EXPERIMENT STATION. 61 



Swamp Muck. 



612. Swamp muck sent by N". P. Perkins, Willimantic. This 

 muck was dug in November, 1880, lay in heaps in the fiekl during 

 the winter and until about the middle of May, when it was sent to 

 the Station. 



680. Swamp Muck from J. W. Nettleton, Milford. 



The Fresh Muck contains : 612 680 



Water 77.59 73.13 



Organic matters *. 15.65 14.64 



Ashf. 6.76 12.23 



100.00 100.00 

 • With Nitrogen 4l .35 



t With Sand and silicates 6.15 9.79 



" Oxide of iron, alumina and phosphoric acid 38 1.09 



" Lime .14 .19 



" Soluble iron-salts trace none 



" Uddeiermlned matter .09 1.16 



6.76 12.23 



TJie Dry ( Water-free) Muck contains : 



Orojanic matters 69.82 54.46 



Ash. 30.18 45.54 



Lime .62 .65 



Nitrogen ._ .1.83 1.31 



The Organic Matters contain : 



Nitrogen 2.62 2.40 



These samj)les are quite similar in composition. Their direct 

 fertilizing value_ is comparatively small, lying mainly in the small 

 quantities of nitrogen and lime they contain. The nitrogen 

 amounts to but 7 to 8 lbs. per ton of muck, about half as much 

 as is usuallv found in stable manure. Of lime there is but 3 to i 

 lbs. per ton. The nitrogen exists doubtless in a less active state 

 than that of stable manure. As a " fertilizer" therefore, using 

 that word in its strictest sense, muck of the quality of these 

 samples has little value. 



Mr. Perkins in forwarding samples wrote as follows: "The 

 analysis of the swamp muck is of greater importance to us than 

 that of phosphates, as we can have thousands of loads of the 

 former for the drawing, while we must pay largely for the phos- 

 phates. I have no confidence in the muck except as an absorbent. 

 Mr. Barrows mixes ashes with it and claims great results from its 



