Nitrogen Fixation 17 
Here the nitrates equalled 1793 per cent of the air dried 
weight of the mass. 
After removing the three inches of alkali and mealy soil, I 
took the next 12 inches as a soil sample. The water soluble 
amounted to 2.97 per cent of the air dried material. This spot had 
been barren for 16, now 18, years. I saw it a few weeks ago and 
it is barren still. 
ANALYSIS XV. 
WATER SOLUBLE, 4TH TO 15TH INCH INCLUSIVE. Orchard No. 3. 
Per Cent. 
Calcic Sulfate . 15.902 
Magnesic Sulfate . 2.942 
Potassic Sulfate . 3.387 
Sodic Sulfate . 15.264 
Sodic Carbonate . 4.813 
Sodic Chlorid . 34.145 
Sodic Nitrate . 22.781 
Silicic Acid . 0.252 
Loss (water, organic matter, etc.) . 0.4 71 
100.000 
The nitrates in this sample equalled 0.676 per cent of the air 
dried material. I subsequently dug a hole in this piece of ground 
at the height of the irrigating season, not at this same spot but near 
it, to see if I could find the water table. I dug to a depth of six 
feet and found only moist, sandy soil. 
The next sample was taken by the owner and sent to me. He 
stated it was taken from another barren spot and to a depth of one 
foot. Water soluble equalled 3.33 per cent of air dried soil. 
ANALYSIS XVI. 
WATER SOLUBLE PORTION OP FIRST FOOT OF SOIL. 
Orchard. No. 3. 
Per Cent. 
Calcic Sulfate . 5.459 
Magnesic Sulfate . 1.086 
Potassic Sulfate . 2.557 
Sodic Sulfate ... 4 9.2 69 
Sodic Carbonate . 2.285 
Sodic Chlorid . 23.897 
Sodic Nitrate . 11.762 
Silicic Acid . 0.111 
Loss (water, organic matter, etc.) . 3.583 
100.000 
The nitrates make up 0.392 per cent of the air dried soil in 
this case. This is one of the spots in which the owner amused 
himself by standing and casting his hat in the air to see it fall on 
the grain so rank and stiff-stemmed that it held up the hat. 
The next sample is one taken by myself in an alfalfa field on 
the same ranch. The spot was quite wet and barren. Sample taken 
three inches deep. Water soluble equalled 10.572 per cent. 
