succeeding spring, on examining the locality, quite a number of blades appeared, and when I left Nulato, June 2d, they were two or three inches high, growing rapidly. As I did not return, I cannot say what the result was. Turnips and radishes always flourished extremely well at St. Michael's, and the same is said of Nulato and Fort Youkon."

Potatoes succeeded at the latter place, though the tubers were small. They were regularly planted for several years, until the seed was lost by freezing during the winter. At St. Michael's they did not do well. Salad was successful, but cabbages would not head.

The white round turnips grown at St. Michael's were the best I ever saw anywhere, and very large, many of them weighing five or six pounds. They were crisp and sweet, though occasionally a very large one would be hollow-hearted. The Russians preserved the tops also in vinegar for winter use.

Cattle. I see no reason why cattle with proper winter protection might not be successfully kept in most parts of the Youkon Territory. Fodder, as previously shown, is abundant. The wild sheep, moose, and reindeer abound, and find no want of food.

A bull and cow were once sent to Fort Youkon by the Hudson Bay Company. They did well for some time, but one day, while the cow was grazing on the river bank, the soil gave way and she was thrown down and killed. Due notice was given of the fact, but for a year or two the small annual supply of butter in the provisions for Fort Youkon was withheld on the ground of there being "cattle" (to wit, the bull) at that post. Finally the commander killed the animal, determined that if he could not have butter he would at least have beef. It will be remembered that this point is north of the Arctic Circle, and the most northern point in Alaska inhabited by white men.

Fruits. There are, as might be supposed, no tree fruits in the Youkon. Territory suitable for food. Small fruits are there in the greatest profusion. Among them may be noted red and black currants, gooseberries, cranberries, raspberries, thimble-berries, salmon-berries, blueberries, killikinik berries, bearberries, dewberries, twinberries, service or heath berries, mossberries, and roseberries; the latter, the fruit of the Rosa cinnamomea, when touched by the frost, form a pleasant addition to the table, not being dry and woolly, as in our climate, but sweet and juicy. All these berries, but especially the salmon-berry or "morosky" of the Russians (Rubus chamaemorus,) are excellent anti-scorbutics. They are preserved by the Esquimaux in large wooden dishes or vessels holding five gallons or more; covered with large leaves, they undergo a slight fermentation, and freeze solid when cold weather comes. In this state they may be kept indefinitely; and a more delicious dish than a plateful of these berries, not so thoroughly melted as to lose their coolness, and sprinkled with a little white sugar, it would be impossible to conceive. The Russians also prepare a very luscious conserve from these and other berries, relieving the sameness of a diet of fish, bread, and tea, with the native productions of the country.

ALEUTIAN DISTRICT.

This comprises the Aleutian Islands and part of the peninsula of Aliaska, with the islands about it. Kadiak and the islands immediately adjoining it, however, belong more properly to the Sitkan district.

These islands are merely the prolongation of the Alaskan range of mountains. Many of them contain volcanic peaks, some still in a state

of moderate activity. Slight shocks of earthquake are common, but many years have elapsed since any material damage was done to life or property by volcanic action. Most of the islands have harbors, many of them safe and commodious. The soil is much of it rich, consisting of vegetable mold and dark-colored clays, with here and there light calcareous loam, formed by the decomposition of tertiary strata rich in fossils. In many places the growth of sphagnum, indicating want of drainage, prevails over the perennial grasses natural to the soil, but the remedy is self evident.

On some places the soil is formed of decomposed volcanic products, such as ash and pumice. Much of this is rich and productive. Climate. The climate of the islands is moist and warm. The greatest cold recorded in five years by Father Veniaminof in Unalaska was zero of Fahrenheit. This occurred only once. The greatest height of the mercury was seventy-seven degrees of Fahrenheit. The following table will show the range of the thermometer and the relative frequency of good and bad weather:

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total.

These observations were taken in Iliouluk by Rev. Father Innocentius Veniaminof, now or lately bishop of Kamchatka. He notices that, from October to April, the prevalent winds are north and west; and from April to October, south and west. The thermometer is lowest in January and March, and highest in July and August. At this point it may not be superfluous to insert, as a means of comparison, a few statistics in regard to a very similar country, which has, however, been under cultivation for centuries. It will serve to show what human industry and careful application of experience may do with a country colder and more barren and nearly as rainy as the Aleutian and northern Sitkan districts of Alaska. I refer to the highlands of Scotland, and the Hebrides, whose "Scotch mists" have become proverbial.

Aiton has ascribed the more rainy and cold climate of Scotland to the accumulations of sphagnum: "Thirty-two and a half ounces of dry moss soil will retain without fluidity eighteen ounces of water; while thirty-nine ounces of the richest garden mould will only retain eighteen and a half ounces. Moss is also more retentive of cold than any other

Treatise on Peat-moss, &c. See Edinburgh Encyclopedia, p. 738, vol. xvi.

.

soil. Frost is often found to continue in deep mosses (in Scotland) until after the middle of summer. Hence the effect of mossy accumulations in rendering the climate colder."

Dr. Graham, of Aberfoyle, referring to the western district of Scotland, says that Ayrshire is very moist and damp, with a mild and temperate climate.

Renfrewshire is visited with frequent and heavy rains. Dunbartonshire has the same character. Argyleshire is considered the most rainy county of Scotland.

"The vapors of the ocean are attracted by its lofty mountains, and the clouds discharge themselves in torrents on the valleys." "The winters are for the most part mild and temperate, but the summers are frequently rainy and cold. The climate of the Zetland Isles resembles in most respects that of the Orkneys. Though the sky is inclement and the air moist, it is far from unhealthy. The rain continues not only for hours but for days; nay, even for weeks if the wind blow from the west," &c. Substitute Alaska for Scotland, and the description would be equally accurate.

At Drymen, in Stirlingshire, the average for fourteen years was two hundred and five days, more or less rainy, per annum; the average on the island of Unalaska was one hundred and fifty for seven years, according to Veniaminof. The average rain-fall in Stirlingshire was about forty-three inches; in Unalaska, was forty-four inches, (approximate.)

Let us now examine the productions of this country, so nearly agreeing in temperature and rain-fall with what we know of the Aleutian district. It may reasonably prove an approximate index to what time may bring to pass in our new Territory.‡

Agricultural statistics of the Highlands of Scotland, and islands, in 1854 and 1866.

Edinburgh Encyclopedia, vol. xvi, p. 739.

+ Lat. 57 30-Kadiak is precisely the same.

These statistics are official, from the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural

Society of Scotland, vol. xv, 1856.