Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1900-03-15
FARMING FOR ALASKA
Grains. Flax, Glover and Vegetables
Thrive surprisingiy Also Goats,
Sheep and Cattle.

One Of the important reports which
has just been submitted to congress by
the secretary OF agriculture and ordered
to be printed deals with the agricul-
tural Investigations in Alaska. IL is
important because il brings out some
facts in regard TO the agricultural capa.
bilities of our vast Northern territory,
which will astonish those who have re-
garded 1t as useless ice box, which at
most, was valuable only for the gold it
might contain or for the fur and fish it
yields.
These Investigations, as far as they
have gone, indicate that it has latent
capabilities which, when developed,
may sustain large population and
make it prosperous state. And why
not? The little country of Finland,
which lies between Sweden and Russia
in the same latitude and is less than
one-fourth the size OF Alaska, has a
population of 100000 and exports
both grain and livestock, as well as
vast quantities of dairy products. The
author of the report, Professor c. C.
Georgeson. who has charge OF the in
yestigations, brought TO Washington IL
varieties of spring wheat, dozen
varieties each of barley and oates, and
also rye. buckwheat and flax, all Of
which had matured at the experiment
stations at Sitka and Kenai, in the
Kenai peninsula. The report states
that red clover lived through the winter
at Sitka, made luxuriant growth
and matured seed, and that yetches
and other forage plants did equally as
we'll. All of the common hardy veget-
ables were grown to perfection, some
caulitiower at Kenai measuring IA
inches across the head.
A statement by the superintendent
of the Alaska Commercial Company in
regard to his company's experience
with livestock at Kadiak is of more
than passing interest, because it reveals
in the stock industry
which are bound 10 be OF much impor-
tance in the future development OF the !
country. The company has for many
years kept cattle, sheep and Angora
goats on some of the small islands near
the town of Kadiak. On one of these
islands it was not found necessary to /
feed or shelter the cattle at all, winter |
or summer. Year in and year out they
lived in the open and were maintained
solely by the native grasses, which are
abundant in all of Southwestern
Alaska. The herd increased yearly
about 75 per cent of the breeding cows.
A flock OF Angora goats increased 60
per cent annually and gave very good
results in mohair. A flock of sheep
mas been kept for the past 16 years on
,asture, the year around. The in
;rease was something over so per cent,
md the clip averaged about five
pounds of wool per head yearly. There
Gems to be no doubt that animal hus-
landry can be successfully prosecuted
n different parts of Alaska.
Land for agricultural experiment sta
ions has been reserved at three places
q the coast region; namely, at Sitka,
kadiak and Cook Inlet, and develop
nent work was begun the past season
t Sitka and Kenai. A headquarters
'uilding was erected and partially COM
'leted at Sitka. IL is to contain
ffices. laboratory, library and quarters
Or the person in charge. Most OF the
cientific work will be done at Sitka.
The stations are equipped with work
ken and all the tools necessary for
ioneer farming. The report enumer-
tes also the lines of experimentation
Fhich are of chief interest to that
ountry. They include those which
slate to the improvement OF the soil.
ne selection and Improvement OF small
rains, experiments with vegetables, 6
le introduction of fruits and expert
tents relating to the various branches f
livestock industry.