REPORT OP DIRECTOR OF STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 307 



At the Fairbanks station in 1915, more than 1,200 bushels of grain 

 was thrashed, and on account of a serious shortage of seed grain most 

 of this was distributed to farmers in the Tanana and Yukon Valleys 

 under a cooperative agreement to grow the grain, report on its adapt- 

 ability, and to return to the station an amount equal to the quantity 

 of seed obtained. This will give an opportunity for securing a 

 wide trial, under varied conditions, of some of the varieties which 

 have been developed and tested by the stations. Nearly 200 farmers 

 are enlisted in this experiment. So great success attended the effort 

 to grow turnip seed last year that 200 bushels of selected Petrowski 

 turnips were planted for seed production. About 80 acres were culti- 

 vated in grain, hay, and experimental areas during the past year. 



At the Rampart station many hybrid barleys, oats, and wheats are 

 now being grown in quantity and this season is expected to give some 

 indication of their relative merits. Winter wheat was considerably 

 injured at this and the Fairbanks stations, but winter rye came 

 through with almost perfect stands. The alfalfas previously reported 

 came through the winter without serious injury. A large number of 

 alfalfa plants are being grown as individuals and their character- 

 istics being observed, and the best will be extensively propagated. 

 About 35 acres are in hay, grains, and miscellaneous experiments at 

 this station. The plant-breeding work of the Rampart station is a 

 very important feature, and it is hoped that the plant-breeding house 

 can soon be completed and equipped. This house is greatly needed 

 to prolong the season during which hybridization work can be 

 continued. 



A cooperative experiment was effected with the director of the 

 Tulon agricultural experiment station in Siberia, and a number of 

 exchanges of seed was made. Most of these have been grains that 

 are being tried at the interior stations. 



At the Kodiak station the backward season resulted in a longer 

 period of feeding live stock than usual, there being no pasture until 

 the early part of June. The work on the restoration of pastures 

 and meadows was continued, but the drought of 1915 proved detri- 

 mental to a considerable degree and resulted in a stunted growth of 

 the plants and a considerable drifting of the ash where exposed to 

 winds. At the close of the fiscal year several head of Holstein cattle 

 were purchased to be added to the station herd. The object of this 

 experiment is to test this breed under Alaskan conditions, and to 

 cross with the Galloway for the production of a dual-purpose animal. 

 There is a demand for hardy, dual-purpose cattle in Alaska, and the 

 results of this experiment are awaited with interest. 



The increasing number of settlers in Alaska has made a greater 

 demand upon the stations for seeds and plants. Seeds were sent to 

 more than 2,500 individuals during the year. For many this was 

 the only source of supply, and to others fresher seeds and better 

 varieties were made available. 



The necessity of an agricultural experiment station in the Mata- 

 nuska Valley continues to exist. This region is settling rapidly, and 

 a station should be established along the line of the Government 

 railway, as conditions in this valley are quite unlike those at any 

 of the existing stations. A site for the station has been selected, and 

 its development is waiting upon an appropriation. 



