Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-09-03
BLACK ALkAlI.
Professor Elliot Makes Suggestions
for Overcoming Trouble.

Elliott discussed black alkali, and its
interference with the growth of al
faIta; plants which are tolerative OF
alkal; grasses and plants which tenc
to crowd out alfalfa, and means pre-
ventlye of this; and a certain pest
which is damaging the leaves of apple
trees grown by this farmer. BriefeC
somewhat, the letter follows:
Il understand from your letter, tha,
you are having difficulty with the black
alkaIl, which interferes with the start
ing OF alfalfa. The land in question is
undoubtedly 80 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-
NIT the washing out Of the alkali from
the surface through the drains, and
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 | assume is strongest near the
surface; but with the water level so
near the surface as it is, the roots
would not have any encouragement to
penetrate deeply, and would probably
stop at the water table. 1t might be
possible to counteract the effect of the
alkali by the use of considerable ma
nure, or some chemical fertilizer, but
l 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. | 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 Oistichlis
which has a small seed,
and is very coarse, which is somewhat
common, but which seeds very spar
Ingly; consequently, getting 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-
ty to grow in alkaline places, thereby
absorbing the alkali.
"It is said that the Australian salt
2ush will do the same. This plant re-
;embles tumble weed, and the station
las been informed that it is becoming
Iuite a pest in the neighborhood of
Nalla Walla. Therefore the expert
nent station does not advise you to
ry it.
"The salt grass to which you refer
S entirely different from the Iowa
uack grass. You will find that blue
,rass, as we'll as other grasses, will
crowd out alfalfa; in fact,
this region we find that
fter six or seven years the alfalfa be-
ONES so crowded out by other grasses /
hat the ground has to be worked over,
r plowed up. Frequent disking will .
ontrol this to some extent. | doubt /
{ alfalfa will grow in any soil where .
he water table is as near as three .
aet to the surface.
'The pest which you mention is un-
the aphis, or apple lice,
hich affect the leaves. They are
licking insects, and absorb so much of
lie sap that the leaves curl up and ul-
mately die. 1t is difficult to control
ire worms when they once get a
art. 1t is possible that a treatment
f air-slacked lime around the plants,
, even an application of salt, might
ave beneficial effect. Either of
lese applications would need to be
ade with great care.
Query-Will you kindly advise US
the use of dust sprayers in
lie fruit raising sections of the Pacific
ope? Has their success been uni
rm, or otherwise?
Ans.-There is a peculiar condition
listing at the present time relative to
e use uf dust sprays in the several
uit growing sections of the North
est. Quite a number of orchardists
e using the dust sprays at the pres
t time, and are successful to the
tent of keeping their fruit almost
tirely free from insect pests, reduc
g the amount of injury to less than
e per cent. Other experiments have
lied entirely. Where successfully
ed, this method of spraying is very
tisfactory, especially in hilly orch
DIS where it is almost impossible 20
t around with a gasoline outfit. In
e opinion of w. S. Thornber, horti-
lturist of the state experiment sta
m of Washington, the matter of dust
rays is good field for further eN-
oitation. - From the Washington
ate College. Pullman.