436 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.36 



The winter of 1914-15 is reported as being an open one, permitting early 

 plowing and seeding. The plowing at Kodiak was sufficiently deep to mix 

 thoroughly the soil and volcanic ash, resulting in a friable sandy loam which 

 warms up quickly in the spring. At Kalsin Bay it was impossible to plow to 

 sufficient depth to obtain a proper mixture. The work of restoring vegetation 

 on the deep volcanic ash was also continued by seeding 23 acres of mixed grass 

 with the oats seeded for hay. 



Cow kale was grown with good success at Kodiak. Brief notes are also given 

 on oats for hay and silage, barley, rutabagas, turnips, and mangels. The four 

 best potato varieties produced in 1914 were again tested. Burpee Superior and 

 Clark Alaska Seedling gave the highest yield, but Irish Cobbler and Extra Early 

 Ohio were more uniform and superior in quality. 



About 135 tons of silage was secured at Kalsin Bay composed of mixed 

 bluetop, fireweed, and beach grass. At Kodiak 18 tons of oats and 16 tons of 

 beach grass were put up as silage. 



Report of [field crops] work at Rampart Station, G. W. Gasseb {Alaska 

 Stas. Rpt. 1915, pp. 5.f-67, 68, 69, pis. 6). — Field crops work previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 33, p. 632) is continued for 1915. 



Meteorological data are submitted for the last 10 years at the Rampart 

 Station. The frost-free period for 1915 was 107 days, and the winter of 1914-15 

 is reported as exceptionally mild. 



Notes are given on the clearing and preparation of new land and on the pro- 

 duction of grain hay. The 1-acre field of brome grass seeded in 1910 continues 

 to give a perfect stand although the crop was very light in 1915. 



Of the 20 varieties of alfalfa tested 4 have survived as perfectly hardy. 

 These 4 are yellow-flowered and are Medicago falcata, Omsk, Obb, and Gobi 

 Desert. Grimm, Sand Lucern, Mongolian, and Cherno alfalfas, all purple 

 flowered, were considerably winterkilled. In the Grimm plat a number of plants 

 showing marked variation from the standard were observed and the seed 

 gathered separately for further testing. Special attention is being given to 

 yellow-flowered varieties of alfalfa, and particularly M. falcata. About 2,000 

 plants of this variety were transplanted in the spring and set 30 in. apart each 

 way. Abundant growth resulted, together with considerable seed production. 

 The coarse-stalked plants seemed to bear more seed than the fine-stalked ones, 

 and a number of such plants were marked and the seed kept separate. A small 

 plat of Omsk alfalfa has ripened considerable seed, but Gobi Desert and Obb, 

 although as hardy as Omsk, have never ripened seed and, furthermore, are of 

 procumbent growth. Trifolium lupinaster is conspicuous for its hardiness, pro- 

 ducing stalks about 16 in. long and always ripening its seed, but as a hay crop 

 it is a failure. Vida cracca produced a good growth after coming through the 

 winter in excellent shape. A yellow-flowered vetch was found in this plat and 

 the seed gathered separately. 



Hybridization work was continued with winter rye, barley, and spring 

 wheat. Kharkov winter wheat was crossed with Sandomirka, an earlier Rus- 

 sian variety which apparently possesses great hardiness. Of the new hybrids 

 grown for the first time only one or two of each give any promise for the future, 

 but all will be seeded again so that single-head selections can be made from 

 the second generation. Single-head selection is being rigidly adhered to. 



In addition to the hybrids, 12 varieties of spring wheat were grown. Chogot, 

 Irkutsk, No. 306, hybrid 24 A 1, hybrid 24 A 2, and H. G. ripened 100 per cent 

 seed by August 20. Certain of these varieties possesses objectionable features, 

 but their earliness renders them valuable for hybridization. The Sandomirka 

 winter wheat wintered 95 per cent, the Kharkov next at 20 per cent. 



