50 OREGON FARMER 



Oregon division in the Rogue River Valley and the Umpqua Valley. 



As might be inferred, this soil is extreme in nearly all of its qualities. 

 It is very difficult to plow or handle when wet and equally difficult 

 to put in a good state of tilth when dry. It does not drain well 

 and warms up slowly in the spring. On the other hand, it is 

 extremely rich in plant foods, especially in potassium and phos- 

 phorous. As shown in the table, page 46, practically all of the 

 extreme qualities of this so-called "adobe", which is really a clay, 

 are due to the extraordinarily high percentage of the clay itself 

 contained, of which component a considerable amount is colloidal 

 or glue-like in character. The most common color of this type is a 

 deep black, but frequently it is red or light gray. 



Notwithstanding its objectionable features, this soil is one of 

 the most valuable found in the state when properly handled, and 

 the farmer is well repaid for the additional care it must receive 

 in the splendid returns it gives. Some of the finest quality and 

 heaviest yields of such fruits as pears and apples and of vegetables 

 of many kinds, of field corn, and other cultivated crops, are obtained 

 from this peculiarly rich land. The handling qualities of this soil, 

 which rolls off of the moldboard like putty when too moist and be- 

 comes as hard as iron, baking and cracking like joint clay, when 

 too dry, may be greatly improved by heavy additions of barnyard 

 manure and green manures to increase the humus content, together 

 with heavy applications of ground limestone. As this type frequently 

 occurs at the base of hills where there is considerable seepage, very 

 commonly under-drainage with tile is required to permit of its 

 redemption in the way suggested. Care in plowing at just the 

 right time, when it is not too wet to puddle or smear, and to com- 

 plete the plowing quickly before it gets so dry as to become cloddy, 

 is an important essential. Good rotations devoted largely to 

 thoroughly cultivated crops should be followed. 



The "Granitic" Soils. This type of soil occurs only in Southern 

 Oregon, largely in the Rogue River Valley, where considerable 

 areas of it are found on portions of the rolling hill lands and in the 

 valleys. While much of the soil of the Rogue River Valley is derived 

 from the granite rock, the soils commonly designated by the term 

 "granitic" and referred to here, are the very coarse sandy areas, 

 nearly white, light gray, yellow, or light red in color, which are as 

 yet but little used for agriculture. As indicated, these "granitic" 

 soils are very coarse in texture, having large amounts of coarse 

 sands and only relatively small amounts of silt and clay. As might 

 be expected, this soil is lacking in natural strength, being low in 

 nitrogen and organic matter and potassium and phosphorus. The 

 plant food contained, however, is in a fairly available form and with 

 proper handling these areas will undoubtedly become valuable. 

 The sandiness of the soil makes it early and desirable for rapid 

 growing crops such as vegetables, peaches, strawberries, and the 

 like, where early" maturity is desired/- Further, the^soil responds 

 wonderfully to the application of fertilizers and the use of good 



