SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



335 



CONTRIBUTED BY FLORA WINSTONE. 



Climate of the Yukon Basin. Professor 

 William Saunders, LL.D., F.R.S.C.. F.L.S.. the 

 Director of the Experimental Farms of Canada, 

 has issued a pamphlet " On the Possibilities of 

 Agriculture in the Yukon District." Up to the 



t time the information obtained is somewhat 

 meagre, but enough has been gathered to show 

 the method in which some success is likely to be 

 gained. Attention is now chiefly directed to the 

 Klondyke district of the Yukon, owing to its rich 

 gold deposits. In these parts, Professor Saunders 

 says : " The summer climate is too cold to admit 

 of much being done in the way of growing grain, 

 fodder plants or vegetables. From particulars 

 obtained from the meteorological records for the 

 season 1895-96, I find that in August, 1S95, tne 

 thermometer recorded 32^ F. and below five times, 

 and 40 3 and below nine times. In September, 1895, 

 it was at 32 F. and below eighteen times, and 

 twenty-nine times it was at 40' and below. In 

 May. 1896, the thermometer was at and below 

 32 F eighteen times : and on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of 

 the month it was 5 above zero. It was at 6o° F. 

 and above only five times during that month ; the 

 highest point being reached on the 18th and 23rd, 

 when the thermometer reached 62°. The rivers 

 broke up from the nth to the 17th of May and ran 

 thickly with ice until about the 23rd, after which 

 they were navigable. It snowed on one day and 

 rained on four days that month. In June, 1896, 

 the thermometer was four times at and below 

 and seventeen times at and below 40 , and 

 ranged the greater part of the day-time from 40 to 



Seven times during this month the tempera- 

 tore went above 70' F., and once only, on the 30th of 

 the month, it reached Ho' J . It rained on twelve 

 days that month. In July, 1896, the hottest days 

 were the ist and 2nd, when a temperature of Bi F. 

 was recorded During the greater part of the 

 month the temperature ranged from 40 to 70 I 

 it was at 40° and below nine times, and the lowest 

 temperature was 33' on the 27th. It rained on 

 three days that month. In August, 1896, the 

 highest temperature was -'? V. on the 14th. and 

 seven times the thermometer recorded a tempera- 

 ture al twice it recorded 32' and below, 

 and thirteen times 40' and below. The lowest 

 temperature -*as on the 311I, when the thermometer 

 It rained on eight days during 

 In September the possibilities' for the 



h '>{ vegetation were very limited. Eight limes 

 the temperature ranged from 32 down to 

 and twenty three limes it was at 40 and below, 

 the highest f/;int reached being 63 . which was on 

 the 17th. Only et;:ht times 'luring September was 

 the thermometer 

 part of the month it ranger! during the da 



e Mimmer «tcav,- as far 



■mcr than in 1H96. Temperature! 

 hade in July, 

 exception 

 nth " In the f.ve of Ini 



temperatures through the summer, and the frosts 

 in the beginning of June and at the end of August, 

 there does not appear to be much future for 

 agriculture in that country. A certain amount of 

 success, however, can be obtained, especially at 

 the margins of rivers. There are some vegetables 

 which do not require a long time to mature, and 

 can therefore be grown fairly well in the district, 

 such as early varieties of turnips and cabbages, 

 radishes and lettuces. These do not grow to a 

 large size, but they are of a sufficient growth for 

 use. Spinach, early varieties of green peas, beets, 

 carrots and some sorts of onions would probably 

 grow, and rhubarb would make a very useful 

 substitute for fruit in the early part of the season, 

 if the roots were not killed by the severe winter. 

 Many trials have been made to grow potatoes, 

 but unless they are planted where they are 

 sheltered, or have some special protection, they 

 are likely to be cut down by the frost in August. 

 Professor Saunders quotes from the Report of 

 Mr. \Vm. Ogilvie with regard to the planting 

 of potatoes, he says : " A Mr. Patch tried to 

 grow potatoes on the south side of Forty-mile 

 River, but they were invariably killed by frost 

 before they matured. He then sought a nook on 

 the south side of the river where the sun did not 

 get to them until towards noon. They were thus 

 gently thawed out in the shade before the strong 

 sun heat fell upon them and thus survived the 

 action of the frost." Mr. Ogilvie also refers to 

 the experience of Mr. Harper, at Fort Selkirk, on 

 the Yukon. To preserve potatoes from frost, 

 "he made a large covering of heavy ticking, 

 and every evening, when frost threatened, he 

 suspended this over the potato tops, and lifted 

 it in the morning, and in this way he was fairly 

 successful." Oats and barley have also been 

 tried, but no instance is given of their growth 

 having been successful. They grew tall enough to 

 make good fodder for cattle, but the seeds would 

 have to be brought in fresh every year, as the frost 

 kills the grain before any kernels are formed. 

 Dr. G. M. Dawson, Director of the Geological 

 Survey of Canada, explored the Yukon district 

 in 1887, and from his observations at that time, he 

 is of opinion that no cereal crops can be 

 successfully grown or ripened on the coastward 

 side of the mountains ; but at Telegraph Creek and 

 in that vicinity, on the Sitkine river, and on 

 the east side of the coast range, latitude 58', 

 wheat, barley and potatoes can all be grown 

 with success with the help of irrigation. The 

 production of these crops in that region would 

 probably form an important source of supply for 

 the mining districts, as it is about 900 miles nearer 

 Dawson City than Vancouver or Victoria, and 

 when the proposed railway is running it will be 

 equally easy of access. The most suitable spots 

 in which to grow vegetables are along the banks "I 

 rivers where the soil is warm and sandy. In his 

 report for 1K97 Mr. Ogilvie, in speaking of the 

 agricultural capabilities of the Yukon basin, refers 

 to a number of localities in the valleys ol the 

 different rivers where he considei 1 ii is possible 

 crops might be grown In the neighbourhood ol 



m City, on the Klondyke, and for aboul 



up the Yui li 1 inditiona ol 1 lima,te 



prevail Professor iaundei lives a lisl "i V au 

 egei il 1 lucl I n havi bei a ti led 

 with tin experin en al fai ms in il><- 



Nortfa Weal Provinces, and which he recommends 

 for trial in the Eastern VTukon districts, as they 

 mature in ■ ihori time 



