The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts (Peragallo, 1989)"
ChB-Charlton-Hollis-Rock outcrop complex, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This map unit consists of gently sloping soils on uplands where the relief is affected by the underlying bedrock. The very deep, well drained Charlton soil is in low pockets. The shallow, excessively drained Hollis soil is on the tops of hills and ridges or near rock outcrops. In many areas stones and boulders 1 0 inches to 1 0 feet in diameter cover 0 to 1 0 percent of the surface, A typical map unit is about 47 percent Charlton soil, 18 percent Hollis soil, 10 percent Rock outcrop, and 25 percent other soils. These soils and areas of exposed bedrock are intermingled so closely that it was not practical to separate them at the scale used for mapping. Areas of the map unit are irregular in shape and range from 6 to 1 00 acres.
Typically, the surface layer of the Charlton soil is black fine sandy loam about 1 inch thick. The subsurface layer is dark brown fine sandy loam about 5 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown fine sandy loam about 30 inches thick. The substratum is light brownish gray sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more. In some areas the surface layer is very fine sandy loam. In some areas the subsoil is redder.
Typically, the surface layer of the Hollis soil is black fine sandy loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is dark yellowish brown fine sandy loam about 1 1 inches thick. Bedrock is at a depth of 14 inches. In some areas the substratum is pale yellow fine sandy loam. The bedrock is granite, basalt, diorite, or conglomerate.
Included with this complex in mapping are small areas of Canton and Chatfield soils on the same landscape as the Charlton and Hollis soils. Also included are areas of Scituate soils and small, wet areas in depressions. Also included are areas of Montauk soils on smoother parts of the landscape. Included areas make up about 15 percent of this map unit.
Permeability: Moderate or moderately rapid throughout
in both Charlton and Hollis soils.
Available water capacity: Charlton soil-moderate; Hollis soil-low.
Soil reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately acid in
both Charlton and Hollis soils.
Depth to bedrock: Charlton soil-more than 60 inches;
Depth to the seasonal high water table: More than 6 feet in both the Charlton and Hollis soils.
Hydrologic group.- Charlton-B: Hollis-C/D.
Many areas of the Charlton and Hollis soils in this complex are woodland. Some areas are used as individual homesites.
These soils are poorly suited to cultivated crops and to pastureland because of the exposed bedrock and stones on the surface.
Potential productivity for northern red oak on this soil is moderate. Management concerns are shallow depth to bedrock and low available water capacity. In some areas rock outcroppings restrict the use of equipment. Proper thinning of the stands helps to minimize the hazard of windthrow. Some areas are suitable for handplanting of trees.
The Charlton soil is well suited to use as sites for dwellings with basements and for septic tank absorption fields. The Hollis soil is poorly suited to use as sites for both dwellings with basements and septic tank absorption fields because it is less than 20 inches deep to bedrock. Some suitable homesites are on these soils, but a lot size larger than customary is generally needed. The Charlton soil is well suited to and the Hollis soil is poorly suited to lawns, landscaping, and gardens.
The Charlton and Hollis soils are in capability subclass Vlls.
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