Timely Hints for Farmers. 97 



concentrate at the surface, and in the interval a crop of grain or 

 alfalfa may be so established as to shade the ground and, by thus 

 lessening evaporation, still further hinder the "rise of alkali. " 



It has been said that he who improves a plow so that it will 

 go an inch deeper with the same labor, is among the greatest ben- 

 efactors of mankind, and the saying applies with special signifi- 

 cance to alkaline lands. 



The temporary benefit thus gained is in a measure perma- 

 nent, for every crop grown on alkaline soil absorbs and removes a 

 portion of the injurious salts and in time will perceptibly lessen 

 them. The successful reclamation within the past three years of 

 certain apparently hopelessly alkaline fields south of Tempe is an 

 admirable illustration of the merits of this method. 



Another expedient against alkali is furrow planting. Sor- 

 ghum, for instance, is sown in furrows and water turned on. The 

 alkali is in this way dissolved and, for the time being, carried 

 below while the seed makes it start. By the time that the alkali 

 concentrates again at the surface the young plants are sufficiently 

 established to endure its presence. 



Still again, plants may be chosen which will withstand alkali. 

 Bermuda and salt grass for instance will flourish where other 

 grasses will quickly disappear. Alfalfa, sugar beets and sorghum 

 will endure much more alkali than grains, and among shrubs and 

 trees the pear, pomegranate, fig, oleander and date palm are most 

 resistant. 



R. H. Forbes, 



Department of Chemistry. 



SELECTING DAIRY COWS. 



No. 13, April i. 



The task of selecting a dairy herd is one that should be en- 

 tered upon with a great deal of thought and care. The animal 

 that is to be fed for beef is chosen for its supposed ability to make 

 meat and at the end of a comparatively short feeding period he 

 goes to market; whether he has made money for his feeder or not, 

 he goes to the block just the same. The dairy cow is selected for 



