38 TIREY. AGRICULTURE. 



sesses ; or else of the influence which it exerts in prevent- 

 ing the growth of bog plants and the consequent gene- 

 ration of peat. The same effects are produced by the 

 application of calcareous manures ; under which treatment 

 the useless plants disappear and are succeeded by clover 

 and valuable grasses. An excellent black mould is 

 formed in a few years when cultivation has followed that 

 practice ; and this is more particularly the case in those 

 islands where the substratum is of trap. The same effect 

 of converting the moor land into green pasture is produced 

 by turning the surface, while the pasturing of cattle pre- 

 vents it from returning to its primitive state. The ex- 

 pense is in many cases a serious obstacle to any of these 

 modes of improvement, and in certain situations an insur- 

 mountable one ; but they are, nevertheless, applicable 

 to many thousands of acres now nearly useless, from 

 which the returns would be both immediate and profit- 

 able. Those who have wandered over the brown and 

 bare lands of Lewis, or of Sky, may easily imagine the 

 different aspect these islands would assume were such 

 improvements carried into effect. That they will be effected 

 at some distant day there is no reason to doubt. Under 

 circumstances of equal difficulty, of less knowledge, and as 

 little wealth, have some of the principal pastures and cul- 

 tivated lands of Britain been rescued from heath and 

 barrenness. 



With regard to the improvement of mountain land, the 

 pasturage of sheep appears the only expedient. This is 

 well known to banish heath and improve the natural 

 grasses ; and the extension of this practice, which is not yet 

 fully acted on although its value is well understood, will 

 ultimately do all which art will probably ever effect on 

 soils of this description. 



The methods of reclaiming peat mosses are, at present, 

 perfectly known, and the experiments of many enlight- 

 ened cultivators have proved that the profits are suffi- 

 ciently tempting. If there are obstacles to the further 



