LXX EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



Georg-eson reports thut while he was at the Holy Cross Mission during 

 the second week in August, 1901, ''the mission was supplied from its 

 own garden with new potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and other vege- 

 tables." At Sitka the experiments with cereals, forage crops, and 

 vegetables were continued, and a considerable num})er of varieties 

 were successfully grown. A log silo was also built there and tilled 

 with native grasses during the latter part of September. 19(»0. of which 

 Professor Georgeson says: "The experiment was an entire success. 

 Oui" work oxen were fed exclusively on silage from November 10 to 

 May I, and only when the}^ were worked were they fed grain in addi- 

 tion. They ate the silage with relish throughout and were maintained 

 in good condition. There was no greater loss of silage bj' waste than 

 always occurs in preserving green forage." 



At Kenai experiments with cereals and vegetables have been con- 

 tinued, with consideral)le success. Fall-seeded wheat survived the 

 winter of 1900-1901 in fair condition, and spring-seeded oats, barley, 

 buckwheat, flax, and wheat looked very promising early in Septeml)er, 

 1901. A small plat of red clover sowed in the spring of 1900 wintered 

 over well and made a good growth during the summer. The greater 

 portion of the grain sown last spring at this station was from grain 

 previously grown there, showing that grain can ])e matured and prop- 

 agated in that region. Besides the experimental work at Sitka, Kenai, 

 and Rampart, seeds have lieen distributed to over 400 persons living 

 in difl'erent parts of Alaska, and a considerable num])or of reports 

 have been received from seeds grown there during the season of 1900. 

 There is a considerable increase in the demand for seeds, now that it is 

 known that they are being distributed through the station. Not onl}^ 

 are vegetables, cereals, and forage plants asked for, Ijut there is a 

 considerable demand for flower seeds. There seems to be a great 

 desire on the part of a certain class of settlers in Alaska to cultivate 

 flowers, which are more than ordinarily prized in a I'egion where the 

 general conditions of life are so comparativel}^ hard. 



WORK OF THE STATIONS AT SITKA AND KEXAI, ALASKA. 



During the summer of 1901 the assistant director. Dr. E. W. Allen, 

 of the Oflice of Experiment Stations, made a tour of inspection to the 

 stations at Sitka and Kenai, and also made inquiries regarding the 

 agricultural possibilities of the coast region of Alaska. The following- 

 extracts are taken from his report: 



Tin- iiiiinH-ssion whicli I jjained from this^ Alaskan trip was that not only is quite 

 a wi(U' range of gardening and some mea.'^nre of agriculture jjossihle, as has been 

 shown by the CongrcHsional reports of our experiments there, 'nut that a gratifying 

 amount of educational and (U-monstration work has been done among the i)eople, 

 which is already i)roductive of good results. A munber of )>rivate residences about 

 Sitka sliow what can l)e accomplished by wcil-dirccttM] industry in beautifying them 

 and in maintaining cicdifalilc honic <i:;iiiii'ns. .Many ol tiic iKiti\'cs plant gardens of 



