NORTH UIST. PEAT. 



the decomposition of their fallen leaves, partly from that 

 of the plants which grew under their shade. Oak, fir, 

 alder, and birch, are the woods most frequently found, 

 and it is almost unnecessary to say, that the remains of 

 animals and other accidental substances are occasionally 

 buried in peat. The plants which by their destruction 

 contribute to its generation, vary according to the situation 

 in which it has been formed. In any one situation some 

 species are more abundant than others, from circumstances 

 too obvious to need enumeration. It has often been 

 asserted that Sphagnum palustre is the true basis of peat : 

 this however is an unsupported opinion. Doubtless, in 

 peculiar boggy situations it forms a predominant ingre- 

 dient, but large tracts of peat may be found in many places 

 where this moss never grew. * 



The process by which these vegetables are converted 



- The following list contains the plants that most frequently concur 

 to the generation of this substance, and they are placed with some regard 

 to their importance: 



Sphagnum palustre. 

 Scirpus coespitosus. 

 Nardus stricta. 

 Scirpus palustris. 

 Juncus conglomeratus. 



effusus. 



Eriophorum polystachion. 



vaginatum. 



Schcenus nigricans. 



albus. 



Erica tetralix. 



cinerea. 



vulgaris. 



Myrica gale. 

 Juncus bufonius. 



- bulbosus. 

 Agrostis canina. 

 Aira coespitosa. 

 Pedicularis palustris. 

 Orchis maculata. 



VOL. r. 



Carex dioica. 



pulicaris. 



flava. 



panicea. 



coespitosa, and others of 



this genus. 



Anagallis tenella. 



Menyanthes trifoliata. 



Comarum palustre. 



Empetrum nigrum. 



Ranunculus flammula. 



Scirpus acicularis. 



Nymphoea alba. 



lutea. 



Potomogeton natans. 



Drosera rotundifolia. 



Juncus squarrosus, beside* 

 others, many of them of 

 such rare occurrence as not 

 to deserve enumeration. 



