14 
BULLETIN 135, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
the lower depths and accompanied the rise of ground water during 
the season of 1913. 
In Table X the average salt content to a depth of 4 feet in 1913 on 
these plats is compared with the average salt content of the virgin 
soil of adjacent plats in the same year. The samples were taken in 
May, June, July, September, and October, and the results are 
expressed in percentages of air-dry soil. 
Table X. — Average total salt content of soil to a depth of 4 feet on cultivated plats com- 
pared with adjacent virgin soil in 1913. 
Treatment. 
Num- 
ber of 
borings. 
Top 3 
inches. 
3 to 6 
inches. 
6 to 12 
inches. 
Aver- 
age, 
first 
foot. 
12 to 24 
inches. 
Aver- 
age, top 
2 feet. 
24 to 36 
inches. 
36 to 48 
inches. 
Aver- 
age, top 
4 feet. 
60 
50 
0.25 
.65 
0.29 
.92 
0.43 
1.54 
0.35 
1.16 
0.74 
1.83 
0.54 
1.49 
1.37 
2.08 
1.59 
1.79 
1.01 
1.71 
Difference 
.40 
.63 
1.11 
.81 
1.09 
.95 
.71 
.20 
.70 
As shown by Table X, there was a difference of 0.70 per cent 
between the total salt content of the cultivated soil and that of the 
virgin soil. The greatest differences were found in the first and 
second feet. 
Crops grown in 1913. — The crops grown on this land in 1913 were 
spring wheat, sugar beets, and oats, one plat being planted to each 
crop. The yields secured are given in Table XI. 
Table XI.- — Yield of crops grown in 1913 on land treated according to the third method. 
Crop. 
Variety. 
Unit of yield. 
Yield per 
acre. 
Spring wheat 
Pringle's Champion . . 
Bushel 
Ton 
36.00 
7.86 
Oats 
Bushel 
68.87 
Cost of the method. — The operations applied in the third method 
during 1910, 1911, and 1912, together with the approximate cost per 
acre of each operation and the total approximate cost per acre each 
year and for all three years, are shown in Table XII. 
Table XII.- — Approximate cost per acre of reclaiming land on the Wordcn tract by 
the third method. 
Year and item of cost. 
1910. 
Breaking 
Double disking (2 times, at $1 each) . . 
Harrowing (2 times, at 25 cents each) 
Leveling 
Seeding 
Seed 
Total for 1910. 
Cost. 
$4.00 
2.00 
.50 
.75 
.50 
1.20 
Total. 
$8.95 
