HORTICULTURE. 863 



plants as orchard cover crops and on tests of varieties of currants ;m<l 

 tomatoes. 



Anion- currants the White Grape bas proved the most productive variety of 

 it; grown. Of the red varieties Red Cross, Victoria, and Fay have proved 

 most satisfactory. Naples has been the mosl productive of the black currants, 

 hut is not equal in size and quality to Chainpiou and Black Victoria. The 

 heaviesl yielding tomatoes in 1905 were the Dominion Daj and Earllana, the 

 former of which produced 36 lbs. of fruil per plant and the latter 32 lbs. 



Vegetable growing in Alaska, C. C. CtEORGESON I ilaska Std8. />'/'/. .'. }>]>. 

 ',!',. /its. ',) . An account of the climatic and soil conditions <»!' various sections of 

 Alaska with genera] observations relative to shelter belts, drainage, fertilizers, 

 botbeds and fold frames, seed testing, and detailed directions for the culture of 

 vegetables based on the results of experimental work. 



Heavy rainfall is stated as the chief drawback to successful farming and 

 gardening in the coast regions. At Sitka the average rainfall is '.»<> in. The 

 temperature rarely exceeds s <> I', in summer or falls below zero in winter. In 

 the interior the summers are short bul quite warm and the winters prolonged 

 and severe. The rainfall is also light, and it is still a question whether irriga 

 tioii in;iy not he necessary in some of the drier regions. 



The ground in the winter is frozen to an unknown depth. When cleared and 

 exposed to the sun it gradually thaws. The ice is not a drawback to vegetable 

 and irraiii growing after it recedes 2 or :; rt.. but rather an advantage, as it fur- 

 nishes moisture to the growing plants and in dry seasons acts ;is a substitute for 

 Irrigation. 



A peculiarity of Alaskan soil is that the vegetation turns into soil slowly and 

 Imperfectly and generally gives a very acid reaction. This is particularly tine 

 of the soils of the <-o;ist regions, it is greatly benefited by liming. Surest ions 

 tor burning native limestone are given. In the interior there is a great variety 

 el soils, but they are generally of a sandy, gravelly, or Iighl loamy character. 



The following vegetables, for which detailed cultural directions are given, 

 can he grown in Alaska : 



"Group I. — Radish, mustard, turnips, kale, lettuce, orach. These can he 

 grown throughout the whole const region and in the Interior northward of the 

 Arctic Circle, nearly to the Arctic Ocean, in favorable seasons and in picked 

 localities. 



"Group II. — Carrots, parsnips, parsley, peas, cress, cabbage, cauliflower, 



broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohl-rabi, onions, spinach, endive, leek. I ts. pota 



toes, rhubarb, and among the herbs, caraway, catnip, marigold, mint, sage, 

 thyme. These can he grown everywhere in the coast region in Alaska, and in the 

 Interior nearly to the Arctic Circle if the gardens are selected with due refer- 

 ence to shelter and exposure to the sun. 



"Group [I I.- 1 - Asparagus, beans, celery, cucumber, squash, salsify. These can 

 he grown in favorable seasons if planted in warm spots and given the proper 

 care and protection. 



14 Vegetables which can not he grown in Alaska out-of-doors under ordinary 

 garden culture, though they are common in the states, are: Sweet corn, melons, 

 tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, pumpkins." 



Tomato culture, c. F. Austin and E. W. Halstead {Estac. Cent. Anion. 

 Ciiha Bui. ). }>i>. n;. pis. s). Popular directions based on the results <.f experl 

 mental work at the station are given for the culture of tomatoes. 



Many varieties were tested during the year and it was shown that first-class 

 tomatoes can he grown in Cuba during all of the winter months. The tables in- 

 eluded in the bulletin show the average yield per plant and per acre for the 

 different varieties. Brief descriptive notes of .",(i of the most promising varieties 

 27588— No. 9—06 4 



