158 



FAJRT II. 



MUCKS, MUDS AND PEATS. 



In previous reports I have taken occasion to point out and emphasize the value 

 of this class of natural fertilizers ; but on account of the importance of the Rubjt'trt, 

 and in order to make the analytical data here given intelligible and easy of compre- 

 hension, I propose to again briefly discuss the origin, the uses or application, and 

 the value of these substances. 



Muck. — Every true muck consists largely of semi-decayed vegetable matter or 

 humus — the accumulated remains of plants, chiefly aquatic, of many generations. 

 These well-known deposits of swamp muck are the result, principally of the continuous 

 action of water on the fresh and green vegetable matter, converting it into a uniform 

 black or brown mass. The lack of structure in the matter deposited increases with 

 decay. In the upper layeis are to be found the roots of plants still growing on the 

 surface, together with much undecomposed woody tiHsuo. The lower portions of 

 the muck deposits show, as a rule, but few roots, the process of decomposition 

 having proceeded farther, destroying all structure. A black or brown material 

 results, light as to weight and powdering easily when dry. 



In some degree a measure of the value of a muck may be obtained from its 

 colour, its structure, and the amount of ashes left when a small sample is burnt. A 

 good muck should be dark brown or black, structureless (that is not full of undecayed 

 woods and roots), light and easily powdered when dry, and should yield only a small 

 quantity of light ashes when burnt. 



As a Kupplier of plant food, muck is chiefly valuable for its nitrogen, contained 

 in the organic matter or semi-decomposed plant remains. Under favourable cir- 

 cumstances it yields this nitrogen as food for farm crops. 



But in addition to being a nitrogenous fertilizer, its application to many soils 

 improves their tilth or mechanical texture. If a soil be too light or too hp.avy, the 

 best results cannot be obtained, though all the elements of plant food be present. 

 Muck has the effect of making heavy soils porous, allowing air and water to freely 

 permeate and the roots to find an easy passage. For light and sandy soils and those 

 poor in organic matter muck is most beneficial, improving their retentive powers 

 for moisture and fertilizing elements. For rich soils that requii-e lightening it forms 

 a valuable and cheap substitute for barn-yard manure, on account of its bulk and 

 lasting qualities. 



By its further decomposition in the soil, carbonic acid gas is developed. This 

 when dissolved in the soil-water assists in setting free mineral plant food hitherto 

 in a condition unavailable and is probably of service in other ways. The germs of 

 nitrification which i-ender soluble and assimilable the nitrogen of muck, likewise 

 ' convert and make soluble that in the nitrogen-holding substances in the soil, so that 

 both the mineral and organic plant food of a soil are made more readily available 

 for crops by the application of muck. 



As might be supposed, all mucks are not equally valuable. Those which con- 

 tain large amounts of clay and sand will be poor in organic matter and consequently 

 in niti'Ogen. Again, as an inspection of the following table will show, the pro- 

 portion of nitrogen in the organic matter of mucks is very variable. This is partly 

 due to the nature of the vegetation from which the muck has been formed, partly to 

 the degree of decay or fermentation that has taken place, and partly no doubt, in 

 some instances, to a leaching action of the water on the soluble nitrogen-holding 

 compounds. The colour of muck is not an invariable criterion as to its quality; 

 many of a brown colour contain a larger percentage of nitrogen than black samples, 

 which appears contrary to the generally accepted opinion. 



Peat. — The difference between muck and pent is perhaps one more of degree 

 than of kind. The vegetable matter of peat, usually pi-esent without admixture 

 with clay and sand, has not decayed to the extent that it has in muck, and conse- 



