SOILS OF LANE COUNTY.

This county has an area of about 7,000 square miles, with an average breadth of about 50 miles and being about three times the distance in length. About three fourths of this county is hilly and mountainous. The table or hill lands bordering the valleys seem to be quite fertile, and produce well when brought under cultivation. A sample of this soil is the only one yet examined from this county, and whether all will show as low percentage in potash as this is somewhat doubtful.

The mechanical separation of the soil by an elutriating apparatus gave the following result: (See page 6, No. 2.)

IV. The soil is a sandy loam and covers several sections in the foothills south of Eugene. Farther up the hills the soil becomes coarser and is underlaid with soft sandstone, which crumbles on short exposure. The vegetation is oak and wild grasses. The soil evidently has a good natural drainage and is easily worked. The dry lumps crush easily between the fingers, and the soil does not become very sticky when wet. It is a soil that has been planted to fruit considerable of late. The physical condition of the soil would seem to warrant this, but the low percentage of potash would indicate that for the best results this ingredient will be needed in a few years.

The county is abundantly supplied with streams and springs. Considerable swale land is found in some parts of the county, mainly white land, but with good drainage this can be made productive. Taking Eugene as a starting point, then going west about six miles, is a low range of hills. From here we can look north for about 24 miles over a rich prairie through which flows the Willam

ette River, the course of which is rendered the more visible by the groves of balm, maple, and shrubs. The hill land of the principal portion begins about twenty miles west from Eugene and is largely covered with fir timber-in fact, the whole region abounds in forests of fir, hemlock, and cedar.

Further analyses from this rich section will shortly be made.

SOILS OF LINN COUNTY.

Of Linn County there are only about 1,300 square miles that is suitable for agricultural purposes. "The arable portion of the county is about evenly divided into prairie and rolling land. The prairie is not a dead level, but slightly undulating, affording plenty of slope for good drainage to the Willamette River, which bounds the county on the west along its whole length. The soil of the prairie lands is a rich, dark, clayey loam, of the general character of that of the whole Willamette Valley." For the most part the soils are sandstone and basaltic. About the Santiam country the formations are porphyritic and granitic, which are a continuation of similar rocks to the north and south a part of the same that outcrops on the west of the Cascades. Only one soil has been analyzed from this county.

1 W.-This is a light loam, black in color, sent from Lebanon by Mr. John Withers. The soil to change of color is from 18 to 24 inches, and the subsoil is about two feet deep. The soil grows fir, maple, oak, and ash. As will be seen, it carries a high percentage of lime and clearly shows a lime vegetation. It has a high moisture coëfficient, and evidently has good natural drainage. The soil should be easily worked, and though the potash is not high, yet with the heavy percentage of lime it is fairly supplied, and with

thorough tillage is not apt to be deficient in this quarter. It is an excellent all around soil.

SOILS FROM EASTERN OREGON.

Only two soils have been as yet analyzed from this portion of the State. The nature of the rocks and soils has been mentioned on previous pages of this Bulletin, to which the reader's attention is invited. The following table gives the analysis:

1 Y.-As will be seen from the above data this is a soil of very fine texture. It is a light gray soil which darkens slightly on moistening. It is abundantly supplied with potash, but phosphoric acid is deficient. The main growth is bunchgrass and sagebrush, and to one unacquainted with its peculiarities the soil would not be considered favorably, although experience shows that the soils of this same character produce well provided they are given moisture. 1 Z.-This soil in appearance is much like the one mentioned just above. It does not, however, contain so much inert matter, and the supply of humus is better. Like the above, phosphoric acid is present only to a very limited extent. Yet, since these soils. have a good supply of lime, the conditions are the more favorable on that account.

In conclusion of this the first of a series of Bulletins on this im

portant subject of soils, it should be said that in the present state of our knowledge on this subject and the data in hand, it is often impossible to go beyond conjecture on some questions, yet by multiplying the results on the one hand, and by careful observation on the other the future work and benefit to be derived will be very much aided, and the results will be all the more hopeful to the agricultural industry of the State.

APPENDIX.

Since the Station receives so many inquiries as to what it is prepared to do, and also that the Chemical Department may be of the greatest possible use to the citizens of the State and come in closer contact with them, these few pages are added. The department also takes this means to answer in a general way a few standing questions which are continually being asked. The Chemical Department of the Station is prepared to analyze and test soils, water, butter, cattle-foods, fertilizers, gypsum, and other agricultural products, and to make such mineral analysis as may be of interest to the State, and as we may have time. Also to give information on such subjects of agricultural science as may fall within its province. All analyses are made free of charge but are subject to the following conditions: 1. All samples for analysis must be taken according to the directions of the Station. 2. All questions concerning the sample will be answered truthfully by the person sending the samples. 3. That the Station is free to publish all results of analyses made for the benefit of the public.

The Station will not undertake work the results of which are not at its disposal to publish.

The laboratory of the Station is complete in all particulars, although not so large as that of many stations. For that reason it is not possible to turn out work so rapidly. It must be borne in mind that to correctly analyze a substance is not a matter of a few minutes, but more often it is a matter of several days' work; and that there is always regular experimental work being carried on which as a rule cannot be interfered with, hence all who send samples must be patient and bide their time. All samples received are numbered in the order received and so analyzed, the analysis then being reported to the party sending the sample.

In all cases where samples are sent to the Station for analysis all charges must be prepaid.

DIRECTIONS FOR SAMPLING.

For ordinary water analysis, one gallon of water should be sent; for mineral water analysis, two gallons. The water should be put

in clean glass bottles, filled completely full, and corked with clean, new corks.

Samples of milk should not be less than a pint, and the milk should be thoroughly mixed before a sample is taken, and the bottle completely filled.

Samples of rock, coal, etc., should be so taken as to be a fair average sample, invariably taken from below the surface.

Fertilizers are sampled by taking a quantity from the top, middle, and bottom, intimately mixing on paper. They should be sent in clean, dry bottles, well corked.

It is essential that the fertilizer sample be certified to, and certificates for this purpose will be furnished by the Station. Each sample of fertilizer must be accompanied by the following data: 1. Sampler's name. 2. Brand. 3. Name and address of the manufacturer. 4. Name and address of the dealer. 5. Date of taking sample. 6. Price per pound, ton, or package. 7. For what purpose used. 8. Percentage of valuable ingredients claimed by manufacturer or dealer. 9. Such other information as the Station may require.

Directions for sampling soil will be sent on application.

The department is ever ready to give any information within the province of its work, and solicits the coöperation of those interested in the welfare of the State. All communications relative to analyses and matters pertaining to chemical work should be addressed to G. W. Shaw, chemist, Oregon Experiment Station, Corvallis, Oregon.

SOIL TYPES OF THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY.

By Thomas Condon.

THE WHITE SOILS.

(a) The bleached soils such as those one sees in the southern part of Linn County. The light color here is due to the fact that water has annually stood on them, dissolving and washing away all soluble salts, all soluble carbons, results of vegetable growths and decay; all soluble protoxides of iron, all soluble coloring

matter.

(b) The ashy soils-such as that one sees on the road from Monroe to Corvallis, and in which a fine gritty ash seems the base. The direction in which this lies from Mary's Butte is evidence that this ash may have come from that eruptive center in the days of its fiery activity, blown eastward and southward by prevailing

winds.