SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES AND THEIR USE-XV. 



THE CLYDE LOAM. 



GEOGRAPHICAL, DISTRIBUTION. 



The Clyde loam constitutes one of the most extensive soil types 

 which has thus far been encountered within the area of the Glacial 

 Lake and Terrace Soil Province. It has been encountered in 11 

 different soil survey areas located in four different States, and an 

 aggregate area of 561,068 acres has been mapped. It occurs to a 

 limited extent in western New York and in extensive areas in the 

 southern peninsula of, Michigan and in northern Indiana. Consid- 

 erable areas have also been encountered in some portions of North 

 Dakota. It is probable that the largest areas of the Clyde loam will 

 be encountered in Michigan and adjoining portions of Indiana and 

 Ohio as the soil survey work progresses in those States. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOIL, AND SUBSOIL. 



The surface soil of the Clyde loam, to a depth in excess of 8 inches, 

 is a moderately friable to rather heavy and compact loam, usually 

 dark gray, brown, or black in color. Near the margins of the 

 smaller areas of this type there is not infrequently a considerable 

 mixture of sandy material, and in such instances the surface soil 

 is more friable and of a lighter gray color. In all of the larger areas 

 where it is developed and in the central portion of even the smaller 

 areas it is almost jet black and contains such large amounts of or- 

 ganic matter as to be almost muck. The depth of the surface soil 

 varies to a considerable degree, ranging from 8 or 10 inches near the 

 margin of the type to a depth of 18 or even 24 inches in the central 

 portions of large areas or in depressed locations occurring in any 

 portion of the type. The subsoil of the Clyde loam is a gray, drab, 

 or blue clay, sometimes mottled with yellow or brown iron stains. 

 In almost all instances this subsoil is stiff, plastic, and impervious, 

 but in certain instances where it is underlain at no great depth either 

 by layers of peat or of marl the subsoil material may be somewhat 

 jointed and less impervious than the average of the type. The Clyde 



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