Series 1932, No. 17 Issued February 1937 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Soil Survey of Brunswick County, North Carolina By S. O. PERKINS . United States Department of Agriculture, in Charge and E. F. GOLDSTON North Carolina Department of Agriculture and North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station Bureau of Chemistry and Soils In cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and North Carolina Agricultural Experiment{Station For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, DCG. = = = © = = es Price 35 cents SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA By S. 0. PERKINS, United States Department of Agriculture, in Charge, and E. F. GOLDSTON, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station COUNTY SURVEYED Brunswick County is the southernmost county in North Carolina. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the South Carolina State line (fig. 1). Cape Fear River forms the eastern and northeastern bound- aries. Southport, the county seat, is 30 miles south of Wilmington. It is located at the mouth of Cape Fear River, which is locally known as the “Gateway to t h e Sea.” mT. h e * State Agricultural Experiment Station area of the county is 854 square miles, or 546,560 acres. i ’ ‘5 in the flatwoods section of the Atlantic Coastal This county is 1 : Plain, and its physiographic features are dominantly those of a level plain. In general, the relief is level, undulating, or gently rolling, but the rolling parts include many slight depressions and swampy areas. One large swamplike level area, known as Green Swamp, covering more than 100 square miles, lies in the western part of the county, and there are several large flat bodies, locally called bays. The larger bays are between Southport and Bolivia, between Shal- lotte and Longwood, south of Funston, and between Winnabow and Shiloh Church; and numerous smaller bays are scattered throughout the county. The bays appear to lie at a lower elevation than the surrounding areas, but in reality they are higher and are the sources of most of the drainageways. Low swampy areas occur along most of the streams. Large areas of this lowland lie along Brunswick, Cape Fear, Waccamaw, Lockwood Folly, Shallotte, and Elizabeth Rivers and along Town, Juniper, Big Swamp, and other creeks. The land bordering the swampy areas along most of the larger branches, creeks, and rivers is gently rolling and undulating. The largest areas of rolling land are along Orton Pond, Allen Creek, Hood Creek, and Lockwood Folly River. : 2 The county as a whole is poorly drained, and large areas retain a simple constructional surface form without adequate natural drain- age. Cape Fear, Waccamaw, Shallotte, and Lockwood Folly Rivers 7212937 —1 1 map showing location of Brunswick County, N. © % Fieure 1.—Sketch 2 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 and Town Creek, all of which flow in a southerly direction and empty into the Atlantic Ocean, are the main drainage channels. The undulating and gently rolling land, which constitutes from 25 to 30 percent of the county, has good surface and internal drainage. Some of the level land is fairly well drained, but the greater parts of the broader areas have poor or practically no drainage. Some small areas, however, have been economically drained by open ditches. Most of the large level areas would require large drainage canals supplemented by open ditches, and such a system would be rather expensive. Numerous ponds are scattered throughout the rolling areas in the eastern part of the county. The elevation of the county ranges from sea level to about 80 feet above. The elevation+ at Southport is 18 feet; at Navassa in the northeastern part, 10 feet; and at North West, 46 feet. The elevation of the upland bordering the level swampy land along the streams ranges from 5 to 15 feet, and the slopes are gradual, except in a few places along Cape Fear River, where the drop is abrupt and there are a few low bluffs. Much of the land is forested, principally with longleaf pine, short- leaf pine, pond pine, red, black, white, post, water, live, and turkey oaks, maple, black gum, sweetgum, tupelo gum, hickory, dogwood, poplar, holly, black walnut, cedar, cypress, and juniper. Many of the longleaf pine forests are open and practically free from under- growth, but the greater part of the forested area supports a heavy undergrowth of bay, gallberry, reeds, briers, myrtle, and, near the ocean, some yaupon, and on Smith Island some palmetto. Many other water-loving shrubs and grasses grow on the wet and bog areas and tidal marsh, principally wire grass, sedges, ram’s-horn, cattail, bulrush, marsh grasses, pitcherplant, and Venus’s flytrap. The for- est growth in Brunswick County is definitely related to the soils. The Leon soils support a growth of longleaf pine almost entirely, and longleaf pine, oaks, shortleaf pine, colar dogwood, cedar, black gum, and sweetgum grow on the Blanton, Dunbar, Coxville, Bladen, Norfolk, and Craven soils. The hardwoods, with a few scattered pines, grow chiefly on the Ruston, Onslow, Dunbar, Nor- folk, and Craven soils; pond pine, baybushes, some tupelo gum, and maple grow on the Portsmouth and St. Johns soils; and cypress, tupelo gum, poplar, juniper, maple, water oak, cedar, and a few pines grow on peat, muck, and swampland. Brunswick County was organized in 1764 from parts of Bladen and New Hanover Counties, and in 1808 a part of it was taken to form Columbus County. The early settlers were chiefly persons of English descent from South Carolina. According to the 1980 United States census report, the population of the county in that year was 15,818, all classed as rural. The same census reports 9,890 white persons and 5,928 Negroes. The density of the population is 21 persons a square mile. The population is not evenly distributed. It is very sparse in the central and western parts of the county. Most of the people live along the highways on the better drained soils and near the ocean. Southport, the county seat, with a population of 1,760 in 1980, is the only incorporated town, and important villages 1GANNETT, H. A DICTIONARY OF ALTITUDES IN THD UNITED sTaTus. U. S. Geol. Surve Bull. 274, ed. 4. 1072 pp. 1906. peabN SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 3 and trading points are Shallotte, Supply, Longwood, Leland, and Freeland, which are markets for only a small proportion of the farm products. Whiteville and Wilmington are important outside mar- kets. Most of the shad, shrimp, and other products of the coast fisheries are shipped to northern markets. ; Railway transportation for the greater part of the county 1s poor. The northern part is traversed by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad eaboard Air Line Railway, and the Wilmington, Brunswick & Ree Railroad extends from Wilmington to Southport. The Atlantic Ocean; Cape Fear, Lockwood Folly, and Shallotte Rivers; and Town Creek afford water transportation. Three main hard-sur- faced roads, two of which are United States highways, serve the county, and the other roads are in fair condition in dry weather. Rural delivery of mail reaches all sections; churches and school- houses are conveniently located, but the telephone service has not been extended to all parts. The water supply is good, and a few flowing artesian wells are near some of the streams. : Tn addition to agriculture, the industries of the county include the eatchine and shipping of fish, shrimp, and oysters, and the manu- faoture of fish sap ‘and oil. ‘ Considerable turpentine is produced from the pine forests. CLIMATE Brunswick County borders the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River from Wilmington to its mouth. The climate is oceanic, that is, it is affected by the Gulf Stream and ocean breezes, and this fact probably accounts for a higher winter temperature than in any other county in the State. Very cold weather 1s infrequent and of short duration, the winters are short and mild, the ground rarely freezes deeper than just a thin layer on the surface, and snow, which seldom falls, soon melts. é The summers are long and, according to the temperatures recorded, would seem hot, but, on account of the sea breezes, the heat near the coast is not felt to so great a degree as it 1s farther inland. The average length of the frost-free season is 241 days, from March 19 to November 15. Frost has been recorded as late as April 20 and as early as October 25. The mean annual temperature at Southport is 64.1° F. : The rainfall is well distributed throughout the year, the heaviest occurring during the growing season. The mean annual rainfall is 49.74. inches, which is ample for all crops commonly grown. Exces- sive rainfall or droughts are rare. f In general, the climate is such that a variety of crops can be grown, and cover crops, lettuce, turnip greens, and broccoli, can be grown during the winter. More than one crop can be matured on the same land in the same year, and the climate is especially suited to the production of truck crops. Farm operations are carried on throughout the year. Table 1 gives the normal monthly, seasonal, and annual tempera- ture and precipitation as recorded at the United States Weather Bureau Station at Southport. a. BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 | SoIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 5 i i i 4, Only 7 acres he production of this crop in 1934. | pote ea Ere for 1879, whereas for 1934 there were reported 1,534 acres, yielding 1,248,295 pounds. | The production of corn increased rapidly from 4,915 acres in 1879 Taste 1.—Normal monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature and precipitation } at Southport, Brunswick County, N. C. | (Elevation, 18 feet] ‘Temperature Precipitation | to 9.180 acres in 1899 and remained rather steady until aa ae a 935 reports 11,472 acres planted to corn in . | census of 193) rep jue i + to the restrictions placed on the omy Absolute | Absolute totale ea large increase is probably oe ad ott i Mean | maxi- mini- | Mean for the for the acreages devoted to tobacco an. cotton. — j ick C Mie mum mum driest year | wettest i g' rincipal crops 1 Brunswic oun Y>, Ss (1923) | year (1929) The acreages of the princip 1934 lusive ‘ reported by the Federal census for the years 1879 to eras cine Q14is hd tks gee, Inches Inches Inches are given in table 2. January. 3 % 3 380 aol Ae | ih i -~unswick County, N. C., in stated cases i 1] £03 2.02 6.60 | Tarim 2.—Acreage of the principal Tetra: wae 5 1 11, 43 8.13 17. 38 Slice ace li a Amercian em ea 8 Bs BED fat Acres | Acres | Acres | Acres 20 9. 83 6. 34 9. 86 ee ae m8 Ai 8,887 | 8,374 | 9,332 11, 472 Corneecrdeesea er, ¥ 50 4,43 +82 3.55 Oats se neuaed 37 | 30 2 10.8 Sweetpota 50| 16.71 8.96 17.90 Rigor 40 4.77 3.01 9.29 Cotte: i7| 266 308 333 BES ee ge 7 11.77 8.01 20.71 \ 1 49.74 31.44 65. 85 AGRICULTURAL HISTORY AND STATISTICS Peanuts were reported for the first time BO aren Pope : a 7 increase ¢ The first agricultural development in that part of the State now were planted, and the apres had ae a ye ne ie IPA DT CaN included in Brunswick County was begun about 1725 or 1728 by the and has probably further Ae hay and forage crops has been rapid. early settlers who occupied the higher lands on the west side of increase in the atte ar oe op has never been of great 1m- Cape Fear River. The first crops grown were rice, indigo, corn, Some oats are STOW: a apple peach, and pear trees on the potatoes, garden vegetables, and tobacco. The raising of cattle, hogs, portance. There ate Tike Jaa is used in the homes. sheep, and poultry was soon introduced, and the numbers of these farms, but practically a t 208 horses, 1,300 mules, 2,584 cattle, 248 increased until about the time of the Civil War. Under the old land The 1935 census na OT Be Fae ai anuary 1 of that year. Con- grants the farms were called plantations, and several large planta- | sheep, 475 goats, ane cae 1 the sale of hogs, chickens, eggs, tions occupied the country between Orton and Wilmington. Most | siderable revenue bl ery of the rice was grown on the lowlands along Cape Fear River be- j and garden vegetab eb re in general use on practically all the tween Wilmington and Orton. Considerable income was derived Commercial eas Gane spent in 1929, according to the cen- from turpentine and rosin for a number of years, and later from cultivated soils. T siiet farms reporting such expenditure. Most the sale of lumber. A self-sufficing type of agriculture was practiced sus, was $90,382 on 1, ht ready mixed, and the principal mix- on these farms by the early settlers. of the fertilizers ee NE a sa Daa oa higher gradé mixture According to the United States census, rice was a crop of consid- tures used range ane © the character of the soil and the kind of erable importance in 1879 and reached its greatest production by like 7-5-7, depen ate pei’ apply nitrate of soda as a top dressing, 1899, but after that time rice growing declined rapidly. By 1909 crop grown. Soe is Bib ystershells: : Gs Fhe: One HRTNUMOR ONT TEA ak CaS el a i fe ee Varadan both white and colored workers, te Ear 1932), none. arm labor, 5. sonable wage. ‘The rate o The ‘acreage devoted to cotton steadily increased from 375 acres and can usually be eee ai Pub ehst employees depends on in 1879 to 2,687 acres in 1919, but the 1935 census reports only 399 wages for both day aa the demand for labor in the industrial acres in 1934, Sweetpotatoes have been an important crop since economic conditions an the early settlement of this section. The increase in both acreage plants. and yield has been steady, and the 1935 farm census reports 2,417 ( 2 Percentages, respectively, of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. 6 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 Cropland harvested in 1934, as reported by the farm census, 1 cluding land devoted to hay and forage ate) garden eogotebles nuts, and fruits, aggregated 23,574 acres. The farms are for the most part small, and, according to the census of 1935, the average- sized farm includes 83.3 acres. The number of farms in 1935 was 2,079, showing an increase of 560 since 1930. The farms range in size from 5 to 500 acres, but usually only 20 or 25 acres are in cultivation on the average-sized farm. Several large holdings mainly forest land, range in size from 5,000 to 30,000 acres. A considerable acreage is devoted to pasture. : According to the 1935 census, 83 percent of the farms are operated by owners, 16.7 percent by tenants, and 0.3 percent by managers A few of the rented farms are operated under the share-rental system, under which the landlord furnishes the work animals, feed implements, seed, and one-half of the fertilizer and in return re- ceives one-half of the crop produced. Where the landlord furnishes the land and seed and one-third of the fertilizer, he receives one- third of the crop which is usually tobacco, cotton, and corn. The greater number of the farmhouses, except some of those more recently constructed and some of the old-type ante-bellum homes, are small. Several large and also some small attractive well-painted farmhouses are scattered throughout the county. The farm equip- ment on the larger farms includes tractors, manure spreaders ee distributors, riding tobacco transplanters, and peanut pickers but the equipment on most farms consists of one-horse plows small cultivators, cotton, corn, and peanut planters, and stalk cutters The light sandy soils do not require heavy farm machinery or unusuall strong work animals. Most of the work animals are mules. Most of ine foe raised are Due) eee Berkshire, and Poland China, and 6 mi ve ie a oe oe mainly of the Jersey and Guernsey breeds or grades Brunswick County includes large areas of muck an i pocosins, large swamp areas, and a large aggregate ae ieee The value of these miscellaneous land types varies, according to the amount of merchantable timber the land supports or the stand of sal A The Se Bs of good farming land vary, epending on the improvements, the locati d or drained land, and the character of the cia vasa ida SOILS AND CROPS Brunswick County is one of the largest counties i aroli It lies in that part of the State aes as the oe eee abe woods section. ‘The relief is predominantly level, with a gradual slope toward the south. Drainage over a large part of the county is poor, as many of the high flat areas have never been invaded by streams. About 31,3380 acres, or 5.7 percent of the total area of the county are available for cultivation and used for the production of farm crops. The soils have been developed under a forest cover. The greater part of the land is cut-over land, except some land on the Orton, Gore, and Bellamy plantations. Most of the original mer- chantable timber has been marketed, but in many places where the SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 4 soils are favorable for tree growth there is a good stand of second- growth trees. Much of the second growth consists of pine trees Which are boxed for turpentine. One large turpentine still is located in the county. ‘ The proportion of the land actually farmed is much smaller than the average for the higher lying coastal-plain counties of North Caro- lina. This is due to a number of factors, such as poor drainage; large areas of various kinds of fine sands which are inherently poor and unsuited to farming purposes; a large number of holdings, ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 acres, which are included in game preserves and timber holdings; and also to the fact that a considerable acreage, probably 170 square miles, is included in the numerous bays, swamps, and marshes, all of which are unfit to produce crops. A large part of the southern, southwestern, and western parts of the county are re- mote from railroad transportation, and until recently no good high- ways traversed these sections. A large area still remains, particularly in the Green Swamp section, which is not reached by roads of any kind. Large areas of the Bladen, Coxville, Hyde, Portsmouth, Con- garee, and Ochlockonee soils are barred from agricultural use on account of poor natural drainage. Brunswick County has some of the ea also some of the best soils in the coastal-plain section of the State. They range from pure white sand to black loam. In most places a direct relationship exists between the underlying material, from which the soils through the soil-forming processes have been derived, and the present soils. These deposits range from fine sands through fine sandy clays to heavy clays, and in addition, over large areas organic material has accumulated to a depth of several feet, through the growth and decay of vegetation under swampy conditions over long periods of time. The agriculture is confined largely to the better drained fine sandy loams, loams, and some of the fine sands. The principal crops are corn, as a subsistence crop, together with hay and forage crops, sweet- potatoes, tobacco, cotton, peanuts, some truck crops, and garden veg- etables. ‘The main cash crops are tobacco, sweetpotatoes, cotton, and vegetables. In addition to these crops, a small acreage is devoted to the production of potatoes, cowpeas, soybeans, oats, and rye. Truck crops, such as garden peas, cucumbers, cabbage, collards, lima beans, string beans, and strawberries, are produced for sale. The cash crops grown here are those to which the climate and soils are suited, and they bring in the greatest cash returns and the largest acre profit of any crops that can be grown under present economic conditions. The farm owners understand the production of these crops, and the tenant farmers know how to grow good crops of cotton, peanuts, and tobacco. The climate is perhaps as well, if not better, suited as that of any county in the State for the production of early vegetables and truck crops. The light-textured well-drained fine sandy loam soils, such as the Norfolk, Ruston, and Dunbar, are well adapted to the production of a wide variety of truck crops, and the farmers seem to be putting these soils to the best possible use at present. On the basis of their agricultural use, drainage conditions, and color, the soils of Brunswick County may be divided into five groups: (1) Light-colored well-drained fine sandy loams, (2) dark-colored 1 | \] | | in| 8 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 poo ened fine sandy loams and loams, (3) black loams and fine i) y loams, (4) well-drained and poorly drained fine sands, and porns soles and miscellaneous land types. 1 L ollowing pages the soils of this county are descri i sound ae amerecu eral importance is pete hee Bee th } ccom: i ; i proportionate extent are seea Me d ygces Oe PER RNC eae: TABLE 3.—Acreage and proportionate extent of the soils mapped in Brunswick County, N. OC. Soil t; Per- ype Acres | cont Soil type Weres Eee cen’ Norfolk fine sandy loam. Ch su at ad 7,040 1.3 || Onslow | Norfolk fine sandy loam, deep phase-| 10,688 | 1.9 || Blanton iam 2 Missni eae Aisa e sandy loam, flat phase_| 1, 920 ‘4 || Leon fine sand_____-__. ---| 43,520} 8.0 Nortolis sandy loamsss2-ss-2=-> 576| .1|| St. Lucie fine sand_. 49,536 | 9.1 Been ee en ot cep phasa| 4.00 | 3 || vatatum pit site nl Dunbar fine sandy tania ase- eee : stratum phase__.__ 6 Ey ees 3.9 || Plumm« pos 1 Rees Nery fine sandy loam-__----| 6, 720 1.2 EP Ha athe aera 2, ee +5 Qnslow fine sandy loam. 2, 600,| 4.9 |j-Rortamouth fine Care a ee an loam_._...-- fF phase Coxville lara = 19200 | 3.5 || St. Johns fine sand.. Perley tectum eae PI pane sandy loam... 6, 848 1.2 || Pamlico muck. ___ 11, 584 21 Fam a 8 sandy, loa: 24,512 | 4.5 || Pamlico muck, shall 5,824) 1.1 Myatt fine sandy loam. 396| .2|| Peaty muck..._ -| 7168} 1.3 ig conee loam. ___- 4: 480% ee WN8 ||| Peat aoe inna -| 34,112 | 6.2 ongaree silt loam__._- “| 2,944 :5 || Swamp.___ 33,984] 6.2 Portsmouth fine sandy 33,408] 6.1 || Meadow... 36,032 | 6.6 ee ary lees ae) it Tolnstonloant eas , : coastal beach ___. 3.1 Norfulk five san z at He Coastal beach, dark-colored phase__ Fi ioe 3 Norfolk sand_.--- -| 1,472 43 Total — Ruston fine sand__.----.----------- 768 Te || Seite gals seMdes NAGE S734 SET 546, 560 |-.---. LIGHT-COLORED WELL-DRAINED FINE SANDY LOAMS The group of light-colored well-drained fi i i one type of sandy loam and one of very fie ace pean atin te 5 e lightest colored and best drained agricultural soils in Br 3 rae County, in fact, they dominate the agriculture. Their gutrbinedl Pe Bee square miles, or 14.7 percent of the total area of the eb ey ne group includes Norfolk fine sandy loam, with a deep phase ended 3 ned ae ER as pany en names fine sandy ibe iedctan fife s ; Dunba : reer loam; and Onslow fine Baaliy eae Ey, Rice as attic wing to their position in the count; the 1 as ey occur on the breaks of the Teun Ge AS avikate ed gently rolling areas. Both surface drainage and internal araenaes ae sare pare ga Norfolk fine sandy loam, flat phase, Dunbar ae } ] and a part of Onslow fine sand drained soils occupy shghtly high Sea ae eT : y gher elevations on the broad fi undulating areas lying back of the better drai NHAC Hay ts included in the group of well-drained r sf hae ay Hage coi what better drainage than the poorly d CTPA A’, Te inece ineee open ditches leading into the nace ata eeas etd Hea mh drainage for them. in e original merchantable timber consisted main] ey pines, most of which has been cut, aad the Leh eats chiefly longleaf and shortleaf pines and white, red, black, Bost and ? SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 9 live oaks, together with some hickory, dogwood, sweetgum, cedar, black walnut, and holly. These soils are characterized by light-gray or grayish-yellow sur- face soils having a fairly uniform texture of loamy fine sand, with one small area of loamy sand. ‘They are classed as fine sandy loams because they have fine sandy clay subsoils. In the soils of the Nor- folk and Ruston series, the subsoils are fine sandy clays of yellow and reddish-yellow colors, respectively, whereas the Craven and Dun- bar soils have much heavier subsoils which are not so uniform in color. The subsoils in all these soils are capable of retaining much of the rainfall, thus maintaining good moisture conditions for growing lants, 7 The soils of this group, because of their open mellow surface soils and the friability of their subsoils, warm up early in the spring and are the first on which agricultural operations begin. They are all naturally low in organic matter, as indicated by their light color, and they are leached of most of the soluble plant nutrients, but their physical properties are so favorable that they respond readily to fertilization and produce the most profitable crops grown 1n this county. They are the best soils for the production of bright-leaf tobacco, cotton, peanuts, sweetpotatoes, and early truck crops. The climate, together with the soils, favors the production of a wide variety of truck and garden crops; and there is no reason why the growing of truck crops should not be expanded if and when there is sufficient demand. i ‘All the soils of this group are very easily tilled and require only shallow plowing and cultivation. and tools, as well as improved machinery, can be used advantageously, and lightweight work ani- mals meet the requirements for breaking and tilling the land. Norfolk fine sandy loam.—Although Norfolk fine sandy loam is of comparatively small acreage, it is one of the best soils in the county for the production of bright-leaf tobacco, cotton, sweetpota- toes, peanuts, and early truck crops, and it is one of the most de- ae soils developed in the Atlantic Coastal Plain section of the tate. The surface layer, to a depth of 5 or 7 inches, or to the depth of ordinary plowing in cultivated fields, is light-gray or grayish-yellow loamy fine sand. It is underlain by pale-yellow loamy fine sand or light fine sandy loam, which extends to a depth of 12 or 15 inches. The subsoil is yellow fine sandy clay which 1s friable and crumbly, of uniform color, and extends to a depth ranging from 30 to 35 inches, This layer, in turn, is underlain by mottled light-gray, light- red, and yellow rather heavy fine sandy clay material which is slightly sticky in some places but in other places is rather hard and brittle. Locally the surface soil of loamy fine sand extends to a depth of 20 inches, but in other places the covering of loamy fine sand over the yellow fine sandy clay is only 8 or 10 inches thick. Where Norfolk fine sandy loam adjoins Dunbar fine sandy loam or some of the other soils having heavier subsoils, the Norfolk subsoil is mottled at a depth ranging from 24 to 30 inches and is heavier than the typical subsoil. In some places where organic matter has been incorporated, the surface soil, to a depth of about 6 inches, is dark gray. In 72129—37——2 10 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 sas ep ue topmost 2 or 3 inches of the surface soil are eas Sea See to the presence of organic matter. In ae prone! as O Norfolk fine sandy loam on the small-scale ma ia Be xfs Tee anglude small spots of Norfolk fine eady and Craven fe pei wn mess fine sand, Dunbar fine sandy loam, ee . oe a of this soil occurs in the vicinities of Leland and seen ee a ong the Columbus County line in the northwestern aero ees y. A few smaller areas are scattered here and ous ae peuaueed sections. The relief ranges from almost qe Ce bee oe pees of the land is well drained, but in the ] Ss are necessary to car ff i oe : Bee: surface erosion thie has taken: ede id hoon filled eee me steeper breaks bordering swamps or marshy areas Boe y peace gs ithe Tid be cere and under cultivation, gether with a few scattered oak ed Se, ever ame Fie te aire oak, dogwood, hickory, and other trees ) 40 percent is devoted : tion of corn, 10 percent foltabs , Pi ence ceo, 10 percent to sweetpot percent to peanuts, 20 percent to ha’ bi eerste 3 y and legumes, and 1 oy truck crops. English peas, beets, cabbage, ancl ce: see ae " eae yceeaele erobe grown for market. fh s of corn range from 15 to 40 bushels i the sere applied and previous treatment of the ool tee vil a ere eanon ie oom is from 300 to 400 pounds of 3 ere u pounds of nitrate of soda as a to he. 2 ; maelds front 500 to 1,000 pounds an acre and is Aeeleaeer hae : PP ication ranging from 800 to 1,200 pounds of 3-83 0 a 5 fer ilizer. Sweetpotatoes yield from 80 to 250 bushels an Sou aes from 400 to 1,000 pounds an acre of 3-8-3 or ST ft an fe Hearts produce from 40 to 70 bushels an acre and ; ohiatle ‘ 1 Ta Nine from 300 to 500 pounds of 2-8-2 tertilizot: act P unds of land plaster when the plants are in bl ee ma e ame ee do rey cae the land is fertilized or hadeeed pare ne sandy loam, in addition t i 1 i a ihe production of the crops manana ae ec ‘the scuppernong grapes, cri i i ae and velvetbeans. The coil verses easy eee unate if Ss pau eter drains quickly, and, on account ai the fin ae aa ay sul soil, holds moisture well. It responds to appli ati aes commercial fertilizers and manures and the turni Traore man crops ing under of green- orfo ne sandy loam, deep phase.—T F -—The de por fine sandy loam occurs in close association See ae ane in th in some places with Norfolk fine sand. The dafvect, ae ni a ; fe vicinities of Leland and North West in the hig#theasternt rt ee pens and several small bodies are scattered in oth ae ; oil of this phase differs essentially from typical Norfolk fine a pam ee it has a thicker loamy fine sand surface la eae Pa ae ra on EOE en ail a ee ace commencing a a aept a L , is yellow friable fin i a court ranging from about 82 to 36 INGhBe ee, Missoni yellow, light-red, and gray fine sandy clay material tee SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 11 1 total extent, although it occurs in a number Because of its smal cf small widely scattered bodies, Norfolk loamy fine sand has been included with Norfolk fine sandy loam, deep phase, in mapping. The largest areas of the loamy fine sand le west of the mouth of Shal- lotte River along Saucepan Creek. This soil is loamy fine sand to a depth of 28 or 30 inches, where it grades into yellow very fine sandy loam or light fine sandy clay, and in some places it is under- lain by loose fine sand. The deep phase of Norfolk fine sandy loam is used for practically the same crops as is typical Norfolk fine sandy loam, but yields under the same fertilizer treatment and cultural methods are some- what lower. The included areas of Norfolk loamy fine sand are less productive under the same treatment. This deeper soil is well suited to the production of bright-leaf tobacco, peanuts, and early truck crops. It requires heavy applications of commercial fertilizers to produce fair yields. Owing to the thickness of the loamy fine sand over the fine sandy clay subsoil, it can be built up to a higher state of productivity through incorporation of organic matter than can Norfolk fine sand but not to the same extent as typical Norfolk fine sandy loam. Norfoik fine sandy loam, flat phase.—Norfolk fine sandy loam, flat phase, differs from typical Norfolk fine sandy loam in that it has a nearly level relief and is not so well drained. The topmost few inches of the surface soil are somewhat darkened, owing to the pres- ence of organic matter. This layer is underlain by yellow or pale- yellow loamy fine sand to a depth ranging from 10 to 15 inches. ‘The subsoil begins as yellow fine sandy clay, but it becomes mottled nging from 20 to 30 yellow, light gray, and light red at a depth rar i “nches. In most places it is slightly heavier than the subsoil of typical Norfolk fine sandy loam, and in color it resembles the subsoil of the well-drained Dunbar fine sandy loam. Practically all of Norfolk fine sandy loam, flat phase, occurs in the northeastern part of the county in the vicinity of North West and along the Columbus County line. Owing to the flatness of the land, surface drainage ranges from fair to poor. Open ditches are necessary to remove the excess rain water and to render this soil suitable for cultivation. Only a very small acreage is under cultivation. When drained and aerated the land will produce fair yields of corn, cotton, L is fertilized. ‘Tobacco will not do so weil on this poorly drained soil as on the better drained soils. The farmed areas are given about the same fertilization, the same methods of cultivation are practiced, and yields of the staple crops are not materially different from those obtained on typical Norfolk fine sandy loam. Norfolk sandy loam.—Norfolk sandy loam occupies a very small acreage, all of which is in the northeastern part of the county north of Leland and about 1 mile northeast of Phoenix. The relief ranges from almost level to undulating, and the land is fairly well drained, although some of the flatter parts would be improved by open ditches. Norfolk sandy loam differs essentially from Norfolk fine sandy loam in the texture of both the surface soil and subsoil, as both contain a considerable amount of medium and coarse sand. | ] | | Ne, BUREAU OF OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 Only a small acreage of this soil is under ivati i pours applications, and general Hari Mean pes bane nae are pune Uy the same as those on Norfolk fine sand ‘ica - ‘ Seon me sandy loam.—Craven fine sandy loam ac occupies aN RA ppeenee: Most of this soil occurs in several small areas are Cae ie Highway No. 117 southwest of Shallotte, three Pond on ge MLE ee ; is oie upndering ‘Orton ee and the land has good: TRbmEAlRate fans Sonera gent ifferentiated from Norfolk fine sandy loam in th a nee alis heavy clay. ; in that the subsoil is e 8- to 6-inch surface layer of j of gray, or grayish-yellow fine ee eae ea a i en es ee ee fine sandy loam which Petey t abel th on yl inches. The subsoil is yellow or pale-yellow a ee hoe eRe, ay, i ees heavy fine sandy clay, which Roniadeewe Aan sa ranging from 20 to 28 inches. Below this i : ttled sht-g y, yellow, and yellowish-red heavy rather tough i seuie eds cae to a depth ranging from 4 to more than 5 eS : c 4, which pias ae as soil ranges from 5 to 8 inches in thi 7 aes age 7 y ae e eee sloping areas where a part of ae Se ee aa He, et een removed by sheet erosion. The Hey eel sorb water readily, and, as soon as tl i aE eter etion Solna takes place. ss nStsonl tne herons neluded with mapped areas of Crave ee in which the fine sandy oe 7 7 wa wel se, ae Le it has been removed entirely, ex ae euerc i a g y plas “ variegated or mottled light-red ails Ss Fl ste pray oe : pa drying, this material Geckebintg Tubes! i te i ise ue ee areas occur for the most part on the oh sof t ae ue lsbaee ies being on the north side of Orto Pony dealt allotte River near Shallotte. Such spots h heb aetiet th mee except, possibly, for growing trees 8 i aceite anty raven fine sandy loam in its typical development is a good soil } but it does not drain so readily or warm up so quickly in the spring foo} as Norfolk fine sandy loam, owing to the heavy character of th e subsoil. On the other hand, it retai l t 9 and Bn other organic matter which hoe ce ee manures aa up to s fae state of productivity. The fos He 5 gion ba runswick County are used for practically the aoa, ae fat) fertilized in the same way, and Eun t le fapeatde et the same cultural methods are in use Ruston fine sandy loam, dee cop ign seine a total esi ie ate jean : ie an “ate an Pas and is exceptionally Sail Ghat read ers : ie mee ears ne : ine argest bodies lie alone Cape Fear Riv ear Folly Riper ORs +0: @ mouth of Walden Creek, along Tackwood , Royal Oak Swamp, and Town Creek. This is te ries maturely developed soil in the co i dati soil is further advanced than that of ee capt HEN The surface layer in cultivated fields is brownish-yellow loamy fine sand, ranging from 8 to 15 inches in thi th i pale-yellow loamy fine sand which Hi heise le sare eo) SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 18 depth ranging from 22 to 95 inches. This material is underlain rather abruptly by the reddish-brown or yellowish-brown friable fine sandy clay subsoil, and, at a depth ranging from 38 to 45 inches, this heavy layer, in turn, is underlain by material lighter in color and texture, which, at a depth of about, 4 feet, passes into pale-yellow fine sand. In places the subsoil begins at a depth ranging from 15 to 20 inches, and such areas would have been mapped as typical Ruston fine sandy loam had they been of sufficient size to show sep- arately on the soil map. Probably 65. percent of Ruston fine sandy loam, deep phase, is under cultivation. The principal crops are corn, soybeans, peas, watermelons, tobacco, and vegetables. This soil is a little more de- sirable than Norfolk fine sandy loam, deep phase. It is well man- aged, and crop yields are almost equal to those obtained on the Nor- folk soil. Watermelons do exceptionally well on the Ruston soil. Fertilization and cultural methods are the same as on Norfolk fine sandy loam. ; ; Dunbar fine sandy loam.—In cultivated fields the 5- to 7-inch surface layer of Dunbar fine sandy loam 1s light-gray or grayish- and. It is underlain by yellow dy loam which extends to a depth ranging from 10 to 14 inches. Below this is mottled yellow and light-gray rather heavy fine sandy clay or clay, which is slightly plastic and contains splotches of bright red. In most places, at a depth ranging from 386 to 40 inches, the gray and red colors be- come more pronounced and less yellow is present. In wooded areas the surface soil, to a depth of 3 or 5 inches, is dark gray, owing to the presence of organic matter. In some places the surface soil is only 6 or 8 inches thick, the pale-yellow subsurface layer being absent, and it grades directly into the typical heavy fine sandy clay subsoil. Locally, in small areas the subsoil is reddish-brown, this soil as mapped mottled with gray, heavy clay. Included with I are small spots of Dunbar very fine sandy loam and Coxville fine sandy loam. Dunbar fine sandy loam is widely scattered over the county, the largest areas occurring near and northeast of Bolivia, and around, west, and northwest of Shallotte. The total area 1s 33.3 square miles. This soil has developed for the most part on the almost level or undulating interstream divides. The relief of the greater part of the land is nearly level, and the land slopes gradually toward the natural drainageways. Although this soil has been classed in © the group of well-drained soils, it is not everywhere well drained. On more nearly level areas open ditches are necessary to drain the land, in order to render it suitable for crop use. This is one of the most important agricultural soils in the county, and probably a greater proportion of it than of any other soil is under cultivation, This soil, together with the associated Dunbar very fine sandy loam, constitutes a large part of the farming land. The principal crops are corn, sweetpotatoes, soybeans, cotton, and peanuts, together with some tobacco and garden vegetables. Where properly drained the land will produce as high yields of corn, pea- nuts, soybeans, and sweetpotatoes as Norfolk fine sandy loam under similar cultural methods. Acre yields of corn range from 20 to 40 or grayish-yellow heavy fine san 14 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 bushels where from 200 to 400 pounds of 3-8-8 fertilizer and 100 pounds of nitrate of soda have been applied. Cotton yields from one-fourth to three-fourths of a bale and usually receives from 300 to 500 pounds of 3-8-3 or 4-8-5 fertilizer. Some farmers apply nitrate of soda as a top dressing. Sweetpotatoes yield well on the lighter textured areas and are usually fertilized with from 800 to 1,000 pounds of 5-7-5 fertilizer. Some tobacco is grown on the better drained areas or those having a deep fine sandy loam surface soil, and some is grown on the areas of heavier soil, not because the soil is well suited to its production, but because the farmers need a cash crop and tobacco seems to meet this demand. Fertilizer for tobacco ranges from 400 to 800 pounds an acre of a 3-8-3 or 5-7-5 mixture. Peanuts give fair returns and usually receive an acre appli- cation ranging from 300 to 500 pounds of 2-8-2 fertilizer and about 400 pounds of land plaster at blooming time. A few cowpeas and soybeans are grown, and these do well when fertilized or planted with other crops which are fertilized. Some oats and pasture grasses are also grown. Strawberries do fairly well but do not produce quite so well as on Coxville fine sandy loam. This soil ranges from medium acid to strongly acid, and for the best growth of leguminous crops, such as clovers, from 1 to 2 tons of lime are necessary to neutralize the acidity. By turning under green-manure crops, together with the proper rotation of crops, the Tand can be brought to a fair state of productivity. The subsoil is of such character that it holds fertilizers and manures well. The soil has fairly good moisture-holding capacity. It is easy to culti- vate but does not warm up or drain so quickly as Norfolk fine sandy loam. Dunbar very fine sandy loam.—Dunbar very fine sandy loam is gray or grayish-yellow very fine sandy loam to a depth ranging from 4 to 6 inches, or the depth of plowing. This layer is underlain by a 4- to 6-inch layer of pale-yellow or grayish-yellow heavy very fine sandy loam. The upper subsoil layer consists of yellow rather heavy friable very fine sandy clay extending to a depth ranging from 14 to 18 inches, and the lower subsoil layer is mottled red, yellow, and gray heavy slightly plastic clay which continues to a depth ranging from 8 to 4 feet. In the lower part of the subsoil the red mottling may increase or the gray may be more pronounced, and in places this layer is underlain by mottled yellow, red, and gray material of variable texture and structure. In places the surface soil is rather shallow and rests directly on the subsoil, as the pale- yellow subsurface layer is absent. In a few placés the subsoil begins as yellow, slightly mottled with gray and red, heavy very fine sandy clay or clay. Dunbar very fine sandy loam occurs in level areas, and artificial drainage is necessary for best results in farming. The largest areas are in the central part of the county, in the vicinities of Bolivia and Mill Creek Church, and in the western part in the vicinity of Long- wood. Smaller bodies are in other parts. The total area is 10.5 square miles. The greater part of this soil is under cultivation. Corn, cotton, sweetpotatoes, soybeans, peanuts, and tobacco are the chief crops grown, all of which give satisfactory yields. The grade of tobacco SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 15 is not so good as on the lighter colored and lighter textured fine sandy loams. About 45 percent of this soil is planted to corn, 20 percent to sweetpotatoes, 15 percent to tobacco, 10 percent to peanuts, and 10 percent to other crops. Acre yields of corn range from 30 to 45 bushels, cotton one-half to three-fourths bale, and peanuts 50 to 80 bushels. Soybeans return heavy yields, but they are usually left in the fields for hogs. Much of the peanut acreage also is “hogged off.” The same mixtures and quantities of fertilizer are used on this soil as on Dunbar fine sandy loam. This soil does not drain so readily nor warm up so quickly as Dunbar fine sandy loam. It can be built up to a fair state of productivity through the incorporation of organic matter and the application of liberal quantities of lime. Onslow fine sandy loam.—Onslow fine sandy loam in forested areas is characterized by a 2- to 4-inch dark-gray surface layer, a 1- to 3-inch light-gray subsurface layer, and a 1- to 5-inch coffee- brown layer of hard material containing streaks and specks of lighter colored material. Below the hardpan layer the material is pale- yellow loamy fine sand which extends to a depth ranging from 14 to 18 inches. The true subsoil is drab-yellow sticky fine sandy clay or clay. In cultivated fields the surface soil is gray or brownish- gray loamy fine sand or fine sandy loam to the depth of plowing, which in most places extends below the brown indurated layer. This hard layer is broken into small yellowish-brown aggregates, ranging in size from one-eighth inch to 2 inches in diameter, scattered over the surface and intermingled with the surface soil. In places the hardpan layer loses its identity after the soil has been cultivated for a long time. Many areas mapped as Norfolk and Dunbar soils had this brown indurated layer before cultivation. The subsoil is under- lain by dull yellowish-gray heavy material mottled with light brown. © Onslow fine sandy Ioam is not uniformly developed. In some wooded areas the brown layer is absent, and in some places in the fields no concretions occur, but these spots are not large and other- wise are similar to the Onslow soil. Natural drainage on this soil is not so good as on Norfolk fine sandy loam but is somewhat better than on some areas of the Dunbar soils. The land ranges from level to gently rolling, and in places open ditches are necessary for ade- quate drainage. Onslow fine sandy loam is the largest semiwell-drained soil in the county. It has a total area of 41.5 square miles. It occurs through- out all the well-drained sections, the largest bodies lying in a belt across the central part of the county from Grissett Town in the southwestern part to Lanvale in the northeastern part. A few small areas are in other parts. This is considered a fair soil, but only about 10 percent of it is in cultivation. About 40 percent of the cultivated land is devoted to corn, 15 percent to tobacco, 20 percent to sweetpotatoes, 10 percent to cotton, 10 percent to peanuts, and 5 percent to potatoes and garden vegetables. Corn yields from 15 to 25 bushels an acre, tobacco 800 to 1,200 pounds, sweetpotatoes 60 to 250 bushels, cotton one-fourth to three-fourths bale, and peanuts 35 to 75 bushels. The fertilizer treatment is essentially the same as that for Norfolk fine sandy loam and Dunbar fine sandy loam. 16 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 DARK-COLORED POORLY DRAINED FINE SANDY LOAMS AND LOAMS The group of dark-colored poorly drained soils includes Bladen loam, Coxville fine sandy loam, Coxville loam, Plummer fine sandy loam, Ochlockonee loam, Congaree silt loam, and Myatt fine sandy loam. These soils occupy 183.4 square miles, or 15.5 percent of the total area of the county. Bladen loam, Coxville fine sandy loam, Coxyville loam, and Plummer fine sandy loam are upland soils, Ochlockonee loam and Congaree silt loam are developed on the first bottoms, and Myatt fine sandy loam occurs on the low second bot- toms, or terraces. The upland soils occupy almost level areas and have not been invaded in many places by natural drainageways. The surface maintains the original constructional form, for the most part, as when the material was lifted from the ocean. All the soils in this group are naturally poorly drained, and Ochlockonee loam and Congaree silt loam are subject to frequent and sometimes long- continued overflows. Most of these soils range from dark gray to grayish brown and are intermediate in color between the light-colored soils of the first group and the black soils of the third group. They contain more organic matter than the light-colored well-drained soils and are strongly acid in reaction. With the exception of Plummer fine sandy loam, all the soils in this group are heavier in texture, both in the surface soil and subsoil, than the soils of the first group. The subsoils are dominantly mottled, which feature indicates poor drainage and incomplete aeration and oxidation. The tree growth consists of sweetgum, black gum, cypress, maple, shortleaf pine, and longleaf pine, with an undergrowth in some places of baybushes, gallberry bushes, and bamboo briers (green- brier.) Practically all the growth on the Plummer soils is longleaf pine, together with some black gum. These soils, with the exception of Plummer fine sandy loam and Myatt fine sandy loam, are inherently good and could be farmed if they were artificially drained. Bladen loam, Coxville fine sandy loam, and Coxville loam can be drained satisfactorily by canals supplemented by open ditches. The open ditches are lasting and serviceable in these soils, as the walls stand up exceptionally well because of the heavy texture and structure of the subsoils. Water does not penetrate these soils so readily as it does the light-textured fine sandy loams, and drainage for the most part must be from the surface. The Plummer and Myatt soils offer more difficulty as re- gards drainage, because the ditches are subject to frequent filling by fine sand sloughing in from the sides. With the exception of Coxville fine sandy loam, Coxville loam, and a small part of Bladen loam, none of the land is cleared or cultivated. More of the Bladen soil was formerly farmed than at present. The Bladen soils, from Florida to North Carolina, are used for the production of potatoes. Soybeans and corn are pro- duced on them in North Carolina. The Coxville soils when drained are well suited to the production of strawberries, soybeans, cabbage, and late truck crops. Congaree silt loam and Ochlockonee loam would produce large yields of corn and hay if they were drained and reclaimed, SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 7, Bladen loam.—The surface soil of Bladen loam consists of an 8- or 10-inch layer of dark-gray or grayish-brown loam which in some places is nearly black when moist but dries to a grayish-brown color. The dark color is due to the high organic-matter content. In most places the upper part of the subsoil is drab-gray or yellowish- gray clay loam or clay, streaked with rust brown. ‘The subsoil proper, beginning at a depth ranging from 12 to 18 inches, is steel-gray heavy plastic clay, mottled or streaked with rust brown or ocher yellow. The material in this layer is very plastic, and the gray color becomes more pronounced with depth. Included with Bladen loam in mapping are a few areas of Bladen fine sandy loam which differs from the loam in having a fine sandy loam surtace soil, but the subsoil is practically identical with that of the loam. The largest areas of this kind le 1 mile southwest of Winnabow and 2 and 5 miles east of Grissett Town. ‘These included areas have about the same relief and drainage conditions as Bladen joam. Only a few spots are under cultivation, and the crop yields are practically the same as on the loam soil. ‘ : Bladen loam covers a total area of 41.4 square miles. It occupies several rather large areas fairly well scattered throughout the county. The largest bodies are south of North West, east of Bolivia, 3 miles southwest of Supply, south of Camp Branch Church, south of Long- wood, south and west of Makatoka, and at other places in the western part of the county. The land is flat, and much of it is m a seml- swampy poorly drained condition. Much of it, however, could be successfully drained by canals and lateral ditches. Although this soil has a rather large total acreage, only a very small proportion of it is cultivated, and the rest is used in part for pasture and for the growth of timber. A few small areas which have been artificially drained are devoted to the production of corn, oats, hay, and soybeans. In some areas covered by second-growth forest, the ridges of former corn rows may still be seen, indicating that this land was cultivated many years ago; in fact, some of the land was drained and cultivated prior to the Civil War, and it is stated that high yields of corn, cotton, and potatoes were obtained. Corn yields from 30 to 50 bushels an acre and is fertilized with a 3-8 3 mixture applied at a rate ranging from 300 to 400 pounds an acre. Soybeans are well suited to this soil, and oats do fairly well. Inherently this is one of the best upland soils in the county, and where thoroughly drained, and limed sufficiently to correct the strongly acid condition, it will produce good yields of corn, soybeans, and hay. Potatoes also do well. The soil offers possibilities for future development. tue - Coxville loam.—Coxville loam in a virgin condition covered by native grass is gray or dark-gray loam to a depth of 4 or 6 inches. Tt is underlain by gray heavy fine sandy loam mottled with yellow, and this material, at a depth ranging from 9 to 12 inches, passes into the upper subsoil layer of mottled yellow and gray heavy fine sandy clay which contains a few red splotches in the lower part. This ma- terial, in turn, at a depth ranging from 18 to 22 inches, passes into: the lower subsoil layer consisting of gray and yellow mottled heavy somewhat tough clay splotched with bright red. Ata depth of about 72129—37——_3 18 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 34 inches the red color in most pl places becomes more pronoun , ee 3 depth between 4 and 5 feet. Tactic’ with: the out loam, Binnie ea. GRRE ae ne eee ee of Coxville silt loam are about 2 miles si OnE : ; s northeast of Hi - Srighae ye ae ee is ayeue é Heaps northwest of Dhaeee foes l m differs from Coxville loam only in text - Seana is silt loam, and in its Sa ae ant ae ae Hales ; e ue is one of the most extensive soils in the grou of EutDulont db urciderriana: tae Goont al Ee tascet | sated hroughout part of the county. e largest bodies ¢ west of Winnabow, west, north, and east of Bolivi del Lighaabat northwest of Makatoka, and west of W: Pee amas ace the land is so flat that water stands orithe Rate ae months of each year. Most of this soil in its ae ae d hit penditien is not suited to agriculture, but along the Bounaaeroe ween this and the Dunbar soils, some of the Coxville soil h: oy a drained and cultivated. The principal crops are corn fre mist cotton, peanuts, and oats. The same kinds and quantities of till? zers are used as on the adjoining Dunbar soils. With wth oo drainage system of open ditches this soil should give sati ives nas os pean SO, ae and corn. Ha oxville fine sandy loam.—The surface soi i loam consists of dark-gray or Melee eee ing in thickness from 6 to 10 inches. The subsoil heath: sian OHIO yellow and gray rather heavy fine sandy clay ane epee: mottled yellow and gray heavy sticky fine sandy clay or flay ee ing splotches or streaks of bright red. In places thee b an Ve plastic clay which continues to a depth of 3 feet or d aoa ee The relief is level, and drainage is poor. This Gileae nS of 10.7 square miles and is rather widely scattered praaetle sonia and western parts of the county. The largest bodied r A ane a oF of Shiloh Church, at and south of Gain: oe 4 Sais aniene Lone ae a accamaw School, and near and northeast of m account of poor drainage, Coxvi i farmed except in small areas in Sune ELUM or oll This soil around Chadbourn in Columbus County i d a i ee nk io) Sean ynigbEG rates yields ot eA i soc rts an acre. is soi itching, limi i can be made productive ahaa all a Le Roles ee: beans, peanuts, strawberries, and other crops "The dbldeia! ‘the small acreage of this land under cultivation are abbott th ee those on Dunbar fine sandy loam, as the same crops are a om ie two soils and they receive the same fertilizer inconenee Cen | 8 — s— = ous soil-improvement crops, both aves greater use of legumin- ~ |e] ae]3 3 $ 3 ac and draw on the sneEhaabibie aeaple prmite Cees ecips BE é 2 = at . om G 5 £0) j s Be ie ee eee cere robe ellertive, it will be Aeesniy to plbw ee iS Lela sora gh a from i emoving everything 3 i ; are aS soil. The best legumes to Fp fi except \the stubble 5 Malwicerks: i a ewe eans, cowpeas, velvetbeans, lesped e fine sandy loam soils S Sted fates ene i ai and Austrian winter peas, and for the ae eza, crimson clover, vetch, g s Butow iio i 3 veteh pat Crotalaria are recommended mprovement of the sand soils Ss gs i 3 n : : s ' = aerial aa a Sta dations made by the North Carolina Agri | S 3A : aa ation for the use of fertili olina Agri- s le 38 crops grown on many of the farming soil a ilizer for the principal 3 3e H AS 2 i 3 g : 2 ee These recommendations are eked. Brunswick County are g 28 St fi periments, over a period of several years, at t the results of, eld g ge | = 8? 23 eld plots on the extensive and i years, at the substations and on = Ele sae $8 Carolina. mportant soils in eastern North S “938 Ze 2 su oS tb 8 te3 b gis 4Bvarr, E. C. AN OPPORTUN! Ss Zee 2 Col. Ext. Mi ITY—USDB RB) ‘3 33 fa eng : THEM tetpa hich: 24-45 poi O35 a mnammeE Ol N. C. Agr. 3 see 3 ges a 5 Fed tat Meth eer Pe 5 iit : pita | Be 8 Hara ' pi] & = Pi@igiariss rit | g T Hg iaal|s L Hdd HS ig it ig | & = 2 EEEEEE CREE ee 4 a POSES ge tp! 8 118 | 8 be to tt pay & 5 geez etegs is | ipeg ie | a BEES GaSe ‘Oi igeeaur | 3 a 2seetoda saga geefas | = PEEP EE EE CEE DE LE be FI Hagee ee-Souucgase | & PPE EEG eee reer Ere e BagSseERe es Senna - Baz aRe SSS Saamazeano 36 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 Few of the farmers practice a systematic crop rotation leading toward building up their land to a higher state of productivity. The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station recommends the following 3-year rotation: First year, corn (for grain) with velvet- beans (for grazing) planted between the corn rows, Abruzzi rye broadcast over the land in the fall (for grazing and turning ander second year, corn (for grain) with soybeans (for seed and grazing, with the vines turned under), oats and vetch sown in the fall; third year, either oats and vetch for hay or soybeans for hay, peanuts (for hay or grazing) or sweetpotatoes, Abruzzi rye and vetch or crimson clover following the sweetpotatoes in the fall. Another 3-year rotation is: First year, corn; second year, sweet- eae third year, soybeans for seed (the vines being turned under). The corn crop, whenever possible, is followed by tobacco which is followed by soybeans. According to the experience of some of the best farmers, hairy vetch or soybeans make the soil too rich for to- bacco, since the higher light sandy soils are used for this crop. On the darker and heavier soils, crops are rotated and legumes are planted with all crops wherever possible. In some parts of the county, tobacco frequently follows cotton, and in the third year corn is planted. Hither soybeans, velvetbeans, or cowpeas are planted in the rows between the corn or, in some places, sown broadcast. The best farmers recognize that it is highly impor- tant to have a leguminous crop in the rotation, either to be turned under while green, or, when soybeans, velvetbeans, and peanuts are planted, to turn under the vines, after the crop has been “hogged off.” The following publications from the North Carolina State College at Raleigh will provide helpful information for the cultivation of the soils in Brunswick County: North Carolina Agricultural Col- lege Extension Circulars, 165 Crop Rotations for the Coastal Plain Section of North Carolina, 24 How to Use Lime on the Farm, 127 Soybean Growing in North Carolina, and 57 Soybeans—A Future Economic Factor in North Carolina; North Carolina Department of Agriculture Bulletin 41 (5), Farm Practice with Soybeans; and North Carolina Agricultural College Agronomy Information Circu- lar 11, Results of Soil Building Demonstrations in North Carolina. SOILS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION Brunswick County lies in the region of the Red and Yellow soils along the Atlantic seaboard within the flatwoods section of the Atlan- tic Coastal Plain. About 55 percent of the soils are dark colored and all these, together with some of the light-colored soils, are poorly drained. Over large areas in the western and central parts of the county, natural drainage has not been well established, and in such areas the relief maintains the constructional form of the land as laid down by the sea. In general, these areas are higher than the surrounding soils, still they are so flat that rain water runs off very slowly. The elevation of the county ranges from sea level to about 80 feet above. All the soils were developed under a forest cover consisting of longleaf and shortleaf pines, some oaks, a few dogwood, considerable cypress, juniper, gums, and pond pine, and in many places a thick undergrowth of briers, baybushes, other bushes, and wire grass. All SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 37 the well-drained soils and some of the poorly drained soils are light colored and contain only a small quantity of organic matter. In some places in the wooded areas, a thin layer of leaf mold covers the surface or a small amount of organic matter is in the topmost 2- or 3-inch layer of the surface soil of the normally well-drained soils. In some of the poorly drained soils, such as the Portsmouth and Hyde, the surface soil, to a depth ranging from 6 to 15 inches, con- tains a large amount of organic matter which has accumulated through the growth and decay of vegetation over a long period. The soils range from medium acid to very strongly acid, the dark-colored and more poorly drained soils being the most acid. Some of these soils have a pH value ranging from 3.8 to 4.6 (table 5, p. 39). The light-colored well-drained soils have been subjected to considerable leaching of the mineral plant nutrients by rain water. On account of the generally level relief, very little erosion has taken place, and this is confined to the steeper slopes and breaks bordering the streams, swamps, or tidal-marsh areas. In a few places along Cape Fear River, the action of waves is cutting back into the upland. The soils of this county may be divided broadly into two groups— mineral soils and cumulose, or organic, soils. The mineral soils com- prise about 85 percent of the total area. Most of the soils are em- bryonic, or young, as regards profile development, that is, only very small areas have developed a normal soil profile. The various stages of soil development constituting an ascending series from the young- est soils to the most mature are as follows: Swamp or tidal marsh, Portsmouth, Bladen, Coxville, Dunbar, Norfolk, and Ruston. Nor- folk fine sandy loam and Ruston fine sandy loam, deep phase, may be considered the only soils having a normally developed profile. In these soils the light texture of the A horizon indicates that consider- able eluviation has taken place, whereas the B horizon, or the seat of deposition or accumulation of the fine materials, shows evidence of jlluviation. The B horizon is uniform in color and structure, and the change from the material of the B horizon to that of the C horizon is marked. The soils of this county have been derived, through the soil-form- ing processes, from beds of unconsolidated clays, sandy clays, and fine sands. These materials differ considerably from place to place. Some of the material is rather hard and compact, but brittle, and in places shows stratification or bedding. The parent materials un- derlying the Norfolk, Ruston, Onslow, and Blanton soils consists mainly of fine sandy clays, interbedded with fine sands, whereas the parent materials underlying the Bladen, Craven, Dunbar, and Cox- ville soils are heavy clays and consist of beds of clays or heavy fine sandy clays, which are dominantly gray, with mottlings of brown and yellow. ‘The character of the parent materials has influenced largely the heaviness or character of the B horizons and, in some places, the A horizons of the extensive and important soils. Owing to poor drainage, aeration, and oxidation, as a result of the high water table, most of the soils of this county have not developed normal soil profiles. Following is a description of a profile of Norfolk fine sandy loam, observed one-half mile south of North West: Ax 0 to 8 inches, dark-gray loamy fine sand containing enough organic matter to produce the dark color. 38 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 Az, 8 to 15 inches, pale-yellow heavy loamy fine sand. This layer, together with the A: layer, constitutes the eluviated horizon. The material has a single-grained structure. B. 15 to 34 inches, yellow fine sandy clay which is mellow, friable, of uni- form color, and lacks definite structural characteristics. It crumbles readily to a friable mealy mass. This is the illuviated horizon. C. 34 to 50 inches +, mottled yellow, light-gray, and light-red sticky fine sandy clay. The soils of the Ruston series differ essentially from those of the Norfolk series, in that the B horizon is yellowish-red or yellowish- brown friable fine sandy clay and the underlying material is yellow- ish-brown very friable fine sandy clay or pale-yellow fine sand. The soils of the Dunbar series differ from those of the Norfolk series, in that the surface soil is more nearly fine sandy loam or very fine sandy loam and the underlying material is heavier and becomes noticeably mottled at a depth ranging from 18 to 24 inches, where it grades into mottled yellow and gray heavy fine sandy clay contain- ing some red splotches. The soils of the Onslow series are characterized by a 1- to 4-inch brown compact layer a few inches below the surface, consisting of fine sand or silt which has been cemented by organic matter or a small amount of iron. In some places the material in this layer is merely brown-stained loamy fine sand. The principal differences between the soils of the Craven series and those of the Norfolk series is that the B horizon of the Craven soils is heavy slightly plastic tough clay which, in exposed cuts, on drying breaks into irregular-shaped very hard lumps. Following is a description of a profile of Leon fine sand, a so-called Ground-Water Podzol, observed one-half mile north of Moors Creek on State Highway No. 303: 0 to 5 inches, gray fine sand containing enough organie matter to produce the gray color. 5 to 18 inches, light-gray or almost white loose and incoherent fine sand. 18 to 80 inches, black, dark-brown, or coffee-brown hardpan, the upper 1 or 2 inches of which is black and very hard and the lower part dark brown, becoming lighter brown and more friable toward the bottom of the Jayer. The hardpan consists of fine sand cemented with organic matter. 80 to 50 inches, grayish-brown or brown fine sand grading imperceptibly into stained brown fine sand and thence into gray fine sand. _ The soils of the St. Johns series differ from those of the Leon series in that they have black surface soils, owing to the presence of a large quantity of organic matter, and are poorly drained. The black layer either rests on the hardpan or, in some places, on a thin layer of light-gray fine sand which occurs between the black surface layer and the hardpan. Following is a description of a profile of Bladen loam, observed about one-half mile west of Mills Creek on State Highway No. 303: 0 to 9 inches, dark-gray or grayish-brown loam containing a considerable amount of organic matter. When wet this material is almost black. 9 to 18 inches, drab or yellowish-gray fine sandy clay streaked and splotched with rust-brown mottles. 18 to 65 inches, steel-gray heavy plastic clay mottled and streaked with brownish yellow or ocher yellow. ‘The steel-gray color of the third layer becomes more pronounced with depth. The clay material is sticky and plastic when wet and can easily be pulled from the grooves of the soil auger without break- . as f SOIL SURVEY OF BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 39 ing. On drying the clay breaks into cubes or irregular-shaped lumps, ranging from 6ne-fourth inch to 2 inches in diameter, and it shows a slight gray coloration along breakage lines. The Coxville soils differ from the Bladen soils in that the surface material is light in color and the underlying material is mottled yellow and gray heavy fine sandy clay or clay, splotched with bright red. The Congaree and Ochlockonee soils are developed in the first bottoms and are subject to frequent overflows. ‘The Congaree soils occur in the northern part of the county along Cape Fear River north of Navassa. They are developed from sediments brought down from the piedmont-plateau region and from the Atlantic Coastal Plain region and deposited by this river. The Ochlockonee soils have been formed by the deposition of material washed from the soils of the Atlantic Coastal Plain region. The soils of the Portsmouth, Hyde, and Johnston series are char- acterized by black surface soils, and the Hyde soil is black to a depth of 8 feet or deeper. The Hyde and Portsmouth soils owe their origin to Atlantic Coastal Plain materials and are upland soils, whereas the Johnston soils occur in the first bottoms and have been formed from materials washed from the Atlantic Coastal Plain soils and deposited by the streams. : The cumulose, or organic, soils are mapped as Pamlico muck, Pamlico muck, shallow phase, peat, and peaty muck. These soils occur in large areas and are confined to the western part of the county. Peat consists almost entirely of organic matter, that is, brown fibrous organic remains, such as leaves, twigs, moss, and fine roots. It is much more fibrous than Pamlico muck. The organic material giving rise to Pamlico muck is fairly well decomposed, is black, and contains considerable very fine sand and silt. Meadow, swamp, tidal marsh, and coastal beach are largely de- posits of mineral materials. Meadow, although wet the greater part of the time, is not so wet as swamp. These materials occur in the first bottoms along the streams. Tidal marsh, which is salty, lies between coastal beach areas and the mainland. Coastal beach is light-brown fine sand composing the present beach along the ocean. Table 5 gives the pH values of several soils. The determinations were made in the laboratories of the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils by the hydrogen-electrode method. TABLE 5.—pH determinations of several soils from Brunswick County, N.C. Soil type and sample no. Depth| pH Soil type and sample no. Depth | pH dy loam: Inches Onslow fine sandy lo: ee AG ns 4.2 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.2 4.9 3.7 4.2 3.8 238214_ Sis 38-+- 4.4 4.3 || Portsmouth fine sandy loam: 3.9 238226_. 0-14 4.4 4.6 238227. 4.5 238228 _ 4.6 40 BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY AND SOILS, 1932 SUMMARY Brunswick County is the most southerly county in North Carolina. It lies along the Atlantic Ocean and borders the State of South Caro- lina. It is located in the seaward, or flatwoods, part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The elevation ranges from sea level to 80 feet above. The relief is, in general, level or undulating, with some gently roll- ing and sloping areas, interspersed with many bays and Scprecstitl Probably not more than 30 percent of the land is naturally well drained. All the drainage is effected, through Cape Fear and Wac- camaw Rivers and their tributaries, into the Atlantic Ocean. The climate is mild and pleasant. Rainfall is abundant and well distributed throughout the year. No county in North Carolina has a more favorable climate for growing a wide variety of farm crops, truck crops, and winter vegetables. One of the outstanding features of this county, as reported by the 1935 census, is that only slightly more than 6 percent of the total area is cleared and under cultivation. This low percentage of land in use is due to two important factors, namely, inadequate drain- age and large areas of poor soils. The many different soils range in agricultural value from inherently the poorest to some of the best in the Atlantic Coastal Plain section of the State. There is a large aggregate acreage of various types of fine-textured sand, large areas of Pamlico muck and peat, and a considerable area of swamp, tidal marsh, and coastal beach. The group of miscel- laneous land types constitutes, in the main, soils so inherently poor as to preclude them from being used for the production of crops, and their only use is for forestry. Some of them even do not grow trees suitable for commercial timber. Another group of soils, which comprise a large acreage, includes the soils of the Bladen, Coxville, Hyde, Congaree, Ochlockonee, and some types of the Portsmouth series. These are naturally good soils, capable of producing large yields of certain crops, but they are barred, for the most part, from use by adverse drainage conditions. With the exception of the soils of the first bottoms, all these soils can be drained and reclaimed for agricultural purposes by canals and open lateral ditches. The soils which dominate the agriculture of Brunswick County and produce the greater part of all the agricultural products are the light-colored fine sandy loams of the Norfolk, Ruston, Craven, Ons- low, and Dunbar series. These soils are for the most part naturally well drained, warm up quickly in the spring, and respond to the application of commercial fertilizers and to the turning under of green-manure crops. ; The food physical properties of these soils, together with the favorable climate, adapt them to the production of bright-leaf to- bacco, peanuts, cotton, sweetpotatoes, and truck crops, which are the main cash crops of the farmers in this county. Corn, sweet- potatoes, hay for forage, cowpeas, soybeans, velvetbeans, and garden vegetables comprise the subsistence crops. ; If and when it is necessary to produce more truck crops to meet the demands and also to grow more of the staple crops, the soils and climate offer advantages for further expansion in the cultivated acreage. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1937 Yi Li yy 3 WH a Lewy \ Y Ui, SY 5 iy ip Ye yp y Yj a RYE Yf, ee . YT i Xe WYLLIE 04) . pl i g YY j YG Z Ve S3¥015 MM Y af <4 NOSiQUW * iB : z eee : - - PT ease care a aE A RCE NUR RT pe tn sy tn I — PE UL OF IM ee MARR UNS MR TN, CM oy TERK ee