BOTTOM LANDS. 55 



A few acres of unreclaimed salt marsh are also found at the mouths 

 of the jSToyo and Ten-mile Rivers. 



Soils. — On the flood plains at the mouth of Eel River and the other 

 streams emptying into Humboldt Bay, we find the richest agricultural 

 soils of the region. As already pointed out these flood plains are not 

 delta deposits, but are the result of corrasion of the rocks of the 

 wild-cat formation. Until within recent years they have been sub- 

 ject to tidal inundation, but a large portion has been reclaimed from 

 the ocean by means of embankments. There still remain large areas 

 of unreclaimed salt marsh, however. 



The fertility of these bottom lands is a source of constant wonder 

 to those unacquainted with the prevailing conditions. To quote 

 again from the Pacific Rural Press: 



Mr. A. Kansen. of Ferndale. keeps 35 cows on 34 acres, secures an average yield 

 of 300 pounds of butter, and buys no feed whatever. The cows are on pasture 

 nine months of the year, and for the other three are fed hay and roots, all grown 

 on the 34 acres. J. E. Brown, also of Ferndale. keeps 35 cows on 40 acres, his 

 average yield and feeding being like the preceding. These records are strictly 

 credible when one knows the natural pasturage conditions prevailing and the 

 favoring climate for the growth of supplementary succulent food supplies. The 

 cows are simply good selected grades of dairy breeds. The average in the dairy 

 sections of Humboldt County — that is, on the best of the valley lands — is said to be 

 1+ acres to the cow. 



Forage crops. — The principal forage crops are red clover, oats, and 

 Italian ray grass for hay, peas, and a little corn for soiling, and 

 mangel-wurzel (locally known as "beets ") and carrots for root crops. 

 Some alfalfa is now grown both for pasturage and hay, and barley 

 for ensilage. Stock are frequently pastured on red clover. Dutch 

 clover has taken possession of many of the pastures. 



Red clover is considered by far the best and most productive crop, 

 but farmers complain that after some years of successful growth it 

 "runs out" and can not readily be started again. As Professor Hil- 

 gard has repeatedly pointed out to them, this is undoubtedly due to 

 excessive acidity of the soil, induced by lack of lime, and can doubtless 

 be remedied by liming. A deposit of lime has been found on Jacoby 

 Creek, between Eureka and Areata, which promises to solve the diffi- 

 culty and to render the continued successful cultivation of red clover 

 a possibility. The following method of treatment is recommended by 

 Professor Hilgard, who writes to the Eureka Watchman, as follows: 



Relative to the amount of lime to be applied to your sediment lands I would say 

 that half a ton is about the minimum from which you can expect any prompt 

 results, and from 1 to 2 tons is the usual gauge in such cases. However, the best 

 amount varies materially in different lands; and, as yours contains so little clay, 

 I should say the smaller dressings might be adequate if repeated, rather than 

 using at once the 4 or 5 tons commonly prescribed in the old country. 



The way they use it there is to haul it in piles, let the rains slake it, and when 

 dry enough spread with shovels, much as you would stable manure; then harrow 

 or cultivate in; but any way to spread it uniformly will do. It can be made into 



