The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-15
AGRICULTURE IN ALASKA.
What Are the Possibilities in That
Country?
From Thursdays Daily.

The popular opinion which prevails
about Alaska, pictures that country as
one of snow and ice, precipitous noun
tains, and store of gold to be obtained
by severe hardships by adventuresome
prospectors. The thought that crops are
planted and grow to successful harvest,
rarely enters the mind of the ordinary
reader 1t is a fact, however, and num-
erous experiments are being made by
the agricultural department to ascertain
the best crops which may be produced in
that northern climate, The annual re-
port of the operations for the year 1901
has been recently published and is re-
plete with valuable information setting
forth the advantages of that much de-
preciated section of the Union. Expert
ment stations were established at eligible
points on the coast westward as far as
Cook Inlet, in the Valley of the Youkon;
also in the Copper country. In addition
to written reports from each station the
pamphlet contains a large number of
!, illustrations setting forth, with the as
, sistance of the camera, what has actual
ly been accomplished in the production
| of vegetables, grains and fruits. Scenes
of ay-making, growing grains and fields
| of cabbage are now unlike those furnish
ed by the agricultural communities in
the Central states, and represent with
the ACCURACY of the camera what is act
ually being done.
The object of the experiment is, OF
course, not to make profit off the labor
and enterprise involved in the undertak-
ing, but rather to test the character OF
crops that will best mature in that eli.
mate, and how they can be treated fol
the best results. Detailed reports ac-
company the publication in which the
Dependencies give the result of theil
efforts at farming. The man in charge
OF the station at Rampant on the Yukon
says: "Fall-seeded rye lived through
1 the. winter, came out in the spring
healthy and vigorous and produced
plump and perfectly matured grain by
beginning of August. Barley seeded il
the latter part of May matured seed by
the middle of August" Concerning ths
raising of potatoes, the same experiment
Ter says; "a small quantity of seed pc
tatoes grown at Rampant, last veal
was obtained, placed in a shallow
box, partly covered with sant
and exposed to the light May
IL. At the same time few
pounds of outside potatoes were obtain
eG and these were treated in like manner
Both lots were planted May %. The
soil was rather wet and stiff for plant
ing at this time, and the weather con
ltinued cold and damp for some time
afterward The first potato leaf showed
through the soil on June l6. From thai
time on, growth was rapid. July 10
IiOlll tllC oCOu oiONCu WIS
SONS, while the other variety bloomet
iJuly "a. Frost of July 81, killed the
Istalks to the ground. Native seed hat
lat this date produced potatoes as large
as an egg, while outside seed produced
lonly very small pota toes"
The development of agriculture il
necessary in locality where permanent
settlement is intended. There is grea'
mineral wealth in Alaska, but to success
fully and permanently remove it, agri
Iculture is necessary. The two must worl
together. Titles may now be acquired t.
Alaska lands, and it is probable that the
Iattention of the most hardy pioneers
Imay be turned in that direction.-Dulutl
Herald.