PEAT BOGS OF NZW BRUNSWICK. 35 



first-mentioned province are large, easy of access and the mosses 

 of excellent quality. They are as yet untouched, but, in the 

 near future, it is certain they will become valuable, and form an 

 important asset in the natural wealth of the province. 



Peat mosses occur in all parts of New Brunswick, but the lar- 

 gest and thickest are near the coasts of Northumberland Strait 

 and the Bay of Fundy. In these localities they all contain the 

 living, growing mosses, while in Ontario and elsewhere most of 

 the bogs are dead. In ujo.-t turbaries of any extent or depth the 

 peat occurs in diffe.ent layers, the upper part consisting of the 

 yellow or green living moss; while below this a dark brown 

 fibrous, coherent nio.ss is found. Underlying the latter again 

 there is a bed of blackish peat, in which the fibre has already 

 undergone some decomposition, but which is still sufficiently 

 tenacious to form turf when cut. Beneath this again there is 

 usually a black layer of variable thickness containing roots and 

 stumps of tree -1 and shrubs, and consisting largely of humus. 

 The peat most suitable for either fuel or litter is that immediate- 

 ly below the living moss, in which the peaty fibres are still in a 

 good state of preservation; though that of the third stratum re- 

 ferred to above is also used for these purposes. 



The particular localities in which peat mosses occur in New 

 Brunswick, in sufficient extent and thickness to be wrought with 

 advantage, will now be enumerated, commencing in the northern 

 part of the province. 



RKSTIGOUCHK COt'XTV. 



1. South of Charlo river, a peat bog from one and a half to 

 two miles long and about halt' a mile wide stretches along the 

 coast of the Baie des Chaleurs. Certain portions of it contain 

 peat of economic value, ami the facilities for draining it are very 

 good. The Intercoloni-al railway runs through the margin ot 

 this bog. 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



2. East of Belledune Point.on the south shore of the Baie des 

 Chaleurs, there is a small peat bog. It is about half a mile long 

 and three or four liundred yards wide. This peat moss rests on 



