SOIL SURVEY OF THE RED BLUFF AREA, CALIFORNIA. 



33 



from higher lying soils. The type o-wes its origin to the finer ma- 

 terial deposited in this manner, and in some cases the process still 

 slowl}^ continues. 



At one time the Tehama clay contributed to the grain production 

 of the area, but it has fallen into disuse for reasons common to the 

 other types surrounding it, and at this time furnishes grazing only. 

 At all times it will remain a soil of secondary agricidtural worth, 

 but under irrigation, with careful, intelligent handling, it can be de- 

 veloped into a profitable producer of small fruit and even of alfalfa 

 upon its deeper phases. 



The following table gives the average results of mechanical 

 analyses of the soil of this type : 



Meclianicol analyses of Tehama clay. 



MAYWOOD LOAM. 



The Maywood loam is subject to considerable minor variation. 

 Typically it consists of a light-grayish or yellowish-gray loam of a 

 rather smooth silty texture. It is at all times moderately friable and 

 easy to cultivate. There are frequent areas of a somewhat gritty, 

 coarse texture. Other bodies of the opposite tendency occur along 

 the intermittent streams, the texture here approaching a silt loam. 

 This loam, in limited areas, extends to a depth of feet, but in nearl}' 

 all cases is underlain at from 24 to 30 inches by a yellowish clay 

 loam or silty clay loam. The subsoil, although quite compact, is much 

 more permeable to plant roots and water than the clay loam subsoil 

 of the Tehama silt loam. It has a somewhat flocculated structure 

 and bears evidence of having been reworked b}' water to varying ex- 

 tents. In power to hold water and in adaptation to dry-farming 

 methods it is a much better subsoil than that underlying the Tehama 

 silt loam. Gravel beds may be encountered at a depth of about G 

 feet along sites of ancient stream ways or in the vicinity of present 

 ^va.-hes. Larger tracts have a subsoil extending to dej)ths of many 

 feet. 



The Maywood loam occupies some rather extensive bodies in the 

 southwestern part of the area. The country south and west of 

 Corning for several miles is occupied largely by this type, broken by 

 patches and streaks of related soils. 



This type has a very uniform surface, being smooth and conform- 

 ing to the general regional slope, amounting to something less than 



