OF WHAT VALUE IS IT? 31 



ists have determined that a black surface will 

 absorb a much larger amount of heat than 

 a surface of any other color, providing other 

 things are equal. It may be, therefore, 

 stated that muck which is natural black or 

 brownish black will absorb more heat than 

 soils of lighter color. 



It may be further inferred that muck added 

 to lighter colored soils will cause these soils 

 to turn darker and, therefore, absorb more 

 heat. As a result of this dark color in the 

 soils, vegetation will be produced before the 

 early frosts, maturing more rapidly during 

 the growing season, thus escaping in a meas- 

 ure the loss caused by early fall frosts. 



The third and fourth beneficial results con- 

 cern moisture in the soil : the slower evapora- 

 tion of moisture from these soils and the 

 soils' increased capacity for absorbing and 

 retaining moisture. 



Analysis of soils will bring out the fact 

 that muck soils will hold more water than 

 some other types. 



75 to 87 Ibs. in 100 Ibs. of fresh muck 



49 Ibs. in 100 Ibs. cultivated muck 



0.23 Ibs. in 100 Ibs. light sandy 



1.30 Ibs. in 100 Ibs. of heavy fine sandy loam (truck soil) 



1.28 Ibs. in 100 Ibs. of clay loam (good corn & wheat soil) 



3.56 Ibs. in 100 Ibs. of sandy loam (Texas) 



3.26 Ibs. in 100 Ibs. of silt loam (Texas) 



