IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

^/ \£^.^^

i4^.ii^

v..

1.0

I.I

bilM 12.5

1^ K

^ 1^

^ kg Ihi2.0

1.8

1-25 lU 11.6

^ ^

6"

.. ^

1^

72

A

'> >

/A

'/

Photographic

Sdences

Corporation

iV

€.

4-

s^

\\

6^

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 372-'4503

4lv

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHIVI/ICIVIH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

6^

Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques

Th
to

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantiv change
the usual method of filming, are checl<e>i below.

D

I Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

I I Covers damaged/

D

n

D

n

Couverture endommag6e

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul^e

I I Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

Coloured maps/

Cartes gdographiques en couleur

Coloured Ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
Relid avec d'autres documents

Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

La re liure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de la marge int6rieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouttes
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le tcxte,
male, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas 6t6 fiimdes.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires suppl^mentaires;

L'lnstitut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6X6 possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage
soht indiqu6s ci-dessous.

□ Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur

D
D

D

\/

D
D
D
D

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est filmd au taux do reduction indiquA ci-dessous.

10X 14X 18X 22X

Pages damaged/
Pages endommagdes

Pages restored and/or laminated/
Pages restaur6es et/ou pelliculies

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqudes

Pages detached/
Pages d6tach6es

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of print varies/
Quality inigaie de I'impression

Includes supplementary material/
Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire

Only edition available/
Seule Mition disponible

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d errata, une pelure,
etc., ont dt6 fiimies 6 nouveau de fapon d
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

Th
po
of
fill

Or
be
thi
sic

oti
fin
sic
or

Th
sh
Til
wl

M)
dif
en
be
rig
re(
m(

26X

30X

y

12X

16X

20X

24X

28X

32X

The copy fil'Tied here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

Library
Agriculture Canada

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in Iceeping with the
filming contract specifications.

L'exemplaire film* f ut reproduit grAce d la
g6n6rosit6 de:

Bibliothique
Agriculture Canada

w4s images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de !a condition et
de la nettet^ de l'exemplaire film6, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated imprtm-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies ate filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol —^(meaning "CON-
TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.

Les exemp^aires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprimis sont film6s en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le secono
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originaux sont fiimis en commengant par la
premidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'i!lustration et en terminant par
la dernidre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbols V signifie "FIN".

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent 6tre
filmis i des taux de reduction diff6rents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre
reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 d partir
de I'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche d droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Les diagramn>es suivants
illustrent la mithode.

1

2

3

t

a

3

[: < : ■

»

6

i;ii W1U.J.J vm, "I

L. IIS'/

\ *' DEPARTMKNT OK .\GRICri.Tl;Ki:.

CHNTKAL HXl'KRlMliiNTAL FARM, OTTAWA, CANADA

P0SSIBILITI1:S OF AGRICULTURE

IN THE

YUKON DISTRICT

EXPERIMENTAL FARM NOTES

FEBRUARY. 1898

PUBL.JSHED BY DIRECTION OF THE HON. SYDNEY A. FISHER
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE

r^

:n'

^

• I #

ON THE POSSIBILITIES OF AGRICULTURE

IN I UK

YUKON DISTRICT.

I5y WiM.rA.M Saindkhs, LL.I)., F.R.S.C, F.L.S., «fer.,
Director E.i-perimentnl Farms.

Many iiiiiuiiics liavc lately lu'oii moivcd at the Experimental Farm, as to the
l»ossii>ilities uf agrieultur" in the Yukon Distriet. In reply to these, the following
notes have been prepare<l. The inrormation yet olttainahle on this sultject is meagrt"
lint is perhaps surticicut to indieate the lines'along which some succeHs is likely to
he had.

In those parts of the Yukon Distriet whieh are now attracting the attention of
the civilized world, owing to the richness of their gold deposits, of which Dawson
City is the centre, the summer climate is too cold to admit of much lieing done in
the way of growing grain, fod.ler plants or vegetal. les. From particulars^jbtained
from the meteorological records for the seasons of 18lir. and IH'JG in the recent
Report of Mr. Wm. Ogilvie, I Hnd that in August isor. the thermometer recorded
;J2° F. and below 5 times, and 40 and i)elow 0 times. In September IHOf) it was at
32 and below IS times, and 21t times it was at 40° and below. That in May 1800
the therinometer was at and below :j2° F. eighteen times, and on the 1st, 2nd and
• ird «)f tlie month it was.', above zero. It was at 00 and above only five times
•luring tliat month, the highest point being reached on the isth and 23r<l, when
the thermometer recorded 02 F. The temjjerature during a large part of this
month ranged from ;{2° to 50 F. The rivers broke uj. from the llth to the I7th
of May and ran thickly with ice until about the 2:ird, after which they were navigable.
It snowed on one day and rained on four days that month.

In June ISHO the thermometer was four times at and below ;}2°F. and 17 times
at and below 40° and ranged ihe greater part of the day time from 40 to UO^'.
Seven times during this month the temperature went ai)ove 70"^, and once only,
on the .SOth of the month, it reached 80°. It rained on 12 days that mouth.

In July IMSIO the hottest days were the 1st and 2nd, when a temjierature of 8 l*-'
was recortled. During the greater part of the month the temperature ranged from
40° to 7o" F. ; it was at 40 ami below i» times and the lowest temperature was .'.S
on the 27th. It rained on three days that month.

In August 181)0 the highest temperature was 70° F. on the 14th, and seven
times the thermometer recorded a temperature above 70 ; twice it recorded 32 and
below and l;{ times 40 and below. The lowest temperature was on the :nst, when
the thermometer registered 27-2 F. It rained on eight days during August,

In September the possibilities for the growth of * vegetation were very
limited. Eight times the temperature ranged from 3_° down to 4-80 and 2:'. times
it^was at 40° and below, the highest point reached being 0:?°, which was on tiie
17th. Only eight times during September was the thermometer above 60 . Durinir
the greater part of the month it ranged during the day from 40° to 00° F.

• #

Tlio coiititiircnt of Nortli-wt'Ht. Mounted l^oUcc wliicli left Tor tlio ^'iikoii in
1HU."> was sii|i|)li('il with tlicriiioMM'tcrs from the Mctt'oroloj^ical Si'ivicc. Tlio ol>sc'r-
vations were he<xiiii in Noveiiilicr, 189."i, un<l returns have bci-n furnisiic'd l»y Sl:ilV-
Sgt. Ilayne to tlic close of .luiie, IS'.iT.

Tlie reeonls j^iveii of the suninivr tein|.eraturos at Fort Constantino, Cndahy,
hitituch' til N., h)n^itiid(' ltd W. for iHitO, a.'jree elosely with thoHeof M'. O-^ilvie.
The mean temperature of June IS'.Hi was 5:! -4 F., the lust frost Itoing recorded
on the 7th. The mean for July was :')1 -2 ; Auyust, ')2-'> . For Se|itemher il was
oidy 4.'i'3 , and winter set in on Se|»t«'mber L'Ttli IHiKi. The mean tem|ieraliire and
lowest points recordeil for the winter intMiths were as follows: — Octolier, IHOfi. mean
'J()^ ; zero was first touched on the 5lh. November, 1S!("), mean temperature S-T) ;
lowest, .'iS below zero. December, mean 17 -o below zero. January, ISOO, mean ;'8
below zero. February mean -J'.'i-') below zero; and the me.'in temperature for INIarch
was 1 •'} al)ove zero ami that for April lo-.j . IJetween Decemi)er I'.ltli, liS!)"), and
February (ith, IH'.Mi, it never njse al)ove zero, the lowest reading — O")" below zero —
was taken January 'J7tli, and on •_' 4 (hiys during the winter the temperature was at
.and below '>u i»ek)w zero.

'ilie summer season of 1S07, as far as heard from, w;is warmer llian in isix;,
the mean temperature of May being 4<t-5 F. ; June, TiH , the lowest ]»oint that
month, ■{7 , on the .")th, (ith, liitli and 14lh; and the highest, 8(1 , on the 'Jlst.
'J\'m|ieratures as high as OO were observed in the sliade in July, but this is sai<l
to have been an exceptionally warm and dry month.

With the companitively low temperatures all tlirough the summer and the
])revalence of frost during the early part of June, and again before the end of
August, wliicli shortens the growing season a^ both ends, there seems to be no pros()ect
of much being ever (b)ne in the way of agriculture in such a cliuiate. More success
however is likely to be had along the margins of rivers than elsewhere. There are
a few garden products which mature in a very short jteriod that can be grown in this
district fairly well, siicii as radish, lettuce, and early varieties of cabbage and turnips.
These latter do not grov,- to a large size, but attain sufficient maturity to make tlu-m
tit for use. To this list may j)robably be added spinach, early varieties of green
pease, also early beets and carrots, and possibly some early sorts of onions miglit
grow large enough for use. liludtarb also would be v ortliy (jf trial, ami if tlie
roots were not killed by the severe winter, this plant would furnish a useful substi-
tute for fruit in the early part of the season. Potatoes have been grown in several
localities, but unless j)lanted in a suitably sheltered spot, they need some specrial
protection against frost in August, which is apt to cut them down before the tubers
reach a usable size.

Mr. Ogilvie says tliat a "Mr. I'atch tried to grow potatoes on the south side
of Forty Mile Kiver, but they were invariably killed by frost before they matured.
He then sought a nook on the south side of the river where the sun did not get to
them until towards noon. They were thus gently thawed out in the shade before
the strong sua heat fell upon them, and thus survived the action of the frost."
]Mr. Ogilvie mentions several other gardens at Forty Mile in whicli potatoes have
been cultivated, but those grown in that locality are watery. Ho also refers to the
experience of a Mr. Harper, at Fort Selkirk, on the Yukon, who has grown pota-
toes of fair (juality. To preserve them from frost he made a large covering of
heavy ticking and every <^vening when frost threatened he suspended this over the
j)otato tops, and lifted it again in the morning, and in this way he was fairly suc-
cessful. Oats and barley have also been tried, but Mr. Ogilvie knows of no instance
where the grain has ripened. These cereals grow tall enough to make excellent
fodder for cattle, but the seed for such crops would have to be brought in every
year. In 1896 wheat sown at Cudahey developed fine straw and a good head,
but the frost killed it before any kernels were formed. The best sites for the
growing of vegetables are along the banks of the ri^^ers, where the soil is warmer
and sandy. In his report for 1887, when speaking of the agricultural capabilities of

I

I

I

• •

t
I

the Yukon basin, Mr. Os^ilvic refers to ii itiiiiilter of locjililies in the valleys of the
tlitferent rivers wiiere erops nii>j;!it possilily l»e i^rowii Nevertheless it woiiM appear
that the area eapaldi- of <'iillivatioii is very iiniiteil, ami witii a smhlen inlhix of
population, much of the vei^etaltie food needecl wonhl have to Ite tak«'n into the
(■ountry.

ToDDKH Ckoi's fou IIoksks an'o CArir.K.

For the prompt prodiietion of fodder for ho'-ses and eat tie, or for yrain where
this is likely to ripen, the following early maturing cereals are reeommended, Oats —
Tri/e Cluster, White Wonder, llonan/a, Welconu-. and Banner ; Uarley— Sneeess,
Odessa, Itennie's Improved, Mensury, and Common ; Spring Wheat — Ladoga,
IJlaek Sea, Colorado, and Preston — Spring rye.

Native grasses on which horses or cattle could fee(l, are sai<l to he scarce and
coarse, and make very inferior (odder, and there is not sutliiiient of these to supply
any large demand.

It is prol)al)le that the variety of millet known as I fungarian grass ( .SV^rm/
/C^^/tV.a) could he raised as a green fodder crop, as it matures early and makes a
good (piality of hay if cut as soon as it hloonis. The Awnless l>ron\e grass is a very
hardy species which has been grown very siu-cessfully in the settled parts of the
Northwest Territories, east of tlie Kocky Mountains; ami if this can l)C grown to
advantage, it would prove of the greatest value to that country. When the Canadian
(iold Commissioner, Mr. Thos. Favcett, left Ottawa in April, \HU1, for Dawson
(;ity, I sent with him for test a package of this Brome grass seed ; also three
varieties of oats, four of barley, three of wheat, and two of pease— all early sorts,
alst> a number of vegetable seeds to be tested. No report on them, however, hasy."t
been received.

TlIK r.RoWINc; Ol' VKdKlAlU.KS.

In the neighborhood of Dawson City on the Klondike and probably for 2(i(»
miles up the Yukon, or further, similar conditions of climate to tliose already
flescribed prevail. Throughout this area the following varieties of vegetable
I»roducts are recommcncled for trial, all of which mature in a short time and
have succeeded well on the Experimental Farms on the North-west plains.

Potatoes. —Of these only the earliest sorts should be planted, such as Early
Ohio, Early Six Weeks, Burpee's Extra Early, Thorburn and Lee's Favourite.

Madixhes.—AW the early sorts, notably the Rosy (rem, Scarlet Olive Shape,
Pearl Forcing and Scarlet Globe. These when sown at the Experimental Farm
at Indian iTead, Assa., N. W.T., from the LTith of May to about the 1st of June
have usually been ready for use by the 2Sth to 3uth of June. By sowing at intervals
of a few days, a succession of crops may be kept up for some time even in a very
short season.

Lettuce. — All the earliest varieties are likely to succeed. The following are
early sorts : — New Sensation, Boston Market, Black-Seeded Simpson, the Deacon,
and All Heart. These when sown at Indian Head about the 1st of May have been
fit to use during the first week of June. With repeated sowings, successive crops
may be produced.

Tur)iips. — Only the earliest maturing varieties should be sown ; these will pro-
bably make a growth of 4 to (5 inches in diameter before the season closes. P^xtra
Early Milan, Early Snowball, and White Six Weeks have succeeded well in the
North-west. Early turnips sown about tne middle of May, at the Indian Head
Farm, have been fit for use by July Ist.

6'(«?'A«//e.~ Improved Jersey Wakefie'd, Extra Early Express, Early Epping,
Extra Early Etampes, Henley's Champion. These varieties sown in hot bed on
April 10th and transplanted to the open ground towards the end of May have been
fit for use from July l.")th to August 1st.

• •

T

iSpiniirh. ~Th\H provos ;iii acceptable vc^'clahlc «liiiiiig llic .siiinmcf sca>-uii, nit,
and used as m-ccns. Tli.' rollowiiifr varieties have l)C('ii grown very micccshFuIIv at,
tlio Kxpcriinental Farms at IJrandon and Indian Head: Improved Victoria, Sa'voy
Leaved, and Hound Summer. 'I'liese, sown on tlie lotli of May, have been 111 to use

by the 15th of June.
Ganfen Pcasi-.

-Of these only tiie short growing and earliest varieties sliouhl
l»e planted. Among the l»est of those tried are American Wonder, Sunol, Carter's
First Crop and McLeairs Little (}em. These at the VVestein Kx{)erimental Farms,
when sown about the mi<hlle of May, have usually nalured so as to be fit for the
table in six or seven weeks.

liccts. Among the early sorts we have tried are the Improved Early Blood
Turnip, F.lmand's IJlood Turnip, Lent/,, Columbyi and Kclipse. 'i'liose, when sown
about the middle of May, in the Noith-wi'sl Territories, have usually Iteen fit for
use in five ov six weeks from the date of sowiny.

Carrots.— 0\\\y the earliest \arieties of these can be expected to succeed, such
as Early Scarlet Horn, Half-long Scarlet Nantes, and Early Very Slu)rt Scarlet.
Carrots take somewhiit longer than the other vegetables we haVe mentioned to
grow to a serviceable size, but when sown early in May, in the M.W. Territories,
they are generally fit for use from the loth to the 2.Jth of .Iidy.

0«/om.-— These usually take longer to mature than the carrots. Among the
earliest of those tested at the North-west Experimental Farms are : Extra Early
Flat Red, King of the Earliest, and the White Barletta.

Elivhd.rh. — The Victoria and Linnauis are among the earliest and best sorts.
Plants can be grown froiu seed, and if the yomig .seedlings can be wintered by
covering thern with a good thickness of mulch, the roots should grow large enough,
by the end of the secoiul season, to produce good rhubarb the following year, '"if
roots coidd be transported and should survive the winter, they woidd produce a
fair crop the following season.

In the report of Dr. G, M. Dawson, Director of the Geological Survey of
Canada, who explored the Yukon District in 1887, ho states thai while no cereal
crops can be succesfully grown or ripened on the coastward side of the mountains
that at Telegraph Creek and in that vicinity, on the Stikine River, on the east side
of the Coast Range, lat. 58^% wheat, barley, and potatoes are successfully grown
with the aid of irrigation. At that time these crops had only been tried experimen-
tally. Since this locality, about 150 miles up the Stikine River, \\\}\ probably be
chosen as the starting point of tlie line of railway to connect with Teslin Lake ; if
a sutlicient area of good land can be found there, and early varieties of wheat,
barley, oats and potatoes can be grown to maturity, the production of such crops
in that region may form an important source of supply for the mining districts,
which would be about 900 miles nearer to Dawson City than Vancouver or Victoria.

NoRTiiKitN Points wheku Cereals have kipeneo.

On the proposed route from Edmonton there are several points wliere good
samples of grain have been produced. In the spring of 1892, I forwarded samples of
seed of early ripening varieties of wheat, barley, oats and rye for test, to a number of
the Hudson Bay Co. agents at difTerenl points in the North-west country. Through
the kind instructions given by the Hudson Bay Commissioner, C. C. Chipman, Esq.,
these were forwarded to tlieir destination with the Hudson Bay Co. 's supplies. The
following samples were received by me in 1893, with particulars as to their
growth : —

1'

m

:f

I

1'

1

Krom DuNVKiiAN. lat. ')«*», uIkmiI II I mile, iiurlli nf \Viiiiii|.C!jr.

Rejinitt^ InifD'oiu'i/ St.i' fini'iil li,nlii/.-\)\w |i<iiiMii m.wii Mmv 7iIi ; liaiNc-itcii
Aiii,'. nil. Vielil, If. ll)s. Wt'iirlit |>iT JHisli,'!. .-.■.l ll.s. S;iin|ilc fiiiily |>|iiiii|,.

I'n.:" ('/nHttr />/,*,s. One |ioiiii(| «.o\vii Miiv 7tli ; liaivcsicd Aiiu. I Itli. N'icl.l,
\'-'>\ lbs. Weiylit per iiusliol, l(i.\ llts. SiiMi|il('' I'iriu'lil in coldiir ;in<i |>Iiiim|i.

lioiHUKcti (hit». One |i()iiiii| sown Ar.'iy Ttli ; luiiv ostcij Anu. ! Illi. Vii-id, U
1I»N. \V('it,'lit, jKT biiMlicl, 4_'| U.S. Siini|il<' i.iitjlit ;ui<l i.Inni|..

S/,riii(/ lii/i. ()n(' |.onn<l sown Afay 7lli ; liarxcsicd Aiii,'. -J 1st. N'inld. 2\
Ills. Weijriii per l»usjicl, U^; ll.s. Sani|tlf* fairly |.lMm|.,

Tlic t'oll(»wiiigsi'aHon I rpceivcd from Diinvc^an an cM .a u"""! sample uf Lailoija
wlii'al, wliicli waH hrifirlit and plump, and wcit'lnd t\\ lbs. pi-r biisli;l. I also iv-
cc'ivt'tl a Hue sample of two-rowed barlf^y, wliich was brii,dit. vcrv pliiinp, and well
matured.

norl

From Four Nku.mii.i.ion, further down tlie IVaoe lliver, lat. r.H'^ :{4', ,-,!»| mik't-
rth of Winiiipeir.

Litdoijii Wheat.— \ very fair sample. Wciojit, (iO lbs. per bwsliel. Vield
12 lbs. from one pound of seed. This sample of ;i;rain was slightly frosted. 'I'he
otticer in cliar<,'e reported that, the Ited Fife wheat sent, did notniature at all

Pri:o Clitster Oats. — Yield, 7 lbs. from one pound of seed, (irain bright
and plump. Weight per bushel, 11,' lbs.

AV/;///e',s- Itnprove.d Sl.i'.-rnvt'.'i /l(trl>i/. — \"w\i\, 1(1 lbs. from one piMuivl nf seed.
Grain fairly plum[) ; medium in eoloiii. Weight per bushel, ,■.!,• lbs.

SpHnr/ Bye. — Y'wU], IH lbs. from one poun<l of seed. (Jrain fairly plump.
Weight per bushel, .')7i lbs.

These several varieties of grain were said to have been sown on the 14th of
May and harvested on the 2:{rd of August.

From FoKT Puovinr.voK, in the Maeken/ie Kiver District, lat. r.(i° IT',
about 7IU miles north of Winnipeg, the following were reeeived : -

Bonanza Oats. — Sown June 1st ; harvested Sept. 17th. Vield, :; lbs. from
one pound of seed. Sample bright and plump ; but too small to ascertain wei<'ht
per bushel. "

Spring liy>.- ^o\\i\ ,\\i\w 1st; liarvested Sept. Ittth. Vield. 4 lbs. from one
pound of seed. Sample too small to ascertain weight per bushel. Grain rather
small, but fairly plump.

From Four Simi'Son, on the Mackenzie River, lat. 61° ,")'2', about H18 miles
north of Winnipeg.

Ladoga Wheat. — Received in IBlt.'i. This was sown June 7th and harvested
Sept. 22nd. Yield, 12 lbs. from one pound of seed. Weight per bushel, f)2i llis.
The sample was plump and a small percentage of the grain was frosted. These
are the farthest points north in the North-west Territories from which I have
received samples of cereals.

m . 41