The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-12-14
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
w a. mp Muck
swamp Muck.
FTS VALVE-F0R WHAT SOILS-HOW TO
APPLIED

swamp Muck.
FFs VALVE--FoR WHAT sOILs-How TO BE
APPLIED
If the farmer had barn, pen and yard
manure enough, no other would he needed
In this are all the elements Of plants, and
all the properties suited to meliorate the
soil; physically. With this, and little
lime TO quicken its action and to aneutralize
the acldlty of wet, sour soils, he would
improve his land TO almost any extent.
and there would be an end of the manure
question.
1T, IN tie lack OF home manure, he re
sorts to the portable merchatile ma
nures, this Is we'll SO far as mineral in
gradients. are considered, but there is a de
fieIency of organic matter. Manures
must be IN large quantity, as well as Of
good quality; there must be organic mat
ter-anlmal or vegetable, or both, and
there must ho enough to affect the physical
condition of soils-to render heavy soils
hight and open-so that roots can pene-
tr|.te easily and the cir circulate freely,
and to give light, sandy soils loamy cast
that will enable them to retain water.
Hence, the value of swamp muck If
rightly manipulated and wisely applied,
At will prove Itself of considerable value,
net solely nc il feeder of plants. but
malnly as a modihcr of soils-making
both sandy and clay soils easier to cult
y;tte and moro productive, and that. too,
somewhat permanently-morc so, at least,
than Is true Of most fertilizers.
All analysts agree that old, black
swamp muck contains Just about the same
ingredients rs the solid excrements of
horned cattle, when hay Or grass fed, ex-
Gept that the soluble alkalics of the former
potash and soda and a little common
Salt--havc been washed out, while thew
remain In the latter This shows for
swamp muck u very considerable value,
since the addition of little wood ash,
very little common salt, and q little lime
70 neutrallze It's acidity-all costing but a
frliie--make it almost precisely the
equivalent OF manure from under the sta
BILE window
But we appeal from q scientific tc u
practical view of the subject. Many sus-
pect the deductions of science. as il true
everywhere else, but false in agriculture
whlle few VIII doubt the testimony OF
sound, practical, successful farmers.
Thousands OF such have used swami
muck freely, and, though costing some
shlng ioc labor and for desirable additions,
they have found it to pay better than any
fertilizers have purchased We know
many who testify to this effect, and VIC be.
heve their testimony is reliable, as il
agrees strictly with the scientific views on
the subject
As to the soils to which 1t is adapted
OF course 1t need not be applied to low,
swampy ground. These already contain
enough of it, and to add moro would be
like carrying coal to Newcastle, or offer
ing strawberries in Hammonton, n. ].
whence live car loads are shipped daily,
tor nifty days every year, in strawberry
time, Tor New York ard Philadelphia.
ny the way, ON the sandy lands of New
Jersey, Strawberries are grown more by
the aid of swamp muck, wherever it can
re had, than of all other fertilizers, and
are such IN quality rs cannotbe beaten.
Next, on turf land, and on land FIRE.
quently alternated with grass, and consc-
quenuy well supplied with organic mat.
ter, swamp muck cannot lie expected tC
be rs Immediately useful as on worn soils
where the organic matter Is deficient. Or
all uplaads- sandy, loamy or clayey-it is
and, besides, to effect Il permanent i'm
Provement OF soils having too much sand
or too much clay.
For gardening, farming and nursery
purposes--to all of which IT is well suited
better, perhaps, to the nursery than tc
others-it should if, possible, be dug the
year previous to its use, as carly as Au
gust or September, and in dry time Il
thrown into high piles, the water will be
drained out, and it will not again be satur.
ated, and it will he lighter to remove. As
much as can be used. as an absorbent o.
the liquid excrementS Of the animals
should tie carried to the stalls, folds
yads and pens IN as dry state as posi-
BILE, to be used for that purpose. The
salts In the liquid exGrements will sunpIy
lust what the muck wants to make It rs
good as tn c manure heaps: and in this
case no addition of potash, lime and sail
will be required
But If not brought to the barn and mix
ed with the barn manure by the feet q
ANIMALS, II is well TO mix with il one
bushel OF wood ash, one bushel of lime
and hall bushel Of some cheap agricul
tural salt to each cart lead. That vii
make il as good rs the average of barr
manure for corn, grass, potatoes, or al
most any other crop For corn it is ex
cellent for potatoes nothing is better i
will insure good crop, and a good quail
ity, very little liable to the rot, if placed q
small Shovelful in the hill aud co7ered
with the seed, four inches deep. If up
Piled TO grass land, the same addition AZ
above can be recommended. But if to be
applied to grass land, with no addition
and without composing with manure, il
should be dug year beforehand and Their
spread on In the fall, 10 have the benefit
of the winter frosts, SHOWS and rains The
water from snow and rain always contain.
considerable ammonia and swamp much
is one of the most powerful retainers d
ammonia for the use ofcrops.