UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. AOmULTURAL EXPCRIMENT SUTION. JlJ BUI.L.ET1N NO. 33. [In order to render the results of investigations and experiments conducted by the Agricultural De- partment of the University of California more quick- ly and more generally available than has heretofore been done through the annual or biennial reports, ,t is proposed to embody hereafter, in the form of i' Bulletins," to be issued as often as may seem de- sirable, reports of results, as well as such other discus- sions, information or answers to questions as may be of general interest. It is intended to make these bulletins, as a rule, short enough for insertion in the daily or weekly papers of the State, and proof-slips of the same will be regularly mailed to papers apply- ing therefor. The substance ot these bulletins will ultimately be embodied in a more complete and con- nected form, in the annual reports of the College ot Agriculture.] Examinations of Soils and Waters. SoiU and Subsoils from Riversidtj San Ber- uardino county; sent by Mr. Geo. L. Waring, of Riverside. Regarding the general character of the soils of the region, Mr. Waring makes the following statements: "The soil here is generally supposed bo have been produced by the decomposition of granite, as granite rocks abound in the neighborhood, and small pieces of granite are often turned up by the plow. When wet the soil is of a chocolate color, hard and gritty in character, and when flooded and not subsequently broken up it ''bakes" very hard. The stiffer land is rather hard to work and un- friable, but where more sand is present it can be broken up into very small particles. In wet winters alfilerilla grows abundantly, and also a bunch grass with light, bright green leaves, and a small pink flower. Lupins and many other wild flowers also grow. I have noticed milk thistle on cultivated ground. There is a good deal of brush in some places. "As fruit growing is the main industry here, and as it is carried on by the procefes of irriga- tion, the surface soil, except as to its mechani- cal texture, is of less importance than the sub- soil. In the localities where the samples were taken the soil layer is about eight feet deep and then underlaid by sand." In aspect the several samples sent do not differ very widely, being of a brownish-dun color when dry, with a considerable admixture of angular granite sand and gravel up to buck- shot size, and a good deal of shining mica parti- cles. Considering the general aspect and text- ure of the soils, the amount of coarse sand shown on washing is surprising. The surface soil might mostly be called a coarse sandy loam. The subsoil is partly light, with much mica, evidently where the sandy layer mentioned intermingles with it; but in most cases it is heavier than the surface soil, and quite stiftish, so that when dry the lumps cannot be crushed with the fingers. When wetted it works quite "heavy," evidently owing to the fact that there is but little fine sand to lighten the clay that binds the coarse particles of granite together. Of the specimens sent, the surface soil taken to the depth of six inches was not analyzed, but only subsoils. The exact depth to which these were taken are not given by Mr. Waring; of the two analyzed, ^o. 809 represents the lighter. No. 812 the heavier variety, and prob- ably also, at some points, a higher and lower layer, respectively. Riverside Subsoils. No. 809. Lighter Land. 37.6 62.4 Coarse Sand Fine Earth insoluble Matter . 78. 360 ) oo coe 68.341 Soluble Silica.... 5.625 J^^*^^^ 7.10 1 Potash .788 Soda .564 Lime 1.511 Magnesia 1.240 Br. Ox. of Man'ese . 276 Peroxide of Iron . . 3 . 700 Alumina 6 . 676 Phosphoric Acid. . .114 Sulphuric Acid. . . . 053 Water & Org. Mat 1 . 659 Total 100.462 Humus .115 Avail. Inorganic . .314 Hygrosc. Moisture 2.61 Absorbed at 14°C. 14° C. No. 812. Heavier Land. 26.6 73.4 75.440 .970 .314 1.653 1.678 .038 3.641 10.190 .049 .035 2.411 99.962 .188 .388 5.47 These analyses fully confirm the suggestion made by Mr. Waring, that the soils of River- side must be rich in potash; the percentage be- ing very close to that found in the Pomona soils heretofore examined. Lime also is in full supply, yet, on the heavier soil, the application of lime might be made to facilitate tillage, though not requisite for fertilization. In phos- phoric acid, curiously enough, the lighter soil exceeds the heavier by more than double, the latter being near the limit of deficiency, while in the lighter the supply is a good one. Both samples examined being sub-soils, it is not sur- prising that their supply of humus should be small. In the surface soil, doubtless, it would have been found to approximate that found in the soils of Pomona and Redlands (see Report for 1884, P. 56), viz., between three and four tenths of one per cent (.35 p. c), or about half as much as is desirable in upland soils. per 24 hours. The water when fresh is colorless and taste- less, very faintly alkaline to test paper. Grains per gal. Total residue after evaporation 10.16 The system of culture should tend to remedy this deficiency, which will doubtless call for the use of Chile saltpeter before many years. In other respects, however, the Riverside soils are evidently quite substantial, and their depth ^ as well as the natural underdrainage by the' ^g^in soluble in water 5.02 sandy substratum justifies the claim of their insoluble in water ^ 27^^ special adaptation to fruit culture. ~ * " « • j « Marsh soils from near Seminary Park, Ala- meda county; sent by Mr. Byron Jackson, of San Francisco, with request to ascertain their probable availability when drained. The soils were leached to ascertain the amount of soluble salts therein. This leaching occupied a long time on account of difficult filtration, the solu- tion being of a dark brown tint in both cases. In evaporating the extracts it was noted that there was a sensible giving-otf of ammonia; heijce a weighed amount of carbonate of soda was added to drive off all the ammonia, and the Organic matter and combined water 2.45 On heating, the residue blackens considerably and gives off an acid odor. The soluble part consists in the main of sul- phate of soda or Glauber's salt, with some com- mon salt and a little carbonate of soda. The insoluble part consists in the ! main of carbonate, with a little sulphate of lime, and little or no magnesia. It thus appears that the permanently soluble matters in this water exist in usually small pro- portions for an artesian water, and do not greatly exceed in amount those occurring in organic matter was then determmed by burmng- j^^^.^ ^iver, while less objectionable in quality; <^here being very little carbonate of soda. Thia o+ ^ ^ 4. ^ «^„rv„ jg^j.gg volume of water may therefore be consid- somewhat extraordinary outcome of the exami- nation : No. 814. Soil 6 in. depth. Soil extract, dried at 100°. .37.1% Organic matter in same 6. 7% Ammonia in soil 4.7% ered suitable for all practical purposes — irriga- tion as well as domestic use; and considering its location in a region noted for the extensive pre- 10 7 °/ alkali salts near the surface, this re- jjj*^ ^ suit is both unexpected and important, as it en- courages the hope that similarly pure streams may be reached by the auger at other points in No. 815. Soil 1 to 24 in. 10.7% not. det'd. Water from a ivell in the Highland Park tracts three miles from Los Angeles post- office; sent by Mr. William Inglis, of that place. This well is 70 feet deep. After pass- ing through six feet of adobe, the auger showed all the rest of the way a sandy gravel, in which the seven -inch piping was finally stopped. The water, when fresh, has a strong odor of The ignited residue consisted almost wholly the neighborhood! of soluble salts, which therefore constitute over 30 per cent of the soil material. No. 814. They contain, besides common salt as the predomi- nant ingredient, a large amount of sulphate of magnesia and some chlorides of magnesium and calcium. The extracts contained in combina- tion respectively: Chlorine 20.1% 13.9% Sulphuric acid 3.5% 3.0% sulphuretted' hydrogen. On expelling"this gas A more exhaustive examination was not the water has still a sulphurous taste, proving thought necessary, as it appears than the saline* it to contain an alkaline sulphide in very ap- ingredients are present in such unusual quanti- ' preciable quantity. ties, and are in part so unusual in kind, as to Grains per gal. render the present prospects of profitable recla- Total solid residue after evaporation 73.7 mation for culture somewhat doubtful. The Again soluble 64.4 presence of so large a proportion of ammo- Insoluble 9.3 nia is most unexpected and points to The soluble portion has a strongly alkaline some special source of supply, such as reaction, and contains chiefly sulphate of soda, sewers conveying gas water, or other or Glauber's salt, with carbonate of soda and sewage unusually rich in that ingredient. The common salt; also, when fresh, some hydrosul- material as it stands might be used as a source phide of sodium. of ammonia for commercial or fertilizing pur- The insoluble part consists of a mixture of poses, if in sufficient supply. But it seems the carbonates of lime and magnesia. hardly credible that such a state of things should extend over any large area. Water from an artesian well, located on S. While this water is far too strongly mineral for either domestic use or irrigation under or- dinary circumstances, it is likely to prove valu- 33, T. 25, R. 23, Kern county, about 15 miles able for curative purposes, if the supply should southwest of Delano station; sent by Mr. Geo. be found adequate; and deserves a closer exam^ A. Raymond, of San Francisco. This well isi nation than it is withm the provmce of the sta- 340 feet deep, bore eight inches in diameter, and has an estimated flow of 1,500,000 gallons tion to bestow. Berkeley, Feb, 26, 1885,