' THE SOILS. 15 



region are nearly all small and shrubby. They are seldom large 

 enough for posts but are often used as stays and to a large extent in 

 building corrals. 



To casual observation the desert regions are very different from 

 those of southern Arizona. There is a very noticeable absence of the 

 creosote bush and the various species of Oactacece, their place being 

 taken by the spiny salt bush (Atriplex con ferti folia), bud sage (Arte- 

 misia spinescens), and black sage (Artemisia tridentata). Close exami- 

 nation, however, reveals many striking similarities. The preponder- 

 ance of small animals belonging to the reptilian type, as well as the 

 remains of an ephemeral spring vegetation, remind one of the southern 

 deserts. This spring vegetation, which was recognizable at the time 

 of our visit, belongs largely to the phlox, mustard, and borage fami- 

 lies and apparently to the botanical genera Gilia, Sisymbrium, Amsin- 

 kia, and Eritricliium, a list which corresponds very closely, as far as 

 it goes, with the conspicuous fugacious spring plants of the Arizona 

 deserts. 



THE SOILS. 



An effort was made to learn as much as possible concerning the 

 relation of the soluble salts in the soil to the development of forage 

 crops both native and cultivated. Fift}^ soil samples were gathered, 

 but owing to lack of time for their study only twenty-four were 

 selected for analysis. A comparison of the description of the samples 

 with the table of analyses will show that the selection was made with 

 special reference to certain forage crops. The analyses are of value, 

 therefore, in indicating the kind of soil upon which the best native 

 forage plants grow, and suggest what may be expected of such areas 

 when an attempt is made to bring them under cultivation. In a few 

 instances analyses of soils which have baffled attempts at seeding with 

 cultivated crops, especially alfalfa, are given. Some of the failures 

 reported and observed are evidently due to too much soluble salts in 

 the soil, while others are directly traceable to improper application of 

 irrigation water. 



DESCRIPTION OF SOIL SAMPLES. 



No. 1. — July 16, on Humboldt Eiver, 3 miles below Winnemucca, Nev. Deep, 

 productive river-bottom soil, which bakes very hard when dry. It is this soil which 

 produces fine crops of wild wheat or blue stem (Elymus triticoides) . It is evidently 

 very fertile, and when properly irrigated yields immense crops of hay. The sample 

 was wet when collected, and was taken from a typical locality from which was being 

 cut 2 tons of hay per acre. 



No. 3. — July 19, near "Dutch John ranch," Quinn Eiver A^alley, Nev. Grease- 

 wood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) soil which bakes very hard when dry. Probably very 

 alkaline, but this had no crust. Large areas in this vicinity are covered with water 

 during a portion of the winter and early spring. 



No. 4. — July 21, Quinn River Crossing, Nev. Salt grass land, crusty and exceed- 

 ingly hard. The crust is easily broken, rather thin and seldom white. Below this 

 is a layer of rather mellow soil subtended by a hardpan. The crust is about one- 

 eighth of an inch in thickness, mellow soil one-half inch and hardpan indefinite. 



