arch 11. 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
195 
he ^ardeniiig\^/brld. 
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t and. its Products. 
die above is the title of a pamphlet of 
pages on this subject by Mr. W. A. Kerr, 
■, who describes its object in the sub¬ 
title as “ An illustrated treatise on peat and 
its products as a national source of wealth.” 
An interesting feature is a coloured illustra¬ 
tion of a section of Chat Moss, near Astley 
fetation, which gave the pioneer railway 
builders no little trouble in making an em¬ 
bankment across the swampy and half-liquid 
moss. It shows a layer of peat originally 
17 ft. thick, but which shrank to 9 ft. The 
remains of trees are shown in this, especially 
at the base, where there was 18 in. of sandy 
clay or loam, thus constituting an earth sur¬ 
face for the growth of a forest in bygone 
times. The trees consisted of Oak, Alder, 
Hazel and Birch. Below this was 26£ ft. of 
boulder clay with sandy seams and many 
boulders at the base. The origin of the 
moss was evidently due to the boulder clay 
deposited during the glacial epoch. The 
pamphlet is devoted to a discussion of the 
subject of peat as an article of fuel, peat 
charcoal, peat gas, electricity, the making 
of peat coal, peat moss litter, peat as a 
manure, peat ashes and by-products obtained 
by low distillation. Many other articles to 
be prepared from peat are mentioned, and 
if these are carried into effect and found to 
answer, the peat should be a national source 
of wealth, but particularly to those districts 
in the British Isles where peat occurs in any 
quantity. We are surprised that the author 
speaks of peat as being little known as a 
fuel in these islands. Many of the older 
people in the northern half of Scotland 
scarcely knew any other kind of fuel with 
the exception of wood during all their lives. 
In the Buchan district of Aberdeenshire a 
considerable amount of peat still exists, 
although the area is greatly reduced, having 
been systematically dug out layer after layer 
of 4 ft. to 6 ft. in depth until the clay soil 
was reached, and then turned to agricultural 
purposes. In some instances the peat was 
10 ft. to 20 ft. deep. On many parts of the 
hills also the real live peat occurs in con¬ 
siderable depth, and when cut is as pulpy 
and greasy as butter. It was subjected to 
no artificial process beyond cutting it and 
laying it out to dry until fit to be earned 
away to the homesteads. In other respects, 
however, the author supplies a wonderful lot 
of useful information concerning peat in 
various parts of Europe and the uses to 
which peat may be turned. The pamphlet 
may be obtained for 6s. from Messrs. Begg, 
Kennedy and Elder, 33, Hope Street, Glas- 
Koyal Caledonian Horticultural Society. 
The long-promised schedule of the above 
society containing the prizes for the great 
International Horticultural Exhibition at 
Edinburgh is now on our table. As pre¬ 
viously announced, tlie show will take place 
on September 13th, 14tli, and 15th, in the 
usual place, the Waverley Market. A fine 
list of subscriptions lias been obtained to¬ 
wards (lie prize-list., and we note that the 
corporation of the city has offered £50, and 
the Scottish Horticultural Association £60, 
which is not bad for a mutual improve¬ 
ment association. His Majesty the King 
offers a cup. In the schedule of prizes we 
notice that £65 in five prizes is offered for 
a table of dessert fruit. The Scottish 
Challenge Trophy for Grapes (value 50 
guineas), offered by Mr. W. H. Massie, is 
another good item. Handsome prizes are 
also offered in numerous classes for Grapes, 
which have always been a great feature of 
this old society’s autumn show. As much 
as 3 guineas is offered as first prizes for 
two bunches of Grapes, and 30s. in several 
classes for one hunch of Grapes, this being 
only the first prize. Valuable prizes are 
also offered for various other kinds of fruit, 
including fruit trees, Pineapples, Melons, 
Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, Plums, Apples, 
and Pears. Apples always figure largely 
at this show, and bring competition from 
all parts of the country. Prizes are also 
offered for fruits grown abroad and open to 
any country. As much as £20 is offered in 
prizes for a collection of apples, and similar 
sums for a collection of Pears and for a 
collection of any fruits in the fresh condi¬ 
tion. For a group of plants open to gar¬ 
deners £70 is offered in four prizes. Hardy 
garden flowers are to be encouraged by £25 
in four prizes for one class. For a 
display of vegetables £51 is offered 
in four prizes, this class being open to any¬ 
one. The whole schedule is on an exten¬ 
sive scale, and should create a lively com¬ 
petition. The secretary is Mr. P. Murray 
Thomson, S.S.C., 5, Nork Place, Edinburgh. 
—o—- 
Curious Farm Crops. 
In the neighbourhood of Mitcham, Car- 
vhalton, Merstham, and Dorking, crops 
if a curious' character may be seen 
in tlie fields. Some of these consist ot 
Peppermint, usually the black variety, 
Lavender, and other herbs used for tlie dis¬ 
tillation of their essential oils. Other fields 
are devoted to miscellaneous patches of 
weedy-looking plants which puzzle the un¬ 
initiated considerably. They are plants 
which are grown for the manufacture of drugs 
for medicinal purposed. Many of them are 
poisonous, though others are certainly harm¬ 
less. Some of the more poisonous are the 
Belladonna (Atropa Bella donna), Foxglove 
(Digitalis purpurea). Celandine (Chelidonium 
ma jus), Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus 
foetidus), Green Hellebore (H. viridis). 
Aconite (Acomtum Napellus), Henbane 
(Hyoscyamus niger). Opium Poppy (Papaver 
sonmiferum), and Thornapple (Datura Stra¬ 
monium). Many of tlie herbs are used as 
tonics or were so by our grandmothers, in¬ 
cluding Feverfew, Chamomile, and Worm¬ 
wood. 
