The Alaska daily empire., 1922-11-18
PRACTICAL AID
TO FARMERS IS
FORECAST SOON
Inspector to Recommend New
Policy for Agricultural
Stations Here.

Closer cooperation between the
Department of Agriculture and indi-
vituals engaged in agricultural pur-
suits in Alaska is expected to be
brought about in the near future, ac-
cording to Ed. NJ. Kane, secretary
of the temporary organization OF
farmers of this district started sew
eral weeks ago 1t is expected that
something resembling the county
agent methods used in the States will
be undertaken by the Department in
Alaska. he said.
Ward to Recommend Aid
1.-THE Alaska farmers will receive
within short time the same service
from the Department of Agriculture.
that the ranchers OF the States are
now getting, if the recommendation
that Herbert S. Ward, special inspec-
tor of the Department of Agricul-
ture, who recently spent several
days in Juneau on an inspection tour,
are carried out" said Mr.. Kane. "Mr.
Ward stated to me that the Depart
ment was spending millions of dol
lars every year, in an effort to help
the farmers overcome the numerous
handicaps which they encounter from
time to time, to aid them in produc-
ing products that are hest suited to
their soil and help them in increasing
their annual output. And that he
know that it was the desire of Sec
rotary Wallace, that this service be
rendered the ranchers of Alaska, as
nearly as it is practicable to do so.
"Mr Ward further said that he did
not believe that the duties of an Agri-
cultural Experiment Station should
be confined to experimenting with
the growing of the various plants and
grains, but that its greater work was
in cultivating a closer relationship
with the men who are producing the
actual crops. He said he will recon-
mend that the service of the sta
tions in Alaska be enlarged to such
an extent that representative of
the local stations will from time to
time visit each farming community.
and advise and consult with ranchers
and gardeners on questions OF purely
local interest. 1t is in this capacity
only, he stated, that the department
can hope to render the proper SER
vice to the men who are cultivating
the soil.
"He was greatly interested in the
success of the Southeastern Alaska
Country Fair, that was held in Ju-
neau last September, but was dis
appointed that the Agricultural Elk
pertinent station was not personally
represented. He said that agricul-
tural fairs are means of promot-
ing interest in farming and a great
help in raising the quality and quaint
ity of foodstuffs and that the Dc
partment Of Agriculture made a prac
tice Of rendering every possible help
Q in making expositions of this kind a
success. He further stated that he
could assure the management OF next
years fair. that the Department
would be represented in such way
that the ranchcrs and gardeners can
learn just what service the local
stations can, and is in a position, to
render thcm.
Interest Is Increasing
Local interest in agriculture has
increased materially on account of
the late Country Fair. According to
reports from Strawberry Point, sew
eral men have filed on land in that
section just recently. and a number
OF others are considering taking up
homesteads in that section. The |
residents Of Strawberry Point have
made application for local weather /
station and that the mail boat Este.
beth's service be extended to their
community"