14 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



celery, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets, turnips, and peppermint are 

 among the most valuable crops which are grown upon the intensively 

 farmed areas of Peat and Muck. The acreage values of these crops 

 so far surpass those of the general farm crops that the reclamation 

 of any large areas of Peat or Muck should be undertaken with the 

 special object of their production. 



For the profitable sale of these special crops it is desirable that such 

 areas of Peat and Muck as are easily accessible to large city markets 

 or to rapid transportation should first be reclaimed. 



Large applications of certain mineral fertilizers upon the Peat 

 and Muck have been found decidedly beneficial. The use of the 

 potash-bearing and phosphatic fertilizers has been experimentally 

 proven to give excellent returns through increased crop production. 

 Even coarse stable manure has been used to advantage. The appli- 

 cation of lime to these soils has given marked increases in yield of 

 many of the special crops. 



Only a small proportion of the total area of Peat and Muck has 

 been reclaimed for any agricultural use, and the remaining areas 

 constitute one of the most valuable portions of the land reserve which 

 may still be brought under cultivation. 



Approved. 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., March 26, 1912. 



