1244 The Vegetable Industry ln New Y<>i:k State 



at the bottom of the ditches, are inost favorable for agricultural 

 purposes. Underdrains of tile or board boxes may be used iu tfa - 

 areas where the water-table is permanently maintained at the level 

 of the base of the drain. This prevents the excessive and unequal 

 shrinkage that is likely to throw the drain out of line. Open 

 ditches are the safer form of drainage and should always be used 

 at the beginning of operation. In a few places in the state under 

 conditions mentioned above, tile drains are operating successfully 

 in muck soil. Of course if the muck is sufficiently shallow so that 

 the tile can rest on the solid material below the muck, the use of 

 underdrains is much preferred to open ditches that seriously inter- 

 fere with tillage operations. In other cases irrigation in some way 

 may be very desirable to secure full crop yields. In some cases it 

 is possible to utilize spring water in connection with open and 

 underdrains as a means of sub-irrigation. 



2. Applications of lime in the form of caustic lime are fre- 

 quently beneficial. The decay of organic matter produces an acid 

 condition which tends to hinder further decay. Lime not only 

 promotes decomposition but aids in chemical changes of the mate- 

 rial that liberates plantfood. One or two tons per acre should be 

 used. Many of the areas in the western part of the state that are 

 associated with marl deposits near the surface probably would not 

 be benefited by applications of lime. 



3. A light application of well-rotted stable manure or of rich 

 garden soil serves as an inoculation to promote decomposition. 



4. Thorough tillage loosens up the soil and exposes it to aeration 

 and promotes decomposition. Since the material is inclined to 

 be loose, plowing in the fall is preferred where there are no dan- 

 gers from serious washing. The winter saturation aids in com- 

 pacting the material. The tillage operations should be aimed to 

 compact the soil which improves its moisture relations. 



5. I Commercial fertilizers should be rich in potash and should 

 contain a moderate amount of phosphoric acid and nitrogen. The 

 proportion of these will vary considerably with the deposit and the 

 crop. Perhaps the best standard fertilizer in the early stages 

 cultivation of a muck area should contain from 2 to 3 per cent, of 

 nitrogen, from 4 to 6 per cent, of phosphoric acid in the form of 

 acid phosphate, and from 12 to 20 per cent, of potash. 



