REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 141 



besides yielding nitrogen, liberates in the soil by its decomposition carbonic acid. 

 This latter undoubtedly exerts a beneficial action in setting free mineral plant food. 

 It is therefore apparent that green manuring or an application of composted muck 

 serves many useful purposes in the soil. Besides acting chemically, such materials 

 serve to mellow heavy soils by rendering them porous and permeable to the air, 

 while sandy and light soils have their retentive and absorbent qualities increased. 

 We may biiefly discuss the different ways in which muck and peat may be treated 

 before being applied to the land. 



The air-dried substance is extremely absorbent and capable of soaking up and 

 retaining large quantities of liquid manure. Its use for bedding stock and for 

 spreading in tbe barnyard is therefore apparent. By a plentiful application, much 

 valuable fertilizing material that would otherwise go to waste is saved. The stable 

 manure not only has its good qualities preserved, but by the ensuing fermentation the 

 nitrogen of the muck is rendered available. When it is properly preserved and fer- 

 mented, there results a quick acting and forcing manure. 



Without its previous use as an absorbent, the air-dried muck may be composted. 

 Alternate layers of say 6 inches of barnyard manure and muck make an excellent 

 compost. The whole should be kept moist, though not too wet, and the heap occa- 

 sionally forked ovei-. If sufficient manure is not obtainable, wood ashes and lime 

 may be substituted. Such a compost would be poorer in nitrogen, but richer in 

 potash than the one just described. To the compost heap should be added all bones, 

 carcasses of dead animals and garbage that accrue on the fai-m. A compost heap 

 not only serves to keep clean and healthy the surroundings of the farmhouse and 

 buildings, but preserves as in a bank from which withdrawals can easily be made 

 and in which good interest is given, much plant food that would otherwise go to 

 waste. Every farm should have a comport heap, conveniently located. If there 

 is not a deposit of muck in the neighbourhood which can be drawn from, the best 

 soil obtainable should be used. Our table shows the composition of 34 different 

 samples of muck, from all parts of Canada, examined during the past year. They 

 vary much in quality, their value as a rule being dependent upon the amount of 

 nitrogen contained ; the condition of decay is also an important factor when con- 

 sidering their availability. 



