338 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



Gilo, Series. This consists of recent stream deposits derived 

 from a variety of rocks, and occurs over river flood plains and lower 

 stream-formed terraces. The soils of this series are generally sub- 

 ject to overflow, and are often eroded or modified by torrential 

 floods, cut 'by stream channels, more or less wind drifted, and fre- 

 quently covered with dense thickets of willow, cottonwood, mes- 

 quite, canaigre, or other small timber or bushes. They are of light 

 to dark brow r n color. The soils of this series are sometimes inter- 

 stratified with minor layers of heavier sediments and are distin- 

 guished from those of the Imperial series by being underlain at 

 varying depths by coarse river sands and gravels. The fine sandy 

 loam and the fine sand, when irrigable and well drained, are well 

 adapted to the production of fruit, truck crops, melons, potatoes, 

 and alfalfa, but the surface is sometimes uneven and the soils are 

 occasionally poorly drained or affected with alkali. 



Imperial Series. The soils are generally of light or reddish 

 color, and in the heavier members are frequently poorly drained 

 and filled with alkali. The sand and sandy loam are important 

 types of this series adapted to the production of fruits, truck crops, 

 and alfalfa or forage crops under irrigation. The clay loam and the 

 clay frequently contain an excess of alkali salts and are cultivated 

 with difficulty, owing to heavy or fine texture and compact struc- 

 ture, but if well drained are suitable for the production of alfalfa, 

 sorghum, and millet. 



India Series. The fine sand is an important agricultural type 

 of this series, adapted particularly to the production of sweet po- 

 tatoes, melons, and vegetables. It is of special importance in the 

 cantaloupe industry of the arid Southwest. It is also a good soil 

 for forage crops. The fine sandy loam is adapted to the same crops, 

 though often poorly drained and affected with alkali. In most cases 

 the gravelly loam and the sand either lie above the irrigation sys- 

 tems or have a surface too uneven for irrigation ; but when irrigable 

 and free from alkali they are usually adapted to the production of 

 fruits and vegetables. 



PACIFIC COAST. 



The soils of the Pacific coast, including those of the coastal and 

 interior mountain ranges, foothills, and valleys, have been classified 

 into a number of series, varying in field characteristics, topography, 

 origin and mode of formation, and agricultural importance. They 

 range from residual and colluvial soils of the mountain sides, foot 

 slopes, and foothills, to deep and extensive river flood plains and 

 delta sediments, and ancient and modern shore and marine lacustrine 

 deposits. While some of these series are confined to a single coastal 

 or interior mountain range or valley, others are of wider range and 

 extend over several different physiographic regions. The value of 

 these soils and their adaptation to crops is dependent largely upon 

 the possibilities of irrigation and upon local conditions of rainfall 

 and temperature, all of which are to a great extent dependent upon 

 topography. They range in agricultural importance from those de- 

 voted only to extensive grain farming to the most valuable and in- 



