The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-31

The evident lack of interest in the movement in this county is traceable to the fact that in most cases farms on which they have worked arc owned by men in the city, and are looked af- ter by tenants or foremen. In sections where men live on their own places the inspectors have found a disposition to give the greatest attention to what they are doing.
 This surveying of the soils of the nation Is new science, practically speaking. having begun in 1900, when several squads of men were sent out to make the first investigations. It grew out of the desire to furnish in- formation to people of one section about the lands of another, so that migrants might select sections with soils best suited to the class of farm ing they were familiar with and de- sired to follow. This is, perhaps, its most valuable feature. Thousands of really valuable citizens are changing residence from time to time, either looking for territory more suited to their desires. or because of restless ness. These soil maps give them in- sight into lands and conditions that heip them to determine where to To- cate.
 Results of the most remarkable char acter have been secured by the inspec- tors at work in the arid districts of the southwest, and the waste places of the West It has been ascertained that these arid lands contain salt and salt properties far in excess of the neces- sary' and as a consequence there can be no vegetable life upon them. To eliminate this condition an ingenious plan has been devised, which can only De used near water courses, however. The land Is ditched. or supplied with tile drainage. and then covered with about one foot of water, drawn in irri. gation canals from the nearest river or creek. To hold the water on the land banks. or walls are thrown up about twelve inches high, which confine the moisture until 1t all seeps through and runs off in the drainage ditches, carry ing with 1t the over supply of salt. After several treatments of this kind the lands are rendered fit for cuItiva- ton.
 The hardest soil of this class to do anything with is the black arid sec- tions of the Southwest These are the same in chemical makeup as the white salt lands. with the addition of some organic matter that has gotten in as result of decay of a hard, dry grass tii1I SEOWc OH lHO ldHuS ana DuTnS QTy before it falls. This additional ele- ment has added to the difficulties of eliminating these properties SO antag- onistic to agriculture, but even they have been successfully combatted, and the lands made valuable for crops of various characters. They are worth after the salt eliminating process,i as much as $50 an acre.
 Some splendid orchard lands have been discovered in California as a re- suit of the soil investigations. These are the black, cracking sections, prob ably the most peculiar in the world. The land is in the desert section away from trees and in the heat seasons open in wide cracks that a cat might be thrown into. It was discovered by the soil department of the Department of Agriculture. however. that these lands contained properties that were conducive to orchard growing and a few brave spirits put out trees. They have done we'll The shade of the trees keep off some of the sunshine and the lands crack less, as a consequence.
 The soil maps of the counties are in- teresting and instructive. Every fea- ture of the lands and presented with adequate explanatory notes. Lands. gravel and clay foundations are shown with classes of soil upon them. Loans are distinguished from other loams. clay and lime are explained in theiS proportions, and ability of the soil to hold moisture shown.
 These maps are issued by the soil section of the Department of Agricul- ture and may be secured by those in- terested by observing certain conditions which will be designated on request.