Evening star., 1900-12-08
THE SURVEY OF SOILS.
Report on Subject Made to Secretary
Of Agriculture.
OPERATIONS IN STATE OF MARYLAND
Cost of the Service and Work
Accomplished.
TOTAL OF THE ARE A

TOTAL OF THE A R E A
The survey of soils In various states made
under the supervision Of Mr.. Milton Whit
ney, chief of the division of soils of the
Department of Agriculture, forms the sub
ject of very interesting section of the re-
port Of Secretary Wilson. which will be sub
mitted to Congress at its approaching ses-
sion.
Mr.. Whitney states that soil surveys have
been carried on during the year in seven
states and one territory-Connecticut,P Penn
sylvania. Maryland. North Carolina. Loui-
siana, Utah, California and Arizona. The
total area surveyed and mapped amounted
to 1886 square miles. or 100000 acres.
The actual cost Of the field work connected
| with the survey. the salaries of the men
while actually employed in the field and
transportation Gl uding team hire) and
subsistence expenses in the field amounted
to $6.3S3. This was at the rate Of about 81
per square mile or three-tenths Of a cent
per acre. Part Of this expense paid by
the states. so that the actual cost of the
field work to the department was consider
ably less than the amount stated. The
total cost of the field work. including the
salaries OF the men While preparing the re-
ports. together with the cost of inspecting
ti-e field work, amounted to SS,721.
The work has all been mapped on the
| scale of one inch to the mile. This scale Is the
one adopted by the United States geological
survey in most of their recent Topographic
maps, SO that wherever available these
topographic maps used as base maps
for the soil work. On such a scale square
tract Of ten acres would be represented by
an area on the map about one-eighth of an
men square, which is a very satisfactory
unit, allowing considerable detail in a COM
paratively large area covered by a seasons
work.
Progress Made.
The average rate Of the soil mapping per
field party for all the states has been about
30 square miles per day. or 100 square
miles per month. The average length Of
the full field season for each party has been
about eight months. There remain, of
course, the examination of the specimens
and tie typical soil samples and the prepa-
ration of the reports, which require at least
three or four months.
The pressure for the work has been so
great from many districts that the limited
means at the disposal Of the division and
the few trained men available to head the
held parties have made it necessary to shift
the parties in the field more than would
otherwise have been advisable.
Work In Maryland.
The first part Of the fiscal year was spent
in surveying and mapping the soils of an
area OF about 400 square miles, or 258 600
acres. in the Connecticut valley, from South
Glastonbury. Conn. to South Hadley. Mass
After completing this work the party
went to Maryland and completed the sur
vey OF Cecil county. comprising an area Of
about 375 square miles. or 100000 acres
This work was done in cooperation with
the state geological survey, DR.. William B.
Clark, director. The soils of this area are
derived partly from the decay Of rocks in
place, such granite gness, gabbro and
nd vale of
the more recent coastal-plain formation.
Here again the soils range from the most
mediate grades adapted to different crops
and agricultural interests. A copy Of the
map has been furnished the Maryland ex-
pertinent station to examine and report
upon the agricultural conditions and capa-
bilitieS of the different soil areas
In December the party went to Louisiana,
and in June to Lancaster county. Pa. About
the middle Of May work was commenced
in cooperation with the Maryland geoloe-
ical survey. in the survey and mapping Of
the soils Of st. Mary's county, Md. AS the
soils in this locality follow the topographic
features quite closely, the work has pro-
gressed very rapidly and very satisfactori-
ly. There are soils here which compare in
productiveness with some Of the soils of
ty to twenty-five bushels per acre, clover
does very well, indeed, and grass does
fairly well; yet the lands in Lancaster
county are worth from 1925 to $3.50 an acre
while these southern Maryland lands are
worth only from $3 to $40 The discussion
of the actual conditions in each district
which have any bearing upon this will be
brought out in the reports by these field
parties, and 1t is hoped that 1t may con-
tribute something of value to this all-im-
portant problem of the deterioration of
lands and fall in land values in SO many
parts Of the country.
Other SectiOns
Early In May survey was undertaken
in cooperation with the North Carolina de-
partment of agriculture and the North Car
DINA geological survey, Of strip of land
about ten miles wide, extending from Raj
e.gh. upon the Piedmont plateau in the
crystalline rocks down through Goldsboro',
to NeWbern in the coastal plains, distance
Of about 120 miles.
The cooperation between the division OF
soils. state experiment stations. boards OF
agriculture. and geological surveys has been
very cordial and mutually helpful. In or
der to facilitate and extend the work the
states OF Maryland, Louisiana, North Caro-
lima, Utah and the territory Of Arizona con-
tributed to the expenses Of this soil survey,
general field reconnaissance. and laboratory
Investigations as carried on under my d.
rection. The total amount SO contributed
during the year was $500.
Actual Cost.
The actual cost of surveying 3,386 square
miles in the fiscal year 1899. including the
annual salaries Of the men and all field sup
plies. transportation, and subsistence,
amounted to between 5000 and 81, 600. It Is