The herald., 1896-06-14
ADOBE LANDS IN OREGON.
Three Kinds of Mud Are Embraced in
the Deposits Found There
To be Concluded.

Three Kinds of Mud Are Embraced in
the Deposits Found There.
In different parts of western Oregon,
and especially in localities of the Rogue
river and Umpqua valleys, are localities
where so-called adobe land is found,
known as black, sticky soils, that are not
easy to handle. One of the traditional
spots of early times was the lane that
went through the donation land claim Of
General 10 Lane. in the Umpqua, where
this black, stick soil rolled up on the
wagon wheels until they became masses
of revolving mud
When travelling in the UmpQua during
late years / have encountered this land
and realized all that has been said Of it.
At times in the muddy season one comes
to q spot where loaded vain has
stopped to clear off the wheels, and four
small mountains of black mud told the
story. Once, when driving with friend
in Rogue river valley, we found such
spot, and he kindly explained that there
We're three kinds of these sticky soils,
viz, 'blacll sticky, blue sticky, and
sticky be id"
While these soils roll up fearful ac-
counting in the wet season, they crack
open as fearfully in the summer time.
1t is well known they can only be
plowed under the most favorable con-
ditons, and tillage is work Of difficulty
at the best. Corn is said to do well, and
most grasses thrive, while alfalfa is a
good crop: oats do moderately well, but
wheat will not fill satisfactorily Pro-
fessor Hilgard Of the University of Cali
fornia says:
'Sticky soil, or adobe. is usually very
productive in California, where proper
ly cultivated. AS 1 remember your
southern Oregon lands, they will not be
exceptions to the rule, except, perhaps,
in case of the blue sticky, which some
times is not intrinsically productive
enough to justify expense on large
scale. These soils are originally swalnps
and share in the advantage of pond
muck. When underdrained with tiles,
they till kindly and are very productive.
They must be titled deeply to prevent
cracking open during dry summer
months. Strong teams are required, and
intelligent management, as we'll as
Judgment, as to time when plowing shall
be done. If plowed too wet they remain
puddled for years, while if too dry, they
turn up in big clods. The more vegeta-
bic matter you can get into them the
better; some of the sandy marls of your
coast range-used ut the rate of 200
bushels to the acre-would be just the
thing to improve their tillage and make
them produce more freely"
| There is occasionally trace of these
adobe soils in the Willamette, and it is
| said some are found on the college
grounds near Cornwallls. Professor G.
w. Shaw, at the head of the chemistry
department of the Agricultural college,
also furnishes very clear statement
He says there are two kinds of these
black, stick soils in southern Oregon.
| one. due to excess of organic matter, is
easily handled by neutralizing with lime
before planting, after which this is as
easily handled as other soils. These
soils are well supplied with plant food,
but of very difficult physical conditions
to handle, save to tile drainage. When
SO drained it forms excellent soil for
fruits and all crops. In its present con-
dition it is not adapted to fruit, but
pears, and possibly apples, might be
planted on it, after it has once been cul-
tivated. The first cultivation must be
done exactly at the right time, so needs
very close observation. Mulching will
be beneficial to prevent too rapid evapo-
ration and compacting.-Por Ore
gOnian.