ALASKA EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 327 



things are very different. Gardens have sprung up where there were none; where 

 they were on a small scale, as at Kenai and Tyonek, they increased in dimensions. 



The request for seeds is very great. What you have sent last spring was enough 

 only for Kenai, Ninilchik, and Knik, so I was obliged to refuse people from the other 

 four settlements. The natives of Kenai are very fond of turnips. We really need 

 seeds by pounds and not by packages. 



It would be positively a great kindness if the Government, once for all, would send 

 some seed potatoes for some of our natives. They are very anxious to raise some 

 potatoes, and thereby improve their material condition, but they have no seed and 

 no money to buy any with. In this connection the Government would render the 

 natives here a very great service, and by this better their condition and accustom 

 them to the cultivation of vegetables. We hope, my dear Professor, that you will 

 look upon our request with sympathy. 



In conclusion we earnestly ask you to accept our sincere thanks and deep gratitude 

 for your past kindness and attention to us. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



(Rev.) Ivan Bartnofsky. 



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



[The above letter arrived too late for last year's report. — C. C. G.] 



FAIR RESULTS IN SPITE OF DRY SEASON. 



Tyonek, Alaska, October 28, 1900. 



Dear Sir: The present season has been extremely dry for agricultural purposes in 

 many localities. At Tyonek during April, May, and most of July there was only 

 about 3 inches of rainfall, and that was distributed so far apart that small seeds 

 would not germinate. Many of the small seeds sowed in the latter part of April 

 and first of May did not come up at all until the middle of August. Of those seeds 

 that did come up, they made a rapid growth and matured early, considering the 

 spring was bleak and cold. The general yield with me was the poorest in ten years, 

 but other localities had better success. There was a fine vegetable garden raised 

 3 miles north of here. The mining camps of Sunrise and Hope produced excel- 

 lent gardens; also the old trading station at Knik had fine gardens. 



At Tyonek we had one cabbage to weigh 9 J pounds, trimmed close. Turnips, car- 

 rots, beets, ruta-bagas, and potatoes were very fine in quality, and cauliflowers and 

 celery also did well; but we had to sprinkle the latter with a sprinkling pot for nearly 

 two months. Radishes and lettuce always do well. 



The Indian gardens did not amount to anything, outside of their potatoes. 

 Very sincerely, 



Tnos. W. I Ian. more. 



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



[This letter was received too late for last year's report. — C. C. G.] 



gardening on knik river. 



Knik Station, Cook Inlet, Alaska, 



Via Sunrise City, October 12, 1900. 

 Dear Sir: Your favor of July 17 just reached me. When you learn that the 

 nearest post-office is about 80 miles from here, and that I have to go in a small sail- 

 ing boat, in perhaps the most dangerous water on the coast for small boats, you may 

 know that I take a trip only when necessary; so my mails are few and far between. 



