172 THE SOILS OF PEI^^CE george's cou^^ty 



and is widely known on account of the vivid red and purple coloring 

 of the subsoil. The peculiar properties of this subsoil have formed 

 the subject of extended chemical and physical research. This soil type 

 occupies steep valley walls, irregular hills, and stream bottoms alike. 

 It is usually deeply gullied by small stream courses, and frequently 

 bears no vegetation whatever. Where the natural processes of weath- 

 ering have produced a shallow soil, a sparse and scattering growth of 

 oak and pine is found. 



The scanty soil covering in this area consists of 4 to 5 inches of a 

 yellow clay loam. It is underlain by a stiff, plastic mottled clay, 

 which is red, gray, or purple in color. This clay has been used exten- 

 sively for the manufacture of brick, sewer pipe, and drain tile. The 

 very properties which adapt it for this purpose make it unsuitable for 

 cultivation. 



The numerous mechanical analyses that have been made of this 

 soil show tliat it differs but slightly in texture from the rich and 

 fertile clays found in the limestone areas. '^ 



It seems probable that the structure of this soil plays a more impor- 

 tant part in the determination of its character than is the case with 

 most soils. The fine particles which make up the greater percent- 

 age seem to be so evenly distributed that whatever moisture pene- 

 trates it is distributed evenly through a great number of very minute 

 pores. The circulation of soil moisture is thus impeded, and while 

 a large supply of water is maintained, it is so immovably held as to 

 be of little use to growing crops. 



The Susquehanna clay, where it is exposed at the surface with no 

 covering of any other material, produces very little vegetation of any 

 value. The scattered timber found upon this type is cut for railroad 

 ties or for the production of charcoal. The few cultivated areas 

 found upon the Susquehanna clay are not successfully farmed. In 

 every knoAvn case where crops are produced to advantage within 

 the Susquehanna area the immediate soil is formed by Pleistocene 

 or other extraneous material that covers the clay to a depth of 8 or 

 10 inches. Even when so covered the successful production of crops 

 depends upon careful and skillful farm management. Certain por- 



iTexture of Some Important Soil Formations, Bulletin 5, Division of Soils 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1896. 



