LEI|
a clay ſoil. It is not, however, on account of the ſpecitic difference of weight that this kind of ſoil is generally called light, but becauſe it is ploughed and otherwiſe pulverized more eaſily than the tenacious earths. Theſe vegetable and animal ſubſtances, with which-the earth 1s replete, are colle ed not only from the plants and living creatures that periſh upon the ſoil, but alſo from thoſe that are carried down by water from the adjacent heights» The ſmalleſt ſpring or trickling of water, is able to bring along with it the finer parts of theſe decayed ſubſtances, and depoſit them in its paſlage through the earth, or, if carried off by evaporation, to leave them as a ſediment behind. This extremely excellent fertie Jizing matter, receives daily increment from plants, which, partly or in whole, decay every returning winter 3 and from inſects, vermin, and other living creatures that are every mo- ment periſhing, and are gradually reduced to corruption on the ſurface of the earth. This once organized matter, receives conſiderable addition from the excrements which paſs through theſe inſe&s,&c. and which, however trifling, when con- ßdered as dropping from an individual, eſpecially a ſmall fly or diminutive reptile, yet when viewed as almoſt conti- nually paſling through the many myriads of living creatures with which the earth, air, and water are replete, muſt be im- menſely great; the aggregate of the whole, muſt be of an incal- culable value, as the richeft of manure, for fertilizing the earth
Among the light ſoils abounding in this county, may bc noticed the black peat-moſiy ſoil. This conſiſts of a variety of ſubſtances, but chiefßy decayed vegetables in which the a- ſtringent or gallic acid prevails. The decayed plants found in peat-moſs, excluſive of the trees over which, when[allen down, the moſs was originally formed, are chiefly the Sphag- num pa/ufire; Triglochin pa/u/?re; Eriophorum po/yſ?achion and vaginatum; heaths and other plants that delight in wet ſpougy and boggy earth. When this aſftringent principle is deſtroy»
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