242 ACCOUNT of PEAT-MOSSES 
the roots remain fixed in the clay in their natural ftate, cor- 
refponding, in fize, and in fpecies to. the trees that lie by their 
fides. 
THE trees are oak, birch, hazel, alder, willow, and in one place 
there are a few firs. Among thefe the oak abounds mott, efpe- 
cially upon the weft fide of the mofs, where forty large trees of 
this fpecies were lately found lying by their roots, and as clofe to 
one another as they can be fuppofed to have grown. One of 
thefe oaks meafures fifty feet, in length, and more than three 
feet in diameter, and three hundred and fourteen circles, or 
year’s growths, were counted in one of the roots. In another 
part of the mofs, an oak was found that meafured four feet in 
diameter ; and I am aflured, that fome years ago a root was 
difcovered at Rofs, on the -fouth fide of the mofs, that was fif- 
teen feet in diameter at the furface of the clay ; and the tree, 
which was twenty-two feet in length, was four feet eight inches 
in diameter at the lower end, where it had been cut over, at the 
height of a yard from the ground. 
Tue oak is ufually black, and the wood ftill found, efpe- 
cially on the fide of the tree that lies nextthe clay. It is fit for 
various purpofes, and would probably be of much greater va- 
lue, if the people into whofe hands it falls had fkill to dry it 
properly. As it is managed, it ufually opens into various fif- 
fures, which difqualify it for being fawn into planks. 
Tue roots of the oak are all found fixed in the clay in their 
natural ftate, and ufually rife above it to the height of about: 
three feet. They are very little rotten, and it requires much la- 
bour to grub them up. 
Tue other kinds of trees are fo much decayed, that fewer: 
obfervations can be made upon them. Their roots are alfo fix- 
ed in the clay ; but they generally rife not more than a foot 
and a half above its furface. 
3 THE: 
