The Alaska daily empire., 1915-10-20
YUKON-TANANA DISTRICT GOOD
 FOR FARMING

A -AN A tAAeAI--et et
 
 In hiB recent report ol tho farming possibilities in the Yukon-Tanana dis- trlct. made 70 che Department ol Ag- riculture. Hugh G. Bennett stated "That crops can Dc succcaeioily pro- duced in Che yukou.Tanan0 region is an established fact. Corn can not be matured there. il is true, nor apples. and other crops by nature unsuited Co the climate. not is it likely that such crops win ever loo grown there with much succesa. but it is iact that number Of cropn which stand in the flrst rank as good crops Cor both man and stock are actually be- ing grown very successfully
 The principal crops of Che region are potatoes. vegetables. grain, as yet grown chiefly for hay and native hay, Successful result8 havo been had with an of these. and ln addition number Of varieties of grain have been no. tured for seed and oxpcrimontally to determine the possibilities of tho country. Although agriculture is in @ pioneer stage, it cannot be denied that much has been accomplished to- ward solving the problems of crop production. both through tho excellent work Of the agricultural experiment stations at Fairbanks and Rampant and by the farmers themselves. Some or the agricultural problems have been attacked with more directness of purpose and have boon moro nearly solved than in many of tho old farm. Ing sections of tho United Statos For example. growers generally have concluded, on the basis of rosuit8 ob- tained. that the we'll drained silt loam of the southward-facing slopes, is the best potato soli of the region. both with respect to yield and quality
 Region self-sustainino
 While it ha6 been conclunivoly dem- onstrated that this is Q region of im- portant crop-rowlng possibilities. a great deal remains 10 be done to os- tabllsh an agriculture ot largo pro- portions. A type of agriculture that would be largely seitsustaining in a8 assured possibility; this has been demonstrated by actual results in Che field. and there is every reason to be-. lieve that the Yukon Panama region could support. or largely support, population several times larger than the whole number of people at pres- ent in Alasl,n. This would mean in. creased growing of the prosent crops and the raising of stock.
 There is much to be done, however. before extensive farming operations can be carried on. Seed of those var ietes best adapted to tho conditions, those that win mature and yield the best. must be put in tho hands of the farmers. In this task the experiment stations arc busily engaged. Yarie- ties of grain. potatoes and other crops which have at least proved success ful already have been determined through the experiments carried on at these stations. It remains for seed of these best known varieties to be made available for tho farmers. and for the farmers to be made acquaint ed with those cultural methods which are most fitted to the climate the soil. and the particular crop to be grown The farmer must acQuaint himself with those local peculiarities of climate which often infect crop production to O marked degree. and with the requisites of different soils in the matter Of drainage iertiliza- tion. and tnlage. There must be @ market for the surplus of products of the farm in addition to tho home market Before this can loo found transportation facilities must bo im- proved and ratesroduced. A farming population must be directed to the land. and roads built through uppopu- lated sections embracing favorable ag- ricultural lands as on incentive to their development.
 Real Farmoro Needed
 It is likely that ihe building of the railway from tho coast to this region win give a decided impetus Go agricul- tural activities; but obviously it would be unwise for outsiders to rush to this region without capital and some knowledge of the conditions. The es- tablishment of a substantial, perma- nent agriculture here win depend undoubtedly upon the gradual devel- opment accompanying tho opening of highways and railways, tho expansion ol mining. and tho Increase -of popula- ton and markets; and tho bringing about Of such agricultural develop ment probably will require the efforts of that type of farmer who win loo satisfied. at least for @ lime. with the production Of sufficient meat and other food Co meet his immediate re-