characteristics of the studied soils (tables 1 and 2), we feel that frigid soils could 

 logically be classed with cryic and pergelic soils in having no depth requirement 

 for non-cultivated soils in mountainous areas. 



The distinction between the Typic and Entic subgroups in Soil Taxonomy is 

 based on presence within the spodic horizon of either an orstein horizon, 

 designated texture and carbon content of the upper 10 cm or designated texture 

 and color of the upper 7.5 cm. None of the sampled soils has an ortstein horizon 

 (Table 3). Texture requirements for Typic subgroup placement are met in all 

 soils, so placement depends upon color and/or carbon content. Color value and 

 chroma of 3 or less in at least the upper 7.5 cm or organic carbon accumulations 

 of 1.2% (weighted average) in the upper 10 cm of the spodic horizon is necessary 

 for either Haplorthods or Fragiorthods to be designated Typic. Four of the five 

 pedons with qualifying spodic horizons meet requirements for the Typic 

 subgroup on the basis of soil color. Organic carbon accumulations in the upper 

 10 cm of the spodic horizon qualifies the fifth pedon for the Typic subgroup. 



It should be noted that spodic horizons in the study area are not continuous 

 horizons. The microrelief of the forest floor is characterized by small mounds. 

 Tipover of trees by wind has resulted in disturbance of soil horizons in the upper 

 part of the solum (fig 2). Lyford and MacLean (1966) described a similar 

 phenomenon in New Brunswick, Canada. The excavated pits used in this study 

 showed the intermittent character of A2 and B21h horizons and occasionally the 

 B22ir. The horizontal extension of these horizons was commonly broken within 

 a few meters. 



The morphology of soils occuring on mounds commonly differs from soils in 

 non-mound areas in several ways. The mound soils may exhibit buried A2 and 

 B2 horizons at 50 cm or so of depth. Pedon No. 10 (Appendix) was described on 

 a tree throw mound. Relatively thin B21 and B22 horizons with characteristic 

 colors of a spodic have developed in the mounded material. Younger mounds 

 commonly lack the dark reddish brown and associated colors of spodic horizons. 

 Soils occuring in the non-mound areas (not to be confused with depressions 

 associated with mounds) almost always lack buried horizons. We refer to soils 

 occurring in the non-mound areas as mature pedons. The morphology of these 

 soils suggests an older age and less disturbance than soils occurring on mounds. 

 Tables 1 and 2 present data for nine mature pedons. Further study is needed to 

 more fully characterize the spacing variability of mounds, their proportional 

 extent in the landscape, and the classification of soils located on mound 

 positions. 



Several pedons used in this paper provide an opportunity to test wetness 

 criteria used in Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 1975) for Aquic subgroups of 

 Orthods. Wetness criteria for Aquic Haplorthods includes distinct or prominent 

 mottles in the spodic horizon or having chroma of 2 or less dominant in the 

 matrix within 15 cm of the base of the spodic horizon and within one meter of 

 the surface. Our interpretation of this criteria is that it applies only to B2 

 horizons qualifying as spodic. The B21h and B22ir horizons of Pedon 3 qualify 

 for spodic. These horizons lack distinct or prominent mottles. Additionally, 

 chroma of 2 or less do not occur within 15 cm below the B22ir horizon. Low 

 chroma mottles are described for Pedon 3 in B24 horizon (51 to 76 cm). If one 

 uses depth to mottles criteria provided in official series descriptions, this pedon 

 is classified as the Waumbek Series (Rev. 7/20/72). The range in characteristics 



