Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-11
An Experiment with Muck.

LdatOf udSSdchuSettS PE0ughD1dn d:
Much has been written of late pro and con
concerning muck or peat. Some condemn
it, some extol it. Some endorse DIR. Dana's
views in toto; others say he rode hobby
into muck. Chemistry makes agricultur-
ally a good thing of muck; practice hard
ly verifies its deductions. On any soil its
value, until something modifies it mean
peat bog muck-is minus quantity; and
for this reason: With vegetable fibre for
its body, muck always of necessity, con-
tains certain per cent. Of fannie acid,
which combined with iron gives it the dark
color. This acid must be neutralized be-
fore the muck can fertilize, because fannie
acid is a foe to vegetation. Almost any
alkali, as ashes, soda, hog manure will do
this. But, then, is not the alkali as valu-
able, as fertilizer, without the peat as
with it? By combining one load of hog
manure with two loads of peat, we have,
as DR.. Dana says, three loads of as good
manure as three loads of the first alone
| now is it SO ?
This question is great one for the Mas
sachusetts farmer and the next one to it
is, if settled in the affirmative, what is the
/ cheapest and readiest method of divesting
much of its acidulous properties. In order
to satisfy myself upon this point, institut-
ed in the spring the following experiment,
| and | have watched with interest the pro-
gress of it through the season. | planted
thirteen rows of parching corn, three hills
in a row and three kernels to the hill in
light sandy soil l tended it with care and
gathered and weighed it in the ear to-day.
| From the dryness of the season the yield
is small in every case, but this will not
materially affect the comparative result.
The muck in every hill was one year old
and pulverized.
No. l. Three hills with muck alone, yield
nineteen ounces. There was one shovelful
of peat to the hill.
No. ,. Three hills with no manure give
sixteen ounces.
No. g. Three hills with unleached ashes
alone-four tablespoonful to the hill
twenty ounces. Not quite dry when gath
cred
No. t. Three hills with chip manure
alone, one shovelful to each hill, thirty six
ounces.
No. ). Three hills with Bradley's Super
phosphate X L, four spoonsful to the hill
forty-three ounces.
No s. Three hills with fresh COW ma
nure alone-one shovelful to the hill, thir-
ty-six ounces.
No. 7. Three hills with night soil alone
forty ounces.
No S. Three hills with muck and lime
-one-twentieth lime-one shoyelful to the
hin, thirty ounces.
No. g. Three hills with hog manure anC
muck, thirty-two ounces. These hills gave
the best promise, but run very much into
Suckers"
No. TO- Three hills of muck and urin,
carefully mixed-four gallons Of the lat
ter with six shovelsful of the former-anC
lowed TO stand one month before using
fifty ounces. The greatest yield Of all
, No Il. Three hills with hen manure
dry, and four spoonsful to the hill, thirty
! two ounces.
no. y. Three hills with night soil an,
. muck, forty-two ounces.
: No. 10. Three hills with hog manur
and BradIey's Superphosphate, one spoon
full to shovelful of manure, thirty-tw
ounces, or to make a summary of the whole
So. !. Muck alone, 10 ounces.
No. ,. No manure, 16 ounces.
). 10. g. Ashes ,uuleachcd, % ounces.
So. 4. Chip manure, 36 ounces.
No. 8 Bradley's SuPerphosphate, - OF
10. s. Cow manure, SO ounces.
No. :. Night soil, 40 ounces.
no. 8. Muck and lime, 80 ounces.
No. 9. Hog manure and muck, % OF.
= No. 10. Muck and urine, so ounces.
No. II. Hen manure, 80 ounces.
No. L. Night soil and muck, - ounce
- No Is. Hog manure and Bradley's ST
" perphosphate, % ounces.
On a moist clay soil the result woul
doubtless have been very different, it migl
be on another trial here. Enough, howe,
= er, think may be cleaned from it to sho
u that there is real fertilizing power in muc
and rightly used, is of invaluable seryit
Z. in the augmentation of our crops and Il
! redemption of our lands. Truly yours,
g w. WAYBRIDGE
NJ Rillerica Mas Sent : $50