ALASKA EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 337 



a living, or else he will be a Government ward and maintained in 

 whole or in part by the Government, if indeed he is not left to starve. 

 The former alternative is, of course, the more preferable, and this dis- 

 tribution of seed is an aid to that end. For assistance in this work I 

 depend wholly on missionaries and on well-disposed white men to 

 whom the seed is sent and who are requested to share with the natives 

 in their neighborhood and to instruct them how to grow the seeds. I 

 am glad to say that many of the white people take an interest in this 

 matter and go out of their way to help in the work. 



A few flower seeds were purchased and distributed for the first time 

 last fall. These seeds were highly appreciated, and, as a rule, they have 

 been cultivated with much success. They have helped cheer many a 

 home in the wilderness, and to that extent have been of real service. 



I have also distributed small packages of early maturing grain, more 

 particular^ of barley and oats. Some of this grain has been sown 

 in regions where grain had never been grown before, as, for instance, 

 on the Tanana and in the Copper River country, and in some cases 

 seed has been matured in spite of the fact that the ground has been 

 new and raw.. These are experiments of real value. 



1 recommend that the distribution of seeds be continued, and if pos- 

 sible extended. 



The following is a copy of the instructions I sent out with the seed: 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Office of Experiment Stations, Sitka, Alaska. 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR CULTURE. 



As a guide to those who have had but little experience in growing vegetables and 

 grain in Alaska the following suggestions are offered: 



(1) As far as practicable use old ground, that is, ground which has been under 

 culture for some years. New ground is almost invariably unproductive. It lacks 

 available plant food and it is too sour. The seed will germinate in such soil and the 

 young plants appear above ground, but they make but little growth, and in the 

 course of two or three weeks they turn yellow and die. The climate is often errone- 

 ously blamed for failures of this kind. 



(2) When new ground must be used its defects can in a measure be remedied by a 

 heavy application of some good fertilizer. Fish guano has proved to be of much 

 value at the Sitka Experiment Station for this purpose. It should be applied at the 

 rate of about 300 pounds to the acre. Seaweed thoroughly worked into the ground 

 is also good. Likewise stable manure and chicken dung. A dressing of quicklime 

 will neutralize its acidity and be especially helpful to such plants as peas, beans, and 

 the clovers. 



(3) See that the ground is thoroughly drained. If good drainage can not be 

 secured in any other way, raise the beds a foot and make them 3 feet feet wide on 

 top and sow 2 rows of seed on each bed. 



(4) Avoid thick seeding. Sow thinly in rows 2 feet apart and cover lightly. 

 Thick seeding is not only a waste of seed, but crowded plants can not develop 

 normally. 



(5) The rows should run north and south to give the sun a chance to warm the 

 ground between them. 



H. Doc. 334 22 



