GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

numbers of soft maple and ironwood also occur. The profile exhibits the
following characteristics :
A, - Thin layer of partially decomposed leaves, twigs,
etc.
A, - O-6 inches clay loam; very dark grey (10 YR
3/l); medium granular structure; friable consistency
when dry, plastic when wet; stonefree;
pH - 7.2.
-
6-16 inches clay ; yellowish brown (10 YR 5/4) ;
strongly mottled; coarse blocky structure; very
hard consistency when dry, very plastic when
wet; stonefree; pH - 7.4.
16-27 inches clay; light yellowish brown (10 YR
G/4) ; mottled; massive structure; very hard consistency
when dry, very plastic when wet; stonefree;
pH - 7.4.
b - Clay; grey (10 YR 5/l) ; massive structure; very
plastic consistency when wet, very hard when
dry; stonefree; calcareous; pH - 7.8.
The type has a smooth very gently sloping relief and is not affected to any
great extent by erosion. Chemical tests show tlhe type to be fairly well supplied
with plant nutrients, the chief limitation to crop production being the poor
drainage conditions.
Agriculture
Most of the type is cleared but is used more for pasture than for crops in
rotation. Poor drainage prohibits the growing of some crops, particularly
alfalfa, but fair yields of cereal grains can be obtained when weather conditions
are good and flooding does not occur. The type is well suited to the production
of hay and pasture.
Toledo Silt Loam (900 acres)
The Toledo silt loam is somewhat coarser in texture than the Toledo clay
loam, but is similar in other respects. It serves the same land use and supports
similar crops as the Toledo clay loam.
Ferndale Clay Loam (5,900 acres)
Developed on calcareous lacustrine materials, Ferndale clay loam occurs on
the Bruce Peninsula chiefly near Lion’s Head. Very slow external drainage and
low internal drainage have produced a poorly drained profile characteristic of
the Dark Grey Gleisolic soils. The following is a profile description of Ferndale
clay loam developed under forest vegetation:
77