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VDL. 11
Palner, Alaska
■August 27, 1948
No. 34
FIELD OflD A SUCCESS
Erperiment Station Personnel and the Ex
tension Service were well pleased over the
turn out and interest shown.on Field Day
at the Experment Station F.-xm at ll; tonus
ka on Thursday of this week. They estima
ted that about 80 persons attended. The
weathef man was kind and furnished excel
lent wepther so that the different tours
to the Experiment plots on the Farm could
be made. . .
From 11 a.m. until noon guests were free
to wander about farm unchaperoned. After
lunch the group was given a brief resume
of the Field Day Program and its purpose,
by p-rker Lester. Following Introductions
of the Farm Personnel and a brief outline
of the Experimental policies in Alaska and
the set-up under the U.S.D.A. by Don L.
Irwin, the tour of the farm began.
Dr. Myran Babb, Horticulturist, took the
group to the Green house where the work'
in Potato experimentation was explained.
About 8000 seedlirtgs representing 80 vari
eties of potatoes, all Alaska grown,are
growing in the Green House, Next year the
tubers fretn' these will be planted in the
open ground. An attempt is being made to
find the best suitable potato for this
climate and soil.
Plots of vegetables wore next on the list,
Special work ts being done here in devel
oping'and studying varieties of peas and
beans,although a little bit of every kind
of vegetable was found i^ these plots#
Prom the vegetable plots, Mr# Ilurlos Hod
son took over the tour and the cerail
plots and grass plots were explained#3ome
30 crosses in oats in rod length rows of
three each are being studied# In this
work the northern States, Canadian and
Siberian varieties of wheat, oatd arid brir
ley are being tested for lodging, yield
and length of growing season. It has bee:
found thus far that that the Northern
States varieties stood up better than the
Siberian#
Plots of grasses and legumes were visited
but the Station had nothing to offer yet
in this fiecLd. Red,crimson and alsike
clovers are under observation. Thus'far,
the bromegrass is the best'in grasses
that the station has found, but they are
not satisfied that this is the best that
can be produced, f&xch more work in this
field will be done#, ,
’Tilliam B. Swoetman, Dairy Husbandman,
conducted the group Cont# on pp# 3
ARE you REAOy fOR THE
FAIR? .
FAIR WEEK is just about hero. Tho Fair
grounds and buildings arc nearly in shapo
to house the biggest Fair we have over had.
Word is coming in from some of the exhib
itors as to what oach hopes to contribute
in tho tray of farm products and farm ani
mals, but a whole lot have not indicated
yot what they havo or will try and show,
Ronombor this ono thing. There will bo a
lot of 0UTSID3 PEOPLE horo to soo tho Flair.
What they soo at the Fair will loavo 'a
lasting improssion, as to the possibilities
of this region in production.
Last year most of the farmers were too dis
couragod by the early dry weather to make
an effort to display grain samples, or
garden stuff. This season was quite as
dry, bu-t more favorable woathor and late
thawing of the ground havo produced somo
I fine vegetables and grain samples to show.
Throo or four exhibits from fiftoon or
twenty farms will help build a good show.
A good pen of chickens wiil show that your
farm is in ogg production. A dairy cow or
hoifer will show that you arc a Grade A
dairyman and interested in helping feed
the children of the country with wholosomo
milk.
After the promiums arc placed on the oxhi
bits, It is suggested that your names be
placed on the oxhibits, just to show the
visitors that you aro in business. Mer
chants in Anchorage advertise their pro
ducts or merchandise, why not tho farmer?
Weather conditions arc more stabilized
than during the past six weeks, and wo
should plan to go all out to put up tho
BEST FAIR cvcp held in Alaska.
Rain or shino, you will find a place under
cover to show your products and wo aro
counting or each and every family in tho *
Valley to trot out your best bit of sewing,
kniit.'-g, bating,'painting, flowers and
eic-for, vegetables.
Renotrior^ the premiums are tho largest ovor
bfov'-h. FromiuTL list at the Lutension
Office if you have net already received
oner
Help make the- MAT/OTSEA VALLEY FAIR A
BIG SHCCTiS,
ADVERTIS3 YOUR VALLEY.
Contributed