SOIL SUKVEY OF THE EED BLUFF AREA, CALIFORNIA. 9 



The markets for the products of the Red Bluff area are good. The 

 northern California and southern Oregon country consumes much 

 green fruit produced in this area. The dried fruits and staples, such 

 as grains, hops, wine, wool, etc., are shipped to more distant markets. 

 Vegetables, j^oultry, hay, and such products find markets in both 

 northern and southern towns and supply much mountainous terri- 

 tory devoted to other industries. 



CLIMATE. 



The climate of the Red Bluff area differs little in general features 

 from that characterizing the country known as the Great Interior 

 Valley of California, of w^hich it is a part. The most striking fea- 

 ture of the climate of this region, as compared with humid sections, 

 is the occurrence of a wet and dry season. The summers are prac- 

 tically rainless, the entire precipitation occurring during the winter 

 months. 



The following table gives the mean monthly and annual precipita- 

 tion for the stations indicated: 



Mean monthly and annual precipitation. 



January . 

 February 

 March . . . 



April 



May 



June 



July 



Red 

 Bluff. 



Inches. 

 4.82 

 5.00 

 4.80 

 1.36 

 1.09 

 0.45 

 0.01 



Com- 

 ing. 



Inches. 

 4.51 

 3.03 

 2.56 

 1.62 

 0.93 

 0.21 

 T. 



Chico. 



Inches. 

 4.46 

 3.32 

 2.70 

 1.79 

 0.96 

 0.42 

 0.04 



Orland. 



Inches. 

 3.26 

 2.08 

 2.17 

 1.41 

 0.98 

 0.42 

 0.02 



August 



September. 



October 



November. 

 December. 



Annual 



Orland. 



Inchei. 

 0.02 

 0.35 

 1.12 

 2.08 

 3.10 



At Red Bluff, situated in the northern part of the area, on the 

 west side of the river, the means are computed from records cover- 

 ing the period from 1877 to 1909. The elevation is about 310 feet 

 above tide. Corning is located in the southwestern part of the area 

 on the west side, and the figures cover the period from 1886 to 1900. 

 Chico is situated about 5 miles east of the river and about 20 miles 

 south of the Red Bluff area at an elevation of 193 feet. The period 

 from 1871 to 1900 is covered by the figures. Orland is several miles 

 south of the Red Bluff area on the west side of the river at an ele- 

 vation of 254 feet. It will be noted that Red Blufi', at the head of 

 the valley, has the greatest precipitation. For points oppositely 

 located, however, it will be noted that the rainfall is somewhat greater 

 upon the east side of the river. At all stations the greatest rainfall 

 occurs in similar periods. The precipitation usually occurs as gentle 



