The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts (Peragallo, 1989)"
ChD-Chariton-Hollis-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 25 percent slopes. This map unit consists of moderately steep soils on upland hills where the underlying bedrock is near the surface. The very deep, well drained Charlton soil is on side slopes. The shallow, somewhat excessively drained Hollis soil is on the tops of hills and ridges or near rock outcrops. 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, 1 0 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,
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 2 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 in positions on the landscape similar to those of the Charlton and Hollis soils. Also included are areas of Montauk soils on side slopes. Also included are small areas of soils that have slopes of 3 to 15 percent. Included areas make up about 20 percent of this map unit.
Soil properties:
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 Charlton and Hollis soils.
Hydrologic group: Charlton-B; Hollis-C/D.
Most areas of the Charlton and Hollis soils in this complex are woodland. A few small areas are used as homesites.
These soils are generally not suitable for cultivated crops or pastureland because of slope and shallow depth to bedrock.
Potential productivity for northern red oak on this soil is moderate. Management concerns are shallow depth to bedrock and low available water capacity on the Hollis soil. Rock outcrops generally restrict the use of equipment. Some areas are suitable for hand-planting of trees.
Shallowness to bedrock in the Hollis soil, exposed bedrock, slope, and stones and boulders on the surface are limitations to use of the soils as sites for both building development and septic tank absorption fields. Other soils that are better suited to these uses are generally in nearby areas.
The Charlton and Hollis soils are in capability subclass Vils.
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