THE SOILS. 17 



appears, while often very large, have quite definite boundaries, and one area may be 

 entirely free from this secretion while another in close proximity may contain large 

 quantities of it. No difference was observed between soil characteristics of the 

 affected and unaffected areas. The largest quantity of deposit and the largest extent 

 of grass affected was on the meadows near Andrews, Oreg. 



No. 24. — August 7, 1901, Wild Horse Ranch, near Andrews, Oreg. Garden soil 

 irrigated from a spring of pure water, a located on an alkali knoll, which produced 

 nothing but salt grass. The garden was located about 10 feet lower than the spring. 

 A black crust is often seen on the ground and along the ditches, but in spite of this 

 strongly alkaline appearance good vegetables, potatoes, onions, and beets were 

 raised on the soil. 



No. 25. — August 7, 1901, Wild Horse Ranch, near Andrews, Oreg. This is a sample 

 of a black deposit from the edges of the irrigating ditch carrying water spoken of 

 in sample 24. A black crusty deposit appears all along the ditches. a 



No. 26. — August 7, 1901, Wild Horse Ranch, near Andrews, Oreg. Soil from 

 which this sample was taken contained a very conspicuous growth of rayless golden- 

 rod (Chrysothamnus graveolens) with alkali grass (Puccinellia airoides) and salt grass 

 (Distichlis spicata) covering from two-thirds to three-fourths of the ground between 

 the bushes. 



No. 29. — August 13, 1901, Divine's ranch, 15 miles northeast of Andrews, Oreg. 

 Sample is from the lowlands, some distance from the Alvord Desert. Vegetation 

 where sample was taken consists of small cord grass (Spartina gracilis) and some salt 

 grass (Distichlis spicata). _ There was a slight crust of salt on the surface. 



No. 32. — August 13, 1901, near Divine's ranch, on swamp meadow belonging to 

 Manns Lake Ranch, about 20 miles northeast of Andrews, Oreg. There was no veg- 

 etation where the sample was taken. There was a thick (one-fourth of an inch) 

 blistery crust of white or sometimes yellowish salt on the surface. The soil below 

 this was black or brown-black, pasty and moist, It was of the consistency of putty 

 and situated some distance from a small greasewood area on a swamp meadow. A 

 small packet of surface salt is included. 



No. 33. — August 13, 1901, near Divine's ranch, about 20 miles northeast of 

 Andrews, Oreg., on a swamp meadow belonging to Manns Lake Ranch. This soil 

 produced from 2 to 2| tons of hay per acre of prairie bulrush (Scirpus campestris). 

 It was very hard, dry, and badly cracked (PL VII, fig. 1). This sample was taken 

 within 15 yards of sample No. 32. There was a narrow strip, 4 or 5 feet wide, of 

 salt grass intervening between the bare area where No. 32 was taken and this fine 

 growth of the bulrush. 



No. 34- — August 14, 1901, Juniper Ranch, about 20 miles north of Manns Lake, 

 Oreg. Boggy, sedgy, meadow soil, very characteristic over large areas in this 

 region. Two or three species of sedges, a little clover, and moss constitute the prin- 

 cipal vegetation. 



No. 38.— August 15, 1901, Malheur Lake bottoms, near Windy Point, Oreg. The 

 sample is from one of the large squirrel tail grass (Hordeum jubatvm) areas so 

 characteristic on the open range to the east and north of the lake. The soil is porous, 

 dark in color, and has the appearance of being rich and productive. It is usually 

 slightly lower than the surrounding salt grass areas and is often spotted or even 

 covered with a dense growth of rayless golden rod, with which the squirrel tail grass 

 is mixed. Where the sample was taken there was no vegetation but squirrel tail 

 grass. 



a Analysis of a sample of the water subsequently furnished by Foreman Arthur 

 Barnes verifies this statement, there being but 19.3 parts solids per 100,000. The 

 alkali along the ditches was evidently from the soil between the spring and the 

 cultivated area. 



16370— No. 15—02 2 



