Year: 1862

MARSH MUCK AND PEAT.


The following is an extract from the Sc
cond Report of Philip T. Tyson, State Ag-
ricultural Chemist, copy of which we have
just received We intend to give our read
ers from time to time further extracts from
this interesting report:


am strongly impressed with the great
value of these materials for enriching land
when properly prepared and applied, I can
not but express surprise that it continues to
be much neglected by those by whom it can
be so easily obtained


In several of the Northern States it has
been used during many years with the most
beneficial effects, and whilst it is being con-
stantly availed of by those who had not pre-
viously applied this material, those long
accustomed to its use necer abandon it.


With US am glad to observe that its use
is rather increasing. but in this regard we
are yet seriously behind hand


As its continued neglect is perhaps in
part owing to some difficulty in preparing
it for use by those who have not the proper
knowledge or experience, it seems proper
to add something to what I have hitherto
written upon this subject.


This material. as is we'll known, is formed
only in marshy places. It is made up of
growing plants, and such as are in a more
or less advanced stage of decay, to which is
added deposits Of fine sedimentary matter
from water When bills are contiguous,
aA - md osgsaer earti1 s
washed on the marshes Apart from acci-
dental mixtures Of this kind, there is much
similarity in the chemical composition of the
marsh muck in different localities, whether
they have been formed in fresh or salt water.
The salt water muck contains more soda
than that produced in fresh water, in which
latter potash is the predominating alkali.
They contain portion of phosphoric acid,
and the examination of specimens from more
than thirty localities. by Prof johnson,
gave proportions of nitrogen equivalent to
from one to two and half per cent. of am
monia. They contain large proportion of
vegetable matter and soluble humus, besides
soluble and insoluble alkaline silicates.


Its characters are often influenced by the
properties Of the fresh waters flowing into
marsh, which may be more or less calcare-
GUS or feruginous. In the latter case if the
oxide of iron be united to carbonic acid there
is deposit of carbonate. or of oxide of iron,
which is not injurious. If. as is often the
case. we have ulphate of iron or copperas
mixed up with the muck, we must decom
pose it by means of lime or mari. Gypsum
is produced by the union of the sulphuric
acid with the lime, and in this manner we
change hurtful substance into valuable
fertilizer ......


Sulphate of iron is not only received from
springs and streams, but is frequently pro-
duced in the muck by the oxidation aud
decomposition of its alkaline sulphates.


The upper portion. to the depth of three
to five feet. usually consists. for the most
part, of fibrous stems. leaves and roots of
various aquatic plants. all of which, except
the growing plants at the surface, are more
or less decayed. After penetrating a few
feet below the surface, the decay is so far
advanced that the vegetable structure is
scarcely discernable by the naked eve.


When not largel mixed with earthv mat
ters it may (after being taken out and dried)
be readily ignited and be consumed. leaving
residuum which is largely used as ma
,nure in Holland. under the name of Dutch
ashes. Although they are valuable for that
purpose, yet owing to the cost of labor in
this country. would not advise that the
burnining process be practiced in Maryland.
We can more fully avail ourselves of the
valuable constituents of the marsh muck bv
other means. which l propose to describe
as follows:


1t should be remembered that when
FIRST taken out the weight of absorbed water
is more than equal to that of the solid mat
ter. 1t is therefore proper to throw it out
upon adjacent dry land in narrow but high
piles or ricks. in which it will lose half it's
weight by the evaporation and running off
of the water


2 If the farmer should possess proper
ly arranged barnyard. Gas every farmer
should have let him in the autumn or in
summer; after estimating the number of
loads of manure his stock will produce dur
ing what is termed the feeding period, haul
into the barnyard not less than an equal
number Of loads of swamp muck or peat
This will. of course, be done after the ma
nure has been entirely removed. There is
sn advantage also in spreading half bush
ell Of lime, or at least one or two bushels of
shell mari on the muck or peat as soon as