832 ANNUAL KEl'OKTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



strawberries of large size and excellent (juality are being grown for 

 the purpose of testing thoni on an extensive scale and also propagat- 

 ing for distribution those which prove of superior worth. About 1 

 acre has been set to these new hybrids, and these will come into bear- 

 ing during the next year. A few hybrid plants have been produced 

 as the result of a cross between a cultivated variety and a wild species 

 from the interior, which is hardier than the wild species on the coast. 

 Thus far none of these have fruited. Additional experiments have 

 been carried on in hybridizing the raspberry and the salmonberry, 

 and some of the plants have produced fruit this year. The fruit, 

 though firmer, is smaller than the salmonberry, and thus far has not 

 shown any indication of the raspberry flavor. This work will be con- 

 tinued in the hope of producing a cross that will be an improvement. 

 Of the tree fruits the cherries and apples have flowered abundantly 

 and set a fair crop of fruit. 



Some cooperative experiments with the Forest Service are being 

 conducted with basket willows, and these plants have made a satis- 

 factory growth during the past year. The other horticultural opera- 

 tions have been entirely satisfactory on account of the favorable 

 season. 



The live-stock Avork at the Kodiak station with cattle and sheep has 

 proved eminently successful. Both the herd of Galloways and the 

 flock of sheep increased naturally and rapidly, and the natiA'^e grasses 

 on which they were pastured proved nutritious and sufficient, the 

 hay and silage made from them maintaining both cattle and sheep 

 during the winter whenever it was necessary to feed. Early in the 

 spring of 1912 11 head of Galloway cows that have proved good 

 milkers were purchased with a view to adding them to the herd on 

 Kodiak Island to serve as a foundation for the development of a 

 dairy strain of Galloways. These Avere about to be shipped from 

 Seattle when the live-stock work received a severe setback due to the 

 eruption on June 6 of a volcano some 95 miles from the station. 

 Even at this great distance the pastures were covered to an average 

 depth of 14 inches with ashes, rendering it necessary to provide 

 forage for the animals. A few of the sheep wore smothered during 

 the fall of the ashes, but none of the cattle died as an immediate 

 result of the eruption. Later some fell a prey to the large bears on 

 the island, and it has been necessary to take unusual measures for 

 the protection of the stock. The heavy fall of the ashes reduced 

 pasturage and hay land to such an extent that some measures will have 

 to be taken to provide for the stock, and this matter is now being 

 given consideration by the special agent in charge. An attempt has 

 been made to determine whether tame grasses, clovers, and cereals 

 will grow in the volcanic ash, and if the preliminary experiments 

 prove successful it is probable that several hundred acres will be 

 seeded next spring to grasses, clovers, and grains. 



A tract of land that has been occupied by the station on Kalsin 

 Bay was set aside for its use by Executive order dated April 1, 1912. 



HAAVAII STATION. 



The work of the Hawaii station in attempting to diversify the 

 agriculture of those islands has been continued along the original 

 lines. Since the station's establishment the pineapple industry has 

 risen to second rank in importance of the industries of the Territory, 



