The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-03

OF water compdctS. the planning OF WORKS
and the determination and protection OF
rights in streams. and without which all
these important transactions have 10 be
based largely on conjecture
Plants For Alkah Soils.
Director A. C. True head of the bureau
of experiment stations of the department
OF agriculture, in report just from the
printing office. discusses Plants Adapted
to Alkali Soils. He says:
Throughout he western portion of the
United States, especially where irrigation
is practiced, areas of alkali soils of great
renee. These soils derive their name from
III fact that they are strongly impregnat-
ed with soluble salts, which effioresce or
bloom out in the form of a powder or
crust during dry weather following rains
or irrigation. The basis of these salts is
mainly soda, together with smaller
amounts of potash and usually little
lime and magnesia. They are mixtures
chiefly of sodium sulphate, common salt
and sodium carbonate in varying pro-
portions. They often contain, in addition,
dunn phosphate and sodium nitrate. sub
stances whose fertflizing value IS we'll
known.
''Of the different forms, black alkali is
by far the most injurious TO vegetable
growth and to the filling qualities OF the
soil; common salt ranks next in Injurious
ness, while sodium sulphate is the least
injurious and may be present to the extent
of half of one per cent or more without
materially interfering with the growth or
most crops. 1t follows that in the recla-
nation of alkali lands for cultural purpos-
es, the first thing needful is a tranSforma-
ton of the sodium carbonate into sodium
sulphate by means of gypsum, reducing
the injuriousness of the black alkali one
fourth TO one-fifth.
A Serious Nance.
while the occurrence of aIkali in ex-
cess IN the soil constitutes a serious men,
ace to the successful production of most
farm crops. recent Investigations have
shown that there are many plants OF
economic value which are able TO tolerate
a considerable amount of alkah. The ex-
devoted considerable attention to the sub
ject of the utilization of alkali soils
studying especially the relation OF native
and cultivated plants TO alkali. The re-
Slstance TO aikali varies greatly with the
kind of plant and the character of the
salts in the alkan. Thus the plants OF the
goosefoot family. comprehending besides
the goosefoot proper, the beet, spinach,
samphlre, saltwort, and the saltbusheS
generally, will resist very large amounts
of all three of the salts; while, on the 9TH
er extreme, the legumes-clovers, peas.
beans, vetcheS, etc.-resent even small
amounts of either. The entire sunfiower
family is rather tolerant of alkali. while
most of the cultivated grasses proper are
quite sensitive.
In experiments by the wyoming sta
ton on the influence of alkali salts on the,
termination of wheat and rye, it was
found that small amounts of these salts
hasten termination and no doubt also as
sist in the life of the plant. either stimu-
lating its growth or acting directly as
plant food. When, however, the proper
tion of alkali salts exceeded certain limits,
termination was interfered with.
1t does not appear that any of the salts
except sodium carbonate exerted directly
poisonous or corrosive effects on seeds.
The injury appeared to be due to the fact
that the salts in solution interfered with
the absorption by the seed of the water
necessary for termination
The experience of the Wyoming station
indicates that there are very few useful
plants which will grow where the soil
so much alkaH that an incruSta-
ton is formed on the surface. Among
other alkali-resisting plants which the
station has successfully tested are salt
bushes. English rape, BOkhara or white
sweet clover and sugar beets-
Review of Women's Clubs.
Mrs. Ellen NJ. Henrotin has compiled for
the commissioner of labor a cOmprehen-
sociations of the United States. and their
attitude toward social economies" Col
oraCo is well to the front among the
states of the Union, having nearly four
times as many women's clubs as the city
Of Chicago. and more than I'll the New
England states except Massachusetts. The
other mountain states are represented as
follows in the list prepared by Mrs. Hen
author says:
Replies to inquiries by the commission
er of labor disclose two specially interest
ing facts among many others. First, the
experienced by the woman'S
clubs in keeping any one department of
club work separate from another. as edu-
,ational from civics. or philanthropy from
reform: second, the growing interest felt
in social economic questions.
The club members seem to have become
that the science of economics
?, hot Of artx all haf mr. h
ems. Resolving to acquaint themselves
with existing economic conditions, the wo-
men formed study classes and invited eX- 4
)ertS and practical workers in the realms +
If philanthropy, charity. education and
statistical science to present the newest
fiews and results. By the interest thus
aroused much has been done TO raise civic /
standards, 10 remedy abuses, to improve
conditions, and relieve the hard /
;hips of industrial pursuits as now car
led on by women and children.
Clubs Branch Out.
.'Snce the investigation of the depart |
V literary in scope have branched into
he study of educational and civic condi- 4
ions. Other clubs, avowedly for social
purposes only, have been led into public +
work of many kinds and now boldly advo-
ate industrial reforms. Education and
he hetterment and extension of the public
chool systems throughout the country re-
Give earnest attention from nearly all
lubs that belong to the general and state
I'm the trans-M Mississippi states. the wo-
mans club of any locality is necessity.
m important factor in the development
f the community. Most of the clubs in
base states are organized to deal with
ocal needs. The problems that confront
arge and thickly-settled communities do
ot occupy the attention of clubs in the
more sparsely populated districts. Effort :
; directed, chiefly toward public educa-
ion, town and village improvement asso.
iations libraries and the broadening OF
ivic and social life"
lIAllH M[lc0M[