PLANTING ON HIGH MOORS. 159 



ing the plant-producing power of the ground. High 

 moors which have been burnt over are very favorably 

 changed, both in regard to the mechanical and chemical 

 conditions of the soil. Naturally the peaty ground is 

 too porous to retain moisture and, therefore, in dry 

 weather parches up while it, by a continuance of rain, is 

 converted into a mud pool. After the surplus water has 

 been drained off and the top soil burnt over, the ground 

 becomes more compact and, for this reason, does not 

 change so much by alternate drying up and being over- 

 flowed with water. In this condition of greater density 

 the soil is still enabled to let in the gases of the air, 

 required for the support of every vegetation, and to 

 easily absorb moisture from the atmosphere to supply 

 the demands of the plants. Such soil does not retain so 

 much water as thereby to kill the plant-roots in case of 

 frost. The chemical condition of this soil is, by the 

 burning in so far improved, as many of the elements 

 obnoxious to plant-growth, are destroyed while others 

 enter into combinations which are favoring plant-growth. 

 So the too abundant humic acid disappears and leaves a 

 carbonate of lime which serves to further take out the 

 sourness of the ground. The protoxide or black oxide, 

 which is always found in great quantities on such places 

 and poisons every plant, takes up, after the water is 

 removed, more oxygen, and is then changed into the 

 unnoxious peroxide, or red iron which even furnishes 

 some food to plants. 



As for the trees to be planted after the high moors 

 have received the proper preparation, it has been proved 

 to be best, to plant upon sanded moor ground princi- 

 pally the spruce, to which may be added oak and pine. 

 Upon the not sanded moors, pine is the leading tree, to 

 which the spruce and, in a small scale, the oak may be 

 added as mixtures. 



