1915] Lipman-Sharp: New Experiments on Alkali Soil Treatment 281 



Other Experiments 



In addition to the experiment above discussed, we have now iu 

 progress another pot experiment similar to the first, and several 

 field experiments. In the new pot experiment a different soil, 

 coming from Kearney Park near Fresno, is being employed. This 

 soil contains only about 0.44 per cent total salts based on the dry 

 weight of the soil. The total alkali is differently distributed 

 than in the soil of the foregoing experiment, consisting of 0.18 

 per cent NaXOg, 0.16 per cent NaCl and 0.10 per cent NaoS04. 

 It may be stated, briefly, with respect to this experiment that 

 even more striking results are already manifest than in the fore- 

 going series. Nevertheless, it must be added that the barley 

 plants are only six or seven inches high as yet and any predictions 

 as to the final outcome of the experiment would be premature. 

 It is interesting to note, however, that to date none of the control 

 pots shows any growth worth mentioning and that in the treated 

 pots there is better agreement than in the preceding series so far 

 as duplicate pots are concerned. 



Of the field experiments above referred to we have five 

 different locations in the San Joaquin Valley, all in the vicinity 

 of Fresno. These consist of small treated and untreated plots 

 in the open alkali fields. Four of the plot experiments concern 

 the growth of barley, while the fifth concerns alfalfa. It is far 

 too early to predict anything as to the outcome of these field 

 experiments, since the period of growth is just beginning, but 

 we have already made observations on one set of plots which 

 gives hopes for success. 



General Remarks^ 



The brief statement above made is here submitted to call 

 attention to some striking results already obtained and to the 

 promise of new ones to which present experiments are pointing. 



5 Since writing the preliminary statement above given the writers have 

 found that owing to too slight a covering of paraffine on the inner walls 

 of the pots some of the salts were absorbed by the porous clay. This can 

 be of little signiticance only in connection with our statement however, 

 since the largest amounts of salts remain in the pots which gave the 

 heaviest yields. We only advert to the circumstances here for more 

 completeness of record and for future reference. 



