The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1915-04-16
About Logged
Off Lands
u. of |. Expert Writes About Soils of
This Region.


Information relative to the agricul-
tural value of the logged off and
other undeveloped lands of north
Idaho, an investigation which prom
ised something definite 10 regard to
them was undertaken some two or
more years ago. With the compile
tion of the more practical phases of
that investigation, 1t is now possible
to offer some very pointed suggestions
la regard to their development along
safe and sane lines.
The low lands of the river and lake
bottoms are deep alluvial silt loans
We have found them to be rich In all
the essential elements of plant
growth. They require only protec-
tion against flood waters to insure
high productivity from the start.
They are natural meadow lands aud
can be made to produce the finest
quality Of hay and forage but here
and there specialized crops have been
grown sufficiently long to demonstrate
their special adaptation to the truck
crops. With the development of
markets that will take off crops of
this kind. these lands we believe will
prove eventually to be most remnne-
rative when devoted to those crops.
The logged of lands are fats and
benches varying in elevation from a
few feet to several hundred feet
above the rivers aud lakes of this
section. They are sandy or silt
loans remarkable for depth and uni
formlty 10 mechanical makeup. The
first step in their development into
farm lands must be the clearance Of
brush and fallen stuff. Like the low
lands they are rich in the mineral
elements OF plant nutrition but un-
like the low lands are very generally
deficient in nitrogen and organic
matter. That type of farming which
will permit the development of these
lands into profitable farms must be
closely allied to dairying and general
stock growing. This type of farming
demands the growth of large areas Of
clovers, alfalfa and other leguminous
crops which tend to build up the soil
In nitrogen and organic matter.
Within the area are several open
prairies whose soils differ In type
from either the low lands or the
logged off lands. In general they
may be referred to as gravelly black
silt loans. In composition they re-
semble more nearly the low lands in
that they are rich in the mineral
elements of plant food and also in
nitrogen and organic matter. Farm
ing experience 10 some sections of
the open prairie districJs indicates
that the organic matter is not as
active here as it is on the low lands
and that the grain crops do not
thrive as they once did. Wherever
this is common experience, 1t is safe
to assume that an application of
lime stone to the extent of 1000 TO
$500 pounds per acre will greatly in
crease yields per acre. The effect of
limestone in this case is to neutralize
the surface soil acidity and provide
conditions under which the bacteria
concerned In the destruction of or
ganic matter can work to advantage.
The activity of that class of bacteria
tends to provide nitrogen for the use
of the gro wing crops.
Questions of fertility on all of these
lands resolve themselves into suitable
methods for increasing the nitrogen
supply of the different soil types or
of making more readily available the
native supply of that element.
j. S. JONES,
Director Idaho Experiment Station.