The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-03
SOIL SURVEYS
BEING MADE
Many Soil Surveys Are Be
ing Made by u. S. in
Wisconsin.
In PROGRESS HERE
IS HERE

Washington, D.. C.-More than one
third of the entire land area of the
United States has been covered by
complete or reconnaissance soil sur
veys according to the report made re-
Gently by the chief of the Bureau of
Soils to the Secretary of Agriculture.
The area covered is slightly more than
1,183, 900 square miles, of which prac-
tically $4,000 square miles has been
covered by detailed surveys. The de-
mand for the maps and reports In the
various areas which have been covered
indicates an increasing interest on the
part of scientific Investigators and
men engaged in many kinds of bust
ness.
In Wisconsin 27 counties have had
soil surveys made. The first of these
surveys were made in Monroe and
Vernon counties in 1908. Since that
time surveys have been made in Ash
land, Bayfield,, Buffalo, Columbia, Dane,
Door, Douglas, Fond du Lac, Iowa,
Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kewaunee,
Lacrosse, Marinette, Milwaukee, Out
agamie, Portage, Racine, Rock, Super
Tor, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara
and Wood counties.
In Progress Here.
In eight more Wisconsin counties
soil surveys are in progress or are in
course of preparation by printer and
photographer. These are Adams, Green,
Green Lake, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Wash
ington, Pierce and Walworth.
Because of the interest in soil sur
veys they have been placed in librar-
les at Appleton, Beloit, Eau Claire,
Fond du Lac, GAINESVILLE, Lacrosse,
Madison, Milwaukee, Racine and Su-
perior.
In addition to the long continued
work of surveying the soils of the
whole country, this bureau has been
carrying on Investigations in soil
chemistry and physics and investiga-
ors have been sent to older parts of
the world to study soil conditions ex-
listing after many centuries of crop
ping. In 1922 one of the scientists
visited many countries of Europe and
brought home many samples of soils.
These soils have been compared with
types found in the United States and
the samples are now being studied
carefully in the laboratories.
Gain Valuable Data.
Through recent chemical studies a
great deal of valuable information has
been obtained regarding the colloids,
jellylike substances, contain only 1 to
2 per cent of inorganic colloidal mater
ial, but it has been found that they
may contain as much as 70 per cent.
Other Investigations have shown the
influence of this content on the bear
ing strength of solid, information
which may be of value in solving
drainage, irrigation and other prob
lens.
The report contains brief accounts of
fertilizer Investigations, particularly
the reduction of phosphoric acid and
make available the large deposits of
potash bearing rocks in Utah, New
Jersey and Wyoming. Researches al
so are being made on the utilization of
potash in the fumes of blast furnaces.
The bureau has long advocated the
use of more concentrated fertilizers
and the changes adopted the past year
by many manufacturers indicate that
the number Of formulas will be great
ly reduced and less filler will be used.
Fertilizers now have so per cent in
crease in content of essential plant
food over those of ten years ago.