Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/255

MOS jpeady stated the most approved methods of cultivating swampy- soils, under the respedive heads above mentioned, and also under the articles Marsh and Moor ; we shall now give the subsiance of an ingenious method of converting mosses into riuh vegetable mould, proposed by Mr. John Smith, of Swindrig Muir, Ayrshire, Scotland j who published a small pamphlet on this subje6t, at Edinburghj in 1798. The first step will be to mark out proper main- drains for carry- ing otf all superliuous moisture j at the same time taking care to preserve an accurate level. These drains should be eig'nt feet wide at the top, four feet and a half deep, and gradually contraft to two feet and a half in witlth at the bottom : they serve both to drain the soil, and to divide the field into inclo- sures, comprising from six to ten Scotch acres. The ridges are next to be marked xegularly, tcrined with a gentle de- clivity, and not too high ; being six or seven yards in breadth, and worked with a spade m the follow- ing manner. A space of about 20 inches, in the middle of each rid^e, remains untouched : on each side of which a furrow is made, and turned upon such central spot, so as to cover it com})letely. The la- bourer then continues to cut the moss with a spade to the width of about 12 inches, and to turn it over in the same manner as if it had been ploughed, till he arrives at the division- furrow ; which ought to be about two feet in width, cut out, and thrown upon the sides of the ridges. The depth of this furrow varies according to circum- jstances } but it should be so regu- hi^d, as to answer tlic purpobe oi MOS [233 collateral trenches, serving to con- du6t the water into the main- drains. All the ridges must now be top" dressed with shell-limey in tiie pro- portion of from l60 to 200, or 220 Winchester bushels ; which should be spread on the land during the summer, and (if possible), imme- diately after it has been slaked y because the lime, when a6ted upoa by heat, the autumna' rains, and the winter frosts, putrifies more speedily, and thus prepares a pro- per mould. The first and most beneficial crop to be raised from mosses, will be potatoes j for which purpose, beds from five to six flxt broad should be marked out in the spring, across the ridges, with intervening furrows or trenches, about two feet in width. Tiiese beds must be covered with a thin layer of dung, on v.hich the potatoe cuttings are placed, about 12 inches asunder j the whole is spread wiih a thin stratum of moss, that is succeeded by another layer, as soon as the potatoes appear above the surface of the ground. No hoeing or other cultivation is necessary, till the crop be taken up, which seldom amounts to less than 320 Winchester bushels. When the potatoes are removed, the ridges should be formed a second time, in the manner above described ; and the division-furrow cleared out, for the reception of oats, which are sown in the spring, and covered in by means of a small harrow drawn by two men. The amount of the crop is asserted to be, in general, about 60 Winches- ter bushels per acre ; the grain being in ail rcspetts equal to that produced oa other soils. So bene- ficial, indeed, are the cflciSls of iiaiCj in consolidating and ameli- orating