INTrtODUCTION. 11 



jcct to the works of Rennie and more recent writers on the 

 subject. One thing is certain, that the climate would be 

 to a great extent improved by the drainage of moss-lauds, 

 which would thus in time be rendered arable ; and if all the 

 valuable commodities we have mentioned above could not 

 be directly obtained, we are equally certain that in another 

 way — if not so direct — it would yield all these and more 

 to the enterprising landlord and industrious tenant if 

 they set about reclaiming the bleak bogs and moorlauds at 

 present solely abandoned to crops of mosses, rushes, and 

 noxious weeds. Nor need we fear that a sufficiency would 

 be left to supply an ample quantity of fuel for those at pre- 

 sent dependent on it, as it could be proved that a tenth part 

 of tlie bulk at present existing in our peat-stores would be 

 more than was requisite for many generations, even with 

 a vastly increased consumption. 



Thus briefly have we stated the principal operations of 

 nature in which Mosses are employed, some of which, as ^ve 

 have just seen, contribute ultimately to much of our do- 

 mestic comfort. We must now dismiss the subject with a 

 few notices of their direct uses, leaving detailed remarks of 

 ' any kind to be given when we come to speak of genera and 

 species in the body of the work. 



