80 REPORT OF officp: of experiment stations. 



the agricultural depailnu'iil ol" the institute it is exerting a consider- 

 able influence for good. 



ALASKA. 



Alaska Agricultural Experiment Stations, ,s; //.'/. Keiiai. Copper Center, and 



l\'(nnpart. 



Under the supervision of A. C. 'I'nic. Direetor. Office of Experiment Stations. 

 United States Department of Asi-iculture. 



C. (.'. (.iEORGESON. M. S.. SixcidI AiKiit ill ('li(ir{/c, Hitka. 



The policy of reslricling the work at the Alaska stations to a few 

 lines has been continued with good results, and in spite of unfavor- 

 able weather conditions in some sections considerable progress is 

 reported, l^he special appropriation by Congress for the introduc- 

 tion of live stock was expended for 11 head of Galloway cattle and 2 

 horses. The cattle have been divided between the Kenai Station and 

 Wood Island. Although they lune received no feed except the natu- 

 ral pasturage since their arrival, they are reported as being in fine 

 condition. In response to a petition to the Secretary of Agriculture 

 from the settlers of the Tanana Valley an investigation of its agricul- 

 tural possibilities was made by the special agent in charge, who 

 reported that the valley is well adapted to agriculture, as the term is 

 understood in Alaska. A tract of about 1.400 acres at the junction 

 of two railroads, and near the prosperous towns of Fairbanks and 

 Chena, was surveyed and later reserved b}'^ Executive proclamation as 

 a future station site. 



At Sitka the horticultural investigations have been further devel- 

 oped. Tlu' nursery stock made a growth during the season that was 

 considered on the whole satisfactory. Of a large number of varie- 

 ties introduced several have been selected as quite promising, and 

 these A\ill Ik' cxtcnsix cly piopagated and given as wide a trial as 

 ])ossible. Experiments liaxc been coiitinucMl in the domestication of 

 iiative varieties ol" raspberries and strawberries, and breeding ex- 

 periments are being carried on to develop forms especially adapted 

 to Alaskan conditions. During the past season attention has l)een 

 given especially to tin- testing of \arieties of potatoes, cabbage, and 

 (aulillower, and liulletin 2, \'egetable Growing in Alaska, lias been 

 issued. 'JMie seed distribution to settlers of the Territor}' and to 

 the natives has been conlinniMJ in cooperation with the Bureau of 

 Plant Industiv. A nietlioil i'oi- llu- ])i-oduction of lime in small 

 (piaiitities fioni tlie native limestone has l)een de\i>ed by the special 

 agent, which will make practical llu' liming of many of the acid 

 soils, which could not hitlieilo be ireati'd because of the [)rohibitive 

 cost of iniporte(l lime. 



At Coj^per Center. J. \\ . Neal. who has been in charge of the work 

 since its inception in I'.'O-J. has resigned. The year has again been 



