The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts (Peragallo, 1989)"
WsB-Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, extremely stony. This is a very deep, moderately well drained, gently sloping soil on tops of hills, on side slopes, and on toe slopes within uplands. Areas of the soil are oval or irregular in shape and range from 6 to 50 acres. Stones 10 to 24 inches in diameter cover 1 to 15 percent of the surface.
Typically, the surface layer is very dark gray fine sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is mottled very fine sandy loam about 18 inches thick. It is light olive brown very fine sandy loam in the upper part and light yellowish brown very fine sandy loam in the lower part. The substratum is very firm, mottled, grayish brown loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of extremely stony Paxton soils on subtle rises on the landscape and extremely stony Ridgebury soils in depressions and low areas. Also included are areas where the substratum is sandier and areas where stones cover less than 1 percent of the surface or where slopes are more than 8 percent. Included soils make up about 15 percent of the map unit.
Soil properties:Permeability: Moderate in the surface layer and the subsoil and slow or very slow in the substratum. Available water capacity: Moderate.
Soil reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately acid throughout.
Depth to bedrock: More than 60 inches.
Depth to the seasonal high water table: 1.5 to 2.5 feet.
Hydrologic group: C.
Most areas of this soil are woodland. A few areas have been developed as homesites.
This soil is poorly suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture because of the stones on the surface and the seasonal high water table. If the stones are removed it is well suited to these uses.
Potential productivity for eastern white pine on this soil is high. The soil is easily managed for woodland use. The high productivity of this soil allows intensive management for either hardwoods or conifers. Plant competition at regeneration is moderate if conifers are grown. Thinning crowded stands to accepted standard stocking levels allows more vigorous growth. Shelterwood cutting, seed-tree cutting, and clearcutting help to establish natural regeneration or to provide suitable planting sites. Removing or controlling competing vegetation allows best growth of newly established seedlings. Pruning helps to improve the quality of white pine.
Constructing buildings without basements, above the seasonal high water table, helps to protect the interior from damage by the seasonal high water table. Tile drains around foundations help to lower the seasonal high water table. Landscaping designed to drain surface water away from buildings and the use of sump pumps in basements also help to protect the interior from damage by the seasonal high water table. The large stones in the soil generally hinder excavation operations. Constructing roads on well compacted, coarse textured base material helps to protect the pavement from damage bly potential frost action. The large stones generally hinder road construction.
The seasonal high water table and slow or very slow permeability are the main limitations to use of the soil as sites for septic tank absorption fields. Placing distribution lines in a mound of more suitable fill material helps to overcome these limitations. The large stones generally hinder the installation of distribution lines.
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