W. C. GOLDTHWAIT'S ADDRESS. 373 



vegetable matter, it will secure nearly the same result for the 

 purposes of cultivation. Hence ploughing in crops cannot be 

 too highly recommended ; but we should ever bear in mind 

 that for its purpose one dry crop is worth two green ones ; for 

 the simple reason that the one will decay and leave the matter 

 in the soil, while the other will ferment and throw it off mostly 

 in the form of gas. When by the use of clay or other means, 

 land is so far reclaimed that it will bear a crop of clover, it is 

 in a hopeful way. By ploughing in this, or indeed almost any 

 thing that has grown upon the soil, the poorest land may even- 

 tually be reclaimed. 



Another suggestion which science makes to the farmer is with 

 regard to the use of peat. There is almost an endless number 

 of swamps in the county, varying from a few rods to a mi^e or 

 more in circumference, filled with this substance. It is the de- 

 posit of successive crops of vegetation, rushes and water-grass 

 and stray leaves ; it has been packed and trodden down by 

 the slow and heavy tramp of centuries. But vegetable matter 

 will not ordinarily resist the process of decay so long ; and 

 therefore the wisdom that buried this, has also embalmed it, 

 and secured it from decay by impregnating it with a peculiar 

 acid, — that is, it is fairly pickled, and it is almost proof against 

 decay, so that a log buried in the midst of it will outride as 

 many centuries as a mummy in one of the old })yramids. This 

 seems to me a wonderful provision of the all-wise Providence ; 

 and yet it totally unfits most peat for present use ; it is fre- 

 quently poison when applied to land in its raw state. It 

 must be neutralized, subdued, sweetened. 



There are various ways of accomplishing this ; one is by ex- 

 posing it to the action of the sun, rain, and frost. I have 

 now some cases in mind, where for several years, the effect of 

 the application of this substance was decidedly bad ; but the 

 lapse of time and the influences I have spoken of, seemed to 

 help its moroseness and gradually it formed a combination with 

 the elements of vegetable life, and the ultimate effect has been 

 most happy and durable. Another method is by mixing it 

 with some substance of an opposite quality, which shall destroy 

 its acid nature. Wood ashes, and of course potash, will da 

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