95 
a. Peat Moss. The general thickness of the moss, as ex- 
posed in the excavations and drains made by Mr. Ormerod, 
is from 1 7 to 25 feet. In some parts of Chat Moss the thick- 
ness is much greater, owing to the irregularities in the sur- 
face of the boulder clay or other stratum forming the base of 
the moss. In one place a depth of at least 180 feet has been 
reached with boring rods, which would place it below sea 
level, and would point to the existence of water — possibly an 
inland arm of the sea — since filled up by moss. 
When the water is drained off, the moss is very consider- 
ably reduced in thickness. We measured it at two places 
where drains had been cut through to the loam, and where 
the moss had originally been 17 feet thick. It is now reduced 
to 8 feet, having sunk above one half. Mr. Ormerod believes 
he has thus lowered an area of 800 acres more than 3 feet on 
an average. It is quite evident from this circumstance that 
the bulk of the moss is very greatly influenced by the water 
contained in it, and it is probably from this cause that mosses 
are usually highest at the centres. The water can get away 
from the margins, but it remains in the centres and swells 
up the bulk. 
The existence of the boulder clay under Chat Moss affords 
a ready means for the reclamation of the surface for agricul- 
tural purposes. Mr. Ormerod proceeds in the first place by 
carrying forward deep drains down to the loam, having con- 
nection with the lowest outfall. These are connected by 
cross drains, which gradually draw off the water and leave a 
firm surface. The moss is then turned over by spade labour, 
after which it is covered with clay brought up from below at 
the extensive excavation which forms the subject of this 
paper. The land is next manured with town manure, and, 
being sown with clover and oats, is found to bear an excel- 
lent crop of oats the first year, and clover and grass crops the 
two years following. In this way it is expected the whole of 
Chat Moss will shortly be reclaimed. 
