IIQ EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VI!., A. 1905 



ricli in nitrogen, sucli soils do not contain this element in a readily assimilable form. 

 The chief disadvantages of soils of this character for farm crops, however, generally 

 lie in the very small proportions of sand and clay they contain and their deficiency in 

 the mineral con-stituents of plant food — lime, phosphoric acid and potash and, further, 

 their acid or sour character also renders the:ii nnfavourable for many crops. 



Analysis of (air-dried) Soil. 



Moisture 5'2G 



Organic and volatile matter •. . 81'55 



Insoluble residue (clay and sand) 10'65 



Oxide of iron and alumina 2'3S 



Lime "48 



Magnesia 'IG 



Potash 'OG 



Phosphoric acid '09 



100"G.3 



Nitrogen, in organic matter l'G5 



The soil as received was strongly acid, and on drying by exposure became extreme- 

 \y hard and refractory. 



The above data are in close accord with those we have obtained from swamp or 

 !)'aclc mucks collected in various parts of the Dominion, and clearly indicate that the 

 remarks already made regarding their characteristics and faults are strictly appli- 

 cable to the soil under consideration. 



The general treatment for their reclamation and improvement may be outlined 

 as follows : — 



Drainage. — This should be as thorough as possible. The removal of all free or 

 stagnant water results in the aeration of the soil, the correction of its sourness 

 and the improvement of its mechanical condition by causing it to become .more firm 

 01' compact. 



Admixture with Suhsoil. — Whenever the depth of the surface soil will allow the 

 plough to reach the subsoil, there should be a certain admixture of the underlying 

 stratum with the muck. This will serve to improve the latter, both mechanically and 

 chemically. Where this plan is not feasible by reason of the great depth of the sur- 

 face soil it would be advisable to dress heavily with sand or clay, or better, a mixture 

 of both. Unfortunately, the expense of this latter plan prevents its general adoption. 



Fertilizers. — Muck soils, as already remarked, are rich in humus and nitrogen; 

 nevertheless, for a season or two until the soil ' sweetens ' and nitrification ensues, 

 dressings of barnyard manure will be found of value in encouraging growth by apply- 

 ing immediately available nitrogen. 



The chief requirements of such soils are, however, the mineral constituents of 

 plant food. If wood ashes are obtainable no better fertilizer could be recommended, 

 as they supply lime, potash and phosphoric acid. An application of 50 to 80 bushels 

 per acre, harrowed in, should have a marked effect upon the crop. A dressing of 

 lime-, simply, will also be of gi-eat value (say, 40 bushels per acre), though it should, 

 if possible, be supplemented by potash and phosphoric acid in one or other of their 

 forms. Marl, a natural deposit of carbonate of lime, frequently found in connection 

 and underlying peat or muck, is very useful for such soik as we are considering. 

 A heavj dressing of ' gas lime ' has been found valuable for such soil. Basic (Thomas) 

 slag wiU, I believe, be found very useful for such soils. It presents phosphoric acid 



