The Wrangell sentinel., 1928-06-14
THE AGRICULTURAL
 FUTURE OF ALASKA
Administrative Assistant Alaska Agricultural Experiment
 Stations
By EILER=HANsEN

The time has come for the gradual development of the agricultural re- sources Of Alaska. IL is estimated that Alaska has 50.oo0 square miles suitable for general farming and 50,= GOO additional square miles adapted to grazing. The regions offering the best opportunities for increasing settlement are the Matanuska and Tanana Valleys. both contiguous to the Alaska Railroad. These valleys have been agriculturally pioneered and contain a nucleus of successful farmers around which substantial communities can readily be built. Alaska needs a steady influx of hardy. capable. self-reIant farmers and their families to establish rural eenters of industrial prosperity.
 Agrfcultural1y speaking. Alaska is divided into three sections; south eastern Alaska. comprising the terri= tory from the southern boundary to Yakutat. This area is suited only to berry and vegetable growing. extremely difficult; southwestern Alaska. which includes Prince Nil= liam Sound. the Kenai and Alaska peninsulas. and the Aleutian Islands This area is adapted chiefly to graz ing. It is sparsely tfmbered and the luxuriant growth of native grasses. beach rye and sedge makes excellent pasture for sheep and cattle. Sever al concerns have recently stocked some of the Aleutian Islands with sheep. However, it is the valleys of interior Alaska that offer real oppor- tunfties to the prospective home steader.
 The climate of interior Alaska does not vary greatly from that of the northern tier of states and south ern Canada. The growing season is shorter but the long hours of sun light are an adequate eompensating factor. It is not unusual for Fair banks to have summer days with a temperature of go or more above zero. The rainfall is extremely light, especially in the Panama Valley, but tbe perpetual frost underlying the soil is a reservoir supplying by eapil- larry attraction sufficient moisture to promote excellent growth. The interior region is timbered with stand of spruce and birch, but the trees are not large and clearing is comparatively easy. Land can be homesteaded and Federal surveys have been made in the accessible re- gions. Tn settled regions such as the Matanuska and Tanana Valleys, it is also possible to buy homestead relinquishments or patented land with clearing and other improve ments. The Matanuska and Tanana Valleys are particularly adapted to diversified farming and dairying. Wheat. oats. rye, barley, yeteh, root crops. etc, can be grown with un- failing success. Of the dairy breeds tried. the Holstein-Friesian seems to be most in favor with the farmers. Tn the fifteen years or more that grain has been grown in the vicinity of Fairbanks, a complete crop fail ure has never been recorded. Better vegetables and berries can be raised in Alaska than anywhere else on the North American continent. If there are still skeptics who doubt the az ricultural capabilities of Alaska, let them journey to Anchorage and buy homegrown potatoes, vegetables and berries. Let them stop at Curry and see the creamery manufacture but ter made from cream shipped by Matanuska dairymen. Let them ob- serve at Fairbanks a co-operatiyeiy operated flour mill grind wheat grown in the Tanana Valley into flour. Let them drive through the country at Matanuska and see grain fields. hogs, sheep, cattle, poultry flowers, gardens, and homes, and meet the successful farmers who live by tilling the soil. That Alaska has vast agricultural possibilities is proven fact. The problem now to be solved is the intelligent develop ment of these resources.
 The progress of agriculture in Al aska depends chiefly on transporta- tion and the facilities for marketing the farmers produce. Alaska i'm ports annually about $5,oOo,o0O worth of food-stuffs that can be raised locally, but as yet the farmers are 100 few to organize and take any material advantage of this home market. When enough produce IS ha local nnn6G an