The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts (Peragallo, 1989)" f
CdC-Canton-Urban land complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes. This map unit consists of very deep, well drained Canton soil and areas of Urban land on the sides of hills and ridges on uplands. In a typical area it is about 50 percent Canton soil, 35 percent Urban land, and 15 percent other soils. The Canton soil and Urban land are together in such an intricate pattern on the landscape that it was not practical to map them separately at the scale used for mapping. Areas of this soil and Urban land are irregular in shape and range from 10 to 150 acres.
Typically, the surface layer of the Canton soil is black fine sandy loam about 1 inch thick. The subsurface layer is dark gray fine sandy loam about 1 inch thick. The subsoil is about 20 inches thick. It is yellowish brown fine sandy loam in the upper part and light yellowish brown fine sandy loam in the lower part. The substratum is gravelly loamy sand to a depth of 60 inches or more. It is light olive gray in the upper part and olive gray in the lower part.
Urban land consists of areas where the original soil surface has been covered with impervious surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, or buildings. In most areas the underlying soil material has been cut away or covered with fill from adjacent areas.
Included in this complex in mapping are small areas of Charlton and Montauk soils in similar landscape positions and Scituate soils in low, wet areas. Also included are areas of Udorthents, loamy, where the Canton soil has been cut away or filled with more than 20 inches of loamy soil material. Also included are a few small areas where stones and boulders are on the surface. Included areas make up about 15 percent of the complex.
Soil properties:Permeability: Moderate in the surface layer and the
subsoil and moderately rapid or rapid in the substratum.
Available water capacity: Moderate.
Soil reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately acid.
Depth to bedrock: More than 60 inches.
Depth to the seasonal high water table: More than 6
feet.
Hydrologic group: B.
The mapped areas of this complex are in both residential and commercial uses. On the Canton soil there are no major limitations to building site development or for local roads and streets. If the Canton soil is used as sites for septic tank absorption fields, ground water pollution is a hazard. Because of rapid permeability, the soil readily absorbs but does not adequately filter the effluent.
The Canton soil is well suited to lawn establishment and landscaping and to use as vegetable gardens. For these uses, the soil needs periodic watering during the dry season when it is somewhat droughty.
The Canton soil has not been assigned to a capability subclass.
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