The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1908-09-05
BLACK ALKALl.
Professor Elliot Makes Suggestions
for Overcoming Trouble.
From Washington State COLLEGE Pullman

@ASiH washington state college. Pullman
In a letter addressed to farmer
residing near Walla Walla, Professor
Elliott discussed black alkali, and its
interference with the growth of al |
falta; plants which are tolerative of
alkall; grasses and plants which tend
to crowd out alfalfa, and means pre-
ventive of this; and a certain pest
which IS damaging the Leaves of apple
trees grown by this farmer. Briefed
somewhat, the letter follows:
understand from your letter, that
you are having difficulty with the black
alkall, which interferes with the start
ing of alfalfa. The land in question is
undoubtedly so supplied with water
near the surface that there is consider
able evaporation, which has caused the
alkali to rise to the surface. This
trouble would be observed in all such
land, and the best way to prevent it is
by surface draining. This would per-
init the washing out of the alkali from
the surface through the drains, and l
think you would have sufficient rainfall
IN the winter to accomplish this. The
drains should be from two to three feet
below the surface, which would not
interfere with the cultivation of al
falfa, as the water level would be at
the distance beneath the surface of the
lower level of the drains.
Il suspect that if you are able to
get start of alfalfa, it would be able
to overcome the effect of the alkali,
which l assume is strongest near the
surface; but with the water level so
ha 4 Al
would not have any encouragement to
penetrate deeply, and would probably
stop at the water table. 1t might be
possible to counterfeit the effect of the
alkali by the use of considerable ma
nure, or some chemical fertilizer, but
| very much doubt the value of such
treatment.
we have seen some excellent
stands of alfalfa secured by seeding
alfalfa in the fall. Fall seeding should
be done early enough to secure the full
benefit of the fall rains, and thereby
make growth, which would insure
that the alfalfa would pass safely
through the first winter, while the
plants were somewhat tender. l think
that in the warm section of the state,
where you are located, that this would
be perfectly possible; and it would
have the further advantage of starting
during the time when the alkali would
be less abundant, due to its being
washed out by the winter rains.
Regarding plants which might be
tolerative of alkali, the station would
inform you that there are several, but
that it is quite difficult to obtain the
seed of such in any quality. There is
a plant known as salt grass (Distichlis
Maritima), which has a small seed,
and is very coarse, which is somewhat
common, but which seeds very spar
ingly; consequently, getting a start OF
this grass is very difficult. 1t does
not make first class forage but stock
will eat it. Its chief value is its abil-
ity to grow in alkaline places, thereby
absorbing the alkali.
at is said that the Australian salt
bush will do the same. This plant re.
sembles tumble weed, and the station
has been informed that it is becoming
quite a pest in the neighborhood o.
Walla Walla. Therefore the expert
ment station does not advise you t
try it.
1.-The salt grass to which you refer
is entirely different from the Iowa
quack grass. You will find that blu,
grass, as well as other grasses, will
frequently crowd out alfalfa; in fact
throughout this region we find tha
} after six or seven years the alfalfa be
comes so crowded out by other grasses
that the ground has to be worked over
or plowed up. Frequent disking will
control this to some extent. l doub
I if alfalfa will grow in any soil wher
the water table is as near as tire
feet to the surface.
''The pest which you mention is un
doubtedly the aphis, or apple lice
which affect the leaves. They ar
, sucking insects, and absorb so much O
: the sap that the leaves curl up and vi
o. timately die. 1t is difficult to contrC
' wire worms when they once get
e. start. 1t is possible that treatmer
of air-slacked lime around the plant.
or even an application of salt, migf
D these applications would need to /
made with great care"
Query-Will you kindly advise I
concerning the use of dust sprayers
the fruit raising sections of the Pacif
slope? Has their success been un
n form, or otherwise?
r Ans.-There is a peculiar conditiC
existing at the present time relative
the use uf dust sprays in the sewers
r fruit growing sections of the Mort
(, west. Quite a number of orchards
+ are using the dust sprays at the pre-
J. ent time, and are successful to Il
;, extent of keeping their fruit almo
< entirely free from insect pests, redu
: ing the amount of injury to less tn;
i one per cent. Other experiments ha'
failed entirely. Where successful
used, this method of spraying is We
satisfactory, especially in billy orc
ards where it is almost impossible
e get around with a gasoline outfit.
y the opinion of w. S. Thornber, hort
= culturist of the state experiment st
! r 40 r,,.ffa,- g. Il,