THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 349 



varieties will have to be grown on a certain soil and in the discussion 

 following, I shall be glad to hear the expression of growers on this 

 point. Our Avork has not progressed far enough yet to have all of 

 the data bearing on this issue available, but we are planning a careful 

 and detailed study of this important question as soon as our soil survey 

 has covered the main fruit soils of the State. 



For olives, the brown or reddish brown loams, gravelly loams and 

 heavy sandy loams with good drainage, freedom from alkali, no hardpan 

 within three and one half feet of the surface, of medium fertilit}- and 

 not high in humus, located within a few miles of the margin of the 

 valley, approach most nearly the ideal soil for olive culture. Olives 

 will grow well and produce paying crops on medium to light textured 

 soils elsewhere in the valley, but the greatest harmony between soil 

 and plant appears to be obtained on the soils mentioned above. 



For figs, the fine sandy loams and silt loams along the stream bot- 

 toms where the soils are of moderate fertility, well drained but not 

 doughy, free from alkali, of moderate humus content and friable to 

 several feet deep, produce the most vigorous and long lived trees, with 

 very satisfactory bearing qualities. The upland, or older valley plains 

 soils, such as deep, fi-iable, sandy loams to heavy loams, are almost equal 

 to the river bottom soils for fig culture and give most excellent results. 

 The black clay adobes are used to some extent in parts of the valley, 

 and in certain instances, quite satisfactory results are obtained. The 

 trees are genera llj^ slow to start in such soils and in many places large 

 parts of the orchard have had to be reset three or four times to get 

 the trees started. The industry on such soils is questionable. 



For almonds, the well drained sandy loams, loams, and light clay 

 loams of moderate fertility on moderate to good slopes, deep and 

 friable open subsoils, moderately retentive of moisture with a leaning 

 toward the lighter types, closely approach the ideal soil for this crop. 

 Low, damp, cool soils, those with heavy clay subsoils, and high humus 

 content, should be avoided for this crop if the greatest commercial 

 success is desired. 



For prunes, the loams, silt loams, clay loams, and silty clay loams, 

 with good soil drainage and friable subsoils, both on the valley floor 

 and foothill slopes, rank first for this crop. 



Cherries do best along the valley margin where protected from 

 unfavorable exposure to heat and wind and on sandy loams, loams, and 

 silty clay loams and gravelly loams where the soils are deep, friable, 

 retentive of moisture, and on fair slopes, appear to meet the most 

 exacting needs of this product. 



Pears find a good home on the river bottom, sandy loams, loams and 

 silty clay loams. They are partial to damp soils and enjoy a moderate 

 to good supply of humus. They will thrive on a wetter soil than most 

 any of the other fruits, but for their best welfare, the soik should 

 not be water-logged. The tendency of this fruit is to favor the 

 heavy types. 



The cane and vine fruits are now known quite well and need not 

 be considered at this time. The rare fruits and many new and seem- 

 ingly valuable introductions give great promise on certain soils, but 

 further study with them is necessary. The root stock used will have 

 an important bearing on the exact soil on which the above fruits will 



