Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-01
Agricultural.

DIGGNG Muck OR PEAT.-With all that has
been SAID upon the value of this subtance for
manure the last ten years it is not half appre-
cialed The majority of our farmers have never
used it, and few Of them who use it conduct
their operations 80 carefully as to know how
much 1t is worth. am wrising in sight of a
clOverteld dressed with muck, which blossoms
all over in praise OF the article. Lubn never
sent out such perfume as comes up from this
muck plasered meadow, The general conyic-
ton is, that muck is good on hungry, ctayelly
soia ana loose sands Ii is, for | have found It
thus and seen the result. 1t may not be known
that IL Is also good on muck lands That mead.
ow now 50 luxuriant with clover, good for three
ons TO the acre, Is Il reclaimed swamp, and the
manure was simply dried muck aud fish pomace.
as the rate OF not over five dollals to the acre
We have repeatedly tried stable manure com.
posted with muck, upon ths same meadow with
similar results. The popular faith that it Is
best Tor grayelly soils Is undoubtedly correct.
BUTT is about good enough when composted for
even reclaimed muck swamps. And this fact is
not without It's analogles lis well known that
soils made up Ia part from lime rock are much
benefited by applications Of lime , and gran to
from the decomposed ieldgpar, uloy u. once the
Effects OF wood ashes
The muck is amelioriated by the manure or
a. hes with which We have mixed 1t, and it shows
It's good effect upon the grass in powerful
manner. Alter using muck for ten years aud
more we should hardly know how to farm on
old soils without 1t. The summer is the best
season in the whole yeal to dig il. The swamps
are then, many oil them, without water enoueh
~ be Troublesome, and the water is so warm
that one can stand ia it bareiooed all day with
out danger OF taking cold. Then the warm
season much the best Tor cutiup the muck.
Whom thrown our upon tbs bank OF ditch 1t
is drained OF It's supertluOus water AZ once, and
dried in the san The ouis e OF the heap ytry
soon becomes as dry as powder nd much Gner
thao common soil. In this dry condition it IS
benefited 10y The fall rains aud Water irosts, il
II lies on the bank, ana still more benefited il
1t ls carried te the yards and stables. 1t is one
OF tho deodori9cre for slOk drains, priyy yauls
and barn cellars, aud . igrmer should a!yays
keep good supply on hand, aud, il possible,
have 1t sheltered rlady for use. There is
great difference IN the value OF muck owing to
the tgeta AMI shrubs lr1m the decay Of which
1t is composed. Bus iha immediate effects Of II
upon crops Is still more dOterpinod by the con.
dition IN which II Is applied 10 land This sum
NOR cunug, before II goes to the compost heap
OF The stables, We regard as very Important
Without attempting to account Tor the philoso-
ply Of the iaet, It does undergo very RAPID
change 10 bot weather, and becomes much more
available Tor plant tG0d 10 the compost heap
1t 1t is TO be IN the compost heap SIX months or
year before using, ihe summer exposure is OF
less Importance. Muck digging ough to have
regular place in the yearly routine of labor
On the whole we have never found any farm op.
Grafton to pay quite so we--CoSsEcrcur,-
American ,lgricUiiurisi