196 University of California Publications in Agricultural Sciences [Vol. 1 



Gray Alkali Land. — The three columns of gray sandy and 

 sandy loam valley soils, and the dark loam of Tulare Lake were 

 found to contain high percentages of the several alkali salts, and, 

 therefore, may be put in a class by themselves for consideration. 



The "white ash" soil, so called because of its fine, light ashy 

 and silty nature, was taken from near a vineyard in Central 

 Colony, several miles southwest of Fresno, and is the representa- 

 tive of a large region lying on the north side of Kings River and 

 reaching to within two miles of Fresno and eastward toward 

 the foothills of the Sierras. The soils are rich and have been 

 largely devoted to grape-growing. The water-table was reached 

 at a depth of four feet, the soil assuming a white color and, 

 below the sixth foot, losing all traces of humus. 



The Tulare column was obtained from the old experiment 

 station tract in a spot where all vegetation had been killed by 

 the alkali salts. 



The Tulare Lake column was taken a number of years ago 

 from the bed of the lake, which had long been dried-out to many 

 feet in depth. 



The column from Miramonte, fifteen miles west of Wasco, 

 represents what seems to be a belt of low lands or what was once 

 a slough connecting the Tulare Lake with Buena Vista and Kern 

 lakes; in this belt southward the alkali of the lakes had accumu- 

 lated to great depths. The alkali consists chiefly of the sulfates 

 and chlorids (glaubers and common salt), and in this column was 

 distributed at the rate of one-half of one per cent per foot, giving 

 a total approximating 233,000 pounds for the twelve feet per 

 acre. No vegetation other than scattering alkali weeds was seen. 



Analysis of the upper four feet of each of these columns gives 

 the following percentages of alkali salts calculated also to pounds 

 per acre. 



Table 12. — Alkali Salts in the Upper Four Feet of the Columns 



Percentage in Soil Pounds per acre ; approximate 



I \ ' > 



Car- Car- 



Sulfates bonates Chlorids Total Sulfates bonates Chlorids Total 



Tulare 03 .04 .02 .09 4,800 6,400 .3,200 14,400 



Central Colony 25 .09 .01 .3-5 40,000 14,400 ],600 .56,000 



Miramonte 55 .02 .09 .66 88,000 3,200 14,400 105,600 



Tulare Lake bed .13 .07 .07 .27 20,800 11,200 11,200 43,200 



