1 Issued July G, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF SOILS— BULLETIN No. 44. MILTON WHITNEY, Chief. P CLAM ATI OX OF ALKALI SOILS AT BILLINGS, MONTANA. . a&Mtr^ BY CLARENCE W. DORSKY. I—L \V ASM ' \( ; |'< )\: mini PRINTING "ii I' K. L907. Properly 0/ the United Stales Governmial Issued July 6, 1007. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF SOILS— BULLETIN No. 44. MILTON WHITNEY, Chief. RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS AT BILLINGS, MONTANA. BY CLARENCE \Y. DOKSKY WASHINGTON: QOVBRNMEN i PRIN1 [NG l >FFH B 1907. Bl KKAl OF SOILS. Milton Whitney, Chief of Bureau. Albert G. Rice, Chief Clerk. SCIENTIFIC STAFF. Frank K. Cameron, in charge of Soil Laboratories. Frank l>. Gardner, in charge of Soil Management. George T. McNess, in charge of Tobacco Investigations. Clari \< i w. Dorset, in charge of Alkali Land Reclamation. Jay A. BONSTEEL, in charge <>f Soil Survey. Oswald SCHREINER, in charge Of Fertility Investigations. w .1 McGee, in charge <>f Soil Erosion Investigations, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL U. S. Department of Agriculture, BUREAT OF Soil 8, Washington, D. 67., May /. 1907, Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a paper entitled Reclamation of Alkali Soils at Billings. Mont., by Clarence W. Dor- sey, of this Bureau. This paper details the general conditions of this part of the Yellowstone Valley as regards alkali and seepage water. and gives an account of the reclamation demonstration carried OD near Billings on the O'Donnell tract. The results of the work at Billings have been very gratifying and. I believe, have resulted in awakening general interest in the question of reclaiming these alkali Lands, both by the farmers privately and in cooperation with the State. I recommend the publication of this report a- Bulletin N<>. H of the Bureau of Soil-. Very respectfully, Milton Whitney, ( ' Ji'n f of Bureau, Hon. .1 \ mes Wilson, Si > /' /'//•'/ <>f . Vgricultun . 8 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/reclalkOOdors CONTENTS Page. Introduction 7 Soil and alkali conditions in the valley 8 Results of alkali studies made during 1898 8 Results of the soil survey of the Billings area in 1902 i<» Reclamation of the O'Donnell tract 15 Private effort In reclaiming alkali land is Summary -<» ILLUSTRATIONS Page PLAT! I. Fig. 1. — Showing barren aspeci Of the land included in the O'DoqmII tract before reclamation Fig. 2. — Showing heavy stand of oats oe the same trad after one year's treatment by the underdrainage-flooding method of reclaiming alkali hinds l.; Fig. i. Map ^h«'\\in.ur general distribution of alkali lands 11 -. Plan of drains, O'Donnell tract 16 RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS AT BILLINGS, MO MAX A. XTROIUCTION. Billing is situated in southeastern Montana, in a long, narrow valley characteristic of the lower Yellowstone River in the eastern part of the State. The valley is bounded on the north by -harp sandstone bluffs, rising from 200 to 500 feet above the valley floor. On the south in places hold bluffs of blue -hale sharply define the valley or it merge- into a mass of rounded hills that increase in height at greater distances from the river. The river occupies the lowest trough in the valley while successively higher terraces of low elevation give character to the surface relief of the valley. The ter- race- art- marked by steep fact- on the river side and extend as wide, level plateau- in place- attaining a maximum width of 4 mile-. They bear a definite relation to the course of the river and mark the various stages in the formation of the valley. Billings has an elevation of 3,119 feel above sea level. The climate i- characterized by extremes of heat and cold and an annual rainfall of about L5 Inches, the greater part of which occurs during the spring and early summer months. The climate may he classed as typical of the great semiarid plains lying ea-t of the Rocky Moun- tain-. At the time of the settlement of the valley only a very -mall pro portion of tin- land showed any sign of alkali. The areas where alkali was plainly in evidence occurred in the eastern pari of the valley and in occasional area- below the higher bench line. Near the present — i t « - of Billings and east to the riveronly alkali-resistant vegetation grew abundantly and there was sufficient alkali in places to form a crust. There were al-o other areas -cat!- i.d throughout the \alle\ that contained more or less alkali. With the construction of the Minnesota and Montana [mprovement ditch in ivs-j irrigation began, but the rapid settlement and development of the valley did not take place until is<-,(». Ahont four years later, when large area- were under irrigation, damage from seepage water was first noticed. Some of the lower land- became too wet for culti vation and were given over to the growth of rushes and other water loving plant-. Other areas of water logged -oil- appeared, increased b RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS IX MONTANA. in size, and were abandoned when cultivation was no longer possible. Not only were the lands damaged by the rise of the ground water, but alkali also appeared in increasing quantities and proved more serious than the injury from excess of water. This damage continued for many years and the situation appeared serious indeed. Many fanner- abandoned their farms and moved to other parts of the valley where cheap lands could be obtained. In the last few years, however, the situation has become more encourag- ing and conditions at the present time are such that the farmers of the valley need no longer fear alkali. It has been found that the alkali i- confined to certain well-defined areas and is not extending beyond the boundaries of these areas, which do not aggregate more than 10 per cent of the area of the entire valley. An active interest in the subject of drainage has resulted in the formation of drainage dis- tricts, and already several large drainage systems have been com- pleted, with others contemplated in the near future. Besides this important work the reclamation of a tract of alkali land by the Bureau of Soils has shown that it is comparatively easy to restore the damaged lands to their former productiveness by methods well within the reach of the progressive fanners of the valley. SOIL AM) ALKALI CONDITIONS IN TIIK VALLEY. The alkali situation was first called to the attention of the Bureau of Soils in ls(.)7. In that year Professor Whitney spent a few days in making a rapid reeonnoissance of the valley. He found that there was much uncertainty on the part of the farmers as to just what the conditions in the soil were. It was then decided that a more thorough study of the valley should be made, to determine, if possible, the conditions in the soil, the possible results if present methods were continued, how to prevent the spread of alkali, and what should be done to reclaim the already abandoned lands. Such an investigation was made in the summer of L898 by Mr. Thomas II. Means, and the results were published a- Bulletin No. 11 of the Bureau of Soils. RESULTS OF ALKALI STUDIES MADE DUBING 1808, Concerning the source of the alkali it was found that the farmers had advanced many theories and there was widespread belief thai (lie alkali Mat- could probably be reclaimed by Hooding the surface during a dry season and washing the crust oil. Determinations of the amount and location of the alkali in the soil plainly showed that the crust contained only a small proportion of the alkali and that such a method would be inefficient. In every case of Injury t<> crops that was examined it was shown that the first trouble was an accu mulation of seepage water near the surface, and. while the water did not contain excessive quantities of alkali at first, continued evapora- ALKALI STUDIES MADE DURING 1898. 9 tion resulted in concentrating sufficient alkali at the surface to injure crops. An examination of the structure of the valley showed that it had been carved out of sandstones and underlying -hales. The sand- stones thai rise abruptly above the valley on the north are porous and carry -mall quantities of magnesium and sodium sulphates, which frequently appear a- a white incrustation on the hare rock surface. The -oft blue -hale- forming the boundary of the valley on the south are penetrated hv numerous line cracks and joints tilled with fibrous gypsum, while larger cavities carry gypsum and calcium carbonate. Throughout the mass of the shales are found large quantities of -odium and magnesium sulphates, which form a white incrustation on the surface. The -oils of the valley were found to have been formed from the weathering of these shales and sandstones, modified and deposited by stream action. So it would appear that the rock- are directly responsible for the soluble -alt- contained in the -oil-, these -alt- con- sisting principally of sodium and magnesium sulphate. The sandy soils occurring in the valley have been derived largely from the sandstones, and hence contain originally less salts than the heavy -oil- that have been derived from shal< 3. A detailed study was made of sec. 2, T. 1 S., R. 25 E., and map- were prepared showing the alkali and underground water condi- tion-. These maps clearly showed the relation of seepage water- t<» the accumulation of alkali and how essential such a study i- to the propei- understanding of the question of providing remedies to check further damage. A study was also made of the quantity of -alt- being removed by a drainage ditch surrounding the town of Billings, which had been constructed to intercept the seepage waters from higher irrigated land-. From this it was found that the flow of water in the ditch was about 10 second-feet and that about I6j ton- of salt per hour wa- being removed; that i-. it was rapidly car- rying away the alkali seepage waters, thereby checking the concentra- tion of alkali in adjoining land-. The investigation further showed that before irrigation the salts were present, hut so evenly distributed throughout the soils that they were not injurious to crops. The injury was found to he due to over irrigation, to the translocation and local accumulation of salts I >\ seepage water-, to the imperfect drainage facilities in the clay -oil-, and the inability of the soils to remove the exci - of -alt- and seepage water-. It wa- pointed out that the only way to prevent the final abandonment of the land containing alkali wa- to provide uhderdrainage systems t<> carry off the excess of water and the 82 • »T L* 12 RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS IX MONTANA. crops were negligible. Eighteen thousand six hundred and twenty- four acres contained from 0.20 to 0.60 per cent of alkali | 2,000 to 6,000 parts per 1,000,000), and while the damage due to alkali was not great, in case all of the alkali became concentrated in the upper layers of soil injury would undoubtedly result. An area of 5,568 acres con- tained from 0.60 to 1.0 per cent of alkali, which is a little too much for the crops generally grown in the valley. Only 1,844- acres con- tained more than 1 per cent of alkali, and in their condition at that time (1902) were of little agricultural value. From these figures. representing the various grades of alkali, as well as from an inspec- tion of the small sketch ma}), it will he seen that only about one-tenth of the area contains sufficient alkali to be a serious menace to crop-. In general it was found that the vertical distribution of the alkali is governed by the texture of the soil and subsoil and by the position of the soil and subsoil. In uncultivated areas of clay soil where alkali occurs its distribution below the first foot is quite uniform, the maximum quantity being found generally at a depth of 5 feet. Where the soils are heavy clay but have lighter subsoils the maximum alkali content is in one of the upper X feet of soil, but less alkali is found in the lower depths, the quantity depending largely upon the height of the ground water. In the deep clay soils where irrigation has been judiciously carried on the greatest quantity of alkali is found at a depth of from 3 to 6 feet. On some of the wide, level terraces and lower alkali lands along the river there is generally a surface accumulation of alkali with the maximum salt content in the first or second foot. In these localities the ground water is quite near the surface and within easy reach of the upward capillary power of the soil. Above the canal in the sandy soils that have not as yet been irri- gated little or no alkali was found in the soil to a depth of 6 feet, but modei-ate quantities were usually encountered at 7 and 8 feet, generally Increasing with the depth. The alkali in the alluvial sandy loams found along the Yellowstone has resulted from evaporation of seepage water from higher lands. As before noted, the alkali in the higher bench and terrace soils has been derived directly from the breaking down of the sandstone and shale rocks, especially the Latter, \\ liieh are rieh in soluble salts. The general distribution of the larger alkali areas bears a direct relationship to the topography of the valley. A- has been stated. the valley floor Is marked by wide terraces, with a sharp blull" of from \:> to 30 feet emphasizing the line of demarcation between the differ- ent terraces. The outer or southern edge of these terraces is almost invariably higher than the central portion, and in places is even higher than the northern part. A- a result of these topographic condition-, the depressions first became swampy a- overirrigation was RESULTS OF SOIL SURVEY IN 1902. 13 practiced on the higher soil-. The irrigation water. a> it slowly soaked through the soil, dissolved the salts and carried them to the troughlike depressions. Evaporation of much of this water con- centrated the salts, and these swampy areas were finally abandoned as alkali fiats. The poor underdrainage of the clay soils has materi- ally hastened this process of converting water-logged land- into alkali swamps. The following table contains analyses of samples of alkali crusts and soils. The samples are typical of the alkali found in the soils in the Yellowstone Valley. It will be noticed that sodium sulphate pre- dominates, with much smaller quantities of calcium and magnesium sulphate. The chlorides and bicarbonates arc present only in small amounts, with traces of alkaline carbonate-. Chemical analyses of salts of tu/>i<-iil alkali crusts ami soils of tin- Billings area. Constituent. (UKK). NYarNW. corner sec. 2, T. 1 S., R. 26 e., alkali crust 0 to 1 inch. /' /• CI lit. 0 79 1 :y 28 16 72 67 7:; 18 font: Calcium (Cal Magnesium (Mg) Mini (Na) , Potassium (K | , Sulphuric acid ( SO^ Chlorine (CI) ' Blcarbonic acid (HC08) Carbonic acid [00%) Trace. Com entional combinations: Calcium sulphate (CaS< Magnesium Bulphate Sodium sulphate i Na«8< Potassium sulphate | K .-' ». Sodium bicarbonate < Na U( < 1 Sodium carbonate Na CO Rodium chloride f Na< if) Center see. 10, T. 1 S.. R. 26 K.. soil 0 to u» inches. Center see. 111. T. 1 S., It. 26 K.. alkali J'i r <■> nt. 2.99 JO. 56 9. 63 Trace. 16.06 4.06 8. center T. 1 8., K. 26 K.. alkali crust Oto crust 0 to 1 inch. 1 inch. Cent< r -■ T. 1 >.. R 26 E crust 0 to 1 inch. l'ir nut. Percent. 0.16 .24 31.73 88 1. is Per cent s.iluhle •J. 71 1 . lit) .f.7 Trace. 5 ln.07 85.12 21. U 22. 06 7. 28 Trace. . 55 1 . si 1 . 96 3.90 1 87 2. 1 1 2.01 23.51 2.78 3.24 1 . 85 4.11 2. ">7 ■1. 79 61.06 1.7H •J. 68 W. center see. 34, T. 1 S.. K. 26 K . alkali crust Oto 1 Inch. /•< r <■' nt. 1 . 85 I.C8 66. 19 1.54 1.06 12.29 9. 91 6. 1 B 14.00 12. 76 6.15 11 72 6.08 1 1.58 2. U 14.68 ■ 1 17. (Hi 1 . 79 9. 04 Ii is the exception to find in an arid country alkali consisting mainly of -odium sulphate; in most cases sodium chloride is the predominant constituent. A.s compared with the t \ j >* - of alkali found in other districts, the Billings type is generally supposed to be the least injurious to field crops. Some determinations as to its effects on crops were made in the different years during which the Bureau studied the alkali conditions in the valley, as well as in L906, when the reclamation work was in progress. From the following statements it will be noticed that in general the crop- are able to withstand more alkali than in areas where sodium chloride or the more toxic sodium carbonate prevails, Although L906 was the first year in which sugar beets were grown. it -ecu 1- 1 hat they are the most resistant crop to alkali that is grown in 14 RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS IN MONTANA. the valley. Fields were found where the beets were growing in from 0.00 to 1 per cent of alkali, while the surface foot contained nearly 1 per cent. Alfalfa, after it has become well established, comes next in resistance, a- it has been found in good condition in -oil averaging a little over 0.60 per cent. In one place, where the water table was about 4 feet below the surface, alfalfa was in poor condition, with an average of 0.50 per cent of salt present. Oats have been found grow- ing in soil containing 0.85 per cent and 0.91 per cent of alkali, as averages for 6 feet. The plant- in both cases were small and weakly, and 'were only surviving. These limits are. of course, too high to be taken as a guide for the resistance of this crop, but shows how much salt can be tolerated by some individual plants. Good oats were found growing in soil with 0.58 per cent as an average for 0 feet and with no surface accumulation. Only one Held of wheat was noticed where there were alkali spots. At the vd^e of these spots, where the wheat was dying, the soil averaged only 0.20 to 0.40 per cent to a depth of 6 feet, with 0.55 per cent for the surface foot. A comparison of the conditions in selected areas in 100:2 with the conditions existing in L898 showed that the alkali accumulations were '(•'coming more pronounced. This was particularly brought out by a study of sec. 2, T. 1 S., R. 25 E., which had been given special atten- tion in L898. By u>ing the same method of alkali determination (the electrolytic bridge) it was found just what changes had taken place in the intervening period. In L898, of the entire section (640 acres) only L86 acres contained alkali in what may be considered injurious quantities, while t54 acre- contained some alkali, but not enough to damage crops. In 1902 it was found that the area of land contain- ing much alkali had increased to 506 acres. Again, in ls'.,s it was found that the greatest concentration of alkali in the first foot of -oil did imt exceed 1 per cent, and there were only 13 acres contain- ing from 0.60 to l.o per cent to a depth of 6 feet, but in 1902 there were 224 acre- with from 0.00 to 1.0 pel1 cent and L28 acre- contain- ing more than 1 per cent. This is a striking example of the manner in which alkali has continued to accumulate on a given trad of land where no remedial measures had been adopted. In I'.mm; the alkali conditions were studied again over the entire valley to ascertain the change-, if any. since L902. It wa- found that the area affected h\ alkali had about reached its maximum limit: that i-. the increase in land damaged by alkali was verv -light in the four year- that had elapsed since the survej was made in L902. This study clearly brought out the fact. however, that the concentration of alkali in the well-defined alkali areas is increasing rapidly. Localities that in L902 were only -lightly damaged by alkali have -nice been abandoned because the land i- no longer capable of producing crop-. While this i- a serious matter o> those owning land- containing alkali, the 15 knowledge that the possible limit of spread has been reached i< grati- fying for the entire valley. RECLAMATION OF THE o'DONNELL TRACT. In 1004 the Bureau undertook the reclamation of a tract of alkali land in the Yellowstone Valley. This was in line with the policy of the Bureau, namely, to establish demonstration experiments in reclaiming alkali land in different areas where a -oil survey had clearly defined the alkali problem. The report- made by the Bureau in 1898, as well as in \(.H)-2. plainly showed the cause of the trouble and the way of attacking the question, and stated, moreover, that con- ditions in the valley were very simple as compared with other irri- gated district-. In order, then, to demonstrate the principles in reclaiming alkali land, a tract of land 1 mile west of Billings was -elected for the experiment. The tract was within easy reach of Billings and near one of the prominent road- of the valley, a location where the progress of the work could be observed by those interested. PI. T. fig. 1. shows the condition of the land a- it appeared when selected by the Bureau of Soils. No useful crop- had ever been grown on the land, although one or two attempt- had been made a Bcore of year- ago. There were many place- covered with a thick crust of alkali, while other pail- of the tract supported a scattering growth of greasewood, -alt grass, and bunches of prickly pear cactus. In texture the -oil varies from a sandy loam to a -till' claw locally known as gumbo. The clay -oil is sticky and difficult to cultivate and -o impervious that water percolates through it very slowly. In places at a depth of several feet gravel i- found, which i< often firmly cemented together and i- well-nigh impervious to water. An alkali survey of the tract gave the following results: Fourteen acres, nearly three-fourths of the tract, contained more than 1 per cent of alkali to a depth of 1 feet : !._ acre- contained from <».<',() to L.O per cent, and L.6 acres carried Prom 0. I<» to 0.60 per cent of alkali. The maximum alkali content wa- found in the first foot and usually decreased down- ward. Where the soil consisted of heavy clay the greatest amount of alkali wa- found. The alkali wa- typical of that found in other parts of the Billings area. It consisted mainly of -odium sulphate, with -mailer quantities of magnesium and calcium sulphate, traces of chlorides, and bicarbonate-, but no traces of carbonates. The ground water in midsummer stood within I or 5 feet from the sur- face and carried over 2 per cent of soluble -alt-. ( )n account of the large quantities of alkali present and the -low movement of water through the -oil a drainage system wa- con Bidered necessary to achieve marked results w ithin a reasonable time. An outlet wa- easily secured l>\ digging 660 feet t<> the drainage 16 RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS IX MONTANA. ditch that surrounds the city of Billings. The question of securing tiles for the drainage system proved more troublesome. When it was found that no tiles could be purchased near at hand, an effort was made to interest a local brick company in manufacturing tiles. This resulted in the purchase of a tile machine and the contract was awarded to this company. There had always been a small demand at Billings and near-by points for drain tiles and it was believed a much larger demand could be created if the tiles could be void at much lower prices than those purchased at distant points. By mix- ing weathered shale with the ordinary brick clay it was found that a satisfactory tile could be made. After making several hundred feet of tiles the tile machine was broken and no further effort was made by the brick company to fulfill their contract. The Bureau was then forced to purchase tile- from Kansas City, Mo., which greatly de- layed the installation of the drainage system. The accompanying ii7or..t I 4,nch t.U « s„ iZ7or,.t 4mCA film 1 4,ncht.l, /Z7or..t g if iZ7or..i 4me»*h 1 4,mh Lit J ° K Fig. -. Plan of drains, I >'] i n unci. -ketch map shows the general plan of the drainage system on the O'Donnel] trad. The drain- were placed at an average depth of 1 feet. The fall given the line- of tile was about 3 inches in LOO feet. The -lope of the land i- to the north and east. On account of the heavy clay subsoil underlying most of the tract, the drains were placed at interval- <>f \:\u feet. The five lateral- consist of I inch tile-, with -ilt catchment basins placed 500 feet from the eastern end of each lateral. From the junction of the laterals the outlet dram consists of a box open on the bottom placed at an average depth of 5 feet. Registering weir- were placed at the outlet of the drainage system and at the point where the water-supply canal enters the western end of the tract. The cost of in-tailing the drainage system \\a- approximately $35 an acre. This excessive cost was occasioned by the cost of the tries purchased at a distant point and by the <\\\ compacted clay sod-. Fig. 1.— Showing Barren Aspect of the Land Included in the O'Donnell Tract Before Reclamation. FlQ. 2. Showing Heavy Stand ( f- Oats on the Same Thai i Af | Treatment by the Underdrainage-flooding Method of Reclaims Lands. THK O'DONNELL TRACT, 17 which made digging the ditches painfully slow. It is believed that with tiles sold by local factories at reasonable prices and by excavat- ing the trenches, in the spring, when there is more moisture in the soil, the cost of drainage for most of the Billings area will not exceed on an average $15 to $26 an acre. The drainage system was completed too late in (he season of 1*904 to carry on flooding. The tract, however, was carefully leveled and checks thrown up to hold the water on the land. Fall plowing was also resorted to in order to leave the -oil in an open and loose condition so that winter rain- and -now might readily enter. The early spring of L905 was remarkable for the exceptionally heavy rainfall. It undoubtedly played an active part in effecting the reclamation of the O'Donnell tract. With the beginning of the heavy and continued rains the drains at once responded and by the Latter part of June the abnormal rainfall had materially reduced the alkali content of the tract. From early in July until the end of September the tract was submerged practically all of the time. By an adjust- ment of small supply canals the water was allowed to run night and day and the check- were continually Idled. There were two short periods when there was a scarcity of water and the tract was not flooded, hut these were not long enough to allow the alkali to accumu- late at the surface. At the end of September, 1905, the soil was allowed to dry and an < xamination was made to determine the changes that had taken place in alkali content of the tract. It was found that there -till remained iti the -oil only about one-seventh of the alkali that was originally present. An alkali survey made in June. 1905, after the heavy spring rain- showed that the maximum alkali content was in the second and third feet, l>ut at the close <>f the flooding operations in September the maximum wasalmosi uniformly in the fourth foot. During the flood- ing period sufficient water was used to cover the entire tract to a depth <>f G feet, while the rainfall during this same period was only L.37 inches; the evaporation was estimated at 12 inches from a free water surface. AJbout one half of the water used in flooding passed over the outlet weir at the point where the outlet ditch elliptic- into the Billings drainage ditch. <>«»<» feet east of the reclamation tract. A large part of the water undoubtedly passed into the country drainage of the tract or along the line of the outlet ditch. Tests of the drainage water made during the flooding season showed that the soluble -alt- decreased from 9,000 part- to •*'».•_'.»<> part- per 1,000,000. At the close of the season the tract was plowed ami har- rowed i<» overcome a- far a- possible the had effects of the continued flooding. Rally III the Spring Of 190C the -<'il appealed to he i|] excellent 18 RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS IX MONTANA. condition. The surface indications showed no traces of alkali, except along the north side of the tract, where no Hooding had been carried on. An alkali survey showed even less alkali than had been found in September of 1905. In May the soil was disked and harrowed preparatory to seeding oats. The soil responded nicely to this treat- ment and an excellent seed bed was obtained. Russian side oats were planted May 16 and made rapid growth. A heavy stand was secured that compared favorably with crops sown on alkali-free soils in various parts of the valley. Severe wind and rain storms, how- ever, considerably damaged the crop at the ripening period. The crop was harvested the last of August. PL I, tig. '2. shows the appearance of the tract a few days before the crop was cut. The yield Avas 44 bushels an acre, making the return for the 15 acres amount to $260. Considering that no crops had ever been grown on this land, the results obtained the first year after Hooding were very gratifying. They showed conclusively that the removal of alkali had been most thorough and that the land was now in condition to grow any crop adapted to the climatic conditions of the valley. At the time the drop was removed the tract was returned to the owners. It was the original intention to leave the reclaimed land with a satisfactory stand of alfalfa upon it, but the rapid extension of Billings made the land highly desirable for building purposes. The owners therefore subdivided the tract and sold it for residence purposes, except two lots which were reserved for vegetable garden-. PRIVATE EFFORT IN . RECLAIMING ALKALI LAND. Prior to 1904, the year in which the Bureau undertook the reclama- tion of the O'Donnel] tract, but little effort was made either to reclaim alkali lands or to utilize them in any way. Generally when the land accumulated sufficient alkali it was abandoned to salt grass and greasewood and valued only for the scant pasturage it afforded. Even during the period when the area of alkali was fast increasing, the farmers, while deploring the injury to their lands, seemed unable to adopt any preventive measures. Many whose lands were ruined moved elsewhere and took up new land, as they could easily do while prices remained low. A few fanners, it is true, tried to cultivate those portions of their farms damaged by alkali by plowing ill the fall and seeding to oats the following spring, But the invariable result was that the land did not produce enough grain to pay for • •nit ing and t hrashing. Some f<-\\ farmers dug -hallow ditches to remove the seepage water and some of the alkali, but the ditches were not deep enough and were soon allowed to fill up again, so that no beneficial results were accomplished. Within the last two years, however, considerable progress has been made in taking means to remove alkali from the PRIVATE EFFORT IN RECLAIMING ALKALI LANDS. 1^) lands or to prevent conditions from becoming worse. In the summer of 1905 two drainage systems were installed. A bill has also been passed providing for the formation of drainage districts and county officers to look after such matters. By the enactment of this law it is possible for persons owning damaged lands to unite and con- structs drains with outlets. Before the passage of this law it was not always possible to do this, as there was no way of securing an outlet through another man's land unless the owner gave his consent. As a result of this law one large district was completed and active steps were taken to form other.-. In addition to these districts formed under the provisions of the State law. considerable work i< being done by groups of farmers cooperating to improve their land. ( )n account of the interest manifested on every side by the farmers in the subject of drainage1 the prospects are wry bright in the Billings area. With the definite knowledge that alkali is not rapidly encroach- ing on new good >oils and with the question of drainage for the Largest areas affected by seepage water and alkali attended to. it now remains for the individual farmer to free his own particular land from alkali. This will require considerable effort, for some tracts of alkali land included at the present time within the drainage dis- tricts are situated long distances from the main drain-. In a region of sandy subsoils and good underdrainage reclaiming alkali soils may he accomplished with but little effort, but it i- unreasonable to suppose that heavy clay soils can be freed from exec— of water and alkali by a deep main drain fully one-half mile away. This was clearly proved by the history of the O'Donnell tract reclaimed by this Bureau. The eastern end of this tract was only 660 feet from a deep ditch which had been <\\i^ prior to L898, yet in r.» -oil- to a depth of several feet it will be advisable t«» place t he drains at a good depth, saj I or 5 feet, at Intervals of about 150 feet apart. After this work ha- been completed the land should be flooded until it i- believed -hallow rooted crops can be grown. For the -mall field dram- tile- may l»e used m case they can be secured at reasonable prices, or boxes made of boards or plank-. <>r. In case these prove 20 RECLAMATION OF ALKALI SOILS IN MONTANA. expensive, open ditches will prove effective it' cleaned as often as may be necessary. From the experience of the Bureau on the O'Donnell reclamation trad even the heaviest clay soils of the valley may be freed from alkali by flooding during the irrigating season, after an efficient drainage system has been installed. When the soils contain only moderate quantities of alkali in the areas where drainage districts have been found drainage of individual fields may not he necessary. If some crop that will tolerate some alkali, such as sugar beets, can l»c started and the soil has fair subsoil drainage each Irrigation will remove a certain proportion of the salts, and eventually the Held will he entirely reclaimed. Undoubtedly there are many areas in the drainage districts where the conditions of alkali and subsoil drain- age arc such that the land can he reclaimed in this manner. Deep plowing of the soil and liberal applications of water will materially hasten the reclamation of such tracts, as well as any course of treat- ment that will check surface1 evaporation and allow the ready per eolation of water through the soil. SIM MARY. The soils of the Yellow -stone Valley, in which Billings is situated, are mostly heavy loams and clays, which in their natural state con- tained Large quantities of salts, especially in the lower depths. The origin of these salts is in the shales and sandstones, which upon weathering have formed the soils of the valley. In the early development of the valley the areas visibly affected by alkali accumulations were small and attracted little attention. With extensive irrigation certain tracts of land became wet and swampy, gradually accumulated alkali, and finally were abandoned. This damage from seepage water and alkali was clearly the result of overirrigation on heavy soils having very poor natural drainage. For a number of years the area of damaged land- spread rapidly. and conditions were considered serious by the farmers of the valley, and many moved o> other place- rather than combat such unusual and formidable problems. An examination in 1898 l>\ the Bureau of Soil- -bowed thai the deep -ub-oil- woe rich in -;i!i-. that shallow drains would hi' inef- fectual, and that washing the surface only removed the accumulated alkali from a -hallow depth of soil. It was pointed out that under drainage to be effective must be deep, and that irrigation water should be sparingly used to prevent ruining lands at lower levels. Subse quenl studies of tin' -oil and alkali condition- of the valley mi I'.'"-' more clearly defined the problems and showed that the area of damaged land- was yearly increasing, and that it was imperative SUMMARY. 21 for the farmers to adopt measures to prevent widespread injury to some of the finest tracts of land in the valley. The experiment in reclaiming a worthless tract of alkali land by deep underdrainage and surface1 flooding, conducted by the Bureau of Soils, proved successful, and after one year's treatment a good crop of oats was harvested. This work showed the fanners ju>t what steps were necessary to reclaim damaged land- and undoubtedly helped to arouse an interest in the subject. At the present time the outlook in the valley is most promising, owing to the widespread interest manifested in the formation of drainage districts in the area- most severely damaged by exec- of seepage waters and alkali. The State drainage laws make it possible for farmer- to construct large drainage systems, and such work is progressing rapidly, while groups of farmers are closely cooperating to the same end. With the subject of regional drainage so adequately provided for, the reclamation of small farms or individual fields will follow as soon a- the farmer- appreciate the necessity of further effort in addi- tion to the larger remedial measure- that have been adopted. In some cases this will consist of the thorough drainage of fields, usimr the main drains as an outlet and Leaching the alkali from the soil by surface flooding. In other cases careful cultivation and irriga- tion of crops not especially sensitive may be depended upon t<> remoi e the -mall amount of salt contained in the soil. In whatever way the alkali -oil- may he finally reclaimed, the people of the valley are certainly to l»e congratulated upon their com- mendable enterprise in so promptly undertaking measures to check the ravages of seepage water and alkali. It is an excellent example and one that should he followed by many other districts in varion- parts of tin- West. O UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 3 1262 08928 6719