Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-24
Muck and its Uses.

N During August and September there is
generally a time when peat, or what is COM
monty called muck, may be more convenient
ly and cheaply collected than at any other
portion of the year. In August the streams
are comparatively low, and, of course, mead
ows and swamps have less water on or in
them, and may be travelled over by teams
with safety. All favorable opportunities,
therefore, for collecting muck should be i'm
proved by those who believe in its efficacy as
a manurial agent.
Where muck abounds on lands which are
usually oVerhowed by autumnal rains, it is
good policy to throw it up in heaps to be
hauled off at later season, or at any time
during the winter. Another advantage in
this process is, that the water becomes drained
away from the muck, and thus reduces th Q
weight to be carted from one-third to one
half, at least. Good muck, thrown out in
August, and overha uled once or twice, will
/ be fitted for use in the cattle stalls or yards
during the winter, or for composing in the
barn cellar. When this is thoroughly done,
one cord of muck and two cords of droppings
from the cattle leanto, will be worth as much
as three cords of the latter alone. We have
no doubt of this, after long use of one-third
muck mingled with barn manures and care
full observation of results.
The common opinion seems to be that muck
is valuable only upon sandy land. This is,
we think, an error. 1t may be more valua-
BILE on such land than on heavier soils, but
its use will increase the amount of crops on
any soil,-even on the very meadows from
which it was taken. Dig it out. dry it, and
spread it over the surface of the same meadow
from which it was taken, and perceptible
difference will be seen in future crops. In
orderthat the experiment may be fair one,
spread it where the meadow has not been af-
fected by draining off the water in taking out
the muck which is used.
Clay loans, or even compact clays, may be
greatly benefited by an admixture of good
muck. 1t will not only supply needed veg
etable matter, but exert a mechanical inhu-
ence, so that, combined, they give a new
power to the soil to produce crops. And this
power will not be merely a temporary one,
but viii be likely to be more permanent in
its influence than half as many cords of com
non manure would be.
On what are called granite soils, that is,
tls usual uplands OF New England, good
mick will have quick, lasting and excellent
influence, giving to the land darker color
and more mellow condition. If used In the
garten, and well mingled with the soil, the
growth of all plants within its reach win be
greatly promoted. On their roots reaching
1t, they will soon assume q darker color, and
grow Vigorously, frequently outstripping
other pAnts in their immediate vicinity that
are not ACored with muck.
There evidence which substantiates be-
yond all dAnbt the correctness of these state
ments- A Volume might be filed with it.
At present We will refer to only one author
ity.
Prof S. W.Nohnson, chemist of the Con
necticut Agricultural Society, gives an anal
ysis of air-drhd peat, and one of well-rottet
manure, moist rom the heap. The first OBJ
:. servation he maAss upon these analyses, is
that tie peat conh,ins five times as much or
ganic matter, and hur times as much poten
a tial ammonia as the,yard manure. ID,
contains more lime, mAgnesia andSulphuri
acid than yard manure. Cd, it is dehcient i
potash and Fhosphoric acld. We can Sc
thus thai peat and yard manure are exec
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