on the preceding Paper. 13 



between our fingers, like the sawiiigs of timber, and not that impalpable saponaceous 

 substance whicli forms the basis of good vegetable earth : nay, so far is real dry 

 black peat removed from such a state, that I apprehend no ordinary process appli- 

 cable to a field, in ordinary time, but that of burning, can bring it to support vegetation 

 to advantage. 



It is contended, that " if frost alone formed the soil, every moss would have a 

 " soil on it of sufficient depth, as the frost penetrates the moss more ilian a foot 

 " deep every winter." I do not say, or think, that frost alone is sufficient to form 

 moss into proper vegetable earth, because I know that before it can become such, 

 it must undergo a degree of fermentation, v/h'ich operation requires heat; but I 

 affirm, that before the sun heat alone can produce fermentation upon moss, it must 

 be previously frosted ; and the opponents of this doctrine should know, that it is 

 owing to the primary effect of the frosts penetrating the surface of our mosses to a 

 certain depth every winter, that we enjoy all the fine heath, and other horizontal 

 rooted herbage, which now yields sach Jine rents to the proprietors of that otherwise 

 cold, torpid, sterile part of the creation ; and therefore no wonder, that you in par- 

 ticular should ascribe much to the effects of frost upon moss. 



Some do not approve of destroying the surface of moss by fire, thinking it might 

 be used to better purpose, to convert it, with its herbal contents, into soil ; and that 

 is right, in so far as the nature of the surface, does not forbid that mode of culture ; 

 but circumstances alter cases. The surface of your Carterfield moss in general, 

 resembles a composition of light yellow fog, for about six inches deep, which we 

 •wish to get rid of with all possible expedition, in order to get at better stuff, and 

 therefore burn that surface. But when moss surface is found of a more substantial 

 texture, and that the improver has the command of dung, lime, or sand, &c. he may 

 advantageously bring such into culture without burning; but hitherto you have had 

 no such advantage. 



The plan of reclaiming moss by planting potatoes in the lazy bed way, is the ge- 

 neral practice all over the West Highlands, and it is almost incredible what heavy 

 crops of barley and oats succeed ; but this system can only be carried on upon a 

 small scale, and never without dung, lime, sand, or sea-weed. 



Many consider it impossible to burn a field of any extent, previous to the season 

 for sowing it; but they may be assured, that in a dry March day, thirty or forty 



