SOILS. 629 



A limited study of iJiniilarrliaracter made in the Yakima Valley and its trilmtaries, 

 Moxee and Alitanum, show that the alkali soils of this district "contain both sodium 

 carbonate and sulphate, and often also sodium chlorid. The heavily infected soils 

 show the most sodium carl)onate, while in other areas the sulphate is to be found in 

 excess. The greater part of the alkali of the Yakima Valley is sodium sulphate. 

 The soil does not show a high percentage of liine or magnesium carbonates. Other 

 general conditions for this valley are the same as those noted in the Kittitas." 



The use of gypsum on black alkali and the introduction of adequate drainage to 

 keep the salts in the soil steadily moving toward water courses are recommended for 

 trial on a small scale. A method of laying wooden drains devised by a farmer of the 

 Kittitas Valley is described. This, "l)riefly stated, is a process for laying wooden 

 tile in 3 ft. joints by means of a plow so constructed as to draw into the soil after it 

 the wooden tile attached to the heel of the plow by means of a cable." It is stated 

 that the work done by this means is satisfactory. 



Tolerance of alkali by various cultures, R. H. Loughridge ( California Sta. Bui. 

 133, pp. 42, figs. S). — This is an account of a continuation of investigations of previous 

 years at Tulare and Chico substations (E. S. R., 10, p. 225; 12, p. 221). In previous 

 investigations the examinations of the soil extended, as a rule, only to a depth of 1 ft. 

 " In the past 2 years, however, we have extended the investigations and have endeav- 

 ored to ascertain, as far as possible, the highest amount of each salt occurring in 4 ft. 

 depth in which the different cultures of all kinds — orchard as well as others — will grow 

 and come to maturity. . . . About 100 varieties of cultures have been studied. These 

 embrace orchard trees, grain and forage crops, grasses, vegetables, and other miscel- 

 laneous growths." An improved method used in extracting the alkali from soils is 

 as follows: "A weighed amount [of soil] is mixed with a measured quantity of water 

 and allowed to digest for 24 hours, with frequent shaking. The salts thus dissolved 

 are thoroughly diffused through the liquid, and an aliquot part may be taken for 

 evaporation and examination. If necessary, a portion may be passed through a filter 

 to clear it from sediment, but very often the solution settles perfectly clear." 



The data for all of the examinations made are reported in detail and summarized and 

 discussed. The results indicate that "while for the crops in general the maximum 

 tolerance for alkali salts has not yet been definitely found, close approximations are 

 reached with a number, such as the apple, peach, orange, and lemon trees, with 

 respect to carbonate of soda and common salt. In one or two instances alone was 

 the sulphate of soda the apparent cause of distress on the part of a tree. Grapes and 

 olives thus far stand at the head among fruits in their tolerance of each of the alkali 

 salts. Oranges grew in a larger amount of carbonate than did the olive, but that salt 

 was chiefly held below the 2 surface feet. On the other hand, the lemon seems to 

 be the most sensitive to the effects of alkali, especially to common salt, and next 

 to it the orange." 



The highest amounts of alkali salts in which apples were found to be unaffected 

 were sodium sulphate 14,240 lbs. per acre (to a depth of 4 ft. ), sodium carbonate 640 

 lbs., sodium chlorid 1,240 lbs., total alkali 16,120 lbs. The limits for peaches were 

 sulphate 9,600 lbs., carbonate 680 lbs., chlorid 1,000 lbs., total alkali 11,280 lbs.; for 

 oranges, sulphate 18,600 lbs., carbonate 3,840 lbs., chlorid 3,360 lbs., total alkali 

 21,840 lbs.; for lemons, sulphate 4,480 lbs., carbonate 480 lbs., chlorid 800 lbs., total 

 alkali 5,760 lbs.; for grapes, sulphate 40,800 lbs., carbonate 7,550 lbs., chlorid 9,640 

 lbs., total alkali 45,760 lbs.; for olives, sulphate 30,640 lbs., carbonate 2,880 lbs., 

 chlorid 6,640 lbs., total alkali 45,760 lbs. 



"The amount tolerated depends largely upon the distribution of the several salts 

 in the vertical soil-column, the injury Ix'ing most severe in the surface foot, where 

 under the influence of the unfortunate practice of surface-irrigation the feeding root- 

 lets are usually found. It is therefore important that in alkali regions such methods 

 of culture and irrigation should be followed as to encourage deep rooting on the part 

 of crops. 



