THK TREATMENT OF ALKALI. 45 



desired result is obtained, and during this period a 

 rotation of the specific 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 beneficial, but the 

 more gross feeders or the leguminous plants are better. 

 Nothing is better probably than alfalfa, the great nitro- 

 genous 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, turnips, cab- 

 bages, hops, pea-vines, and sowed corn. In orchard 

 planting such trees may be set as the peach, pear, 

 quince, apple, and prune ; and small fruits and the 

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

 and the topsoil must not be too strong with alkali. It 

 is said that the olive will grow in the black alkali. 



Planting Trees in Alkali Ground. — We are fre- 

 quently asked if there is any way to plant trees on 

 alkali soil so that they will live. As we have said 

 before, alkali soil packs very closely, a great deal more 

 so than soil not impregnated with this salt. If made 

 wet it runs together like soft mortar. If a hole is dug 

 in alkali soil the walls will be as smooth as it is possible 

 to conceive earth to be, showing the disposition of this 

 soil to pack too closely for young tree life, while the 

 tree planter may lose his labor, not even saving the 

 holes he dug. Our experience has been, after digging 

 the hole for the tree the usual depth and the usual 

 way, to take a quarter of a stick of giant powder and 



