348 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



favorable bacterial activities and oxidizing processes for long periods. 

 So it can be readily seen that even though the variety to be introduced 

 is adapted to a clay soil, it is very necessary to know just what the 

 nature of the clay is on which the variety has developed its desirable 

 ■qualities, and then transfer it to the new home where the soil is as 

 nearly like that of its native habitat as possible. 



The above differences mentioned for clays hold for the adobe soils, 

 and, in fact, for all of the leading types recognized in the great valley. 

 Hence, you will see the necessity of outlining the different kinds of 

 soil so fruit growing and experimental work can be placed on a scientific 

 basis. In regions where such information is not available regarding 

 soils, it is not uncommon to see farmers planting all kinds of fruits 

 on all kinds of soils, and much loss of time and money have resulted 

 each year. In numerous cases, orchards have been located on poorly 

 drained soils, or where alkali is present and on soils entirely opposite 

 in their properties to those on which the variety was developed. If 

 a dense subsoil were present at one or two feet below the surface, the 

 trees would thrive for a few years or until the roots reached down 

 into the unfavorable subsoil below when the thrifty young trees would 

 decline rapidly, and in many instances the entire orchard would 

 become worthless. Such experiences in many places have been the 

 rule rather than the exception, especially in newly settled regions. 



Generally speaking, our observations indicate that heavy black soils 

 high in humus are not as well adapted to the growing of deciduous 

 fruits, except possibly figs, and pears, as are the gray, brown and red 

 soils. The silt loams, light loams, sandy loams and loamy sands produce 

 the best colored and flavored peaches. Heavy loams, clay loams and 

 clays produce a heavy growth of wood and a dense dark green foliage. 

 Furthermore, heavy textured soils in this State are usually water- 

 logged during the rainy season, and such a condition from one to 

 three months each year is harmful to peach trees. Trees on such 

 soils tend to become shy bearers and the dense foliage keeps out the 

 sunlight, and frequently a poorly colored and flavored peach results. 

 The natural home of the peach is on a sandy soil, and the tree has 

 so adjusted its functions of growth and bearing to a somewhat re- 

 stricted food supply that the desirable qualities can only be best de- 

 veloped when the trees are grown on the lighter types. The use of 

 root stocks which thrive in heavy soils, however, may extend the range 

 of soils somewhat on which this delicious fruit may be successfully 

 grown. 



So it is with grapes, as is evident when the same variety is planted 

 on widely different soils in the great valley. When so much damage 

 was done to grape growing in France, you will remember how experts 

 searched the United States for a phylloxera resistant stock which could 

 be used in France. Numerous stocks were tried, but they all seemed 

 to fail when transferred to the highly calcareous soils of France. It 

 finally dawned that a stock must be sought which had accustomed 

 itself to soils high in lime, and after considerable search such a stock 

 was found in Texas. Now had the grape industry of France developed 

 on an acid soil, a resistant stock would have been sought elsewhere 

 which had accustomed itself to an acid soil environment. Careful 

 study of the soils of the interior valley will reveal the fact that to 

 obtain certain desirable qualities for table use or wine making, the 



