The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-20

etabIes-The Station Headquarters
at si1ka-An Appropriation want
ed to Continue the work Begun.
a G True Director of the Experiment
Stations of the Agricultural Department,
has submitted TO Secretary Wilson the re-
port Of c. c. Georgeson, Special Agent IN
Charge of Alaskan Investigations, on
| agricultural conditions in the Northwest
Territory. Director True. speaking Of ex-
pertinent work in Alaska. said IN part:
THE experiments with cereals and veg
etabIes were continued al the Sitka and
Kenai experiment stations with great sue
cess. and numerous cooperative expert
Tneuts were inaugurated with almost uni
forrnly good results. An extensive series
Of experiments which was con
Quoted at the Sitka experiment
station illustrates the effect Of
| fertilizers on new soil, as shown in the
production OF oats, barley and potatoes
| Il has been shown in previous reports that
many failures to grow crops in Alaska
have been largely due to lack Of drainage
and 10 acidity Of new soil Brush drains
have been found caeaD and efficient
means for draining the soil. and it was
learned by experiments that crops can be
grown on new lands by the proper apph-
cation of fertilizers Successful expert
rents are also reported in the construction
and filling Of a siIo with the native beach
grass. The siIage when examined was Of
excellent quality, and the loss due to ad-
mission of air was very slight
Investigations at the Kenai station we're
in continuation OF those inaugurated the
previous season. Owing to lack OF
drainage the faIj-sowu cereals were winter
killed. but spring-sown barley and oats
rnatured good crops, and vegetables were
reported of fine quality H z NELSON,
who has continued in charge of -kenai
station. writes the the example Of one
years experiments has already done good.
as may be seen by the increased number
of small gardens in the vicinity of the
station Additional land has been cleared
and prepared for cultivation at both the
Sitka and Keuai experiment stations.
''Oue of the most important features OF
the work Of the year was the preliminary
survey of the interior OF Alaska and the
location of experiment station tracts at
Rampant and Fort Yukon in the valley
of the Yukon River. Prof GeOrgesOn and
Mr.. Jones trayersed the Yukon country,
starting from Dawson July 6, 1890, visit
ing all the more important villages along
the river, investigating their possibilities
as agricultural centres As result two
tracts Of land were surveyed and their
reservation for use in agricultural ex-
periments is requested They consist OF
los acres at Fort Yukon and 3l3 acres at
Rampant. These places seem to be best
adapted to further Investigations. and
whatever results are achieved at these
points will apply to most OF the interior
region. Mr.. Jones remains at Rampant.
anG has made preparations for begin
ming experiments with vegetables and ce-
reals next season For successful prose
cutior OF the work in the interior build
ings. implements and other equipments
VIII b. needed
In the past year some advance has
been made toward completing the station
headquarters at Sitka. and work was be
gun upon the station building at kenai.
but the sum avaiid bic Tor this purpose
was so small that little WAS accomplish
ed The abnOrmally high prices of labor
and cost Of transportation make serious
granted for these Investigations Add 10
these items the amount required for sal
aries and there IS little left for per
maneut Improvement and the necessary
equipments
The services Of a skilled horticulturist
are needed at the Sitka station to AID
in the introduction Of new and valuable
fruits. and to improve the native vaTIe-
ties The furnishing of a laboratory at
this station IS also necessary for the more
accurate Investigations contemplated, and
additional buildings are needed at all the
stations. 1t IS thought desirable to begin
Investigations in dairying- and for the
foundation of the herd animals VIII have
to he purchased These and other con
templated improvements viii neCeSSItate
a larger appropriation than has hitherto
been given.
Alaska is a large territory and of wide
" varying requirements To meet these
necessities stations have been established
in regions which appear to be representa-
tive Of large areas. There is an estimated