Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-01-08
THE DAILY CAPITAL JOURNAL OREGON SATURDAY


! of acres to as high as quarter Sec
tion in some cases. Many farms in
western Oregon, especially those in por-
tions Of the valleys adjacent to the
hills, will have a few acres of this type
Of soil. Probably the largest areas Of
.sstickyv soils are found in the south
ern Oregon division in the Rogue .Riv-
er valley and the llmpqua valley. As
might be inferred this soil is extreme
in nearly all Of Its qualities. 1t Is very
difficult to plow or handle when wet
and equally difficult to put in good
state of tilth when dry. 1t does not
drain well and warns up slowly in ths
spring. On the other hand, it is ex-
tremely rich in plant foods, especially
in potassium and phosphorus. Practi.
cally all of the extreme qualities of this
so-called "adobe, which is really a
clay, are due to the extraordinarily
high percentage of the clay itself con
tanned, of which component consider
able amount is colloidal or glue-like in
character. The most common color Of
this type is deep black, but fre-
quently it is red or hight grey
Notwithstanding its Objectionable
features, this soil is one of the most
valuable found, when handled properly,
and the farmer is amply repaid for the
additional care it must receive in the
splendid returns it gives. The handling
qualities of this soil, which rolls Off
the mold-board like putty when too
81 Ia,
baking and cracking like oint clay,
when too dry, may be greatly Improved
by the liberal application of barnyard
manure to increase the supply of humus,
together with a heavy application OF
ground limestone.
The Lext type is the ''Granltie
Soils" This type of soil occurs only
in southern Oregon, largely in the
Rogue valley, where considerable areas
of ii are found ON portions Of the roll.
ing hill lands and in the valleys. While
much of the soil of the Rogue Rive
valley is derived from the granite rocl
the soils commonly designated by the
term "granitic are the very coarse
sandy areas, nearly white, light gray.
| yellow, or light red in color which are
as yet but little used for agriculture.
AS indicated, these "granitic" soils
are very coarse in texture, having large
amounts of coarse sands and only rela.
lively small amounts of silt and clay
AS might be expected, this soil is lack.
ing in natural strength, being low In
nitrogen and organic matter and potas.
SUM and phosphorus. The plant food
contained, however, is in fairly avail.
able form and with proper handling
these areas will undoubtedly become
valuable. At the present time, great
many fruit trees are being planted on
this type of sell near Grants Pass and
around Ashland The young trees seem
TO do splendidly, but there is still a
question whether it will he able to sus.
tain the growth II isr what is known
as q warm soil and is well adapted
to Tie raising of early and rapidly
growing crops, AND it seems to respond
wonderfully to the application of fer
tilirer.
The next type is the "Pumice Soils.
This peculiar type covers only limited
area at the head Of the Desehutes rive
IN central Oregon, extending as fai
south as Klamath Falls. 1t is white
guy yeiiow OF light brown IN colo
a"u very course ana porous IN texture
oelng h,eoe up largely OF partially dis
,nsts sla'cu pumice. fumice Is ver'
soi., exceedingly iight and fine grained
porous rock of volcanic origin, whiel
nnV; nsn' pe most aptiy described as vol
.in'1 spume' me quailtles and agricul
suini Vaiue OF TINS pumiee soil ar
90 yel uIgeiy Undetermined. The plan
a5 aoo1 content ,1 appears TO be reasonabl,
soou, put lne pecuhar physical eharac
~; Ai'sn.ness IN weight, ana great por
o11t,;;y :, eoiuplneu With tue rather higl
W.. SialtuueS w ut wnlcl IL IS round, make tn
.t: vvo' uau una prouuc'lon posslbilities o
.n,s sou, promenade and its ultimat
ooS 1,t uh1 va'ue are yer 10 DC determined
+ t tu'i.1, mc iusI type 10 Do consdered IS tn
r,;nsau n,nni soils' because OF the heav.
! 20 a'aaen, .t alkah SOILS 40 not occur Yves
, % o. .ne cascades IN oregon. In easter
1ieEon, s,nE, glae'lcaiiy al OF the soils ar
n,3uera,esy ns,u. alfaline ~ reaction, hu
ouiy suilieleh.iy 80 as 10 make thi
QuHlIy OF great value IN UffprinD Ur