The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-10-08

To the average person the mention
ofAlaska brings to the mind a picture
OF ice and snow: that any person
should take up a residence there to
follow the simple life OF a farmer
seems beyond comprehension.
Nevertheless this territory is fast
becoming a garden-spot. With few ex.
ceptlons the country will produce
everything in the agricultural line
grown In the states" Seeds and
labor are the two all-lmportant fac.
tors. The men and women who are
subduing the Alaskan wilderness need
not be exhorted to labor: they do their
share of the worlds work nobly. and
the garden seed is being furnished
them by the experiment stations on
application. The bureau of plant in.
dustry of the United States depart
ment OF agriculture has kindly fur
nished seeds to the stations for this
purpose.
Persons who are seeking informa-
tion about Alaska are recommended
to read the letters published herewith.
They are In n way more valuable than
reports from the experiment stations,
in that they record the things the PEG.
pie accomplish. These are only a few
OF the letters received ON that sub
ject. All that reach the station are
not written In the same sanguine mood
which characterizes most OF these.
TalFa, uyh ha, mt
favorable and many report failure.
though most Of the following letters
report splendid successes. Then,
again. the reader Is recommended Ia
study them because Of the practical
directions found In many. To garden
successfully In Alaska requires ex'
perience, whether one gets II for him
self or utilizes the experience OF 9th
ers The latter plan may often save
time and labor, TO say nothing OF dis.
appointments. The reports show the
possibilities OF the country From tho
southernmost boundary TO far north OF
the arctic circle they tell what Alaska
can produce under ordinary pioneer
conditions, with very meager facilities
s. Stride, Haines, Alaska, November
20, 1907.--Thanks for trees and bushes
sent last spring. All are alive, but
the growth was not much on the ap
pies, about ~ inches. The apple trees
OF 1906 did much better this year
growing 26 inches. The raspberries
grew four feet canes, but one-half OF
the fruit did not rlpen before frost
came and destroyed II. ] think II you
can get a cross between the salmon
berry and raspberry II will ripen here
all right. My currants bore fruit and
are doing well. sent TO British Co
lumbia last spring for dewberry bush
es, but they were too long coming ane
died. Shall try again. My potatoes
rhubarb. carrots. and turniDs did well
l.. s. williams, Montauk Point. Eagle
Alaska. October Is. 1907.-The seeds
you sent me last year have been triet
with fair success The cabbage die
not do well. believe the soil was mo-
suited for IT, Lettuce, radishes ant
carrots OF amy kind grow as well as II
any country. Scarlet Horn is really
the best carrot. Parsnips and beet
did fairly wen Potatoes about eight
fold. They, as well as everything else
seem 10 grow better as the groun'
gets worked well with manure. NJ
flowers did not do very well. probably
due to late planting. Rutabagas ant
turnips grow fine. | am we'll pleased
with the results, but expect 10 do still
better next ~ason, as am learning.
Henry Butke, Cinema, Alaska. Octo
Der Is, 1905 wish 10 report the re
suit OF the seed that was sent me
Brussels sprouts, cabbage kale. car