14 



FARMERS' R E G r S T E R 



[No. ! 



Peat is composed of aquatic; planis, such as 

 reeds, nisiies, etc., hut a species ol moss (Spiiao;- 

 num Paiiisire) is o-enprally found more abunduni 

 than any of tiie former class; it havinji the proper- 

 ty ol' sprouting, and cuntinuhig 10 grow, while its 

 roots are decaying. 



In some peal, (as is the case with our own,) 

 plants are found with their organization so distinct, 

 that we can even d(>termine their species. As is 

 said in one of the Bridirewater Treatises, "that 

 we may almost seize nature in the act of makinof 

 coal helore the process is completed, ' so it may he 

 said in retjard to peat; ibr the rude fraiiments of 

 undecomposed plants we trace the process to per- 

 fectly tbrmec) peat, where a comrjle'e decomposi- 

 tion has taken place; and from thence to anthra- 

 cite. 



There is, however, a striking ditieronce be 

 tween the periods in which the veijetable de|)0si- 

 tions that torn) anthracite and peat took place. 



Geologists agree in assiirninu' the epoch to be 

 antediluvian in which the vegetable deposits that 

 form coal were made; and ihey also conclude, that 

 the temperature of the earth was much higher 

 than at present; for (bssil ferns are fbmid in coal 

 formations, of the astonishina- length of fitly feet, 

 and other plants bear the sante ratio. Now plan's 

 of this species in the torrid zone are found lo ap- 

 proach this size at the present time; but coal is 

 found in the temperate and frigid zones — conse- 

 quently, we are led to suppose, that a higher tem- 

 perature once existed in those regions. 



But peat is of recent origin, as may be shown 

 by the following facts. In Hatfield, England, as 

 in niany other places in Great Britain, Roinan 

 roads have been discovered eight feet below the 

 peat; and their arms, axes, coins, etc. have been 

 found in the same situation, showing that these 

 peat bogs have been formed since the invasion of 

 Cssar. Nor can any traces of the irreat l()rests 

 Kpokenof by this general in his 'Commentaries,' be 

 discovered, except by their fragments, which are 

 found in peat. And De Lue has ascertained, that 

 the very positions of the Ibrests spoken of by Cae- 

 ear, viz. Hercinia, Semana. Ardennes, and others, 

 are now occupied by peat-borrs. 



As orders were given by Severus and other Ro- 

 man emperors, to destroy all the forests in the 

 conquered provinces, it is evident whv the re- 

 mains of these once majestic tracts are found im- 

 bedded in peat: for when they were prostrated, 

 their trunks, limbs and leaves, would check a free 

 drainage of the water falling from the atmosphere, 

 and also prevent in some measure its evaporation. 

 Consequently, a decomposition of the foliage and 

 branches of the trees would commence — aquatic 

 plants would spring up, and decaying, add to the 

 mass which is found in time completely to envel- 

 ope the pristine forests. 



An occurrence of the recent formation of peat 

 took place in Roos-shire, Eng. During a violent 

 storm, a forest was overthrown, and in fifty years, 

 the people dug peat, from a mass occasioned by 

 this overthrow. 



On examining some of the peat formations 

 which are so extensively scattered over our island, 

 we have observed large stumps, trunks, and limbs 

 of trees completely immured in peat. There 

 seems to have been a deposition of shrubs, flags, 

 and other plants, which we find but partially de- 

 composed. 



After this formation had taken place, forests 

 sprang up, which have been cut down, probably 

 witfiin a century, and heir fragments have aided 

 in l()rming our peat botrs. which are now discover- 

 ed tiom one to fburieeu feet in depth. Without 

 doubt, most of our peat formations have taken 

 place since the pristine forests were destroyed, and 

 are comparatively of recent origin. We will fur- 

 ther state what seems a curious, but is a well as- 

 certained fa<'f, that not only here, but wherever 

 the peat is iliscovered, it is generally found to oc- 

 cupy the position of ancient forests. For in most 

 bogs, stumps, and trunks of trees are found sur- 

 rounded by pear, while their roots remain in their 

 natural position, immured in clay, or some other 

 soil. 



In some countries, peat mosses are found of great 

 extent. One mentioned by Dr. Boate on the 

 Shannon, was fifty miles; and Blavier speaks of 

 one at the mouth of the Loire, more than fifty 

 leaorues in circumference. 



The texture of peat is such, that it absorbs 

 lariie quantities of water; and it has often happen- 

 ed, when bogs were very much swollen, that they 

 have burst and deluged the surrounding country 

 with their contents. We are inlbrmed by Deguer 

 that the remains of ships, nautical instruments, 

 and oars, have been found in many of tlie Dutch 

 mosses; and Gerard in his history of the valley of 

 Somme, mentions that in the lowest tier of that 

 moss, a boat was Ibund loaded with bricks, proving 

 that these morasses were at one period navigable 

 lakes, and arms ot the sea, as were also many on 

 the coast of Picardy, Ireland, and Friesland, from 

 which soda and salt are procured. "The canoes, 

 stone hatch< t ■, and stone arrow heads Ibund in peat 

 in diffiereut parts of Great Biilain, lead lo similar 

 conclusions." 



One more fact in relation to peat is worthy of 

 our notice. It is the preservation of animal sub- 

 stances wdiich have been buried in it. A great 

 many instances are recorded, wliich go to prove 

 this property; a few, however, will only be men- 

 tioned. 



"In June, 1717, the body of a woman was found 

 six feet deep, in a peat moor in the isle of Axholin, 

 in Lincolnshire, England. The antique sandals 

 on her feet afforded evitlence of her having been 

 buried for many ages; yet her nails, hair, and skin 

 are described as having shown hardly any marks 

 of decay. In the 'Philosophical Transactions,' we 

 find an example recorded of the bodies of two per- 

 sons having been buried in moist peat, in Derby- 

 shire, in 1674, about a yard deep, which were ex- 

 amined twenty-eight years and nine months after- 

 wards; the color of their skin was fair and natural, 

 their flesh soft as that of persons newly dead." At 

 the battle of Solway in the time of Henry VII. 

 (1542,) when the Scotch army commanded by 

 Oliver Sinclair was routed, an unibrlunate troop 

 of horse, driven by their fears, [)lunged into Sol- 

 way morass, which instantly closed upon them. 

 The tale was traditional, but it is now authentica- 

 ted; a man and horse in complete armor having 

 been found by peat diggers, in the place where it 

 was always supposed the event had happened. 

 The skeleton of each was well preserved, and the 

 different parts of the armor easily distinguished. — 

 Obs. on Picturesque Beauty, 1772. 



