[SHUTT-BURWASH] "ALKALI" CONTENT OF SOILS 61 



"C," plastic clay, wet; "D," plastic clay, containing some peat-like 

 masses, wet, refractory on air-drying. 



The percentage" of sodium sulphate (0-5 per cent) in "A" 

 (0'-0-0'-5) is considerably higher than in the corresponding member 

 of Group 1688; it probably represents the limit of safety, especially, 

 as in this case, when associated with small quantities of sodium 

 carbonate. The alkali content of "B," "C" and "D" is not materially 

 higher than in the corresponding members of Group 1688, from which 

 it may be inferred that the crop is most affected by the alkali in the 

 first 6 inches. 



Group 1686. No growth; soil entirely bare and showing alkali. 

 Diameter of alkali patch, about 150 feet. Nature of soil: "A," 

 brown clay loam, with fair amount of vegetable matter, wet; "B," 

 brownish-grey clay, wet; "C" and "D," grey silty clay, wet. 



The percentage of sodium" sulphate is well beyond the limit of 

 tolerance, being 4 per cent in the first six inches, decreasing to -9 per 

 cent at a depth of 5 feet. Magnesium sulphate is present more or less 

 uniformly throughout (-07 to -2 per cent), but the calcium sulphate 

 is concentrated at the surface. It is significant that this group is free 

 from sodium carbonate, the inhibition of growth being entirely due 

 to sodium sulphate. 



Oats 



Series XI. Section 19, Township 23, Range 22, West of the 4th 

 Meridian. 



The oat field from which these samples were taken is situated 

 about ten miles north of Gleichen, Alta. It had been irrigated for a 

 number of years, during which time the bare spots due to alkali, it 

 was stated, had increased in size. The crop, speaking generally, at 

 the time of inspection, July 24th, was only fair. The soil on this farm 

 is typical of the Gleichen district, rich dark loam with a subsoil mixture 

 of sand and silt. 



