130 FERTILIZERS 



late large quantities of partially decayed vegetable matter 

 which is called muck or peat according to its consistency. In 

 Florida and the Gulf States large quantities of this material are 

 found in the hummocks or low bottom lands near the lake and 

 river regions. Vast beds of it are also found in Alaska, where it is 

 so rich in vegetable matter that it is frequently cut up into blocks, 

 dried, and burned as fuel. 



Muck is rich in organic matter and contains about .3 per cent 

 of nitrogen, besides showing traces of lime, potash, and phos- 

 phoric acid. Onions, celery, and potatoes make fine crops in muck 

 lands that have been well drained. 



Leaves and Straw are chiefly valuable for the organic matter that 

 they supply to the soil. Farmers frequently make a great mis- 

 take when they set fire to their straw stacks and burn them up. 

 The straw makes good forage for live stock in winter; and the 

 following spring, if scattered over the soil, the straw makes a cheap 

 and valuable fertilizer. 



Barnyard Manure is somewhat different from stable manure 

 and should not be confused with that product. It is the manure 

 found in feed lots where live stock is fed, and consists of the 

 droppings of the stock mixed with the loose portions of the soil 

 and with waste portions of hay or straw given the stock for rough 

 feed and for beddings. 



Stable Manure accumulates in stables where animals are kept 

 and fed. In many stables the manure is allowed to accumulate, 

 and dry straw for bedding is added from day to day as may be 

 needed. It is more valuable than barnyard manure because its 

 valuable constituents are not leached out and washed away by 

 rains. When removed from the stable it should be placed in 

 covered pens where it will be protected from the weather. A 

 ton of manure consists of 75 per cent of water and 25 per cent of 

 solid material. In the latter will be found from 10 to 12 per cent of 

 ash and from 12 to 15 per cent of organic matter. There will be 

 usually found present ten pounds or less each of phosphoric acid 

 and lime, eight to ten pounds of nitrogen, and from six to eight 

 pounds of potash. In order to prevent the loss of ammonia 

 and nitrogen it is frequently found advisable to sprinkle the 

 manure with gypsum. 



