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This dissolving of salt by water and its depositing on lands, is 

 what has taken place in the formation of alkali soils formed by ero- 

 sion, flooding, or filtration. Lauds that have recently been covered by 

 the sea leaving salt marshes along the sea coast, are sometimes called 

 alkali lands; but alkali lands are here understood to mean lands in 

 which the accumulation of certain salts in the soil has been produced 

 by the action of soil waters. 



FORMATION OF ALKALI LANDS IN PERU. 



The conditions that have brought about the alkali lands of Peru 

 are, the character of the mother soil, the dry climate, the formation 

 of the valleys and the way they are drained. 



As much of the agricultural land of the valleys was formed by 

 erosive action, it should represent some of the characteristics of the 

 mother soil. If this had contained a good quantity of decomposable 

 salts, they would be expected to be found in the valley soils. If these 

 valley soils had been washed by rains and the drainage water run off 

 to the sea, many of the easily soluble salts would have passed off 

 with it. But, as there is very little rainfall in the middle and lower 

 portions of the valleys, they were not leached out. After repeated soak- 

 ings with waters containing the salts, and subsequent evaporations, 

 the soils became sufficiently charged with them to be distinguished 

 as alkali soils. 



great deal of it, and for years it did not interfere with the fertility of the soil, and the 

 fact of the presence of the salt in the water was unknown by many, forgotten by 

 others, and overlooked by all but the most careful. (However, there came a time when 

 the constant pouring of salt on the land showed its inevitable effect. About four years 

 ago, apparently all at once, the former fertile soil seemed to refuse to respond to culti- 

 vation, and cane ceased to grow. The smash came as sudden and complete as that of 

 the wonderful one hoss shay. From a crop that had been sufficient to pay satisfactory 

 dividends, there was first little or no crop, and of necessity no dividends, 

 * * * There was consternation among the stock holders, many of whom never dream- 

 ed of the true situation. But a portion of the stockholders faced the situation resolute- 

 jy. They began an inquiry into a remedy for the difficulties that beset them. Finally a 

 plan was evolved for the entire abandonment of the pumping plant and artesian water 

 system and the construction of a ditch to bring water from the mountains to supply a 

 gravity system of irrigation.* * * As indicating the immense amount of salt which accumu. 

 lated in the soil year after year by the use of the salt artesian water, the manager report- 

 ed that when the drain ditches were first constructed, Lthe water they carried off con- 

 tained 200 grains of salt to the gallon, while a year later it contained only from 25 to 50 

 grains." This plantation is now on the high road to prosperity and is expected soon to pay 

 dividends again. 



