DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 255 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



ol the plant food in marsh muds — was investigated some years ago, and a discussion 

 i hereof will be found in the Report of the Division of Chemistry for 1899. 



All three samples are of the same type or character and no great differences in 

 agricultural value exist between them; No. 13275, however, by reason of its larger 

 percentage of organic matter and nitrogen, might be expected to prove the best of 

 the three samples. The colour of No. 13276, bluish-grey, would become red on 

 exposure of the mud to the air, due to oxidation of its iron, and not until this change 

 is brought about would it be advisable to incorporate the mud with the soil, when 

 applied as an amendment. 



It is difficult to see wherein any very great advantage can result from the con- 

 tinued use of these muds, for they do not supply in any notable quantity those ele- 

 ments in which most poor soils are more or less deficient. They may affect favour- 

 ably the texture of a soil and they furnish a certain small amount of plant food, but 

 they cannot be regarded as substitutes for farm manures or comparable to commercial 

 fertilizers. That some benefit may accrue from their application is quite possible, 

 but we certainly think it advisable to try out the 'mud' on a small area before going 

 to any considerable expense in digging and hauling it on to the land. 



RIVER MUD. 



This sample (Laboratory No. 11230) was forwarded from Launching, P.E.I., 

 where it was stated it can be obtained easily and in large quantities. The inquiry 

 accompanying it was as to its fertilizing value on sandy loam that was somewhat 

 light and dry. In the air-drie^d condition the mud was of a light-reddish colour, in 

 lumps of an easily friable character, consisting largely of sand with a few small shells. 



Analyse of (air-dried) Mud. 



Per cent. 



Moisture 316 



Organic and volatile matter 13-87 



Mineral matter insoluble in acid (clay, sand, etc.) 69-78 



Oxide of iron and alumina 6-9-5 



Lime -56 



Fertilizing constituents — 



Phosphoric acid -36 



Potash -28 



Nitrogen *52 



The chief manurial value of this deposit lies in its organic matter and nitrogen, 

 in both of which it is comparatively rich. In phosphoric acid, potash and lime, the 

 amounts are not exceptional, but rather those found in many good, fei'tile soils. 



While as regards plant food it is not comparable to farm manures or commercial 

 fertilizer, it is reasonable to suppose that it would prove a useful amendment, more 

 particularly for heavy soils, poor in vegetable matter. These latter it would improve 

 physically as well as chemically, rendering them more open and friable. While, of 

 course, it should not be depended on solely to maintain fertility, an occasional applica- 

 tion would no doubt give a good return. 



Bivcr Mud, Laboratory No. 11272. — From the bod of the Murell river, P.E.I., 

 and dug in salt water. In the air-dried condition (water, 4-44 per cent) it was found 

 to contain 2G.44 per cent organic (vegetable* matter and .81 per cent nitrogen. It is 

 thus shown to be a valuable amendment for soils exhausted bv cropping, and which 

 e not been adequately manured. Composting the partially dry material for a few 

 weeks would be desirable, though on some soils there might be a fair response to an 

 application of the crude, raw muck. 



