1242 Tur VecetasBLte Inpustry In New York Strate 
the deposit the higher is the proportion of organic substance. The 
process of decay consists partially in the destruction of the car- 
bonaceous material. The process sets free carbon to which is due 
the brown or black color of the material. Consequently the muck 
deposits which represent the more advanced stage of decay have the 
darker color. The muck also has the accumulation of the ash 
material which increases its content of potash and other mineral 
elements. The decay also increases the proportion of soluble mate- 
rial which may be grouped under the general name of humus. 
The spongy nature of the plant tissues as well as the gelatinous 
nature of the humus gives the material a very high water capacity 
which amounts to from 300 to 1,000 or more per cent. of its dry 
weight. Fresh peat may weigh only 10 to 12 pounds per cubie 
foot when freed of water. Muck soil has a larger weight and will 
run from 12 to 20 pounds. The smaller the weight of the dry 
material per cubic foot the greater is the skrinkage, and this is one 
indication of the crop value of such land. Material that has an 
excessive shrinkage should be avoided, especially for intensive crop- 
ping, until it has reached a more advanced stage of decay. 
i CHEMICAL COMPOSITION 
The chemical analysis of a large number of samples of muck 
shows them to contain from 1%4 to 21% per cent. of nitrogen, from 
one-tenth or less to five-tenths per cent. of potash. They may also 
contain from 14 to 144 per cent. of sulphur. The nitrogen is de- 
rived from proteid compounds in the plants. There are no nitrates 
or nitrites in fresh muck soil and very little free ammonia. The 
bulk of the nitrogen is in the form of a memo- and mono-ameno 
compounds, and in the peaty materials a few per cent. of the nitro- 
compounds, and in the peaty materials a small percentage of the 
nitrogen may be dimeno- compounds. Under treatment with basic 
genous organic compounds break down and the ammonia is set free. 
It is essentially this process that occurs during decay and for that 
reason muck soil in an active stage of decay is a better medium 
for plant growth than raw material in which decay is not active. 
This affords a cue in the management of such soil. 
After drainage, which is the first step, decomposition should be 
promoted by applications of manure or of rich garden soil. Such 
material is in the nature of an inoculation. 
