160 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARI' VII., A. 1910 



centage of pliosplioric acid is considerably higher. Hitherto we have found the phos- 

 phoric acid between 3 per cent and 4 per cent ; in this sample it is between 7 per cent 

 and 8 per cent. A notable improvement is also to be observed in the smaller amount 

 of oil present, the reduction being approximately from 25 per cent to 16 per cent. 

 Since the presence of much oil tends to delay the setting free in the soil of the fertiliz- 

 ing elements of this product, this reduction is a matter of considerable moment and 

 would raise the values for the nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Further, the percentage 

 of moisture is only about one-half that found in sajnples previously analj^sed. 



The use of this material as a fertilizer for farm and garden crops was discussed 

 in our report for 1906, where formulae are to be found for the preparation of a 

 ' complete ' fertilizer, by the addition of certain chemicals. 



MUCKS, MUDS AND MARLS. 



Much, St. Stephen, N.B. — Our correspondent (W. F. Todd) writes: 'We are 

 anxious to ascertain what manurial value this muck may have; please let us know its 

 nitrogen-content and values in potash and phosphoric acid.' 



Brownish-black, apparently well decomposed, slightly acid, its analysis, made on 

 the air-dried sample, afforded the following data : — 



Analysis of MucJc. 



Per cent. 



Moisture V-58 



Organic and volatile matter 67-63 



Mineral matter, including sand 24-79 



100-00 



Fertilizing constituents — ^^^ cent, 



iSTitrogen 2-03 



Phosphoric acid , -T^ 



Potash -15 



This muck is of good average quality, and would be well worth using for its 

 nitrogen and humus-forming material. Its direct application to the soil would not 

 in all probability prove profitable, but it might advantageously be used after being 

 subjected to incipient fermentation, as in the compost heap. It also seems well 

 adapted (after being air-dried) to act as an absorbent in and about the farm build- 

 ings — a use that we have generally advocated as being probably the most profitable 

 means for the utilization of mucks. In the resultant manure there is not only much 

 plant food that might have been washed by the draining away of the li-quid from the 

 cowhouse, pigpen, &c., but the fertilizing elements in the muck itself are presented to 

 the crop in forms much more readily assimilable than as originally present. 



The percentages of potash and phosphoric acid are, as might be expected, quite 

 small — indeed negligible — considering the muck as a fertilizer. 



A further sample of muck from near St. Stephen, N.B., and sent in by another 

 correspondent (E. H. Barter), was found on analysis to have the following composi- 

 tion in the air-dried condition: — 



Analysis. 



Per cent. 



Moisture i-ll 



Organic and volatile matter 79-61 



Mineral matter 12-68 



100-00 

 Nitrogen 1-77 



