The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-03

Of vegetation ID Alaska, put. like 9TH
ers. he was unable to comprehend the
possibilities Of the country because he
had misconception Of the climatic
son. During our trip up the Matanus.,
ka valley we came to clearing Of
about an acre.yof land, and I never saw
grass grow as it did on that particular
acre. It had probably been rendez
vous for moose, and may have been ma
nured in this way, but lit was an ex-
ceptional growth. asked him to stop
his horse and raise his hand above him.
B He did SO and found that the grass
fingers, a height. of at least eight feet,
and it was not scattered or coarse grass,
but an even field of redtop and blue
stem, as thick as grass could stand on
the ground.
Horses Thrive In Alaska.
"a horse will live all the winter all
thru the Sushitna valley without any
attention whatever. We know that, be-
i cause our own horses have done it.
4 It is q matter Of common knowledge
that they do it. Some breeds Of cattle
j cannot live there all winter without
attention. The Durham and like breeds
i cannot. but Herefords would live, on
4 their own foraging. The Herefords are
accustomed to do their own foraging,
being strong. robust animals, with
q heavy hair. They paw the snow from
. the grass and thus secure ready access
to it. The grass makes the best kind
of hay. O. G. Herring, manager Of a
hydraulic mining plant in the Sushitna
valley, has moving machine and puts
up hay every year from 200 acres Of
land The average yields not less
than three tons to the acre. This grass
> grows all thru the Tanana and Sushitna
! valleys, wherever there is an opening
! in the timber
e itg'' : -
e eyes, sir; wheat, rye and barle,
t and nearly every kind of vegetable
n that will grow in the temperate zone
r variety adapted to the country lik,
It the Russian club wheat. From what
g know Of wheat raising-and I wa
y reared on farm--the wheat that
is have seen in the Sushitna valley yield
r. as abundantly as our wheat in Wash
n ington state-thlrty bushels to tn
< Valleys Are Productive.
le attI do not mean, to imply that thes'
IN favorable agricultural conditions pr!
i'd vail all over Alaska. speak onl
g, of the central valleys. Alaska is al
States east Of the Mississippi river an
it's climatic conditions are just a
. varied. The sushitna valley, which
ne perhaps the most favored Of them al
ze is about $50 miles long and 100 mile
ut wide. It is a very rich country an
~ easily traversed. It is covered wit
e. forests of spruce and hemlock, vii
ed here, and there openings Of from l :
be 1000 acres covered with the ran
of growth Of redtop and blue-stem gra
OF Of which I have spoken. do n
on claim that the agricultural possibi
s. ties are going to be the Ell im 1pea
all attracting a great deal Of attentio
lat Last year in Seward sixty-four HON
he steads were filed. I'm Alaska the CO
RS of supplies has been SO great tn
90. agricultural occupation has been. i
he possible, except to supply the loo
les markets, but when railroads shall ha
700 opened these great valleys the farm
ng will be there, for the mines and ifs
red market that will make sure to him
vns unlimited sale Of all he can raise
Jan the highest price,