The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-12-01
Tho MUCK War.


Not long since the Boston Journal Of Chem
istry published an article with reference to
swamp muck, under tho title of "Thc Muck
Deluson," in which the idea that muck pos.
scsses manurial value to any appreciable
extent was ridiculed. Tho views of the
editor of the journal were at variance with
the Investigations of some Of the most noted
authorities who have written on tho subject,
as well rs with the experience Of many prac-
tical farmers, consequently q war of words
has sprung into existence over tho matter.
Among the opposing powers 10 the editor of
the Prairie Farmer, who says the reason for
this wide difference of opinion upon the
manurial or fertilizing value of this SUBJ
stance is, doubtless, explained by q differ
ence in the minds of the differing doctors as
to what muck really is. The editor of the
Journal Of Chemistry speaks Of substance
holding 40 per cent. Of clear sand and 30 per
cent. of black mould; but that is not what is
generally meant when the term is used in
this section of tho country. The compost
L OF muck varies; there are many kinds
containing, in greater or less quantities.
phosphoric acid, ammonia, vegetable matter
sulphur, and salts Of limo and potash, all of
which arc valuable 10 the farmer. What is
generally understood when muck is referred
to Is decaycd vegetable matter in low lands
and marshes. Here a rank growth Of weeds
and coarse grasses year after year has grown
and decayed. it may be for centuries, until
the mass of roots and fibres and decayed
stems is several feet thick. 1t is n we'll.
known fact that such lands, when drained
become the most fertile portions OF many
farms. 1t will not DO, therefore, to accept the
outgivings OF our scientific contemporary
that muck, so far as its manurial or amelic-
rating valnc to many soils Is concerned, Is a
"delusion." We know of instances whore
muck has been composted with barnyard
manure and applied 20 sandy land year
after year, until the soil has undergone a
marked change. The yield of tho land has
been steadily improving, and the chemist
who would ridicuie the value of muck In the
hearing of the owners of such land would
himself be called n scientific humbug."
II is usually dug in tho summer and allowed
to dry out, and then it is drawn to the field
where it is to bo applied, and barnyard
manure also hauled to the same field and
mixed with It, one load of the latter to Two
of tho former. 1t has been found from ex-
perience that the effect OF this compost Is
much more beneficial to crops than the same
quantity of barnyati manure on the Same
breadth of land.
But 1t Is not alone on sandy land that
muck is beneficial. 1t contains more or less
nitrogen, though, as has been said, it varies
much in composition. Thin and much worn
lands have besn benefited by Its use; but the
measure of value of any kind can only be
definitely ascertained by trial.
Our own experience tells us that muck is
always valuable as an absorbent foY the
manure pile; aud also that it's veluo as q
direct manuIial agent depends mainly upon
the character of the materials of which 1t
has boon composed. For instance, tho muck
foraed in the midst of n region whose coil Is
reasonably rich, is always worth more or
less rs a manure, while that formed in q re-
gion of poor land, as among the pir~s is
worth nothing as g direct application to the
farm soil.