OFFICE OF EXPERTMEXT STATIONS. 831 



farming can be made to pay in the interior of Alaska. During the 

 season covered by the report the station had 7 acres in potatoes, 3 

 acres of which had been previously cultivated, while 4 acres were new 

 soil, and experience has shown that the first crop on such soil is not 

 usually the best. The 3 acres mentioned above produced 18 tons of 

 marketable potatoes, or at the rate of 200 bushels per acre, while the 

 4 acres of new soil produced at the rate of 125 bushels per acre. Of 

 this production 31 tons were sold in the local market for $3,451.55. 

 The cereal work at Fairbanks was continued with success, and a con- 

 siderable amount of hay was made. Of the hay. 5 tons, representing 

 the surplus above that needed for station animals, was sold at a price 

 a little better than $50 per ton. 



The experiments both at Fairbanks and Rampart have shown that 

 the soil is in need of nitrogenous fertilizer and that the addition of 

 potash and phosphoric acid at present have comparatively little etfect. 



Three years ago an attempt was made to introduce some of the 

 hardy Siberian alfalfas secured by Prof. N. E. Hansen as agricul- 

 turaf explorer of this department, and several forms of these alfalfas 

 have survived the winter at Rampart and are reported as having 

 made good growth during the summer. Thus far none of them has 

 produced any seed, andl;he question of vegetative propagation is 

 being given attention. In addition to the Hansen alfalfas, which be- 

 long to the species Medicago jalcata^ M. media, and 3/. ruthenica, 

 the Grimm alfalfa, a variety of M. sativa, survived the past winter, 

 and it is hoped that this strain can also be acclimated in the interior 

 of Alaska. The Turkestan alfalfa wintered perfectly, but at the end 

 of June had not made as much growth as the other species. 



The grain-breeding work has been continued at the Rampart sta- 

 tion, and it promises to be a success. Several hybrid varieties of bar- 

 ley have already been developed which are decided improvements on 

 the parents, both in earliness and yield. These are to be gi^^en further 

 tests in the hope that a variety will be obtained that is a hea\-7 yielder, 

 will mature in a short season, and possess a stiff straw that will with- 

 stand storms better than any of the varieties now on hand. 



During the winter of 1911-12 Kharkov winter wheat, which is the 

 hardiest wheat thus far found, was badly winterkilled. On the other 

 hand, winter rye came through in good condition and has given a 

 crood crop. Tliis confirms what has been previously stated, that rye 

 is hardier than winter Avheat, and probably the Alaska farmer will 

 have to substitute rye for winter wheat to a very large extent. 



The experiments with oats which have been in progress for 12 years 

 have shown that North Finnish Black, Burt Extra Early, and others 

 may be grown with success in the interior of Alaska, but they are 

 not heavy yielders. Experiments are in progress to develop a variety 

 of oats having the quality of the Swedish Select as regards grain and 

 yield, but which will mature in a shorter season. Tn order to carry 

 on this grain-breeding work, additional assistance will be needed, and 

 it is probable that a plant house will have to be constructed, so as to 

 ])roduce grains at different times, and thus prolong the season in 

 which the plant breeder can operate. 



At the Sitka station the horticultural work is reported as progress- 

 ing very favorably. The hybridization of strawberries and rasp- 

 berries has been continued, and a considerable number of hybrid 



