160 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



neeessaiy and more valuable, and it is advisable that a regular inspec- 

 tion force should be established for the several districts into which 

 the country may be divided. 



The scale upon wliicli the soil maps are published enables tracts as 

 small as 10 acres to l)e represented, and while there must always be some 

 variation allowed in each type, as it would be confusing to show too much 

 detail on the maps, still, where a type is represented by even a small 

 tract of 8 or 10 acres, it is shown upon the soil map, so that land owners 

 may rely u^jon an accurate classification of their soils according to 

 the types established. 



The reports describe in all necessary detail the characteristics of 

 the soils and tlieir important variations; the history of the settlement 

 and agricultural development of the area; the climate, phj^siography, 

 and geology; the agricultural methods in use and the agricultural 

 conditions in the area, such as the tenure and size of the farms, the 

 efficiency of labor, the principal iDroducts, ar.d transportation and 

 market facilities; together with such special problems as maj'^ be 

 encountered, such as hard pan, aciditj^ irrigation, seepage waters and 

 drainage, alkali, and the reclamation of swamj) or worn-out lands or 

 alkali soils, as these all have their bearing upon the commercial use 

 and value of the soils. 



THE DEPARTMENT AND THE EXPERIMENT STATIONS IN THE SOIL 



SURVEY WORK. 



With the increasing interest in the soil investigations and the eco- 

 nomic value which the results have shown in a number of cases, the 

 experiment stations are taking a lively interest in this work, and it 

 seems proper to mention the true relation which should be established 

 between them and the Department in the further j^rosecution of the 

 work. It seems advisable that the management of the soil survey 

 should be vested in the Department of Agriculture. This insures con- 

 tinuity in the work and uniform classification of soils; also the benefit 

 of experience in other localities in advising as to tlie commercial pos- 

 sibilities and value of the introduction of new methods of culture and 

 of new croi)s and industries. It is advisable that the experiment sta- 

 tions and other State institutions should cooperate in this work to the 

 extent of furnishing assistants or financial aid, as this insures an inti- 

 mate knowledge of the conditions of the ai-ea to the State organiza- 

 tion, as well as a larger amount of work within the borders of the 

 State. In many cases, if such financial assistance be given, one or 

 more parties can l)e assigned for continuous work in a State where, if 

 the expenses were all borne by the Bureau of Soils, a party could be 

 assigned for only a portion of the season. Various State organizations 

 have contributed 11,839.15 toward the field expenses of the soil survey 

 during the past year. 



These soil surveys are in the nature of a general reconnoissance of 

 the area. They show the conditions which prevail, and the maps 

 show the character and distribution of the soils. This is, however, 

 merely a basis for further work, and it is necessary in many cases 

 that the information thus furnished and the suggestions which are 

 made should be followed by further investigations and practical 

 demonstrations of the efficiency and commercial value of the sugges- 

 tions in order to insure their successful adoption by the residents of 

 the area. Fanners are proverbially ultraconservative as to their 

 methods, and are usually and often justifiably very unwilling to 

 accept advice unless it can be shown that improvement will surely 

 follow. Such demonstration work can, in most cases, be better accom- 



