The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-15
NORTH DAKOTA
SOIL SURVEY in THE VALLEY
Character of the Work Performed This
: Year by Hall and Jensen.

Cnaracter OF the work Performed MS
i Year by Hall and Jensen,
FARGO, N. D.--The work that has been
in progress in the Red River valley this
summer on the soil survey has been sus-
pended for the season. 1t has been under
the general supervision of Professor G. M
Hall of the North Dakota agricultural col
,lege. but G. A. Jensen, Of the department
at Washington, had immediate charge. To
avoid any conflict with the state geological
survey, Professor Hall wisely outlined the
policy that the investigations should be
confined to the soil and water resources
Of the state. Personally, Professor Hall
has devoted his time to mapping the ar
tesian basins Of the state and has become
pronounced convert of irrigation sys-
TENS wherever the water can be- con-
trolled. .. n.. p
Professor Hall says of the summers s
work: The area selected for the Begin
ming Of the soil survey in North Dakota is
a typical section across the Red River
valley. 1t comprises about $4,000 acres
and extends west from Grand Forks to the
uplands west of Larimore, all within
Grand Forks county. It will be seen by
anyone acquainted with the area that the
district comprises the heavy black loan
Of the valley bottom; the alkaline areas
common to so many sections Of the low sr
valley and often called gumbo areas; the
sandy ridges Of the old lake, which once
covered the Red River valley, and the up
lands beyond
The theory back of this survey is based
upon the we'll known fact that no two
types of soil are suited to the same crop,
grown under the same methods of treat
ment. HeLce we must study the charac-
teristics Of each type Of soil and map them
that we may know where to apply the
knowledge being worked out by field OBJ
H. al
lege and by observing and intelligent
farmers.
Every quarter section and often every
forty acres has been examined and the
entire area mapped. Tests have been TAX
en- of the moisture and the alkalies. AS a
result seven types of soil have been sep
arated and studied as regards crop char
acteristics. These will be shown on map
having colored areas showing the extent
of each type.
Hardly second in Importance to the soil
map is the al1ali map. The alkali studies
consist in determining the amount OF
soluble alkali in the first foot of soil and
alos in the first three feet. These will be
shown in second series of colored maps,
with the different percentages.
Few crops can be successfully grown on
lands containing over 6 of soluble alkali
and yet in the area studied about 40 per
cent of the land east of Enerado contains
this amount or more. Flax will stand
more than wheat, barley or oats, but
wheat the least Of all and some grasses
are much better adapted than cereals
These alkali maps should be of great aid
to the farmers in showing where certain
crops should not be planted and where the
land must be reclaimed from alkali. II
goes without saying that many farmers
| are persisting in growing certain crops or
lands where they should not until the
| the amount of alkali is reduced.
| A third series Of maps will show the
depth from the surface to the water table
or to where the soil is saturated with
moisture. :..-..
| Ninetyfive per cent of the land from
| Emerado east showed the water table tt
| be from four to eight feet below the sur
| face in the summer. From Emerald tt
Larimore SO per cent of the land showed
the water table to be between four ant
eight feet. The remainder was eight fee
and west Of Larirnore the table would droI
from twelve to fifteen feet TN many places
| A bulletin showing these maps on {
large scale and with complete description!
! of each will be printed by the agricultural
| college survey for distributions.