The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-05
FARMS ON THU YUKON
BOUNTEOUS CROPS OF GRAINS AND
VEGETABLES MAY BE RAISED
IN ALASKA
IT Is NOT A BLEAK WASTE

The Government VIII Develop It's
Agricultural ResOurces--The Gil
mate Is Temperate and the Soil
Both on the Coast and in the In
terror Is Fcrtile-Very Fine
Flax for Fiber May Be Raised.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March g.
Farming is to be attempted on an or
gained, extensive scale under govern
ment supervision in Alaska. Effort is
TO be made to raise grains, grasses,
and vegetables in districts contiguous
to the sold fields and agricultural ex-
pertS pronounce the scheme practic-
-.able.
Ever since the discovery of gold in
Alaska and the great influx of people,
the government has been insttuting
investigations as to the agricultural
possibilities of the country, with
view to making it less dependent upon
outside supplies and living cheaper.
The results are q surprise to people
rot thoroughly familiar with Alaskan
conditions. The present agricultural
appropriation bin now provides
a fund of $4,000 for the establishment
Of a regular government experiment
station. which will put Alaska on the
same footing in this regard as the
other states and territories which en-
JOY this assistance from the national
government. The scientist who is like
~ to be appointed director of the eX-
pertinent station TO be established is
Prof c. c. Georgeson, who spent last
year, in behalf of the department of
agriculture, in Alaska, planting, ex-
perimenting, and surveying. MI
GeOr2GSOn is a native of Denmark and
thoroughly familiar with the cOndi-
f .ifa11lt 1nrn in
Europe and he expresses himself as
certain that much development will
ensue from a series of systematic and
practical experiments and farm educa-
ton Of the people. Before starting
West last wear he procured seeds for
trial from agricultural officials in Nor
way. Sweden, Manitoba, and Mime
sofa where climatic conditions APP
proXimGte those found in Alaska. He
planted various crops at Sitka, Juneau,
Skaguay, and a number of other plac-
rs and the results were generally high
ly successful. 1t was a simple prac-
teal test involving no labor nor skill
- beyond all required everywhere for
successful cultivation of the soil; yet
20 the barley, oats and clover produced
were as fine as the best grown in the
states The yield of oats and barley
was so remarkable that Secretary Will
son recently took sample bundles of
them to cabinet meeting. to show the
president and his associates what could
be done in Alaska in Charming line.
VEGETABLE AND FLAX CROPS.
The territory was shown to be capa-
bic of producing very fine flax for
fiber. and this may become an impor-
tant industry 1t is one which is not
developed in the states. The growth
of the various clovers was enormous.
seedlings reaching a height of over
two feet during the season.
The climate and soil, Prof. George
son says, are favorable generally to
the growth of all hardy and semi
hardy vegetables, and a varied and
luXuriant garden may be maintained
with comparative ease. He raised sue
cessfully asparagus, beets, cabbage
caulii1oWer, carrots, kale, lettuce, on
ions, parsnips, peas, radishes, satisfy
and potaties. Investigations made by
anybody to grow field crops of any
kind, and no systematic or thorough
trials have been undertaken, yet in
the aggregate great number of diff
ferent plants have been successfully
raised. Distances are so great and
settlements so sparse that little knowl-
edge is possessed at one point as to
what the inhabitants of another sec
ton may be doing.
The advantages of stock raising seem
excellent. Cattle grow fast and p-o-
dant, redtop growing as high as a
mans head. Timothy also does we'll
The department of agriculture is Just
In receipt of a sample of oats and tim
othy from point south of Circle City,
where they have reseeded themselves
for several years. The oat heads are
hard and large. 1t is unnecessary to
Import hay into Alaska, although this
Is done to some extent a a cost of $40
a ton; but the construction of silos for
keeping green food during the winter
would obviate any such necessity At
a number Of points where gardening
has proven very successful, the people
are poor, and it is almost impossible
for them to get good seeds.
FARMING IN YUKON VALLEY.
Testimony from the Yukon valley in
dicates that the conditions there are
quite favorable to agriculture, all the
hardy vegetables growing we'll, as we'll
as hay. The soil is a rich loan, and
DR.. Sheldon Jackson found immense
potatoes grown, single tuber being
too large for a meal" Turnips weigh
ed ten pounds each, and caulif1ower
eight pounds, while celery was raised
In perfection. Alaska produces very
fine berrieS-StraWberri raSpberrieS
Cdrrants and cranberries. Much of the
soil of the coast country has peculiar
messy texture, ike peat, and does not
aTrear capable Of growing anything.
1t is, moreover, very acid or sour and
will not sustain growth until we'll
aeTated and sweetened. Ground will be
broken during the coming year al Fort
Kenai, on Cooks inlet, and at Sitka
and Kadiak island for experiment sta
ton work.
"One who sees Alaska from the deck
of a steamer" Prof. Georgeson says,
''is apt to be unfavOrably impressed
with the agricultural possibilities of
the territory. The coast everywhere is
lined with mountains, some of them
volcanic and smoking. In Southeast
EN- Alaska these mountains are COW
cred with dense growth Of forest, and
1t Is only in the smaller valleys be-
tW them that suitable land for
farming is to be found There is, how
ever, much more of this land than
woulo be supposed from the coast
There are many places where no tim
Der occurs, which could be put under
cultivation at a small expense Such
places are usually covered by a heavy
growth Of native grass, which could be
utilized for the maintenance of domestic
animals. Westward from Cooks inlet
the timber gradually disappears, grass
taking its place, and thousands upon
thousands Of cattle could be pastured
there all the year.
COAST REGION IS TEMPERATE.
THE climate Of the coast region is