VALUE OF SWAMP LANDS. 



num moss, which grew in the water once covering 

 these areas. In growing, the moss obtains carbon from 

 the carbon dioxide in the air, and hydrogen and oxygen 

 from water, being similar to other plants in this respect. 

 The water in which the sphagnum moss grows is more or 

 less stagnant. It is usually surface drainage or seepage 

 water, and contains sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus, potas- 

 sium, and other essential elements of plant food to meet 

 the needs of the growing moss. Both nitrogen and phos- 

 phorus enter into fairly stable organic combinations with 

 the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and when the moss 

 changes to peat, and even when the peat partially decays, 

 these two elements, nitrogen and phosphorus (especially 

 the nitrogen), are largely retained in the organic matter. 

 The potassium, however, reverts more largely to the soluble 

 form and it is finally lost to a greater or less extent in the 

 drainage waters flowing from the peat bogs. 



"A considerable number of peaty swamp soils from differ- 

 ent places in the State have been analyzed by the Experiment 

 Station, and they are found to be very rich in nitrogen, well 

 supplied with phosphorus, but very deficient in potassium, 

 as compared with the ordinary fertile soils of the state." 



Farmers are not always ready to accept such scientific 

 theories without proof which they can understand, that is 

 the actual results with crops. Ample proof of this kind 

 has been given by both the Illinois and Indiana Experiment 

 Stations. In Indiana it was found that many of these tracts 

 of swamp land were very hard to drain. Of course they 



