158 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



SWAMP MUCK. 



ITS ORIGIN AND COMPOSITION. 



The deposits of this material that are to be found more or less in all parts of Can- 

 ada have been formed by the gradual accumulation of partially decomposed vegetable 

 matter — the remains of successive generations of plants, chiefly aquatic. The stagnant 

 waters in which these have grown have, by virtue of a temperate climate, preserved in 

 this semi-decayed condition much valuable plant food. In this way, vast deposits, often 

 many feet thick, have originated which may be considered as store houses from which 

 the .farmer can obtain a liberal supply of plant food for his crop at a merely 

 nominal cost. 



It is evident from what has been said that the best samples of muck consist entirely 

 of humus and the ash ingredients assimilated by this semi-aquatic flora. When 

 thoroughly dried, the humus can be burnt and, the small quantity of ash (min- 

 eral matter) remains. Many specimens, however, are found to contain more or less 

 sand and clay and other foreign and inert matters that have become incorporated with 

 the muck during its formation. Such, of course, detract from the agricultural value of 

 this natural fertilizer. 



As might be expected, muck is found in several stages or conditions of decomposi- 

 tion. Some samples are so far advanced in this decay that no evidence of structure 

 remains. This is generally the case with the lower layers of the deposit. Again, many 

 mucks contain unchanged woody fibre. These, while not possessing much plant food 

 that can be readily converted into available forms, serve admirably as absorbents for 

 liquid manure, and often act beneficially in improving the tilth of certain soils. With 

 proper treatment in the compost heap, they may be made to give up their elements of 

 fertility, and prove of much value as a manure. 



Muck is found of all shades, varying from light brown to black. The upper layers 

 of the deposit are usually lighter in colour than those beneath. That found on the sur- 

 face is also distinguished by being easily reducible to powder, when in an air-dried con- 

 dition, while that found in the lower layers is frequently plastic, drying to a hard com- 

 pact mass. The latter often contains organic acids that must be neutralized by lime or 

 by exposure to air, before the muck becomes a suitable fertilizer. Freshly dug muck pos- 

 sesses, as a rule, large quantities of water, often as much as 80 per cent. When piled in 

 the air, it loses the larger quantity, the air-dried material containing from 8 - 15 per 

 cent of water. It is well, therefore, to dig and pile the muck in autumn. Exposure to 

 the winter's frost will sweeten and dry it, besides materially improving its physical pro- 

 perties. 



Viewed as a fertilizer, its chief element of value is nitrogen, contained in the humus 

 or organic matter. Yery little, if any, of this nitrogen exists in a condition immediately 

 available for crops. It may, however, be converted into soluble forms by suitable 

 treatment, as in the compost heap. The mineral constituents of muck, which are given 

 up as the material decays in the soil, also afford food for plants, since they possess 

 notable quantities of potash, phosphoric acid and lime. 



MUCK COMPOST. 



If possible, previous fermentation induced by composting should be brought about 

 before the muck is applied to the land. The benefits of such a preliminary treatment 

 are manifold. In any case, the Jreshly dug muck should not be used, for the reasons 

 already explained. A few months' exposure sweetens, dries and improves it generally. 



Alternate layers of barn-yard manure and muck of, say, six inches in depth — make 

 an excellent compost. To such a heap should be added all the bones, carcases of dead 



