18 GRASS LANDS OF THE SOUTH ALASKA COAST. 



With the exception of this phmt the only legumes of forage value 

 in the grass regions are two species of wild pea, both of which, 

 unfortunately, are rather scarce. 



Fireweed. — The well-known plant called fireweed {E pilohium an- 

 gustifolium) often occupies the ground to the exclusion of others, 

 especially where the land has been burned over in summer and the 

 grass roots thus destroyed. Sheep seem fond of it. It is possible 

 that this plant may prove profitable as silage, at least wdien mixed 

 with grasses, but no tests with this end in view seem to have been 

 made. Its great abundance at times makes such a test desirable. 



There are three possible ways of preserving the above-mentioned 

 plants for winter feed. The more easily dried — as bluetop and blue- 

 grass — may be made into hay. Continued sunshiny w^eather on the 

 Alaska coast is not to be depended upon, so that haymaking is 

 accomplished only with much uncertainty. "Where one needs but a 

 small amount of fodder, little difficulty is experienced in select- 

 ing the few necessary sunshiny daj's. Where, on the contrar3% one 

 needs great quantities of winter feed, haymaking is impracticable. 

 Resort in such cases must be had either to brown hay or to silage. 

 Brown hay is simply half-cured hay, made by stacking the grass 

 green or half dry — really a compromise between hay and silage. 

 Sometimes salt is scattered over the layers while it is being stacked. 

 It is more or less used in all countries where haymaking is difficult. 

 While analyses show it to contain practically as^ much nutriment aB 

 hay or silage, cattle are not eager for it, and it can be considered 

 onlv fin emergencv feed. 



Unquestionably when large quantities of "winter forage are needed 

 for stock, silage must be depended upon, and undoubtedly, all things 

 considered, it will be the most satisfactory feed. Practically the only 

 Alaska forage plant thus far used as silage is beach rye, and the 

 experiences with this plant of Prof. C. C Georgeson, special agent 

 in charge of the Alaska Agricultural Experiment Stations, and of 

 others who have grown it, show it to be both palatable and nutri- 

 tious. In all probability other Alaskan grasses, and perhaps other 

 plants, wnll be found to be quite as satisfactory. 



Where timber is available silos may be constructed of logs, like 

 the one at the Sitka Experiment Station. This silo has the advantage 

 of enal^ling a man to utilize his own labor. On the other hand, the 

 material for stave silos can be secured at very reasonable prices, and ' 

 this doubtless is the best silo to use in the timberless regions. 



FOOD VALUE OF NATIVE ALASKAN GRASSES. 



Chemical analyses have been made of the i)rincipal Alaskan grasses, 

 and while these can be properly interpreted only in connection with jj 



