44 ■ EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



The present seems to be a period of investigation and dis- 

 covery. The niaunfactnre of cyananiid compounds from the 

 nitrogen in the atmosphere has furnished a most valuable eco- 

 nomical source of nitrogen. This fact may retard somewhat the 

 development of our jDeat industry from an agricultural stand- 

 point, although the fact that peat furnishes valuable humus 

 directly, while the mineral forms of plant food can only furnish 

 it indirectly by growing a green crop to be subsequently 

 ploughed under, will always be an incentive to its use in the 

 natural or modified condition. The manufacturers of commer- 

 cial fertilizers have recognized the value of peat as a drier, an 

 absorbent and a source of humus in which many chemical 

 formulas are deficient, and some are already using peat as a 

 drier, and to improve the mechanical condition of fertilizer 

 mixtures. How far this can be done legally and still comply 

 with the fertilizer laws of our various States is an open question. 

 If the manufacturer does not count the nitrogen which the peat 

 carries in his guaranteed composition, but simply uses the 

 material to improve the physical condition of his goods, it would 

 not be undesirable, but the practice would offer a chance to the 

 unscrupulous manufacturer to load his fertilizer with low-grade 

 ammoniates. 



There can be no question but what the nitrogen in dried peat 

 has a much lower availability than the nitrogen in the high- 

 grade animal and vegetable ammoniates, and for this reason its 

 use as a source of nitrogen in mixed fertilizers must be excluded 

 in order to comply with many State laws. 



It is, of course, desirable to utilize peat as a fertilizer on as 

 large a commercial scale as is j^ossible, and the introduction of 

 some process whereby this material may be made available for 

 extensive use will be welcomed. In the mean time, however, 

 there is no reason why peat should not be utilized to improve 

 the chemical and physical condition of soils. It is a well-known 

 fact that dry peat is a most Avonderful absorbent. Experience 

 teaches us, however, that it is rather slowly decomposed. If 

 we can compost peat, therefore, with something that is teeming 

 with bacteria and is easily decomposed there is a gain in two 

 ways. For instance, if air-dried peat is composted with manure 

 from the horse stable, the manure aids in disintegrating the 



