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moss, Bent-moss, and Flow-moss. In this paper, it is proposedto follow that arrangement, which is in a great measure new toagriculture, at least so far as improved husbandry is concerned.The observations to be hazarded on this topic shall be chieflygiven upon the authority of Mr Aiton, who has devoted his at-tention in a particular manner to investigate the nature and usesof peat or moss-earth.
1 . Of Hill-moss, or Moor-soil.
When the cultivation of hill-moss is attempted, the proper ob-jects are to reduce the land to a proper form, to apply manure,and to adopt such a mode of cropping as that species of soil canadmit of. In this kind of moss the subsoil is the chief thing tobe attended to. The incrustation of moss, or black mould ap-proaching to the nature of moss, is seldom of sufficient depth toform a soil: the subsoil therefore must be added to the moss-earth by cultivation ; and the subsequent operations must be re-gulated by the quality and condition of that subsoil. If it beclay, it would require to be ploughed and exposed to the weathera year or two before it is cropped ; if sand or gravel, as is mostfrequently the case, it ought to be treated like other new andpoor land of that description. This subsoil being almost divest-ed of vegetable matter, that which is on the surface, or the moss-earth, is sufficient to supply the defect; but being insoluble, itwould require to be reduced by quicklime, or other stimulants,which tend to accelerate its decomposition. If the subsoil issandy, too much exposure to the summer drought would tendto render the moss-earth still more insoluble, and could do nogood to the sand. After one or two crops, it ought to be laiddown with grass seeds, and pastured for three or four years.Potatoes and turnips are proper crops for such land, and thesemay be followed by barley or oats, with grass seeds. Greencrops, by over-shadowing the ground, would bring the originalmoss-earth in the soil into a state of greater solubility, and acce-lerate its decomposition.
2. Of Bent-moss.
The two other species or descriptions of moss-earth, accord-ing to the arrangement of Mr Aiton, are in a great manner ab-solutely new subjects in agriculture ; as these have been left tillvery lately by all husbandmen in their original waste and unpro-ductive state, or metely resorted to as sources of fuel, for the sup-ply of peats in districts where coals are scarce and dear.
When it is proposed to reclaim, cultivate, and improve bent-moss, it needs no other draining besides opening proper channelsfor such springs as are found to rise in the moss or its edges, andto form the surface into broad ridges, raised six or eight inches