—The Fresno soils are of several kinds, but the three principal varieties are red or chocolate-colored loam, white or gray ashy soil, and a light, very sandy, loam. To this may be added the deeper gray bottom soils or alluvial deposits of the Kings river. Each one of these varieties have different grades more or less suitable to the Muscatel grape. The best grades of each are equally valuable, while again the poorer grades are not to be recommended. The deep chocolate-colored loam is by many preferred, and the largest and most successful raisin vineyards are now located on this soil. But even in the best districts the soil varies to such an extent, that while one twenty-acre field will yield 250 boxes of raisins to the acre, the adjoining field, with only a slight change in the soil, will yield only seventy-five boxes to the acre. The best grades of the white ashy soil are also very good, and almost identical with the gray bottom-land deposits of Kings river. The light sandy soil should be avoided for Muscat grapes, but may do for Malaga and Sultanas, especially if judiciously fertilized.
Other Soils in San Joaquin Valley.
—In Merced the best soil is heavy chocolate-colored loam, in places redder, in others darker, almost blackish. It is generally mixed with some gravel. As a rule, all the red soil in the San Joaquin valley is of the same characteristics, and well suited to the Muscat grape, provided the ground is sufficiently level. In Tulare county the proper soil for the Muscat is found to be the bottom lands of Kings and Kaweah rivers, as well as the deposits of the smaller creeks. This variety of gray alluvial loam is exceedingly fertile, and there is none superior for the Muscat grape. But an admixture of alkali often spoils soils which otherwise would be considered the very best. A similar soil is found in Kern county, especially near Kern Lake, and which must be rated among the best in the State, its color being a deep bluish gray. The vineyards of Yolo and Solano counties are located on a very similar soil, rich in humus, lime and phosphates, but more yellowish or pale chocolate colored.
Orange County.
—A similar rich alluvial deposit is found in Orange county in the fertile district known as Santa Ana valley. The soil around Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin consists of a more or less dark alluvial loam of unsurpassed fertility, and especially adapted to the Muscat grape. It varies as to the percentage of sand and gravel. The sandiest soil in this district, while less rich, brings the earliest grapes, which come to perfect ripeness several weeks before those grown on the heavier soils, but the latter produce the best raisins.
Redlands and Riverside.
—The Redlands soil of the mesa lands is reddish, rather darker than the same quality of soil in Riverside and Fresno. It is mixed with sand and gravel, and partakes strongly of the nature of the red or chocolate-colored loams of the State. The Lugonia bottom soil consists of a very sandy loam, on which the Muscat grape has proved a failure. The best Riverside soil is red or chocolate-colored sandy loam, so often spoken of. Towards Rincon we find alluvial bottom soils producing grapes of superb quality and size. The soil of the San Bernardino district resemble the red Fresno soils, while the white ashy soil is not found there.
El Cajon.
—The El Cajon valley soils are of three or more kinds: Rich red clay mixed with gravel, with the color changing from lighter chocolate to deeper reddish. This is a very desirable soil,—a steel gray or slate gray adobe with much gravel of a coarse nature; a black adobe with some gravel; an alluvial sandy loam consisting of decomposed granite mixed with much vegetable matter and humus. The El Cajon soils, while sandy and gravelly, produce exceedingly sweet and highly flavored grapes but comparatively small crops.