192 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



It thus appears that of the soluble part of this alkali, nearly two 

 thirds (64.1 per cent) consists of carbonates, which, therefore, in the 

 original soil would constitute .32 per cent of the weight of the soil, 

 including nearly .10 of potassic carbonate (saleratus). The total of 

 potash found in the original soil is 1.224 per cent, a very unusually 

 high percentage. It is therefore quite clear that no potash manures 

 will be needed in this soil for a generation at least; and so long as 

 phosphate of soda circulates in the soil water, no bone meal will be 

 called for. When this soil shall have been freed from its -alkaline 

 carbonates by the use of gypsum, it must become one of the most 

 profusely fertile in the State. 



Alkaline efflorescence, from soil on Kern Island, sent by Mr. Isaac 

 B. Rumford, Bakersfield, February 27, 1883. The crust yields to water 

 21.15 per cent of soluble salts; the solution upon evaporation and 

 ignition of the residue, gives : 



Again soluble 94.94 



Insoluble 1.70 



Organic matter and water 3.34 



The soluble part is composed as follows: 



Sulphate of soda 70.61 



Carbonate of soda 14.82 



Chloride of sodium 4.13 



Sulphate of potash 4.72 



Carbonate of magnesia , -45 



Total soluble 94.73 



Insoluble part: 



Carbonate of lime -58 



Carbonate of magnesia .17 



Sulphate of lime -08 



Iron oxide and alumina .32 



Silica .55 



Total insoluble 1.70 



This "alkali" is accordingly of the milder sort, containing only a 

 relatively small proportion of the noxious carbonate of soda. This 

 explains why the crops on Kern Island can succeed in spots on which 

 at times the white efflorescence can be bodily scooped off. Yet the 

 transformation of the carbonate of soda, by the use of gypsum on the 

 soil, would be an undoubted improvement. 



EXAMINATION OF SOILS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 



1, — SOILS FROM REDLA.NDS COLONY, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. 



A set of soils representing this region was collected and sent by 

 Messrs. J. S. Edwards and E. G. Judson, of Redlands. The colony is 

 situated on a stretch of mesa at the head of Santa Ana Valley, sloping 

 from the foothills to the sandy valley land, a distance varying from 

 one to two miles, while the mountains are about seven miles away. 

 The elevation ranges from 1,300 to 1,500 feet above sea level, the dis- 



