Sequel of Mr Naismith’s IilguiRt

42S

at present very unproductive, is capable of great improvement,by the application of putrescent manure. But the quantity re-quisite to the amelioration of all the poor land is not to be had.Having recourse, therefore, to the neighbouring peat-moss, wouldbe an excellent succedaneum.' Large quantities of this substancemight be thrown up in long narrow heaps, in autumn, whichwould moulder, and its excess of water, drain away, by beingthus exposed to the weather. A great bulk of this might thenbe easily carried to a considerable distance, for manuring all thepoor arable lands in the vicinity, these lands made fertile, andthe moss removed more advantageously than by the agency ofwater.

When we contemplate the vaft extent of furface which this tor-pid and unfightly fubflance covers, much of which is in low or mo-derate elevations, otherwife well adapted to the prodiidfion of corn—the baneful efFedts which the chilling exhalations arifing from itproduce on the furrounding country—and the urgent demand of anincreafmg population for bread,—the general'cultivation of mofs ap-pears to be a fubjedt of very momentous public concern ; and per-haps no branch of the improvement of the country has a (Longerclaim for the fupport and patronage of the public ; and it wouldcertainly tend much, in the iffue, to the emolument of individualsby whom fuch grounds are held. It mud, however, be acknow-ledged,- that peat-mofs is not the molt inviting fubjedt of cultivation.'By long nerledt, the accumulations are, in many places, become e-normous—us fpongy quality forbids the eafy application of animalforce, to facilitate cultivation—and it Ihows a natural reludtance orwant of propenfity to produce any of thofe vegetables cultivated'by man for his own ufe, of that of his dependent animals. Thislaft polition is ridiculed hy the Reverend Dr Richardfon, (who,*with fuch generous enthufiafm, has widely recommended the propa-gation of florin (agrostis stoloiiifera), and pointed out peat-mofsas an eligible foil for that plant), and who laughs at the defpon-dency of the Scotch agricultures who have maintained it. But thefadt is too well eftabliftied to be overturned by a farcafm. What-ever operation may have been performed on the furface of peat-mofs,"if no mixture of a different nature be applied, it will foon return toits original fterile character. When the excefs of water has beendrawn off, heath will abundantly fpring up ; w'hen it remains un-drained, and overflowed w'ith water, the natural musci and algce,eriophorwn scirpus and nnthericum , will refume their place, and in-creafe its bulk. Neverthclefs, mofs may be made to a certain de-gree fertile, and frequently with advantage to the undertaker.Much empirical inftrudtion lias been given to this purpofe, by menwho were either totally ignorant of the fubjedt, or had formed er-roneous opinions concerning it. The preceding Inquiry, imperfedtas it is, may tend to communicate more corredt notions, and lead toa more diferiminate application of the various means recommended