Imperial press and farmer., 1902-03-08

but this quantity found only seven times out of a total of 1l9 examinations. Applying the conclusions of these experts to the entire tract of 500 900 acres, find that 195500 acres will produce any kind of crop, 1170o0 almost any kind of crop. 106500 fewer kinds of crops 24,O0O limited to varieties that thrive in Egypt. and 57 900 acres good only for the date palm and salt bushes
 But in considering these figures no atten- tion appears to have been paid to the reme dies for this surplus salt. Carbonate of lime is said by the report to be an antidote to salty soil and yet nothing is said of the fact that this soil as a rule is full of perwinkle shells which pure carbonate of lime-and that there is, rule, much greater percentage of periwinkle shells in the soil than there is salt; yet this is the fact.
 It is also conceded in the report that by good drainage the salt may be washed out readily, but it does not state that there is good drainage. which is also true.
 The experts said that in certain lands there was so much salt that barley crop could not be grown under present conditions; and yet on some of that same land barley was sown, and we present herewith haftone cut from photograph of that barley field
 
 the middle of February 1902 the barley being at that time from fifteen to twenty inches in height If this soil which contains too much salt for the growth of barley will produce such crop, what will soil free from salt do?
 Thus far there have been no failures to pro- duce crops when the seed has been planted and the water applied, although in some cases the work has been very rudely done.
 The practical men the land have not been worried about the alkali or the salt, although they have wanted the water and plenty of it all of which they are getting just as rapidly the dtches could be constructed.
 It is estimated the barley acreage in the Imperial Settlements this will yield average of from one and half to two tons of barley hay to the acre, and the barley is being regardless of favorable unfavor- able reports from the experts
 Are there any breezes?
 Well, yes; although they are not very cool ing a rule. Sometimes they blow from the Pacific Ocean over about one hundred miles of country, coming over the mountain range back of San Diego which range has an ele vaton of from 5000 to 5000 feet; and then again, the breeze comes from the south off the Gulf of California, which is about eighty miles south and a little east from the town of Imperial This gulf breeze comes over level plain the entire distance after leaving the gulf.
 Does silt from the Colorado River fill up the Canal?
 The Colorado River carries large amount of silt, and this silt must settle at point. When the canal system is completed there will be two settling basins on the line of the canal-one just south of the main heading and the other down several miles, At the present time the water runs through the lower set ting basin and silt is now being deposited in that basin; but the main canal from the temporary heading down to the lower settling basin is kept free from settling silt by the current of water which is sufficient to keep the canal clean. hydraulic dredge will be placed in the upper settling basin to pump the