242 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



time, and by right management, reduce the 

 whole mafs to theftate defired. This alrea- 

 dy is in fome meafure pradifed in Holland} 

 where they mix the daft of peats with ordi- 

 nary dung, in making of dung-hills. 



I (hall conclude this paper with only men- 

 tioning two others ufes of peat, which I had 

 almoft forgot, viz. that peat-duft ftrawed up- 

 on ground where peafe or other feeds are 

 fown, in order to have an early crop, is an 

 excellent prefervative of fuch vegetables from 

 the froft ; as it keeps the ground warm, by 

 not allowing the cold to penetrate into it. 

 And that there is nothing properer than peat 

 to ftop water, and to confine it, in the making 

 of fifh-ponds, &c. This I learned from his 

 Grace the Duke of Argyle^ who I obferved 

 ufed it with great fuccefs for that purpofe. 



Art. 



