Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-10

a question nt raising enough seed to
meet the demand. Alfalfa is not cui-
tirated 50 far north as this anywhere
else upon earth.
Az we looked at tho alfalfa. asked
Mr. Gasscr whether the soil WAS deep
enough for the crop. In the Quilted
states our alfalfa roots sometimes go
he stopped by tho glacial icc-bed.
which is less than yard from the
surface.
They stop "a, the ice was tho re-
ply. and the cuds "f til" roots freeze
or. However. the roots spread out
above this. and 10y cultivation. the
ground thaws deeper ana deeper
asked Mr.. t;asscr il he thought
farming could bc carried on success
fully in Alaska lie replied
Yes. but ~ FIRST the farming posi-
bilitics will lie determined by the de-
mandS OF the local market. and these
are very limited Later some things
may be raised for export. Our pota-
toes arc excellent aud our vegetables
more palatahlc than amy grown in the
states. The quick growth OF the shori.
hot summer makes them Swecter and
iucicr. Our turntpS Sutihass any grown
further south. and "" expect that some
day all tho iuruiD seed OF the United
states will hc raised in Alaska. w"
can grow lettuce. hcctS, beans. peas
and carrots. and | believe VIC shall he
able TO raise many kinds OF berries.
| have just gathered my first straw
berry crop. It came from that patch. :
And here the farmer pointed 10 half
dozen strawberry vines. There wcro
IA few berries on them. and the PROS
poet for anvthiuc like a rawberry
crop looked thin Nh. Case" sicnaled
the house aud q man brought out the
strawberry crou Z, consisted Of
dozen red berries half iillin. q teacup.
one Of the ladies az our party picked
np a berry aud Was about I" sample
il when the farmer gently took il out
OF her hand aud told nor that hc wish
cd Ia make a uhotosraph Of tho crop
Tor the Agricultural Department. His
plants hay. NOW G""s through two
winters ana this small Weld is c"nsid-
cred q triurph. - there IS II" record
Of Strawberries having been grown so
far north before.
Mr.. Gasscr's rcmarkS rs 10 tho local
market OF Alaska should be kept IL
mind by all who think OF coming to
the tcrrttorv L" engage in farming
The prices Of all things here arc high.
but The demand * 50 limited that an
them below The cost OF production.
There ar. I'm tho whole territory IN
GLIDING tho Indians. less than 100000
people. and ,hov ave scattered over a
country "u"-i'th as large as the whole
United states.
RESIDENT rurlI.tTION
SEEMS 10 RE NEEDED
Indeed cannot see how there can
be hic opportunities for farming here
until there arc uNcd Industries that
will warrant resident population.
The opening up Of the country 10y the
railroad viii bring in many new miners
and placer settlements Will spring up
and bc abandoned just like these VIII
lagos ON the Yukon. II great dredc-
Ing operations like those near Dawson
he undertaken. or low grade quartz
mining properties like those OF Jaueau
he found. the country will need men
TO operate the plants. The discovery OF
Copper mines or Tin mines might pro-
duCc a like result
Tn. comparisons Of Alaska with Nor
way. Sw"deu ami Finland do not take
into cons liberation tho enormous popu-
latiou on tho other side OF tho Baltic
Sea and their nearncsS TO the british
Isles. Siberia has large areas Of wheat
growing territory, and wheat Will bear
cNportatiou u has thousands who are
engaged in dairyiuc. and there are SOL
i'll butter trains, which. in times OF