206 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



fined to the coast regions, as time would not permit a trip into the interior. Stops 

 were made at Wrangell, Juneau, and Skagway on the way up to Sitka, and after a 

 brief stay at the latter place I made a trip to the westward as far as Cook Inlet 

 and Kadiak, returning thence to Seattle. The trip to the westward gave oppor- 

 tunity for inspecting the work of our station at Kenai, for looking over the reser- 

 vation at Kadiak, and for observing what is being done in the line of gardening at 

 various points along the route. 



The impression which I gained from this Alaskan trip was that not only is a 

 quite wide range of gardening and some measure of agriculture possible, as has 

 been shown by the Congressional reports of our experiments there, but that a 

 gratifying amount of educational and demonstration work has been done among 

 the people, which is already productive of good results. A number of private 

 residences about Sitka show what can be accomplished by well-directed industry 

 in beautifying them and in maintaining creditable home gardens. Many of the 

 natives plant gardens of vegetables and flowers, and a considerable number give 

 them fairly good care. Near the town men were engaged in making hay on a 

 small tract, and, with the weather prevailing at the time of my visit, it was quite 

 practicable to dry the hay in the field. Numerous gardens containing lettuce, 

 radishes, cabbage, peas, potatoes, and the more hardy vegetables generally were 

 to be se: n at the various places where I landed along the way. These gardens were 

 for the most part well cared for and usually an object of pride. The quality of 

 the vegetables raised was said to be excellent, and failures wera few with persons 

 who understood the best methods. At Kenai the gardens of the natives presented 

 an especially well- cared -for and thrifty appearance. In many places the natives 

 have come to appreciate the value of vegetable food in improving their diet, and 

 the variety which a garden of fresh vegetables lends to the food of the newer resi- 

 dents of Alaska is much appreciated by them. Flower beds of sweet peas, pan- 

 sies, and a number of other kinds of plants were not uncommon. 



The seed for planting these gardens and the directions and encouragement for 

 maintaining them have come very largely from the special agent in charge of the 

 Alaska station and his superintendents. Everywhere 1 went along the coast 

 region I found that the work of the Alaska stations was well known and usually 

 very favorably regarded at present, although many admitted that they had at first 

 viewed the undertaking with much skepticism. Hardly a man was addressed who 

 did not know about Professor Georgeson and his work. This is the more remark- 

 able and stronger evidence of the interest which has been aroussd when it is con- 

 sidered that there are practically no newspapers in Alaska having more than a 

 local circulation, that no publications except Congressional reports have been 

 issued, and that, owing to the difficulties of transportation, people do not get about 

 as much as they do in the States. T^he extent to which information has been dif- 

 fused and the confidence of the people won speak much for the vigor and industry 

 with which the work has been prosecuted. The propaganda has met with a good 

 measure of success, and the work now has many strong friends, particularly in the 

 western coast region, where the conditions are the most suitable for agriculture. 



I was impressed with the many difficulties which our agent has had to meet in 

 carrying on his work under such pioneer conditions, at a number of points widely 

 separated. Transportation is entirely by water and is slow; mails are infrequent; 

 the need for material of various kinds must be anticipated several months; labor 

 of the right kind for our work is very dificult to procure; the work must be 

 accomplished in a short summer season, and a thousand and one little annoyances 

 arise to hinder and discourage the undertaking. It is only through untiring energy 

 and enthusiasm for the work and the exercise of the strictest economy that Pro- 

 fessor Georgeson has been able to make the good showing that he has for the time 

 and money he has had at his disposal. I do not hesitate to say that, despite these 

 difficulties and the higher prices to be met, few, if any, of our experiment stations 

 in the early years of their existence have been able to make a better showing for 

 the money expended in the way of buildings, permanent improvements to the 

 land, and amount of experimental work performed than the Alaska stations do 

 to-day, and the interest and confidence which have been aroused by the stations 

 are worthy of any station in the newer States. 



Now that such favorable results have been obtained with vegetable growing 

 and some of the cereals, I am of opinion that work might be undertaken with 

 animals to show the extent to which feed for them can be profitably or economic- 

 ally grown in Alaska. Fresh meat is scarce and dear; it is only occasionally that 

 fresh meat can be obtained to the west of Sitka. With small animals, like poultry, 

 useful work might be done in showing what feeds can be grown for them and how 

 they can best be cared for. Poultry raising would be the simplest beginning in 

 animal production and might lay the foundation for work with larger animals. 

 The hog is not commonly found, but summer pasturage for hogs could surely be 



