SELECTION OF PEAT LANDS FOR DIFFERENT USES 11
to illustrate the complexity of this subject. A series of measure-
ments (6, p. 319) upon the growth and yield of scrubby as well as of
large timber indicated that the volume of wood produced varied
periodically. The distribution of the timber showed no relationship
to the depth of the peat area or to a specific type of peat material.
A condition which lowered the quality and height of trees appeared
to result when the peat material in the rooting zone had too high
pn water content for any length of time. The excess of water was
probably a contributing rather than a direct factor in the variables
which affected the quality of timber.
From the profile soundings it was finally established that with an
increasing density in the stand of timber the stability of the struc-
tural framework below the surface peat layer was seriously impaired,
causing the wooded area to sink irregularly (pl. 7, A). Ior this rea-
son a clear understanding must be had of the carrying capacity of
the underlying layers of peat. To make artificial reforestation rea-
sonably profitable in the near future, careful attention should be
paid to the complicated effects of a load placed on the surface of
certain types of peat land.
EFFECT OF STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF PEAT LANDS
[t would be interesting to illustrate by means of specific examples
:he fundamental relationship which exists between the position of
the chief layers of peat and the origin and nature of a peat-land area.
Local and regional peat deposits and those of foreign countries offer
to the student of peat investigations an abundance of records for
analysis, correlation, and interpretation. They will bear careful
study, since the advantage rests with areas whose structural frame-
work 1t would clearly be best to choose for special forms of peat-land
utilization.
An added and very significant interest would be given by the con-
sideration of such matters as the history of peat lands in the North-
ern and Southern Hemispheres, connecting this more definitely with
the @nderlying terrestrial or cosmic causes of structural differences
between areas of peat. In plans of peat investigations for the fu-
ture, the new efforts need to be organized on a basis which will com-
mend itself to science as well as to outstanding agricultural and
industrial practices.
There are, however, certain measures urgently needed at present
in order to lessen the speculative hazards connected with the economic
developruent of peat resources in this country. The issue can best be
solved by a careful scrutiny of some of the effects of the three vary-
ing and interfering major factors already mentioned.
The need for taking measures with respect to the necessary seiec-
tion of peat lands for essential purposes is now generally conceded.
Some of the differences between areas of peat, notably in the num-
ber, character, and profile position of the layers occurring in them,
have been reported in several earlier publications (13). Plate 1 illus-
trates graphically a few of the more common type profiles. It is
well to note that in the selection of peat lands for different uses two
primary group distinctions should be kept in mind. Areas in the
first group of peat lands consist predominantly either of sedimentary.
