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JULY 14, 1950
J.A. PETERS

[[underline]]COASTAL HABITAT[[/underline]]

THE SOILS OF THE COAST ARE PRIMARILY SAND AND SANDY CLAY. THE BEACH ITSELF IS PURE SAND, AND THE THORN SCRUB FINDS ITS GREATEST GROWTH AND DOMINANCE ON THE SAND. THE SAND BLACKENS SOMEWHAT BACK FROM THE BEACH, PROBABLY DUE TO HUMUS AND PERHAPS SOME VOLCANIC ASH. THIS SEEMS TO BE GOOD SOIL FOR THE COCONUT PALM, AND PINEAPPLES ARE ALSO GROWN IN IT. BACK STILL FARTHER IS SANDY CLAY, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT REDDISH IN COLOR. THIS IS THE SOIL OF THE 2[[underlined superscript]]nd[[/underlined superscript]] OF THE COASTAL HABITATS, IN WHICH CAESELPINEA AND A BUSHY SHRUB [[strikeout]]WITH SMALL GREEN BERRIES DOMINATE. IN THIS HABITAT ARE ALSO THORN TREES, CATSCLAW, MIMOSA-ACACIA LIKE TREES, ORGAN PIPE CACTUS, AND THE SMALL FLAT CACTUS. IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRA, WHICH RISE ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE BEHIND LA PLACITA, THE SOILS HAVE MUCH LIME FROM THE LIMESTONE OF THE HILLS. THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF ALLUVIUM ALONG THE RIO AQUILA, BUT NOT MUCH.