Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-13
Mrs. Hoggatt Tells Of the Many Varie'
ties in the Frozen Territory.

ties in the Frozen Territory.
Mrs. Volney T. Hoggatt, native of Ken
lucky, is with her husband, Judge V. T.
Hoggatt, at the Riggs. Mrs. Hoggatt Is
now an enthusiastic Alaskan and talking Of
the country and the 100 varieties of beau
tiful wild flowers said to u representative
Of The Star:
People who have never visited the terri
tory of Alaska and are not familiar with
it's resources and conditions generally
naturally are a little incredulous when we
speak of the soil, the botanical experiments
and conditions that exist and have existed
perhaps centuries before this great empire
came under our government.
From time immemorial, since the first
sowing of the seed in this northland by
the hand Of the All-divine Planter, the
wild flower has borne life from its soil and
lifted its graceful head and beautiful face
upturned to the sun and blue sky, with as
much vlgor and subsistence as any hot
house plant or outdoor flower in California.
AS many 100 varieties of wild flowers
have been found in the district of Nome,
between the G6th and 64th degrees north
latitude, along the coast of Bering sea
l have spent hours and days among the
hills and lowlands gathering the little wax
en-petal tlowers-of every tint and color
SO beautiful and dainty in texture and color
that they seemed as you studied them that
the sweet breath Of heaven had but mere
ly- touched them and left the bushes of
love messages upon their petals. l found
myself acquiring somewhat Of persistent
fad, in searching for these feather-tinted
flowers, that l might find one to outrival
the other in color. 1 have walked miles up
on the drlftwood, along the overflow Of
Snake river Ga name very appropriate to this
river from its tortuous windings), in search
Of the cowslip, of the deep yellow hue, with
long rubbery stems; also a small white
lily with shell-like tinted center, with these
same long rubbery stems, which grew along
the waters edge. They seemed conscious
that was in search for them for they We're
in hiding here and there among the drift
wood.
1.-The foot hills and lowlands that slope
down to the sea, through the months Of
June, July and August, are veritable gar
dens of wild flowers, mosses ferns etc
The reindeer moss is the moss upon which
the reindeer subsists; 1t takes the place of
grass and grows everywhere in abundance.
1t Is of silvery gray and various shades
OF green; turns gray after frost, but re-
mains nutritious. This moss forms beds
everywhere for the wild flowers and ferns
AS you wander through the lowlands fol-
lowing the small streams toward the ma
jestic Sawtooth range-with its Snow white
caps-forming a background to the soft old
green of the foot hills below, covered with
deur and beauty.
Among these foot hills flowers are to be
found in extraordinary growth and
strength; the white and blue violet, sweet
williams, bluebelis. lilies of the valley, but
tercups, marguerites as large and beautiful
as the cultivated ones. The tall forget-me-
not in the rich. delicate blue, and the white,
can be found by the acre, spreading it's
fragrance: These, to my mind. are the
most Overwhelmingly beautiful Of ALL
There are number of varieties OF
ferns also-the species Of the maiden
hair fern, the broadleaf the old woods
fern, etc. Then. too, there is the little deli
cate flower that pops its head up in, the
spring es soon as the birds begin their
sCng-only not so early In Alaska as In
n ore moderate climates where they have
early springs-but it barely waits Until
the snow disappears. You will find one
here and there, wherever the full sun rays
| touch the earth you will find one of these
frail' blossoms. The indoor plants and cul-
tvated plants thrive well; they can be
seen in many of the homes OF those who
were thoughtful enough to take with them
into this country a few sprouts or seed;
the experiment Of cultivation of flowers
has proven successful and interesting