y 0L . IV. ALBANY, OCTOBER, 1847. No. 10. 
PEAT OR MUCK FOR MANURE. 
Peat, or “muck,” may be described as vegetable 
matter in a state of decay. Its origin is somewhat va¬ 
rious, being sometimes derived from the branches and 
leaves of trees, and sometimes from mosses and aquatic 
plants. It is not found in so large bodies in this coun¬ 
try as in the British islands. It is quite common in 
England and abundant in Scotland; while in Ireland 
it includes large districts, and even extends up the sides 
of mountains, .covering the earth to the depth of forty to 
fifty feet, and, by computation, embraces nearly a 
seventh part of the surface. In those countries it con¬ 
stitutes the fuel of a large portion, of the population. 
That which is used for this purpose, is formed chiefly 
by mosses, which for ages have continued to grow on 
these localities. Persons who are acquainted with 
peat bogs or mosses, Understand the process of accu¬ 
mulation; others may not so readily comprehend it. 
There is a continuous growth from year to year, but 
the under strata die, are .more or less decomposed, 
sink down, and by pressure are converted into the 
state which is called peat. We have but few bogs in 
which peat of so solid a nature as that used in Ireland 
for fuel has been found. But in some instances our 
bogs have been dug for the purpose of procuring fuel, 
to good advantage. 
The greatest value of bogs in this country, however, 
consists in their affording manure. We shall enter 
into no particular discussion, at this time, in regard to 
the specific operation of peat or muck in benefitting 
vegetation—whether its action is wholly mechanical, 
producing in the soil the requisite physical texture, or 
whether the substance is actually “ dissolved ” and ab¬ 
sorbed by growing plants—its utility in augmenting 
the yield of various crops, has been abundantly demon¬ 
strated. 
It is, perhaps, proper to make a distinction between 
peat and muck, though the terms are frequently used 
synonymously. Peat should be considered as referring 
more particularly to the cohiposition of bogs, and 
which has become so solid that when it is cut in pieces 
they will retain their form; and muck to the loose 
matter which has been accumulated from leaves, or 
the washings of woods and 'fields. 
The value of these substances as manure, especially 
for immediate use, varies greatly, according to their 
origin. The muck found in ash, maple, or elm swamps, 
or which is formed by the leaves and small branches of 
hard-wood trees, is usally far better than that found 
in pine, cedar, or hemlock swamjte, or in legitimate 
peat bogs. The former will generally produce excel¬ 
lent effects on most crops as soon as it is applied; the 
latter must have time for decomposition, and general¬ 
ly requires to be mixed with some substances which 
will assist the development of its fertilizing qualities. 
It is frequently remarked, that muck from the locali¬ 
ties last mentioned, -is sour; and chemical investiga¬ 
tion has shown that it does in fact contain an acid, 
which is called tannin. The bark of oak, and of most 
hard wood trees, contains this principle; but when tho 
bark or trees decay, -the acid is soon dispelled by the 
action of the air and rain. With the remains of resin¬ 
ous trees, such as pines, cedars, 8tc., i.t is not so. 
Either from the acid being combined with resin, or 
from some other cause, it is much less soluble; anti 
muck which is mixed with the rubbish of these - trees, 
produces at first rather injurious effects.* The refuse 
of wood-piles, composed of chips and bark chiefly from 
pine, is sometimes applied to land as manure; but the 
yellow color and stunted appearance of vegetation in 
such cases, shows that the application was rather poi¬ 
sonous than beneficial. 
In many situations, we believe that the substance of 
swamps and. bogs constitute the best and cheapest 
material which can be used, to a certain extent, for en¬ 
riching the soil. Its application is attended with the 
greatest benefit on such lands as contain least vegeta¬ 
ble matter; and it so happens,’fortunately, that those 
portions of the country which are most .deficient in this 
respect, are generally best supplied with the article to 
which we refer. The question is, how can it be used 
to the best advantage? We have before remarked 
that some kinds of muck operate beneficially as soon 
as they are applied, and without admixture with any 
other substance. Such, however, is not very abun¬ 
dant, and with that which is ordinarily met with, the 
case is different. The acid must be got rid of, and the 
vegetable food which the peat or muck contains, ren¬ 
dered solublq. There are several wrnys in which this 
article may be usefully compounded, some of which 
are the following:— 
1. Composted with animal manure. This mode has 
been practiced more or less for many years. Lord 
Meadowbank’s experiments, more than forty years 
since, proved the value of peat compost. He found 
that any substancb which would occasion a fermenta¬ 
tion of the peat, would render it good manure; but 
stable or barn-yard manures were mostly used. He 
found that one load of manure .yvould ferment , three 
loads of peat; but it is evident that the proportions 
must vary, according to tfie strength of the manure 
and its tendency to heat, and the sourness of the peat. 
The peat and manure are laid in a pile, in alternate 
layers. It is best to dig the peat in autumn, when the 
bogs are usually driest. The compost may be formed 
