212 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ent in the elements of their composition, — the first, meadow- 

 muck, consisting of a mass of semi-decayed trees, leaves, grasses, 

 mosses, and plants, geine or humus ; while the latter shows by 

 analysis that far its largest component part is salts and silicates. 

 So that they bear to each other not much stronger a resemblance 

 than sand to black mould. 



It is intended here to confine our remarks to the use of 

 meadow muck or peat. 



It is no easy matter to bring forward anything new upon this 

 subject after the learned and exhaustive treatises by Dr. Dana 

 and others, nor can any fixed or exact rules for its use be laid 

 down for observance upon all soils and for all crops ; and it is 

 with the greatest diffidence that we attempt to make any state- 

 ments upon a subject concerning which there exist so diverse 

 opinions. Feeling convinced, however, that these rich deposits, 

 like the coal for fuel, have been stored away by a wise Creator 

 for enriching the farm and producing food for man and beast, 

 and that their agricultural value — ignored until a recent pe- 

 riod — is not now appreciated by the greater number of farmers, 

 we will here offer our testimony in a few general remarks to 

 the truth of most which has been written of its value as a fertil- 

 izer, — though to present more than a very few hints within the 

 narrow limits of this paper would be absolutely impossible. 



All experiments in the analysis and application of muck prove 

 that it should never be used as an absorbent or a fertilizer in its 

 fresh, crude state. It should be taken from its cold bed of ages, 

 reeking as it is with stagnant water and sour gases, exposed to 

 the frost of at least one winter and opened to the sun of one 

 summer, before it is fit for any purpose. Whether for use in the 

 compost heap, the pig-pen or the barnyard, the dryer it is the 

 better its condition. Let it be dug in August, if possible, and 

 deposited near the pit in a heap not more than three feet in 

 thickness, remembering that it will shrink perhaps one-third in 

 measurement and more than one-half in weight. By doing this, 

 instead of at once carting it to the barnyard, expense in digging 

 and in carting will be saved. Let it remain one year, if possi- 

 ble, before removing it, and turn it with the fork inside out 

 after the frost leaves it, breaking up the large lumps. It is then 

 fit to be carried to the place where it is to be used. 



In digging, we have found the greatest economy in delivering 



