SECRETARY'S REPORT. I93 



absolutely injurious, until it has been worked over and decomposed. 

 The only sure way of determining the manurial value of muck, 

 as it lays "in place," as the geologist would say, is to apply it to 

 diiferent crops fresh from its deposit, or to obtain an analysis of it, 

 and thereby obtain a knowledge of its constituents. This last resort 

 for information, it seems to us, is one that should always be had 

 when practicable, as it will reveal more accurately how it may be 

 most advantageously and effectually prepared for the most econom- 

 ical use, and to render it, at the least cost, the most effectual. 

 Analysis will at once reveal what may require a long series of care- 

 fully conducted experiments to discover, if ever discovered at all, in 

 this way. 



But diverse as may be the specific, or the comparative values 

 of different deposits of muck, all of them, we believe, may be made of 

 economical value, as a source of fertilization for our farms. Every 

 deposit has some value. All of it is formed from vegetable matters, 

 in which there is usually mingled more or less animal matters. And 

 when we say every thing of animal or vegetable origin is of value 

 as a fertilizer, we simply utter a mere truism. All such matters 

 are of organic origin, and all the remains of organisms that have 

 fallen to decay, are materials from which other and fresh organisms 

 are built up. In other words, they are food for living organisms, 

 and can hardly be applied amiss. Throughout the vegetable world, 

 death is the spring-tide of life and vigor — the source of reproduction 

 and grawth. 



The value of decayed remains, however, no matter whether animal 

 or vegetable, must depend in some measure on the treatment they 

 receive. Some of these, as they are usually found, may be of little 

 or no manurial- value, while with suitable treatment, they may 

 become of the very highest economical value. Indeed, it is probable 

 there is no quality of such remains to be found which may not be 

 greatly improved by proper treatment. This we deem emphatically 

 true of the organic remains found in our swamps and bogs. And 

 it is a very important, as well as interesting, inquiry, to ascertain 

 the best method of preparing the contents of these places so as to 

 secure the best results from their application to the soil. 



It is a' matter of regret to this committee, that they have not 



more specific data from which to make up a judgment as to the 



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