PEAT MOSS 



the spores are fully ripe, this beak drops off and allows 

 the spores to escape. 



The tree mosses are common in wet woods. They 

 are also found in moist, grassy places, but they do not 

 often bear fruit when growing there. Even in the 

 woods their capsules are not very plenty. Some years 

 we have looked in vain for plants with fruit. Several 

 patches of the moss were found on which there were 

 many capsules. 



There are several kinds of tree mosses. Most of 

 them stand up straight, like those in the picture. One 

 kind, however, creeps on the ground. It rarely looks 

 like a tree. This form is very plenty in the swamps of 

 Long Island. 



PEAT MOSS 



IN some countries peat is almost the only fuel of the 

 poorer people. In the United States there is an abun- 

 dant supply of it. But we have so much fuel that is 

 cheaper and better that little peat is used. 



Peat is formed of peat moss which grows in and near 

 water in swamps. The plants grow at the top and die 

 below. Sticks, leaves, and other substances are washed 

 in among the decaying stems. The whole mass, being 

 full of water, decays slowly, packs closely, and becomes 

 a hard, dark-brown or black substance known as peat. 



The life of this moss seems to be endless. The 



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