AGRICULTURE IN ALASKA 181 



In the north and northeastern portion of what has been desig- 

 nated the southwestern part of the coast region some spruce 

 (Picea sitchensis) and cottonwood (Populus balsamea) occur, the 

 trees frequently attaining a considerable size. Considerable 

 birch (Betida papyrifera) and perhaps another species occur in 

 the upper part of the Cook Inlet region, but elsewhere the forests 

 of the southwestern coast are very insignificant. 



Local demands for lumber and fuel are the principal uses to 

 which the timber is put, and with almost entire exemption from 

 forest fires, the supply, if properly regulated, will be sufficient 

 for all needs of Alaskans for a long time to come. 



Next to the timber, perhaps the grasses of Alaska are among 

 the most valuable of the plant produ'cts. In all parts of the 

 country they flourish to an extraordinary degree. In south- 

 eastern Alaska, wherever the timber is cut away and the under- 

 growth of the shrubs kept down, a dense growth of grass soon 

 takes place, to the exclusion of all other plants. Of the common 

 grasses timothy (Phleum pratense), Alaska red top (Deschampsia 

 csespilosa and D. bottnica), blue grass (Poa pratensis), orchard 

 grass (Dactylis glomerata), wild barley (Hordeum boreale), Calama- 

 grostis aleutica, and wild rye (Elymus mollis and other species) 

 are the most widely distributed, and are probably the most 

 valuable for pasture and hay. Timothy, orchard grass, and 

 blue grass have become thoroughly established and grow to 

 great size. One of the most common native grasses is the Alas- 

 kan red top. It is a prominent factor in nearly all grass mix- 

 tures, and frequently exceeds a man in height. Specimens at 

 Sitka, July 5, were a little more than 4 feet in height and just 

 heading. Orchard grass more than 3 feet high was seen as early 

 as June 20. In the western part of Alaska, valley and hillside 

 as far as 1,000 feet or more elevation were green with grass 

 during the time spent in that region. 



The most common hay grasses at Kadiak are Poa pratensis, 

 Deschampsia csespitosa, and Hordeum boreale, with some wild tim- 

 othy (Phleum alpinum). Calamagrostis langsdorfii was the most 

 abundant hay grass observed in Cook inlet. At Unalaska the 

 common pasture and hay grasses appear to be Trisetum subspi- 

 catum and Calamagrostis aleutica. 



White clover was seen in many of the small meadows and 

 door-yards, from which places it seems to be rapidly spreading. 

 Some red clover was also seen, but its adaptability to Alaskan 

 conditions can neither be affirmed nor denied, since apparently 



