189 



reconinioiKl 2r)0 poiiml'^ of cotton-seed meal to the acre as on the whole 

 the n)ost economical fertilizer for this section. Further details of 

 the experiments \vith wheat will be given in the annual rei)ort of the 

 Station for 1889. 



Oats (p. 11).— Bhick Kussian is recommended as a good variety of 

 winter oats for this latitude. One season's experiments with nitrate 

 of soda, acid phosj^hate. floats, kainit, and cotton-seed meal, singly 

 and in combination, indicate that there is little profit in their use on 

 this land " which had been cultivated but little." It is anticipated 

 that '' similar experiments on worn lands in the center of the State " 

 may give diffei-ent results. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Agricultural Experiment Station of tlie University of California. 



Ih'iKirlinciii of ihe rnivcrsity of CiiUfontia. 

 Location. Berkeley. Director, E. W. Hilgard, Ph. D., liL. D. 



BULLETIN No. 83, NOVEMBER 1, 1889. 



The rise of the alkali in the San Joaquin Valley, E. W. 

 Hilgard. Ph. D. (pp. 1-4). — "The rapid increase of population in 

 the San Joaquin Valley, and the frequency with Avhich inquiries rela- 

 tive to the nature and treatment of ' alkali ' come to this Station from 

 that section, as well as other portions of the State, render it expedient 

 to give a summary of the main points in this problem in this bulletin. 

 A more elaborate treatise on the same subject, originally published 

 in the annual report for 18S0, has been reprinted and can still be sent 

 to those desiring more detailed information."' 



In the San Joaquin Valley (particularly in its upper portions) 

 there is during the dry season a " blooming out " of soluble salts on 

 the surface of the ground, due to the decomposition of minerals in 

 the soil into salts, which in drv times are not washed out, but rise to 

 the surface during evaporation of the soil moisture. These alkali 

 salts vary greatly in composition. The three principal ingredients 

 are common salt (chloride of sodium), Glauber's salt (sulphate of 

 soda), and sal-soda (carbonate of soda). When carbonate of soda 

 l)redomiiuites a black deposit is made at the surface, po])ularly called 

 " black alkali,"' as distinguished from the " white alkali," in which 

 the two other ingredients are chiefly found. The " black alkali," the 

 color of which is due to the solution of humus by the carbonate of 

 soda, is by far the most pernicious. It may, however, be converted 

 into the " white " " by dressings of gypsum or land plaster, 200 to 

 500 pounds per acre, and the relief thus aiforded is in very many 

 oases all that is needed to insure jDrofitable cultiA^ation." Along with, 

 the harmful mineral substances there arc alwaj'^s present in these 

 soils others, such as potash, phosphates, and nitrates, which insure 

 great fertility to these lands under proper treatment. It has been 

 found to be worse than useless to attempt to remove the surplus salts 



