MUCK SOILS IN NEW YORK: THEIR NATURE AND 
DISTRIBUTION 
Evmer O. Fierrn 
Professor of Soil Technology, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 
Muck soil is made of the partially decayed 
remains of plants that have accumulated in 
swampy places. The swampy condition is 
responsible for their occurrence. Muck soils 
should be differentiated from those swampy 
soils that are rich in organic matter but not 
sufficiently rich so that they are combustible. 
There is a wide range in the character of 
such material. The plant substances of 
which it is composed may be only slightly decayed, in which case 
the material is fibrous and shows the plant tissues. Such a soil 
is called peat and because of its high content of organic matter is 
sometimes used for fuel. Muck soil represents the advanced stage 
of decay of the organic matter where the material has lost its fibrous 
nature and become fine and pulverant. All degrees of decay may 
be encountered and there is consequently a wide variation in the 
physical properties and, therefore, in the agricultural value of the 
material. 
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 
The chief characteristics of muck soil may be summarized as 
follows: 
1. It is predominately organic in nature and has a dark brown 
or black color. The more advanced the stage of decay the darker 
is the color. 
2. It is accumulated under swampy conditions and is naturally 
saturated with water. The material has a very large capacity for 
water and will absorb from 60 to 85 per cent. of its volume of 
water. 
3. The shrinkage of the material when it dries is very large. 
Consequently, when completely drained the deeper deposits may 
settle two or three feet. Ordinarily the settling is a few inches 
to a foot or more. 
[1238] 
