CHEMISTRY 



The chemical laboratories of the Agricultural Experiment Station 

 have been moved during the year into their new and permanent quar- 

 ters in the Agriculture Building. The allotment for the equipment of 

 these laboratories has been used for the substantial and permanent 

 installation of only the most essential furniture, rather than in attempt- 

 ing to complete the laboratories. Sufficient equipment is now in place 

 to continue the research and other activities of the laboratory. Further 

 improvement, however, is needed to meet the increasing demands upon 

 the department. The usual service has been rendered the public in the 

 analysis of irrigating water and the examinations of soils for alkaU. A 

 few soil analyses have been made in urgent cases. The research work 

 of the department has been varied and several important projects are 

 being developed. The study of alkali has continued and accurate maps 

 have been drawn showing the stand of successive crops on a piece of 

 black alkaline land at the University Farm. This tract has been divided 

 into strips by the borders usual on irrigated land, and the various strips 

 have received treatment per acre as follows : 



Land 30, 10 tons barnyard manure; Land 3\, 20 tons barnyard manure; 

 Land 32, 20 tons barnyard manure and 10 tons gypsum; Land 33, 10 tons gypsum; 

 Land 34, no treatment ; Land 35. 400 pounds acid phosphate and 20 tons barnyard 

 manure ; Land 36, 500 pounds acid phosphate ; Land 37, 400 pounds quicklime ; and 

 Land 38 (new border), 500 pounds nitrate of soda in three applications, only one 

 of which was made. 



Parallel with the field operations laboratory investigations are being 

 made. The alkali studies have now been organized as an Adams Fund 

 project. The annual analysis of the Salton Sea water in cooperation 

 with the Carnegie Desert Laboratory has been made. Following sug- 

 gestions afforded by the study of the concentration of the Salton water. 

 we have made partial investigations of certain possibilities regarding 

 the mode of formation of caliche which seem to warrant further work. 

 Monthly samples from the Tempe drainage ditch are being analyzed 

 for the systematic study of the changes in the composition of the drain- 

 age water from a typical drained reclamation area. It is desired to 

 extend this investigation to the amelioration of alkali in the soil at a few 

 selected localities in the district. The effect of non-essential elements, 

 especially boron and iodine, in stimulating plant growth has been 

 carried on in the department by a graduate student. 



