1S4 A GRIC UL TUBE IN A LASKA 



would not grow ; others where beets could not be raised ; but 

 both of these vegetables were seen in flourishing conditions else- 

 where. In a few places where attempts have been made to grow 

 peas and snap beans the efforts have been apparently quite suc- 

 cessful. When the peas are gathered at frequent intervals, the 

 vines are said to bear for an extra long period. Specimens of a 

 so-called dwarf pea were seen at Wrangell that had grown to a 

 height of 3 feet. Whether this was due to a mistake in the va- 

 riety or to the climate and soil cannot be determined. During 

 the past summer cucumbers are reported to have been grown at 

 Tyoonock, but none were seen when that place was visited. 



But little appears to have been done in attempting to grow 

 cereals throughout the whole country. It is reported that dur- 

 ing the Russian regime spasmodic attempts were made to do 

 something in the line of promoting agriculture, but it appears 

 that nothing of a permanent nature was accomplished. At 

 Yakutat, on the site of the old town, an agricultural colony was 

 established, and at various places in Cook inlet the same was 

 attempted. It is claimed that during Russian occupation oats, 

 rye, barley, and buckwheat were grown to a considerable extent, 

 but if this is true there are now no traces of the fields where the 

 grain was formerly cultivated. 



The few cereals seen growing were for the most part self-seeded 

 from hay, feed, etc. At Wood island and Kadiak mature oats 

 were seen August 22 that had evidently grown from seed scat- 

 tered from feed or packing. A few specimens of barley were seen 

 at one of the places that were about 15 inches high, headed but 

 not ripe. Their origin was probably due to the same causes as 

 that of the oats. 



At Tyoonock a limited experiment was made during the last 

 summer with spring-sown wheat, rye, and barley, and on the last 

 day of July the barley and rye were about 15 to 18 inches high 

 and fully headed out. The wheat had made a fine growth, but 

 showed no tendency to head. At Sitka, in 1896, a small plat of 

 wheat was ripened in fairly good condition, and in 1897, at the 

 same place, a plat of flax was sown, and on September 4 the 

 plants averaged about 30 inches in height and were in full bloom, 

 the earlier capsules containing almost mature seed. 



About the only real farm in the country is on an island be- 

 tween Juneau and Sitka, near the village of Killisnoo. It con- 

 sists of about 40 acres under cultivation, and has been under 

 cultivation for about three years. The equipment of stock con- 



