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SUMMARY. 



Farming in the desert to ordinary crops, fruit or alfalfa will be 

 impossible on much of the land, and risky on all unless special pre- 

 cautions are taken to prevent the rise of the alkali. Of the level lands 

 only 17 per cent have less than 0.2 per cent alkali, while 32 per cent 

 have from 0.2 to 0.4 per cent. This 49 per cent of the area can be 

 farmed to nearly all crops as long as the accumulation of the alkali at 

 the surface is prevented. The remainder of the land, or 51 per cent, 

 will have to be farmed to alkali-resistant crops. Date palms, sorghum, 

 sugar beets, and barley will likety be most successful. Even where 

 farmed to these resistant crops the greatest precaution should be taken 

 to prevent an accumulation of alkali at or near the surface. 



The claims for the fertility of this country are based upon the 

 experience gained from irrigation along the Colorado River below 

 Yurna. An examination of the country reveals the fact that the con- 

 ditions below Yuma are very different from those in the Imperial 

 area, and the agriculture of the two areas is not comparable. The 

 soils of the bottom lands below Yuma are lighter in texture, more 

 pervious to water, contain less alkali, and are, many of them, well 

 adapted to alfalfa. 



14763 No. 902 2 



