Pictou County Nova Scotia
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SOIL SURVEY of Pictou County Nova Scotia bY D. B. CANN and R. E. WICKLUND CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENTAL FARMS SERVICE -- REPORT NO. 4-NOVA SCOTIA $011 SURVEY TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA - MARCH, 1950 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS SERVICE Canada Department of Agriculture IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, TRURO, AND NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 3M-15248-9:51 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The soi1 survey of Pictou County was undertaken as a joint project by the Experimental Farins Service and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. The Nova Scotia rlgricultural College at Triiro provided laboratory facilities and a headquarters for the work. The field work was carried out by Messrs. R. E. Wicklund, D. B. Cann, J. D. Hilchey and D. C. McKay. The cheinical and physical analyses of the soils were made by J. D. Hilchey and D. C. 1lcKay of the survey staftf. The authors gratefullj- acknowlcdge the assistance and information received from Mr. E. Milligan, Dr. -4.E. Roland, Provincial Botaiiist and othei members of the Collegc staff. Mr. P. C. Stobbe, Supervisor of Soil Surveys, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, iiispected the field work and offered many helpful suggestions. The base maps used on the survey were supplied by the Departmeiit of Mines and Technical Surveys, Ottawa. The Soil Map was prepared for litho- graphing by the Cartographic Section of the Field Husbandry, Soils and Agri- cultural Engineering Division, Central Esperimental Farm, Ottawa. CONTENTS PAGE Acknondedgments ........................................................................... 2 Introduction....................................................................................... 5 Part 1. General Description of the Area Location and Extent ................................................................. 5 Population and Racial Origin ........................................................ G Transportation and Markets ......................................................... G Non-Agricultural Industries .......................................................... 7 Part II . Factors Affecting Soil Formation in Pietou County The Geological Materials from wfiich the Pictou Couiity Soils Have Bceii Formed .... 8 Relief and Drainage .............................. ...................... 13 Climate ............................................................................. 13 ................................................................ 15 ................................................................ 1G Erosion ................................................ ......................... 16 Part III . Classification and Description of the Soils .............................................................. 17 Soil Survey Methods ................................................................ 18 Soil Classification ................................................................... 19 Key to the Soils of Pictou County ................................................... 19 Discussion of Soils ................................................................... 20 A . Soils Developed Jrom Till Queens Association ................... .......................................... 21 Nappan Association .................................................................. 23 Londonderry Association. ........................................................... 25 Joggins Association .................................................................. 2G Pugmash Association ................. ........................................... 27 Woodbourne Association ............................................................. 29 Merigomish Association ............................................................. 30 Millbrook Association ............................................................... 32 Barney Association .................................................................. 33 Kirkhill Association ................................................................. 35 Tormentine Association., ............................................................ 36 Hansford Association ................................................................ 37 ............................................................ 39 Kirkinount Association .............................................................. 40 Thom Association ................................................................... 41 Halifax Association .................................................................. 42 Gibraltar Association ................................................................ 43 Cobequid Association ................................................................ 44 Westbrook Association ............................................................... 45 B . Soils Developed Jrom Water Deposited Materiais Hebert Association .................................................................. 47 Sterviacke Association ............................................................... 48 Cumberland Association ............................................................. 49 C . Miscel2oneous Soils Swamp.............................................................................. 50 Salt hlarsh .......................................................................... 50 Part IV . Agricultzm History and Development of Agriculture ............................................. 51 Land Use and hlanngement of Pictou County Soils ................................... 53 Land Usc Capability and Productivity Rating ....................................... 55 Part V . Discussion of Analytical Data., ......................................................... 60 Summary ............................................................................... 65 3 86877-2 INTRODUCTION This report deals mith'the soils of Pictou county and is the fourth in a series of reports on the soils of Sova Scotia. It covers an area of approxiniately 1,118 square miles. The primary purpose of the report is to describe the various soils found in the county, the factors governing their formation and develop- nient and their relative suitability for agricultural purposes. One of the most important parts of a soil survey report is the soil inap which accompanies it. This inap shows the location and edent of the various soils and their relation to one another. The scale of the map used does not permit very detailed separations and consequently it does not show sniall variations in the soils on any individual farni. Such variations are described in the report. The first part of the report deals with a general description of the area-its location, population, transportation facilities and industries. This is followed by a section on the factors which affect the formation of the soils and their developinent . The main body of the report is devoted to the classification and description of the various soils and their suitability for agriculture. Finally, the agriculture of the area and its relation to the various soils is discussed. An attempt is made to rate the soils according to their ability to produce crops econoinically. This is necessarily a general rating, since sufficieiit accurate information on crop yields is difficult to obtain. It is subject to revision as linowledge of the soils grows. The influence of soil erosion on crop production and management of the various soils is discussed. This is an important factor, too often neglected or not recognized by the farmer. The information in this report has a wide variety of uses and applications. Its first object is to supply the farmer with information about his soil. Research workers and soil specialists will be interested in the aspects of soil analysis and soil classification. Other worliers such as those interested in soil conservation, land-use planning, recreational facilities, highway construction, forestry, wild- life conservation and real estate, or students and teachers of soil science will find useful information throughout the report. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA Location and Extent Pictou county occupies a central position in the north shore area of Sova Scot,ia. Geographically it lies between 45'15' and 45'45' north latitude and between 62'00' and 63'15' West longitude. Korthuniberland Strait forms its northern boundary and it lies between Colchester county on the west and Antig-. onish county on the east. Guysborough county forins the southern boundary. The greatest distance from east to west is approsiniately 48 miles and from north to south, 34 miles. The total area of the county is given as 1,124 square miles or 719,360 acres. This iacludes lakes, harbors and rivers, so that the total land are8 is 1,117.9 square miles or 715,456 acres. Pictou, the county seat, is situated on Pictou Harbor on Sorthumberland Strait. It has a population of 3,069 and is the site of an old Indian village, with an interesting and historical background. New Glasgow, with a population of 9,210 is the largest town and is the centre of a thriviiig industrial, niining and farming area. New Glasgow is approximately 40 iniles from Truro and 100 6 miles from Halifax. Other towns include Trenton, Westville and St,ellarton. Several villages such as Salt Springs, River John, Scotsburn, Eureka, Sunnybrae, Thorburn, Merigomish, Bailey Brook and Lismore are the centres of farming areas. Population and Racial Origin The population of Pictou couiit,y as given by the 1941 Census of Canada is 20,789 persons. Of these 16,345 or 40.1 per cent live in rural areas and 24,444 or 59.9 per cent are urban