonstration 

 farms and other means is being rapidly extended, for the most part 

 through funds contributed locally for this purpose. 



ALASKA STATIONS. 



The fall of 1911 was unusually prolonged, and as a result almost 

 every variety of grain and vegetable planted at the several stations 

 fully matured. Apples were ripened at Sitka, five varieties bearing 

 fruit for the first time. The work of producing hj^brid strawberries 

 is being continued, and about 1 acre of land has been set to the best 

 of the new hybrids. Other hybrid fruits have been produced and 

 are under experiment to test their hardiness and quality. 



The grain-breeding work at Rampart is being continued, and a 

 number of new hybrid barleys of seeminglj'^ great promise are under 

 observation. This breeding work will be continued and, as soon as 

 possible, extended to include oats, to get varieties that have stronger 

 straw to withstand winds and at the same time give larger yields 

 of grain. Again it has Ix-en demonstrated that winter wheat suffers 

 from the severe cold unless deeply covered with snow. The winter 

 ryes came through much better and gave good yields. More atten- 

 tion will be given to growing winter rye as a staple crop. Plants of 

 alfalfa obtained by Prof. N. E. ITansen in Siberia and northern 

 Europe have been given a trial and have proved hardy for two 

 winters at Rampart. These are being propagated as rapidly as pos- 

 sible to extend their use for forage and to increase the nitrogen of 

 the soil, most Alaskan soils being deficient in this important element. 

 At Fairbanks a very successful experiment in potato growing is 

 reported. On 4 acres of newly broken land yields of 125 bushels per 

 acre were obtained, and on 3 acres of land that had been previously 

 cropped for two 3'ears yields of 200 bushels of marketable tubers per 

 acre were secured. 



Tlie live-stock investigations on Kodiak Island have demonstrated 

 the possibility of summer pasturing cattle and sheep and their winter- 

 ing on hay and silago made from the native grasses. About 100 head 



