SOILS OF THE SUTTER BASIN. W 



CROP ADAPTATIONS. 



The surface soil material of that part of the area of the Sacramento 

 clay differentiated in the revised survey as a silty phase consists of 

 recent alluvial deposits having a high silt content deposited by 

 streams over the basal material of the Sacramento clay. Where 

 extending to the depth of 8 inches or more it is recognized as of dis- 

 tinctly more friable structure, responding more readily to tillage, is 

 adapted to a wider range of crops than the heavier bodies of the 

 typically developed Sacramento clay occupying the central portions 

 of the basin, and would in further soil surveys in the region in which 

 it might be encountered probabjy warrant recognition as a distinct 

 soil type. The nearer the clay is to the surface the more difficult 

 is tillage and the narrower is the range of crops to which the land is 

 suited. It is observed, however, that where protected from overflow, 

 drained, and aerated through tillage, the heavier clay type quite 

 readily assumes a granulated structure and becomes amenable to cul- 

 tivation. This process has not, of course, immediately taken place, 

 and drainage with a favorable condition of soil structure is more 

 slowly established than is the case with that portion of the tract in 

 which the superficial recent alluvial silty covering exists. 



In the opinion formed during revision of the survey the area cov- 

 ered by the silty phase may be successfully utilized for the production 

 of alfalfa, small grains, corn, broom corn, sorghum, and other forag3 

 crops, and root crops, including sugar beets. Beans could probably 

 be grown upon the lighter and deeper bodies, and it would seem that 

 the soil might be well adapted to the culture of asparagus and of cab- 

 bage, cauliflower, and other of the later and heavier types of truck 

 crops. Of the fruits, pears could probably be grown and prunes 

 might succeed where the deeper subsoil consists of alluvial sediments 

 of lighter texture than the Sacramento clay. Under similar condi- 

 tions it is quite possible that hops also might prove a profitable crop. 

 However, available data bearing upon this subject would indicate 

 the surface soils of the soil types successfully devoted to this industry 

 in the principal foreign and domestic hop-producing districts to con- 

 tain ordinarily from 2 to 25 per cent of the mechanical separate, 

 coarse and medium sand, from 8 to 20 per cent of very fine sand, from 

 25 to 50 per cent of silt, and from 10 to 25 per cent of clay. The total 

 silt and clay content combined rarely exceeds 70 to 80 per cent. These 

 constitute soils of essentially lighter texture than would be indicated 

 in either the typical Sacramento clay or the silty phase of this type 

 recognized in the revised survey. 



The areas of Sacramento clay of the heavier texture and more com- 

 pact structure occupying the central portion of the basin would de- 

 [Cir. 79.] 



