132 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Annual Report of the Alaska Agricultural Experiment Stations for 1902. 



C C (iE()1«;es()N ( ('. S. Jkpl. A(jr., (JiJicr aj J-J.rjicriiiiriil SUdion.'^ Rpi. l'.)0.i, jij). .i.i.i- 

 SCty, ph. 11). — The agricultural work of the stations for the year is .summarized and 

 (HiS<;iu«sed. Excessive rains very mucli interfered with the work. 



iVorl (it tSitka Station. — Excelsior winter rye .«eeded Hepteniljer 7 made a growth 

 df (5^ ft , and was sufficiently mature for harvesting by August 15. Its strong elastic 

 eiti^V>' enabled it to withstand storms and unfavorable weather for some time after 

 cpiftplete maturity. While not as good as the Swedish winter rye, it is regarded as 

 one of the varieties (jf value for Alaska. Carman wheat-rye, considered a hybrid 

 between wheat i.nd rye, largely winterkilled. The straw is strong and stands up 

 well, and this character is the only one which might suggest that rye is one of the 

 parent i)lants. Komanow spring wheat was grown on old and new ground. The 

 crop lodged on the ol<l ground, but was ripe enough to harvest by September 15, while 

 01) the new land it did not lodge badly, but did not begin to ripen until October 1. 



T^ie varieties of oats under test were Sixty-day, North Finnish Black, Burt Extra 

 Early, Swedish Select, AVhite Russian, and Impnjved Ligowa. Detailed notes on the 

 bejiavior dI each variety are given. All except Sixty-day were grown on new ground. 

 Swedish Selec-t suffered least frcuu the unfavcjrable weather cf)nditions. Sixty-day 

 wlis eown Jlyy H and was ripe September 1. The earliness of this variety is consid- 

 trexi itx chief recommehdation. Four varieties of barley were sown May 12 and 15. 

 jMaiwhury and Sisolsk were ripe September 15, and Black Hulless September 1. No 

 difference was noticed in Lapland barlej' grown from imjiorted and Sitka-grown seed. 

 Riga flax was sown for filler May 23. About three-fourths of the crop lodged, but 

 the portion which stood u]) was of fine quality. About 5 per cent of the seed was 

 ripe September 15. Conmion hemp sown May 23, on very poor soil, grew 5 ft. high 

 and pro<lnc-ed a fairly tough fiber. 



The growth,of furze and buckwheat and a numljer of grasses at the station is also 

 noted. The grasses were sown May 14, and nearly all showed a good stand. The 

 best growth was made by tall meadow oat grass, being about 2 ft. tall on August 1. 

 Brief notes are also given on the growth of vegetables, nursery stock, and fiovver.s. 

 A concise report is presented on the construction of station l)uildings and the clear- 

 ing and draining of station land. 



Work at Kenai Slatitm. — The progress of work at this staticjn is reviewed and cul- 

 ture tests Mith vegetal)les and field crops are noted. The weather c-onditions'were 

 unfavorable. Nearly all the. grasses grown made good stands, but produced only a 

 light growth. Timothy and tall meadow oat grass reached a height of 27 and 30 in., 

 resi)ectively. Sj)ring wheat did n(jt ripen, and rye and winter wheat were winter- 

 killed. Early Jersej' Wakefield cabbage. Large Boston Market and Early Curled 

 Snnpson lettuce, and Extra Curled parsley, started in cold frames and transplanted, 

 made a very satisfactory growth. Peas, beets, carrots, and parsnips were planted in 

 the open ground May 13. .Alaska and American Wonder peas gave good results, and 

 Half-long Chantenay carrots and Hollow Crown parsnij)S did quite well, while Egyp- 

 tian ))eets made but little growth. Rhul^arb survived the winter and yieldeil abun- 

 dantly this season. Specimens of White Dutch tnrnijjs weighing S lbs. and of Early 

 Ro.se i)otatoes weighing 1 IVj. were obtained. 



Work at Ilampart /S^(^'oa;.— Romanow spring wheat, winter rye, Manshury barley 

 and Black Finnish, Burt Extra Early, Flying Scotchman, and common oats grew to 

 maturity. 



In addition to the above reports the growth of different field, forage, and garden 

 crops at Kadiak is briefly reviewed, and the opening of an experiment station in the 

 Copper River Valley is described. The description of this station includes notes on 

 its location and area, the topography of the region, the altitude, soil, and vegetation. 



