120 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



for the success of the following crop is supposed to depend upon the 

 water which is thus stored in the soils. The natural drainage by the 

 sloughs is often artificially blocked by dams during this period, and 

 the irrigation canals continually carry water onto the land. There is 

 no question but that the crops are benefited by the water stored in 

 this way at certain seasons, but at the same time some of the most 

 valuable land is being ruined by the rise of alkali, due to the high 

 water table. Already large areas are left out of cultivation, and 

 unless the present practices are changed further damage will ensue. 

 Instead of damming the drainage systems, everything possible should 

 be done to carry off the winter's excess of water, and instead of 

 depending upon subirrigation to furnish the needed water supply, the 

 water should be applied by irrigation from the top of the ground, 

 which would tend to drive the alkali down. In order thoroughly to 

 reclaim the district and insure against further damage, a drainage 

 district should be formed and outlet canals be dug for the free pas- 

 sage of the excess of water, and the sloughs which are now dammed 

 should be opened. 



If winter irrigation is to be practiced, it should be from the surface, 

 for subirrigation in such soils, particularly if the level of the stand- 

 ing water comes to within 4 or 5 feet of the surface, involves serious 

 danger of the rise of alkali. 



There are large areas of land already alkaline which could be 

 reclaimed at a profit, and it is hoped that these investigations will 

 make this point so clear that the people of the district can be pre- 

 vailed upon to make the experiment of reclaiming small areas at least 

 for demonstration. 



EASTERN DIVISION. 



The Dorsey party. — During the first part of the fiscal year the 

 Lancaster area was completed, having been started during the latter 

 part of the previous year. Lancaster County, Pa. , was selected for 

 the work, as it is an important tobacco-producing section, and is one 

 of the oldest as well as one of the finest agricultural districts in the 

 country. 



The area surveyed consists of a broad limestone valley, with sand- 

 stone and shale ridges of sedimentary rock, and, in the southern part, 

 of the Piedmont plateau of crystalline rocks. The surface is gently 

 rolling, and is well watered by numerous streams. The most impor- 

 tant soils are the Hagerstown loam and the Conestoga loam, each 

 covering nearly one-third of the area surveyed. They are both formed 

 from limestone rock, the former from a hard massive limestone and 

 the latter from a softer schistose limestone, making the soil soapy or 

 greasy to the touch. Both are excellent soils for wheat and corn and 

 are typical soils for the grade of tobacco grown in Pennsylvania. The 

 Edgemont stony loam is similar to the mountain peach soil of western 

 Maryland, which has become famous for the production of a fine qual- 

 ity of late peach. It is unsuited for wheat or general agriculture. 

 The Donegal gravelly loam occurs near the Susquehanna River, and 

 it is upon this that the fine wrapper leaf tobacco has been produced, 

 similar to the Connecticut leaf, it being the only soil in the area which 

 will produce this grade of tobacco. Other soils were found of less 

 importance either from their slight extent or from their small agricul- 

 tural value. The difference in the commercial value of these lands 

 is very great. The best limestone soils are worth from $125 to $250 

 an acre, while some of the other soils have merely a nominal value. 



