KEPOET OF THE CHEMIST. 177 



PRAIErE SOILS FROM DAKOTA. 



1G11-1G13. These soils -svere forwarded to the Department in July, 

 1882, unaccompanied by any letter or other means of identification from 

 the person who sent them ; their analysis was begun in expectation that 

 some information concerning them would come to hand before they 

 were finished, but all attempts to find out the sender have so farx)roved 

 unavailing. 



SOILS FROM UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE, WALLA WALLA, WASH. 



Seven samples of soil were sent by Hon. Joseph Jorgeusen, United 

 States land office, Walla Walla, January 6, 1884 : " They were taken 

 from various points of a section of unsettled country, lying between 

 the Yakima and Columbia Elvers, and west of Wallula, on the I^Tortheru 

 Pacific Eailroad, comprising about 1,300 square miles of gently rolling 

 plateau — from 500 to 1,000 feet above the sea-level — the only drawback 

 being a lack of running streams of water on any part of it, and but few 

 natural springs. Water is reached at varying depths, from 14 to 80 feet. 

 It is covered, however, with a fine bunch grass, which is accepted here 

 as indubitable proof that the smaller grains will grow to maturity and 

 perfection.- This year (1885) there are some fine crops of wheat on it." 



The samples were taken from "1 to 5 feet" in depth, the soil being 

 a "decomposed basalt from 3 to 100 feet deep," and the subsoil is 

 " basaltic rock." No timber is found on it, the prevailing growth being 

 "bunch grass and sage bush." 



1G5G. Sandy soil from 5 miles northwest of Umatilla, Oreg. 



1057. Surface soil in Grant's Ranch, Sec. 24, T. 11, E. 24. 



1G58. Two feet of surface soil in Grant's Eanch, Sec. 24, T. 11, E. 25. 



1G59. Soil from T. 8, E. 26. 



IGGO. Soil from Sec. 2G, T. 7, E. 20. 



IGGl. Soil from middle of T. 8 N., E. 27, between the Yakima and 

 Columbia Elvers. 



1G62. Soil from Sec. 12, T. 8, E. 28. 



These are samples of virgin soils and contain a largo amount of the 

 most important soil constituents, as phosphoric acid, lime, potash, &c., 

 and should produce abundant crops under favorable climatic conditions. 

 In their contents of nitrogen, however, they are, with the exception of 

 !Inos. 1G60 and 16G1, somewhat deficient, and this would indicate that 

 ammoniacal manures would have to be applied in the future, if, by ex- 

 cessive cropping, tho soil should become unproductive. 



SOIL FROM N. E. SMITH, UNION PIER, BERRIEN COUNTY, linCHIGAN. 



2550. The sample of soil was sent by Mr. Smith December 10, 1883. 

 The sample was taken to a depth of " 10 inches from a portion of the 

 inverted furrow." The field is " flat" and the depth of the soil " like 

 sample is from 8 to 30 inches." The subsoil " to a dei^th of 2 feet is 

 sand filled with the infiltration of the surface ; this sand in places has 

 many small flat stones resembling pieces of broken oyster shells in 

 shape but flinty in character." The timber was " yellow pine and larch, 

 filled with a dense growth of alders, tag and black, and blueberries; 

 the surface was covered with moss 2 feet deep." 



The following croi^s have been raised : 



Oats, good straw, light grain. Buckwlieat, 25 to 30 bushels to the acre. Corn not a 

 success. Potatoes, one hundred and one in. a hill, but none larger than a vralnut. 



12 AG— '85 



