iooo Moor Cultivation in Germany. [march, 



(Hochmoor), in contradistinction to lowland moors (Nieder- 

 ungsmoor), which term applies especially to grassland moors, 

 the subsoil of which lies below the water-level, and is liable 

 to be flooded. 



According to the various methods of formation, the 

 amount of plant food and consequently the method of culti- 

 vation is different in the case of highland and lowland moors, 

 as appears from the following table. 



Nitrogen. Phosphoric acid. Potash. Lime. 



Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.. Per cent. 



: , Upland moor rz cro8 0*05 o'2 



Lowland moor 2*3 0*20 0*15 3 "36 



The oldest system of moor cultivation is that adopted in 

 Holland for the reclaiming of upland moors. Both in 

 Holland and in Germany cultivation by burning is largely 

 resorted to. The system consists in breaking up the surface 

 of the moor, after it has been drained as far as may be neces- 

 sary by means of trenches, &c, and in firing it in the spring 

 so soon as it is sufficiently dry. By this means, the mass of 

 surface roots is burnt away, and something like a soft soil is 

 obtained. On the burnt moor, buckwheat, oats, and rye are 

 cultivated. After three crops the yield declines, but after 

 further burning oats may be sown, and after that, on dry 

 moors, either rye or buckwheat again, until the remainder of 

 the Bunkerde and heather has completely disappeared and 

 the soil has become almost unproductive, which takes from 

 five to eight years, according to circumstances. If the 

 burning process is carried on too long the soil becomes com- 

 pletely unproductive. 



Another method which has been largely adopted in the past 

 is that of sanding the surface in the case of moors where the 

 subsoil is composed of sand. The moor is first drained by 

 means of open trenches or drain-pipes where open drainage 

 is inconvenient. The drainage of upland moors does not 

 require to be more than 24 in. deep for arable land, while for 

 meadows it may be less. The sand greatly improves the 

 quality of the top soil, and is usually obtained by excavating 

 to a depth of about 3 ft. Owing to the heavy cost of putting 

 a layer of sand 4 in. thick on the surface, this method has 

 ■fallen into disuse. 



At the present time the method which is generally recom- 



