196 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



barren wastes. Along the margin of the moss the peat is cut, 

 dried, and stacked for use as fuel in the adjoining farms. When 

 the surface deposit has thus been removed, the soil beneath is 

 gradually drained until it yields good meadow hay, after which 

 it is suitably manured, ploughed, and sowed or planted with 

 grass, corn, potatoes, or other crops. Where this process of 

 reclamation is in progress, the peat-moss usually terminates 

 abruptly in a cutting from four to seven feet in depth, while 

 on the lower level close by, from which the peat has been 

 removed, there is a sudden transition to conditions of fertility. 



Some time was devoted by the party to an examination of 

 the peat-mosses. Among the plants observed in the former 

 locality were Drosera rotundi/olia, L., remarkable for its 

 abundance and large size ; Carex curta, Good. ; Dicranella 

 cerviculata, Schp., with capsules; Omphalia umhellifera, L. ; 

 Puccinia hydrocotyleSy Link., apparently unrecorded for Scotland, 

 (fee. 



The most notable plants observed in the moss were Rhynchospora 

 alba, Vahl., which occurred in unusual abundance, and Vaccinium 

 Oxycoccos, L., which grew among Sphagnum in boggy places. On 

 the roadside, near Auchintiber Moss, were found, Sagina nodosa, 

 FenzL, Gentiana campestris, L., and Plantago maritima, L., the 

 last-named species occurring here at a height of about 300 feet 

 above sea-level, and distance of about six miles from the sea-shore. 



A short detour was made so as to enable the party to visit 

 the remains of the ruined castle of Clonbeith, formerly the 

 residence of a branch of the Cuninghame family, who are stated 

 by Nisbet to have been descended from the noble house of 

 Glencairn through the Cuninghames of Aiket. 



From the roadside near Clonbeith a beautiful view was 

 obtained, stretching over a wide expanse of fertile country, and 

 extending to the bold headlands of the Carrick coast and distant 

 mountains of Galloway. The party had tea at Kilwinning Ijefore 

 returning to Glasgow. 



Excursions were also made during the session to Aikenhead, 

 Ardgowan, Queen's Park, Botanic Gardens, Ben Lui, and the 

 Marine Station, Millport, but nothing falls to be reoorde<l re- 

 garding them. 



