EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. X. No. 8. 



To the list of agricultural experiment stations in this country must 

 now be added that of Alaska, which has been organized under the 

 supervision of this Department. For the past two years the agricul- 

 tural conditions and possibilities of that country have been inquired 

 into with a view to determining what encouragement there might be for 

 undertaking experiment station work. The first year Congress appro- 

 priated $5,000 for this inquiry, and the result was so encouraging that 

 last year the appropriation was increased to $10,000. Prof. C. C. 

 Georgeson, until recently connected with the Kansas Agricultural Col- 

 lege and Experiment Station as agriculturist, was placed in charge of 

 the work. The Weather Bureau of this Department cooperated in the 

 enterprise by establishing a special meteorological service for Alaska. 

 Headquarters were established at Sitka, a small building being rented 

 for office purposes. Several small patches of cleared land at Sitka, 

 including the garden of the Governor of the Territory, were secured, 

 and on these were planted seeds of a large number of cereals, forage 

 plants, and vegetables, specially selected for the purpose. More 

 restricted experiments in growing cereals and vegetables were made at 

 Skagway by a settler in that place who was formerly connected with the 

 Kansas Agricultural College. 



The results at Sitka brought out some interesting facts regarding the 

 soil and the suitability of the climate for growing food crops. It was 

 demonstrated that oats and barley will not only make an excellent 

 growth, but will mature in southeastern Alaska. This has not been 

 determined for wheat and rye, but experiments with fall-seeded grain 

 are now in progress. The Riga flax grew excellently, and gave prom- 

 ise that a good commercial article can be produced, suggesting a 

 possible industry for the natives. Several kinds of clovers " grew with 

 remarkable vigor," the plants from the American seed making the best 

 growth. Buckwheat made a good growth and bloomed abundantly, but 

 was killed by frost before it was ripe, owing to late planting. Among 

 the vegetables, asparagus, beets, carrots, cress, kale, kohl-rabi, lettuce, 

 onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, rhubarb, salsify, 

 turnips, and Windsor beans all did well on old ground, and showed that 

 the climate and soil were favorable to their growth. Cabbage and cauli- 

 flower suffered from club root, but the plants which escaped indicated 

 that these vegetables can be grown with proper treatment. 



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