BUREAU OF SOILS. 169 



per cent of the delta. The Yazoo loam, covering abont 6 per cent of 

 the delta, yields from three-fourths to 1 bale of cotton per acre. The 

 Yazoo sandy loam, covering 9 per cent of the delta, produces about 

 three-fourths of a bale to the acre, while the Sharkey clay, covering 

 68 per cent of the delta, is not cultivated on account of the annual 

 overflow. The flood waters leave the land about the first of June, 

 but although the land is subsequentl}^ dry it is then too late for crops 

 to be put in. 



It has been pointed out, as a result of this soil survey, that the Yazoo 

 sandy loam is a typical early truck soil, and that, with the prevailing 

 climatic conditions, potatoes or other truck crops would prove a 

 remarkably profitable industry on this soil. 



The Sharkej^ clay is a wonderfully productive soil, and it appears 

 from the investigations that have been made that the engineering 

 problem of protecting it against the annual floods would not be verj^ 

 difficult, nor expensive when the value of the soil so reclaimed is con- 

 sidered. It is believed that these three suggestions, if followed by the 

 people, will well repay the money expended in the survey. 



It is proposed to continue and extend this work to include a larger 

 area of the delta lands and possibly to take up one other area in the 

 State, devoting in all about six months in the next field season to the 

 work. 



MISSOURI. 



During the latter part of the past fiscal year Mr. Fippin was assigned 

 to survey Howell Countj', in the fruit area of the Ozark region. It is 

 probable that the whole area of this county will be surveyed during 

 the present field season. It has been found that the soils are remark- 

 ably uniform and that the fruit interests can be extensively developed, 

 but it is advisable that the methods be improved to attain the highest 

 commercial success. 



The demand for the continuation and extension of this work in Mis- 

 souri has been so great that it seems desirable to assign a party there 

 for nine months for the survey of Shelby, Saline, and Webster coun- 

 ties during the next field season. 



MONTANA. 



During the past fiscal year the Billings area, comprising about 105 

 square miles, has been surveyed under the direction of Mr. C. A. 

 Jensen. Considerable trouble and loss has resulted from the rise of 

 alkali in this area, and the survey was planned with particular refer- 

 ence to determining the possibility of preventing this trouble and 

 reclaiming the land already damaged. It is considered quite feasible 

 to accomplish this object, and it is probable that a demonstration 

 will be made of the efficiency of proper drainage in preventing the rise 

 of alkali and in reclaiming the alkali soils of this locality. 



It would seem desirable to assign a party to this State for six 

 months in the next field season to make surveys in the Gallatin Val- 

 ley and in the Milk River Valley around Glasgow. 



NEBRASKA. 



No work has heretofore been done in this State, but it is proposed 

 to assign a party for nine months of the next field season to make soil 

 surveys of the Grand Island and Holdrege areas in the interest par- 

 ticularly of the sugar-beet industry. 



