ANALYSIS BY THE UNITED STATES BUREAU 139 



Operations of the Bureau of Soils " for the year designated. For 

 convenient reference, the number of pounds of phosphorus shown 

 in Table 22 is given at the beginning of the second paragraph in 

 each description, not that the supply of the one element always 

 correlates with productive power, but because it does so more 

 frequently than any other. 



SOILS OF THE ARID REGION 



Fresno fine sandy loam (California) "is composed largely of silt to fine 

 sand. It is locally known as 'white-ash land,' from its color and its physical 

 character. The soil has probably been derived from volanic ash, but light- 

 colored loams and sands have also contributed to it. The soil lies flat and 

 works well, unless it be puddled, when water penetrates it slowly and hard 

 clods or lumps form on drying. The lower subsoil is heavier, a blue clay 

 being encountered at the depth of a few feet. Because of the poor drainage 

 or light rainfall, this soil generally contains alkali. " 



(1830 Ib. P.) "Was originally considered extremely productive, and is now, 

 where the drainage is good. Some of the first colonists settled on this land 

 through choice. " (Report for 1900, page 46.) 



India fine sandy loam (California) "is made up of clay, silt, and the fine 

 grades of sand. The clay is so flocculated that the soil in its field condition 

 is lighter than the mechanical composition would indicate. The soil was mainly 

 formed by erosion from adjacent mountains, the material being deposited 

 in a bay or arm of the sea, but it has been greatly modified by wind action. 

 It contains micaceous grains and minute shells. The soil ranges in depth from 

 2\ to 5 feet and is underlain with sandy loam or sand. The surface usually 

 has a uniform slope and is generally well drained, but its high capillary power 

 draws much water to the surface, causing an accumulation of alkali by its 

 evaporation. In the lower levels the alkali is present in injurious amounts. 

 Owing to insufficient rainfall, the salts are not washed out of this soil so well as 

 might be expected from its physical character. " 



(2090 Ib. P.) "Where not too strongly alkaline, it will produce in abundance 

 any of the crops suited to the climate." (Report for 1903, page 1255.) 



COASTAL PLAINS SOILS 



Leonardtown loam (Maryland) "consists of a yellow silty loam, fine and 

 powdery when dry, but puddling to a plastic mass when thoroughly wet. 

 The subsoil consists of a brittle mass of interlocking clay lenses, lumps, and 

 fragments, separated by seams and pockets of medium to fine sand. This 

 subsoil is as impervious as clay, owing to its peculiar shingle-like structure. It 

 is an upland soil, and is generally slightly rolling. " 



(160 Ib. P.) "Covers about 41 per cent of St. Mary County. . . . This 



