WATER SOILS. 



35 



filled np with the washings from the higher land surrounding it and with the 

 products of the decay of the water plants growing in it. 



''In the larger areas the stratification and general characteristics of muck beds 

 are found, the muck being from a few inches to 15 ft. in depth." 



Numerous samples of such soils were examined, but iu uo case was 

 an acid reaction, metallic sulphids, or ferrous iron compounds found. 

 "Tlie waters of such soils hnve always given the slightly alkaline 

 reaction common to the waters of this section." 



Analyses of air-dry samples of soil and subsoil gave the following 

 results : 



Analijscs of .soil and subsoil of "bogus lands.'' 



Water 



Ash 



Kitroseii 



Phospl.ioric acid, P^Oj 

 Potash, K2O 



Soil. Subsoil. 



Per cent. 



16. 320 



39. 940 



3. 220 



.400 



.105 



Per cent. 



16. 230 



42. 870 



2.840 



.270 



.108 



\ 



The percentage of humus was abnormally high. . 



In some of the soils examined tile had been laid at the usual depth 

 in the humus layer of soil without any improvement resulting, due to 

 the fact that the pores and joints of the tile had been closed by the 

 muck. Underlying the humus layer at a depth of 5 ft. or more was a 

 bed of sand or gravel immediately overlaid by a thin bed of clay marl 

 and carrying a strong flow of water. When holes were dug down to 

 this layer, the water usually rose to within at least 30 in. of the surface. 



"All the observations . . . lead to the conclusion that the real 

 difticalty is the high permanent water level." Different systems of 

 drainage which it is believed would be effective in lowering this level 

 are explained in some detail. In most of these, where it is impossible 

 to tap the water-bearing strata directly with tile, the main features are 

 a series of permanent wells tapping the water-bearing strata and con- 

 nected with tile at the depth to which it is desired to reduce the water 

 table. 



From one experiment on twentieth-acre plats of this soil, with straw, 

 kainit (1 ton per acre), and lime (10,000 lbs.) singly and the last two 

 combined, ."it appears that the best yield [of corn] was obtained from 

 the use of kainit, the next best from the use of kainit and lime, and 

 the next best from the use of straw. ..." 



"Iu the years 1893, 1894, and 1895 no further materials were applied to the i)lats, 

 but observations were continued on them. . . . 



"All who have watched the progress of the experiments have agreed that the 

 yields of the past 3 seasons on the treated plats have exceeded the yields of the first 

 season. It therefore seems that one will be Justified in calculating the returns on 

 the yields of 1892. On this basis the application of a 3-inch layer of straw in 1892 

 has given a net increase of uo le.ss than 44 bu. of sound coru per acre for 4 years, or 

 a total of 176 bu. 



"The net returns from the use of 1 ton of kainit per acre are not less than 54 bu. 

 per acre for 4 years, or a total of 216 bu." 



