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seed in ])r;H'tically the same soil I can not account for. Radishes (a globe- 

 sliapcd variety) could not be excelled, as also the White Milan turnips. Beets 

 (Crimson (Jlobe) grew to jiioose-eyij size, tender and sweet. The tops were 

 large enougli to make excellent greens. I believe that with careful attention 

 a i'easonal)ly good crop could be raised. I*eas grew fnnii i' to 3 feet high, blos- 

 somed and i)odded abundantly, but were killed by frost before they reached 

 edil)le size. 



Kale grew from 2 to 2A fe(^t high. When the ground began to freeze I pulled 

 the ])lants and stored them for w inter greens. They keep well as long as they 

 remain frozen. 



I had four very small potatoes, which I cut in lialf and jilanted in eight hills. 

 They sprouted quickly, and i)roduced healthy vines that blossomed and yielded 

 a crop that was a pleasant surprise. The one-half poxuid of seed potatoes, 

 probalily less, yielded 28 pounds of average-sized tubers, some beiiig quite large, 

 and I never before ate potatoes that tasted quite so delicious. Now it is a 

 question whether or not these potatoes matured. They show eyes, but faintly. 

 I shall plant some of them next season and settle the question. I should like to 

 known the i)articular variety of this potato, since it has proven so adaptable 

 to this climtate. They were shipped by the Northern Commercial Compauy to 

 Bettles in the summer of 1003 as market potatoes. The result of this magnifi- 

 cent crop is that some full crates of potatoes are being carefully wrapped in 

 blankets and stored for next spring's planting. I have cleared a new patch of 

 ground with tine sandy loam to plant a full crate. I might add the price of 

 fresh potatoes in Coldfoot is 30 cents per pound, and the supply scarce. The 

 result of my crop was 5G pounds to 1 pound of seed potatoes. From one crate 

 (100 pounds) I can expect a crop of 5,000 pounds; value. .$1.(")S0. Potato raising 

 60 miles above the Arctic Circle looks quite alluring. 



Ruta-bagas in patch No. 2 produced but little in the root line, but supplied 

 the town with greens with their abundant growth of tops, that remained tender 

 until damaged i>y successive frost. 



During .June and the first week in .Tul.v my meteorological record gives only 

 four " traces " of rainfall. Therefore during that period I watered my garden 

 two or three times per week. 



I have a cellar underneath the floor of my office room filled with turnips and 

 ruta-bagas, and a winter supply of cabbage and kale in my cache. Therefore I 

 can say that gardening in this section of Alaska is a lucrative industry. 



The garden of our deputy marshal excelled my own in point of crop, espe- 

 cially in ruta-bagas and turnips. The largest turnip, a White Milan, weighed 5^ 

 pounds and was 25 inches in circumference. Turnips weighing 4 and 5 pounds 

 were quite common. Carrots (Scarlet Horn) did fairly well, some being 4 

 and 5 inches in length. Parsnips did fairly well. Beets made a good showing, 

 with indications that with careful training and attention a reasonably good 

 crop could be raised. 



This garden was cleared and manured in the sju'ing and inmiediately planted 

 in its first year. It is a rich, sandy loam several feet in thickness, with an 

 underlying stratum of very dry sand and gravel, and is termed "not frozen" 

 ground. Years ago fires i)urned off all timber and moss, leaving the soil, it 

 seems, in a perfect condition. 



If cur y A. Sidflc. Tirrlrc-Milc-li'dad-Hoiisc on Birch Creel:, pnst-office Circle 

 at II. Ahishd. — Last winter 1 wrote and asked you to s(Mid me a few seeds, which 

 you very promptly did. 'i'liey arrived in good time and in good condition. I 

 shall give you my first year's experience in farming in Alaska: 



