L REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OP AGRICULTURE. 



intention of the Department, through its soil survey and through the 

 work of the Bureau of Plant Industry, to see if crops equally as valu- 

 able as those cultivated along the Nile and adapted to this tropical 

 climate can not be introduced. 



This party was in charge of Mr. J. Garnett Holmes, who has had 

 considerable experience in soil survey work in other parts of Arizona 

 and in southern California. 



It is believed that the information obtained in this work will be the 

 basis of most valuable economic development in the introduction of 

 crops from Algeria and Egypt. There is quite a variety of soils of 

 different character in this area, and while there is considerable trouble 

 with alkali it is believed that this problem can be easily controlled and 

 that the localit}' will develop into one of the important irrigated dis- 

 tricts of the West. 



It seems advisable to spend three months in a soil survey of the 

 upper Gila Valley around Solomonville during the next field season. 



ARKANSAS. 



No soil surveys have been made in this State during the past fiscal 

 year, but a party is at present in the State, making a survey around 

 Stuttgart. It is impossible at this time to make an}' statement as to 

 the economic results of this work. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Soil surveys have been carried on in three areas during the fiscal 

 year, n&mely, around Imperial in the Colorado Desert, in the Salinas 

 Vallev, and in the Ventura area. 



The work in the Salinas Valley was undertaken particularly in the 

 interest of the sugar-beet growers. This was formerh^ a great wheat 

 area, but in recent years the jueld of wheat has fallen almost below 

 the point of profitable production and barley has taken its place to a 

 considerable extent. The rainfall, however, is so variable that crops 

 are uncertain without irrigation, and irrigation S3'stems are now being 

 planned, particularly for the sugar-beet industry, which has developed 

 to large proportions. 



This party was in charge of Mr. Macy H. Lapham, and the area 

 surve3ed covered .S-ti square miles. Eleven different types of soils 

 were recognized and their relation to the various crops determined. 

 The relation of these soils to crops had been recognized to a certain 

 extent, but the orderly classification of the soils can not fail to be of 

 value in the futvire development of the agriculture of the area, espe- 

 cially as the industry is at present changing and developing along 

 new lines. 



All of the soils capable of cultivation in Ventura County were sur- 

 veyed by a part\' under the charge of Mr. Holmes, the area aggregat- 

 ing 240 square miles. There are several valleys where irrigation is 



