THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 137 



underlying material always permits of ample drainage. Where the 

 nnderljdng rock is horizontal, blasting is usually harmful because of 

 inadequate drainage. 



The soils are friable and mealy when moist, but tend to pack when 

 dry, especially where a high percentage of coarse quartz sand is present. 

 The soil is generally uniform in character to the underlying bedrock 

 and no true hardpan or subsoil is present, except along the margin of 

 the valley floor. In granitic areas of moderate to low rainfall, perco- 

 lating waters are carrying the finer soil grains and iron compounds 

 down several feet below the surface, and a dense red clay subsoil is 

 forming, which under existing conditions may in time form an indur- 

 ated hardpan. 



The topography of this belt favors good drainage, except in small 

 valleys where irrigation is practiced, and especially where water is 

 sold at a flat rate per acre. In some places of this character seepage 

 water has already found its way to the surface and unless preventive 

 measures are taken before long alkali injury might result. Some alkali 

 occurs in places along the valley margin, but the gradient is ample 

 and in most places reclamation is easy. 



The development of agriculture over the greater part of the Sierra 

 foothill belt has been comparatively slow because of a lack of adequate 

 trans]>ortation facilities, irrigation, more readily available lands in the 

 valley below and a more general interest in mining activities in the 

 foothills. As long as gold could be washed from the soil, little atten- 

 tion was paid to that which was possible from the growing of crops. 

 The early history of the belt, especially the north half, dates back to 

 the first discovery of gold in the state in 1848. The numerous rich 

 placers caused a rush of people to the state from all parts of the world 

 and very little, if any, attention was given to the growing of crops 

 until the rich placers began to decline. A decline in gold production 

 and laws prohibiting further hydraulic mining Avere accompanied by 

 the exodus of many of the people to the valleys and others remaining 

 became interested in various forms of agriculture. While mining is 

 yet an important industry in the foothills, agriculture is now recog- 

 nized as the basis of enduring wealth, and wherever industrious set- 

 tlers have been willing to apply with intelligence the same enormous 

 amounts of energy to agriculture that characterized the mining 

 industry, a high degree of success has resulted from their efforts. 



The marked variation in elevation, rainfall, temperature and soils 

 makes a wide range of profitable fruits possible in this belt. The lower 

 altitudes are generally too hot and dry for successful commercial apple 

 and pear growing, but elevations above 1,200 feet for pears, and 1,800 

 feet for apples, produce fruit of remarkabl.y fine flavor, color and keep- 

 ing qualities. The. loams and clay loams for apples, and these with the 

 sandy loams for pears, appear to be the best adaptations for this belt. 

 Pears endure wetter soils than most of the other fruits and are fre- 

 quently planted and do well on the lower slopes and in small depres- 

 sions too wet for other crops. The sandy loams and light loams of 

 granitic origin produce pears, plums, cherries, apricots, olives, figs 

 and grapes of high quality, color and earliness. The heavier textured 

 loams are usually more durable soils. They do not warm up so early 

 in spring, but usually make up by increased yields and longer lived 

 trees. 



