Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-05-31
farmtr's 1tpartmtnt.
Muck as a Manure.

MuCk as Manure.
Few farmers appreciate the value of swamp
muck, aud it has been suggested that the grea-
test reason why it is not turned to better ac-
count, is that it is so very abundant, cheap,
and easily obtained. There are few farms in
many sections of the country which have not
enough aud to spare, or are situated in near
proximity to large deposits of this valuable
fertilizer. In looking over the first five years
of this journal, we are surprised to find so few
accounts of experiments in its use from our
farmer readers, though those few show, in a
most favorable light, its value as an applica-
ton to the soil.
One of these experiments reported related
to its use, compoSted with barn-yard manure
upon an old meadow as top dressing. The
yard manure was piled in the field late in the
spring and covered with about one-fifth its
quantity of muck During the summer it was
turned and mixed together, and covered with
fresh muck, and so remained until snow fell,
when 100 loads Of the compost were spread
upon 6ve acre meadow, which yielded about
six tuns Of inferior hay the previous summer.
= The product the next season was eighteen tuns
of frst-rate hay-a very satisfactory result
to the experimenter. Perhaps he can now
tell us how long the effect of the application
continued, and whether other trials have con-
frmed his opneu of the value of this material
But there is abundant testimony as to its
practical value. A farmer who has used over
500 loads within four years on farm of less
than so acres says: al have used meadow
muck with very satisfactory results on my dry
est land, and never have applied it, (after re-
moving the acidity by lime or exposure to the
atmosphere without being fayorably impress
ed of its utility on land of sandy loan, applied
with or without other vegetable matter" He
composts largely with yard and stable ma
nures and thinks so highly of it that he pur-
chased an acre OF swamp meadow on purpose
to secure muck for fertilizing purposes. An
other farmer in one of the Eastern States,
renovated a barren tract of land by its use, so
that in " fields which formerly would have pro-
duced not more than twenty bushels of corn
to the acre, he now grows more than eighty.
His moving fields and pastures were, the past
season, green and fourishing, while neighbor-
ing lots were parched with drought"
The following additional statements are from
experienced practical men, and may be relied
upon. We select them from Prof Flint's re-
port to the Massachusetts Beard of Agricul-
4ure. 4 Middlesex county farmer says Il
Use swamp muck most successfully, composted
with stable manure, on different varieties of
soils, but think it does best on high land of q
ioamy soil" A Worcester farmer says al
use it extensively on my hard clay soils it
works we'll on dry lands to keep them moist
and on clay soils to keep them light" An
other says: Il have found it good manure
on loamy, gravelly, and sandy land especially
as top-dresSing for grass, when composted with
stable manure-two parts of muck to one of
manure" A Norfolk county farmer values it
at So per cord, and says it is good fer all high
lands. One farmer of much experience says
that wood ashes is the best article to correct
the acidity, sometimes characteristic of new
ly dug muck. A farmer from Berkshire coun-
ty, says: Il have used swamp muck for a
number of years past with good results, by
mixing it with yard and stable manure in the
proportion of one third to one half muck, and
consider it worth 81 per load to use for agri-
cultural purposes on soils that are a mixture
of loan and gravel" ~
There can be little doubt in the mind of
any thinking and observing farmer of the val
ue of muck for all soils deficient in vegetable
matter, and those who have tried it know and
acknowledge it's worth, yet many Of us who
have abundant deposits of valuable muck upon
our farms, make little use of it in agriculture
We are either too much driven by work to
find time. or do not properly consider the re-
turn so sure 20 be received for q well directed
outlay in this direction But we are improv-
ing-this and many other neglected sources
of fertility are being drawn upon, and will re-
ceive more attention from year to year, as we
awake to the true science of practical agricul-
ture.-RHral NeW Yorker.