1803. On the Cultivation of Mojfes. 385;^ 



would be advantageous to lay it down earlier with grafs feeds *, for 

 it will be obft-rved, that thefe frefli foils arc peculiarly favourable 

 to the raifiii^ of hay crops. The hay feed generally fown on tliefe 

 foils, is called foft grafs. It admits of being cut for feveral 

 years ; and the fecond year's crop is always better than the firft. 



When a fulTicient quantity of dung can be procured, fome 

 reckon it good management, to plant the mofs the firil year with 

 potatoes, in the form of lazy beds. Two of thefe beds may after- 

 wards be thrown together ; and when fown next feafon with oats, 

 a good crop always follows. It is, however, allowed, that the 

 benefit of this manure is fooner loft than that of lime or aflies. 



It now remains, to fpeak of th« expence attending the cultiva- 

 tion of peat-mofs by burning. The ridges are moft commonly 

 formed with the fpade, and by a mode of digging, called couping ; 

 which is, by cutting the turf into oblong pieces, and turning them 

 about half over, or on their edges, fo as to refemble ploughing. 

 When the mofs is fmooth, and eafily turned, it may be digged in 

 this manner, for from forty to fifty fliillings per acre. Others 

 approve of the common method of digging, which they call turn- 

 fpading, or turn-fpaded, but it is more expenfive. The burning 

 may be done for from ten to fifteen fhillings per acre. And the 

 Only other piece of labour feems to be, the covering of the feed, 

 which may be done with a thorn bu(h, or with hand hoes, or 

 with a light harrow, as the turf is more or lefs tender. 



The expence therefore per acre will be nearly as follows ; 



Digging - ^ - - - L. 2 5 o 



Burning and fpreading the afhes - - o 10 o 



Covering the feed, four perfons being fufficient to the 



hoeing of one acre in a day - - 0100 



Expence of labour - - L. 3 5 o 



If the ridges are formed with the plough. It is prefumed that 

 at leaft twenty (hillings may be deduded from the article of 

 digging. 



If you (hall con(ider this paper to be deferving of the attention 

 of Novice Junior, I will thank you for inferting it in your 

 Magazine. The name of the writer can add nothing to its va^ 

 lue. Novice Junior may, however, reil aiTured, that it containi 

 nothing upon the fubjecf of burning, but what has been pradlifed 

 by others, and what 1 myfelf intend immediately to adopt, in the 

 improvement of a confiderable trad of peat-mofs, in a higli, un- 

 favourable fituation. Only, 1 will attempt to raife turnips, on a 

 part, as a firft crop ; and I will lay down a piece of the very 

 parfeft with grafs feeds, without taking a crop of grain. I will 



aif© 



