42 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



(Journ. Amer. Peat Soc. 9, 10-21, 1915). There is need of empha- 

 sizing in this connection that much consideration should be given 

 to the dangers from over-drainage and improper cultural methods. 



As to fertilizer, either potash, principally the basic form, or 

 manure should be used to begin the improvement of peat lands, 

 but liming may or may not be advisable. The acidity of certain 

 peat materials does not necessarily decrease their productivity. 

 The only correct means, however, of determining the fertilizer 

 reciuirements on peat land of specifically different peat materials 

 consists in making actual growing tests and studying the reactions 

 and the yields obtained. The use of manure is to be highly recom- 

 mended, especially upon the heavy, compact phases of peat, which 

 should receive the coarser manures. The value of fibrous peat 

 material as a stable litter or bedding in stock and in dairy farming 

 can hardly be over-estimated. Peat materials are known to 

 absorb not only large quantities of water or of solutes but gaseous 

 products as well. Owing to their great absorptive power peat 

 materials are used as a deodorizer and as an efficient absorbent for 

 gaseous ammonia formed from the decay of manure, which would 

 otherwise escape into the air and be lost. 



There is little doubt that the agricultural development of suitably 

 prepared peat lands in Massachusetts would prove to be profitable. 

 The cultivation of grasses and certain clovers for hay and pasture 

 for a few years will probably be the safest operation. The pasture 

 problem has been in the main neglected and hence it seems that it 

 should be relatively advantageous to double the product. More- 

 over, the decrease in the number of head of livestock has been very 

 great in all countries of late and a strong demand for both animals 

 and their food is making itself felt. 



But the peat lands of Massachusetts may well be utilized for 

 other types of farming. Every effort should be made to eliminate 

 this waste of peat land resources and to increase the food products 

 of the state. Corn, preferably for silage purposes, potato, oats, 

 rye, and clovers with grasses may be grown; they should be ro- 

 tated every few years. Root crops to supplement pasture and used 

 as succulent feed for stock in fall and winter on the farm would 

 not only improve the plowed layer, but probably give fairly high 

 yields. They should follow cereals such as rye, oats, millet, and 



