SOIL SURVEY OF THE EED BLLTFF AREA, CALIFORNIA, 



37 



Numerous small bodies of the Maywood gravelly sandy loam 

 occur in the western part of the area, usually bordering the smaller 

 intermittent stream ways and not much elevated above them. The 

 surface is usually level, the only variation being the small stream 

 channels of the locality. The boundaries between this type and the 

 Tehama gravelly loam and other types are often indistinct. It is 

 at all times well drained. No tree grow^th occurs except in the 

 stream channels, where an occasional cottonwood or willow is found. 



The Maj^wood gravelly sandy loam is an alluvial soil formed 

 from materials derived largely from the Tehama and Redding series. 

 It occurs in the zone of present stream ways, and is quite similar to 

 the Tehama gravelly loam in some of its phases. 



Some grain is grown upon the type, and with good care a few dry- 

 farmed orchards of peaches have been brought to bearing. It re- 

 quires irrigation, however, to insure extensive development. Small 

 quantities of underground water for irrigation can be secured by 

 pumping, but the supply is insufficient. With a gravity system this 

 type will be found admirably suited to irrigation. Practically all of 

 the type is irrigable. It is well adapted to olives, peaches, alfalfa, 

 and a great variety of crops. 



The following table gives the average results of mechanical analy- 

 ses of the soil of this type : 



MechanicdJ analysis of Maijirood gravcJUj sanOij loam. 



MAYWOOD SILT LOAM. 



The Maywood silt loam consi.sts of a yellowish or yellowish-gray, 

 smooth textured soil, usually quite compact and sticky w^hen wet, yet 

 friable when properly handled. It is very uniform in texture, with 

 but little or no coarser material, such as gravel. At from 30 to 36 

 inches the silt loam grades into a very compact silty clay loam or 

 silty loam of great water-holding capacity. This in turn may be 

 underlain at about 6 feet by gravel beds or may extend with little 

 variation to great depths. 



This type is confined to several medium-sized bodies along the 

 minor west side streams, or as bodies deposited bj'^ these streams where 

 they leave their small valleys and emerge into the alluvial plain of 

 the Sacramento. The surface is level and very uniform. Drainage 

 is adequate over most of the type. 



