The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Barnstable County, Massachusetts (Fletcher, 1993)"

HxC-Hooksan-Dune land complex, hilly. This map unit consists of a very deep, hilly and steep, excessively drained Hooksan soil and areas of Dune land. The unit is on hills and ridges within areas of sand dunes (fig. 1 1). It makes up about 1.3 percent (3,227 acres) of the survey area. It is mapped in the Hooksan-BeachesDune land general soil map unit. Slopes range from 15 to 35 percent. Areas are elongated or irregular in shape and parallel the shoreline. They range from 10 to 1000 acres in size. They are about 50 percent Hooksan soil, 45 percent Dune land, and 5 percent included soils. The Hooksan soil and Dune land occur as areas so intricately mixed that separating them in mapping is not practical.

Typically, the surface layer of the Hooksan soil is pale brown, loose sand about 20 inches thick. The upper part of the substratum also is pale brown, loose sand. The lower part to a depth of 65 inches or more is light yellowish brown, loose sand.

Typically, Dune land is light brownish gray, loose sand to a depth of 65 inches or more.

Included in this unit in mapping are small areas of Berryland and Pipestone soils. These soils make up about 5 percent of this unit.

Permeability is very rapid throughout the Hooksan soil and Dune land. Available water capacity is very low. Depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.

Areas of the Hooksan soil generally support beachgrass. A few areas support low shrubs and trees. Areas of Dune land are not vegetated.

This unit is unsuited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture because of droughtiness, low fertility, and the slope.

This map unit is poorly suited to trees. Establishing trees is difficult because of the droughtiness and low fertility. Because the unit is close to salt water, the strong prevailing winds and salt spray severely limit tree growth. The common vegetation on the Hooksan soil includes beachgrass, poison ivy, beach plum, and bayberry.

This map unit is generally unsuited to most nonfarm uses because of the very rapid permeability, the slope, and the susceptibility to erosion after the plant cover has been disturbed.