80IL8 FERTILIZERS. 643 



SOILS FERTILIZERS. 



Alkali conditions in the Payette Valley, .1. S. Bt i.i> Tdalw Sta. Bid. 52, 

 pp. 20). — After a brief discussion of the geography and topography of the Payette Val- 

 ley, tlic character of the soils and waters, the occurrence of tiardpan, and superficial 

 evidences of alkali, the author reports analyses of 8 samples of well water and exam- 

 inations with reference to appearance of the soil solution, texture, and percent 



(ii sulphates, chlorids, and carl ates of 1**7" samples of alkali taken at differenl 



depths, from 1 to 4 ft. 



The results shoM that the predominating alkali is of the so-called black variety. 

 In soils whose fertility has been mosl affected by alkali accumulations the carbonate 

 equivalent was frequently as great a- 0.3 t«» 0.5 per cent, ami even in the best lands, 

 producing fine crops, the average amount of sodium carbonate was 0.1 per cenl or 

 more. In a few instances sodium chlorid was found to be present in extraordinarily 

 large amounts, 0.5 percent and over. In general, however, the proportion of this 

 -alt was much less than that of sodium carbonate, being only 0.03 per cent or less in 

 good upland soils. 



Soluble sulphates were frequently present in large an lounts, 0.2toO.J percent, in 

 the highly contaminated lands, but in the more productive soils they were present in 

 -mall amounts, as compared with other constituents, frequently running as \><w as 0.02 

 per cent or less. The virgin soils as a rule contained smaller amounts of soluble salts 

 in the surface foot than in lower layers. In soils containing much free water the 

 alkali was usually uniformly distributed, but was frequently higher in the surface 

 foot than in other layers. Geographical position seen km 1 to have little influence in 

 determining the character of the alkali. 



In general the conclusion was reached that "the amounts of so-called alkali or 

 water soluble salts in the .-oils of this valley are quite large and offer a serious obstacle 

 to the successful farming of large areas. Prior to artificial irrigation the amount- and 

 distribution of the alkali constituents in the various soils were fairly uniform. Since 

 artificial irrigation commenced, however, there have been radical changes in this 

 respect. 



"Irrigation has resulted in improving certain favorably situated soils by working 

 the salts to greater depths or into the drainage or neighboring lands: hut n low- 

 lying lands or wherever the natural underdrainage is poor accumulations have been 

 brought about. These accumulations, as has been noted above, consist largely of 

 sodium carbonate. Unfortunately, however, the use of gypsum, the usual antidote 

 for sodium carbonate, is inapplicable here because the amount of resulting -odium 

 sulphate, in addition to the sulphate and chlorid already present, would in most cas< - 

 still be far above the toxic limit for the crops of this section. 



" In even the most favorably situated soils the alkali is quite high, and unless w ater 



i- sparingly used, or the underdrainage ie exceptionally g 1. the tendency of the salts 



to come to the surface is soon observed. The topography of certain portions of the 

 area— i. e., the bench lands — is admirably suited to artificial underdrainage, which 

 would probably solve the alkali problem for lands so situated, if it were introduced. 

 It is difficult to see, however, how the low-lying river lands could be successfully 

 underdrained, and for the present at least such lands should be avoided or chosen 

 with great care when intended for agricultural purposes." 



The geological survey of Ireland, G. A. J. Cole {Dept. Agr. and Tech. Tnstr. 

 Ireland Jour., 5 (1905), No. 4, pp. 619-689, pis. P, figs. 4)- — A brief account is given 

 of the history, progress, and aims of this survey, which has recently been put under 

 the control of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. 

 It is proposed to give special attention to surface geology and to the preparation of 

 drift and soil maps of districts of special agricultural interest. 



