26 



FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1912. 



only slightly rolling and the soil commonly 30 feet or more in depth, 

 and these locations are among the choicest of the type. Between 

 these two extremes there are all grades of soil, and the intermediate 

 phases, which constitute the greater part of this type, are found on 

 hill slopes both above and below the more level areas, on the slopes 

 of the ravines in which the lesser water courses run, and on the slopes 

 of the hills which border the Columbia and its main tributaries. 



The following table gives the average results of mechanical analyses 

 of the soil and subsoil of this type: 



Mechanical analyses of Underwood loam. 



UNDERWOOD STONY LOAM. 



The Underwood stony loam to a depth of a few inches to 6 feet or 

 more is a light-brown or reddish-brown loam, containing a large 

 cjuantity of angular rock fragments varying from an inch in diameter 

 to large bowlders. Within 6 inches of the surface the soil usually 

 carries slightly more organic matter than below, and for that reason 

 it is slightly darker in color than the underlying material. Rock out- 

 crop commonly occurs on the crests of the elevations, and the bed- 

 rock is often encountered at depths of 6 feet or less in places where 

 erosion has removed mucli of the soil. 



This soil is associated with the Underwood loam and always occu- 

 pies the crests and steep slopes of the mountains, usually at a greater 

 elevation than that type. The principal occurrence is in the elevated 

 mountainous region along the central-eastern margin of the area, 

 principally adjoining the Hood River Valley. Other smaller areas 

 occur in the vicinity of Dee, and one bod}' is located near the town of 

 White Salmon. 



The topography is in general steep and the drainage excessive. 



This type has the same origin as the Underwood loam, being a 

 residual soil derived fi'om basaltic lava. It differs from the loam 

 type in the higher proportion of rock fragments and in the generally 

 shallower soil and subsoil. 



The forest growth on areas of lower elevation is either oak or oak 

 and pine, while the higher areas have either scrubby oak or are bare 

 with the exception of a scanty covering of grasses. 



Owing to elevation and character of surface the type is generally 

 nonii'rigable. In the area near the town of Wliite Salmon the topog- 

 raphy generally favors the use of the land for farming, but with this 



