16 



divide land will find these less fertile areas offered for sale at much 

 less than the ordinary run of land. For this reason, such areas are 

 often chosen for subdivision. Doubtless the men who purchase these 

 tracts for subdivision are not infrequently mistaken as to their real 

 value, or at least do not appreciate the actual difference in productivity 

 between lands of different qualities. At any rate, what the prospective 

 settler should realize is that because he sometimes finds undesirable 

 properties offered to him, that is no evidence that fertile soils do not 

 exist in California. Such soil may exist on the other side of the fence. 

 California is a state of wonderful fertility and almost unthinkable 

 agricultural possibilities, as anyone who wishes may convince himself 

 by proper investigations. 



The purpose of this circular, however, is not to dwell upon the 

 great opportunities of the state, but to point out to the prospective 

 settler the difficulties to be avoided, to the end that his success may 

 be made more certain. 



NEED OF WATER 



The area over which certain crops can be grown in this state is 

 many times definitely determined by the water supply or the possi- 

 bility of developing such supply. At least seven and possibly eight 

 of the principal crops mentioned on page 40 of this circular are 

 dependent on irrigation, except perhaps, when grown in some of the 

 more favored localities of the state. The settler should look carefully 

 into everything that pertains to the extent, reliability, permanency, 

 and cost of an irrigation water supply for his farm, as outlined in a 

 subsequent article, page 29. 



HAEDPAN 



Soils should have good depth and good drainage. The need of 

 drainage is hard to appreciate or even determine before the land is 

 irrigated in areas of limited rainfall. One reason why analysis of the 

 soil is of so little value in ordinary practice is that the depth of the 

 soil and the position and character of the hard pan usually affect the 

 productivity of virgin soil to a greater extent than existing variations 

 in plant food. Soils in sub-humid climates are peculiarly prone to 

 possess layers of hard pan. These layers are very irregularly laid 

 down. Hence, a minute examination is required to determine its 

 extent and possible injury on a given piece of land. The United States 

 Bureau of Soils has, on account of these structural differences, adopted 

 the rule of examining a cross-section of the soil to the depth of six 

 feet in western United States, while elsewhere three feet has been 

 deemed sufficient. 



