Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-29
NO. 225.
SWAMP MUCK.
lTs NALuE-FoR WHAT SoILs-How TO
BE APPLIED.

AffllED.
II the farmer had barn, pen and yard
manure enough, no other would be need.
ed In this are all the elements of plants
and all the properties suited to meliorate
the soil, physically. With this, and lit
tie lime to quicken its action and to neu-
tralize the acidity of wet sour soils, he
could improve his land to almost any 'ex-
tent, and there would be an end of the
manure question.
If, in the lack of home manure, he re-
sorts to the portable mercantile manures,
this is well, so far as mineral ingredients
are considered, but there is a deficiency
OF organic matter. Manure must be in
large quantity, as well as OF good quality /;
there must be organic matter-animal or
vegetable, or both, and there must be
enough to affect the physical condition of
soils-to render heavy soils light and open
SO that roots can penetrate easily and
the air circulate freely, and to give light,
sandy soils loamy cast that will enable
them to retain water.
Hence, the value of swamp muck. II
rightly manipulated and wisely applied, it
will prove itself of considerable value not
solely as a feeder of plants, but mainly as
modifier of soils-making both sandy
and clay soils easier to cultivate and more
productive, and that too, somewhat per-
manently-more SO, at least, than is true
of most fertilizers.
All analysts agree that old, black swamp
muck contains just about the same ingre-
dents as the solid excrements of horned
cattle. when hay or grass fed, except that
the soluble alkalies of the tormer-potash
and soda and little common salt-have
been washed out, while they remain in
the latter. This shows for swamp muck
a very considerable value, since the addi-
ton of little wood ash. very little COM
mon salt, and little lime to neutralize its
acldity-all costing but trife-make it
almost precisely the equivalent of manure
from under the stable window.
But we appeal from scientific to
practical view of the subject. Many sus-
pect the deductions of science, as if true
everywhere else, but false in agriculture
while few will doubt the testimony of
sound, practical, successful farmers.
Thousands of such have used swamp muck
freely, and, though costing something for
labor and for desirable additions, they
have found it to pay better than any fer
tilizers they have purchased. We know
many who testify to this effect, and we
believe their testimony is reliable, as it
agrees strictly with the scientific views on
the subject.
AS to the soils to which it is adapted:
VI course 1t need not be applied to low,
swampy land. These already contain
enough of it, and to add more would be
like carrying coal to Newcastle. By the
way, on the sandy lands of New Jersey
strawberries are grown more by the aid
OF swamp muck, wherever it can be had,
than of all other fertilizers, and are such
in quality as cannot be beaten
Next: on turf land, and on land fire.
quently alternated with grass. and con-
sequently y-well supplied with organic mat
ter, swamp muck cannot be expected to
be as Immediately useful as on worn soils.
where the organic matter is deficient. On
all uplands-sandy: loamy or clay-it is
sure to report itself iavorably in the crops,
and. besides, to effect 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 to the
others-i: should, if possible, be dug the
year previous to its use, rs early as
August or September. and in dry time.
If thrown into high piles, the wafer will
be drained out. and it will not again be
saturated, and will be lighter to remove.
AS much as can be used, as an absorbent
Of the liquid excrements OF the animals,
should be carried to the stalls. folds, yards
and pens in Is dry state as possible, to
be used for that purpose. The salts in
the liquid excrements will supply Just
what the muck wants to make it as good
as the manure heaps; and in this case no
addition OF potash, lime and salt will be
required.
But If not brought to the barn and mixed
with the barn manure by the feet of AMI
mails, it is well to mix with it one bushel
of woodash, one bushel of lime, and halfa
bushel Of some cheap agricultural salt to
each cart load. That will make :. as good
as the average of barn manure for corn,
grass, potatoes. or almost any other crop.
For corn, it is excellent; for potatoes,
nothing is better; 1t will insure a good
crop, and good quality, very litsle liable
to the rot if placed "a small shovelful in
the hill and covered. with tie seed. four
inches deep. lfapplied tograss land, the
same addition as above can be recommen-
ded. But if to be applied to grass land,
with no addition. and without composing
with manure, it should be dug at least a
year before hand, and then spread on in
the fall, to have the benefit OF the winter
frOsts, SHOWS and rains. The water from
snow and rain always contains considera-
BILE ammonia; and swamp muck is one of
the most powerful retainers of ammonia
for the nse of crops.
For Indian corn there is nothing better
than barn-yard manure, into which dry
swamp muck, equal in quantity to the ma
nrre itself, has been thrown during the
fall, winter and spring, and there
thoroughly mixed and composited under
the:leet, of animals. II applied while in a
state of active fermentation all the better,
as it VIII then bring up the seed in very
short time. and produce a most vigorous
growth. In this way the contents Of the
yard are doubled; and, at the same time,
the quality is fully sustained. We say
this last as a result of our own experience.
confirmed by the testimony of farmers in
whose Judgment we have entire conf.
tpnce 5AF ~ #8.