156 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910. 



These results bear out the impression gained from an inspection of the air-dried 

 sample, viz., that it is highly impregnated with alkali. It is satisfactory to note that 

 the amount of carbonate of soda (black alkali) is very small; this simplifies the work 

 of reclamation. However, the quantity of sulphate of soda and sulphate of magnesia 

 (white alkali) present is so large that persistent effort would be necessary — probably 

 for a number of years — ^to make this soil suitable for crops in general. 



Cranhrook, B.C. — Forwarded by E. A. Liezert, who states that the land is 

 covered with a heavy growth of tall grass (?), but that on bringing it under cultiva- 

 tion it proves unsatisfactory, many crops refusing to grow. We obtained the follow- 

 ing results from the analysis of the air-dried soil : — 



Per cent. 



Chloride of sodium -232 



Sulphate of sodium -506 



Total solids in aqueous extract, obtained directly -730 



This, again, is a case of white alkali which, as we have pointed out in previous 

 reports, is not to be feared in the same degree as black alkali. Nevertheless, this soil 

 is so highly charged with saline matter — more or less injurious to vegetation — that 

 proper means for its reclamation would have to be adopted before the soil could be 

 cultivated with profit. _ 



Windermere, B.C. — Three samples of soil suspected of being impregnated with 

 alkali were received from this place. The statement of the sender was to the effect 

 that these lands had until the last few years yielded excellent crops, but that owing to 

 exhaustion or the presence of alkali (which until recently had not been observed) 

 these areas now were practically sterile. The appearance of the samples certainly did 

 not betoken exhaustion and the suspicion became strong that the trouble was due to 

 alkali. The examination comprised a determination of the plant food constituents 

 and a search for deleterious salts. 



Analysis of Soils from Windermere, B.C. 



Moisture 



Organic and volatile matter. 



Nitrogen . 



Phosphoric acid 



Potash 



Lime 



Available constituents — 



Phosphoric ac d 



Potash 



Lime 



No. 1. 



p.c. 



4 

 10 



61 



41 



370 



19 



45 



25 



018 

 109 

 60 



No. 2. 



p.c. 



1 

 12 



81 



14 



330 



22 



40 



28 



008 

 02S 

 10 



No. 3. 



p.c. 



2-66 



15-55 



■302 



•17 



•40 



7 05 



•006 

 •081 



rs6 



These soils were all from the ranch of Mr. R. R. Bruce, Windermere, valley 

 of the Upper Columbia. No. 1 was taken ' south of the high road,' and represented 

 the immediate surface soil over a considerable area receiving the seepage of higher 

 lands that had been liberally irrigated. No adequate drainage had been provided to 

 take off this water, and the result was that on evaporation soluble salts to an excessive 

 degree had accumulated in the surface soil. No. 2 was taken below No. 1, represent- 

 ing a depth of between 2 and 4 inches. No. 3 was collected at no very great distance 

 from No. 1, in a slight depression kept moist by seepage water. The sample repre- 

 sented merely the surface | inch. 



