The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-12-12
GOVERNMENT REPORT
ON SOIL SURVEY

The report of the soil survey OF the
Quincy Area, Washington, made some
time ago by the Bureau OF Soils, is.
Department OF Agriculture, will soon
be issued.
The report deals with the agricul
tural conditions OF the area, show
ing what the prospects are, the class
and condition OF soils, and " hat crops
| they are best adapted to.
The area surveyed is in the south
east of the center of the state, and
comprises a large portion of central
and south central Grant county, one
tow nShip in the extreme southwestern
corner of Adams county. and contains
an area OF 1923 square miles or 49,
720 acres
Twenty different types of soils are
encountered during the survey.
The agricultural development of the
area, says the report began in recent
years, the whole territory being
classcd in 1900 as sandy desert and
was inhlbted only by few ranch
crs. During the last ten years, how
ever, the land has ben taken up rap
idly and, although only "A small per-
centage of the agricultural land is
at present under cultivation, more or
less development has taken place on
every section open 10 settlement.
The undeVcioped section consists
mainly Of non-apricultural land or
sections owned by railroads " hich are
not open to honestcaders The cost
OF clearing the land of sagcbrush is
81 90 to $500 per acre. with total
cost of clearing. breaking and putting
the land in condition for cultivation
ranging from Si.00 to 5000 per acre.
Dry farming is practccd on the
greater part o. thr cultivated land.
states the report, and from the be-
ginning large percentage of the
acreage has bccn utilized for grow
ing wheat Winter wheat is usually
grown. irrigation is practiccd to
very Unite extent in some parts of
the area. Good yields Of all crops
are much more certain on irrigated
than on unirrigated land
The growing OF fruit under irriga-
ton is rapidly becoming one Of the
most important industries OF the area
goes on the report, while an attempt
to grow fruit without irrigation has
failed.
The wheat grown in the area has
good milling qualities when fair to
good yields are obtained. A large
portion of the crop is threshed, and
considerable acreage is cut for hay
and used to feed stock during the
winter months. During a season OF
average rainfall the yield of wheat
ranges from 9 TO 10 bushels per acre
while yields OF from % to 30 bushels
have cen reported during exceptional
favorable seasons. Rye grown in the
area is used mainly for feed, the yield
being from s to II bushels per acre.
" hilc % to 30 bushels per acre have
been reported
After irrigation 300 to 900 bushels
OF potatoes per acre have been pro-
duced The early varieties seem TO
give the best results. Alfalfa is
grown under irrigation in several
parts of the area. From three to
four cuttings are usually received in
assessor with yield OF from to 7
tons per acre Waterinelons do well
on almost every type of agricultur-
al land in the area, but this crop has
only been grown in small patches for
home use and for local markets.
"Ihc agricultural development of
the area. says the report, lis OF such
recent date that no system of crop
rotation is in general use, and the
greater proportion of the cultivated
land has been utilized exclusively for
the growing OF small grain
Referring TO the alkaline conditions
of the soils in the area, the report
says. AT present the soils of the area
are entirely free from harmful ac-
emulation of alkali. The alkali ac-
emulation in the area is due in
every case to poor drainage condl-
tiOns'
Regarding irrigation the report
says. "a large part OF the area sur
vcyed may be put under irrigation,
and the general topography ana char
acter of the soils in some sections
make irrigation less difficult and
...uch loss nXnnnsiYn than others"