138 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



MA-RCi^. 



pulverized, and mingled in some measure with 

 mineral matter from the hills. In others, the high 

 lands rise gradually, or what is quite often the 

 case, the swamp is bordered on one or two sides 

 with broad plains of sandy land, once covered 

 with pitch pines, and possessing within themselves 

 the essential elements of grain crops for an in- 

 definite period. This condition of things reminds 

 the observer of the deposits of coal and iron 

 which frequently lie side by side in coal and iron 

 regions, divided, perhaps, by a narrow valley, or 

 a diminutive stream. Such boggj' swamps are 

 not strictly soils, but the collections of organic 

 matter, mainly contributed by successive ages, in- 

 to which has been mingled from the higher lands, 

 most or all the minerals in a soluble form. 



Sometimes, muck of the best quality is found 

 in narrow valleys, and on quite high ground ; but 

 in such instances it is rarely more than three or 

 four feet in depth, and thinning down towards 

 the edges of the valley to a few inches. This is 

 usually black, of a slippery, saponaceous appear- 

 ance, and so thoroughly decomposed, that the 

 sense of touch can detect no fibre or grit when 

 rubbed between the fingers. On examining it 

 through a microscope of high power, the fibres 

 may be seen, though exceedingly minute, and in 

 endless forms. This muck is perhaps the most 

 valuable of any found for all the purposes for 

 which it is used. It is alwaj^s accessible, and may 

 be applied to the land with safety after having 

 been exposed to atmospheric influences for a few 

 weeks only. After being thrown out and becom- 

 ing dry, it is friable, and falls into a light, fine 

 powder, and in that state is one of the most gree- 

 dy absorbents in nature. Instances have come 

 to our knowledge where this class of muck has 

 been transferred to grass lands with admirable 

 Effect, without any seasoning, or "cooking," as 

 some farmers term it, or without any mixture with 

 barn-yard or specific manures, ashes or lime. 

 When tlu'own out in ridges it soon becomes cov- 

 ered with a rank growth of weeds, or coarse grass- 

 es, or, what often occurs, a luxuriant growth of 

 the wild raspberry. These are evidences of its 

 virtues which cannot be mistaken, and are suffi- 

 cient to settle the question of value. In our own 

 garden culture we have for years used this kind 

 of muck on cultivated raspber/ies, strawberries, 

 blackberries, currants and gooseberries Avith the 

 most satisfactory results. We also apply it as a 

 mulch about young pear trees and young nursery 

 trees, and find that it prevents excessive evapora- 

 tion, and protects the tender roots from the scorch- 

 ing effects of our hot summer suns. 



On the margins of some small streams in Mas- 

 sachusetts, we have visited extensive tracts, made 

 uj) of muck varying in thickness from one foot to 

 twenty feet in depth. It varies also in quality, i 



These tracts are annually flooded in the springs 

 and succeeded by annual crops of coarse grasses 

 which for many ages must have matured and fall- 

 en upon the spot, as there are no present eviden- 

 ces of a forest having stood there, though it is 

 supposed they were remotely covered with a heavy 

 growth of timber. They are almost always skirt- 

 ed by rolling hills on one side, and "pine plains" 

 on the other ; thus aff"ording the farmer opportu- 

 nity to reclaim the meadow itself, by drainage and 

 an admixture of the gravel from the hills, or by 

 transferring the muck to the sandy land, and re- 

 storing it to its original fertility. As in the coal 

 and iron districts, nature has been affluent in her 

 gifts to the husbandman in this particular ; it is 

 for him to seek her treasures, draw them from 

 their hidden recesses, and make them bless the 

 world, or mould them to his uses where they lie. 



For the New Ensland Fm-mer. 

 USES OF SEA-"WEED. 



For years I have been a reader of your valua- 

 ble paper. Upon one subject I have seen very lit- 

 tle written which we farmers on the sea- coast are 

 much interested in, that is, sea-iceed, for to that ar- 

 ticle we are mostly indebted for our hay crops. I 

 find in the Fourth Annual Report of the Secreta- 

 ry of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, 

 1859, this subject is taken up by S. P. M4lY- 

 BERRY, of Cape Elizabeth, (to whom the readers 

 of your paper are indebted for many timely hints.) 

 He gives to the reader its ofllice as designed by 

 our holy Father, in the sea, and then its uses on 

 the farm. INIore attention has been given within 

 a few years in this vicinity to the hay crop than 

 formerly ; we find that two tons of hay can be 

 produced from an acre of land, where we used to 

 get but one ; the extra amount more than paying 

 for getting the land in a good state of cultivation. 

 Many thanks to T. J. Pinkham for what he wrote 

 relative to whether farming is profitable, as by 

 that we have been enabled to get at the opinion 

 of others. Senex. 



Yarmouth, Feb., 1860. 



1 



SCIEWCE OF COMMON THLKTGS. 

 BY DAVID A. WELLS, 



Why do bubbles rise to the surface, ivhen ajnece 

 of sugar, tcood or chalk is plunged under tvater"? 



Because the air or liquid contained in the pores 

 becomes expanded by heat, and bursts the cover- 

 ing in which it is confined. 



What are the sparks of fire which burst from 

 the wood ? 



Very small pieces of wood made red hot, and 

 separated from the log by the force of the air 

 when it bursts from its confinement. 



Why does light, jiorous wood make more snap- 

 ping than any other kind ? 



Because the pores are very large, and contain 

 more air than wood of a closer grain. 



Why does green tvood make less snapi^ing than 

 dry ? " 



Because the pores, being filled with saj?, contain 

 very little air. 



