Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-08-20
IMPROVEMENT OF PEAT OR FEN
SOILS,

Pcaty soil is composed of an excess of We
getablc matter in sponge-like state, hold
ing an excess Of water, which is the CHIEF
cause of its growth. 1t is therefore capable
of Improvement, till it is deprived by tho
rough draining of the water it thus holds like
a sponge.
There is large portion of iron and tan
min in its composition, which must also be
got rid of: it is generally, however, but Of
little value for arabic culture, ill the texture
of it be altered by the application of clay,
silt, gravel, lime, or any other heavy te-
nacous substance, winch gives frmness
and body to it. .
Black pcaty soil is never probably emi
ploycd as pasture, as sheep do not thrive
well on it. The milk of cows pasturel
thrcon is thin and watery hence good
dairy cannot be found on this soil. In breed
ing them there is great risk; and stock
brought from other soils do not feed well !;
it is therefore much better adapted for arabic
culture.
The continual blowing and following too
of this black mould or fen land produces mi
mute division of the roots of couch, which
so abounds in the soil, that the land is stock
ed with plants for the next course, unless
the season be so dry that they can be all
picked out of the ground but this is very
difficult task, for, from the softness of the
soil, the horses feet send down below the
reach Of the plough, portion of the couch
at every footsteps; so that fen land, in its ma
tural state, without being hardened by the
application of clay deiies the utmost exer-
ton of the most Industrious farmer to get
quit of the weeds. Nothing will enable the
farmer to destroy the weeds, the couch, the
harill and the chickwecd, and many others,
SO well as a constant system of clayng, once
in six or eight years at farthest.
In the extensive fens in Lincolnshire, the
black mould lies on clay or silt; and in some
instances, within one or two feet of It,
AS an alternative, this clay is lifted up
and spread over the soil and, when well
Incorporated with the black peat earth, it
forms most productive soil, and yields the
most luxuriant crops of oats, wheat, cole
and turnips. The best and most profitable
mode of cutiva'ing black pcaty or fen land,
is first by fallow, to get it perfectly clear
for cole or turnips. This crop ought to be
consumed on the ground by sheep, in the
early part of the winter; and in January or
February at farthcst, the surface should have
covering of clay.
When this is dry enough, it should be
ploughed and sown with oats; then with
wheat as crop for the following year; with
clover for the fourth crop, which may be
made to hay or cut green for horses, and
after being well dunged and sown TO wheat
for the fifth crop, then tallow for cole or tur-
nips succeeds and then caycd as before.
Thus, by claying once in every course, it
is calculated to produce one, if not two
quarters OF corn more per annum than with
out it. The average produce, under this
mode of culture. is equal TO eight quarters of
oats and four and half of wheat.
Mr.. Wingatc's plan is perhaps more pro-
ftable than the above. lie talIows for cole
or turnips after the land has been well clean
ed and dunged, and this crop is eat off with
sheep on the ground.
1t is then clayed and sown to oats, after
which is crop of wheat for the third year,
the whole of the straw is consumed by oxen,
with portion of oil cake along with it, which
gives great degree of richness to the manure.
The land is clayed every second course, or
once in six years. The crops on this part
OF the east fen are equal, on an average, to
70 bushels of oats, and 40 of wheat.-This
system has been used for many years the
soil has lost its blackness, is now of greyish
color, and has become fine, friable, deep
on Soils.