57 



PRAIRIE SOILS FROM DAKOTA. 



1611-1613. These soils were forwarded to the Department in July, 

 1882, unaccompanied by any letter or other means of indentification 

 from the person who sent them ; their analysis was begun in expecta- 

 tion that some information concerning them would come to hand before 

 they were finished, but all attempts to find out the sender have, so far, 

 proved unavailing. 



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



The seven samples of soil were sent by Hon. Joseph Jorgenson, United 

 States land office, Walla Walla, January 5, 1884. 



They were taken from various points of a section of unsettled country, lying be- 

 tween the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, and west of Wallula. on the Northern Pacific 

 Railroad, comprising about 1.3CO square miles of gently rolling plateau from 500 to 

 1,000 feet above 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 (18*5) there are some fine crops of wheat on it. 



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

 u decomposed basalt irorn 3 to 100 i'eet deep," and the subsoil is u ba- 

 saltic rock." Iso timber is found on it, the prevailing growth being 

 " bunch grass and sage bush." 



1656. Sandy soil from 5 miles northwest of Umatilla, Jreg. 



1657. Surface soil in Grant's Eanch, Sec. 24, T. 11, E. 24. 



1658. Two feet of surface soil in Grant's Ranch, Sec. 24, T. 11. E. 25. 



1659. Soil from T. 8, K. 26. 



1660. Soil from Sec. 26, T. 7, E. 26. 



1661. Soil from middle of T. 8 K, E. 27, between the Yakima and Co- 

 lumbia Elvers. 



1662. Soil from Sec. 12, T. 8, E. 28. 



These are samples of virgin soils, and contain a large 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, the.y are, with the exception of 

 Nos. 1660 and 1661, somewhat deficient; and this would indicate that 

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

 cessive cropping, the soil should become unproductive. 



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



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 depth 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 



