Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-02
Agricultural.


little organic matter. In this general sense,
almost every farm has something which may
be called muck, and what is properly called
peat is not uncommon. Peat is the partially
decomposed remains of vegetation that accu-
mulates in swamps or basins. On dry grounds
under ordinary circumstances the decay of
vegetation is so perfect, that in time-count-
cd by conturies-little more than the ash, or
mineral part remains. The process Of Ma
ture reduces vegetation to ashes by slow de-
cay. The chemical effect is the same as il it
had been consumed by fire. In one case
when the decomposition is perfect and in the
other case when the combustion is perfect
only the ashes or the mineral substances that
the plants take up from the soil remain. If
the decay of the organic part of vegetation
was perfect, the remains would never accu-
mulate to a great extent, because they would
be again taken up by succeeding vegetation,
and SO on for continuous ages but in cold,
wet places the carbonaceous part of plants is
partially preserved, and, with their mineral
constituents, accumulate in BEDS forming
peat, which is usually more or less mixed
with other matter washed from the adjoining
soil
Peat, or muck varies greatly in chemical
character, sometimes containing acids, which,
in a raw state, are poisonous to vegetation.
We knew of an instance where farmer put
two shovelfuls of raw muck in the hill and
planted corn over it. The corn grew about
foot high. In some other cases it has been
applied directly to the soil with beneficial eff
feet if we can believe the testimony of prac-
tical farmers, though its application without
composing with lime, ashes or manure, or at
least exposing it for a considerable time to
the action of the atmosphere, is never advis-
ed That it has no value Us a fertilizer when
properly treated and applied is directly OPP
posed to what agricultural chemists have
taught until very recent PERIOD and to what
many of them now teach. Prof. S. NJ. Peck
ham of the University of Minnesota says;
peat is valuable as q fertilizer Considered
as an amendment to the soil, the value of
peat CASUALLY called muck by farmers) de-
ponds upon its remarkable power of absorb
ing and retaining water, both as a liquid and
as vapor its power of absorbing ammonia;
its effect in promoting the disntegration and
solution of the mineral ingredients of the
soil and its influence on the temperature of
the soil As a direct fertilizer its value de-
ponds upon the organic matters, the morgan
ic or mineral ingredients, and the peculiari-
ties attending its decay" Something favor
able to the use of muck as fertilizer might
be quoted from nearly every agricultural
chemist who has written for the past ten
years, though generally considerably mod
Grated from what was claimed for it about
thirty years ago, when muck stock stood at
its highest 1t was then written up so that it
was sold for about half the price of manure
in some of the towns of this county. The
extravagant estimates then made of its value
give some warrant to the use of the words,
''muck delusion." DR.. Emmons, the noted
geologist, said: "The quantity [of peat in q
square rod of surface worked to the depth OF
IL feet would furnish 142 loads, which may
be considered worth so cents load. A small
area, therefore, on any farm might be en-
ployed to increase its Cdlue one halt, as it
would furnish an abundance of manure fol
an indefinite period
Rev. S. r. Hall, in report of his part OF
the Geological Survey of Vermont, says that
he surveyed the muck beds in the town where
he resided, and estimating their value at 90
cts. load, finds more than $50, 900 worth OF
muck in the town. He further says: "Mucb
from many localities requires the addition OF
caustic lime or ashes, or to receive for time
the liquid manure from the stable. THU
prepared, its value is greater than COW dung,
for crops either of corn, wheat, potatoes, OF
grass"
l., -. t,Nfn 10 he
value of muck might be made from the sci
entifc writer's of 25 or 80 years ago. They
were mistaken; they estimated its value to-
high; but shall we now believe, with the Bos
ton Journal of Chemistry, that muck is en-
tirely worthless?
Though it is now evident that the value o
muck was once greatly exaggerated, and al
though it is much less used than formerly,
the experience of hundreds of intelligent
practical farmers is worth anything, it ha
generally some real value as fertilizer, an
the better qualities are sometimes of great va
ne. A correspondent of the Maine Farme
gives the result of an experiment made las
season with muck applied without compostin
or preparing except by exposure to the all
"What l mean by muck" the writer says, 81
the black vegetable deposits of low, swamp
places, generally covered with water sprin
and fall We have several such places on on
farm, and from one of them we took in July
1880, SO carloads of this black muck, an
piled it up on piece of run-out grass Ian
that cut about 500 pounds of hay to the acr,
About the middle of last October we plowe
II acres of this field, and spread muck o
half of it, on the rest we spread an equ
amount of horse manure. Last spring IL
piece was well narrowed and planted to pot
toes and the result was good crop oonside
ing the season, which has been very bad fl
potatoes. At digging time one could see L
difference in the yield between the part dres
ed with muck and that dressed with manure
Dr. Hoskins, of the Waterman and Sta
Journal, resides in the vicinity of extensi'
deposits of muck or peat, and has had exp
rience in its use himself, as well as a goo
opportunity to observe its effect on the lar
of his neighbors. We quote his opinion
its values
As to the practical value of good muck as
manure, we can hardly count up the instanc
where we have seen it tested and prove
Within mile and half from where we
writing there is a a muck bed, originally
four or five acres, which has been worked
many years and has greatly aided to keep
the fertility of one of the best grass farms
town. This muck has now been about or
third used (the depth in the middle of the
sin being about four feet, and the owner W
not sell load of it, believing it to be wor
to him as much as all the rest of his farm.
the twenty years he has been using it he CT
tainly has had ample chance to make up
mind about it. This muck bed is hollo
to which little digging at the lower end ga
natural outlet for the spring-water that us
to flood it, Now carts can be backed up
the bank of muck, which is kept cut squa
up and down and across and is cleaned {
down to the sand bottom in removal.