54 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1910. 



This soil occupies elongated bodies bordering the Sacramento 

 River, having a place upon one or both banks of the stream through- 

 out practically its Avhole course in the area. Its contact with the 

 river is close, there rarely being intervening types other than River- 

 wash or small bodies of Sacramento fine sand. It is sometimes 

 marked by strips of Riverwash representing portions vigorously 

 reworked and redeposited by flood waters. The type is confined to the 

 area directly influenced by the Sacramento River. 



The surface is rather uniform, except for the overflow channels. 

 In general the topography is comparable to that of the Sacramento 

 silt loam, but the areas usually occur at an elevation slightly lower 

 than that of the latter type. Much of the type is subject to periodic 

 overflow. 



The Sacramento fine sandy loam is an alluvial soil, the product of 

 direct deposition by the Sacramento River and, Avith the possible ex- 

 ceptions of the Sacramento fine sand and Riverwash, the most 

 recently formed soil of the area. It is yet in the process of forma- 

 tion and alteration. The source of its material lies far Avithout the 

 area along the Sacramento tributaries. 



A native timber growth originally covered this type, oak, Avillow, 

 sycamore, and cottonwood prevailing. Large areas have been cleared 

 in the course of development of agriculture, but there yet remains 

 upon the lower areas a rank jungle, consisting of the trees already 

 named, underbrush, and grapevines. 



This soil is one of the best and most productive of the area and its 

 intensive development in small farms will depend entirely upon the 

 engineering difficulties attending })r()tection from overflow and the 

 supplying of water for irrigation. The range of crops to which the 

 type is adapted is very great. Some of the best j)eacli, apricot, and 

 prune orchards of the area are located upon it, these products being 

 grown usually without irrigation. The soil has good water-holding 

 capacity, but where irrigation is possible it is deemed advisable. It 

 is an excellent alfalfa soil and good returns are had without irrigation 

 in well-estal)lislu'd fields. 



Maxiimim yields are obtained where irrigation is jDracticed, as it is 

 by several individual puni]iing j^lants ahmg the Sacramento River. 

 Hops do well without irrigation whenever favorably located upon 

 bodies not too vigorously overflowed, yet having the moisture condi- 

 tions of the lower levels. Grain farming is as yet the most extensive 

 industry upon this type, and wheat and barley continue to produce 

 profitably year after year without marked decreases in the yields. 

 The humus content of the soil is very satisfactory, and much greater 

 thgn in case of any of the upland soils. Beans, melons, and various 

 truck crops do well whenever moisture conditions are favorable. 

 Irrigation will not fail to make intensive, diversified agriculture sue- 



