22 



FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1907. 



The i^Lnderson fine sandj loam where not subject to overflow is well 

 dramed, moderately retentive of moisture under cultivation, and well 

 adapted to the production, with or without irrigation, of grapes, 

 peaches, pears, small fruits, and alfalfa, although irrigation is advised 

 where practicable. It is, when cleared, usually devoted to dry 

 farming to grain, or to peaches, prunes, pears, and grapes. The yield 

 is generally somewhat less than upon the soils of the Sacramento 

 series, but the fruits produced are of excellent quality. 



A considerable part of this type is still uncleared of timber and 

 brush and could be brought under profitable cultivation. 



The results of mechanical analyses of fine-earth samples of the soil 

 and subsoil of the Anderson fine sandy loam are given in the following 



table : 



Mechanical analyses of Anderson fine sandy loam. 



BELLAVISTA SANDY LOAM. 



The Bellavista sandy loam is subject to wide variation in texture, 

 depth, and character of underlying material. Typically it consists 

 of a light ash-gray sandy loam of rather fine texture and of some- 

 what sticky character, extending to a depth of 1 to 3 feet, and under- 

 lain by a compact, sandy clay of adobelike structure. In the vicinity 

 of adjacent hill slopes it is generally gravelly, the gravel consisting of 

 small subangular particles to large rounded cobbles, and the soil is 

 of a slightly coarser and lighter character, occasionally extending to 

 the depth of 6 feet or more. 



Where it merges into the Redding gravelly loam and the Anderson 

 gravelly loam it has a reddish color and its structure is more compact 

 and its texture is finer and heavier. In the valley bottoms it is often 

 fine and somewhat silty in texture, and compact in structure, while 

 upon the more elevated slopes the sandy material is rather coarse and 

 the soil sometimes extends to the depth of 6 feet or more. The more 

 elevated bodies are frequently underlain by a coarse, partially indu- 

 rated sandy clay or clay hardpan, or by beds of volcanic ash and tuff. 

 The soil is generally friable under cultivation, although numerous, 

 small, puddled depressions of heavy compact structure and fine tex- 

 ture occur. 



The Bellavista sandy loam is not extensive, occurring only in the 

 northeastern part of the area in the depression of the Cow Creek 

 Valley, as irregular bodies adjoining outcrops of volcanic ash and 



