162 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



only a portion of it is at present under ditch. A considerable part of 

 this area is subject to overfloAA- during flood times in tlie Colorado 

 River, and schemes have been proposed for dikes and levees to pre- 

 vent this overflow, which, if carried out, will add a considerable area 

 of valuable land to the irrigated district. This tract, with its tropical 

 climate and fertile soils, has been compared to the delta of the Nile, 

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

 through the work of the Bureau of Plant Industrj^, to see if crops 

 equally as valuable as tliose 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 survej^ 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 

 diiferent 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 locality will develop into one of the important irrigated 

 districts of tlie 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 partj^ is at present in the State, making a survej^ around 

 Stuttgart. It is impossible at this time to make any statement as to 

 the economic results of this work. 



CALIFORNIA. 



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

 year, namely, around Imperial in the Colorado Desert, in the Salinas 

 Valley, and in the Ventura area. 



The work in the Salinas Valley was undertaken particularly in the 

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

 area, but in recent years the yield 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 systems are now 

 being planned, particularly for the sugar-beet industiy, which has 

 develoi)ed to large proportions. 



This part}' was in charge of Mr. Macy H. Lapham, and the area 

 surveyed covered 344 square miles. Eleven different types of soils 

 were recognized and their relation to the various crops deterniined. 

 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 future 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 party under the charge of Mr. Holmes, the area aggregat- 

 ing 240 square miles. Tliere are several vallej^s where irrigation is 

 practiced, the most extensive being the valley of the Santa Clara 

 River. Over a large part of the area, however, crops are grown with- 

 out irrigation, the principal crops being lima beans, sug^ar beets, and 

 barley. 



