8 SOILS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



expense of draining and subduing such soils has been the chief 

 hindrance, but where a good market exists for the sale of the special 

 crops best suited to production upon these soils, the high acreage 

 value of these special crops warrants the outlay of large sums for 

 reclaiming favorably situated deposits. There are many instances 

 where the cost of draining, clearing, and subduing muck areas has 

 been repaid within two or three years' time by the sale of high-priced 

 crops like lettuce, celery, onions, and cabbage. Such lands when 

 cleared frequently appreciate in value sufficiently to render their de- 

 velopment one of the most remunerative forms of land improvement. 



EXTENT OF OCCUPATION. 



Probably not more than 5 per cent of the total area of Muck and 

 Peat in the eastern part of the United States has yet been drained. 

 By far the greater part of such deposits supports a growth of tama- 

 rack, white cedar, birch, and water maple, in the more northern 

 regions, or gum, cypress, and a thick tangle of undergrowth in the 

 southern localities. 



Even in the case of areas which have been drained and cleared, the 

 greater part of the acreage is given over to the production of hay or 

 small grains and only limited tracts have yet been occupied for the 

 more valuable special crops. It is therefore apparent that the 

 country possesses a very great reserve of highly valuable soils which 

 may be reclaimed and devoted to the production of the luxuries and 

 the necessities of the table whenever the demand for increased pro- 

 duction shall justify such utilization of this land. 



CROP ADAPTATIONS. 



When drained, Muck is frequently used for corn growing for a few 

 years until the roots of trees and other obstructions to intensive 

 cultivation have been removed. Unless the land is located too far 

 north or occupies some hollow which is abnormally frosty, the yields 

 secured are fair to good. Upon the best areas a production of 40 to 

 50 bushels of corn per acre is not at all unusual. Frequently the 

 yields are increased by the use of coarse stable manure and in many 

 instances applications of potash salts and of phosphoric acid in some 

 form have proved to be highly advantageous. Corn may be grown 

 for two or three years in succession or a regular rotation of corn, 

 followed by oats, followed by a stand of mixed timothy and alsike 

 clover for hay may be adopted. 



Oats constitute the best small-grain crop for production upon Muck 

 in the majority of northern areas. The crop is favored by the moist 

 soil and the cool climate. Heavy yields of oats, ranging from 50 to 

 80 bushels per acre, have been grown. The chief difficulty encoun- 



