SOIL SURVEY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, FLORIDA. 289 
Irish potatoes—it is less desirable for the general farm crops than 
Muck. A part of the Peat bed around Sampson Lake was at one 
time partially drained and used for several years for growing rice, 
but the crop suffered from “blight,” so that rice production became 
unprofitable, and the cultivated area was allowed to return to its 
submerged condition. 
MUCK. 
The material mapped as Muck consists of partially decomposed 
vegetable matter mixed with a small amount of mineral matter, 
mainly fine sand. Decomposition has advanced to that stage where 
the original structure of the plant material has largely been oblit¬ 
erated. The surface soil is usually underlain at about 15 inches by 
a dark-gray fine sand. At about 24 inches the gray fine sand gener¬ 
ally passes into a dark fine sandy loam to fine sandy clay. 
This type occupies “bays” or “cypress ponds” scattered through¬ 
out the large areas of Portsmouth fine sand, Portsmouth fine sandy 
loam, and Coxville fine sandy loam. Portions of the larger swamps 
and all of the large swamps north of Santa Fe Lake are chiefly 
Muck. The surface is under water during the greater part of the 
year. Cypress, bay, and gum are the principal trees, while ferns 
and sphagnum moss grow close to the banks and where the water 
is not too deep. Frequently titi and myrtle fringe the depressions. 
The Muck cannot be utilized for agricultural purposes without 
artificial drainage. The reclamation of the type can generally be 
effected by open ditches. When thoroughly drained Muck is one of 
the best soils in the county for the production of vegetables, especial¬ 
ly celery, cabbage, tomatoes, Irish potatoes, and onions, which re¬ 
quire a soil having a large humus content. It is also well adapted 
to sugar cane. After the type is thoroughly drained, the application 
of lime in sufficient quantities to correct acidity is beneficial. General 
farm crops—such as corn, cotton, and oats—do exceptionally well 
on drained Muck areas after sufficient applications of lime have been 
made. 
There are many small areas of Muck, varying in size from 1 to 
4 or 5 acres, occupying small depressions within the various types 
throughout the county. These are not shown on the map, owing to 
their small size. 
