The soils of St. Mary's County, Md. showing the relationships of the geology to the soils ..

THE SOILS OF ST. MARY'S COUNTY, MD.

SHOWING THE RELATIONSHIPS OF
THE GEOLOGY TO THE SOILS

BY
JAY ALLAN BONSTEEL

A DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD OF UNIVERSITY STUDIES OF THE JOHNS
HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, IN CONFORMITY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
JUNE, 1901

BALTIMORE
December, 1905

sat’ Ip o hau ll i lL

CONTENTS.
Page
(BOER ae a eat a Rha a el a ca pe eee OO ee ee 125
UBM ar Ge aye Oe SP eae AS ad Dee kee eae ae ee 125
Pernmsrantapay and PeOlOpy 2... 2-22-26 eee heen n nen eoclae = 126
SPL 2 See ee a arene eae eee BS ae ES ENS 127
Euiaishes Ucn Gyeyidirs Pee eer ee eee ee ed ee ee eae eae ees 127
RUIN TONV TIT OAT set me Sateen eck meek eas Ste Ser ee Ree 128
RN MMCUE MMIC EAVGH. 62 Suh e ca eh Sette Ps ss ci eae 2 pba terete ae 131
VAN Tie BS 6S er (nb be sees ai ae PANES US ace att oa ey See Re Oe aie eRe Woe ae 1382
STC Te Ecty Dice seared Cle pete ea td in dN fap BY oe Eni eg HO ea Res, = BSS eesiae 132
Sassi raswOam ss: 0) 27 eee PE UY Sod SENS PEEL be APs hh Ba 134
ree EER URSISE ROAD, 627 cn ste oot cen oe ae a a cease alah sense: = 34
TEPER B NS Ne SR a a LG Ad Yn Rage oe Baer He ed 136
SNE EE Se, wel een Crean | ey eae ee Re ore 2 eee hee EES Ts 137
Conditions of Sereda Peta ee FS ed Df ee ft AEN ae ert eS
ee REE ett eS hE dt, oon Se bec Dh meee nee 143
CCUANTE NEE sy 8 Ee tae fa SIE Ee 5 ae a, Oe ae alae gercey ay Seepeg a Fy A eh gs ROSIE 8 144
ILLUSTRATIONS.

TEXT FIGURES.

Fig. 18. Diagrammatic section from upland to tide level, showing outcrop-

pine co Tori tions ane Terraces... 2) 2, 2) see i fe.e 2 Sie. 5 =e 126

14. Meadow in foreground, terrace of Leonardtown loam, and Norfolk
loam and Windsor sand in background... -...-.-.-----.-------- 126

15. Leonardtown loam, with Norfolk loam and Windsor sand in back-
SLOUNG 25205 -2—. ol eae Mee tel Gee Ss 129

16. Leonardtown loam, with 1 narrow + band of Susquehanna eravelen over-
ee DeOrreic SBNIG 25 20/2 e 2 2 eae EE Cees ae nee gee 130

MAP

Ss, airy Oouity, Mal... - 2. Lae eceanne ae wad cee Face page 145

Il

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF SOILS.
MILTON WHITNEY, Chief.

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD.

BY

JAY A. BONSTEEL.

[REPRINTED FROM THE REPORT ON FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF
Sorts For 1900. ]

SOIL.SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD.

By JAY A. BONSTEEL.

GEOGRAPHY.

St. Mary County comprises about 360 square miles of territory,
bounded on the northeast by the Patuxent River, on the east by
Chesapeake Bay, on the south and southwest by the Potomac River,
and on the west by Wicomico River and Budds Creek. All of these
waters except Budds Creek are either salt or brackish, and in the
Patuxent and Potomac rivers*the tides rise to points far beyond the
boundaries of the county. On the north, for a distance of about 25
miles, the boundary separating St. Mary from Charles County is an
irregular land line, except along the northeastern portion, where Indian
Creek forms the boundary.

St. Margaret, Bullock, St. Catherine, Blackistone, Heron, and St.
George islands lie within the limits of the county, since the jurisdic-
tion of Maryland extends to the water’s edge along the Virginia shore
of the Potomac instead of running only to the middle of the river.
The longest streams of St. Mary County, especially in the southern
portion, are tributary to the Potomac River and to indenting bays.
The chief streams are Chaptico Creek, St. Clements Creek, McIntosh
Run, and St. Mary River. None of these streams are navigable.

The southern coast of the county is indented by numerous embay-
ments. Notable among these are Chaptico Bay, St. Clement Bay,
Breton Bay, and the estuary and mouth of St. Mary River. The
county lies between the parallels of 38° and of 38° 30’ north latitude
and between the meridians of 76° 20’ and 76° 55’ west from Greenwich.
It is irregular in outline, constituting a large peninsula stretching
southeastward between the waters named. The county is the most
southern of the Maryland counties occupying the western shore of
Chesapeake Bay.

HISTORY.

St. Mary County was the scene of the earliest permanent coloniza-
tion within the present limits of the State of Maryland, with the
exception of a small settlement on Kent Island. In the year 1634
Lord Baltimore’s first colonists were sent out, and after touching at
Jamestown, Va., they sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to the mouth of

125

126 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

the Potomac River. Proceeding up this stream, they landed on St.
Clements (now Blackistone) Island, where Governor Calvert took
formal possession of Lord Baltimore’s grant. This, the first author-
ized settlement in the State of Maryland, was made in what is now

/ NL FY
ee LLE. 120

Wi

idles

rat hata Ya BO SOL

K
Devsae

Sea level

Fic. 13.—Diagrammatic section from upland to tide level, showing outcropping soil formations
and terraces: M, Meadows; Ssil, Sassafras sandy loam; S/, Sassafras loam; Ns, Norfolk sand;
Sg, Susquehanna gravel; Ll, Leonardtown loam; NI, Norfolk loam.

St. Mary County. St. Mary City, formerly an Indian village, was
the first permanent settlement made, and it was the capital of this -
colony from the time of its settlement until October, 1694.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.

St. Mary County les wholly within the Coastal Plain area of Mary-
land. It consists of an interior upland division, rising from 90 to 200

Fia. 14.—Meadow in foreground terrace of Leonardtown loam, with Norfolk loam and Windsor
sand in background.

feet above sea level, and of a low-lying foreland border varying from
15 to 45 feet above sea level. The county is very much indented by
large estuaries or bays, particularly on the Potomac side. The

SOIL SURVEY OF ST, MARY COUNTY, MD. 127

streams of any length flow into the Potomac drainage system, while
only steep-walled streams of short length are tributary to the
Patuxent. ©

Asin Calvert County, the basal skeleton of St. Mary County is built
up of unconsolidated strata, only Neocene formations being found in
St. Mary. The materials composing these strata are the same as in
Calvert County, even in respect to the marl beds. In the same way
the later Pleistocene deposits are far more directly concerned in the
formation of soil types than are the older strata, and the correlation
of soil types with geological formations given in considerable detail
for Calvert County also applies to St. Mary. An ideal section show-
ing the arrangement of soils is illustrated in fig. 13.

. The chief geological difference between the two counties lies in the
fact that in St. Mary the Eocene strata do not reach the surface,
while in Calvert they do, and the Nomini formation is much more
widely developed in southern St. Mary than in Calvert. The shell
marls are the only ones present in large quantities in St. Mary
County. Fig. 14 gives an idea of the arrangement and relative posi-
tion of the principal types of soils.

SOILS.
The soils have approximately the following areas:

Areas of the different soils.

Soils. Acres. |Per cent. i - Soils. Acres. Per cent.
| A
Leonardtown loam........-- 95, 500 41 / Norfolk loam ==... -<--<..... 8,500 | 4
Mronnowi 2. Seto c2d <5. 54, 200 23 || Susquehanna gravel...---.- [= 7, dau 3
Martolmsang ocis.---=2.se0cs 27,500 12 || Windsor sand. ..-.....-- ate | 3, 450 . 2
Sassafras sandy loam -.-..-- 17,500 AB RSS 2: hea 2 pees nee a5. ane 2,200 4 il
BHcsatrasiowm _.:....-5.-.. 16, 200 7 |

NORFOLK LOAM,

Norfolk loam extends as a long narrow strip along the highest
portion of the divide between the Patuxent River drainage and that
of the Potomae River. It also occupies small, irregular, scattered
areas covering the flat plateau of the northern portion of the county.

Along the Three Notch Road, which follows the main divide of the
county, the area occupied by the Norfolk loam presents a slightly
rolling upland, varying from 120 to 165 feet in elevation. The high-
est elevations and the intervening hollows are included in the area
covered by this soil.

The soil itself consists of a fine sandy to silty loam, reaching to an
average depth of about 1 foot. When dry it is powdery and loose,

128 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

resembling corn meal in texture, distinctly lacking the smooth,
clayey feeling of the finer-grained Leonardtown loam. When wet it
packs to a firm surface, which cakes slightly through sun drying. In
plowed fields this soil, though distinctly sandy, may clod into large-
sized lumps. The subsoil is a reddish yellow sandy loam, finer in
texture than the surface soil. It extends to a depth of about 30
inches and is almost universally underlaid by a coarse red sand mixed
with fine gravel, having an indefinite depth.

The soil supports a natural growth of pitch pine, white oak and black
oak, and chestnut, this latter tree occurring more frequently on this
soil than on any other type represented in the county. The areas of
Norfolk loam occurring in the northern portion of St. Mary County,
particularly in the vicinity of St. Joseph’s Church, constitute what is
locally recognized as one of the most desirable tobacco soils in the
county. The average yield per acre is about 1,300 pounds, and the
average price about 6 cents per pound. Wheat, corn, and clover are
also raised on this soil in regular rotation with the staple tobacco
crop. The yield of these crops on the Norfolk loam compares favor-
ably with the average yield of the same crops over the entire area of
the county.

The following analyses show the texture of the soil and subsoil of
the Norfolk loam:

Mechanical analyses of Norfolk loam.

ro Yer] (e} 4 ° . aol
e | 128 12 | Se
a | iS ms = S 8 Ss
= ° De:
go) 3 oo ge eee
n a Og 4
No. Locality. Description. z A eae) ad @ a - $8 3 ol
: Sloin 3A SS Sie, os re) 3 q
3) : Be A Spex Ne) q
2 d |e aS 3 Goes ees
S > a = % - roles
fer) oS oC ® rs] ol ~ Ss
Hi Hi } & D = &
fo) Oe | = ee n |O
P.ct.|\Pxet.| Pict. |. P: ct.:\ :Pecte|) Becta teaches veer
5110 | 23 miles W. of Sot- | Yellow sandy | 2.09 | 2.64 | 10.04 | 12.43 | 27.40 | 12.45 | 23.50 | 9.70
terly. loam, 0 to 10
inches. :
5112 | 1 mile E. of New- | Yellow sandy | 1.61] Tr. .538 | 2.11 | 36.67 | 18.66 | 31.08 | 9.24
market. loam, 0 to 14 :
4 inches.
6111 | Subsoil of 5110--.--- Medium red | 2.10 | 2.617 12.46 | 14.35 | 31.94 | 7.78 | 13.89 | 14.91
sand, 10 to 40
2 inches.
5113 | Subsoil of 5112___-.- Red sandy loam, | 2.03 | 0.00 Tr. | 2.38 | 35.11 | 19.44 | 17.32 | 23.63
14 to 30 inches.

LEONARDTOWN LOAM,

The most extensive soil type in St. Mary County is the so-called
white-oak or kettle-bottom soil of the upland. It extends from the
vicinity of Ridge post office to the extreme northern limit of the
county. The surface is slightly rolling or gently sloping, and the

7

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD. 129

broad, flat divides between the minor streams are covered by this soil.
As the soil bears quite a variety of local names, it has seemed best to
supplant them all by the name Leonardtown loam.

The extensive forests of white oak and pitch pine occurring over
the upland region are found largely on this type of soil. Where small
irregular depressions without any outlet are found the sweet gum also
flourishes. Where the Leonardtown loam is exposed on slopes to the
washing action of rains, scalds or washes frequently form and they
rapidly encroach upon the arable land. A permanent sod is the only
sure eure for these sears, though brush dams cause a temporary delay
in the progress of erosion.

The cultivated areas of Leonardtown loam vary considerably in the

Fia. 15.—Leonardtown loam, with Norfolk loam and Windsor sand in background.

amounts of the various crops produced. Wheat, corn, and grass are
best suited to this soil, while tobacco is better adapted to lighter,
sandier soils. This soil type forms the nearest approach to the heavy
clays of limestone regions that is found in the Coastal Plain of Mary-
land. A treatment similar to that employed on the limestone soils
should increase the productivity of the Leonardtown loam.

The soil consists of a silty yellow loam, fine and powdery when dry,
but puddling to a plastic clay-like mass when thoroughly wet. On
redrying, this mass usually bakes to a hard, firm surface, or if stirred
before being sufficiently dried, it clods up into hard lumps. The sub-
soil consists of a brittle mass of clay lenses, lumps, and fragments
separated from each other by seams and pockets of medium to fine

u67—01——9

130 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

sand. The subsoil, if evenly mixed, would form a somewhat sandy
loam, but its peculiar structure causes it to act like a dense clay in
its behavior toward the water circulation. The lenses of clay are
slightly flattened and their edges overlap somewhat like the shingles
on a roof. Consequently, water in its passage through the subsoil,
follows a roundabout course along the sand-coated seams. Its progress
downward is thus much delayed, and the subsoil is as impervious and
as retentive of moisture as a heavy clay soil. The peculiar structure
also gives rise to the brittleness noticed on plowing.

The bright-yellow color of the soil indicates a lack of organic matter.
This can be corrected by plowing under green crops and by the appli-
cation of stable manures. The tendency toward puddling and baking

aN

= /,

atest tm
ee a

Fia. 16.—Leonardtown loam, with narrow band of Susquehanna gravel overlying Norfolk sand.

may be corrected by the application of lime. Figs. 15 and 16 show
something of the general character and position of the Leonardtown
loam. ;

As has been indicated in the comparison of this soil with the
residual soils of limestone areas, the Leonardtown loam isa type best
adapted to the production of grass and grain crops, and certain por-
tions of the area found in St. Mary County are at present producing
good hay and grain crops. The gradual introduction of live stock
should largely increase the producing capacity of this soil, since the
crops best suited to the soil can be fed directly to cattle. The saving
in the fertilizer bill in this connection is an important item in farm
economics.

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD.

131

The following analyses show the texture of the Leonardtown loam

soil and subsoil:

Mechanical analyses of Leonardtown loam.

— oS. —. =

: Se Sane ue: be |e
8 “(i ake 3 ° = Sarees
aw | = = oe} ses SS
2 L tal cas 19) bo ae = °
= a |2,/38/% gai sis
5 ne 7] e | Sal 8giog Sg © g
No. Locality. Description. q g = 5 F Bc oq an 8 2 3
oh ior A Hes a. uel a. TS
=I © n =I n S ,
Ss > pa o val a =
bo Seni 5 eos = -
a cal {o} ria} ® b=} =
fe) Sey = ea a n |o
Bach. | Peel eet Wie ts obs Ch. | P. ct.| P. ct. | P. ct.
5114 | 3 miles W. of Leon- | Yellow silty loam, | 2.41 | Tr. | .59 | 1.33 | 5.09 | 11.37 | 58.26 | 19.90
ardtown. 0 to 12inches. |
5116 | 1 mile S.of Love- } Yellow silty loam, | 2.24 | 0.00 | Tr. | 3.16 | 17.62 ; 18.76 | 47.75 | 9.69
ville. 0 to 12 inches.
5118 [43 miles E. of Leon- | Yellow silty loam, | 2.97 | Tr. | 1.38 | 1.91 | 3.87 | 21.90 | 58.46 | 10.06
ardtown. 0 to 10 inches.
5127 | 2milesSW. of New-| Yellow silty loam, | 2.11 | Tr. | 3.05 | 4.19 | 9.79 | 16.54 | 55.70 | 8.03
market 0 to 9 inches.
5115 | Subsoil of 5114-.---- or ok ar 12to | 1.96 | Tr. 76] 1.19 | 5.26 | 13.92 | 55.02 | 21.94
4 inches.
5117 | Subsoil of 5116------ menow ems 12 to | 3.07 | 0.00 | Tr. | 3.28 | 9.08 | 11.96 | 49.24 | 22.59
inches.
5119 | Subsoil of 5118-_---- Yellow loam, 10 to | 2.44 67 | 1.24) 1.83) 4.63 | 15.46 | 58.39 | 20.37
‘) inches. |
5125 | Subsoil of 5127--..--- Yellow loam, 9 to | 1.56 | 2.22 | 4.78 | 8.49 | 15.97 | 10.77 | 36.42 | 19.20
30 inches. |
| |

SUSQUEHANNA GRAVEL.

The layer of gravel which almost uniformly underlies the upland
soil types, particularly the Leonardtown loam, reaches the surface
along all the more deeply cut stream valleys and along the slopes
separating the upland from the low-lying foreland border. The gravel
works down across the slopes wherever it reaches the surface, and
forms long, narrow bands of a distinctly gravelly soil. While of no
great importance either in area or in agricultural value, it forms a
marked feature of the land surface. In some instances the component
materials are coarse enough to form stony bands and patches along
the slopes. In other cases the finer gravel accumulates sufficiently
to form small areas of poor or almost useless soil. This is the case
on some of the smaller hills of the northeastern part of the county,
where broken fragments of iron crust mingle with the gravel and
sands.

Grapes are cultivated to advantage on similar soils in other regions,
and their adaptability to this soil should be tried on a small scale in
St. Mary County. In general, it would be better to allow forest growths
tu occupy the larger, more intractable areas.

The proportion of gravel in some of these areas is as high as 50 per
cent, and with so coarse a texture it becomes almost impossible to
maintain a sufficient supply of moisture to mature any long-growing
crop. This is especially the case where the gravel areas lie on steeply
sloping surfaces.

182 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

‘

WINDSOR SAND.

The Windsor sand areas are found only in the northern portion of
St. Mary County. They are marked by a strong growth of pitch pine
and by the gravelly and sandy texture of the soil. At present these
areas are imperfectly tilled to tobacco and grain crops, or occupied
by small land holdings devoted to producing garden crops for house-
hold consumption.

The soil consists of a coarse to medium sand, containing consider-
able gravel. Jt extends to about 10 inches in depth, and is underlaid
by an even coarser sandy and gravelly subsoil, frequently containing
iron crusts iv sheets and in broken fragments.

The value and capabilities of this soil have not been recognized as
yet in this region. Its coarseness of texture, while precluding the
profitable cultivation of grain crops, adapts it especially to the eul-
ture of early truck crops and peaches. The latter crop when raised
on the Windsor sand produces a superior quality of fruit both in color
and taste, and the orchards found on this soil in other localities are
long lived, healthy, and profitable.

The Windsor sand areas of St. Mary County are all located within
easy hauling distance of the present railroad points, and special crops
of early fruits, vegetables, and peaches could find an easy and profit-
able market in the cities on connecting lines.

The surface of the Windsor sand is generally level and is little
subject to washing on account of the porosity of the soil. It is easily
cultivated and easily improved, and should form a valuable type for
the special crops already discussed.

The following mechanical analyses show the texture of typical
samples of the soil and subsoil:

Mechanical analyses of Windsor sand.

| uD o} co ° :
ele So)? / Fa rie
| | 1 pet
| Seidl AR") SESS Oe Re ae a ls
5) | =| eitey st | reds .s
| | £.).4 )3.1 30 | 22 | eee
No. | Locality. Description. Salle ad 3 8°) =o ee |" ended
Aol nan | 88 2 | SA | oe | eee
e ; fs j/¢ |8s| 8 |s
a 5) ov aS n | & q
a n = o
= i a] | < oO | ‘fa = | 5
beer - | 8 > | 8 5 x |s
j S 6 | oO a eae | | n |
| mA |
; | Pict. | Pet.) Pet. |. Pvt: | P.ict..| Pxct.| teen
5129 | Newmarket ----- ere sand, 0 to | 1.43 | 5.48 | 14.29 | 14.04 | 38.63 | 15-16 | 8.10 | 2.76
9 inches.
5130 | Subsoil of 5129....| Sand, gravel, and | 1.02 | 10.20 | 20.92 | 12.18 | 29.30 | 11.58 | 10.99 | 3.81
iron crust, 9 to
28 inches.

NORFOLK SAND,

The Norfolk sand illustrates the fact that a single soil type may
arise from materials deposited at different geological periods. In St.
Mary County, soil of this type is found along the sloping sides of

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD. 183

streams as an outcrop of some ‘of the basal formations of the county;
again it occurs along the lower courses of these streams as flat-topped
terraces built up from the older material by river transportation;
while small areas of it occur along the forelands as material carried
still farther seaward. All these deposits present the same sandy
nature and form the same general type of soil, but they vary greatly
in geological age.

Along the shallow stream channels of the forest area of the county
narrow borders of this sandy soil are frequent. In the northern part
of the county the streams have also cut into the sandy layer, which is
the original source of this material. The covering of other materials
has been washed away and considerable areas of Norfolk sand are
exposed. Wherever found, this soil is recognized as well adapted to
the Maryland type of tobacco, and it shares with the Norfolk loam in
the reputation of producing a good grade and a reasonable quantity
of the crop.

The soil consists of a red or brown sandy loam, having a depth of
about 9 inches. This is underlaid by an orange or red sand to
a depth of 3 feet or more. The natural growth on this soil includes
chestnut, oak, and laurel. The Norfolk sand is a typical early
truck soil, and has been very successfully farmed in truck crops
all along the Atlantic coast. It produces a quick growth and early
maturity, and is therefore much better adapted to the trucking
business than to the production of grain crops, which require a
longer growing season. Peaches, pears, early potatoes, and the
common garden vegetables should be raised much more extensively
than at present upon this soil whenever transportation facilities permit
of marketing. The wild fruits like the blackberry, which flourish so
remarkably on this soil, should be replaced by the cultivated varieties
of the same fruits.

The following table gives the results of mechanical analyses of this
soil type:

Mechanical analyses of Norfolk sand.

ie Fort ca (=a ea
| s } an) ewe = } g :
ry i=} = he) —) o
5 Sail Naps ARG NP Cee at) ens
leulc lee lee} Sel ea] 218,
; Stein n 5 Sq | — c Va = =|
No. Locality. Description. ae = a FI &,- oa a A Bee 2 .
Skala us ae ee ar 2
rane Be Se i a eS al, cae =
w > Fa = [ear ty eee ote
‘S) > I) A Se a aS
ee |P. ct.| P. ct.| P. et. | P. ct.| P. et, | P. ct, | P. ct, | P. ct.

5133 | 4milesE. of Leon-, Fine yellow sand, 1.44 | Tr 2.74 | 7.38 | 88.57 | 21.77 | 22.37 | 4.82

ardtown. | Oto 14 inches.
5185 | 1¢ miles SW. of | Medium gellow | 1.36 | 1.64 | 8.74 | 13.60 | 34.69 | 18.76 | 15.89 | 4.87
Hillville. sand, 0 to 10}
inches.

5184 | Subsoil of 5133_.-., Medium red sand, | 1.72 | Tr 2.31 | 5.88 }) 34.91 | 20.66 | 22.52 | 11.96
r 14 to 36 inches.

5136 | Subsoil of 5135.-..| Red sand and | 2.00 | 4.30 | 12.65 | 18.69 | 31.22 | 10.10 | 10.12 | 15.23
gravel, 10 to 28 |
inches.

\

134 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

SASSAFRAS LOAM.

This soil type oceurs in St. Mary County at an elevation of from 60
to 90 feet above tide in the form of flat-topped terraces. It is gener-
ally completely cleared and well cultivated. It forms the best corn
producing soils of this and other areas and is well fitted for general
farming purposes. It is formed from a mixture of sand and clay
derived from much older strata and reworked and redeposited by
stream action.

The soil consists of a slightly sandy yellow or brown loam, having
a depth of from 8 to 12 inches. This is underlaid by a heavier yellow
loam to a depth of nearly 3 feet. This subsoil forms a good storage
reservoir to maintain a moisture supply during the growing season |
without retaining enough water to interfere with cultivation or plant
growth. Wheat, corn, and the grasses do well on this soil, while a
fair tobacco crop can be raised on it; but it approaches more nearly
to an easily worked medium grade of soil for general farming pur-
poses. Pears and other fruits, together with tomatoes, asparagus,
and canning crops should be introduced to give a greater variety in
crops with increased opportunities for profits.

The use of lime and of green manures and stable manures will
benefit this soil, though not so essential as in the case of heavier
types.

The following table gives the mechanical analyses of Sassafras loam:

Mechanical analyses of Sassafras loam.

| 9 ° - ° =
= s a Ss 33 g S
S | ©) 9 ° us g y
ai | os) => + o (=
g AoA sq |e Sa = °
Ga] ct ld_g | Bq | Sig) seal
i 1 i je} = 3 © fi T
No. Locality. Description. ag = a 3 ie ¢ = oS 2 s g
| a dle |'|8 Aes Nees ites
@ ae iiss =] eS > Sel hes
op @ 3 = Ss re 4 KS
=I o ° =) o =] oo
‘.) oye iS) = fy e ay tS)
Pi et.) Pet. |Pict.| Poets) Prct.| (Bachar cea eee
51387 | 11 mile W. of Sot- | Yellow silty loam, | 2.22 | 1.21-| 4.51 | 4.57 | 14.94 | 13.26 | 49.87 | 9.45
terly. | _0to9 inches. | |
5139 | 1 mile S. of Great | Yellow silty loam, | 2.43 | 1.02 | 3.12 | 4.53 | 13.35 | 13.14 | 49.68 | 12.80
Mills. | Oto 9inches.
3138 | Subsoil of 5137..-...| Yellow sandyloam, 1.87 | .84 | 4.51 | 5.79 | 22.62 | 10.54 | 33.84 | 19.61
| 9to 30 inches.
£140 | Subsoil of 5139. Heavy yellow | 2.17 | Tr. | 2.45 | 4.02 | 18.72 | 12.63 | 50.56 | 14.16
loam, 9 to 30 |
inches.

SASSAFRAS SANDY LOAM.

Sassafras sandy loam occupies the low-lying forelands along the
Patuxent and Potomac rivers and along the shores of the numerous
estuaries and creeks tributary to those rivers. In fact, this soil for-
mation extends as a discontinuous belt of choice farm land almost
entirely encircling the county.

Lying between the more elevated uplands and the tide-water courses

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD. 135

of the chief rivers of the section, the Sassafras sandy loam slopes gen-

tly down from an elevation of about 35 feet nearly to water level, and

presents a very nearly flat, though gently inclined, surface. Areas

located on adjacent forelands are usually separated from each other

by lower-lying strips of meadow lands located along the margins of

the minor streams. To the rear of each area the surface usually rises
—-with quite a steep slope to the more elevated plateau region.

The soil itself is probably a stream deposit, laid down at a time
when the relative level of tide water in this region was at least 40
feet higher than at present, though the plateau portion of the county
existed as dry land even then. The deposition of material derived
from the upland by the streams of that day took place closely adja-
cent to the land area which existed there, and the coarser sands
were deposited in those stream courses as noted elsewhere. The finer
sand and silt, carried to a greater distance seaward because of the
lightness of individual grains, were deposited in the region of tide
water, with the coarser materials falling in shallower water near
shore, as is the case with the present deposition in all regions. Thus,
small sandbars and spits would be formed, and organic matter from
the mainland and from the tidal flats usual along low shore lines
would be commingled with the sand and silt of the bottoms of the
estuaries. In such a manner the sandy loams of this foreland por-
tion of the county most probably originated. As the relative eleva-
tion of land and sea changed, this new-formed soil became exposed,
and encroaching land vegetation further aided in the preparation of
the loam for agricultural purposes.

The soil is a dark-brown sandy loam, having an average depth of
about 14 inches. The subsoil is heavier, in most instances consisting
of a yellow or reddish-yellow sandy ioam. At 30 inches depth the
subsoil is normally succeeded by a reddish sand, though frequently
this is wanting and a silty drab layer is found, which extends nearly
or quite to tide level.

This soil is so well recognized as a desirable farming land that all
original tree growth has been removed and the area is occupied by
cultivated fields. Corn, wheat, and tobacco are raised on the Sassa-
fras sandy loam, and the yield of each is somewhat higher than the
average yield for the county. The average wheat crop will consist of
about 15 bushels per acre; that of corn about 7 barrels, or 35 bushels;
while the tobacco will grow to 1,600 pounds per acre, and will sell at 5
or 6 cents per pound. Of course, much larger crops are raised under
favorable conditions, while unfavorable conditions of season or cul-
ture will correspondingly cause a decrease in yield.

In the Cedar Point area the production of green peas, tomatoes,
and of sweet corn for canning purposes has been undertaken. The
climatic and soil conditions are favorable to profitable production of
these and other crops classed as truck or canning crops. Along the

136 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1990.

Patuxent River, near Forrest Wharf, the culture of broom corn is
being undertaken. The success of this attempt bas not been learned.

Owing to the location of this soil along the shore near shipping
points, as well as to its texture and general properties, it is well
adapted to the raising of fruits, vegetables, and general truck crops
which derive value from being placed on an early market. Its posi-
tion also makes irrigation possible whenever the necessity for intensi-
fied cultivation shall manifest itself in this community.

The general character of the Sassafras sandy loam is indicated by
the following mechanical analyses. It is noticeable that the subsoil
in each case contains quite a large percentage more of clay than does
the corresponding soil. :

Mechanical analyses of Sassafras sandy loam.

1 Lm ° 4 a
Fe S £ = + | s
) d | o 9 ° S | :
a g a So — "A i o
2o)e |, (se) So) cena
ity ipti eR| 2 3d |881 8 | sa |
No. Locality. Description. ERS Fy 8 2 Gin | de ae r) 8 5
| @ a2 f=] ago a
2 ef a ds x qo 3 =
3 ea ape = =i bs eas
oO -
gO) \ |g SV Gen tags hoa ied 5 = /\s8
e) ef | AS = ico > |e)
|
Pict. \P.et.| “Pxets| PB: cts) | SPscé.i PaGtal las Gbea eects
5141 | 12 miles SE. of | Brownsandyloam,) 2.55 | T 1.56 | 4.30 | 34.34 | 11.86 | 36.62 | 8.36
| Stone Wharf. 0 to 16 inches.
5144 | 21 miles S$. of | Brownsandyloam,| 2.22 | 1.72 | 10.83 | 18.96 | 19.85 | 6.44 | 31.94 | 8.56
Leonardtown. 0 to 9 inches.
5147 12 miles NE. of | Brownsandyloam,| 3.50 | 3.49 | 12.30; 9.40) 5.88 | 10.16 | 48.62, 6.24
Trap. 0 to $ inches. :
5149 2mile NE. of Co- | Brownsandyloam,| 2.93 | 4.87 | 17.49 | 11.83 | 11.08 | 9.82 | 30.59 | 11.55
| _ houck Point. 0 to 12 inches.
5142 | Subsoil of 5141.-..| Heavy brown|1.66| .75| 2.67] 6.79 | 45.80 | 5.87 | 17.06 | 19.30
| loam, 16 to 34 |
| inches. |
5145 | Subsoil of 5144._-.| Red ea 9 to 30 | 2.53 | 1.58 | 12.36 | 18.69 | 15.99 | 4.62 | 30.43 | 12.80
inches.
5148 | Subsoil of 5147 __- eee Aig 8 to | 2.71 .99 | 7.03 | 6.15] 38.76 | 11.20 | 51.80 | 16.48
| 3U inches.
5150 | Subsoil of 5149_.__| Yellow sandy | 2.15 | 2.98 | 13.72 | 12.18 9.74 | 8.78 | 26.13 | 24.20
loam, 12 to 30
inches.

MEADOW.

The natural meadow lands of St. Mary County are usually flat or
gently inclined areas occurring along stream courses or on the low
flat forelands bordering the tide-water areas. The meadows are
usually rather wet, and in many instances they differ from adjoining
soil types in their relation to drainage rather than in their texture.

The natural forest growth over the meadows includes white oak,
willow oak, sweetgum, and poplar, with frequently a matted under-
growth of shrubs and vines. The meadows furnish a rather coarse,
“ank grass for grazing and, owing to the mild climate of the region,
cattle frequently find pasturage throughout the winter.

The large meadow areas of the forelands are frequently cultivated
to the general farm crops, but in wet seasons they are difficult of til-
lage, and even in the most favorable seasons they produce only wheat

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD. lex

and grass to good advantage. They require extensive underdrainage;
even open ditches are inadequate, for the soil is so dense and so near
water level that surface drainage fails to lower the level of standing
water sufficiently to aerate the soil thoroughly. The presence of
excessive water in the soil thus tends to keep the ground cold and to
delay seed germination and plant growth. Then, too, the organic
acids tend to accumulate to excess, proving harmful to plant life and
not fulfilling their function in the preparation of mineral matter to
serve as plant food.

Proper underdrainage by lowering the water level will not only
drain off surplus moisture, but will also permit a circulation of air,
and thus aid in the natural improvement of the soil.

Many thousand acres of meadow land, now producing only a rank
growth of grass or an uncertain crop of grain, can be made highly
valuable by relatively cheap methods of underdrainage.

The soil of the meadow areas usually consists of 8 to 10 inches of
gray silty loam underlaid by a subsoil of ash-gray clay loam. ‘The
soil mass is apt to be cohesive and clay-like when wet, but when sub-
jected to the action of the frost and air it becomes powdery and
crumbly, and is very much improved in texture. Drainage and lim-
ing should be resorted to in order to produce this result on a large
seale.

The texture of this soil is shown by the following analyses:

Mechanical analyses of meadow.

bul aaNet a =
Sy eee her mt ° = =
rot q + —) =) = = —
Si noe lyse oh Sel | She
4 fe Bi (Noe lai eee |g | S
No. Locality. Description. = Pe) ad s | -H] G4 S 1. A
ie | a |gA|/ 8/98) os | * |S8
aula (eeteureasd Ste
| & b ee ee | @ va) baa nS
on Biss locke Mal ces & toc i s ie
mH inal [e} i ® i =
Oe | ee Be a | & > nO)
P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct. | P.ct.
5151 | 2milesSE. of Briscoe | Gray loam, 0 to8 | 1.84, Tr. | 0.88 | 0.83 | 3.76 | 23.35 | 59.59 |_ 9.58
Wharf. inches.
5153 | One-eighthmileW.of _Brownsiltyloam, | 2.32 | 1.41 | 3.33 | 4.12 | 6.46 | 15.41 | 58.54 | 8.32
Short Point. | Cto 7 inches.
5152 | Subsoil of 5151---.-._. | Drabclay, 8 to 30 | 2.89 | 0.00} Tr. | 1.73 | 5.38 | 16.30 | 47.55 | 25.77
| _ inches.
5154 | Subsoil of 5153... ___- | Drab clay, 7 to 32 | 1.61 | Tr. | 2.01 | 2.61 | 7.11 | 11.40 | 60.11 | 14. 74
i inches.
SWAMP.

There are three types of swamp lands in St. Mary County--the
tidal flats, which are wholly or partially submerged at each high tide;
the fresh-water marshes, subject to frequent or constant inundation
by streams; and the fresh-water bogs and swamps, due to incomplete
head-water drainage or to natural or accidental artificial ponding back
of stream waters.

The salt marsh at the head of Chaptico Bay and the flats at the head

138 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

of Breton Bay are the most extensive examples of the first class
occurring in St. Mary County. Except at especially high spring tides
these areas lie about 5 feet above the water level. They support a
growth of marsh grass and reeds and possess a silty soil mixed with
partially decayed vegetation. Some marsh hay is cut over these areas,
and cattle and hogs find pasture where the surface is sufficiently firm
tu support their weight.

These marshy areas are formed by the deposition of fine sand, silt,
and clay, brought down by streams and by the higher tides, together
with the decaying remains of the vegetation which gains a foothold

‘ on the drier areas. These marshes are constantly growing in extent, —

and in many instances cattle are feeding on marshy meadows where
small-sized boats floated in the early days of the colonization of the
county. Farther from the mouths of the larger tributary streams,
above the highest reach of the tide, the fresh-water marshes occur, as
is the case along the Chaptico Creek, McIntosh Run, and many of the
streams flowing into the Patuxent River. These marshes are similar
to the salt marshes, except that they are only subject to irregularly
occurring inundations below fresh water instead of periodic submer-
sion by the tides.

The third class of swamps occupies positions at the heads of some
of the main streams and along the upper courses of the majority of
the smaller ones. The head waters of the St. Mary River drainage,
found in the forest area around St. Andrew’s Church, illustrate this
condition markedly, though many other localities are very similar.

The surface in this forest area is slightly irregular and consists of
Leonardtown loam and Norfolk sand. The hollows in both of these
formations are swampy and grown up to gum trees. In wet seasons
small ponds exist, which become dry, or nearly so, during the latter
part of each summer. A slight clearing out of the natural drainage
ways, connecting these ponds with stream courses, would destroy the
ponds in most cases. Frequently the obstruction to drainage consists
of a rank growth of vegetation, fallen tree trunks, and the accumula-
tion of dead leaves and soil wash. In some few cases the grading up
of highways or embankments constructed for proposed railways
through the county has caused accidental artificial ponding of waters.
These are of small extent and may be easily remedied by underdrainage.

CONDITIONS OF AGRICULTURE.

The condition of agriculture in any community depends upon four
factors—soil, climate, transportation facilities, and the mental and
physical energy of the population. The first two of these factors are
natural, while the last two are to a great degree artificial. Usually
it does not lie within the power of any community, however ener-
getic, to modify the soils or the climate of a region to any marked
extent. The great exception to this statement is in the arid States,

SS a

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD. 139

where irrigation has been introduced, transforming desert areas into
fertile farms.

The actual conditions of the soil, the climate, and the transporta-
tion facilities of St. Mary County have been treated separately in
other chapters, but a general resumé of the interrelationships of
these factors and a slight reference to certain social and economic
conditions prevailing in the county are necessary to a full appre-
ciation of the present status of the county by its own inhabitants as
well as by strangers.

The usual farm practice in St. Mary County is based on a rotation
of crops, including tobacco, corn, wheat, and grass, or a season of
fallowing. This rotation is observed on all soils in all parts of the
county, though some individual farmers have modified it. Thus, in
a great majority of cases, the fundamental factor of soil differences
is neglected. The success of the rotation in the county has depended
upon the highly accidental factors of the location of the farm and
the energy of the farmer. Thus, the energetic man located on the
proper soil for the tobacco crop will be highly successful, while his
no less energetic neighbor located on the wrong soil may be unsue-
cessful, and the unenergetic man may absolutely fail.

The natural selection of farm lands dependent upon these condi-
tions has led to the abandonment of large areas of the Leonardtown
loam to forest occupation, for the soil is not adapted to the culture of
the quality of tobacco which buyers expect from the county. On the
other hand, the Norfolk loam is tilled over almost every acre of its
extent, because it is adapted to the production of this chief crop.

In the same way natural selection has led to the extensive cultiva-
tion of the Sassafras sandy loam, and it is worthy of notice that the
very first white settlers, as well as their Indian predecessors, located
on this soil type chiefly because of its location near water transporta-
tion, but also probably in part because it is an excellent soil for gen-
eral farming purposes. Contrasted with this soil are the large areas of
meadow land still clothed with forest growth, though similarly located
to the Sassafras sand loam. It is not entirely an accident that leads
to these selections and to the introduction of new crops, such as
peaches, on the Norfolk sand, or to the cultivation of canning crops
and broom corn on Sassafras sandy loam. The climate of the region
is suited to the crops, the soils are similar to those upon which the
crops have been raised elsewhere, the facilities for transportation are
in part equal to the necessities of the crops, while the energy required
for their introduction is supplied by well-informed and progressive
citizens of the county and of other regions.

A local and partly defined soil classification has been reached
through this process of selection, though the areas suited to certain
crops have not been located nor mapped over any part of the county
until the present time. Nevertheless experience, often bought at a

140 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

dear price and confined to the few who have ventured their money
and their time, has led to the partial classification already noted. It
is hoped that the classification, the map, and the description of soil
types contained in this report will facilitate further development
along the lines of soil selection for special crops, will encourage the
introduction of new crops, and will lead to a generalization of the
experience gained by the few for the use of the many.

Closely associated with the adaptability of certain soil types to cer-
tain crops is the two-edged question of fertilizer, which is dependent
for its answer upon the quality of soil to be fertilized and the kind of
crop to be raised.

Probably every soil type in St. Mary County contains within 4 feet
of its surface sufficient plant food to produce 100 crops of any kind
which are raised or could be raised in the county. The necessity for
fertilizer depends on the fact that much of this material is present in
such chemical combinations and in such a physical state that some
manipulation is required to release it and to bring it into solution in
water so that the plant roots may absorb it. Certain chemicals found
in commercial fertilizers and in stable manures tend to release this
plant food and to form or supply soluble chemical compounds suited
to the needs of the plants, while organic matter constitutes the best
sponge for retaining the absolutely essential water supply in sandy
soils, and acts equally well in loosening the too closely packed par-
ticles of heavier clay soils. The organic matter, through its decay,
also furnishes actual plant foods and solvents for the preparation of
other foods. The character of growth desired in special crops modi-
fies the kind and amount of special fertilizers for those crops. For
example, it is a generally accepted principle of tobacco culture in
Maryland that liming land spoils the texture of the tobacco raised,
causing it to spot and injuring the burning qualities for which it is so
well known; therefore the use of lime on tobacco lands is precluded,
though its use would be of undoubted advantage on all of the heavier
soil types and upon most of the lighter types for other crops.

St. Mary County possesses large stores of carbonate of lime in the
Neocene marl beds underlying all of the upland portion of the county
and reaching the surface in nearly every cliff and stream cutting over
the upper half of the region. This lime supply consists of the calea-
reous shells of marine shellfish which once lived upon the sea bottom
when the ocean covered the county. The shells, buried in sand and
elevated above water level, can be dug out by the wagonload. and con-
verted into excellent lime by sieving out the sand and burning the
remaining shells, just as lime rock is burned to lime. The sifting
would be unnecessary in the case of some of the deposits, since the
small amount of sand present would be a benefit to the heavier types
of land. The Leonardtown loam would benefit materially from such
liming, except, of course, when tobacco is to be raised.

The plowing under of green crops, especially the leguminous plants

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD. 141

of the clover and cowpea varieties, furnishes another method of enrich-
ment highly desirable on almost all the soil types of St. Mary County,
and does not present the difficulties of liming, since this kind of fer-
tilizer is of great benefit to the tobacco crop. These leguminous crops
furnish a fair forage for cattle during a period of their growth, and if
allowed to continue growing they produce a mass of organic matter
for incorporation with the soil; and all the time, beneath the surface
of the ground, certain minute bacteria, living on the roots, are taking
nitrogen from the air and storing it in the soil, thus helping in the
enrichment of the soil.

The ordinary practice of putting from 200 to 400 pounds of commer-
cial fertilizer, costing from $18 to $40 per ton, upon the farms of St.
Mary County has a double effect. It produces the crop, but it also
enters a large item on the expense side of the farm account, and on
some soils its continued use has the effect of burning out the soil, so
that periods of fallowing become essential. For certain crops special
fertilizers will always be necessary, and commercial fertilizers are to
be commended highly, but in St. Mary County on all soils the use of
stable manure and the plowing under of green crops are to be pre-
ferred, while on the soils least suited to tobacco the abandonment of
that crop and the free use of lime in conjunction with organic matter
have already become necessary, as is shown by the forest areas given
over to nature’s cultivation.

Many of the farm buildings of St. Mary County are of remote date.
The farmhouses particularly are types of colonial structure, and the
residence upon the farm at Sotterly is one built for the first governor
of Maryland, while numerous other manor houses in the county are
nearly as venerable. Even the less pretentious houses display the
long sloping roofs, the gable windows, and the large end chimneys of
the early colonial period. The atmosphere of antiquity, of romance,
and of historic interest which surrounds these old residences and the
equally venerable churches and farm properties gives a loeal color
and a local pride to the county that can be shared only by other com-
munities of equal age.

Outbuildings are not so essential in this climate as in regions of
heavier snowfall, so the older farms are provided only with the tobacco
barn, smokehouse, and corncrib of the plantation, the large stock and
hay barns being almost totally unknown. Cattle can graze upon the
meadow lands in all but exceptionally severe weather, and the side of
some existing building or the shelter of woodland protects them dur-
ing the coldest weather. .

The fences are mostly built of rails and poles cut in the native for-
ests, though some barbed and other patent wire fences have been
introduced. The Virginia rail or worm fence is the most common
type, while the mortised post, into which the ends of the rails are
fitted, is also common.

No account of the condition of agriculture in St. Mary County would

142 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1900.

be complete without a reference to the common draft yehicle and
beast. Owing to the steepness of the grades and to the general diffi-
culties attending land transportation, the ox cart is usually employed
for heavy hauling. It-is no uncommon thing toward the latter part
of June to meet from one to twenty 4-ox or 6-ox teams attached to
heavy 2-wheeled carts, upon which one or two tobacco hogsheads
are being drawn to the wharves for shipment. Each hogshead con-
stitutes an unwieldy mass of about. 800 pounds of tightly packed
tobacco, and the successful transportation of some of these loads down
the steep slopes from the upland to the wharf, under the existing road
conditions, is no small feat of engineering.

The field labor is largely performed by the numerous colored popu-
lation of the county, some of whom labored as slaves on the same
farms where they now work as free men. The majority of the work-
ers, however, belong to a more recent generation.

The wants of these workmen are few (a cabin, a garden patch, and
the most elementary house furnishings), the forest lands giving free
grazing to the cow, the horse, and the pig of the landowner, the tenant,
and the day laborer alike. Added to these conditions are a mild cli-
mate and usually a free supply of firewood, together with fish and
oysters from near-by waters. As a result, a fair subsistence is easily
obtained with a minimum of labor, especially as the colored laborers
and their families are free partakers, through the generosity of their
white employers, in the partly worn clothing and in the surplus pro-
visions of their white employers. So while the actual cash wages will
average only 50 or 75 cents per day, this sum will have a purchas-
ing and sustaining power far in excess of the same amount in the
more thickly settled and colder regions of the North. Men, women,
and even children work in the fields together, particularly in caring
for the tobacco crop, which requires a large amount of hand labor for
setting the plants, hoeing, curing, and stripping.

Some of the colored men own their own farms, but the majority find
a more congenial employment in the less exacting task of devoting
most of their time to caring for the crops of others. The limited cap-
ital they can usually accumulate confines the colored farmers to what
are generally considered as rather undesirable farm lands, most fre-
quently Leonardtown loam, meadow, or Windsor sand areas. A change
in crop production and farm practice will some day make these lands
equal in value to others more desired at present.

There are no large towns in St. Mary County. Leonardtown, the
county seat, is the largest, while Mechanicsville, at the terminus of
the railroad, does a thriving business, and Charlotte Hall is the seat
of a well-known school of the same name.

The tendency of the white population is toward the onjey sien of
the seclusion of large estates, and frequently the manor house or farm-
house is reached only by a long avenue leading away to a distance of
nearly a mile from the public highway. On the other hand, the col-

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD. 143

ored population segregates into little communities, where land may
be obtained cheaply, and little villages of frame and log dwellings are
dotted over the county.

TRANSPORTATION.

A single line of railway, connecting Mechanicsville with a main line
at Brandywine, is the only rail communication in St. Mary County
with the markets and cities of the State and with the country at large.
This lack of railroad communication is partly relieved by the steam-
boat service on the Patuxent and Potomac rivers and on the larger
streams. As two lines connecting with Baltimore and Washington
control the water transportation, this can searcely be said to equal
the needs of the county. The boats run only at long intervals and
at rather irregular times, and the trip to Baltimore or Washington
consumes from sixteen to twenty-four hours, depending upon the
volume of freight carried.

For this reason the crops produced in the county are placed at
a disadvantage with relation to markets when compared with those
of other regions, and the variety of crops that can be raised with
profit is considerably restricted. This is particularly evident in
the case of fruit and truck crops and of dairy products. The truck
lands of St. Mary County are excellent, so far as soil and climate are
concerned, but no one cares to enter into their cultivation to any
extent so long as the cost and uncertainties of marketing remain as
great as at present. Again, the Leonardtown loam, the Sassafras loam,
and the meadow lands are well adapted to dairying and to stock rais-
ing, but the time distance from markets and the actual uncertainty
of any communication during winter months retard or prevent intro-
duction of stock.

The waterways for extensive steamboat communication exist, grades
well adapted for railway construction are to be found, and the con-
struction of the roadbed presents only the simple engineering prob-
lem of cut and fill, with no consolidated rock formations to require
blasting. The soils, the climate, and the natural advantages of geo-
graphical location all favor the upbuilding of the county. It is likely -
that outside influences have combined with a well-defined conserva-
tism in the native population to retard the development not only of
this but of other localities in the general region.

The internal communications of the county consist of highly varied
wagon roads. The main roads follow the main divides, while public
and private roadways lead out along the secondary divides and down
to the lowland farms and to the wharves. Bridges are scarce, and
the small streams are crossed by fords. The tide-water indentations
along the coast and the marshes at their headward extremities sepa-
rate the farms along the forelands, and it is possible to go only from
one foreland to another by considerable detour inland, usually inelud-
ing a steep ascent to the upland and an equally steep descent to the
adjoining foreland. Foot passengers can usually find a small boat to

144 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE DIVISION OF SOILS, 1990.

transfer them across such obstacles, and many of the farmers own
sailboats, but regular ferries do not exist. There is no regular ferry
or bridge across the Patuxent terminating in St. Mary County.

The wagon roads consist of sand, loam, or clay, as they happen to
cross such materials, and the rain wash and the wear of travel have
cut the roads down for long distances far below the surface of the
country. In many places where the roadway has been washed to a
state ef impassability teams have driven around the gully and estab-
lished a new highway, or an overturned tree is avoided similarly.
One road district in particular has secured fairly good roads partly
through the energy of its supervisor, partly because additional con-
tributions above the annual tax have been given by residents of the
district, and partly because the district contains better road materials
than some others. The iron-stained graveis of the upland plateau
should be used to a greater extent in surfacing its clay roads, but
proper drainage and grading of most of the roads must precede any

other work.
CLIMATE.

The following table of the climatic elements, compiled from the
Maryland Weather Service, Vol. I, gives an indication of the average
conditions to be expected in St. Mary County. No records for less
than five years are considered, and consequently a few blanks remain
in the table.

Average climatic conditions of St. Mary County.
CHARLOTTE HALL.

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be er ele St Saal eae Shee g \8 |#¢
os | =) \ j= |
Ve Saree |e is =e. = 3 op og rs Se
Ee llr es = :
(S8/4#e) ac) ag|ae| ac | eas) s | ee) cules
og | &8 | oF! o —sB 1 oF | a6 tal O5 | of } Sa
Month. Al} ge } Oo | se ) S ‘ Spe ena | ES
|§o| Ao |/eZ log | ss|/c5|3o| & | of | of | ao
Pa Ey) pe | pe ae pes |] pe eS HO | HO oe
[aa | ai | g |sP| 3 $ oO | a oe eae
Les | oul ee 2 S| = = q 2 o a3
2 Oi ee hopin bat Ste Orie @ | ey neers
of | 9 A BH 3 Bi rs qe US oq
A a Bye tc a @) o = | 4 =
OR | 0). | ouR | © FR! | OuRL WwO sir 1. SHR cei 5) Ca cea In.
|
MATIUAIDY = choo vessels esse = 35 48/+4)—4 26); +4)—-—4 17 66 | — 1 2.8
RGDTUAEY) 22t=2st eee eee ee 35 44)/+4/-—9 24} + 3] —10 20 UR eee» 3.2
Marchi 2-8 Sos eee Po 45 55} +5] —8 34} +4] —6 21 83 0 3.1
Pets areas Bee ae 2 eee sae 54 65; +5] - 3 43} +2) —3 22 97 P25) 3.5
Tao es one ae tae Sa ee een ee 9 | 37| 39
TMG as AF AN eee A SS eee 73 84/+3)—5 62) +2/|—2 22 100 41 2.5
July 76 86 +3)-—2 66] +2) —4 20 | 102 49 4.0
INGA KN 01S) Fees en ieee a eee te ee 76 sf |.+3)]-—4 6) +2|/—-—1 22 99 52 2.5
September =.20 25.0 - sek, Sh ea Bead See eee el eon oes | emer | eee en eee 100 40 1.3
Wctober=- = os." == SA. eee 06 66 | + 2] — 2 46 | + —8§ 20 88 23 3.7
November! 2) 22s. .22 eke 47 56 |) 48 | — 4 S8alk-tti6 abe 18 78 18 2.1
Wee DOr: she Sasol ses eee OO 49) 5 Wn) 8 29/4 3|—2 20 7 5 2.0
Anna tae ee ees ( Serr ara |e eae at eee ee Laue SS pee 102} —1)| 34.4
|

The last killing frosts in the spring have occurred at Charlotte Hall on April 21, 1897, and on
April 6, 1898.

The first killing frosts in the fall have occurred at Charlotte Hall on November 13, 1897, with
no record in 1898.

SOIL SURVEY OF ST. MARY COUNTY, MD.

Average climatic conditions of St. Mary County—Continued.

145

CHERRYFIELDS.
Mean Mean Mean Mean
amonthly ones monthly oat
an an an an
Month. annual | annual Month. annual | annual
. temper- | precipi- temper- | precipi-
ature tation. ature tation.
iy iad Inches. ite 24 Inches.
RIBIMACLING Pinson So ova e 35 RO) |e Artist eee eees 2 eee he ee 75 3.4
[Po Dea ee 34 Bio ft SeppempeN a<. = 2-2-2 ete 71 2.2
inisremtieewe ey hehe tS cae 44 Asn OC TODOI Me eh oo eee 58 3.8
{i iuihee Sere ees 53 SOL November Ub is)s. oo ee. 47 3.2
IL V7 Ree aes a a ee 64 eve PyeGeml OMe. <2 S—.h een Se 38 2.5
June ---.----------~--.------- me 2.7 AMINA ste eee ee 56 | 39.9
NS a ee ee ii 6.0
ST. MARY.
SUT E eh'9 Oe a ee Spl Sash 5 | BOSEL ES EL Se en oer es SS ae a ele Se
OVE) SUL 9 i gle ne ee eee Eri pete ree ee hweptembenriss os. 2 ese Sce 1 st ea on a Se
LG) sR See a ee ASS) | ae ae Wetoberersse a. 205. Ee ee boa REE oe PE
BNR one Shel ps ag eS ov: DD) ese ee ee hoy emrber oc 2). eae AG, ia: Sera ees
THA Cal ner Ce ee 2 ot De a ee G2) (saeco ees | December 2208 2.022004 Bo eee eee
June ------------.-----.------ 13 |.--------- PRS ATS eh toe ey oe toe ee ay eimdee
CU) CrUN ESSE hte ope eo el Ly epee ts
ST. INIGOES.
UE LVL len oe a ee 38 2.5 Ai ouSthis sates sosose sce oocss 7 6.5
Metbermamys= 2. 1. 22 22 ee 43 4s Septermiberi.-.s 4-26 es. chet 69 4.8
1) SS en See ees 44 ee Metnbar ene chet 59 3.7
JSUT AME Ss, SSE eee ence eee 55 fre | NOM EI DOT em. ceeenecanric==s 50 3.4
ls ee ee 65 4.3; Decem ber? ce 2.25222... <.-5- 40 8.4
June ---.-.------------------- 7 2.1 AMMA sons s ae a 58 fh 47.6
UUs ass, os Reece ane ree 7 3.7 ||

11167—01——-10

LIFE.

Jay Allan Bonsteel was born in Huntington, West Virginia, on April
13, 1873; removed to New York State in 1876; was educated in the
common schools of that State; graduated from Ten Broeck Free Acad-
~emy, Franklinville, New York, in June, 1890, and in June, 1891, secured
a State scholarship in Cornell University. Mr. Bonsteel was graduated
from Cornell University in June, 1896, with the degree of Bachelor of
Science, securing Special Mention for work in the Geological Depart-
ment and holding the position of Assistant in Geology from September,
1895, until June, 1898. During the summer of 1896 he accompanied the
Cornell Greenland Expedition to the Upper Nugsuak Peninsula; was
married in December of that year. From 1896 to 1898 a portion of his
time was devoted to post-graduate work in the Geological Department
of Cornell University. In July, 1898, he became connected with the
Maryland Geological Survey and in September was matriculated at
Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Bonsteel was appointed to a position
in the United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Soils, on
May 1, 1900, and has been employed upon field work for the Department,
chiefly within the State of Maryland.

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U.S. DEPT, OF AGRICULTURE F SOIL MAP

DIVISION OF SOILS RYLAN- MARYLAND S
MA fe SAL S r MARYLAND AGRICUL’
MILTON WHITNEY, CHIEF D 2 EQLOGIGAL SURVEY ULTURAL

ST.MARY CO. SHEET WM BULLOCK CLARK, DIRECTOR : EXPERIMENT STATION
HJ.PATTERSON, DIRECTOR
760! TOs! 7610! a oT or
~~ - : 2 Z : : 76°0' |
Town Pom - _

38°30

SOIL
PROFILE
(3 feet deep)

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Norfolk

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LEGEND
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Sossafras

Norfolk

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Soassatras

sandy loam

S S
SS
SS

LEGEND
SSc Sandy loam
ss Gravelly lomn
é Sand & gravel
Sc Loam
S$e Fine sandy loan,
Sicc Heavy silt loan
Cc Clay
Scc Clay loam
3= Gravel loam
Gravel

Gr

W &
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Sassafras
joam

Susquehanna
rave

Meadow

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