INSULAR EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 19 



At Sitka the test orchard now contains 46 varieties of apples. A 

 few of these have bloomed during the past two or three years, but 

 have set no fruit. It appears doubtful if apples of any of the existing 

 varieties can be brought to maturity in Alaska. Attempts have been 

 begun to develop hybrids of the native Alaska crab apple, and a 

 number of crosses have been made between this and some of the 

 cultivated varieties of apples, but it will require several years to ob- 

 tain definite results from this hybridization work. The experiments 

 with bush fruits were continued and show that currants, gooseberries, 

 and raspberries do exceedingly well along the coast region. The 

 hybrids made between the salmon berry and the cultivated raspberry 

 have grown, but so far have not borne any fruit. The strawberry 

 hybrids produced by using the native wild strawberry as the stam- 

 inate parent and a cultivated variety that was found growing at 

 Hollis. Alaska, have l)orne fruit, some of which is of most excellent 

 character. Of the 2,000 hybrid plants produced, 1,288 have bloomed 

 and notes have been taken upon their character. The fruit produced 

 in man}^ instances had the size and other desirable qualities of the 

 cultivated variety, while they also were characterized by the fine 

 flavor and aroma and firmness of the native berry. The experiments 

 with potatoes and other A'egetables were only a moderate success, due 

 to too much rain and a lack of sunshine. Partial crops, however, of 

 potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, turnips, and beets were 

 produced. 



The work at the Rampart Station has given the usual satisfaction. 

 Out of something over (30 varieties of cereals, 1 variety of winter 

 wheat, 1 of spring wheat, 7 varieties of winter rye. 29 of spring 

 barley, 15 of spring oats, and 1 variety each of spring emmer and 

 spring rye matured their entire crop. Some other varieties of cereals 

 matured a portion of their seed, which was saved for future planting. 

 Two varieties of buckwheat were considerably injured by frost, but a 

 small percentage of the seed ripened. This season's results are in 

 line with those of the past eight years and show that grain can be 

 brought to maturity in the Yukon Valley without serious liability to 

 failure. Sixteen acres of land are under cultivation at the Rampart 

 Station, and this area has been increased by clearing and preparation 

 so that there will be 22 acres under crop next season. The investiga- 

 tions at Rampart as well as in other parts of Alaska have shown the 

 necessity for properly preparing the soil and the thorough removal 

 of moss, otherwise the first crops will be very poor. AVherever the 

 moss is burned off the ground, or where fertilizers, particularly 

 potash fertilizers, are added, abundant crops have been prcKliiced. 

 In addition to the cereal growing at the Rampart Station, all of the 

 leading vegetables are being experimented with. 



