174 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REPORT OF EXTENSION WORK IN MUCK CROPS 



Tlie activities of the extension work in muck crops is differentiated 

 into two phases. (1) Assisting the farmers engaged in farming muck 

 land with the special questions which his distinct type of agriculture 

 presents. (2j To stimulate an interest in muck soil and reveal the 

 potentialities of the large swamp acreage in Michigan which is at present 

 undeveloped and of little value. 



To properly articulate this year's work with that of the previous year 

 it is necessary to review briefly the problem as a whole. 



The agricultural utilization of muck and peat soils presents a com- 

 pletely distinct premise from that of the reclamation and utilization 

 of virgin upland soils. This has been discussed more fully in a paper read 

 at the annual meeting of the American Peat Society September, 1!)1 !).'•" 

 It emphasized the fact that muck farming in any of its phases could not 

 be carried on from a point of view based on upland experience. ]\Euck 

 and peat soils, organic in origin, with an excess of organic matter and 

 nitrogen bearing substances, deficient in mineral content, chiefly phos- 

 phorus and potassium, undergoing rapid change physically, chemically 

 and biologically are not only distinct but present features almost con- 

 trary to the characteristic features of the average upland soil. The 

 causes for failure in muck farming have in many instances been due to 

 a lack of appreciation of these facts. It is evident that the entire 

 system of farm management and soil handling must be different from 

 upland practices. Not only are the ordinary farm practices unique in 

 muck farming but the crop varieties, as corn, oats and hay adapted to 

 the upland are usually not suitable for the muck. 



For a more complete analysis of this point of view the paper men- 

 tioned above may be consulted. 



An extension worker dealing with a new field of agriculture with 

 unique and special problems concerning which the published practical 

 information is very limited, speedily became a medium for the exchange 

 of profitable experiences and methods and questions concerning every 

 phase of this type of agricnlture. This made, it necessary to organize 

 the Michigan Muck Farmers Association in 1919, which held three well 

 attended semi-annual meetings. The development and results derived 

 from the organization are made the subject of a main part of this report 

 because unquestionably the most effective part of llie extension work in 

 assisting muck farmers is being carried out through this organization. 

 In February, 1920, a three day meeting was held. The program was 

 chiefly made up of ])apers given 1»y muck farmers with Avhom lliis office 

 had been cooperating. The first day was given to the use of muck as a 

 fertilizer. The second and third days were given to a discussion of 

 Muck Farm Management. Professor A. eT. Alway University of Minne- 

 sota, gave two addresses. The benefits of the organization beyond the 

 educational value are deserving of mention. The members of the asso- 

 ciation have been a fruitful source of information for the extension 



*Muck Farm Management in Michigan. Journal American Peat Society, July, 1020. 



