ON THE PLANT REMAINS IN THE SCOTTISH PEAT MOSSES. 35 



Field Work. — All the peat areas examined lay some distance from crofts or 

 villages, and the strata showed no sign of having been disturbed by human agency. 

 Sections were cut down through the successive strata until the underlying rock, gravel, 

 or sand deposits were reached. Each section was made just large enough to work in 

 conveniently. Over areas where the peat was of moderate depth the sections were 

 usually 8 or 9 feet in length and 4 feet wide. In some districts, such as the Shetlands, 

 where the peat proved to be 18-19 feet in depth the sections had to be made 17-20 

 feet in length to allow a series of platforms to be left at each end, upon which the peat 

 from near the base of the section could be placed. In some of the areas a good deal of 

 difficulty was experienced in cutting through the upper forest of pine. The timber 

 proved to be so large and tough, and so closely packed, that it was impossible to cut 

 through it with a spade, and it was necessary to clear away the large trunks and roots of 

 the pine with the aid of an axe and saw before the underlying peat could be excavated. 



In the examination of the peat samples brought back to the laboratory, much help 

 has been obtained by the use of the method described by Gunnar Andersson (l). 

 Samples of the peat are treated with nitric acid, which completely oxidises the material, 

 loosens, and at the same time bleaches it. The peat is then placed in sieves and the 

 loose debris washed away, leaving any seeds and fruits which it may contain. Fragile 

 leaves are usually broken into fragments during this process, and they can best be 

 obtained by dissecting them out from the peat without previous treatment. 



The following areas are described in this paper : — 



1. Valley deposits in the Highlands. 



(a) The Parph, Cape Wrath. 



(6) Assynt district of Sutherlandshire. 



2. Upland deposits in the Highlands. 



(a) Water of Lee district, Grampians. 



(b) Rannoch Muir. 



3. The Outer Hebrides. 



Eastern, Central and Western peat bogs of Lewis. 



4. The Shetland Islands. 



Walls, and central districts of the mainland. 



1. Valley Deposits in the Highlands. 



(a) The Parph, Cape Wrath (one-inch Ordnance Survey — sheets 113, 114). — 

 This area is roughly triangular in shape, lying between Cape Wrath, the Kyle of 

 Durness, and Loch Inchard. The northern part towards Cape Wrath consists of a 

 series of somewhat rounded hills rising to 1500 feet with broad valleys between, covered 

 with peat which extends far up the hillsides. Farther to the south the country becomes 

 rugged, and some of the hills, such as Creag Riabhach, show very fine rock exposures, 

 but peat still occurs in the valleys. 



