228 STATE BOAED OF AGEICULTUKE. 



Carbonate of potash 1.82 



Chloride of sodium 2.00 



Oxide of iron 18.61 



Silica 1.75 



Moisture and loss .50 



The composition of the ash will vtiry so greatly witli varying conditions of 

 the muck bed, that the analysis of the ash of one specimen of muck will be no 

 certain indication of the results of analysis of the ash from another muck bed. 

 But the asli almost always contains lime, magnesia, potash, soda, and sulphuric 

 and phosjDhoric acids — materials of great value in agriculture. We find there- 

 fore that muck has a certain agricultural value on account of the mineral which 

 it furnishes to the farm. 



COMPOSITIOIS' OF THE OKGANIC MATTER OF MUCK. 



The organic or combustible matter of muck is formed by the successive 

 stages of decomposition of vegetable matter. We find it in all stages from 

 unaltered vegetable fibre, to its final conversion into carbonic acid. Chemists 

 have distinguished a large number of those transitory products. The first 

 indication of decay in vegetable fibre is a change of color, becoming brown 

 instead of the whitish color of unaltered vegetable fibre. This material is 

 called humin or ulmin ; it is insoluble in water and in a solution of carbon- 

 ate of soda. Vegetable matter in this condition is inert and without value as 

 manure. By further oxidation it becomes changed into two feebly acid sub- 

 stances, called humic and ulmic acids, which are sparingly soluble in water, but 

 readily soluble in solution of carbonate of soda. Their combinations with potash, 

 soda, and ammonia are readily soluble in water giving a dark brown color to the 

 water of many swamps. Their combinations with lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, 

 etc., are all insoluble in water. By further oxidation these acids are changed 

 into two other stronger acids, which are very readily soluble in water, and most 

 of whose combinations with alkalies, wdth lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, etc., 

 are readily soluble in water. Not to load your mind with unimportand terms 

 and distinctions I will sum up this matter by saying that vegetable matter is 

 first changed into an inert and insoluble material, next into a feeble acid whose 

 combinations with tlie alkalies alone are sensibly soluble, and then into an ener- 

 getic acid, readily soluble and most of whose combinations are also soluble. 

 You may form some idea of the proportions in wdiicli these three classes usually 

 exist in muck from the following estimate based ou the examination of IG speci- 

 mens analyzed by Dr. Fisher under the direction of Prof. Johnson of Shefiield 

 Scientific School. In 100 parts of organic matter, IG parts were inert, 77 parts 

 soluble in solution of carbonate of soda, and 7 parts were soluble in water and 

 belonged to the crenic acid class. Or, to translate this statement into the tech- 

 nical language of the chemist, 100 parts of organic matter of muck contained, of 

 ulmin and humin IG parts ; of ulmic and humic acids 77 parts ; of crenic and 

 apocrenic acids 7 parts. 



This is by no means the invariable composition of the organic matter of 

 muck, but merely gives you an approximate idea of the average composition of 

 this material. Now this progressive change from inert materials into feeble 

 acids, and from these to stronger acids, is one of increased activity and agricul- 

 tural value, and the thing we should aim to secure in treating muck is to cause 

 it to pass tlirough these successive changes rapidly, but without loss of valuable 

 material. But since an acid condition of the soil is injurious, while we develoj) 



