28 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



MUCK (or peat) 



There has been much said and much written on this 

 subject, and many heated discussions have been engaged 

 in. Much of the discussion would not have occurred if 

 the arguments had been confined closely to the question 

 at issue. Usually the only fertilizing element present in 

 muck is nitrogen, and this varies widely in different 

 samples, from a fraction of 1 per cent in a poor grade to 

 two or three in the best. However, if one is sure that the 

 soil needs this element, nitrogen, and also wants humus, 

 all that is necessary is to get the percentage present in 

 the supply, and calculate whether it is cheaper to use this 

 source or to get it from some other form. It must be 

 remembered that the nitrogen in muck is only slowly 

 available, and the amount available is shown only by 

 experience. The particular crop to be grown on a given 

 piece of land will have much to do with the advisability 

 of hauling muck. It is generally conceded that muck is 

 an important source of nitrogen and will prove of value 

 when properly and intelligently used. 



Besides its good qualities as a fertilizer, muck in a dry 

 and powdered form makes one of the best absorbents. 

 It is excellent for use in horse stables, cattle sheds, and 

 similar places. The moisture is taken up quickly and the 

 odor arrested. The importance of saving the urine of 

 animals is usually over-looked, mainly because there 

 seems to be no handy way of saving it. By using dry 

 muck, it is as easily handled as a commercial fertilizer. 



