El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-04

I lie in the interior beyond the coast rang'
| OF mountains. The other six or seven mil
! lion acres are in the coast region and on the
/ islands nearby. Each section Will have IL
own crop based on It's soil and climate
Some Of the islands XII be devoted to sTa as
lSa, where we are now, will have gardens
from where vegetables Will be shipped "a
Seattle commanding a higher price thar
the Puget Sound products account OF
their superior quality Indeed, such ship
ments are even now being made
Is Fine for CpttIe.
THE climate Of the AIeutian Islands Is
mild. and hardy cattle and sheep can IN
many seasons run out all winter or be kept
over with "A small amount OF hay and fod-
der. We are now wintering our cattle on
the island OF Kodiak on the equivalent of
two tons Of hay per head. We do not use
hay. but put green grass into the 5ilos me
cattle are kept up at night, but that is TO
protect them from the bears rather than
on account OF the cold. We can raise cattle
almost anywhere in the Yukon valley, but
the trouble there is the long winters. when
they have TO be fed for something Ike eight
months Of the year.
In the interior Of Alaska the grass
grows almost everywhere to the height OF
ones head" continued Prof. Georgeson. Il
have seen many patches as tall as a man
upon horseback. Such grass Is FOUND IN
southwestern Alaska, and everywhere on the
moist grounds throughout the interior. II
makes valuable hay IL il is cut early, but
II LETT to ripen it becomes tough and
woody.
Native Hay $50; Imported SIPS
At Fairbanks such hay now brings $50
and upward ton, while imported Alfalfa
sells for S125 a ton. 1 remember that 1
got as much as S240 a ton for grain hay
when we had an experiment station on the
Copper river near Cordova, and that we
often sold hay there for as high as five
cents pound. This was before the people
had started farming. After that they sent
IN objections to the Agricultural depart
ment at Washington. saying that the OK
pertinent station ought not to compete IN
the markets. The matter was brought be-
~ Tlr
a ton was too high for hay and ordered
US TO keep on raising It and selling II until
that he thought SIS ton was enough for
hay anywhere"
Experiments Made With Alfalfa.
How about your experiments with al
The Alaska stations have been working
for several years on that problem, the most
Of our experiments having been made at
have brought in seed from many parts Of
the earth, but so far have found only one
species that is absolutely hardy. This is
yellow-flowered alfalfa indigenous 70
Siberia, from where the seed came through
the department OF agriculture. 1t has
smaller leaves than the common alfalfa,
and the stems are more slender. me
flowers are yellow instead OF purple, and Il
has this fault that the pods split open and
shatter much OF the seed in the handling.
That alfalfa has never been winter killed
at the Rampant station, and we have made
several crosses between It and other varie-
t-'o hAN AFalAg ~ MAAAg We ASNN
the alfalfa. not only as feed, but as
heterogeneous fertilizer for the soil. This al
falfa fills the requirements, and it is mere
" a questioR OF time when we will have
country
All Leading Grains Raised.
I'VE are now ripening all OF the leading !
grains at our interior experiment stations. |
During 1918 we matured and harvested on |
our i2rm at FAIRBANKS 1900 bushels or gram |
comprising wheat. rye, barley and oats. II |
is true that these were made up OF the I
earliest and hardest varieties. but the de- !
veiopment OF varieties suitable TO the coun- :
try is one OF the tasks OF the experiment /
stations. with that in view we have made !
a number Of crosses and have succeeded In |
producing many promising hybrids.
We are raising earlier and more produc- 4
tive barleys than the best we have been l
able to mature in more southern ATTITUDES. I
and we have dwarf spring wheat that j. /
very early. Il came from an experiment |
station in Siberia. It f. only a matter OF !
time when we shall get one or more varie-
and be productive enough TO make Il worth
cultvating. We are now making many eN-
a. to winter rye and are succeed
.ns- we are also experimenting with win
ter wheat and ] think we shall eventually
produce all the grains for both flour and
iced that will be needed by the people who
nhabit the territory and that az freight
rates fall It may even pay TO export grain
10 the states. Today all grain is high in
Rampant"
NhtIt viii Do farming center u
llasza?''
There will be many such" said Prof.
5eorgesOn- Farms will spring up about
very important mining settlement. Fair
lanks is the largest Of the gold camps to-
lay. and that region has the most and best
armers- Since the government has decided
o build the railroad two or three hundred
antilles have located homeateads IN the
iatahuska valley with a view to supplying
he demands Of the coal mines Of that re-
ion. There are a number OF successful
arms in the neighborhoOd OF Seward and
many small farms about juneau. which is
mother mining center OF great Importance.
here are little farms scattered throughout
his part OF the territory and indeed wher-
yer there is a local market you will find
farm center. These Centers will enlarge I
nd as new settlements are established
Their farms will be opened up, and Alaska
Ill become a great and populous state
Good Place for Americans.
Would you, advise Americans to come
D Alaska to engage in farming"
Yes. II they understand the conditions
nd know what they are going to find when
hey reach here and are ready to stay and
row up with the country. I would not al
ise people to rush in pell nell and take up
omesteads wherever they can be found
imply because Uncle Sam will give them
arm for nothing. The wouldbe spectators
Ill stand slim chance OF making money
y a rise In land values.
There IS no land for sale, and Uncle Sam
the sole owner. He will not sell his
nds. but will give them away only 70 bona 1
de settlers and to those who will keep on