Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-04-21
ALkALl LANDS.
Methods of H~clnmation-COnditfOns
In the Lower Arkansas Valley.

of HeclnmatiOn-COndftfOns
In the Lower Arkansas valley.
Several methods for the reclamation
and utilization of alkali lands have
been tried. Prominent among these are
the removal of alkali crusts by scrap
ing. the washing away of the surface
concentrations by heavy flooding. the
utilization of partly unproductive lands
by special cultivation of alkali resist
ant crops and the application of gyp-
sun to the lands. All Of these may,
under certain conditions. be of value in
aiding the removal OF the alkali salts
and in rendering the fields capable Of
cultivation. but i'm the reclamation of
lands containing considerable quaint
ties of alkali they are all inefficient.
The application Of gypsum is bene-
fetal. particularly in the presence OF
black alkali or sodium carbonate. BY
chemical reaction the less injurious
white alkali or sodium sulphate re-
places the carbonate. This. however.
still leaves an excess OF the sulphates
In the soil. Where there is practically
no black alkali In the soil. this means
Of improving the condition Of the al
kali lands does not apply. Where there
is also an abundance Of gypsum in the
soils il Is unlikely that the black al
kali will yer give any trouble.
The only method for the reclamation
Of alkali lands which effects a perma-
nent restoration is thorough drainage.
Its absolute success In lowering the
water table. destroying the capillary
connection between the underground
water and the surface and in remov-
ing In solution large quantities of al
kali salts. has already been demonstrate
ed not only by artificial drainage sys
tens. but In nature as well. The ques-
ton OF the cost OF a system OF artificial
drainage is. however. the determining
factor in its utility for the purpose.
la the lower Arkansas valley there
are many small tributary valleys or
draws extending into plains and trav-
ersing In many cases the alkali lands.
1t frequently happens that these local
drainage channels are not continuous.
though with but slight expense they
could be made so by cutting open drain
age bitches along their axes. The con-
%struction OF such bitches would i'm It
self remove a large quantity Of seepage
water and greatly improve the condi-
ton Of ~ncighboring lands. For the
complete reclamation Of the lands. how
ever. y system OF lateral drains having
their outlet into the main drainage
channel could be constructed.
Open lateral drains are somewhat
less expensive than tile drains. consid-
ering first cost. but the former not only
interfere with cultivation. but in the
lever Arkansas valley require frequent
cleaning and constant attention. as
they fill up rapidly with t~umbleweeds.
which are blown about In great num-
bers by the winds and so are more ex-
pensive in the end.-M. III. Lapham.
Getting Gr~atess Value From Crops
Various farm products Will represent
Q a value greater than current mar
ket price for the same II fed to live
stock and marketed In the form Of
neat. This assertion Is based by the
Montana experiment station on the
fact that during the winter OF 1899 and
1900. while clover was being sold In
the stack ut s. per ton. s1.93 was Sc
cured by the station by feeding clover
to sheep. II required lis pounds Of
clover TO maintain a lamb and produce
Q pound Of grain. One ton Of clover
produced 1905 pounds OF muttsa,
which at $4.GS per hundred weight
gave the above result.