Farmincj of Cumberland, 



279 



flooding, by which the whole of it was gradually conveyed down 

 the river Esk into the sea, and the fine tract now occupied by 

 the capital farm of Smalmstown and parts of some others restored 

 to its former fertility. 



In 1758 Sol way Moss contained 1700 acres, having a fair 

 appearance of heather and moory grasses on the surface, but a 

 perfect mass of fluid moss under it. By improvements in drain- 

 ing, 6cc. round the edges the area is now reduced to 1070 acres, 

 and this has chiefly been done in the last thirty years. 



The margin of the moss has been strengthened at the scene of 

 the notable disaster before mentioned, and for a considerable dis- 

 tance along the edge by a belt of trees, the roots of which, inter- 

 lacing below the surface, hold the soil together. Had it not been 

 for this precaution another burst might have occurred lately, as 

 the bank has evidently been moved nearly at the same place by 

 the pressure of the fluid contained within the moss ; but fortu- 

 nately the net-work of the tree roots proved strong enough to 

 resist its force. The depth of the moss ranges from 14 to 

 20 feet, or more ; and though it is believed that nearly the whole 

 of the thousand acres it is now reduced to might be drained (at 

 an enormous cost), it is the opinion of Sir James's intelligent 

 land-steward* that, owing to the surface of the moss, to the depth 

 of nine feet and upwards, being of very inferior quality, it could 

 not be improved or cultivated to advantage. 



Where the edges are not protected by planting, the cottars are 

 permitted to cut peats for firing on payment of a small moss-due ; 

 and it is observed that as the peats are cut away, the edge of the 

 moss is constantly driven forward to about the same place by the 

 weight and pressure within, so that the space covered remains 

 nearly the same ; and this outer edge continues to solidify as it 

 advances, so as to become firm enough for making peats at any 

 time. 



Mr. John Irving has recently leased about 30 acres at the edge 

 of this moss, where the peat has been partly cut off, and is in the 

 act of improving it by draining and claying the surface. The 

 clay forms the lowest subsoil of the moss, the intervening strata 

 being hungry sands, of no use, but rather detrimental when 

 applied to the surface. This trial has not proceeded far enough 

 to show the result. 



There are other peat-mosses in various parts of the county, 

 and all those in the lower districts are undergoing more or less 

 improvement. Some have been drained and converted into 

 arable, and some into meadow^ or pasture. Fifty years ago a 

 great part of the now very fertile meadows in the valley extending 

 from Whitehaven towards St. Bees were peat-mosses, full of 



* Mr, Isl. Brown. 

 VOL. XIII. U 



