with eminently satisfactory results for a very wide range 
of subjects. It is this possibility of getting peat suitable 
for general horticultural work which has led to the recent 
very much awakened interest in a material which is 
proving itself to be of great valuev The old peats how¬ 
ever, which gave trouble in the past, are still with us, 
and unless discrimination is used when buying, there is 
likely to be a recurrence of the old troubles. 
Humus. So much for soil improvement and moisture retention as 
reasons for using peat. Another reason is the fact that 
while it is performing these services, it is gradually 
working down into humus,—which is another sound 
reason for its employment. 
Mulching. Peat is such an excellent insulator that as a mulch in 
summer or winter, it protects against the effects of heat 
and cold and prevents the evaporation of soil moisture. 
Propagation and Potting. The above remarks cover the use of peat 
in the soil out-of-doors or under glass, but not less 
important is its value when propagating and potting. 
In these operations it may be taken for granted that 
a medium which makes moisture control easier,' which 
aids root growth, and which does not introduce weed 
seeds, fungus spores or insect life, is a valuable 
component of composts; and good Sphagnum Peat with 
its great moisture retaining capacity makes such control 
much easier and prevents the alternate over-wet and 
over-dry conditions which it is not easy to avoid, and 
which are likely to cause trouble. Unlike most leaf- 
mould and some peat, good Sphagnum peat is entirely 
free from weed seeds, fungus spores and insect life, with 
the result that it is a much safer medium to use. Another 
feature about good Sphagnum peat from a reliable 
source, is that it is always uniform and the same. 
Experience has shown that cuttings root more 
readily when it is used, and that seeds germinate earlier 
and in higher percentage,—while there is much less 
trouble from stem-rot, damping-off, etc. 
Bulb Covering and Plunging. The insulating properties, lightness 
and softness of such peat make it an excellent covering 
for bulbs, while its moisture retaining capacity makes it 
valuable for plunging. 
Page Four 
4 
We now come to the table to which the above 
remarks form an introduction. 
TABLE. 
1 . 
2 . 
3. 
4. 
Type 
Bulk/Weight 
Ratio 
as sold. 
Cu. yds. per 
ton. 
Moisture 
Absorbing 
Capacity. 
No, of times 
dry weight. 
Acid 
Reaction 
pH value 
Degree of 
Decompo¬ 
sition. 
Swedish 
Scale. 
"SORBEX ” 
Sphagnum 
12-61 
16-07 
5-6 
H1/H2. 
Other Peats 
Sample A .. 
Sphagnum 
7-83 
10-62 
2-56 
H4. 
Sample B .. 
Sphagnum 
6.16 
7-12 
2-8 
H5. 
Sample C .. 
Sedge 
3-25 
5-80 
3-46 
H6. 
NOTES.—Col. 1 . All peat when sold contains some moisture, and figures in 
this column are based on peat bought in the open market. 
Small bulk in proportion to weight is due to moisture content 
, and over-decomposition. 
Col. 2. Figures are based on samples from which all water was 
extracted before testing. 
Col. 3. In this scale for comparing acidity, 1 — neutral. The lower 
the figure below 7, the greater the acidity, — thus 5 6 show's 
much less acidity than 2 56. 
Col. 4. In this scale H10 —complete decomposition, and Hl==no 
decomposition at all. The higher the index figure therefore, 
the greater the extent of decomposition. 
The above table is compiled from careful tests of 
representative samples of standard peats, and while it is 
possible that other samples from the same sources may 
show variations from the figures given, the Table shows 
on general lines the essential differences between the 
types of peat compared. 
Apart from these varieties of peat, quantities 
are dug from local heaths, commons and woodland. 
Some of these are entitled to be called peat, but most of 
them contain a high percentage of sand or soil, bracken 
and other roots, and other impurities; while fungus 
spores, insect life and weed seeds are very likely to be 
present. 
Page Five 
