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Title: Report on the Agriculture Experiment Stations of the University of California (PH 4-16)(1890) Collection Type: Directories and Documents Collection Name: Pamphlets Catalog #: PH 4-16 Author: E.W. Hillgard Published: 1890 # of Pages: 211 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

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Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

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128 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. half of the average of the valley soils proper. There is also less potash present, but the amount found would be considered ample in any ordinary upland soil, as would also the proportion of lime. Thus far these lands have been chiefly used for grain and haye yielded excellent crops, but there can be no doubt that, with so small a proportion of phosphoric acti they will soon “give out” under the culture; while fruit culture woul seem to be their special adaptation, from their friable nature, great depth, and good drainage. Paha Visalia Section—A section made east and west through Visalia differs little from the one just described, except in the collocation and width o the several belts. Being nearly in the center of the Kaweah delta, a Visalia district is mostly densely wooded, with a great deal of alluvia soil, some of which is of extraordinary native fertility and requires only the neutralization of some “ black alkali,” by the use of plaster, to produce double the present crops. An example of the high quality of these alluvial soils is given below in the ‘wire-grass” soil (No. 585), alongside of which is placed a soil (No. 573), from the crossing of Cross Creek on the Hanford road. No. 585. ‘‘Wire-grass” soil, from the wooded flats two miles west from Visalia; taken to twelve inches depth. This soil is a dark gray or blackish moderately heavy loam, characterized by a growth of wire grass or smal tule (Scirpus sp.), and more or less of alkali grass (Brizopyrum), with alfilerilla (Hrodium) and a strong growth of oak. In low places there is 4 manifestation of alkali, but not enough to cause injury to crops unless of the “black” character. In the higher portions it has proved very productive. No. 573. Bench soil, from the banks of Cross Creek, on the Visalia and Hanford road. A sandy loam, grayish-dun in color; dry lumps easily crushed between the fingers, falling to pieces when wetted and becoming slightly plastic, the color darkening in token of its humus contents. This is manifestly not a modern alluvial soil, but was formed on low ground at the time the plains were being shaped. Soils from Visalia Section. No. 573. No, 585. Depth, 8 inches. Teh inches. $ re-; Boneh Badly. Cross None Visalia. Goarseimateriala>0.basiSe ot <2) tee eee 1.50 14.29 Hine earth oo wen scene nemige ot ears a ae ee 98.50 85.71 Analysis of Fine Earth. Insoluble!matterie=---2e-5 oan ihe ee 66.08 66.47 71.42 Bolubleisilicn ssn on no cece samen ee eae en 3.38 boo. 4.95 a 1.82 1.22 Ad .68 RO) secctcmmoncite cries sande Ode, ee 4.31 5.04 Magnesia (MgQ).-----2----2enenneencenen eon is uns ant 1.59 .09 Br. ox, of manganese (Mn,Q,) ---..2.2.01. .--. 08 03 Peroxidelof iron'(Wes0;)°-cca 2. ey i A 6.04 5.82 JAINA TEGAN O))) Seat ee Fak 8.69 7.14 Phosphoriomcid! (b,O, senna sen eeaean ae a 44 2A Sea nS GW (S10) ones eae ee EEE Si oes 26 66 Carbonic acid (CO5) -----------088 sees 2.53 2.55 Water and organic matter.-.--.22. 2 415 7.09 MObAN cn nnennnemnmenrenmtacnemsae tesa y eng Gee 99.51 99.98 TLUMUS ---220 cennne oncennee nnn nen ennncnnnneenece soo. 1.00 1.00 Ash .-.-----. Rape Rr osennan cwranesesadvspmnucdcecnn sc.. 74 84 Bol NOS aN ONG ee omnes prea ee ee . eee a sgh oy . . sy tl Ser eee SINDA pnonesenacdaracetatemnnentees nec ncn aster 5 for . haere eee nena . net eas Hygroscopic moisture (absorbed at 15° C.)...8.74 8.53