240 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



it difficult to harvest the grain after it was grown. But in spite of 

 these drawbacks the results may be justly said to be satisfactory, 

 especially here at the headquarters station. We have matured rye, 

 wheat, barley, oats, and buckwheat, and successfully grown all the 

 leading hardy vegetables. At the Kenai and Rampart stations the 

 experiments have also been successful in a large measure, and our 

 knowledge of the agricultural possibilities of the Territory has been 

 materially extended. 



There are man}^ things that it was planned to accomplish this year 

 which have not been done for want of funds to work with. The 

 headquarters building at Sitka has not been completed, as was planned. 

 Only the lower story is in condition for use. The porch has not been 

 built, no heating plant has been put in, and the foundation between 

 the piers on which the house rests has not been built up. Nor has 

 anything been done toward equipping a laboratory with apparatus 

 for simple chemical and botanical work. Likewise nothing has been 

 added in the line of implements, work animals, or other live stock, all 

 of which must be supplied before it is possible to do creditable work 

 along scientific lines. 



On the other hand, three much-needed buildings have been put u] 

 namely, a barn and a small cottage at the Sitka Station, and a lo^ 

 building at the Kenai Station, which is intended for the combinec 

 purposes of a dwelling for the superintendent and a storehouse for 

 seed, grain, and other articles that should be well protected. None 

 of these buildings has been entirely completed at this writing. 



WORK AT SITKA STATION. 



There are now 4 acres of new ground under culture at the Sitkj 

 Station, and 2 acres more have been cleared and thoroughly ditched 

 preparatory to being underdrained. It should be noted, however, 

 that while the ground is under culture it is not thoroughly subdued. 

 It takes time and tillage to bring the new, raw land into a thoroughly 

 satisfactory condition. Aside from the station land, I have had the 

 use of three lots in the town of Sitka, which belong to the Russian 

 Church, and which aggregate about an acre and a half in area. 



EXPERIMENTAL CROPS. 



The following varieties of grain were grown the past season. The 

 leading characteristics of each are brought out in the notes on its habit 

 and growth. 



RYE. 



Swedish winter. — One of the lots in town belonging to the Russian 

 Church was seeded to wheat on October 3, 1900. The seeding was 

 late, for the reason that the growing crops had first to be removed^ 



