WHAT IS MUCK? 5 



humus substances or other fine material. In 

 comparison, muck represents an advanced 

 stage of decay, having very little evidence of 

 plant tissues and carrying a large proportion 

 of humus. When it is perfectly developed, it 

 is found to be finely pulverized, not coarse, 

 with a black or brownish color. Its crop 

 value is relatively high. 



Practically, it is possible to find all stages 

 of gradation between peat and muck, the 

 variation existing both between different 

 areas and even between different parts of 

 the same area. In some cases, there is a 

 large difference between the soil and the sub- 

 soil of a certain section, sometimes muck 

 being better over a certain subsoil in one par- 

 ticular spot and poor at a short distance over 

 another subsoil. 



Certain areas, particularly if drained, may 

 show a marked difference in their crop value, 

 due no doubt to a difference in their stages 

 of decay. The very peaty areas may become 

 barren, then they are known as dry muck. 

 This characteristic indicates important rela- 

 tions to water supply. A low water table 

 will have an influence of continuing this bar- 

 renness, while a relatively high water table 

 may obviate this difficulty. 



