GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

In some of the Osprey loam thin weakly developed A2 and B1 horizons may
be found. The topography of the Osprey loam consists of steep irregular slopes
that are very susceptible to erosion. Similar to the Dumfries series, both
external and internal drainage are good, but imperfectly and poorly drained
potholes, too small to be delineated on the map, the scale of which is one inch
to the mile, occur, and are included with the well drained member. The fertility
level is low, the soil having a low phosphorus content, a medium to low pot)as-
&urn and nitrogen content, and a low content of organic matter.
Present forested areas consist of small woodlot,s in lvhich beech and.sugar
maple are the most frequently occurring species. Basswood, elm, ash and ironwood
are present in lesser amounts.
Agriculture
The Osprey series is used chiefly for general farming, with crops such as
oats, mixed grains, alfalfa, red clover and timothy being most commonly grown.
Erosion and stoniness are the greatest hazards to cultivation. Long rot,ations
are most satisfactory in preventing erosion since the irregular slopes
prohibit the use of special practices such as contour plowing. The steeper
slopes are better left under a permanent cover of grass or trees.
The porous nature of the materials permits rapid percolation of moisture,
which allows early spring cultivation. The type is well supplied with lime and
is suited to the growing of legumes, but requires additions of fertilizer high in
phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
B. SOILS FORMED FROM MEDIUM TEXTURED TILL
The medium textured till soils have developed on loamy calcareous till
derived from the underlying bedrock. The materials are commonly associated
with drumlins or ground moraines.
Two Great Soil Groups are represented in the medium textured till soils
found in Bruce County. The Grey-Brown Podzolic Great Soil Group is represented
by the Harriston series and the Brown Forest Great Soil Group is
represented by the Harkaway series. Some of the Harkaway soils have weakly
developed characteristics of the Grey-Brown Podzolic soils, and hence the
Harkaway soils are treated as Brown Forest - Grey-Brown Podzolic Intergrades.
The Harriston series is the well drained member of the Harriston catena
and t!he Listowel and Parkhill series are the imperfectly and poorly drained
members respectively. The well drained member of the Harkaway catena is
the Harkaway series and the Wiarton series is the imperfectly drained member.
The morphological characteristics of the poorly drained member are similar
to t)hose of the poorly drained member of the Harriston catena. For this reason
the poorly drained member of the Harkaway catena has been included in the
Parkhill series.
(i) Good
Drainage
Harriston Loam (79,900 acres)
Formed from loamy calcareous till, the Harriston series is found in the
townships of Carrick, Culross and Brant and exhibits the characteristics of
the Grey-Brown Podzolic Great Soil Group.
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