520 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No 9' 



the latter. They are equally absorbent of water, 

 and easily drained; and where this is done, with 

 proper cultivation, ihey acquire considerable fer- 

 tility. This soil fi'equently abounds in Scotland, 

 which is in a great measure the means of the 

 turnip husbandry beini^ now so prevalent, and 

 brouirht to such a state of perfection. 



Peaty and Moorish soih. — These cover exten- 

 sive tracts in Scotland, where they are coninionlj- 

 called mosses, and in [reland, hous. They differ, 

 like all other kimls of soil, by the nature ol'the in- 

 gredients that Ibrm their composirinn, the propor- 

 tion of these that prevail, and Iroui the nature and 

 induence of the wa'er with which in every situa- 

 tion they abound. Indillerent localities, the moss 

 or peaty substance is found of different depths, 

 and of various dei2;ree3 of consistence, proceeding 

 from the difference of the original aquatic produc- 

 tions of which it has been formed, and to its later 

 or more remote date of decomposition and decay. 

 Under most of the deep mosses in Scotland, the 

 substratum is clay, of a blue color, and of a tough, 

 heavy, aud^spongv texture, which renders drain- 

 ino-, where it is necessary to go through this clay, 

 a very arduous undertaking, both on account of 

 the difficulty of excavating and throwinn; out such 

 stuff, and its being apt to spew up from both bot- 

 tom and sides, impeding the work, and sometimes 

 choking the drain. Tlie remedy, however, will 

 be noticed in its proper place. The different 

 layers of moss or peat earth are observed to lie in 

 a regular stratified order, and are more or less 

 compact as they approach the surface. Next the 

 bottom, they exhibit the appearance of a solid 

 dark-colored earth, which most probably formed 

 the original soil or surface of the ground, before 

 the accumulation of the superincumbent moss. 

 Above this, to a considerable thickness, the peat, 

 though compact, is of a less solid consistence, par- 

 takes of a mixture of loam or earthy particles, and 

 appears in a less state of decomposition. The 

 uppermost stratum is always of a loose, soft, and 

 spongy texture, from the aquatic plants, leaves, 

 and other vegetable substances, of which it i- com- 

 posed, not being in so complete a stage of decay 

 as the lower strata have attained. 



From these observations it appears, that all 

 peaty soils are formed by the gradual decay of 

 vegetable matter, produced by the dissolution of 

 aquatic plants, that grow in low wet situations, 

 and by other substances brought down by water 

 from the higher grounds, and deposited in a state 

 of stagnation, where obstructions have impeded 

 their farther progress. In other situations, there 

 are peaty soils of less thickness, also formed by 

 length of time, from the decay of coarse ffrasses, 

 heath, and oiher plants of that kind, and where 

 the under-soil is tolerablv good, and at no great 

 depth from the surface. These are more properly 

 called moorish soils, and are more easily drained, 

 and made accessible to the plough, and other 

 means of cultivation, than deeper mosses or bogs. 

 Besides these soils that have been described, there 

 is a variety to be met with, comj)osed of a mixture 

 of all the others; particularly in the fens, downs, 

 and chalky districts of England ; but all require 

 the same mode of draining and cultivation to ren- 

 der them more productive. 



SECTION IV. 



Of draining bogs according to the old method. 



It has been stated in the introduction, that al- 

 though the mode of draining practised by the late 

 Mr. Elkiiiixton applies particularly to bogs, espe- 

 cially those that are injured by springs ; yet in 

 some places, it is still the custom to drain them 

 according to the old method, as described in this 

 section, and the plan. No. I, explanatory thereof 

 From the tiivorable situation of bogs, their being 

 olten of great extent, and their giving interruption 

 to the improvement and regular cultivation of 

 many estates and farms, their drainage becomes 

 an object of the first attention. As their wetness, 

 in almost all cas^s, proceeds from the water of 

 springs, either confined under them, or oozing over 

 their surface, the first thing is to consider the 

 means by which this may be removed, by drains 

 in a proper direction, and of no greater number 

 than is necessary to effect the cure. This, how- 

 ever, has not been the method in general practice; 

 and many unnecessary cuts are made, which 

 otherwise might be saved. A mistaken notion 

 prevails with many drainers, that too uiany cuts 

 cannot be made; and that, besides makintj drains 

 to lead off" the principal springs, it is requisite to 

 have others, to carry off all the appearances of 

 water that may be seen on the surlii(;e. IMie 

 error of this is, making the principal drain n^iiher 

 in the proper direction, nor of the requisite depth ; 

 of course, its effect is partial, and in many cases 

 useless. There is also a general mistake in sup- 

 posing that the water is to be let down from the 

 surface into the drain, and that in this case the 

 depth may be less ; but the materials with which 

 it is filled must nearly reach the top. Most bogs 

 are situated near the sides of rivers, burns,* or 

 smaller streams of water, and have generally a 

 descent sufficient to allow the necessary drains to 

 be cut to the lull depth. The sprinirs, lor the most 

 part, rise along the upper side of the boa:, and 

 discharge their water promiscuously over its sur- 

 face. The common method is, to draw a number 

 of drains from the lower side to the upper, where 

 the springs break out, in straight lines, and 

 parallel to one another. These drains are com- 

 monly at the distance of forty feet from each other, 

 and when not effectual of themselves, have side 

 branches drawn at acute angles from them, as re- 

 presented in plate No. I, figs. 1 and 2. The effect 

 of these drains is simply the lowering and carrying 

 off' the spring-water to a certain depth ; often 

 leaving, both below and above, a quantity suffi- 

 cient to render the drainage imperlect and defi- 

 cient. The mode of filling them, either with stone 

 or brushwood, is also defective ; and, consequently, 

 in a few years they require to be renewed. The 

 expense of these operations, from the great length 

 of cutting, and waste of materials in filling, is very 

 considerable, and much surpasses the profit. It 

 therefore becomes an object ol serious considera- 

 tion, belbre engaging in a work that is so doubtful 

 of success. This much may suffice on the subject 

 of lai'ije and regular tracts of bog. 



In the smaller ones, that so offen interrupt the 

 regular cultivation and improvement of many 

 fields, drains, guided by the same mistaken princi- 

 ple, and equally inefficient, are applied in the same- 



Brooks, in England. 



