The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-27
Swamp Muck.

| TITS i an excellent foundation
for, n Well II a valuable addition
70 the muck heap, especially wler,
there i NJ outlet from the swami
Tor the water and sediment, IN
which east the mud. contains i
large proportion of soda, the result
q ages Il evaporation, besides the
receptacle If myrial~ If minute
>hellfi>h, the spawn AMI cNuIial 81
frogs anl other occupants. such
RESERVOIRS are mines OF wealth L. the
farmer It jndiciou>lv applied. Mis-
takes IN the treatment Of muck
have made many farmers consider
1t useless a a fertilizer. II should
never be applied L. fields and
ploughcd in until it has become >of
tened and mellowcd bv iro>t> and
by exposure To the action of the
ar. Leave it IN small mounds on
tie edge of the swamp from which
1t was taken, and turn il over now
and then. when in the cour>c of 4
year OF les il may be applied with
great advantage TO any soil, but
particularly t. sandy ground.
The Rural New Yorker saws on
this subject The most expedi-
tiou> way to prepare muck for use
Is to mix with it a quantity Of lime.
III the proportion OF from three To-
i've bushels Of the latter To a cord
Of the former. The lime To be used
tor this purpose should always be
fresh Slakcd, and if it Is thorough
IL blended with the mass its effect
Is invariably more powerful and
rapid than If spread in alternate
layers, aS some advise. Work the
heap over IN about ten DAYS and it
will be ready for application to the
land III three OIL four weeks, or it
may be used as an absorbent of ami
NAL manure after three months, for
this interval at least should always
be allowed to intervene between
the appli alton Of lime to muck ard
the use of the mixture in the stable.
Muck may be advantageou>ly
composted with BARNARD manure
III any proportions, from one load
of each to five of the formnr with
II of the latter, but the nearer
the compost approaches to equal
proportions Of both, the most sat
lsfactory results. The heap should
be built in alternative LAYERS of
from SIX to eight inches, and care
should be taken that the muck is
wet when compoSted t promote
and the diffusion of
alkaline ingredients. 1t should be
worked over occasionally, and if
the heap is 50 constructed as to
this to be done with the
p'ough, it will insure a considcra-
bic saving of labor. !
Under certain conditions. after
partial decay has taken place. fur
her decomposition ceases unless !
promoted by alkaline applications. +
The decaylng vegetable matter con +,
ans several acids, as gaIlic and :
annie, which are developed by fer +,
nentation, and the tibres in the T,
muck become coated with Z spc- ,
les Of asphatum or pitchv matter, :
which prevents the Necessary ac- +
'ess of air to the inner portions, !
md so prevents decomposition. !
-nder Il es circumstances the con- !
cnts of the heap should be freely /
exposed to air and warmth and an q
potash or soda should =
&c applied to n~eutfalize the acids .
md dissolve the aSphaltic coating. !,
In this connectionthe application :
# ashes is generally very effective, !
or although there IS considerably +,
more alkali III a bushel Of lime !
Slaked than in one Of ashes, d
ct the potash in the former is
much more soluble, and con>equ-
.ntly more readily ditfuSed though t
nut the heap.-Marl, shell sand i
nd s~oapsudS, thoroughly mixed a
With the compost, are also promo !,
i've of lamentations, as they also n
re rich in alkaline properties. g
Finally, the best use Of muck is 0
$ an absorbent in the stable, pig t,
zen, sheepfold and barnyard. In Il
hese its " fertilizing properties :
re best developed, while it collects ::
nd retains much Of the urine and 0
mmonia which would otherwise be :,
II
The fewer the acres the better I