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494 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1922
As the soil drifts badly in cultivated fields during the high spring
winds, it is usually not plowed until spring. It is then left as thrown
up by listers to prevent as far as possible the movement of the soil.
It withstands droughty conditions quite well and is well suited to
the production of vegetables, berries, and other small fruits, peaches,
and plums.
VERNON VERY FINE SANDY LOAM
The Vernon very fine sandy loam ordinarily has only two layers
in the 3-foot section. The surface soil consists of a purplish-red
loamy very fine sand or very fine sandy loam. This grades at about
12 inches into a subsoil of lighter purplish red very fine sandy loam,
which continues to a depth of 3 feet or more. The lower layer often
extends to depths of many feet, with little change. In some places
the subsoil is a loam or clay loam. Both surface soil and subsoil are
strongly calcareous, and in many places thin layers of gypsum occur,
usually at depths below 3 feet. Locally some accumulated lime is
seen in the form of accretions in the subsoil, these increasing with
depth in places. The zone where lime accumulation is greatest is
3 to 4 feet below the surface. Although rather hard when dry, the
soil and subsoil are more or less friable. In many places there is
very little change in color and texture in passing from the soil into
the Red Beds material, from which the soil is derived, as here the
Red Beds consist mostly of silt and very fine sand many feet deep,
with occasional layers of gypsum. The surface soil appears to be
rather low in organic matter.
The Vernon very fine sandy loam is a rather extensive soil type in
the eastern part of the county. It occupies a very large and more or
less continuous area just east and south of Wichita School.
The surface of the type is gently rolling to very rolling and hilly.
Surface and internal drainage are good. Water penetrates the soil
mass easily, and there are many streams through the type, with
numerous tributaries consisting of small draws and canyons. These
are deep and narrow, with blufflike slopes. When a slope begins to
erode, a deep, narrow, vertical-walled gully is formed, which rapidly
enlarges and eats back into the higher areas.
The Vernon very fine sandy loam is valuable, productive soil, but
on account of the ease with which it washes it can be quickly injured
by erosion. Very little of it is in cultivation in this county-possibly
not 1 per cent. Most of it is utilized for grazing, and it constitutes
a considerable part of the Pitchfork and other ranches. Inclusion
in ranches has prevented its sale as farm land.
The soil supports a heavy growth of the native grasses, consisting
mainly of the needle grasses (Aristida nealyi, A. purpurea, A.
reverchoni), buffalo grass (Bulbilis dactyloides), and grama grasses
(Bouteloua gracilis and B. hirsuta). Some broom sedge (Andropogorn
scoparius) also grows on this soil. A scattering growth of
small mesquite trees (Prosopis julifora), chaparral (Zizyphus obtusifolia.),
and cat's-claw (Acacia tortuosa and A. constricta) occur
on the type. In places where the sand content is rather high there is
also considerable sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia).
The main crops are cotton, grain sorghums, and sorgo. With good
seasons these yield well-about the same or perhaps a little less than
on the Vernon clay loam. In dry seasons the crops do not suffer