On the Imj^rovement of Peat Soils. 



397 



siderably promotes the decomposition of the peat, by facilitating 

 the introduction of the moisture and gases of the atmosphere, but 

 this very operation adds very materially to the vigour and produce 

 of this valuable root, than which no other plant more delights in 

 fresh soils, such as that produced by well-dramed fresh earth- 

 dressed peaty lands. 



It is well to avoid for a year or two all attempts to produce 

 corn-crops on land like that I am describing. The course of 

 cropping which the farmer will almost always find the most pro- 

 fitable is to follow the potatoes with peas, then turnips, oats, grass- 

 seeds, peas, wheat. In all cases, too, he must remember in what 

 small proportions some of the essential ingredients of his crops 

 are at first existing in this peaty soil, and how valuable even a 

 slight dressing of clay or marl will be found in supplying such 

 deficiencies. 



And, again, it is here that the services of the manure-drill are 

 available to an invaluable extent in applying bone-dust or any- 

 kind of organic or even earthy manure, especially to the young 

 lands' earliest crops. For the natural results of the progress of 

 cultivation — the gradual decomposition of the soil and tough vege- 

 table remains — the accumulation of more easily decomposable 

 vegetable matters — the application of the ordinary farm -yard 

 compost, finally sufficiently enrich the ground with those salts 

 of lime and of potash which form the essential ingredients of all 

 fertile land. 



To expedite the accumulation of decomposing soluble matters 

 in the soil several expedients may be adopted. For instance, if 

 the farmer has access to night-soil, an admirable compost may be 

 made by mixing this seven or eight weeks previous to its employ- 

 ment with the peat itself. I know of no other compost so power- 

 ful on peat-soils as a compost of well-putrified peat and night- 

 soil : four or five cubic yards of the night-soil is an ample dressing 

 per acre with twelve or fifteen cubic yards of peat. If the farmer 

 has not access to night-soil, let him substitute farm-yard compost 

 with the peat in a rather larger proportion, or even uiine or the 

 drainage from his farm-yard. This plan, first, I believe, success- 

 fully adopted by the late Lord Meadowbank, is well described by 

 Mr. Dixon, of Heathershow, in an essay for which our Societv's 

 prize was awarded to him in 1839. 



The farmer must, to derive the maximum benefit from this 

 plan, avoid certain errors, which will else materially deteriorate 

 the richness of the compost. He must be careful to have the peat 

 he intends to use dug for some time previously, and exposed in 

 spits to the drying influence of the sun and whids. The peat, in 

 fact, can hardly be employed too dry ; and the farmer will find 

 that, if he makes the compost in the dry warm weather of summer^, 



