146 



EDITORS BOX. 



[Dec, 



TIMBER HISTORY FROM IRISH BOGS. 



IPt, — To all those interested in the improvement of peat bogs, 

 Mr. Archibald Henderson's article in your October issue 

 must be of considerable value. 



It is interesting to hear of such fine Scotch Fir trees growing on 

 well -drained peat bogs. Perhaps Mr, Henderson will kindly let us 

 know : — 1st, If any Larch, Spruce, Silver Pir, Birch, Hazel, and 

 Alder are growing along with the Scotch Fir. 2nd, The previous 

 treatment of these trees as to planting and thinning. 3rd, How 

 much better do they grow on the gravelly or clayey soil close by 

 than on the moss. 4tli The height above sea-level of this planta- 

 tion. 5th, Its exposure. 6th, Its surface herbage. 7th, Its 

 depth of moss. 8th, The description of subsoil on which the moss 

 rests. 9th, The number of horizontal layers of Scotch Fir found 

 herein, showing so many generations of forest trees have grown and 

 died there. 10th, The probable ages of the trees in each of these 

 layers. 11th, The distance apart of each horizontal layer of 

 roots. 



Fir roots are found in great abundance in bogs here, and cross 

 sections can be got showing from 200 to upwards of 300 concentric 

 rings. The natives used for ages to dig up bog Firs, with which to 

 build their houses, some pieces of which were from 60 to 70 ft. 

 long, and of girths in proportion ; and this about 600 ft. above sea- 

 level. 



We often, in our drains in peat bogs here, see the water * red and 



