The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-18
WONDERFUL WESTERN SOIL.
Retains Its Aofstare All summer
Long - Government srfentfsts
Make an Astounding Discovery

WASHINGTON. Nov tL-Tne caSsSton
OF soils 81 the agricultural department.
which was established couple u years
ago, is conducting some ~ the most inter
esting experiments OF the department
Prof. Milton whitney. who IL n charge
OF the division. is engaged az present IN
the investigation OF the climatic CONDITIONS
OF moisture and temperature IN their re-
iation 20 the local distribution OF crops
The work has a scope as broad as tne
country. II will eventually embrace all
the soils and staple crops and In its reia-
ton TO the future Of the country, when
crops must be specialized under the snten-
sified system OF agriculture. which must
come TO our farmers In few years, II
promises to be of the utmost economic
and practical value, Its practical utsity
will be the determination OF the normal
water contents OF the different soils in
various portions of the country. their ca
paeity for the absorption and retention
OF moisture. with the amount OF moisture
required by different crops, together with
methods Of ascertaining the point at which
lack of moisture would enaanger crops
and the most feasible methods OF irriga-
ton.
The Investigation OF the Western soils,
made with the aid Of the weather bureau,
which covers Lower California, the San
Joaquin valley and the great Paiouse
growing districts OF California. Washing
ton and Montana, the Yellowstone valley.
the Red river valley and also the Mojave
and Nevada deserts. has developed some
most astounding facts and some which the
department Of agriculture is not able 10
explain.
Prof. Whitney says the history Of these
soils will make the most remarkable chap
ter in the history Of the worlds asricul-
fa1rA nh
Red river and desert districts mentioned,
have only from one-tifth 10 one-haif Of
the annual rainfall received by the terri
tory east OF the Mississippi. river chat is,
from seven 10 twenty inches,. they sell
dom. IL ever. suffer from drouth. More
over. practically all the rainfall they re-
ceiye comes In the fall and winter sea-
sons. Only slight fraction falls during
the summer months when the crops are
growing. Yet the crops do not suffer.
An Investigation Of these far Western
soils has shown that they are largely made
up of the disinteeratlon of the original
hasaltie rock, and tha, there is little diff
ference between the soils and substitute
soils. difference very marked In the
East. They have a remarka bic power for
absorption OF moisture, and do not readily
lose 1t by evaporation. although the hui
mildly OF the atmosphere during the
growing season is much lower than in the
East, Thus. the crops. by subsisting on
the winter rains can stand long periods OF
drouth
In the San Joaquin valley. the great
grape-growing region of California, the
annual rainfall is but seven inches. and
from May 10 September only about six
tenths of an INCH falls. yet the vines
flourish throughout the season. Ii is true.
they are Irrigated by canals, but the mois-
ture is absorbed and transmitted by the
soils. There is no surface application OF
water
In Southern California the winter. rain
fall is about sixteen inches; the summer
rainfall less than one inch, and without
irrigation tobacco and other crops grow
mxuFlantiy. Az Chico. In this district.
sugar beets which require great amount
of moisture. grow famously. The surface
soil dries out in the summer, forming a
crust muIsh. which seems to protect
the soil beneath.
In the districts about Waiia Waila and
Pullman. termed the Paleuse district, the
annual rainfall varies from ten 10 twenty
inches, OF which from one 10 ten inches
falls during, the season of the growing
crops, yet owing 10 the wonderful power
OF the soil to retain water and supply
to crops drouth OF months is less u
furious there than one of the same nun
her of weeks In the East. where the an
niial rainfall is about forty inches
In the Moiave and Nevada deserts the
annual rainfall averages about five inches
hut beneath the aikali crusts the soil IS
always moist. fact which the scie1-
lists have as yet been unable 10 explain
In fact. little is known OF the power OF
the soils To hold water. As artesian wells
show water In all these districts from
forty TO 200 feet below the surface. X is
considered possible that there Is a slow
and continuous movement of water un-
ward from the arfesian sources. which are
beyond the influences OF local climate
This especially Is believed 20 ne true Of
the desert districts. where the moisture
Of the soil cannot he explained on the
theory that the soii could retain its mois-
TIRE from the insignificant rainfall
by placing electrodes In the soil tn al
these places at various depths from few
inches 10 twenty-five feet, II Is believed
that In the future the direction and in
tcnsity Of what might be termed the water
waves Of the earth can be accurately de-
terffinsd The uSa Of the electrodes for
determining the moisture % the earth
has been quite extensively employed n
the Fast with very satisfactory results
The principle made usa ~ Is the resistance
afforded hy the earth al different depths
to the passage IL an alternating current
Of electricity. If the earth Is absolutely
dry ~ course the resistance would Ne TOO
great for Tbs. massage of the current Az
TIE moisture Increases water being a per-
feet conductor the resistance decreases
In truck farming and garden work whe-s
cultivation - Intense Il IS believed that
he use Of these electrodes. which require
but two or three ordinary cells for their
operation. can be used with great proat
Nx those who are at all scientific In their
methods.