OF WHAT VALUE IS IT? 29 



supply of manure can be more than doubled 

 by utilizing muck. 



Nitrogenous manures cost more than 

 others, for the simple reason that concen- 

 trated nitrogenous compounds capable of 

 supplying this element to plants are neither 

 abundant nor readily prepared. It is, there- 

 fore, of great importance to recognize clearly 

 the value of muck in this regard and also for 

 its humus. 



Muck as Soil Restorer. There are at least 

 four benefits resulting from the mixing of 

 muck rich in humus with soils deficient in 

 vegetable matter. 



The first beneficial result is the lightening 

 of the soil. A comparison of the weights of 

 a cubic foot of different kinds of soil will 

 bring out this fact. 



1 cubic foot of peat weighs 30 to 75 pounds 



heavy clay 75 



vegetable mold . 78 



com. arable soil.. 80 to 90 



sand and clay. ... 96 



sand weighs 110 



As a general law, it has been found that the 

 specific gravity of soil decreases inversely as 

 its content of humus. 



By using these figures, if one adds to a 



