Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-06-24
WORK GOING AHEAD
WITH SOIL SURVEY
Government Expert Is Getting Busy
What u Soil Survey Is and
Some of Its Benefits.

work. which will cover about 500
square miles. Practically all lands
with an elevation of less than 5000
feet will be surveyed and mapped.
The work was commenced by Mr..
Strahorn about two weeks ago and
he expects to be employed thereon
the rest of this season and the work
will extend over into next year, at
least, The work to be done here, he
estimates, would take six men five
or six months.
A soil survey embraces a report
of the area being covered and map
accompanying the report. The re-
port gives a brief sketch of the his
tory of the settlement and agricul-
tural development of the area; the
climate and its relation to agricul-
ture; an extended discussion of the
agricultural conditions, embracing
the crops grown, methods used In
the cultivation, harvesting and mar
keting of the produce; the fertilizers,
practices and requirements, and sug-
gestions regarding improvements in
agricultural practices This part of
the report also deals with the
adaptability Of the soil to the crops
and makes recommendations for the
extension Of the planted area along
this line.
A discussion of the soils follows
This deals minutely with the color,
structure, origin, topography and To-
cation of each class of soil. 1t also
gives the crops being grown on the
soil, and considers other crops which
may profitably he grown. II there
are any conditions in the soil which
render It unsuitable to few, or all
crops, these conditions are noted at
length, and the best use Of the af-
lttleu SUI is DIOUElll OUl,
When alkali or hardpan occur in
the soils of the area being surveyed
they are discussed fully, giving the
causes for their presence. their eff
feet on cultivated plants and the best
methods to be used in the handling
of such soils Wherever necessary
the drainage of the soil is given con-
sideration, indicating how such soils
should be handled. and the results to
be derived from the thorough drain
age Of the soil.
In sections where irrigation is eX-
tensively practced resume Of the
history of irrigation is given, deal
ing with the source and quality Of
water, how distributed to the land,
cost and amount Of water available
and the manner in which the water
Is applied. Recommendation for the
improvement Of irrigation methods
are given, when conditions warrant.
In many irrigated sections the loca-
tion Of the ground water Is often n
serious matter. and the discussion Of
this Is confined mainly to methods
whereby the trouble may be removed
or rendered less troublesome.
The map accompanying the re-
port shows accurately the location Of
all roads, trails, streams, lakes,
houses and also shows the location
and extent Of every class Of soil
within the area. These soils are In
closed by narrow lines and each type
Is indicated by a single color. Along
the margin Of the map Is given a le-
gend which enables ono 10 easily as.
certain the name Of n desired soil
Thus with the map showing the
locations OF the soil, and with the
report discussing The soil fully one
is able 20 form an accurate idea Of
the soil conditions and the value Of
the soil for crops, and what may be
expected OF II when intolligontly hau-
died
In areas whore alkali occurs In
any considerable amounts map
showing the extent amount and looa-
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