SOIL SUEVEY OF THE EEDDING AREA, CALIFORNIA, 



27 



The surface is nearly level or gently sloping, and the soil is generally 

 well drained, except in the case of some of the smaller bodies subject 

 to occasional overflow, wliich frequently support a heavy growth of 

 timber and brush. 



In origin and in mode of formation it is similar to the other soils 

 of the Sacramento series. 



It is well adapted to prunes, pears, and under irrigation to alfalfa, 

 sugar beets, and truck crops. It is principally devoted to grazing 

 and dry farming to grain and is well suited to the culture of irrigated 

 crops. It is the most promising soil type of this area for the pro- 

 duction of alfalfa and sugar beets. 



The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of the 

 soil and subsoil of the Sacramento loam : 



IRRIGATION. 



The development of irrigation in the Redding area has been some- 

 what retarded and is practiced only to a limited extent. In the 

 uplands this is due largely to the expense of constructing distributing 

 systems in the hilly sections or to a limited water supply. In the 

 deeper moist soils of the nearly level valley districts irrigation is gen- 

 erally unnecessary for the profitable production of the leading fruit 

 crops. The extension of irrigation facilities^ is, however, greatly to 

 be desired, and no insurmountable difficulties present themselves, at 

 least in the most important sections of the area. 



While in the Happy Valley and other upland districts attempts 

 have been made from time to time to produce fruits without irrigation, 

 failures have resulted and the necessity of irrigation for successful 

 fruit growing is now generally recognized. 



The Happy Valley district is the most extensively irrigated section 

 of the area. The water is obtained from the creeks of the adjacent 

 mountains upon the west and is distributed by a private company, 

 largely by means of a system of small canals and ditches formerly 

 used for conveying water for mining purposes. The water is of good 

 quality for irrigation. On account of the extension of the fruit 

 industry in this section, however, the water supply during the dry 

 summer months has become entirely inadequate, and as the cost of 

 water is increasing much dissatisfaction is expressed by patrons of the 

 system. Tliis condition has created a demand for an investii2:ation of 



