PEAT BRACKENS. 117 



Water ... ... 61-50% 



Nitrogen ... ... '85 



Potash ... ... -18 



Phosphorus pentoxide ... '08 



Dyer found in Peat moss. Wheat straw. 



Water 12-46% 10'33 % 



Nitrogen ... ... '81 '62 



Lime -15 '29 



Potash ... -01 '99 



Phosphorus pentoxide ... '02 '11 



Silica ... ... ... '72 5'74 



Magnesia, &c. ... ... '48 '47 



Or, according to an analysis quoted by Ivison Macadam," 

 dried peat litter contains 



Moisture ... 9-12 



Organic matter ... 89'39 containing 0'51 % nitrogen 



Alkaline salts ... "03 



Phosphates ... '16 



Calcium carbonate - 98 



Silica -32 



100-00 



Analyses of fibres extracted from peat obtained in Wurtem- 

 burg and Silesia and of moss litter from North Germany were 

 made by Fleischer in 1883 ! : 



Wiirtemlmrg Silesiaii German 



fibre. fibre. peat moss. 



Nitrogen ... ... 2-20% 2-90% '90% 



Phosphorus pentoxide -06% '06% '04% 



Lime 1-72% 3-10% '20% 



Peat sometimes contains iron pyrites, and in some cases 

 arsenic is present in the pyrites. The manure made with 

 such peat may be destructive to plant life. 



Dried bracken is often used as litter in mountainous and 

 thickly wooded districts, e.g., in the English Lake district and 



* Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind. 1888, 80. t Jour. Chem. Soc. 1884, absts. 105. 



