El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-08
The Fruit Soils of
the Ell PasO Section

" HE exceptional character of our
climatic conditions, favoring diff
ferent fruits adapted to this sec
ton, finds in many of our soils equally
good quality. It has recently been de-
termined by students in these lines that
the different fruits obtain almost as
mucn OF their content from above
ground as they do from the soil. if not
more In consequence, the extreme
dryness Of our air, the extreme clear
ness of our atmosphere, the total
quantity OF our heat over several
months of the growing season, give to
our fruits flavor and quality found
IN but few places in the world. insure
a protection from diseases and pests,
Wnlcn IlOurlSn IN more humid and less
favored sections, and make our climate
the most favorable asset in fruit pro-
duction, and something that skill can
not compete against in less favored
localities.
Difficult soils can be improved. and
necessary qualities lacking can be ad-
ded, but all the science and ingenuity
OF man cannot influence climate to any
great extent.
Different Kinds Of Soils.
Very many different kinds of soils
may be found in this section, the val
ley soils alone differingt widely from
sandy loan to heavy clay or adobe.
The mesa soils. taken as a whole, are
much more sandy, but still differ very
much The fOOthill soils also have a
wide range of quality For these rea-
sons, and because Of these differences.
the exact spot 10 plant any certain
kind of fruit must be chosen with re-
gard to both soil and exposure. In the
paper devoted 10 the different fruits
viii attempt to describe the soil re-
QUirement Of each
Why Our sand is Rich.
Many of our soils are of a sandy,
silly nature characteristic of all soils
formed under arid conditions, except
he oil
former geological ages and have been
influenced but little, if any, by climate.
In humid climates sandy soils are con-
sldered poor. as there they are com
posed almost wholly of quartz while
here they contain other soil forming
minerals and other elements which
make them as desirable and productive
as other soils.
Deep Fertility.
Another quality of our soils is their
unchanged fertility with depth; in fact,
IN most places the second foot is richer
than the surface foot. In the humid
regions almost all the plant food which
IS Immediately available for the plant !
Is found within the first foot. In our |
soils the food content is almost IN
changed at three or four feet and IN |
many places to much greater depth
Adapted to Deep Roots.
These differences from the soils of
humid regions are all due to our eli
matte conditions Our soils are adapted
to deep root formations from their
character, and are Of such structure
that they are easily vitaliZed by free
access of air, giving the plants larger
range for food than in humid soils.
The aggregate amount of plant food
available in our soils is much more
than in humid soils. Of the elements
necessary for plant life, our soils con-
tain an abundance Of lime, a much
greater quantity than in most humid
soils, and we have a much greater
quantity Of potash.
Plant Food Abundant.
In the first foot we do not have as
much phosphOric acid but we have a
greater depth to draw from, therefore
this is sufficient for the present: later
We viii have to add it to the soil a s is
done elsewhere In humus and nitro
gen, an analysis of the first foot shows
that We have much less than in the
eral times greater depths to draw from,
and in our climate the nitrogen is in a
more available form
The humus which carries the nitro
gen is perhaps the one constituent that
is a, vital necessity to plant growth
which will have to be provided first. IN
starting an orchard or vineyard this
should be done at the time Of planting
the trees or vines, or, better. before.
Fortunately, this can be done by cover
crops or commercial fertilizers. and
barnyard manure 1 will take this up
under fertilizers
Classification of Soils.
The classification Of soils is usually
made on the basis Of their content of
clay, as follows; sandy soils. percent
or less of clay; sandy loan. 5 TO 10
percent of clay; clay loan. Is to 20