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abounds with sand, as already mentioned, which 

 is I think invariably found to be the finest near 

 the surface in such cases. Spots where the 

 wild heath grows luxuriantly should be dili- 

 gently selected, as producing the best peat for 

 general use ; but when it is considered that of 

 the plants mostly cultivated in this kind of soil, 

 some grow in swamps near rivers, others in 

 barren sandy wastes, and more in all their 

 various intermediate stations, as mountains, 

 low lands, &c. &c. especially heaths from the 

 varied surface of Southern Africa ; it will surely 

 be obvious, that a supply of every variety of 

 soil should be always at hand, and that the 

 peat answering for one species, will not be so 

 congenial to another brought from a very diffe- 

 rent situation and soil. 



It should be cast into a heap in the compost 

 yard for twelve or fourteen months before used, 

 a practice to be observed with composts in 

 general. 



It is to be used only for such plants as are 

 known to grow naturally in peat, or those which 

 are known to thrive best in a very light sandy 

 soil : also to be mixed occasionally with Loam, 

 for such as delight in an intermediate compost. 



Most plants grow remarkably free in peat 

 during the summer season, if kept carefully 

 watered, in particular those which come under 

 the denomination of half herbaceous or biennial 



