93 



MUCKS, 



In localities contiguous to swamps or low marshy bot- 

 toms where a dense vegetable growth has prevailed at some 

 time in the past, mucks form a desiiable proportion of the 

 manurial supply of the farm, and in some sections of this 

 country, as well as in Europe, mucks and peat form an arti- 

 cle of commerce. 



Materials of this character owe their value largely to 

 the quantity of vegetable matter they contain, though the 

 character of the vegetable growth from which they are de- 

 rived influences very appreciably their composition. 



Nitrogen is the most important fertilizing constituent of 

 mucks, though it is present in quite varying proportions, 

 ranging from one half per cent, in a low grade article to 

 4 per cent, in mucks of extreme richness. 



In addition, there are small proportions of phosphoric 

 acid and potash, but these are of minor importance as com- 

 pared with the nitrogen contained in the muck, and the 

 large supplies of organic matter, which constitute a ready 

 source of humus. 



The thoroughly air dried muck may either be employed 

 in composting, or is used as bedding in stables, it being 

 especially adapted to this latter purpose on account of its 

 great absorbent properties, readily taking up and retaining 

 liquid manures with comparatively small loss of ammonia. 



In composting, it can be used along with acid phosphates, 

 either as a substitute for, or in conjunction with, stable 

 manure. 



The addition of moderate proportions of lime to muck 

 composts is frequently practiced and in most cases to good 

 advantage. 



Two samples of- muck from the southern part of the State 

 have been examined in this laboratory quite recently and 

 showed on analysis the following composition : 



