362 Crump: The Water-Content of Acidic Peats. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
The Pennine peats form a homologous series, each homo- 
logue being sufficiently distinguished by its water and humus- 
contents to separate it from other members of the series. 
II. These homologues correspond with the following recog- 
nised plant-associations :— 
(1). Pure Eriophorum Moor on deep peat (19 analyses).— 
Characters: Peat very pure and uniform; water, 
300-600 per cent. ; humus, above 8o per cent. ; ash, 
purely vegetable, very low, under 2 per cent, ; water 
co-efficient, 6-0. 
Sr 
(2). Rocky edge of Eriophorum Gor (4 analyses). sy ac- 
cinium _ Myrtilius or Empetrum dominant. Char- 
acters: Peat still very pure, not so deep; water, 
250-300 per cent. ; humus and ash, as before ;- water 
co-efficient, -3-0 
— 
? 
SS) 
— 
Transitional Eriophorum Moor (13 analyses).—A mixed 
association of Eriophorum, Vaccinium Myrtillus, 
Pteris, Calluna, Molinia, etc. Characters: peat 
moderately deep, still pure, but not so uniform and 
comparatively dry ; water, 100-200 per cent. (average 
160 per cent). ; humus, 50-80 per cent. (average 64 
per cent.) ; mineral residue now containing rock 
débris, 10-40 per cent.; water co-efficient, 2:6. 
(4). Calluna Moor (28 analyses).—Characters: peat shal- 
_ low, impure. Two types may be distinguished: (a) 
wet, with Evica Tetralix present ; water, 60-100 per 
cent. (average go per cent.) ; humus, 20-50 per cent. ; 
water co-efficient, above 2:5 (average 3:3); ° (8) 
typical, water, average 85 per cent.; water: co- 
efficient, 2-0-2°8 (average 2:3). The coarse sandy 
sub-peat, with quartz grains, contains an average 
of only 25 per cent. water, but water co-efficient 
remains between 2:5 and 3:5. 
(5), Molinia’ Moor (g analyses).—This presents the only 
contradiction of current views both as regards water 
and humus-contents, for the peat is quite as pure as 
that of the Calluna moor, but distinctly drier. 
Characters, deeper than Calluna peat, but never pure. 
Water, 30-80 per cent., average 56 per cent. ; humus, 
about 30 per cent.: water co-efficient, under 2 
(average I-93). a 
III. The series constitutes an edaphic formation. 
Notre.—The consideration of Heath Pasture is omitted. 
N ‘aturalist, = 
