The following paper was then read by Walter H. Evans : 



Experiments in Plant Acclimatization in Alaska. 



BY WALTER H. EVANS, 

 United States Department of Agriculture. 



During the summer of 1897 the writer visited Alaska for 

 the purpose of making an agricultural reconnaissance with a 

 view to the establishment of one or more experiment stations in 

 that Territory. At that time there was no agriculture and very 

 little gardening in the country. As a result of that visit a cen- 

 tral experiment station was established at Sitka, with branch 

 stations at Kenai, Copper Center, and Rampart. The results of 

 the endeavors to develop agriculture in Alaska have been pub- 

 lished in the annual reports and other publications of the Office 

 of Experiment Stations of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. The decision to recommend the establishment of 

 the stations was based upon direct observations, a study of the 

 native and introduced plants, and analogy between known condi- 

 tions in Alaska and those in countries in Europe. 



In searching for evidence that agriculture might flourish, 

 the data found were very meager. During the Russian occupa- 

 tion some desultory attempts to develop agriculture were made 

 at a few points, but the records left are conflicting and show 

 such a lack of careful planning and attention to the experiments 

 that but little could be learned from that source. The Russians 

 did leave fairly complete data regarding temperatures and 

 rainfall covering a period of fifty years or more, that proved of 

 service in determining the available temperatures for plant 

 growth. The settlers at the time of the visit were mostly en- 

 gaged in trading, fishing, or mining, and little was to be learned 

 from them. Recourse was had to a study of the native and in- 

 troduced economic plants. Careful searches were made about a 

 number of villages and lists were made of the introduced plants 



