How to handle peat soils and how to reclaim so-called, alkali spots are real problems to many farmers in north-central Iowa, large numbers of whom have found thru hitter experience the futility of attempting to grow crops on such land without special methods of treatment.

While drainage is generally recognized as the basic treatment necessary if these soils are to be successfully cropped, other treatments in addition have been found to be essential if satisfactory crop yields are to be secured on peat and alkali areas. Even with the very best system of management, several years may be required before peat soils can be utilized on a distinctly profitable basis. This is especially true of newly-drained peat land. So-called alkali areas may be more quickly reclaimed and made productive, but even these soils may not give satisfactory crop yields the first year after drainage.