FERTILIZER NEEDS 297 



During this initial cropping the roots rot, thus permitting subse- 

 quent clearing and cultivation. 



Frequently marsh lands become very boggy largely as a result 

 of pasturing while the land is still too wet to cultivate. These 

 bogs add to the difficulties of breaking. When they are cut off 

 and cut to pieces, breaking is much facilitated (Fig. 197). 



Preparing the Breaking for Planting. Tough, turf breakings 

 should be thoroughly harrowed. A cutaway-disk harrow is an 

 excellent machine to use (Fig. 90). The use of a tractor in pre- 



Fia. 197. A bog cutter. Note the cutting blade (A) extending from runner to runner. 



paring the new seed bed is especially good, because its weight 

 firms the soil and presses the furrow slices down so that good con- 

 tact is made with the subsoil. 



Fertilizer Needs. Chemical analyses show that peat and 

 muck soils, in general, contain comparatively small amounts of 

 potassium and phosphorus. Furthermore, experience and field 

 tests have clearly demonstrated that potash and phosphate fertil- 

 izers and manure are second in importance to thorough drainage in 

 determining crop production on these soils. 



Peat and muclc soils vary in their fertilizer needs. Some will 

 produce fair to good crops for a year or two, after which the yields 

 diminish rapidly unless the land is fertilized. Other marsh soils 

 are so deficient in potassium that they fail entirely to produce 



