Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 743 



same as that exhibited in green manuring, with buckwheat and other 

 shallow-rooted plants. Further, the minute particles of decajing 

 organic matter possess the power of mechanicallj absorbing ammo" 

 nia, and of holding it until, l>y the continued progress of decay, 

 ulniic and similar acids are formed which combine with it, constitu- 

 ting ulniates of ammonia. These salts, being afterward decomposed 

 by different causes, yield up their ammonia to the root spongioles as 

 the growth of the plant proceeds. Muck therefore, when buried in 

 or mingled with the soil, acts chemically during its decay to hasten 

 the liberation of mineral plant nutrition naturally existing in the 

 soil, and also to hold ready for the plants whatever of ammonia may 

 exist or find its way into the same. This action is identical with 

 that of the decaying vegetable matter, roots, leaves, herbage, etc., 

 found more or less in all land, and known under the name of humus. 

 From this it is easy to see how on lands rich in humus the applica- 

 tion of muck will produce no marked effect. Such grounds, low 

 bottom lands, and those that have been pretty thoroughly green 

 manured, possess humus enough already, and muck is no manure 

 for them. 



There is another result of the use of muck, which is often of more 

 consequence than is commonly supposed. The darker the color of a 

 field the more rapidly will its surface a!)sorb heat, and the greater 

 the absorption of heat the more is hastened the sprouting of seeds, 

 the luxuriance of leaves and stems, and the ripening of kernels. 

 The dark color of a soil is due in the main to its proportion of 

 organic matter, as shown in the vegetable molds to which allusion 

 has just been made. In tliose instances where muck can be profita^ 

 bly applied, this darkening of the soil is an incidental advantage, 

 especially on certain varieties of lands indicated further on. 



The mechanical action of muck in the soil is simply to loosen it, 

 but this ultimately results in important chemical changes directly 

 afiecting its fertility. Air and heat can more readily permeate the 

 ground. The natural drainage of surplus moisture from the surface 

 is hastened. This, by diminishing evaporation, helps the warming 

 of the soil, it being a well known truth that the evaporation of one 

 pound of water renders latent as much heat as is requii-ed to raise 

 the temperature of 130 pounds one degree. Furthermore, the mois- 

 ture passing diownward insures more uniformly a moderate humidity 

 at a depth of several inches, which materially reduces the injur j 

 done by a drouth. 



