IMPROVEMENT OF MUCK SWAMPS. 169 



SPECIAL CROPS. 



It is not my intention to treat of the special crops that succeed on muck 

 soils, although in many cases there is no doubt an unusual opportunity for 

 financial success. In all such cases, however, especial skill is necessary on 

 the part of the producer; and although the temptation may be great to invest 

 largely, it will be safer to resist such temptation and invest only as experi- 

 ence shows a reasonable certainty of success. 



For special crops top dressing is ncessary; barn-yard manure adds much to 

 its productiveness. A coating of sand or clay keeps it compact and thereby 

 increases its productive power. A dressing of lime or wood ashes is excellent. 



CELERY. 



Celery is one of the especial crops that can be grown to perfection on 

 drained muck. For this crop, fertilizers and deep, careful cultivation is 

 needed. 



The *' celery crop " of Kalamazoo now amounts to thousands of dollars per 

 year, and it is raised on the muck lands bordering the Kalamazoo river. 

 This land a few years ago was considered of scarcely any value ; to-day it is 

 worth $300 to $G00 per acre. 



CRANBERRIES. 



This fruit has generally a high market value and is indigenous to muck 

 soils. It needs for its successful production such a control of the water sup- 

 ply that the swamp can be flooded at certain times or drained at others. 

 This crop is very profitable when such conditions can be controlled. 



POTATOES. 



Potatoes grow well on muck ; they are, however, sometimes scabby, but 

 usually fine crops are obtained with no imperfections. 



GENERAL CROPS. 



The general farm crops can be grown successfully on muck swamps if the 

 swamps are well drained and a high order of cultivation be maintained. As 

 a rule grain crops should be kept off the swamp, at least until it is well sub- 

 dued. The meadow grasses, timothy or red top, tend to grow very rank and 

 woody if the seed is sown sparsely; on the other hand, excellent hay is pro- 

 duced if the seed is sown thick. June grass is likely to choke out the 

 meadow grasses in this State after a few years, which makes it necessary to 

 reseed. 



To plow soft muck land, oxen are sometimes used ; but horses do much 

 better, provided they have wooden shoes fastened to their feet. A piece of 

 board 8x12 inches securely bound to the foot with wire has been found to 

 answer well for this purpose. Reseeding can be done, however, without 

 plowing as follows, although this method will not clear the soil from June 

 grass: 



In the early spring when the surface alone has thawed out, the bogs may 

 be worked down with a harrow quite easily and the surface made quite 

 smooth. Tame grass seed — timothy and red-top — can then be sowed. 



When treated in this way the marsh is not likely to become excessively 

 loose and dry; if it does become so, it may be compacted by rolling or by 



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