22 SOILS OF THE SAN LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO. 



In areas of soil of the San Luis series removal of the salts by flood- 

 ing would take place rapidly, and with facilities permitting regula- 

 tion of the water table by properly controlled drainage outlets, only 

 occasional flooding after one or two thorough leachings would prob- 

 ably be necessary. In the case of the heavier alluvial soils of com- 

 pact structure and low-lying position irrigation by flooding should 

 be permanently substituted for subirrigation, and drainage outlets 

 should be maintained in an open condition, except in such cases as 

 it might be desired to continue the production of wild hay. 



As soon as the greater portion of the salts have been removed, but 

 before the land becomes suitable for the production of the more 

 sensitive crops, it may be utilized for the production of some of the 

 more alkali-resistant crops, such as sugar beets, barley, and certain 

 varieties of sorghum, including kafir. In handling the land a soil 

 mulch should be maintained whenever it is in fallow or in inter- 

 tilled crops, or some close-growing crop thoroughly shading the 

 ground should be grown, for it is essential to prevent evaporation 

 in every practicable way. 



The leading farm products of the San Luis Valley are wheat, oats, 

 barley, native hay, Canada field peas, potatoes, and, in certain sec- 

 tions, sugar beets. The production of alfalfa is of minor but increas- 

 ing importance. Timothy is successfully grown in some districts. 

 The hardier vegetables, capable of being brought to maturity during 

 the short growing season, such as cabbage, cauliflower, onions, parslej^, 

 celery, lettuce, and the root crops, including carrots, beets, parsnips, 

 and turnips, yield well and are of high quality. They are grown 

 for home consumption and local markets. Regional conditions are 

 not generally favorable to the commercial production of fruits, al- 

 though crab apples and some of the hardier varieties of apples and 

 other tree fruits can be grown for home use. The growing of bram- 

 bleberries, currants, strawberries, and gooseberries has been at- 

 tempted. These fruits are of good quality and yield well, but require 

 protection by mulching or burial of the canes during the winter 

 season. Tomatoes and other more delicate vegetables must be grown 

 under glass. Protection from winds by planting windbreaks about 

 the buildings and garden tracts is to be recommended. Upon the 

 lower-lying soils of deficient drainage and high water table the native 

 willow and cottonwood are well adapted to this purpose. Limited 

 quantities of small fruits, even if grown at the cost of considerable 

 labor, should command fancy prices and might find an impor 

 place in the products of the small, intensively cultivated tracts. 



The sandy and gravelly soils of the San Luis series are not well 

 adapted to grain crops, except when grown in rotation with field 

 peas or some other crops which may be utilized for green manuring 

 purposes to restore organic matter and improve the structure and 



