34 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1910. 



20 feet to the mile. It is not so frequently marked by local mounds 

 or depressions as the Tehama silt loam. Practically the only varia- 

 tion in topography within the main bodies of this type is occasioned 

 by the presence of many minor washes. These are only 3 or 4 feet 

 deep, narrow and winding, with gravelly or sandy beds. During the 

 wet season they carry much water, but rarely overflow. None are 

 perennial in character. Aside from these Avashes, which are the 

 present drainage ways, there are remnants of older ones of their 

 kind, faintly traceable over the general surface of the soil. Such 

 abandoned waterways have in some cases been responsible for the 

 lighter, slightly gravelly phases which occur in the type. The divid- 

 ing lines between this soil and the Corning series are quite distinct, 

 occuring at marked differences in elevation. The Corning types 

 usually rise in elevation several feet above the Maywood loam. 

 Gradations always prevail at the points of contact between this 

 type and others of the same and of the Tehama series. The drainage 

 of the type is excellent, being neither excessive nor restricted. 



The Maywood loam in origin is very closely associated with the 

 Tehama silt loam. It appears that the latter type has been subjected 

 to irregular erosion and redeposition by many meandering streams 

 now evidenced by nearly filled, abandoned channels. This has given 

 rise to the somewdiat reworked variable material classed as the type 

 in question. Such an origin must of course give rise to a soil of some- 

 what irregular character, depending upon the degree of erosion and 

 recovering. 



The Maywood loam is treeless, but a fringe of willow and cotton- 

 wood, with some brush, is usually found in the beds of the waterways. 

 A better growth of native grasses is found upon uncultivated portions 

 than upon the Tehama silt loam. 



Tlie Maywood loam was all farmed to grain years ago, when grain 

 farming so thoroughly occupied the soils of the area. Decreased 

 yields led to the practical abandonment of the soil for this purpose. 

 Since that time great numbers of small orchards have been planted 

 and an endeavor has l)een made to make this a dry-farmed fruit soil. 

 Peaches, pears, figs, olives, primes, and almonds have been planted 

 and tended with varying degrees of success. Many orchards were 

 iibandoned' soon after planting; others were brought to maturity by 

 indifferent methods, to be then abandoned. Principal among the 

 causes for such discouraging results were the attempts made by non- 

 resident landowners to plant and care for orchards by contract. 

 There are scattering orchards located upon the most favorable portions 

 of the type whicli have been handled by careful methods and thorougli 

 cultivation. They show better results in the type of trees and fruit 

 produced. Some of these orchards have been made profitable. Amid 

 such a mass of varied results a few facts have become apparent. If 



