GROUP OF POORLY DRAINED SOILS. 
71 
As a result of this difference in the chemical composition the 
peat soils are very unbalanced. Their rational treatment re¬ 
quires the use of fertilizers containing especially the elements 
phosphorus and potassium. These elements are contained in 
relatively small amounts in barnyard manure and good appli¬ 
cations of manure will secure good yields of crops on peat soils, 
but manure contains large amounts of nitrogen not needed by 
the peat, so that when a farm includes upland soils as well as 
peat, the manure should be used on the upland soils and com¬ 
mercial fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium used on 
the peat land. 
On the deeper peats which are in a very raw and acid condi¬ 
tion the use of lime in some form in addition to the commercial 
fertilizers will probably be found profitable. Occasionally a 
marsh is found on which on account of coldness and high acid¬ 
ity at first nitrification or the chemical change by which the 
nitrogen in the organic matter becomes available to crops does 
not take place readily and the use of a light application of com¬ 
posted stable manure to inoculate the soil with the proper or¬ 
ganisms is very helpful. 
Crops and system of farming on marsh lands .—Since the 
growth of corn and potatoes to which these marsh lands would 
otherwise be adapted, is limited in this section on account of 
the danger from frost, the best staple crops for this land are 
grasses for hay and pasture, hardy root crops, and rye, and to a 
less extent oats. Wheli properly fertilized and limed, clover, 
alfalfa, and other legumes can also be grown. On fairly well 
drained marsh land not too raw good pasture can also be devel¬ 
oped. The compacting of the soil resulting from the use of this 
land as pasture is also a great benefit to it. When peat land is 
placed under cultivation a heavy roller should be classed along 
with implements necessary to its successful management. 
On account of the crops to which this land is adapted and its 
use as a pasture, marsh lands can be used for dairying or stock 
raising to good advantage. 
Certain special crops, such as cabbage, onions, buckwheat, and 
rape, are well adapted to such lands when well drained and fer¬ 
tilized.* 
* For more complete discussion of the management of marsh soils see 
bulletin on this subject by the Agricultural Experiment Station. 
