The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-11-18
COL. 0HLSON HERE FOLLOWING TRIP
 BACK 10 SWEDEN

bASh lU 9WEVEN
 Col. Otto F. Ohlson, General Manager cf the Alaska Railroad from 1928 to 1946. and -presi- dent of the Alaska Rural Rehabili- raticn Corporation since it's incep- ten in 1885. has arrived in Juneau after four and a half months trip to his home land Sweden-his inst in 56 years.
 In the interests of farming im- rrovements in Alaska, Ohlson made arrangements with the Swedish CcTelnmen. and Washington, D. C. to allow inspection free shipment here of superior grass and grain seeds from tliat country
 While in Europe, the former rail- way manager. visited Norway, Fin land, Denmark, Holland and Swed en In tre company of Prof Nielsen, head of the Swedish Farm Experiment Stations, he inspected 30 farming stations.
 Thrcughcu. Sweden, he said, he found hardy varieties of grain, in cluding wheat. oats, barley and flax This was particularly true of Ncrtharn Sweden, which is in ap- prcximstely the same latitude as Alaska
 He attributes the superiority of Swedish grams and grasses to the Letter type of seeds used. The Scandinavian vegetation is more nutritive for cattle, and is a hard fer plant than that grown in Alas ka, Ohlson declared.
 Apple trees are grown in places protected from the Northern winds In all types oI production, growers are aided by bulletins backed by extensive research from the gov ernment.
 SecL1 gre Sent Here
 The seeds a.d cuttings being sent here by the Swedish govern ment are expected to arrive some time in the Spring early enough tcr seasonal planting in the Mata- nuska valley farms.
 Tn Sweden Ohlson purchased an Fl Capitan automobile, model Opel for his tour of the Scandinavian countries The car, a General Mot ors product, was manufactured in Germany. Although the sheet metal S7dy was mot too good" the cars engine was wonderful.
 While touring Sweden the Alas kan-hy-choice also investigated the country's reindeer situation, and found much to be gained by study o1 it's handling of these animals.
 In Sweden reindeer meat, deli ciCus to the taste" is served in all the better hotels and restaurants as well as homes, he said. Rein deer hides are made into various clothing items such as exceedingly smart riding brooches and gloves.
 Reindeer herds are kept by pri- vate owners, much as cattle herds are kept in this country. The ami mals are slaughtered at the proper time, when the meat is prime for human consumption-during Octo- Der and November.
 In comparing this picture with the Alaskan reindeer situation Ohlson said chat due in large part to improper handling, Alaska now has approximately 60,000 reindeer whereas Is years ago she had an estimated one million.
 Several years ago a law was en- acted whereby Alaskan reindeer were turned over to the Bureau ot Indian Affairs Teachers in the various Alaska Native Service Schools were put in charge of loca supervision m seeing that only In dians are allowed to use the ami n1als.
 In the wlio herds, the reindeer are often absorbed in the larger caribou herds that move East tC Canada's feeding grounds, and are therefore lost to Alaska. i Under proper handling the herd. "ould be increased rather than de- creased, Ohison said A natural in- crease should be p per cent eacf year.
 Why Herd Decreases
 Reindeer are often Killed by Alas kan aboriginals for dog food, ht added. Another reason for the de crease of herds is the yearly tol taken in wolf attacks. These pre- datory animals tear out the rein. ir=-=---==.-- ----=....-. N