32 BULLETIN 141, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
and in some of the areas in New York, notably in Niagara and 
Jefferson Counties. 
The surface soil of the Clyde fine sanely loam, to an average depth 
ranging from 9 to 12 inches, is a dark-gray, dark-brown, or almost 
black fine sand or fine sandy loam. The subsoil is a brown, gray, 
or yellow fine sandy loam extending to a depth of 2 feet or more, 
where it frequently overlies a brown or drab clay. Both the soil and 
subsoil are entirely free from gravel and stone. 
In some of the larger areas where the Clyde fine sandy loam has 
been encountered, especially in Niagara County, N. Y., and the 
Saginaw area. Michigan, the surface of the type is slightly undulat- 
ing to gently rolling in topography, and is billowy in general appear- 
ance from the occurrence of large numbers of low ridges and narrow 
depressions between them. There are many level areas even in con- 
nection with this billowy topograph}'. The Clyde fine sandy loam is 
frequently found also in the form of long, low, narrow ridges along 
the margins of the areas where other soils of the Clyde series are 
extensively developed. It is probable that in the majority of in- 
stances these low ridge areas represent old beach lines or shallow 
water deposits where the wind has built up a considerable deposit. 
In some instances the Clyde fine sandy loam represents areas where 
streams have flowed into the old glacial lakes and developed low, 
nearly flat deltas. In all cases there has been more or less wind action 
in piling up the surface soil. 
The low ridges which occur within the limits of the Clyde fine sandy 
loam are fairly well drained in their natural condition. The more 
level areas and the depressions between these ridges are frequently 
poorly drained. This is true also of the small areas of the Clyde 
fine sandy loam associated with the other soil types in upland areas. 
In nearly all instances the better drained portions of the Clyde fine 
sandy loam show a light-brown or yellow coloration of the- surface 
soil, owing to the fact that not as much organic matter has been de- 
posited in these locations as in the hollows and depressed areas which 
have not been as well drained. 
The lower lying portions of the type are not only poorly drained 
because of their depressed position, but in many instances there is 
some seepage of water from adjacent, more elevated land areas. All 
of these depressed areas require artificial drainage to fit them for 
farming. In fact, in a number of the soil-survey areas where the 
type has been encountered it is still in timber or is used only for pas- 
turage or some other extensive form of agricultural occupation. Yet 
a considerable proportion of the Clyde fine sandy loam is fairly well 
drained in its natural condition and can be occupied for the produc- 
tion of general farm crops or for special fruit and market-garden 
crops. 
