The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-18

age is in general deficient. In places
the land is affected by alkah. These
soils are desirable types. the silt loan
being the principal grain and general
farming soil OF the valley floor. Po-
tatoes are a commercial crop on areas
of the loan in the vicinity Of Hamil-
ton. Wheat gives good yields. Oats do
remarkably well, as much as 100
bushels per acre having been obtained.
The fine sandy loan type of this
series is Of small extent. 1t Is lower in
productiveness than the other men,
bers of the series.
The Waterloo sandy loan is the
most important type Of this series. It
occurs principally in the valley of
Threemile creek. 1t is an important
orcharding soil. Fruit on it natures
late and has good color. The soil is low
in organic matter and leachy and
needs the adding OF organic matter.
The Corvallis soils are used mainly
for pasturing horses, cattle and hogs.
They are in most places poorly
drained. but in places grain and hay
crops can be grown. The loan OF this
series is n fairly extensive soil.
Nor. Agricultural Land.
In addition to the soils of the Is
series described in the report, a large
extent of the territory is mapped as
rough stony land and rough broken
land. Over II per cent of the area sur
veyed is classed as rough stony land
and AZ per cent as rough broken land
The former classification includes
mountain and foothill slope areas
which because of their rough and
stony surface. have no value except
for grazing. This land is well watered
and makes good pasture ground. A
small part of the rough broken land
is suitable for cultivation.
Aikaii.
In the map accompanying the re-
port, certain areas in which there is q
sufficient concentration of alkali to re-
tard plant growth are shown by SYM
bols. The report states that no ex.
tensive areas Of land are affected BY
alkali, but that accumulations occur
in spots in the slight depression neal
the base Of the high terraces on thu
east side and in narrow areas paral.
leling the large eastern tributaries o.
the river.
Drainage Conditions.
In discussing drainage, the repor
| states that the area surveyed il
| naturally we'll drained except fol
| small parts OF the valley floor. Liberia
irrigation has caused a high watel
table in places. especially along tn
| foot Of the benches on the east sid,
| and to some extent in the center o
the valley floor. Some poorly drained
areas occur along the river and tn
sloughs Of the valley trough. Withou
artificial drainage and protection from
inundation, this overflow land Is o
little value except for pasture. TIL
Chamokane. Corvallis and Colville soil
are most subject to overflows.
The Bitter Root valley. the repor
concludes. is very well watered. Will
| the Bitter Root river has the larges
flow Of any of the streams. 1t used I
furnish only a small part Of the ir
rigation water used, owing to the fac
that the perennial streams of the Yves
side furnish a more easily obtainabl
supply. On the east side the large
streams supply some water. but 1t
obtained mainly from Lake Como, q
the mouth of Lick canyon. on the yves
side. whence it is conducted across tn
river. hills and terraces to the Eight
mile valley, opposite Florence. lrrl
cation is necessary in the productio
of intensive crops. especially on tn
lighter soils. Land is irrigated at rel
atively high elevations. frequently 6
more than 1000 feet above sea lew
on the foothill slopes. b.