The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-04-21
) ALkAuI LANDS.
Conclusions From Investigations In
the Yellowstone valley.

the Yellowstone Valley.
Alkali and the treatment of alkalj
soils are subjects which are attracting
very great attention at the present time,
as alkali has already injured or is Il Sc
rious to large areas of land in
arid districts. 1t is always Il source Of
uneasiness in sr!ch sections, for if t,
alkali is no apparent when the lano,
are first irrigated it is liable to appear
after a few years as result of the pres
ent system Of irrigation.
The interest taken in the alkali work
OF the department Of agriculture dur
ing the summer of 1898 has been 50
widespread and there have been 50
many requests for copies Of a technical
bulletin which is just about to be issued
that the department has thought best
to present the matter in rather more
popular form. which is accordingly
done in farmers bulletin No. SO. The
study of the alkali problem hy the de-
partment was carried on in the Yellow
stone valley, where the conditions are
AS simple as can be found anywhere.
Those interested in the subject will do
well to obtain and read the bulletin
from whose summary of conclusions
one or two items only are here repro
duced.
The results Of these investigations
show that there is no sodium carbonate
or black alkali in the soil. The source
of the alkali is in the sandstone and
particularly in the shale or slate rocks
from which the SOILS Iuv" been derived.
Before irrigation WAS Introduced the
salts were present in the soil in rather
large amounts. but well distributed.
and not in such large quantities as to
be injurious to crops. The injury is due
entirely to overirrigation. to the trans
location and local accumulation of salts
by means of seepage waters and to the
imperfect drainage facilities in the
compact gumbo soils and the inability
of the excess of salts and of seepage
waters to escape.
The first trouble appears to be due to
the seepage waters. This. of course.
need not necessarily be SO. but it ap-
pears to be the case in this locality.
The open. sandy lands. having better
undertakings. are not likely to be in
iured by a rise of salts, except from an
excessive application of water or in the
low places in the path Of the drainage
system, especially when these are I'M
derlaid, as they are liable to be. by the
heavy gumbo subsoils. The gumbo soil
requires great care in cultivation, as it
is easily ruined by the accumulation of
seepage waters and the subsequent &C.
emulation of salts.
There are many areas in the valley. of
course, which have still a low or moder-
ate salt content. which are probably
safe for years to come. There are other
areas in which the salts are now ac-
cumulating, while there are still other
areas which have gone beyond this
stage, and what were once fertile tracts
have been thrown out as barren flats.
The Investigations show, further, the
very disturbing fact that the injury
need not be due to a local application of
water, but to the injudicious applica-
ton of large quantities of it in remote
localities and on neighboring farms
v e which the unfortunate person has
no control and for the effects of which
he has at present no redress.