i5o 



Utilisation of Peat Land. 



[JUNE, 



other system where the material is available, because so little 

 risk is involved. It is so simple that it can be carried out by 

 any intelligent workman without technical help, a stoppage of 

 the drains practically never occurs, and the aeration of the soil 

 is quite satisfactory. The fall should not be less than 3 per 1,000. 



Drainage is much to be preferred to open ditches, as apart 

 from the loss of land, drained soil dries and is accessible very 

 much earlier in spring. Land drained by open ditches becomes 

 frozen not only from above, but also from the sides of the 

 ditches, and drainage can only take place after the ice has 

 melted. Drains on the other hand, continue to act in winter, 

 especially when the land is deeply covered in -snow. This has 

 been frequently proved at Admont, where it was found that a 

 pipe or bush-drained area of 5 acres could be cultivated nearly 

 three weeks earlier than adjoining land drained by open ditches. 

 The distance apart of the drains is of the greatest importance 

 and must receive careful consideration in connection with the 

 rainfall and its distribution over the year, as although insuffi- 

 ciently drained land can be improved by laying further pipes, 

 over-drained land can only with great difficulty be put right. 

 The purpose for which the land is to be used must also be 

 considered as the water level must be reduced more for tillage 

 than for grass. 



When the drainage has been carried out, the land must be 

 grubbed, ploughed, and harrowed. Any strongly built plough 

 may be used, the horses being shod with broad wooden' shoes, 

 to which they soon accustom themselves. Disc harrows and 

 strong cultivators are also useful, but if horse implements cannot 

 be used the work must be done by hand. 



The general term " moorland " covers a very great variety 

 of soils and the method of cultivation and treatment must be 

 varied to suit each individual case. Some indication of the 

 variation in their chemical composition may be obtained from 

 the figures in the following table given by Dr. Bersch in the 

 article mentioned above. The percentage composition of the 

 dry matter in peat soils does not afford a satisfactory indication 

 of available plant food owing to variations in density, and for 

 purposes of comparison the quantity of chemical constituents 

 present in 1 hectare (2-47 acres) of soil, 20 cm. (7-87 inches deep) 

 is also given. 



