18 PEAT-MOSS LITTEfl. 



peats having been found to contain between 4 and 5 

 per cent of nitrogen. In some thirty samples of peat, 

 analysed by Prof. S. W. Johnson, the percentage of 

 nitrogen varied from .4 to 2.9 per cent, giving an 

 average of 1.5 per cent. 



While it has a very great capacity for absorbing 

 liquids, it possesses, in an unequalled degree, the 

 power of retaining the soluble nitrogen compounds. 

 This is undoubtedly one of the most important pro- 

 perties which recommend peat for the purposes of 

 litter. 



Some interesting experiments on the value of peat- 

 moss as a litter have been recently carried out by Mr 

 Bernard Dyer. 1 From these experiments Mr Dyer has 

 found that both its liquid-absorbing and liquid-retain- 

 ing powers are very much greater than those of straw. 

 While straw was only able to absorb three times its 

 weight of water, peat-moss was found to absorb nearly 

 ten times its weight. With regard to its water-retain- 

 ing power, this was also found to be in excess of 

 that of straw. Both these properties are, it need 

 scarcely be pointed out, of very great value in a litter. 

 Another point of interest in these experiments was 

 the respective amounts of nitrogen absorbed and re- 

 tained by the peat- moss and the straw. It was found 

 that, in this respect, the peat-moss had again an advan- 

 tage over the straw. Lastly, the manure produced by 

 the peat-moss was shown to be richer in fertilising 

 1 See 'Mark Lane Express,' October 7, 1889, p. 475. 



