39 



This great difference in yield is partly duo to inequalities in the soil, a con- 

 dition we have not yet been able to rectify, but in the main the difference is 

 due to tlic varieties. Up to this time the Freeman is the best potato urown at 

 the station. It is mediiun early, white, oblong, of medium size and quite uni- 

 form, shallow eyes, and excellent (piality, l»eing dry and mealy when boiled. 

 The two varieties — named, respectively, the White and Red Kenai — were 

 obtained from the village of Kenai, on Cook Inlet, where it was claimed that 

 they had been grown by the Russian settlers for at least fifty years. These 

 potatoes have no special merit, except the fact that they have been thoroughly 

 acclimated, but they are not early, nor are they of first quality. 



It is to be noted that seed potatoes iyiported from the States usually do not 

 do well the first year. They do not comjtare in yield or vigor with potatoes of 

 the same varieties raised from Alaska-grown seed. This fact has been observed 

 also by many settlers, who have conmiented upon it. The varieties here named 

 will be grown again next year from the present crop of seed, and it will then be 

 possible to make a better estimate of tiieir comparative value. 



KOIll -KAIil. 



Planted in open ground May 1.1. I'.y Sei»teuil)er they gave promise of a fair 

 crop, and October S we gathered V2i pounds of marketalile roots from 1!S() feet 

 of row, which was a very small yield. 



RUT.\-RAGA. 



I'urple Top Yellow Swede: Seed idautetl in ojH'n ground .May 15. October 8, 

 210 pounds of marketable roots w<'re gatiiercd from 12S0 feet of row. 



No. 1G7S, Imported Finnish Seed: Seed sown May l.o. The crop yielded IfiO 

 lK)unds of marketable roots from 140 feet of row. This is a small white turnip 

 of good quality. No. G176, Imported Finnish Seed : Seed sown May 15. Yield, 

 L'40 pounds of marketable roots from 1-0 feet of row. This is a small yellow 

 turnip of very fine quality. 



WORK AT THE COPPER CENTER STATION. 

 OUTLINE OF OPERATIONS. 



Since the last report little has been done in the way of building, except the 

 addition of a shed, 14 by SO feet in size, on the south side of the barn, which is 

 ready for the roof ; also a frost-proof root cellar is nearing completion. 



Having no help from October until February, when the freighting season 

 opened, the superintendent spent his time in making the cabin (PI. IV, fig. 1) 

 and barn a little more comfortable for cold weather, whipsawing some lumber, 

 building a hay press, making a roll-top office desk, baling and freighting 5 tons 

 of native hay from Willow Creek to the station, and freighting 1,900 feet of 

 lumber 20 miles down the Klutena River. 



The frost being sufficiently out of the ground, stirring the soil was begun 

 April 25. The first plats were seeded May 9, as 25 acres were then ready for 

 the drill. The last seeding was done May 25. Thirty acres were seeded to the 

 various grains, 3 acres of which were seeded to awnless brome grass {Bromus 

 inermis). 



