68 



'Nathan B. Whitfirld, Ketch iJcan. Alaf^Jca. — I veceivod several kinds of seeds 

 from you last year for exi»eriineiital j:;ro\vtli. liut failed to write my report of 

 tlic results in time. 'I'liis year I jdantcd as ueariy the same kinds as I could 

 obtain from tJie stores here. They were planted duriu}? the first week in May 

 in two different .gardens. Garden No. 1, 20 by 40 feet; fertilized the year 

 before with manure from the cow stable: no other stinudant. (Jardeu No. 2, 

 20 by 20 feet, was of virjrin soil not manured. 



In frarden No. 1. I planted beets, cabbajios. eollards, kale, lettuce, dwarf peas, 

 radishes, spinach, parsley, and White and Red Strap-Leaf turnips. They all did 

 well. The beets grew 4 inches in diameter. The cabbage — Early Wakefield — 

 grew to be S inches in diameter with firm heads ; the collard — large-leaved — 

 became IS inches tall; the kale was not so large; the lettuce was 12 inches 

 across from lip to tip: the dwarf peas. 2 feet high, were loaded with pods; 

 tlie rndislies were from 1 to 2 inches in diameter; the spinach, 10 inches across 

 from tip to tip ; the parsley was (J inches in diameter ; and the turnips, from 

 4 to 6 inches in diameter, solid, and with rich green tops. 



In garden No. 2 I planted lettuce, peas, potatoes, strawberries, sunflowers, 

 {\nd the trees you sent me. Five of the trees died, being in bad condition when 

 received. Considering the little attention paid them owing to my necessary 

 absence, the vegetables did well, making a growth beyond my expectation and 

 equal to those in garden No. 1. The peas grew 5 inches high and were loaded 

 vith pods: the potatoes were from 1 to .'^ inches in diameter; the strawber- 

 ries produced ;i heavy green foliage and fruit ; tlie sunflowers became 6 feet 

 high, are now in bloom, and will probably mature seeds before severe frost; 

 lettuce, radishes, and jieas were planted, but never matured. 



The trees were received May 2, and planted May 'A. Some of them were in 

 bad condition when received. Seven of them are living and range from 12 

 inches to 2A feet high. The Red Astrachan apple, apparently dead when re- 

 ceived, was not planted. Two F.orovinka, a Sylvan Sweet, and 2 Early Straw- 

 berry apples are living and have a rich green foliage. The seedlings and young 

 grafts died. Four currant bushes, 2 feet high, and 8 red raspberry bushes 2J 

 feet high, are growing nicely. 



The mint I planted near a stream, and it is now a Iiunch IS inches across 

 and 2 feet high. 



The experiment thus far I consider a success, and with proper attention 

 this part of Alaska can produce as fine vegetables as any other part of the 

 world in the same latitude. 



Fred Patchlufi. Fortiiiann Suliiion Iliitclicnj, Loriiig. Alaska. — Just a few lines 

 to let you know how the garden grew at this place this season. 



The apples and rasi>berries you sent me last spring grew as follows : One 

 Red Astrachan apple grew 5 inches, and one (Sylvan Sweet) grew inches; four 

 raspberries grew shoots :U to "> inches long; currants grew several sprouts 

 about 2 feet long; three seedling ai)])les grew 18 to 21 inches long; sand cherry 

 made a growtli <if from IS to .".n indies, and fruit formed, but did not mature; 

 the root of mint made big growtli. 



Cabbage, Windsor beans, lettuce, radish, ruta-baga, rhubarb, horse-radish, 

 celery, and onions from seed all did fine, in fact, could hardly be beaten. 



All of the foregoing were raised on land that has been in cultivation two or 

 three years, and was well fertilized with fish and stable manure. On a piece 

 of ground that measured one-third acre we raised 78 sacks of potatoes, which 

 seems to me to be a pretty good yield. This potato land was cleared In the 

 spring of 1904, and some vegetables were raised on it. In the spring of 1905 

 it was planted to P.urbank potatoes, with the above result. The soil was not 

 fertilized, but it has the appearance of having been cultivated years ago. 



