The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-18
TESTING THE SOILS
INTERESTING AGRICULTURAL tx
PERIaEHTS IN PROGRESS.
ntIcIpatipS the Day when Farming Must
Re Rsdoced to Fine Art, the Depart
mens is Trying to Ascertain just w hat
1t Takes For Certain Crops and just
What Crops For Certain soils-stsrti-
Ing Statements Regarding the Semi
Arid Regions OF :he West-Thsory Of
Artesian Irrigation


ago, is conducting some of the most in
teresting experiments OF the depart
ment. Professor Milton Whitney. who
is in charge Of the division, is engaged
at present in fle investigation OF the
climatic conditions of moisture and tenn
perature in their relation to the local
distribution OF crops. The work has a
scope as broad as the country. 1t will
embrace all the soils and staple crops.
and in its relation TO the future Of the
country, when crops must be specialized
under the intensified system OF agricul-
ture which must come our fatmers in a
few years, it promises 10 be OF the ut
most economic and practical value. Its
practical utility viii be the dete-mina-
ton OF the normal water contents OF the
different soils in various portions OF the
county, their capacity for the absorp-
ton and retention of moisture. with the
amount of moisture required by differ
ent crops, together with methods for
ascertaining the point at which lack OF
moisture would endanger crop. and the
most feasible methods Of irrigation
Thus far the investigation has covered
only truck soils in the east, tobacco soils
and an investigation OF western soils.
Some marvellous results have already
been obtained. Il has been ascertained,
for instance, in the matter OF tobacco
growing, that tobacco wrappers. whicn
are grown on the light soils Of Connecti-
cut, require but per cent OF moisture.
while the filters, which are best grown
on the heavy soils OF Pennsylvania and
Ohio. require 20 per cent.
The investigation OF wheat and the
actual amount OF water required for its
maturity viii follow next, and subse-
quently the data as to other crops.
The investigation Of the western soils,
made with the aid OF the weather bu-
reau, winch covers Lower California,
the San Joaquin valley and the great
Palouse district, comprising the fertile
whest growing districts OF California.
Washington and Montana, the Yellow
stone valley the Red River valley. and
also the Mohave and Nevada deserts,
have developed some most astounding
facts and some which the department OF
agriculture is not yet able 10 explain.
Professor Whitney says the history OF
these soils will make rf1e most remark
able chapter in the history OF the worlds
agriculture. Although these soils, ex-
cepting the Red River and desert dis
tricts mentioned, have only from one
fifth to one-half OF the annual rainfall
received by the territory east OF the
Mississippi River Chat is. from seven to
twenty incaes) they do seldom, IL ever,
suffer from drought. Moreover, practi-
cslly all the rainfall they do receive
comes In the fall and winter seasons.
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 disiutegration OF the
original basaltic rock and that there is
little difference between the soils and
.ub-soils. a difference very marked in
the east. They have a remarkable pow
er for absorption OF moisture and do not
readily lose it by evaporation, although
the humidity OF the atmosphere during
the growing season is much lower than
in the east. Thus the crops( by subsist-
ing on the winter rains, can stand long
periods OF drought. In the San Joaquin
valley. uhe great grape growing region
OF California, the annual rainfall is but
seven inches, and from May TO Septem-
Der only abort six-tentns Of an inch
falls, yet the vines flourish throughout
the aeon. II is true they are irrigat-
ed by canals. but the moisture is ab-
sorbed and transmitted by the soils
There is no surface application of water.
In Southern California the winter rain
rainfall less than an inch. and without
irrigation tobacco and other crops grow
luxuriantly. Al Chino, in this district
sugar beets, which require a great
amount OF moisture, grow famously. The
surface soil dries out in the summer,
forming a dry crust or mulsh. whi>i
seems TO protect the sol beneath. In
the districts about Merced, Walla Walla.
Bozeman and Pullman, termed the Pal
tISt l,lt dHifLdl Wits
from ten 10 twenty inches. in which from
one 10 ten inches fail during the season
of the growing crops, yet, owing 10 the
wonderful power OF the soil to retain
water and supply II TO the crops.
drought ot months is less injurious there
than one Of the same nurnoe~ OF weeks
in the east. where the annual rainfall IS
about forty inches
In the Mojavs and Nevada deserts The
annual rainfall averages about Eve
incaes. but beneath the alkali crusts the
soil is always moist. a fact which the
scientists have as yet Been unaole 70 ex-
plain. In FACT, little Is ye; known OF tlls
power OF the soils 20 hold water Az
a-tesisn wells .aow water in all these
5elov the surface. II Is considered po.si-
bic that there Is a slow and continuous
movement Of Es-e- upward from the ar
tesian sources. which are beyond the in
fuencss OF local climFe. This is ezpe-
cisIly believed - be true of sbs desert
districts where ne moisture o( ti1e soil
cannot be explained On the theory tflas
the sol co1ld retain ia moisture from
tae insigniscsnt rainfall By placing
electrodes In toe s1il in sil these pltc@-
al various espc5s fron seT inches %
twenty-five fee. &; p believed that n
TIE future the direction sni Intensity c,
za.t might os termed TIE water waves
0. the earn can be accurately 3essr-n!n-
81.
r--z .-sA ~ ..,a s-A~-v,.foz g. As4e-~-s-
ing the moisture Of tn. earn has ben
quite extensively eus9s5yse n TIE ess-.
and with very saiis>1c;o-y results. Tae
o-ioca7ie msie use Q. - Ssse rssis-sa-e
Afforded y tee ezrts,. q: different ae21lz /