Delta chief., 1885-03-25
OUR ADOBE SOIL.
An Exhaustive Letter On the Treat.
ment OF this vexing Substance.

adobe soil which arrests the attention is its
compactness. Let US then first investigate
with the information at hand, the mechan-
ical texture of our soil, and see whether it is
in its present condition, ready to furnish
plants with proper conditions for their
healthy and vigorous growth.
In order that plants may thrive in a soil
their roots must be freely accessible to the
air. Water too must be allowed to reach
them, because il is the great vehicle which
carries in solution the ingredients necessary
to sustain plant life besides itself compos-
ing large part of the substance Of the plant.
Il this condition fulfilled in our soil? We
mus, answer that in the natural condition of
our soil, this natural requisition is not found.
The bare, lighiish soil which constitutes the
bulk of the land Immediately around Grand
Junction is packed as hard as a board. Be-
fore il will admit Of the free passage of air
1t must be rendered more porous. Flowing
renders the soil somewhat porous, but If it is
allowed to dry up after the first irrigating, it
returns to its natural condition. 1t is u re-
markable fact that where the water has been
constantly allowed to run on the soil the best
rnised. Is this all due to the fact that our
soil is so dry tina; the wsier is quickly ab.
sorbed from it by the sum- Greatly, We have
no doubt. But this is not and cannot be the
only reason. After the rain, when the ground
dries up We find il light and porous on the
surface. In many cases the soil looks as ii
some chemical process had taken place. The
rain washes into the soil, or away from it.
the white ciilorcscence which is generally
seen ON land which has n damp Sub-soil.
When the mud has dried up along with the
loosening and pulverixing Of the soil, this
eiioiescence again appears on the surface. Is
IL due to the mineral constituents Of the soil
or other causes? This question we cannot at
present answer.
Bu, does our soil fulfil the second condi,.
ion necessary To plant life, !. e.. is it porous
enough TO admit OF the free pcrncstion
soaking in Of watery ANY one can answer
spadefull Of soil Immediately after hard
rain. We do not find any moisture at a
greater depth than few inches. This Is
true after rainy month such hs April or
August sometimes Is. But II is not true Of
the soil which has been plowed. Often a
rain on plow,i soil renders it so muddy that
Il !. almost impossible to cross it. Flowing
then partially prepares our soil for cultiva-
ton. But II Is n we'll known fact that vege.
table mould also renders ground porous
very porous. in fact. Therefore an applica-
ton Of manure is to this soil vital necessity
for the purpose Of loosening 1t up. II another
purpose quite as important were not also
served by 1t. OF this purpose sc shall speak
presently.
But al clay soils arc cold soils. and to this
rule ours is no exception. Many and many
u day must the sun shine hotly in the spring
before the soil |. warmed down but few
inches. This is partly because Of the gray
color Of the adobe, which reflects back with.
out absorbing the suns rays. To obyiate
this difficulty varisus cxpedients may be
sorted to. First and best probably for many
crops is having them planted early enough
to shade the ground and thus keep the soil
of a dark, damp color which will absorb heat
Keeping II constantly wet answers the same
purpose-in the case of small fruits etc.
Mulching presents to the sun a different col.
or: hanuring also changes the color Of the
soil by Introducing into II n darker colored
ingredient, which are therefore more receipt
i've of heat.
Another evident fact In regard to our
ndobs is its barrenness of vegetable mould.
The great heat Of the sun and the lack Of
water has rendered this a parched country in
which no vegetation could flourish. But to
luxurisnt plant life vegetable mould is 4 nee
essity 10 the growth Of some plants. This
may be supplied in numerous ways. Per.
haps two ways are common and most prncti.
cable in our valley. |. e., by an application
'" """uIe :" os proving uhucI toihc krhin
crop which does do well on The soil aud
which 10 sown for the purpose.
In our analysis we learn that this soil con-
tains carbonate Of calcium and carbonate Of
potassium, which brings us the much mooted
question of alkali and whether it is injurious
10 plant life or not.
In the discussion of this question We suffer
much Inconvenience from the from the lack
of an exhaustive quantative analysis, and
would be at a loss for method of procedure,
but for the fact that California contains much
soil similar to ours, and that the professors of
her Agricultural college have made care.
frl and minute study OF this subject and have
published the results of their investigations.
II is to these reports then that we turn for
information.
Prof. Hilgnrd in his report on analysis of
alkaii soils, begins very properly with a
definition of the term "alkali SOIL" His
words are: "The name is applied in Cali.
fornia almost indiscriminately to all soils
containing nm unusual amount of soluble
mineral salts, whose presence is frequently
made apparent by the efilorescencc or bloom.
ing out on the surface OF white powder or
crust, soluble in water. This alkali becomes
most apparent in dry weather following upon
ruins or irrigation. Later in the season II
usually becomes less preceptiblc from inter.
mixture with dust as well as from the failure
aurfnce
The immediate source Of the alkali Is usually
to be found In the soil water and allows II TO
accumulate at the surface, deposits there
whatever Of dissolved matters it may con.
tain, For since the soil.
acting like wick, draws up the saltwater
and allows II to accumulate on tho surface