26 



FIELD OPERATIONS or THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1907. 



It is of moderate extent, and in the southern half of the area is the 

 prevaihng type of the stream bottoms. The soil bodies are usually 

 elongated in outline and extend parallel to the courses of the Sacra- 

 mento River and its tributaries. It supports a moderately heavy 

 native growth of oaks, or in the river bottoms the typical "jungle" 

 growth of Cottonwood and sycamore trees, vnth. a dense undergrowth 

 of bushes and vines. It is generally well drained, although occa- 

 sionally subject to overflow by floods. The surface is usually level 

 and well adapted to irrigation, but is sometimes marked by slight 

 unevemiess due to erosion by flood waters. 



The Sacramento silt loam, Hke the other soils of the Sacramento 

 series, is of allu\aal origin, the soil material having been transported 

 and deposited by stream flood waters. 



It is friable under cultivation and is easily maintained in good tilth, 

 and in such condition has well-marked moisture-retaining proper- 

 ties. Owing to its deep friable nature and productive character, it is 

 well adapted to the growing of prunes, peaches, pears, grapes, alfalfa, 

 and vegetables, the two last-mentioned crops being more successfully 

 grown upon the lower lying and more moist bodies, or where the soil 

 is irrigated. 



Prunes, peaches, and pears are the leading crops grown upon the 

 Sacramento silt loam, the more productive orchards being in a liigh 

 state of cultivation. 



This soil has played a very important part in the development of 

 the fruit industry in the Anderson A^ alley and is the leading prune 

 soil of the area. 



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

 and subsoil are given below: 



Mechanical analyses of Sacramento silt loam. 



SACRAMENTO LOAM. 



The Sacramento loam is typically a light brown to drab, moderately 

 sticky loam extencUng to a depth of 6 feet or more. In its native 

 condition it is somewhat compact in structure and bakes slightly 

 during the dry season, but under irrigation it is friable and capable 

 of maintaining a good tilth. It is not extensively developed in the 

 Redding area, being found only as a few small irregular bodies, the 

 largest of which occurs near the center of the area. 



