Ixiv 



INTRODUCTION 



XII. Inert Peat, or Barren Peat Moss 



w 



400 grains, freed from moisture, consisted of 



Fine pure siliceous sand -_.--" 



Inert vegetable matter , - .. - _ - r - 



Alumina - - - . " " 



Oxide of iron - - - r • 



Soluble vegetable matter, containing also sulphate of potash 

 And sulphate of lime, or gypsum - - - - 



29 grains. 



L 



OSS 



- 289 

 . 14 



30 

 11 

 12 

 15 



400 



In one instance, beds of these soils (No. II. and No. VIII. excepted) were arranged in the 

 order in which they have just now been mentioned. Seeds of all the grasses peculiar to each soil, 



r ■ 



f 



were sown on distinct spaces of each bed. The seeds of the different grasses vegetated on all 

 the soils, except on the inert peat (No. XII.), which remained completely barren. In the ensu- 

 ing season, it was remarkable to see the different degrees of luxuriance exhibited by the 

 species of grass on different soils. The superior grasses^ or those which constitute the produ 

 of rich ancient pasture lands, formed nearly a perfect convex ridge of grass : beginning at tlie 

 poor siliceous sandy soil (No. I.), where they were the most diminutive, they gradually 



same 



ce 



(No. IX.) 



s 



decreased in the quantity of produce, till they terminated at the inert peat (No. XIL) It is of 

 importance to observe, however, that after the second year, this order of luxuriance did not 

 continue in the same proportion. The rich siliceous sandy soil, on the fourth and fifth year, was 

 greatly inferior in produce to what it was on the second and third, and the produce of the poor 

 siliceous sandy soil decreased annually in quantity after the second year. The produce of tlie 

 sandy loam, and clayey loam, continued much the same ; but the rich alluvial soil, and rich 

 clayey loam, increased in the quantity of produce till tlie fifth year, and have since continued, 

 Avith hut a trifling diminution in the weight of their annual crops, though no manure in any 

 instance has been, applied. 



By referring to the details which shew the composition of the rich siliceous sandy soil, 

 which soonest became deficieut of prody.ce,. it appears, that the finely divided matter contains 

 more of decomposing vegetable matter, in proportion to the earthy ingredients, than that of the 

 rich alluvial soil, and of the clayey loams. The proportion of sand to the finely divldett matter, 

 is likewise much, greater in that soil, than in the others, whose productive powers seemed rather 

 to increase for five successive years. " " ; 



A space of the poo; siliceous soil was richly manured, and the produce of grass for 



years exceeded thi^t of. the rich siliceous soil which had no manure ; but on the fifth year was 



so much reduced, as hardly to equal its original produce. These fact^ confirm the opinion, 



two 



that certaur soils may produce large crops of grain, or other annual crops, but are nevertheless 

 unfit for the production of the superior perennial grasses 



It may be said, that as the want of a due proportion of finely divided earthy ingredient is 

 all that ,s needed,, to render these soils equal to the best, the clay, chalk, &c. may be applie'' 



