44 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 11)12. 



All of the Hood River Valley section of the area was originally 

 covered with a heavy growth of fir and pine. Although the larger 

 part of the hill and mountain slopes remain in forest, the comparatively 

 level soils of the valley have been largely cleared and the land devoted 

 to cultivated crops. 



The "\Miite Salmon River Valley lies in the southern part of the State 

 of Washington, in both Klickitat and Skamania Counties, and is 

 separated from the Hood River Valley section by the Columbia River. 

 This part of the area is drained by the Wliito Salmon River and tribu- 

 tary streams. The larger part of this section of the area is made up 

 of the mountain slopes. The suitableness of the land for cultivation 

 is governed by the degree of slope and the depth of soil. An irregular 

 belt of soil along the White Salmon River, lying at varying eleva- 

 tions above the level of the stream, supports the oldest and most 

 extensive agricultural development in this part of the area. 



Hood River is the largest town in the Hood River Valley section, 

 and Wliite Salmon is the prmcipal town of that part of the area 

 lying north of the Columbia. 



Transportation is furnished by lines of railroads along both banks 

 of the Columbia River, and by a number of steamers which ])ly 

 betw^een The Dalles and Portland. 



The clmiate is characterized by moderately cool summers and 

 mild \\Tnters. The annual rainfall averages about 40 inches. The 

 average velocity of the wind is high, but destructive wdnds are 

 vinknown. 



The first settlers were interested largely hi stock grazing, but as 

 the j)opulation increased the land was cleared and devoted to a 

 number of cultivated crops. The success which attended the grow- 

 ing of fruits has led to a steady development of that branch of agri- 

 culture, and at the present time practically the only agricultural 

 export consists of apples and strawberries. The development has 

 been most rapid in the Hood River Valley, as transportation facil- 

 ities m that part of the area have been adequate for many years. . 



Irrigation is practiced over a large part of the soils in the Hood 

 River Valley, the waters being diverted from the forks of the Hood 

 River. In the White Salmon Valley only a small part of the land 

 in the extreme northern part of the area is irrigated, and, owing to 

 the difficulties of obtaining water for the larger part of this valley, 

 it is doubtful whether any considerable area will ever be irrigated. 



Land values in both vaUeys are rather high. 



The soils hi these valleys are either residual, glacial, or idhivial. 

 Sixteen types have been recognized and mapjjed. 



In the residual group three types are recognized — the loam and 

 stony loam members of the Underwood series and Rough stony land. 

 The Underwood soils are by far the most extensive m the area and 



