10 GKASS LANDS OF THE SOUTH ALASKA COAST. 



In general the lands are hilly, sometimes rising abruptly from the 

 seashore, but seldom too steep to afford a luxuriant grass covering. 

 More often, however, the hills near the coast are Ioav and rounded, 

 Avith intervening valleys. In places there are wide areas contiguous 

 to the coast of from 100 to 1,000 feet elevation and comparatively 

 level. Most of the smaller islands, too, have comparatively gentle 

 slopes, and either are under 1,000 feet elevation or have but few hills 

 reaching: above that height. The coast line evervwhere is indented 

 by numerous bays or inlets, into many of Avhich rivers flow. At the 

 heads of these bays there are, as a rule, considerable areas of flat or 

 nearly flat lands. Such locations naturally afford the most advanta- 

 geous sites for agricultural settlements, especially as these flat lands 

 are exceedingly well grassed, and Avith little preliminary labor can be 

 prepared for mowing. 



^\liere the land is level it is very likely to be wet and covered with 

 a groAvth of peat moss. Under such circumstances it supports but a 

 scanty A^egetation. Even on the hillsides this peat moss may become 

 established, and Avhere it does so the grasses quickly become less lux- 

 uriant. The decay of this moss and of other A^egetation results in the 

 formation of a humous soil, A^ery retentiA^e of moisture. So deep 

 does this humus become that the real soil is often entirely concealed. 

 Where it is possible to destroy this moss by burning, the result is 

 ahvays a heavy crop of grass or other plants. Most of the land that 

 lies at less than 1,000 feet eleA-ation is covered by a most luxuriant 

 growth of natiA'e grasses. OA^er large areas these grasses are fre- 

 quently 6 feet high, thus furnishing a large quantity of fodder. On 

 the remaining areas, lying at higher elevations or on exposed slopes, 

 the grasses are too short to cut for hay, but furnish splendid grazing. 



That grass in Alaska is exceedingly^ abundant and fairly nutritious 

 and that cattle Avill thrive upon it are facts beyond question. But 

 these facts in themseh'es are not sufficient to enable a prospective 

 settler thinking of engaging in stock raising to determine whether 

 or not such a A^enture Avould be likely to prove profitable. The mere 

 abundance of grass of fair quality is not sufficient to insure success 

 in stock raising in an isolated region like that under consideration. 



The following statements regarding the Alaska grass lands and 

 the factors that haA^e a bearing on their profitable utilization are 

 based on as complete a survey as one season's Avork Avould permit, 

 together Avith the facts preAdously recorded by reliable authorities. 

 A detailed report of the conditions actually obser\'ed will appear in 

 the Annual Report of the Office of Experiment Stations for 1904. 

 The present bulletin designs rather to cite these facts in their bearing 

 upon the south Alaska grass lands as a desirable field for stock 

 raising. 



