318 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



are about 6 inches high and very thrifty. This is merely an experiment, as Sitka has 

 not an asparagus bed, but we have no doubt of its ultimate success. 



Our rhubarb has been exceedingly productive and does well here. We also have 

 parsley and an abundance of horse-radish. 



There is no reason why the people of Alaska should not raise all of these vegetables, 

 as they can be as successful here as in Oregon or Washington, and lettuce and radishes 

 much better. Owing to the cool summers and frequent rains, vegetables do not dry 

 out, or become pithy, and can be kept in excellent order from June till November. 



Thanking you again for the seeds, I am, sincerely, yours, 



Mrs. George Stowell. 



Prof. C. C. Georgeson, Sitka, Alaska. 



good gardens at wrangell. 



Wrangell, Alaska, November 1, 1901. 



Dear Sir: Last spring you were so kind as to send me some seeds, and I now wish 

 to tell you what I think of agriculture in southeastern Alaska. 



The season has been an exceptionally wet and eool one here, so I am told, and yet 

 I have fairly good results from my garden, although I think it could have been more 

 satisfactory had the ground been properly fertilized, as it has been in use for years, 

 and while crop after crop has been taken from it nothing has been given back in 

 return. 



On the 18th day of June I planted peas, radishes, turnips, lettuce, carrots, and 

 a few beans. All except the latter came on and did splendidly. From three short 

 rows of peas we enjoyed several good messes in a large family. The radishes came 

 on very rapidly, and had an excellent flavor and were brittle and palatable for weeks 

 after the first came into use. 



The turnips surprised everybody, they grew so rapidly and were of such fine 

 flavor. 



Within four weeks after planting we had heads of lettuce that would have done 

 honor to any country. The turnips grew rapidly and were sweet and juicy, though 

 when about as large around as an ordinary tea saucer they cracked open, but this 

 did not injure them for table use. 



Potatoes that I planted did only moderately well, though those put on the market 

 here from a neighboring garden were large, well matured, and of fine flavor, some 

 weighing 3 and 3? pounds. 



The most peculiar thing is regarding cabbage. The plants grew to a height of 18 

 inches and 2 feet without a sign of heading, and just when we thought of cutting 

 them for greens begun to head, and inside of three weeks we had cabbage weighing 

 6 and 8 pounds and of a quality second to none. 



So after watching the growth of vegetables, I am well satisfied that everything 

 except beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers can be as successfully grown here as anywhere 

 if proper attention is given to fertilizing and draining the ground. The soil being 

 of a moist and chilly nature, this is very essential, as it would be on soil of a like 

 nature in any section of the country. 



I thank you most heartily for a copy of your fourth report, which I have lately 

 received and perused with much interest. It seems to me that this report should be 

 widely circulated, to correct the prevailing idea throughout the outside world that 

 Alaska is a country of perpetual ice and snow; that no good can possibly come of it. 

 Yours, very respectfully, 



A. V. R. Snyder, 

 Deputy Collector Customs. 



Prof. C. C. Georgeson, Sitka-, Alaska. 



