( 178 ) 
would be none without them ; their leaver 
being of the kind called ever-green, continue 
in vigour throughout the -winter, and give 
flielter to the roots of the grafs which grows 
beneath them. In fpring the ftems of the 
mofs, like all other evergreens, become bare* 
and the ground is fpread over with a fine ver- 
dure from the graffes which at that feafon 
begin to vegetate ; and if the land is drained 
and manured it will be evident that the mofs 
has been no impediment to the growth of the 
grafs, even at the time of it's moft luxuriant 
foliage, as it will foon difappear after the im- 
provement of the land, and the grafs will 
flourim even during the months of winter. A 
yet more eflential ufe is derived from various 
Ipecies of mofs, which grow upon the fides 
and fhallow parts of pools and marfhes ; in 
procefs of time their roots occupy the ipace 
which was before filled with water, and in 
their half-decayed flate are dug up, and ufed 
for fuel, under the name of peat ; of the im- 
portance of which no one can be duly fenfible 
who can enjoy plenty of coal. It is not, how- 
ever, from mofs alone tliat peat is derived ; fo 
that it muft not have more than a lhare of 
praife among other vegetables, feveral of which, 
j even 
