SOIL SURVEY OF THE EED BLUFF AREA, CALIFORNIA. 



57 



fields would last longer and the yields would be increased by 

 irrigation. 



The type is excellently adapted to a great variety of fruit and 

 truck crops and supports some profitable orchards of peaches, prunes, 

 apricots, and almonds, in the main without irrigation. Some of the 

 oldest and best-yielding orchards of these stone fruits are found upon 

 this type. It is well suited to sugar beets, and much attention may 

 be devoted to this crop at a future date when conditions for irriga- 

 tion and marketing the product become more favorable. Hop cul- 

 ture will also prove successful either by selecting the less elevated 

 and moister portions of the type or by supplying irrigation water. 

 The vineyards of wine grapes owned by the Stanford Ranch at Vina 

 cover a portion of this type. ^_, 



A wide diversity of crops, embracing practically all the indus- 

 tries of northern California, with the exception of the citrus fruits, 

 can be successfully established upon this type, but that intensive 

 development of which the type is worthy must be delayed until it 

 is relieved of flooding during the winter and spring months. Irri- 

 gation will be necessary to warrant its use in small tracts. It is a 

 very productive soil, and under the best conditions it should sup- 

 port a family on 20 acres or less. Its natural value will warrant 

 the expense incurred in developing water. All of its surface is 

 capable of irrigation when protected from overflow. 



The following table gives the results of a mechanical analysis of 

 the soil of this type : 



Mechanical analysis of Sacramento silt loam. 



SACRAMENTO SILTY CLAY LOAM. 



The soil of the Sacramento silty clay loam consists of a very smooth- 

 textured, dark-clrab to brown silty clay loam of compact structure. 

 It is somewhat stickj?^, though it seldom puddles, and has a rather 

 friable structure for a soil of its character. This soil is normally 

 free from all coarse material and usually extends to a depth of 6 feet. 

 In exceptional cases it is underlain below about 30 inches by a slightly 

 lighter colored and coarser textured loam or silt loam. It is subject 

 to little variation, except along its contact with other types. 



The type occupies several bodies of small extent occurring in the 

 flood plains of the Sacramento River. Its surface is level and 

 marked by the shallow depressions of abandoned or present ovei*flow 



