84 



Whon it fame to taking care of my potatoes in the latter part of September 

 I fountl plenty that would \v('ij,'h froni U to 2 pounds ; two weighed 'A pounds 

 eacli. -My grain did well, 'i'lic wlic.it stooled to from 10 to 14 stalks, the 

 barley from 8 to 12. I never saw grain do better; the grains were of a good 

 size, and the heads were well filled. I shall try sweet corn, tomatoes, water- 

 melons, and muskmelons this year. Celery did well. I shall make it a special 

 crop in UM)".. I must" tell yon of a variety of cabbage that did the best. The 

 Government sent it to a neighbor, and I tried some of it at my place. It has a 

 short solid head and is called Stonemason. I just had one paper for this year ; 

 it is a sure header for this place. So is the Jersey AYakefield, but it is not so 

 large or heavy as the Stonemason. 



Edgur Crompton. Tanana, AUixliU. — The following are the results for 19(i4 

 of your seeds planted by me at my station on the l)anks of the Yukon, opposite 

 the mouth of the Xovikakat River, (i miles above Kohrine's old i)ost and 90 

 miles below Tanana : 



Last year we dug up a considerahle plat on a bench about 50 feet above the 

 river and succeeded in i-aising a fair crop of turnii)s, carrots, and radishes, 

 which were all the seeds we had to plant. This year nothing seemed to fiourish 

 there except the carrots, which yielded a very good crop.^ 



This summer I was able to get a small plat dug and fenced alongside of our 

 buildings in a willow l)ottom, wlii<h has been richly manured. Here everj^- 

 thing seems to thrive to perfection, as. indeed, might be expected, as the place 

 h:'.s a warm southern slope and the low hills serve as a break to the winds, 

 which are very cold toward fall. 



The flowei's were grown beneath our cabin window in a small bed about 10 

 by 15 feet. I gave them more attention than anything else. 



Peas (Prolific Early Market) were planted as soon as the ground was 

 thawed sufficiently to dig it. They were well cultivated, but ouly watered a 

 few times. They grew about 5 feet high, and yielded a very fine crop. 1 left 

 "some for seed, but the pods were still green when they froze. 



Beans (Early Red Valentine) were planted at the same time as the peas and 

 close by them. All rotted in the ground. Some others were planted a month 

 later on a hill and yielded a small crop. 



Parsnijis (Early Round) were planted on the hill and grew about the size of 

 canots. I believe they will thrive in better soil. Beets (Crimson Globe) were 

 lilantcd (in the hill. Most of them were very small. Spinach (Long Standing) 

 did splendidly. \Ye had more than we could use. They did not need watering. 

 Radish (French Breakfa>;t) grew to perfection everywhere it was i)lanted, and 

 was better than any of the other varieties planted. Tliey did not re«iiuire 

 watering. Mustard (\Yhite London and Ostrich Plume) grew a good crop and 

 was cut early in the spring for salad, ('ress (Curled) grew a very heavy crop 

 and sprouted up as fast as cut down. It was used all summer. Rhubarb — 

 17 hardy young plants — has been set out in shape for next year. 



Lettuce (Morse and California Cream P>utter) was started early under cover 

 and transplanted. Both varieties did well, but the latter seemed to me to sur- 

 pass anything 1 ever saw before. \Ye found it excellent when boiled like cab- 

 bage. Many i)ec.ple who saw them remarked that they never knew of any 

 lettuce iK'fore having such huge solid heads. Carrots (Early Horn and Chante- 

 nay) were a heavy croi). 



I'hlox, Shirley poppy, sweet alyssum. corn flower, sweet i)eas, candytuft. 

 nem()i)hila. nasturtium (Madam (Juntcr and Dwarf), and stocks all »lld well 

 and liloomed till frost killed them. They were planted early, under cover. 

 The stocks, poppies, and nasturtiums were most admired. 



