36 



FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1912. 



and character of the material indicate that the type is of alluvial 

 origin. It may, however, include more or less glacial outwash 

 material. 



Origmally the type was covered with a mixed forest of oak and 

 pine, but owing to the nearness of the areas to the principal towns 

 in the area they have all been cleared, and are occupied by town 

 dwellings or used for farming. 



Owmg to its low power to hold moisture the Wind River gravelly 

 sandy loam is of little value for cultivated crops without krigation, but 

 with ii'rigation apples and berries do well, attammg as good size, color, 

 and flavor as the fruits grown on some of the heavier soils in the area. 

 For the production of vegetables and truck crops under irrigation, 

 this soil is almost as valuable as are the alluvial soils along the Colum- 

 bia River. 



The following table gives the average results of mechanical analyses 

 of samples of the soil and subsoil of this type : 



Mechanical analyses of Wind Biver gravelly sayidy loam. 



WIND RIVER SANDY LOAM. 



The soil of the Wind River sandy loam is a sandy loam of light- 

 brown to reddish-brown color and of open, porous structure. The 

 subsoil is sunilar m texture and structure to the soil material, but 

 somewhat lighter m color in the lower depths. The subsoil is under- 

 lain at varymg depths below 2 feet by a stratum of grayish gravelly 

 loamy sand, similar to that underhmig other members of the series. 

 The soil differs from the gravelly sandy loam of the same series prmci- 

 pally m the absence of the fuie red pellets, though apparently iden- 

 tical with it in origin and mode of formation. 



An irregular body of this soil lies south and southwest of the town 

 of Hood River, and two small bodies are found m the White Salmon 

 River Valley north of the town of Underwood. 



Wlien first cleared of the fir and oak forest this soil was devoted to 

 the production of strawberries. The berry fields are now giving 

 place to apple orchards. Irrigation is generally considered necessary 

 for the profitable production of these fruits. Water is required by 

 the strawberry throughout the growing season, but in a large number 

 of the orchards no water is applied until the trees come into bearing. 

 Wind River saiuhj loam, light ijliase. — The Wmd River sandy loam, 

 light phase, consists of a porous, slightly coherent sandy loam, carry- 



