FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 89 



tank located on a hill near by. The tank, which is well housed, is kept full 

 by a hydraulic ram placed in the outlet of Little Clear Pond near the nur- 

 sery. A neat, paling fence, painted green, surrounds the enclosure, and 

 the tank house, tool house and forester's office are painted the same color. 



This site was selected because there was a railroad station close by 

 affording shipping facilities, and on account of the areas of waste land to 

 be reforested which are situated within a day's haul or less. There was no 

 tree growth of any kind on the ground and so no expense was incurred for 

 clearing the land ; but it was covered with a thin, tough sod on which there 

 was considerable quack grass that had to be dug out thoroughly before 

 plowing. 



The earth was entirely free from stones, or even small pebbles, a 

 desirable condition; but the soil was very sandy, and, though favorable on 

 that account for the growth of pines, it lacked the fertility necessary for 

 general nursery purposes. To remedy this we used a large amount of 

 fertilizing material. Several carloads of horse manure, purchased at lumber 

 camps, were shipped in by rail, and scattered over the ploughed ground 

 before the first snowfall. Some of the manure was reserved and used in 

 making compost piles for future use. 



Our principal reliance, however, was placed on a liberal use of black 

 muck in making the beds, which is valuable for retention of moisture, 

 although of doubtful value as a source of plant food. A rich deposit of 

 this material was found at a place four miles away, and after letting a con- 

 tract for its excavation it was piled in a large heap by the side of the 

 adjoining highway to dry. When freshly dug this muck was so wet and 

 heavy that hauling it on wagons would have been too expensive, and so it 

 was moved on sleighs the next winter. A chemical analysis of this forest 

 muck calculated on a basis of dry matter showed: 



*Organic matter 67.41% 



Nitrogen 1.21% 



The important constituents in muck are the organic matter and the 

 per cent, of nitrogen. In this case the organic matter has a high percentage, 

 while the proportion of nitrogen is about normal. There is always a little 



Analysis by Prof. George W. Cavanaugh, College of Agriculture, Ithaca, N. Y. 



