TRANSACTIONS OP SECTION K. 501 



the sheep-stock can be increased in numbers and quality, and the grouse-bag 

 is increased, hence a higher rental. . ,. ^ j t. i • i- * 



Some wider schemes for improvement can only be indicated. Kestriction ot 

 areas of deer-forests and grouse-moors to the more inaccessible parts would 

 precede an opening-up of the lower valleys for increased wintering of sheep 

 and for tillage. Increased grazing of cattle along with sheep would lead to 

 better utilisation of the herbage, especially that of the Nardus Molinia, and 

 bracken {Pteris) zones. Increased tillage with oats, turnips, and grass would 

 provide wintering for the cattle. An imporUnt scheme by Lord Lovat and 

 Captain Stirling » outlines the afforestation of considerable areas ot high valley 

 elopes in such a way that existing sheep-farms and deer-forests would not be 

 interfered with. The scheme is based on experience of areas bordering the 

 Caledonian Canal, and is treated in considerable detail ; hence it is an important 

 guide in adding forestry to the local resources of the land. 



IV. Waste Moorlands. By Professor W. B. Bottomley. 



On the slopes of the Pennines, stretching from Derbyshire northwards into 

 Scotland there are hundreds of acres of waste moorlands. The top ot these 

 moors is usually covered with peat, whilst the slopes form very poor grazing- 

 land carrying only a few sheep to the acre. That this land can be rendered 

 productive is shown by the cultivated fields around the sparsely scattered farm- 

 houses along the moor-side. • . i^ * 



Drainaoe, fencing, cultivation, &c., might be too expensive to attempt 

 reclamation of these poor lands on a large scale, but recent experiments have 

 proved that by the application of suitable manurea the grazing value can be 

 greatly increased. Farmyard manure, lime, and phosphates are the chiet 

 essentials. Unfortunately, farmyard manure in necessary quantities is ditticult 

 to obtain in these localities. Nature has provided, however, in the peat ot 

 these districts a substance which by simple and inexpensive treatment can be 

 converted into a valuable manure. This raw mountam-peat, although wholly 

 oro-anic and often containing two to three per cent, organic nitrogen, is useless 

 as\ manure owing to its acid nature. When treated with bacteria, incubated 

 and sterilised, tiie acidity is destroyed, a large amount of the organic matter 

 is rendered soluble and available for plant-food, and certain growth-promoting 

 substances are formed. Experiments conducted during the past summer at the 

 Imperial College of Science, London-, on the growth of Lemna plants in water- 

 culture solutions, have demonstrated that the growth-promoting substances, 

 known as auximones, obtained from bacterised peat have a remarkable ettect on 

 plant-growth. . .,, , , r 



Two series of water-cultures, ten dishes in each series, with twenty Lemna 

 plants in each dish, were started on June 9, 1916, series A with complete Detmer- 

 culture solution only; series B with Detmer solution plus the soluble extract ot 

 one gramme of bacterised peat in 1,CX)0 c.c. of water. After six weeks growth 

 the following results were obtained : — 



Nnmber of Plants. 



At commence- After six 



ment. weeks. 



Detmer 20 326 



Detmer + peat-extract . • 20 6,72i 



Dry Weight of 100 Plants in Milligrammes. 



At commence- After six 

 ment. weeks. 



Detmer 12 mgs. 5-4 mgs. 



Detmer + peat-extract . • 12 mgs. 16-5 mgs. 



The effect of the peat-extract was evident not only in the more rapid multi- 

 plication of the peat-plants, but also in the size and weight of the individual 



° Afforestation in Scotland, Edinburgh, 1911. 



