MUSKEG SOIL. 233 
The timbered swamps grow either cedar, tamarac or 
black ash. The timber shows the presence of a mineral soil, 
and the possibility of making these swamps into hay orfarm 
lands by clearing and drainage. Hay bottoms, or beaver 
meadows show the same conditions by a luxuriant growth 
of grass. The remaining type of swamp, which is not found 
along water ways but back from the streams is what 
is known as muskeg. It may always be recognized by 
the absence of large trees or tall grass. It grows small 
black spruce, which may be one hundred years old, and less 
than an inch thick. The surface of the muskeg is a mat of 
sphagnum moss interlaced with the roots of two dwarf 
shrubs which bear small entire shiny leaves. Often fly catch- 
er plants are found and a few species of grass resembling 
wire grass. These swamps are sometimes found filling small 
depressions, at other times stretching over miles of territory. 
The soil is an accumulation of the decayed remains of the 
moss chiefly and has littleif any mineral matter in it. When 
perfectly dry it will burn up, but it seldom gets dry as the 
level surface is always more or less saturated and flooded 
with water. The moss has the power of retaining a great 
deal of water and stays damp while there isany water with- 
in its reach. 
It is often stated that these muskegs will make the finest 
hay meadows in time similar to those in the more southern 
districts of the state. Thisis adangerous generality especial- 
ly if it leads to placing any monetary value on such lands. 
It may be doubted whether these swamps in the southern 
portion were formed from the accumulation of decayed 
moss. But granted that they were once similar, there is now 
a wide difference. The first problemis how to get themuskeg 
into condition for grass. If there is an outlet and a fall it 
can be drained. Ditches are easily dug in the peat at a cost 
of about one half of what the same would cost in soil, but 
to drain a piece of bog it is not enough to provide an outlet 
ditch. The ditches must surround the piece to prevent water 
flowing into it as it permeates so slowly that no amount of 
ditching will otherwise keep it dry in a wet season. Then 
comes the removal of the moss, for while it remains nothing 
else can grow. Burning would appear to be the cheapest 
