AGRICULTURE

The 1923 harvest season was most favorable for farmers. All kinds of grain, both early and late, seeded at the experiment stations at Fairbanks and Matanuska matured. In one respect the season was unfavorable in that many varieties matured which will be failures in normal seasons, and late varieties of spring wheat, for instance, which usually are failures in Alaska in normal years would this year have to be counted as successes. In seasons less favorable than that of 1923 only the earlier varieties of spring wheat, barley, and oats will mature. It is essential that extensive variety tests be conducted at the stations in order to ascertain which are the earliest, and which can therefore be recommended as safe for the farmers to plant. At Fairbanks station there were under test 42 varieties and selections of wheat, 81 varieties and selections of barley, and 35 varieties of oats. All of these matured, but there was a disappointing difference in their earliness. The earliest spring wheat grown in Alaska at the present time is a variety obtained from Russia a dozen years ago and which is now known as Siberian No. 1. Some of the

farmers in the Tanana Valley call it the Tanana Valley Red, because up to the present time it has been their stand-by. However, it is not a heavy yielder though at the experiment station at Fairbanks it produced 25 bushels to the acre.

But this is above the average for general farm practice. Another variety grown in the Tanana Valley is also of Russian origin and is known as Romanow. It is somewhat later than Siberian No. 1. On the experiment station at Fairbanks it yielded 16 bushels per acre. Among the hybrids which have been produced by the Alaska experiment stations there is one known as No. 30, which is a cross between Siberian No. 1 and Marquis. It is slightly later than Siberian No. 1, but has much larger heads and is expected to become a heavy yielder when introduced in general farm practice. Many other crosses are of almost equal promise and with due care in the selection it is certain that the stations have produced hybrids which will displace other varieties in the near future. It takes from four to six years to establish a hybrid. It will continue to show variations for that length of time. The 81 varieties of barley grown at the Fairbanks station included all the leading varieties suitable for northern latitudes. Barley is slightly earlier than wheat and therefore some of the standard sorts grown in the northern States will mature in Alaska in normal years. All matured last year. One difficulty with barley is that it lodges readily in stormy weather, especially bearded varieties. As a general thing barley straw is weak and is easily broken down by storms. Among the hybrids produced at the Alaska experiment stations there is one known as Hybrid No. 19, which it is believed is destined to displace all other sorts in the near future. It is beardless and it has a very stiff straw. It seldom lodges. It is an excellent yielder, and while not as early as some smaller and inferior varieties, it is early enough to mature in all normal seasons. The 35 varieties of oats grown at the Fairbanks station included also all the leading oats for northern latitudes. Among these there were a number of hybrids and some of these are of great promise. One of these hybrids, No. 51, is a

hull-less variety which can be used for a breakfast food as it comes from the thresher and fanning mill without being milled, although of course there is no objection to milling it if so desired. It is a promising variety. Another hybrid is No. 25, which will prove to be a valuable feed oats. It is of vigorous growth with broad leaves and has plump kernels. It is an excellent variety for hay and silage. The legumes, peas, alfalfas, vetches, etc., were a success at Fairbanks and likewise at Rampart, where legumes were made a specialty. The hardy alfalfa, Medicago falcata, which is grown chiefly at Rampart station for the production of seed, yielded more than 200 pounds of seed from the small acreage in cultivation at Rampart. It is a smaller plant than common alfalfa. The stems are more slender and the leaves smaller, but its feeding qualities are equal to those of common alfalfa. Its one important feature for Alaska is that it is absolutely hardy, while all other varieties of alfalfa tested at the various stations are not hardy. The past winter was a severe one. At Rampart station the temperature fell at one time to 56 below zero. Nevertheless, young alfalfa plants in an exposed situation where the snow had blown off did not winterkill, but came out in the spring in excellent condition. Another legume that has proved to be of great value is a species known as Ticia cracea. It is perennial, continuing for an indefinite period. It is a vigorous grower of excellent forage, and it is absolutely hardy. One hundred and sixty pounds of seed from this species was harvested at Rampart station. Several other varieties were grown, particularly at Fairbanks and Matanuska Experiment Stations, with marked success.

The spring of 1924, although late in coming, has on the whole been very propitious for farming operations. Seeding began late in May, but since then the weather has been favorable, with timely showers, and the prospects are excellent for a good harvest the present year.

At Matanuska Experiment Station the conditions were even more favorable than at Fairbanks during the harvest season of 1923. Matanuska is a little farther south than Fairbanks, and the winters are correspondingly milder and the summers a little longer. At Matanuska the first killing frost occurred in 1923 on the 23d of September. Normally the first killing frost will appear the first week in September and sometimes earlier. All grains tried at that station matured.

The station owning the only threshing machine in the Matanuska Valley is in the habit of threshing the crops of near-by farmers. and the station machine threshed out 875 bushels of fully matured grain, about half of which belonged to the station and the other half to near-by farmers. It is estimated that the total yield of grain in the Matanuska Valley was 2,500 bushels. Thirty-seven varieties of spring wheat were grown in trial plats at Matanuska station, 27 varieties of barley and 15 varieties of oats, all of which matured perfectly. Selections are being made of the best ones which will be grown in larger plats for the purpose of securing more seed, and available seed which can be recommended will be distributed in small quantities to farmers, who desire them, free of charge. All of these grains have been seeded again this spring and will be tested out further the present summer.

The livestock at the stations has all done well. At the Kodiak station purebred Galloways and purebred Holstein-Friesian cattle are kept and reciprocal crosses are made between these for the purpose of developing a dairy cow that shall be as hardy as the Galloway and at the same time produce a larger amount of milk than the Galloway does. Progress is being made with these crosses. It is planned to establish a strictly Alaska dairy cow suited to the cold rainy weather of the coast region. At the present time six of these crossbred cows are in milk and their production is much better than that of purebred Galloways, although not equal to HolsteinFriesians. At Matanuska station purebred Shorthorns are kept of the milking type. These are likewise doing well. A flock of sheep are also kept at Matanuska. They are being improved by the use of long-wooled rams, particularly Cotswolds, and several farmers have secured a start in sheep breeding from the station flock. At Fairbanks station an interesting experiment is in progress, the production of a hardy bovine by crossing a yak bull on purebred Galloway cows. One hybrid heifer calf was dropped in May. At Fairbanks station also purebred Hampshire hogs are being bred for the purpose of trying them out and to introduce the stock among the farmers. There is a demand for pigs of this breed for breeding purposes and they are better adapted to the climate than the Duroc Jerseys which were formerly kept at that station.

The prospects are good for a successful season for Alaska farmers.

LABOR CONDITIONS

On the whole, conditions affecting labor in Alaska in 1923 were favorable in all branches of industry. The labor market was well balanced in that there was no marked shortage and no unemployment. The only exception noted to this condition was in the case of skilled miners who were difficult to obtain.

The wages paid were well adjusted to the cost of living in the Territory.

Complete returns are not available with regard to the total number of men employed in all branches of labor during the year, nor as to the total pay roll. The fishing industry employed 16,924 men during 1923, which is an increase of 16 per cent over the number employed for 1922. The pay roll in the fishing industry shows a somewhat greater increase than the number of men employed, the increase in wages paid being 19 per cent. The combined pay roll of the mining and fishing industry amounted to a total of $14,540,000 of which the fisheries industry paid $8,160,000 and the mining industry $6,380,000.

The mining industry employed a total of about 5,100 men, which is a material increase over the previous year.

There were no reports received of any disturbances in the nature of strikes or otherwise during the year.

There were no changes during the past year in the wage scale in effect in the mining industry.

During 1922 the wage scale at the larger lode mines of the coastal region ranged as follows:

From the above wages deductions are made for board and room and for hospital fees and medical attendance. Deductions for board range from $1 to $1.50 per day and for hospital and medical attendance from $1.50 to $2.40 per month.

Living costs in the coastal sections of Alaska are slightly higher than in the States of the Pacific coast.

Wages and living conditions in interior Alaska are difficult to state in general ternis owing to the wide fluctuations between localities. In the larger camps, such as Fairbanks and Iditarod, wages for placer miners are from $5 to $6 per day, in addition to which the operators furnish board. The item of board is estimated at from $2 to $3 per day. In more remote regions wages of from $7 to $10 per day and board are received.

HEALTH CONDITIONS

No serious epidemics were reported during the year. The mortality from disease continues to be greatly under the average for the States, which is equally true of the morbidity rate.

During the year 1923 there were recorded 716 deaths and 864 births, a gain of 148.

Whooping cough, influenza, and chicken pox were the only contagious diseases appearing in sufficient number of cases to be termed epidemics.

No changes were made in the personnel of the board of health, and there have been no important developments in the public health work other than the collection of statistical information, the dissemination of literature to assistant commissioners of health, Government teachers, and others interested in health work and the preparation of circulars relative to quarantine and isolation of contagious diseases.

ALASKA INSANE

On June 30, 1924, the legally adjudged insane from Alsaka had been cared for at Morningside Hospital, situated near Portland, Oreg., under contract between the sanitarium company and the Department of the Interior, for a period of 2012 years. During this period there have been admitted to Morningside Hospital a total of 1,025 patients: 281 having died and 497 were discharged.

Of

At the close of the fiscal year 1924 there were 247 patients at this institution, an increase of 4 over the preceding fiscal year. these, 212 were males and 35 females. There were admitted to the

institution during the fiscal year 52 patients. Twenty-five patients were discharged and 23 died.

Further particulars are shown in the following table:

During the year six patients eloped from the hospital and five were deported, all males. A number of the patients are on full and partial parole.

An inspector from the Department of the Interior during the year inspected the Morningside Hospital.and made a favorable report concerning the institution and care given the patients. Suggestions for improvement were made which received attention by the management of the hospital.

CLIMATE

The fiscal year 1924 was preceded by a warm and rather dry spring and early summer.

July was warmer than the average in all sections. Temperatures of 90° or more were recorded at many stations. Precipitation was below normal except at a few coast stations.

August was much warmer than the average, and maximum temperatures in excess of former August records were recorded in portions of the southeastern section. Precipitation was somewhat deficient. Maturity of grain crops was hastened in the interior and harvesting was well under way by the middle of the month.

September was much warmer than the average at nearly all stations in the Territory. In the extreme northern portion the ground thawed deeper than usual. Precipitation was also greater than usual, many stations reporting double the normal amount. Snowfall was light.

October temperatures were much above the seasonal average, except in the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands, the excess being most marked in the Yukon Valley. Precipitation was decidedly below normal in most sections, but was much heavier than usual in the Pacific coast section. Snowfall was generally light, and, as in the preceding month, confined almost entirely to the northern portion of the Territory.

November was much warmer than usual in all sections, and precipitation was considerably above the average in the southern seetions. Snowfall was light.

December temperatures were below normal in most sections except the southeast, although at the close of the month the temperatures in the southeast were not as high as in the Arctic region. Pre