The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-04
IN WASHINGTON
~ q Analyses Made at the
Agricultural College.
g esusH LAND VERY RICH
..~,e Acid AbunAaas II All Sec
q a ~.t wsstern washfEStoa
: ps1cisns in Lime.

s. Agricultural College Bulletin
IL .s....,. 40. Was taken from the COLI
- arm. 1t Is the characteristic. heavy.
=. .~.,s of the PaIouse country. con-
q i - practically no sand. and Is what
-~sf~arasy termed a clay loan. The
ls.--ss ~as taken from an uncultivated,
e.sssr>a spot, where the soil is about
-- 80 asep, with q clay suosoi.
-. hsxa content OF lime. phosphorac
s. I'D potash Shown by the ANALYSIS
IA Ss.tr. xay sells OF this type have not
...-.nfsr decreased in fertility after
zss~~ been cropped with wheat for If
& - = more successive years. The
s.s 81 nitrogen present is satisfae-
- sh1asxh not large. It is probable
S. - rffroxenous fertilizers viii be first
rlrea IN order to main tain the fertility
4 . 90 type Of soils While II has not
Z .-.....slv suffered from continued crop
~ wfshous any restoration Of the ele-
s q. 20 Il fuod used by the plant. yet 1t Is
,.n.1,ly certain that Its fertility would
B p l.rre3y Increased by D j1dicious appli-
1<51H q Hta-&ANs
Ss n...n;e No. II was taken from the or
& S.,.rd 81 j. b. Holt. at Wawaiwas. Whit
-. cos,rsy. about 30 yards from Snake
S.,r Ii consists very largely Of sand
& s.a1rmlngled with considerable fine mica.
80 lis physical appearance, one would
5-rsfy suspect Ii capable of sustaining
80 pjant life. However, Ii would be
q. ftx,y4 q vxsrra xssva~oxxe <1y 4.nt &c -
oliux orchard than the one growing in
u asndy sell Everything seems to In
1fk6ie that the soil has been formed By
from the river. The high per-
eIataxe OF iissie is doubtless due 10 the
re4srnee ef Shells that have been re-
aepsd 10 finely divided state. 1t also
nnens probable that the presence OF so
m phosphorir acid may be due to other
Ktyss d river waste. In q different type
~ 81 The comparatively high percentage
= suaa might Indicate tendency toward
sIullnity, but here 1t has no special sig
& oidcance.
eaxple No. Is was also taken from the
1z,m ii ]. b. Holt. at Wawaiwai. Whit
Nm eounty. from cultivated land lying
M The foot Of the hills which rise alb
1vpsIy from Snake river. The soil is made
= II 10th river wash and hill wash, and
n sery productive. 1t is a light-coIored
o6H easily worked. and composed very
hugely Of fine earth. 1t differs from No.
& 3 n ooniaining only small amount OF
NE sand and very little mica. The
on6aat Of lime Is less than In No. II. but
= eza notably large. 1t is noticeable
nj the percentages of potash and soda
1 ~ ftserxad. the ratio between them be-
{ ~ pn1ctIea!Iy the same. but No. IL con-
ttns more soda and No. is more potash.
Dtcsase Of the large amounts of lime.
i eetash and rhospheric acid, this .soll
ssatah. theoretically, be productive f5r a
ne period. II is interesting TO note that
Il eoEunlned percentages OF iron and
emiDa are The same In both samples:
10 that snlphurlc acid Is present in both
4 mere traces only.
S 4smple No. II was sent from North
i 1laiha. Yakima county, by Alfred NJ.
8 ilief. having been taken from the SOUTH
1sst quarter. section Il. township ia
& 1efth range rs east. it Is locally termed
e @beneh" or ''sagehrushs' soil. Being
Il ne area of limited rainfall. irrigation
e necessary to produce successfully any
ting but grease wood and sagebrush.
sample was taken from surface 20 q
1epsh OF eighteen inches. from uncultI-
sAtsd land It Is a light, sandy loan.
g y sais Irrigated district no difficulty Is
sxptFlenaed in raising excellent crops
! g tfresls, fruit. alfalfa. hops. etc. wher-
ARA water Is available. This fact having
! e<sa dstarmined by practical experience.
y 40 surprise to learn that the soil
: inrromising Ia appearance. contains
s tssh abundant stores OF the elements Of
taat nutrition. 1t Is probable thtit wien
pAfsiai exhaustion occurs a potash and
s Nitrogen fertilizer will be first required
1w It's restoration TO fertility.
Sample No. 10 has marked reddish
csiafs contains considerable fine sand. but
g gravel. It Was sent from Anacortes.
ekaxs county by Graham Bros, ana was
sseompaaisa by the following aeserip-
usas This red soil IS the characteristic
~ Of Western Washington. and Is sup
3Asea 70 he glacial drift The soil where
essn cultivated or MANFRED. II Is sup
frsed % ge = good fruit soil. The sub
so y hasdpan. very hard 10 dig. but
zszsasa exnasei 10 the air IL erumhies and
8 sssssnss very mellow. There are large
s;ssssllses of mica in IT.
IAss soil Is notably deficient in potash
saa rhasphoFic acid. and an increase in
sas a'sH'e percentage would probably re-
vi oensaeially 10 the sell Practical
sxpesdsnee may have already proven It's
ssAsssssisy TO frais culture. bat from a
essesscal standpoint We should net con-
ser u well suited for that purpose. mas
Maea rs fruit Is supposed 20 require fer
~ highest development considerable
s&aasssses Of lime. potash and phosphorus
~ II seems probable that an applsea-
80 g Fertilizers containing s1 three 81
.assT ingredients would greatiy engthen
IS SET, elsasr Cor raising traits, vege-
usles or cereals.
saapas Nc. = IS a grsyiSh eolo~e<i sell.
staining considerable sand and come
! sasfse gravel Ii VAS also sent hy Ora
! e hFoz-. 81 Apaeartes. sksgis county.
- sas following description: 'sshis is
= Snown * alder bottom Lard.
= - eeea cultivated sna Planted In Or
- ieS six years. Land originally COW
- Nah ceiar, alder and imarie timber
- =. s s'sisnAerry bushes, No manure has
- ase'i Average depth 81 soli fifteen
asssS'' Sane sghs5,l as Ma. ~
- saalysls shows, In tAss sell. grave
-. "a Potash, The potash rerceat-
ssizFRisy low. and Ia ease OF This
- ske s'apeas has been sxaaassea sy
ha~sesy stock for ave yesrs.
-. ''sos fsses.1 aoid Is taw. Sat xet suffs-
- ~ssn fee ssnoani - iissse preseas. n
1ssA sa@esstty, White the snpFssy