AGRICULTURE. Alaska is too far north to be of any importance as an agricultural country. yet the southern coast, the Kenai Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands possess possibilities of a limited agricultural development. The soil is very fertile, but the expense of preparing it for cultivation is enormous. The census of 1900 returns only 159 acres of farm land; but the cultivation of this showed that the hardier, quick-growing vegetahles, such as turnips, ruta bagas, potatoes, carrots, beets, etc.. could be very successfully raised. Grasses of highly nourish ing qualities grow luxuriantly, furnishing excel lent grazing facilities. The climate does not admit of the ripening of oats or the curing of bay, but grass can be stored in silos for winter. Two enterprises which have been encouraged by the national government are worthy of note. One is the development of fox farming. the foxes being bred for their furs, as heretofore noted. This industry promises to become of considerable importance in some of the western islands. The
other is the introduction of the reindeer into the far northwestern region. The latter is dis cussed more particularly elsewhere (see REIN DEER) ; hut it may be said here that about 3500 reindeer are now in use in Alaska, of which only about one-sixth belong to the Government, the remainder being owned by missions and natives. They thrive upon the moss, but are in danger from dogs, wolves, and reckless prospectors and hunters. They are used as draught aqimals mainly, and have been of great service in carry ing mails in winter, and in transporting pro visions, rescuing lost or starving parties of mill ers and soldiers, and in various other ways. Their introduction seems to be a success. The annual appropriations for their care and for new importations from Siberia have been recent ly $25,000 annually.