Geology of Dumfries Basin. 219 



wood, points to a relative difference of sea and land, the subse- 

 quent growth of terrestrial vegetation, and (unless the presence of 

 charred wood can be accounted for by lightning or other natural 

 causes) the presence of man. The stratified deposits above the 

 peat indicate the submergence of the old land surface and the 

 return of marine conditions." ■ Mr Dudgeon communicated this 

 discovery to the survey officers, who explained it as above. 



CLAYS AND PEAT. 



The chief deposits of blue clay, used for brick making on 

 both sides of the Xith, are Uanuahfield, now idle and supposed to 

 be exhausted ; and Ryedale, Troqueer, also, it appears, approaching 

 exhaustion, as I am informed that the bed of workable clay, which 

 at one time measured 18 feet, has now thinned away to half that 

 thickness. These clays are of glacial origin. On the Dumfries 

 side a sandy clay overlaid by peat has been largely found. The 

 foundations of the new Library buildings are laid on this sandy 

 clay overlaid by 10 feet of peat. Pieces of oak, birch, hazel, and 

 hazel nuts were found buried in the peat ; while close by, on the 

 site of the Station Hotel; peat was absent, the foundations resting 

 on sandy clay. The probability is that peat at one time covered 

 all the low gromid extending to Victoria Terrace, the peat having 

 probably been removed and utilised by the residents of our ancient 

 town in early days. From what is observable from the roads 

 leading to Lochar Moss, it is evident that the Moss was in not 

 very remote times of very wide extent, with here and there great 

 drums of boulder clay and ridg-es of gravelly material standing up 

 above the level of the moss. Kirkconnel Moss, extending from 

 Dalscairth to Kirkconnel, at one time famous for the excellent 

 quality of its peat, is now, happily, nearly all reclaimed and yield- 

 ing food for man and bea,st. 



ITNDEKLYING EOCKS. 



The whole of the immediately underlying rocks of the Dum- 

 fries basin, as I have already said, are Permian sandstones and 

 breccia. These rocks, again, rest uncomfortably on Silurian 

 strata. On the eastern side of the basin the deposits are made up 

 of alternating bands of sandstone and breccia. This belief, 

 previously held, has been confirmed by the deep well borings of 



