The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1901-02-14
EXPERIENCE WITH SWAMP Muck.

About twenty five years ago eur home
was located very near 40 adjoining
swsmpy region. Some agricultural papers
we're advocating and extolling the great
use OF peat. and through them We we're In
dnced to get . quantity OF 1t taken ont,
I believe II was early IN November that we
commenced work by digging and wheel
ing with wheeibarrows the material to
higher ground. which was near by; Ger
tain quantity OF air slaked lime was used
an spread over the whole surface oil the
pile whenever eight or ten inches OF
muck bad been added to IL. The follow
ing winter. during the months Of January
snd February. the entire lot was taken
away snd deposited GA . sandy piece q
land that had received o moderate dress
ing Of stable manure the previous tsll. 1t
was spread about three or four inches
thick. thoroughly mixed with the soil the
next spring, At which time it readily mi
verzsd almost as finely Is sand itself On
this land straw berries we're planted, which
received good care and made magnificent
plsnts, in consequences OF which We lock
81 for heavy crop the following season
The result vas more than satisfactory,
and have not as yet eeen IN equal crop
Of straw berries grown on sandy land, no
matter how well enriched with stable man
ore only. We have at no time used peat
without the use Of lime, nor have we used
it raw, bat would net hesitate to do 70
provided that it bad teen exposed to u
least one winters frost before incurporst
ing it into the soil. The effect OF its use
on sandy soil when used 10 liberal quaint
ties ia no doubt beneficial. as it tends to
change the texture OF sncb soil. making il
more CON pact and retentive OF moisture.
II is unlike stable NOR ure 10 thst il 10 very
muoh more l4stiog As TO its actual val
ne as compared with average manure, ]
sm not preper d to say; tut 40 far IS Our
experience goes IL ~ worth q great deal
more than i. coets to get it cut, niless il
has to be bsnied long distance. The dill
ference OF oribi 10 regard to it's nee
msy be osiua 10 the kind OF coil that II is
used upon, and also TO the fact that peat
|. so variable 10 snb lance Ia Holland.
where il Is largely used So fuel, ito vsloe
consists 10 It's weight, the liahtest, OF .
A,ky, or, rather OF spopgy nature. be
i9g The poorest. The hind there known
a. hard tori IL the kIrd With which We
ms1e our experiments, and ~ the only W
riety We ever osed fsr agricultural purpos
"a.
TIE best re- ety for the so called corn
stalk disease, ~hicN destroyed so many
cattle sll through lie wet isst fail. IS 10
cut up the corn. We never knew vel
cured ccrustaIks TO hill crater or even
make one sick.
Sven miiioos Of the 9 COO 900 bales Of
cotton produced 10 this eonltry sre the
prod act OF negro i,bor. How yer mnc'
81 mensce the preselcs Of be- black mao
may be IN ..meric, IL !. yrry evident u
eouif be hard to get slqns without bin.
Ths bog 10 the mortgage Inter, tie
sheep the I rol .,r'ilizr. The cos The bsYn
builder spd The hen the grocery bill pay
r. THIS qnsitst. with man and Won
20 not afraid Of. the ork 10 csrioe Tor
ben, III insnre prosperity OF sGy farm
The Tennessee experiment station ~
ports tia, 80 acre Of cospe.s yields tsic.
- much digestsbis nsttsr - % scrs Of
rood corn and that IL takes u bushels Of
,orr, with the fodder, TO squsI cue ton OF
,ospes hsy 10 tbs msttef Of protein farm
sbyd.
We once hsd very foe climbing ross
e Pnirle 1oetn witch We slssts isi6
Iosn aud eossrs np Tor the siai,f. We
ned sirs~ 10 sssfr this brst ere ain
sr. We used sirsu TO cover this bush
zoe winter. and when we nueovered IL 10
be spriea the stems we're peeled eissI Of
'srk by the mice. Hircs thea We have
ssd earth snd 20, straw Tor shis purpose,