CHAPTER XVII 



THE MANAGEMENT OF MARSH LANDS 



In the preceding chapters are discussed the fundamental 

 principles governing soil management. Soils that are naturally 

 productive, particularly loams and silt loams, are not difficult to 

 manage. Their fertility may be easily maintained if due con- 

 sideration be given proper tillage, crop rotation, and the use of 

 lime, manure and special fertilizers. Some soils, however, differ 

 so widely in their characteristics from ordinary soils that their 

 improvement and 'management require special attention. These 

 include marsh and swamp soils, sands, cla^/s and depleted silt 

 loams. In this and the following two chapters, these soils are 

 discussed as regards their characteristics, improvement and the 

 maintenance of their fertility. 



Three Kinds of Marsh and Swamp Soils. — In general, there 

 are three kinds of marsh and swamp soils, as follows: 



'(a) May be shallow (6 to 18 inches), or deep (10 to 



20 feet) 

 (6) May be underlaid by various materials 



(c) May be raw or well decomposed 



(d) May be reddish brown to black in color 

 {e) May be acid or non-acid 



Ha) May be underlaid by various materials 



2. Muck Soils Uh) They are heavier than peat soils 



\{c) May be acid or non-acid 



3. Marsh Border Soils ^Jg &?lSwtlbSi^ color 



(c) Usually have a blue or mottled clay or sand 



subsoH 

 Xd) May be acid or non-acid 



1. Peat Soils 



(grades into and 

 borders the higher' 

 land) 



Peat and muck are special types of soils. The "marsh border'^ 

 soils grade into muck or peat on the one hand and upland on the 

 other. With the marsh border soils are also grouped the poorly 

 drained, dark colored soils foxmd along streams and in depressions 

 on upland. The marsh border soils include many types. In lime- 

 stone sections they are named Clyde silt loam, Clyde sandy loam, 

 etc. In sandstone sections they are called Dunning sand. Dunning 

 clay loam, etc. In sections in which the country rocks are granitic 

 they are designated as Whitman sandy loam, Whitman loam, etc. 

 When well drained these soils are usually highly productive. 



Advantages in Fanning Peat and Muck Soils. — ^Well-drained 



293 



