302 THE MANAGEMENT OF MARSH LANDS 



Unproductive or " Bogus " Spots. It is common experience 

 in marsh-land derelopment to find some spots that are difficult 

 to make productive. These may be alkali spots (p. 44); small 

 areas lacking adequate, subsurface drainage; the soil may be 

 exceptionally deficient in potassium ; or they may be unproductive 

 because of the presence of some poisonous compounds. If given 

 special attention, these conditions can usually be corrected through 

 proper drainage and through the use of mineral fertilizers and 

 agricultural lime. 



The Roller Necessary in Marsh-Land Farming. Much diffi- 

 culty is experienced in farming peat lands because the soil is so 

 loose. In order to secure a firm seed bed, it is necessary to use a 

 roller. Often it is best to roll a field several times. Rolling both 

 before and after seeding or planting is preferable. Sometimes 

 desired results can be attained only when the roller is heavily 

 weighted, or when an extra heavy roller weighing from 3000 to 

 5000 pounds is used. Smooth rollers are not so satisfactory as 

 other forms of packers. The use of a tractor in preparing the seed 

 bed is beneficial in this respect. A firm seed bed warms up better, 

 and this reduces the danger from frosts. 



Hay fields on muck and peat lands may be much benefited 

 if they are rolled in the spring. 



Frost on Marsh Lands. One of the disadvantages in farming 

 northern marsh lands is the danger of frosts. On account of later 

 frosts in the spring and earlier frosts in the fall, the growing season 

 on such lands is considerably shorter than on the high land in the 

 same locality. This emphasizes the necessity of considering care- 

 fully the crops to be grown on the marsh lands in any particular 

 section. For the more northern marshes root crops, hay, cabbage, 

 grains and early varieties of corn are recommended. 



When frosts occur either hi early or late summer, the injury 

 to corn is much reduced if the crop is well fertilized. This advances 

 the corn and seems to enable it to withstand the low temperature 

 much better than it otherwise could. Applying fertilizer in the 

 drill is advantageous in this respect (Figs. 201 and 202). 



What Crops Best to Grow. The fact that mucks and well 

 decomposed peats are most excellent soils for trucking and garden- 

 ing has led many marsh-land owners to think that these soils are 

 adapted for intensive crops only. According to the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, at least 300,000 acres of marsh lands 



