CITRUS SOILS. 223 



much as does the drainage and the possibility of supply- 

 ing water by irrigation. 



The soil of the famous Riverside district is of a deep 

 reddish color, while the Redlands section takes its name 

 from the color of the soil. The mesas are among the best 

 citrus soils of the State, for though the fruit may be pro- 

 duced on other soils, it is not equal in quality to that pro- 

 duced on this class of land and on the foothills. In south- 

 ern California, the great lemon industry has been built 

 up on the mesas and foothills, lands long untouched, 

 many of them covered with a forbidding growth of cacti, 

 sagebrush and like vegetation peculiar to such soil and 

 climatic conditions. 



In California soils underlaid with hardpan, alkaline 

 soils, heavy clay soils (adobe), should be avoided and 

 the lower lands, containing larger amounts of humus and 

 moisture do not produce fruit of as good quality as the 

 uplands. 



CUBA. 



In Cuba there are a number of different types of 

 soil which may be used for citrus groves. Not all of them 

 are equally adapted, and it will require considerable prac- 

 tical experience to determine which class or classes will 

 be most satisfactory. Not until bearing groves have 

 been grown to considerable age can the question be defi- 

 nitely answered. The health and longevity of the trees, 

 the flavor and quality of the fruit are all influenced by 

 the character of the soil. 



The soils which are more or less adapted to citrus 

 fruits may be divided into three general classes. Of these 

 the sandy soils are preferred by many. Soils of this type 

 are easily cultivated, and while some commercial fertilizer 



