Description of Soils. The soils of the region are classi fied and described in detail. The area occupied by each type of soil is indicated by a large colored map. In the text of the report the character of each soil is given, including the depth, color, quality, ability to withstand drought, drain age, subsoil, etc. The crops for which each soil is best fitted are enumerated, and the proper methods of handling each crop are indicated.
Miller fine sandy loam—cotton, corn, sorghum, Kafir corn. Some areas good for alfalfa. Rough, stony land—not cul tivatable. Miller loam—heavy yields of corn, wheat, oats, cotton, sorghum and Kafir corn. Good for alfalfa. Miller prairie—not farmed to any extent. Good for wheat land and for Bermuda grass if drained. Wabash fine sand—limited areas cultivated. Crops not adapted to the soil. Peaches and grapes fairly successful. Opportunities for early truck ing. Wabash fine sandy loam—good crops of corn, oats, wheat, Kafir corn, sorghum and cotton. Alfalfa will do well. Wabash silt loam—large yields of corn, oats, wheat and other products on a limited scale. Possibilities for alfalfa and opportunities for dairy farming and stock-raising. Wa bash clay—crops of corn and wheat, also suitable for Ber muda grass if drained. Not so desirable as the silt loam.
Each of the types of soil is taken up in turn and analyzed. The elements are given, and the character of the soil as to color, depth, rent, ability to withstand droughts, drainage and frost are enumerated.
The value to the investor of such an expert and un prejudiced survey of a loaning district is apparent. There have been issued some 1,200 of these bulletins. For example, there are 60 bulletins for Texas, 8 for 23 for Kansas, and 32 for Nebraska. They are sold by the Superintendent of Documents at Washington at a nominal price.
The bulletins of the soil survey are ample for the investor's information about the physical conditions. In some cases the investigator may desire to know more about the general economic, social and political conditions. The following description of a loan field, prepared by Mr. F. H. Ertel, Manager of the Real Estate Mortgage Department of the Financial W orld, of New York, is offered as a sample of the in formation the investor should compile for himself.
The Imperial Valley of California The Imperial Valley is in the southeast county of the state of California and covers the greater portion of Imperial County. A vast portion of Imperial Valley is in Mexico.
Without irrigation the Imperial Valley would be a barren desert but with a large portion of this territory now "under water" it has become a veritable Garden of Eden and the most dependable farming section of California.
The source of the water supply is the Colorado River, all of the flow of which is amenable for the use of the Imperial Valley. Under present conditions the flow of the Colorado River is sufficient to irrigate 1,000,000 acres of land. At present the total area of Imperial irrigation covers 5n,600 acres with 300,000 total acreage under cultivation.
The climate of the Imperial Valley is semi-tropical. The summers are extremely hot, averaging probably not less than 106 degrees, but the almost entire absence of rainfall renders the atmosphere very dry and the heat tolerable. During the months of July, August and September, the daily evapora tion will average 4/10 of an inch, 12% feet to the year.
The effect of this combination of elements—fertile soil, long, hot growing seasons and perfect control of an abun dance of water is that prolific results are obtained in crops as to diversity and quantity. To illustrate: alfalfa is cut from six to ten times a year ; dates are very success fully grown here; small grains do well ; grapefruit is splen did; cotton flourishes ; live stock and poultry do remarkably.
The diversity of Imperial Valley crops is best understood by presenting the official figures for 1913 since when the development of this section has progressed by leaps and bounds : For these crops a ready market prevails as the railroad and superior road system of the Imperial Valley offer easy access to the markets of the world, both by rail and water.
Titles in Imperial County are to a larger extent than in any other county of the state of California, "good titles." The titles are practically all based upon patent from the United States, there being no land grants or swamp lands— at least within the cultivated districts—and only a few school sections, thus eliminating many of the vexatious questions arising in the most of the western districts which acquired property from Mexico and Spain.
Land in the valley ranges from $75.00 to $250.00 per acre, but these cases are exceptional. The minimum of $75.00 per acre implies most unfavorable conditions as to amount leveled, improvements, etc.; while the maximum of, say, $250.00 implies extra good conditions as to quality of soil and degree of improvements.
The Imperial Valley, while relatively new, has passed its experimental state.
While until quite recently the prevailing rate of interest paid by the borrower was 8 per cent, the rapidly increasing demand for Imperial Valley loans has reduced the rate to 7 per cent, which enables the banks and loan agents of this greatly favored section to still offer non-residents 6 per cent net for farm loans.