The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-08
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building
Washington.

From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building
Washington.
Washington, Jan. S.-The bureau of
soils of the department of agricul-
ture has become one of the most i'm
portant arms of that department, and
its field of usefulness is being extend
eel year after year. Prior to the field
season Of 1902, there were surveyed
and mapped 1871 square miles, and
in 1902 1895 square miles. The
surveys of 1902 cover thirty-six areas
in tWenty-siX states and territories,
including Porto Rico. The cost of
the field work for 1902 was $34,-
724.71, which is trifling when COM
pared with the benefits.
In short time the farmers of the
United States will be able to learn
the exact condition of every acre Of
arabic land in the country, the char
acter of the soil, the crops it will
best produce, it's freedom or other
wise from harmful chemical deposits,
and, in short, all the information which
farmers must have in order to get
the best results from their labors.
During the year 1902 there were
surveyed in Iowa 44O square miles,
| mostly in the Dubuque district; in
Montana, LOT square miles. mostly in
! the Billings district: in North Da-
| Grand Forks district, and in Wiscon-
sin, 451 square miles, mostly in James
| vile district. In each case this was
| the first work done in that pafticu-
| lar state.
| The state experiment stations in
! North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and
| Montana have co-operated with the
bureau of soils In most helpful
way, increasing the practical results
and enlarging the field Of operation.
Work in North Dakota.
The area surveyed and mapped in
| North Dakota is thirty-four miles long
and from six to fifteen miles wide,
west of Grand Forks. It's eastern
| boundary is the Red River Of the
| North. The annual report Of the
bureau of soils, recently issued, con-
tains a number of pages descriptive
| of the soil, with large map. Speak
| of alkii, the report says:
The alkali problem is not serious in this
area. There is generally enough precipi-
| tatiOn to prevent the salt in the subsoil
from lodging permanently in the surface
soil thru capillary attract and the roots
Of the crops commonly grown do not
usually. perhaps never, reach deeper than
three feet. The fact that alllali below this
depth, or even at depth of two feet, or
less, can have little Or no effect on the
crop growth was conclusivey proved by
the condition Of the crops seen during the
survey.
Irrigation is not practiced in this area,
and probably never will be extensively
practiced. that the vertical distribution
of the salts will not be affected artificially.
AS long the present method of farming
continues in this area there seems no prob
ability that the salt in the sub-soil will
rise over any large area.
In the Billings area, Montana, the
| report shows an increase of alkali,
as compared with similar investiga-
tons made in 1898, both on the sur
face ana in the subsoil, but the re-
port says that a drainage experiment,
soon to be made there, Is expected to
demonstrate that the alkali problem
can be solved satisfactorily.
Suggestions for Iowa.
In the course of a long statement
covering the situation in the Dubuque
district, the report says that the chief
opportunities for Improvement lie
along the lines of industry already
established. An introduction Of bet
ter breeds Of cattle, it is pointed out
would increase the profits derived
from the live stock industry. A less
extensive system of agriculture could
also be adopted with profit, and the
substitution of some other legume for
clover is recommended, clover not
having done we'll during recent sea-
sons. It is suggested that alfalfa
would probably do well in the Du-
, buque district.
E Last July, Thomas H. Means, il
charge of soil work in this country
=, was temporarily detached from this
duty and sent, with others, to Egypt
f Italy and Algeria, for an exhaustive
>, study of all1ali deposits, resistant
, crops and incidentally the methods OF
E reclamation of alkali lands. The re.
E suits Of this trip will appear from
: time to, time in separate publication:
I by the department of agriculture, ant
S they will be of much interest to al
= persons living / nthe alkali regions
Y which embrace the larger portion; O.
the country west of the Missouri ant
0 the Mississippi rivers.
q w. w. Jermane.