Soils from these materials cover only one percent of the State. Some 

 of them are found in former pond sites scattered throughout the State, but 

 the major acreage is in the lower part of Strafford and Rockingham Coun- 

 ties where the materials were laid down during geologic times in shallow 

 hays of the ocean. Here the soils occur in a complex pattern, intermingled 

 with soils from glacial outwash and glacial till. 



As might be expected of old lake or ocean beds, these materials ori- 

 ginally had level to gentlv sloping surfaces, but the soils are highly erodible. 

 As a consequence, about one sixth of the total acreage has been dissected 

 by running water, making the present surface strongly rolling to steep in 

 such areas. 



Water does not pass through the silt loam materials readily, and ex- 

 cept on the steeper slopes, the soils show the effect of impeded natural drain- 

 age. Nearly half of the acreage is so poorly drained that it demands the 

 installation of artificial drainage for efficient production and harvesting of 

 field crops, hay, or pasture. This artificial drainage consists mostly of the 

 removal of surface water, since the subsoils are dense enoueh that under- 

 drainage is not very efficient. When naturally or artificially well drained, 

 these soils are suited to the production of most of the common crops, espec- 

 ially small grains, grasses, and legumes. 



The soils developed on marine and lacustrine materials are divided into 

 six Management Groups (23-28) as follows: 



23. Well-drained, deep layer of fine sandy loam over marine silts and 

 clays. 



24. Well-drained, very fine sandy loams and silt loams. 



25. Moderately well-drained with shallow layer of fine sandy loam 

 over marine silts and clays. 



26. Moderately well-drained silt loam. 



27. Poorly drained with thin layer of fine sandy loam over marine 

 silts and clays, and poorly drained silts to silty clay loams. 



28. Very poorly drained with thin layer of fine sandy loam over 

 marine silts and clays, and very poorly drained silts to silty clay 

 loams. 



Soil Management Group 23 



Melrose fine sandy loam 



The Melrose soil has a layer of well-drained sandy material over de- 

 posits of silt and clay. The depth to the silt and clay varies, but it is 

 usually found between three and four feet below the surface of the ground. 

 The deep sandy layer has enough fine material in it to provide good moisture 

 relations for growing crops, and the tillage operations are easily carried out. 

 The presence of the silt and clay below the sandy materials is a major factor 

 in the ability of these soils to withstand drier conditions than the associ- 

 ated sandy soils over more porous material. Natural drainage is good, and 

 since the silt and clay are found at a depth of three to four feet, artificial 

 drainage is not a problem. A wide variety of crops is grown on these 

 soils, among which vegetables occupy a prominent position in the south- 



