6 MUCK CROPS 



Shallow versus Deep Muck. Some muck 

 areas are but shallow sheets, while others 

 are many feet deep. Usually the larger 

 the area, the more shallow the muck 

 material and, therefore, the less desirable for 

 certain crops. Small ponds or pockets be- 

 tween hills may be 20 to 50 feet deep, even 

 up to 100 feet in some cases. Frequently the 

 smaller areas are bathed by springs main- 

 taining a very constant water table. Springs 

 are found in the large bodies of muck, but 

 owing to the large area, the springs tend to 

 have relatively little influence in maintaining 

 the water table. The question of mainten- 

 ance of water table is very important, as it 

 has much to do with the crop value of any 

 area of muck. 



Substratum. The substratum immediate- 

 ly below muck is likely to be one of three 

 materials: 



1. Sand, generally a fine, hard packed type. 



2. Marl, shell, or a fine granulated form. 



3. Clay, blue or hard type which makes an 

 impervious bottom and holds water. 



As a general rule, some such impervious 

 bottom is present. If the muck is deeper 

 than 4 feet, the type of subsoil makes but 



