34 IRRIGATION FARMIXC. 



p I aster. These materials should be sown broadcast over 

 the surface and harrowed in to a moderate depth prior to 

 irrigating. The usual amount of gypsum to apply is 

 from 400 to 500 pounds to the acre. A California pro- 

 fessor once became so inoculated with the gypsum doc- 

 trine that he applied 3,600 pounds to the acre and was 

 satisfied that the process proved to be altogether too 

 expensive, although it removed 75 per cent of the alkdi 

 by using the gypsum in connection with the flood in i: 

 method. Gypsum is the only cure for the disastrous 

 black alkali so fatal to plant life. 



Eradication by Vegetable Growth. It may 

 often happen that all of the foregoing recommendations 

 will prove ineffective, and to many cultivators they may 

 be inaccessible. The most simple and natural remedy 

 to absorb the alkaliferous elements in the soil, as has 

 been found from the writer's own experience, is by grow- 

 ing them out with certain neutralizing crops. If these 

 do not entirely eradicate alkali in one season they should 

 be continued year after year until the desired result is 

 obtained, and during this period a rotation of the spe- 

 cific crops may be resorted to if so desired. Sugar beets 

 are no doubt the best things for this purpose, although any 

 of the long-rooted crops will do nearly as well. Potatoes 

 will not answer at all. Any of the sugar canes are ben- 

 eficial, but the more gross feeders or the leguminous 

 plants are better. Nothing is better probably than 

 alfalfa, the great nitrogenous forage plant of the West, 

 or its cousin esparcet, as these shade the ground, and 

 their deep roots absorb nearly all the water and dissolved 

 salts, while on the whole they reduce evaporation to the 

 minimum. Other recommended crops are carrots, tur- 

 nips, cabbages, hops, pea vines and sowed corn. In 

 orchard planting such trees may be set as the peach, 

 pear, (jiiince, apple and prune; and small fruits and the- 

 grape but for the latter cuttings must not be used, and 



