1242 The Vegetable 'Industky in New Yokk State 



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 cubic 

 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. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION 



The chemical analysis of a large number of samples of muck 

 shows them to contain from 1% to 2Vo per cent, of nitrogen, from 

 one-tenth or less to five-tenths per cent, of potash. They may also 

 contain from ^4 to l/o per cent, of sulphur. The nitrogen is de- 

 riw3d 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. 





