Mosses and Peat 



carried away, a cottongrass swamp may often de- 

 velop. This plant (Eriophorum), with its exquisite 

 silvery tassels of shining white down, must have been 

 noticed by every one who has been on the Scotch or 

 Yorkshire moors. 



It has very tough, wiry, and indestructible leaf-bases 

 or sheaths. As air can reach the roots by passing 

 down between these sheaths, it is able to compete with 

 the Sphagnum. What is known as a cottongrass 

 moor is the field of battle between the two. The 

 struggle may go on season after season, but if wet con- 

 ditions prevail, the Sphagnum conquers, and if dry the 

 heather will probably annex the cottongrass moor.^ 



The peat moss litter imparted from Holland seems 

 to be the product of such cottongrass mosses. This 

 is one of the few valuable products obtained from peat. 

 Unfortunately it is unlikely to be used on a large scale, 

 for manure made from peat moss litter is liable to con- 

 tain the seeds of many dangerous weeds, and is also apt 

 to produce a saturated water-logged soil. 



The enormous areas occupied by heather moors and 

 peat mosses both in Scotland and Ireland are a serious 

 economic loss. Enterprising landlords have in former 

 times reclaimed a very large number of acres. 



The methods which were usually adopted in the 

 south of Scotland about i8i 2-1825 or 1830 were as 

 follows : — 



Good drains were first cut to carry off the surplus 

 water, and then the heather and other growing plants 

 were cut over and burnt. Sand or clay or estuarine silt 

 was then distributed over the surface, and in most cases 

 a large amount of lime was also laid down. Heavy 

 manuring was resorted to, especially in the first few years. 



The result of the labour and money spent upon re- 

 clamation at that period was entirely satisfactory, for 



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