On the Improvement of Peat Soils: 



391 



except in those of the banks of the Kennett and the Thames, the 

 depth of the peat has not in my experience often exceeded a few 

 inches ; but in the places I have mentioned, and in those with 

 which I have come in contact in the northern counties, the depth 

 generally extends to several feet. 



The formation of bog-moss is first commenced in very many 

 instances by the rapid-growing broad-leaved bog-moss (Sphagnum 

 latifolium), a plant of very curious habits, whose growth under 

 favourable circumstances (and it is strictly an aquatic) extends 

 from an inch in length to two or three feet. In dry situations, or 

 in those only periodically flooded, its progress is not rapid, but 

 when it vegetates, always immersed in the water of low stagnant 

 situations, there it increases with great vigour. It is true that this 

 plant is an annual ; but it sheds an abundance of hardy seeds, 

 producing seedlings, which vegetate and easily support themselves 

 in the water, with a slight assistance from the mere remains of 

 their preceding generation. Their thread-like stems remain on 

 the surface of the water till the seed is ripened, they then fall to 

 the bottom and form distinct layers, which in some specimens of 

 peat may be distinctly traced. 



The bog-moss thus commenced gradually gets mixed with a 

 variety of lichens, mosses, and scirpi, which annually add to the 

 depth of the accumulating peat, and as the moss becomes firmer 

 other plants gradually establish themselves, such as several varie- 

 ties of the rushes and sedges. It is only when the peat-moss is 

 raised by the gradually-accumulated remains of these peats from 

 beneath the surface of the stagnant waters that the heaths, the 

 cranberry, the bilberry, and the grass-weeds make their appear- 

 ance. 



The few plants which commonly tenant peat moors and bogs 

 are of the most worthless kind, such as all live stock commonly 

 refuse. 



Besides the common heath -plants there are various rushes 

 (Juncus), sedges (Carex), rush-grasses (Schaenus), club-rushes 

 (Cyperus), cat's-tail rushes (Typha), bur-weeds (Sparganium), 

 (See. 



Amongst the few specimens of the common grasses which are 

 found in such places, struggling as it were for existence, are the 

 marsh-bent (Agrostis palustris), the awnless brown-bent (Agrostis 

 canina). This is a very common grass in bogs whose winter 

 waters are deep. The awned creeping-bent (Agrostis stolaris), 

 the small-leaved creeping-bent (Agrostis stolaris Ang.), the creep- 

 ing rooted bent (Agrostis repens),the white bent (Agrostis alba), 

 the hote fescue (Glyceria fluitans), tall fescue (Festuca elatior), 

 turfy hair-grass (Aira caespitosa), knee-jointed fox-tail grass, 

 water hair-grass (Aira aquatica), water meadow-grass (Poa aqua- 



