50 



Soils of the Piedmont Region . 



The topography of this region is that of a broad, 

 rolling plain that has been cut by numerous streams. The 

 altitude varies from 500 feet to more than 1000 feet above 

 sea level. 



The soils of this region are purely residual in origin 

 and have been derived almost exclusively from the weathering 

 of igneous and metamorphic rocks and the principal soil types 

 are included in the Cecil series. However, there are some 

 sandstone and shale areas. The principal soil types formed 

 from the sand stones and shales are included in the Penn 

 series. 



Cecil Series . - The Cecil series includes the most 

 important and widely distributed soils in the Piedmont reg- 

 ion. The heavier members are known as "red-clay lands" and 

 are characterized by red-clay subsoils, with gray to red 

 soils ranging in texture from sand to clay, the lighter 

 colors prevailing with the sandy members of the series. The 

 subsoil is characterized by a sharp quartz sand, which is 

 always scattered through it, and occasional veins of quartz 

 or flint rock. These soil types are residual in origin, 

 being derived from the degredation of igneous and metamorphic 

 rocks. Outcrops of the parent rock are rare? however frag- 

 ments and bowlders are found on the surface in varying quanti- 



