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BOG TOXINS AND THEIR EFFECT UPON SOILS 1 



Alfred Dachnowski 



(with TWO figures) 



In the north and in the middle west, notably in Indiana and Illi- 

 nois, and to some extent in Ohio and the adjoining states, there 

 are extensive swamp areas of vast importance to the state, some of 

 which are called "unproductive," and generally are not cultivated. 

 The statement is made, and there is certainly much truth in it, that 

 these swamp lands should be naturally very rich in constituents needed 

 for plant food. Many of these places represent deep basins of accumu- 

 lated plant debris, and the drainage from hills further enriches the 



accumulation in the swamps. They are noted for their dense and 

 luxuriant surface vegetation. Examples of swamp and bog areas in 

 this vicinity show clearly that bog water contains apparently all of 

 the constituents required for the nutrition, growth, and reproduction 

 of a large variety of grasses, shrubs, and trees. However, from an 

 agricultural point of view these muck and swamp lands seldom have 

 given satisfaction, even after drainage or addition of fertilizers. 

 Ample proof of this is seen in the reports of the various experiment 

 stations (7, 8). Thus far the remedies proposed, as a laboratory 

 expedient, emphasize the fact that although some principles of soil 

 fertility seem well established, and can be applied with definite results, 

 there are yet many complex problems, the solution of which would 

 materially enhance the economic importance of peat and swamp soils. 

 To the writer it has seemed probable for some time that work upon 

 the chemistry and upon the physiological properties of peat and humus 

 compounds must result in data valuable alike to the agriculturist, 

 the forester, and the ecologist. Through an investigation on the 

 cause of xerophily in bogs (5), there was gained supplementary evi- 

 dence, of a more direct and positive sort, that the inhibiting factors of 

 a hog are in part the presence in the soil water of injurious toxic sub- 



Contribution from the Botanical Laboratory of Ohio State University, XLIII. 

 his paper was in part read before Section G of the A. A. A.S., at the Baltimore meeting, 



Member 29, i Qo8 . 

 389] 



[Botanical Gazette, vol. 47 



