342 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



cherries, berries, and vegetables. They frequently occur, however, 

 in extensive elevated areas above the reach of irrigation waters, 

 and under such circumstances are usually devoted to the production 

 of grains by dry farming. The sandy adobe, loam adobe, and clay 

 loam adobe usually occupy sloping plains or an elevated position, 

 are retentive of moisture, well adapted to dry farming of grains, 

 and, when irrigated, to alfalfa, walnuts, and citrus and deciduous 

 fruits. 



Sacramento Series. This is very important, covering a large 

 area and varying widely in texture. The fine sandy loam is the 

 most important prune soil in the Anderson Valley, having played 

 a large part in the development of this industry in that section. It 

 is also a good fruit soil generally, being adapted to peaches, pears, 

 and grapes. Many of the orchards found upon it are in a high 

 state of cultivation. It is also suited to alfalfa and vegetables, and 

 when irrigated sugar beets may be grown upon it. To some extent 

 it is dry-farmed to grain and to hops under intensive cultivation. 

 The silt loam type of this series is devoted chiefly to grazing, but 

 when irrigated it is adapted to alfalfa, sugar beets, and truck, as 

 well as to sorghum and other forage crops. It is also dry-farmed to 

 grain. In some places berries do exceedingly well and it also pro- 

 duces potatoes and hops of excellent quality. Citrus fruits are oc- 

 casionally found on the silt loam. The gravelly sandy loam type 

 is generally of little agricultural value. The heavier phases are 

 better suited to crops, and when well irrigated will give fair yields 

 of alfalfa and support good orchards. It is sometimes dry-farmed 

 to grain. A very productive type of this series is the silty clay 

 loam, upon which is grown to a considerable extent alfalfa and 

 other forage crops, hops, fruits, and truck crops. In some places 

 it yields excellent citrus fruits, but only to a limited extent. Under 

 irrigation better results are obtained. The silty clay is used chiefly 

 for grazing, but with a moderate amount of water alfalfa and sugar 

 beets may be grown upon it. It is believed that with deep and 

 thorough plowing and frequent cultivation fair yields of corn, 

 sorghum, and other forage crops may be grown without water. 

 When artificially drained and protected from overflow the clay 

 loam type of the Sacramento series is very productive, producing 

 timothy and other grasses, potatoes, onions, beans, etc. The greater 

 part of the loam of this series is devoted to grazing, but when irri- 

 gated it is adapted to alfalfa, sugar beets, truck crops, and fruits. 



Salem Series. Residual, alluvial, or colluvial soils, either red 

 or dark in color, derived from rocks or basaltic, schistose, crystalline, 

 or arenaceous character. These soils, so far as they have been en- 

 countered, seem particularly adapted to hops, potatoes, and have 

 been used to some extent for apples, peaches, and grain. They have 

 not been very highly developed in the areas in which they have been 

 encountered. 



San Joaquin Series. Compact red soils and subsoils derived 

 from old marine sediments, usually underlain by red hardpan. 

 These soils have been used almost exclusively for dry farming to 



