234 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



cultivation by the Field Engineer; these samples with the accompany- 

 ing particulars were then forwarded to Ottawa for analysis. Each 

 series consists of three groups taken from the same field, representing 

 land upon which (1) the growth of the crop was good, (2) the growth 

 was poor and beginning to show signs of distress from alkali and (3) 

 upon which there was no growth due to excess of alkali. Accordingly, 

 these groups represent soil essentially free from alkali, soil in which 

 the alkali content is sufficient to have a certain toxic effect upon 

 the crop in question and soil so seriously impregnated with alkali 

 as to prohibit all growth. Each group consists of four samples, "A" 

 represents a depth of 0'.0-0'.5, "B" 0'.5-l'.5, "C" l'.5-3'.0, 

 "D" 3'.— 5'.0. The previous papers submitted in this investiga- 

 tion record the results of the examinaton of thirteen series of soil 

 groups, the crops involved were Western Rye Grass, Native Prairie 

 Grass, Oats, Wheat, Onions, Timothy, Vetch and Rye. The present 

 report upon soils collected in 1921 deals with areas sown to wheat. 



Wheat 



Series XIV. Sec. 26, Tp. 18, R. 14, W. of the 4th Meridian. 



This series of samples was taken in August, 1921 from a field of 

 wheat, which had been irrigated early in June. The water had 

 evidently not penetrated farther than 1'.5. The growth on the 

 field was rather irregular, good healthy wheat on the whole, but some 

 patches showed signs of distress from alkali, and the bare spot from 

 which Group 1752 was taken stretched 200' N.E. and S.W. and 

 measured about 20' wide. The spot was very moist but no incrust- 

 ations of alkali appeared on the surface. 



It is probable that the toxic effects apparent in this field are 

 due to both sodium sulphate and sodium carbonate. Chlorides are 

 absent throughout the series. In "D" of Group 1754 there is a trace 

 of magnesium sulphate, while both Groups 1754 and 1753 below 

 3'.0 contain a considerable amount of calcium sulphate. 



Group 1754. — Good even growth of healthy wheat on an even 

 gentle slope. The location of group was about 539' west of the bare 

 spot or patch (Group 1752) which, however, shows no surface indi- 

 cation of alkali. 



Nature of Soil. — "A" dry chocolate-grey, heavy silt loam, well 

 supplied with organic material; "B" dry, dark yellow-grey light 

 clay loam; "C" fine dry, grey-white silt; "D" essentially same as 



