AKID AGRICULTURE. 



85 



REMEDIES 

 FOB ALKALI 

 SOIL 



CROPS FOB 



ALKALI 

 SOILS 



a good stand of plants obtained from the seed, 

 the crop may grow to maturity and make a good 

 yield. 



The black alkalies of California have been 

 corrected by changing them into white alkali 

 which is less detrimental. This is done by add- 

 ing considerable quantities of gypsum or land 

 plaster. Land plaster is sulphate of lime. When 

 this comes in contact with carbonate of soda 

 there is a chemical change and the carbonate of 

 soda becomes sulphate of soda, and the sulphate 

 of lime becomes carbonate of lime or common 

 lime stone. The remedy for white alkali is to 

 provide proper drainage and wash the salts out 

 of the soil with irrigation water. The worst 

 alkali soils may be made productive in this way. 



There are a few crops which will thrive in 

 the presence of much white alkali. The princi- 

 pal one is the sugar beet. If the salts can be 

 diluted by irrigation before the seed is planted 

 so there is no serious retardation of germination, 

 sugar beets will make good crops on strong alkali 

 soil. Another useful plant to grow in places 

 which would otherwise be waste, is the English 

 or Dwarf Rape for soiling and pasture. One 

 of the best plants to grow in such places either 

 for forage or to improve the soil in vegetable 

 mold is the white sweet clover. There is no 

 need of leaving the alkali places as unproductive 

 and unsightly wastes. 



