The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-03-30


climate determine the matter,
Alaska has probably 100000
square miles OF area on which there
are possibilities for farming and graz
ing. The larger portion of the farm
ing land is in the interior, in the Yu-
kon drainage.
Currants, rasCJerries, gooseberries,
strawberries, blueberries, and cram
berries are plentiful in Alaska. Some
varieties of wheat, oats, rye, barley,
potatoes and many other vegetables
have matured every season since the
United States department of agricul-
ture started its work. The department
has four stations one is on the Yukon
within - miles of the Arctic circle,
another is also in the interior, while
there is one in the southeastern and
another in the southwestern portion
Of the territory.
1t has been positively demonstrated
that forage crops may be grown in the
southwestern and central portions as
well as potatoes and other garden
vegetables. Chicken raising is also
proving feasible. II has also been es-
timated that a great number of farm
products are shipped in that might
easily be raised on the ground.
A recently issued bulletin on Alaska,
while citing many optimistic facts al
so warns the homesteader that there
are many difficulties to be encoun-
tered.
On the south coast, where the cli-
mate is mild, tillable land is scarce,
because of the proximity Of the noun
tains to the shore line; elsewhere in
Alaska the winters are long and very
cold and frost-proof buildings must be
provided for shelter Of family and
stock.
The ground freezes to a great depth
and there is but short period during
which this can thaw, and the surface
is covered with an accumulation Of un-
decayed moss and other vegetable ma /
terial serving as q protection to the I
frost and a reservoir for moisture. The T
frost line under natural conditions
sinks but a few feet during a season,
and the thawed layer is usually a
morass of muck in all portions Of Alas
ka where tillage is possible. This CON
dltion makes land travel almost out
of the question during the summer un-
til wagon roads shall have been built,
and these must be largely Of the cor
duroy type. Meantime the farm home
must generally be located close to nav
igable water.
The swdnpy character of much Of
the surface of Alaska makes 1t a great
ground for mosquitoes and
gnats, which are almost intolerable
pests to both man and beast, 1t also
makes drainage a prerequisite In or
der to remove the surplus water so
that the land can be worked, raise the
Of the surface soil,
lower the frost line, facilitate the de-
cay of the accumulated organic mat
ter, and bring about chemical changes
Which will transform the soil from
very acid condition to one much less
so. Nature requires much time for
this last process.
Where the vegetable accumulations "
are largely moss, this must be de- ,
stroyed, either by burning or by cart
ing it from the land, for if plowed un-
der it decays very slowly and seems
to have an injurious effect on most
crop plants.
The timber growth which occurs on
practically all the land suitable for
illage, must, Of course, be cleared
from the land.
All this wOrk-building houses and I
1arns, draining, clearing land Of moss t
md timber, is very slowly accom- /
1lished in the short outdoor working t
season if done single handed by the t
and costly, almost pro- ?
nibitiveIy so, if hired labor is used, t
because of the high wages and living t
expenses. 0
Lack Of general transportation S
which would open up the country, Of e
ocal wagon roads, schools, churches, 0
md other features Of preSent-day life, 0
md of the markets in which to sell 0
arm products and from which to OBJ 0
ain home supplies and farm equip Il
ncnt are deterrent features It pres s
mt but they will disappear in time. Is
The federal homestead laws extend 0
o Alaska, excepting that, instead Of i
60 acres, 32O may be filed upon. Very 1