I j8 Ac count of the Feat Alojfes at Dunichen, Ma'J^ 



For the fecontl year's cropping, the mofs carried a plough 

 and horfes, even on the places that had been hollowed by pits. 

 It was fown v/ith early oats» except one acre with llax. 

 The M'hole was laid down with grafs feeds. Though the 

 produce of this crop of oats has not yet been afcertained, it is 

 prtfumed it will be more than laft year. It (hall, however, be 

 lierc put down the fame as it was afcertained to be lalt crop, viz. 

 60 bolls at 15s. - - - L. 45 o o 



Lint "- - - - 158 6- 



Dedu£l the expence of feed and labour 



Gain on fecond year's produce 



Acid gain on the the firil year's produce 



L. 69 o 6 



From thi^ ftatemrenf, it is obvious that an yearly rent of above 

 '>ol. is, by the improvement of fixteen acres of this otherwife 

 ufelefs piece of mofs ground, added to the produce of the eftatc 

 in future ; the two firft years crops being fufficient to repay the 

 expences incurred in improving it. 



It is to be remarked, that the laft crop of oats was fo ftrong^ 

 as to deftroy partly the fown grafs. This may be avoided, by 

 fowing the grou-nd, in future, with grafs feeds in April or May, 

 without a corn crop. Some patches alfo of the mofs that had 

 been hollowed for fuel, and levelled with coarfe peat turf, feem 

 to have had but a thin crop. That lofs might have been avoided^ 

 probably, if peat allies had been mixed with the foil on the 

 furface, or a top dreiling, o-f an inch thick, of fand or earth had 

 been given it, or perhaps by heavy rolling alone. Nothing fecms-' 

 necelTary farther for rendering a peat bog, that has been fo long 

 drained as this, a better or more produ<Sive foil. The crop of 

 grafs on it at prefent i^ moil luxuriant j indeed, it is fo beyond 

 belief 3 but it is partly fine natural grafs, the fown grafles hav- 

 ing been in fome places deftroyed by the over luxuriance of the 

 crop. It remains doubtful to Mr Dempfter, whether, from its- 

 appearance of producing fo great quantities of good grafs, he 

 will let it remain for pailure, or admit it into a due rotation of 

 crops, as part of his farm. 



Mr Dempfter remarks,, that the cultivation of the mofles of 

 Scotland cannot fail to contribute greatly to the fertility and 

 richnefs of the kingdom •, and that it feems to be one of the 

 fafeft fpcculations in which a proprietor or tenant can employ 

 his money, more efpecially fince experience has proved that the 

 mere ail of draining molfes is the principal expence attending 



their 



