REPOET OF THE SECEETABY OF AGEICULTUEE. XLIX 



great value in the further development of the agricultural interests 

 of the United States as the country becomes more thicklj^ settled and 

 the strife for commercial supremac}^ becomes greater. As these men 

 become riper in experience and judgment and have a fuller know- 

 ledge of the agriculture of the country, they will doubtless be called 

 to positions of trust and responsibility in State organizations and in 

 commercial enterprises in which their experience and ability will 

 be invaluable. This is and should be one of the important func- 

 tions of the Department, and the influence of the Department will be 

 felt more and more throughout the country as these men are called 

 to such positions. 



PAST AND PROPOSED WORK OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS. 



The statements following show the results that have been accom- 

 plished during the past year and the work that is proposed during the 

 present and the next fiscal year in each of the States. This is of 

 course subject to change as to details as the time approaches for the 

 actual prosecution of the work. It is given as the basis for the con- 

 tinuation and extension of the work. 



ALABAMA. 



No work has been done in this State during the past fiscal year, but 

 it is proposed this fall to make a soil survey of Perry County, which 

 lies partly in the black calcareous prairie belt and partly in the sand 

 region. Two parties will be assigned to this area in October, with the 

 expectation that the whole of the county can be surveyed during the 

 present field season. On the completion of this work both parties 

 will be transferred to Mobile County to make a soil survey of that area, 

 particularly in the interest of the truck growers, and to investigate 

 the adaptation of the soils to tobacco. After this it is contemplated to 

 make a soil survey in Marshall County in the interest of the fruit and 

 tobacco growers, and to survey Lauderdale County, if possible. In all, 

 it would be advisable to spend nine months in Alabama during the 

 next field season. 



ARIZONA. 



During the past field season a soil survey was made of the area below 

 Yuma, where the waters of the Colorado River are taken out for irri- 

 gation. The whole area covers about 95 square miles, although only 

 a portion of it is at present under ditch. A considerable part of this 

 area is subject to overflow during flood times in the Colorado River, 

 and schemes have been proposed for dikes and levees to prevent this 

 overflow, which, if carried out, will add a considerable area of valuable 

 land to the irrigated district. This tract, with its tropical climate and 

 fertile soils, has been compared to the delta of the Nile, and it is the 



AGR 1902 IV 



