[AT] Nice picture/Soils

[Mike Sloane]

Around this part of NJ the areas are called "muck" or "black soil". It 
was used for growing onions, celery, cabbage, and other vegetables for 
many years. It was formed when the glaciers receded during the end of 
the Ice Age, and folks still find monmouth tusks and other bones from 
time to time. They worked it with Allis Chalmers G tractors and Cletrac 
crawlers, which were light enough to not compress the soil. Now most of 
it is used for sod (rolled up grass mats for new lawns), but some of it 
is still used for Asian and other specialty vegetables for restaurants. 
I have about 6 acres of this stuff, but it had gone back to wetlands 
when I bought the place, and I just leave it for the wildlife to enjoy. 
If you get it on your hands, it is very hard to remove - almost like 
working on an old tractor!

Mike

Gene Dotson wrote:
>     Mattias;
> 
>     My soil here in western Ohio is similar to that. This area is an ancient 
> lakebed. The soil is what is  called "wave modified" from the shallow waters 
> of the ancient lake. The soil is very productive, but cannot be worked wet. 
> Soil grains are very small, so stick very tightly. Trying to walk through 
> mud will suck the boots off your feet.
>     There are many remaining areas of the old lake still around the area. 
> They are low spots from the glacial depressions from the glaciers that 
> visited the nation. Some spots are so low that drainage is not practical and 
> only outlet for water is percolation and evaporation.
> 
>                             Gene
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mattias Kessén" <davidbrown950 at gmail.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 2:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Nice picture
> 
> 
>> Dean, maybe I should have kept all the text, you seem to be a fast learner 
>> ;-)
>>
>> Yes, it's a good soil. It's old seabottom, only downside is that if
>> you get down from the tractor your shoes soon get a size more suitable
>> in a 70's rockgroup ;-)
>>
>>
>> Mattias
>>
> 
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