ALKALI CONDITIONS AT OURLANA. 



The surface crust showed the following composition: 



TABLE 28. Per cent of alkali soluble in excess of water in surface crust, Station No. 2, 



Ourlana, Algeria. l 



Calcium sulphate 4. 88 



Magnesium sulphate 2. 57 



Magnesium chlorid 60 



Sodium chlorid 10. 15 



Potassium chlorid .11 



Sodium bicarbonate .12 



Total 18. 43 



The following table shows the amount of alkali in the soil: 

 TABLE 29. Per cent of alkali in soil of date plantation, Station No. 2, Ourlana, Algeria. l 



1 Mr. Seidell's original analyses of the samples from this station are as follows: 



The date palms were growing luxuriantly and fruiting abundantly here, entirely 

 unaffected by the alkali, though they must withstand nearly one-half per cent of 

 chlorids. It is interesting to note that over 60 per cent of the land surveyed by the 

 Bureau of Soils in the Salton Basin has less alkali than was contained in this soil. 



Station No. 3 at Ourlana was situated about half a mile from the bordj, in a low 

 and badly drained part of the orchard, where the palms did not look so vigorous and 

 healthy as they did elsewhere. Below 26 inches' depth the sand was full of water 

 and perfectly fluid, like quicksand. 



