on Gardening and Rural Affairs. 457 



Patents. — Biography of Sir John Sinclair. — Review of Steele's " History 

 of Peat Moss." In which the writer does justice to a work, to which it was 

 alleged by another writer in the Edinburgh Observer newspaper (Ap. 27.) 

 we " hardly intended to do justice," alluding to our short notice of Mr. 

 Steele's book (p. 214.). We have, however, no such feeling; and to 

 prove to Mr. Steele and his friend, or pseudo-anonym, "A Moss Im- 

 prover," that this is the case, we shall quote the character of the '■'History 

 of Peat Moss" from the British Fa?-mer's Magazine, and give an extract 

 from the " Moss Improver's " letter ; and leave them without comment, for 

 every reader to draw his own conclusions. 



Steele's History of Peat Moss. — After some introductory remarks the 

 Reviewer observes, " There has existed a want of the recorded practice 

 of eminent men, who, in accomplishing the object of improvement, 

 should have ascertained also the most economical mode of proceeding. 

 Such, it appears to us, have been the sentiments of our author on 

 this subject; and his labours have been laudably directed to ascertain 

 what substance might be judiciously applied in the reclaiming of bog, and 

 how the several processes of draining, road-making, and planting, &c. 

 might be performed most effectually, and at the least expense. The several 

 statements made on the subject appear to us highly satisfactory, and the 

 reasoning conclusive ; and we most sincerely hope Mr. Steele's work will 

 get into the hands of the parties chiefly interested ; for, unquestionably, the 

 subject of reclaiming bogs is one of national concern, so long as Great 

 Britain shall think fit to grow her own bread, and remain independent of 

 the foreigner for the size or the price of her loaf." 



After giving some extracts, the Reviewer continues, " we should willingly 

 transfer to our pages much of the interesting matter with which this vo- 

 lume abounds, but we consider it more judicious, and certainly more just to 

 the author, to refer those of our readers (and we are sure there will be 

 many,) who desire further information on the subject, to his very full and 

 practical statement of all that appears needful to be known on this particular 

 branch of rural improvement." 



The serious part of the " Moss Improver's " accusation is, that we have 

 mentioned " willows generally among the number of those trees that thrive 

 in peat-moss grounds," leaving our readers " to suppose that large willows 

 will grow on such soil." In Mr. Steele's book (p. 271.), he says : — " The 

 Salix alba (white willow), the frdgilis (crack willow), and the vimindlis (the 

 ozier), and in general all our largest and best willows, will grow in pure 

 water, but I have tried them in every possible way in moss grounds, and I 

 am satisfied they will not grow there, even on the sides of moss ditches." 

 The question is, what does Mr. Steele understand by moss grounds ? Or 

 does he mean to say that willows will not grow on such moss grounds as 

 will produce other timber trees ? We shall give Mr. Steele, or his friend 

 " A Moss Improver," the full benefit of answering these questions in his 

 own way in our next Number, trusting that he will accept our assurance of 

 the most perfect good feeling towards him and his work, notwithstanding 

 what he is pleased to consider appearances of a contrary nature. 



The British Farmer, fyc. (noticed Gard. Mag. vol. i. p. 192.) By John 

 Finlayson, inventor and patentee of the self-cleaning ploughs and harrows. 

 This is an exceedingly well-executed review of one of the most scientific 

 and valuable tracts on agriculture that has appeared for a number of years. 

 There is much in the work on the subject of peat-moss, and in that respect 

 it may be considered a fit companion for Mr. Steele's book, though neither 

 is calculated to supersede the other. We are sorry the Reviewer lias 

 blamed Mr. Finlayson for being too chemical and botanical in his descrip- 

 tions ; and it may confirm the received idea of Reviewers having the most 

 opposite opinions as to the merits of a book, to state, that two of the pas- 

 sages quoted in the British Farmer's Magazine for conden^ir.t'on, are 



