The Alaska daily empire., 1920-05-22

w ltn spring Fdpldly app O'Ohi"6 in all parts of the Territory, lnfor nation received in Juneau indicates that surprising developments will oc cur in the agricultural sections ot Alaska during the present year Plans. involving to a large degree coopcration between individual ranch CTS. farmers associations and ex rermcnt stations operated by the Department of Agriculture. have been made to make this the banner agr1- cultural year of the Ncr:h.
 Phenomenal growth is expected In he harvests in the Ta1ana Valley. where the greatest farming develop nent in Alaska has been made. This s especially true of all grain crops Wheat and oats will comprise the principal portion of these, although barley and rye will also be grown. Dxreriences of the past four or five wears have demonstrated that these crops can be grown with great sue cess. In that time there has never heen q failure. wheat and oats being fully matured in q season of 87 days Netwecn spring and fall frosts.
 Much Grain Grown
 During the season of 1919 approx imately 5000 bushels of grain were harvested, and many hundred tons of oats sold to dealers and the Alaska Engineering Commission, bringing a market price of 5000 per ton. Alp proximately 2,500 bushels of wheat were threshed and, with the except ion of t,at which was saved for seed requirements, ground up into flour at small mill at the govern inent experimental farm near Fair banks. Samples of this flour sent to the plant laboratory of the De partment of Agriculture at Washing ton, upon analysis, showed the pro duct to be of super fine quality, bread made therefrom comparing fav- orably with that made from the best grade of wheat grown in the States.
 Increased Acreage
 So encouraging was the result of the wheat growers work last year that the acreage put in by the Tan ana Valley formers this year will be much larger than that of last season It is estimated by conser- yative ranchers of the district that at least 5000 bushels of wheat will be threshed next fall, an increase of l2O percent over the previous high yield This increased acreage will most part. be taken care of by not lessen the acreage normally de- voted to other crops, but will, for the newly cleared ground. One 500-acre farm will be cleared this summer for seeding and production during the season of 1921.
 To take care of the wheat har- vest anticipated. the Panama Valley farmers, aided by business interests of Fairbanks, have raised funds to purchasing a new flour mill A rep resentative of the district is now in the States and will have the plant shipped north within a few weeks. It will be installed by winter and ready for operation
 Modern Methods Used
 Although the agricultural industry is in dts infancy, the farmers of the Panama Valley district are using the most modern methods. Motor driven disc blows, mowers, binders, and threshing machines are already in use. At least one ranch owner has purchased a modern caterpillar tractor. The work Of this machine will be watched by otaers, and if it is successful. additional ones will be brought in before the close of navi. gation this season.
 The farmers, during the past few years have been uniformly success full. the majority of them paying iron, the very start. One rancher, oper. ating alone. cleared a little more than $5,000 net profit as the result of the harvest of last year.
 The Matanuska Valley
 The agricultural development of the Matsnuska Valley along the govern ment railway, while not as extensive as that in the Tanana Valley, is similar to the latter. There. also greater future development is as sured.
 A recent issue of the Railroad Re cord. official publication Of the Al aska Engineering Commission, re counting farming developments in the Matanuska Valley district, says: "The Matanuska Valley, along tho government railroad will grow grail this year. In former years, the grair grown was cut for hay, but this year will see a large acreage cut ant threshed. Oats and barley will bt the principal crop, but wheat of ex cefleAt milling quality will also be grown.
 1000 Bushels Thrcshcd
 "One thousand bushels of grair was threshed in the valley this spring from the harvest of last fall; The