SOIL SURVEY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, IOWA. 39 



Narrow strips containing alkali concentrations occur along the 

 margins of many of the Peat areas. Thorough drainage by means 

 of tile, deep plowing, and heavy applications of manure, are effective 

 means of correcting this alkali condition. 



Millet and timothy give good yields on both deep and shallow Peat, 

 producing from 1 to 2^ tons of hay per acre. They are the most 

 profitable crops on the newly drained land. Some farmers grow 

 flax as the first crop and obtain a fair yield. 



Corn and small grains do not do so well. Corn makes a rapid 

 growth for a few weeks, then becomes stunted in growth and pro- 

 duces small nubbins. This is usually caused by the presence of 

 alkali salts which, if concentrated, cause the leaves to turn yellow 

 when the plant is about 1 foot high and checks further development. 

 Smair grains usually lodge before the grain can ripen. Sugar beets 

 are being grown successfully on beds that have undergone consider- 

 able decomposition. The beets grow very large and yield from 15 to 

 18 tons per acre. Potatoes are grown on a few acres, generally for 

 home use. Weeds cause considerable trouble where grain is grown. 



The plan of seeding the land to timothy and alsike clover after 

 draining, and pasturing heavily for several years before growing 

 crops has been found to give the best results. Thorough drainage 

 is, of course, the first essential in reclamation. Deeper plowing will 

 hasten the decomposition by permitting deeper weathering and oxi- 

 dation. Applications of phosphate and potash might be profitable 

 when special crops are grown. 



MUCK. 



The surface soil of Muck is in general similar to that of Peat, the 

 chief difference being the more advanced stage of decomposition of 

 the vegetable matter in the case of Muck. The material, when dry, 

 is loose and fluffy, and the color generally black. Considerable min- 

 eral matter, mostly silt and clay, is incorporated around the edges of 

 the Muck deposits, having been washed in from higher adjacent soil 

 areas. A covering of Peat 2 to 3 inches deep is present on some of 

 the smaller spots. An alkaline reaction is obtained in many cases 

 from the surface soil of beds that have been recently drained. Fine 

 lime particles and white shells lie scattered over the surface of some 

 areas. The subsoil below 18 to 20 inches is a black, sticky, calcareous 

 silty clay loam to clay, which passes at 34 to 40 inches into a duU- 

 grajdsh clay loam to clay. Occasional pockets of sand are encoun- 

 tered in the lower depths of the 3-foot section. 



Since the separation of Muck and Peat is based upon the state of 

 decomposition of the vegetable matter, the distinction is necessarily 

 arbitrary in many cases. Where the vegetable matter is so finely 



