I5<S Rankin : The Peat-Moors of Lonsdale. 



time pretty extensive, and now are much reduced, those of the 

 hills of the ' moorlands,' are still extensive. And yet the 

 upland peat moors of Lonsdale, wide as they are on some of 

 the fell slopes, are of a comparatively small extent when con- 

 sidered against the broad mantlings from horizon to horizon, 

 which cover many of the fells of the Pennines between Peny- 

 ghent and Crossfell. For an appreciation of the dominance 

 over square miles of landscape by a single plant formation, no 

 part of England is more suited than a summit on the Pennine 

 escarpment. Still within our limits, as for example, on the 

 grit fells of the southern edges of Lonsdale, the heath moor 

 attains that dominance characteristic of the Pennines from the 

 Peak to the Cheviots. 



The development of a peat moor on an upland region 

 depends upon many factors, those of the climate and those of 

 the soil. The lirst group naturally show wide differences from 

 those obtaining on the seaward plains or lowland watersheds. 

 About the Bay the rainfall varies inland between 40 inches and 

 50 inches, on the hills it attains in the north of the district, 

 90 inches, and in the south possibly 70 inches. On the coast 

 the mean January temperature is somewhat below 40°, and 

 the mean July temperature about 6o°F. The hills above 1200 

 feet on which the peat-moors are best developed, will show 

 according to the usual rule, corresponding temperatures below 

 36° F. and 56° F. respectively. The higher mountains will 

 show a mean annual temperature between 38° and 42°. As 

 seen bv the growth of both swamp and heath moors, at all 

 levels from sea levels to at least 2500 feet, the climatic factors 

 throughout the district are favourable to their existence. 



The more important factors which decide within the district 

 the origin and the continuance of moors, are those of the soil, 

 bound up with its chemical as well as its physical features. 



The volcanic breccias, silurian greywackes, sandstones and 

 slates show much less development of peat moors than the 

 shales and sandstones of the Yoredale and Millstone Grit 

 series, though quite typical moors occur, often broadly on these 

 rdO'ks. Possibly the general steepness of the older rocks, 

 rather than their frequent sub-basic mineral composition, is to 

 be held accountable for the contrast between their cleanly 

 fell sides and the gloomy flanks of the Carboniferous hills. 

 While, with the higher ridges to the north, at most the 

 narrow summits and occasional ' slacks,' or broadly concave 



Naturalist , 



