GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The soil is fairly well supplied with plant nutrients and the organic matter
supply can be maintained by applications of barnyard manure. Maintenance
of good tilth is necessary for the successful management of Perth soils.
Perth Silt Loam (14,600 acres)
Perth silt loam occurs mainly in the region of Kincardine and is used chiefly
for general farming and beef raising. Most of the type is cleared and devoted
to the growth of the same crops as those grown on the Perth clay loam.
Kemble Clay Loam (1,500 acres)
One of the less extensive soil types in Bruce County, Kemble clay loam
occurs in the northern part of the County, and is the imperfectly drained member
of the Vincent series. Kemble clay loam is a Brown Forest - Grey-Brown
Podzolic intergrade and the profile exhibits the following characteristics:
A0 - Thin layer of partially decomposed leaves, twigs,
etc.
A1 - O-5 inches clay loam; very dark greyish brown
(10 YR 3/2); medium granular structure; friable
consistency; few stones; pK - 7.2.
Bz - 5-12 inches clay loam; brown (7.5 YR 4/4);
mottled; medium nuciform structure; hard consistency
when dry, plastic when wet; frequent
stones; pH - 7.4.
C - Clay loam till; light brown (7.5 YR 6/4); fragmental
structure; hard consistency when dry,
plastic when wet; few to frequent stones; pK -
7.8.
A thin, pale brown Al horizon may occur in some locations accompanied
by a finer textured B horizon. In such areas the profile resembles that of the
Grey-Brown Podzolic soils. In some districts rock outcrops occur.
The topography is smooth gently sloping and erosion is slight. The internal
and the external drainage are slow. The natural tree vegetation occurring in
t,he existing woodlots is dominantly soft maple and elm. Where these trees
have been removed and the area has then been allowed to go back to trees, a
secondary growth of poplar, silver birch and sumac occurs. The type is fairly
well supplied with plant nutrients, the chief limitations to crop production
being the presence of rock outcrops and imperfect drainage.
Agriculture
The Kemble soils are used chiefly for general farming, and they occur in a
part of the County where cool climate hinders the growth of some crops.
However, good to fair yields of oats, red clover, corn, hay and pasture have
been reported on these soils.
In some areas the presence of outcroppings of the bedrock are a handicap
to cultivation. Drainage improvement would likely permit the growth of a
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