TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION .............................. .......... .................................. 1 Chapter I . SIZE OF THE LOT ............................................... 5 A. Assessed Valuation and Taxes ................................. 6 B . Disadvantages of Narrow Lots ................................ 6 C . The Ideal Frontage .............................. .. .......... 7 D . Lot Depth ...................................................... .............. 8 Chapter I1 . LOT TOPOGRAPHY Hillside Lots i ........ ...... 9 A . Added Costs on Hillside Lots ................. j ......... ....... 9 B . Care of Hillside Lots ................................... . ............... 10 C . Soil Erosion and Subsurface Drainage ...................... 14 D . Landslides and Mudflows ........................................ 15 E . Lots in -called Granite Quarries ...... .. .............. 19 F . Foundation Problems ............................ .. . . . . . . . . . . 20 G . How to Check for Hillside W-................ 22 H . Termites and Dry Rot ................................................ 24 I . Will Your Garden Grow .................................. . . . . 25 J . Possible Nongeologic Disadvantages ...................... 25 K . Danger from Fires ........ ........................................... 26 L . The Noise Problem .......... ........................................... 27 M . Gently Sloping Lots ................................................... 28 Chapter 111 . LOTS IN FLATLYING AREAS ........................ 29 A . Drainage Channels ................................................. 29 B . Overflow Zones Adjacent to River Channels .......... 31 C . Main Drainage Channels .......................................... 32 D . Possible Flood .............................................................. 55 E . Old Drainage Channels .................... ... ................. 38 F . Floodplain Areas .......................................................... 41 G . Known Flood Areas .............................................. 42 H . Filled Land ................................................................ 44 I . Fog Areas ...................................................................... 45 J . Earthquake Damage .................................................... 46 K . Sewage ......................................................................... 46 Chapter IV . SOIL ....................................................................... 49 A . Presence of Top Soil .................................................... 50 B . Kinds of Top Soil .................................................... 50 Chapter V . SUNSHINE IN THE HOME ................................ 53 A . Distribution of Solar Energy ..................................... 54 B . Insolation ..................................................................... 54 C . Does e Sun Strike You Right ................................ 55 . .. . . . D . Control of Insolation .................................................. 56 . E. Summer and Winter Sunshine .................................. 57 F . Some Value of Sunshine .............................................. 58 . G . Solar Heating ............................................................... 58 H . Solar Control of Plants ............................................... 59 I . Sunshine and Health .................................................... 59 .. J . Wind Directions and Velocities ................................ 59 . K . Sea and Land Breezes .................................................. 60 L . Mountain and Valley Breezes ................... 60 M . Santa Anas ..................................................................... 60 N . Fog and Frost ...................................... ...................