The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-05-25
MUCK LANDS TO MAKE THEM PAY
by W. ]. Jones, associate Chemist
Of the Indiana Agricultural Experiment station.


Every country In the world contains
considerable areas OF swamp land.
much OF which IN covered with
formation OF muck or peat. The size
OF these formations varies from frac-
ton OF AN acre TO tracts containing sew
eral thousand acres. In many states
OF the union, such as Indiana, Illinois,
wisconsin. Michigan. Minnesota. Iowa
and Florida. these formations are so
large and numerous that their aggre-
gate areas amount TO from 1000 10
5000 square miles In each state. SO
general IL the distribution OF these
lands that nearly one-half or the Amer
lean experiment stations have devoted
attention TO them. They are known
under various local names, such as
swamp. muck. peat. marsh. tamarack,
hackmatack. muskeg. alkall and bogus.
The last two names are applied To
those that are unproductive. The term
alkali IN not properly applied TO such
lands, and the unproductiveness In not
due TO alkaii In the usual sense OF
that term. These soils have been FORM
ed from water plants OF various SORTS
which have been partially preserved by
the water covering them. Genuine peat
~ formed By a moss which dies below
while continuing It's growth above.
The most OF these lands fall Into two
general classes: First, beds or COM
paratively pure peat or muck surround
ed by and resting on mari or clay
formations. sometimes with sand or
gravel layers. Second, areas OF black
humus alternating with low ridges or
sandy soil and mixed TO a greater or
less extent with sand.
These lands are not well suited for
the production OF small grains. but
when properly handled become OF the
highest value for the production OF
corn. potatoes. onions. celery. pepper
mint. millet. pasture grasses, buck
wheat. and In Europe they are also
used for the production OF sugar beets.
The first thing TO be done ~ to drain
them. The drainage should be N deep
as possible, since these soils compact
a good deal when the water In remov-
ed. The permanent water level ought
TO be reduced below ~ inches from the
surface for the best results. Especial
attention should be given to cutting
or the water which may flow from
surrounding lands and TO springs near
the margin of the formation. BY
doing this the water level may often
be reduced without using much tile I'm
the muck itself. the lower brown layers
OF which are very apt TO close up the
around the marsh and one open ditch
through Il Ii often all that Is neces-
sary.
After these lands are drained they
will generally produce two or more
very good corn crops. but after a time
the corn becomes chaiy. and on some
OF the lands not even stalks Will grow.
Coarse manure can be used to Increase
the yields. but the Characteristic and
valuable ingredient OF the manure. the
nitrogen. Ii not needed. and the manure
can be used TO much better advantage
on higher lands.
Field tests and chemical examina-
tons OF these soils agree In pointing
out that the element always lacking
In these soils IL potash. Where the
land will produce no sound corn. 200
pounds per acre OF muriate OF potash
should be used. Where a moderate
crop OF corn can be raised, 100 pounds
per acre will be enough. on the muck
lands that contain considerable sand II
often pays 20 use some phosphoric acid
In addition To the above amounts OF
potash. This can be obtained by using
100 pounds OF acid phosphate or OF
steamed bone per acre.
When IL IL impossible 10 reduce the
water level TO more than two feet be-
low the surface. the use OF $50 pounds
OF murtate OF potash per acre has re-
suited In profitable corn crops.
On the I. q. Nice farm. In Tippe-
canoe county. the use OF $50 pounds OF
muriate OF potash 10 the acre on muck.
having n water level ut planting OF IL
inches and ut harvest OF - inches. gave
t2.3 bushels OF corn per acre. while the
piats on which no potash was used
gave is.2 bushels. on potash plats 90.3
per cent. OF the corn was sound. while
on plats To which no potash was APP
piled. only 90 per cent was sound.
The murtate OF potash should be ap-
piled broadcast before blowing or after
blowing and before narrowing. Do not
apply II In the hill with O fertilizer at
tachment. since II In no concentrated
and 30 soluble that II may retard or
prevent termination. unless ~ should
rain very soon after the crop In planted.
While 10 In not customary 10 apply
potash salts to such lands until their
productiyeness IL reduced. some expert
ments conducted last year on lands
that were piowed for the first time.
proved that 70 was pfofitabis TO use 10
on the first crop. the Increased value
Of the crop on the fertilized piats over