ON Tin: KKCLA.MATIOX <»1' LAND FROM MOSS. 189 



zero was recorded near London; and also in tlie monioral)]*' winter 

 of 18(JU-l)l, as low a rej^ister as 8° below zero was not unconinion 

 in many places in Scotland. Again, during last winter several 

 stations rei)ort the therniometer as having indicated readings of 

 zero, and of 1° to 3"^ lower,* From these early records of 

 severe wiulcis, we further learn that, as we liave sliown in this 

 paper, to have been the case during last winter, — it was tlie long 

 continuance of the frost of such years as January 1776, and 

 others, and not its intensity which caused the effects to be so 

 remarkalde. This long continuance de})en(led on the steady 

 prevalence of northerly and easterly winds, and to this cause 

 also we have shown that much of tlie damage of 1878—79 is to 

 be ascribed. So severe has been that damage, as we have en- 

 deavoured to show, and so general and wides])read the havoc to 

 many parks and policy grounds of former ))eaut}', that it is to be 

 hoped there may be no repetition of such a season for many 

 years to come. 



ON THE KECLAxMATION OF LAND FROM MOSS ON THE 

 FARM OF UPPER BANDEATH, STIRLINGSHIRE. 



By John Mackie, Upper Bandeatli, Stirling. 



[^Premium — The Medium Gold Medal.'] 



The writer of this report is tenant and reclaimer of 10 acres of 

 land from moss, which he cultivates along with the rest of the 

 farm which is arable. These 10 acres form a square, which has 

 an elevation of 45 feet above sea-level, and, l^eing carse land, 

 has no particular exposure. Tlie soil is a gootl clayey loam, 

 with Iduish boulder-clay subs(»il, belonging to the Pleostocene 

 or Post-tertiary era. The average rainfall in the district for the 

 last ten years has been 37 inches in the year. The great hind- 

 rance to its reclamation was a layer of moss which completely 

 covered it to a depth of from 3i to 4^- feet, thickly grown with 

 heather, — the whole being of no value whatever ; the moss not 

 being of sutticient depth or density to make peat or fuel. 



Processes Pursued in Reclamation. 



It was resolved to profit l)y natural advantages, and run 

 away 8 acres of the moss by water, and that the remaining 

 2 acres shoidd be partly buried and partly burned — a very 

 ancient and not uncommon practice, — but which 1 found the 

 more uncertain. In the large moss, Ijehind the 8 acres to be 



* 3° below zero was recorded on two nights in the vicinity of Kelso. 



