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Technical Memorandum (National Research Council of Canada. Associate
Committee on Soil and Snow Mechanics), 1963-12-01
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Proceedings of the Atlantic Provinces Regional Seminars on Organic
Terrain Problems 15, 17 and 19 Ocober
NATIONAL R E S E A R C H COUNCIL O F CANADA
ASSOCIATE C O M M I T T E E ON SOIL AND SNOW MECHANICS
P R O C E E D I N G S A T L A N T I C P R O V I N C E S REGIONAL SEMINARS ON ORGANIC T E R R A I N P R O B L E M S 15, 17 AND 1 9 O C T O B E R 1962 P R E P A R E D B Y
I.
C . M a c F A R L A N E T E C H N I C A L MEMORANDUM NO. 77 O T T A W A D E C E M E E R 1 9 6 3FOREWORD
T h i s i s a brief r e c o r d of a s e r i e s of t h r e e s e m i n a r s on organic t e r r a i n p r o b l e m s , held on 15, 17 and 19 O c t o b e r , 1962, a t F r e d e r i c t o n , N.B., Halifax, N.S., and St. J o h n ' s , Nfld., r e s p e c - tively. The F r e d e r i c t o n s e m i n a r was held i n the Engineering Building of the University of New Brunswick, the Halifax s e m i n a r i n the "B" Building of the Nova Scotia Technical College, and the St. J o h n ' s s e m i n a r i n the Science and Engineering Building of the M e m o r i a l University of Newfoundland. T h e s e s e m i n a r s w e r e s p o n s o r e d b y the Associate Committee on Soil and Snow Mechanics of the National R e s e a r c h Council. A l i s t of those i n attendance i s included i n Appendix "A" of t h e s e P r o c e e d i n g s .
Content of the s e m i n a r s w a s s i m i l a r a t the t h r e e locations. T h r e e of the p a p e r s p r e s e n t e d w e r e r e p e a t e d a t e a c h of the s e m i n a r s and dealt with c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of o r g a n i c t e r r a i n , engineering c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of peat, and trafficability and mobility p r o b l e m s i n o r g a n i c t e r r a i n . I n addition, a t F r e d e r i c t o n a f u r t h e r t h r e e p a p e r s w e r e p r e s e n t e d on the extent and type of organic t e r r a i n i n New Brunswick, a g r i c u l t u r a l utilization of o r g a n i c t e r r a i n , and exploitation of o r g a n i c t e r r a i n f o r peat m o s s . I n Halifax and St. J o h n ' s , one paper of local i n t e r e s t w a s p r e s e n t e d , which dealt with v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of o r g a n i c t e r r a i n i n Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, r e s p e c t i v e l y . D r . N. W. Radforth w a s m o d e r a t o r a t e a c h of the s e m i n a r s .
T A B L E O F CONTENTS -. P a g e I n t r o d u c t o r y R e m a r k s
. . .
( i i i ) 1 . " E x t e n t a n d L o c a t i o n of O r g a n i c T e r r a i n i n New B r u n s w i c k " , K . K . L a n g m a i d , C a n a d a. . .
D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e . 1 2. " A g r i c u l t u r a l Exploitation of O r g a n i c T e r r a i n i n New B r u n s w i c k " , J . A. R o b e r t s , New B r u n s w i c k D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e .. . .
3 . "Exploitation of P e a t M o s s i n New B r u n s w i c k " , W. I . S p e n c e , New B r u n s w i c k D e p a r t m e n t of L a n d s a n d M i n e s. . .
11 4. "Some A s p e c t s of O r g a n i c T e r r a i n i n Nova Scotia",J . R . C a m e r o n , National G y p s u m C a n a d a L t d .
. . .
15 5. "Some A s p e c t s of O r g a n i c T e r r a i n i n Newfoundland", J . V . H e a l y , D e p a r t m e n t of M i n e s , A g r i c u l t u r e a n d. . .
R e s o u r c e s . 3 26 .
"A C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S y s t e m f o r O r g a n i c T e r r a i n , a n d i t s Application", D r . N. W. R a d f o r t h , M c M a s t e r. . .
U n i v e r s i t y . 3 7 7. " T h e E n g i n e e r i n g C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of P e a t " , I . C . M a c F a r l a n e , National R e s e a r c h Council.. . .
458.
" T r a f f i c a b i l i t y and Mobility i n M u s k e g " , T . A . H a r w o o d , Defence R e s e a r c h B o a r d .. . .
5 1Appendix "A" : L i s t of t h o s e p r e s e n t a t A t l a n t i c Regional S e m i n a r s o n O r g a n i c T e r r a i n P r o b l e m s .
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
D e l e g a t e s to the F r e d e r i c t o n s e m i n a r w e r e welcomed to the U n i v e r s i t y by Dean J . 0. Dineen of the E n g i n e e r i n g D e p a r t - m e n t . D r . G . W. Holbrook, P r e s i d e n t of the Nova Scotia T e c h n i c a l College, w e l c o m e d d e l e g a t e s to t h e Halifax s e m i n a r , and i n
St. John's, D r . W. F . S u m m e r s , Head of the Geography D e p a r t m e n t , w e l c o m e d d e l e g a t e s to that s e m i n a r . I n e a c h c a s e , D r . R a d f o r t h w e l c o m e d those p r e s e n t on behalf of the A s s o c i a t e C o m m i t t e e on Soil and Snow M e c h a n i c s . He b r i e f l y d i s c u s s e d t h e h i s t o r y of t h e Muskeg S u b c o m m i t t e e , s o m e of the p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t e d by o r g a n i c t e r r a i n , and outlined the p u r p o s e s of the s e m i n a r s .
1. THE E X T E N T AND LOCATION O F ORGANIC TERRAIN IN NEW BRUNSWICK
-
No c o m p l e t e s u r v e y of t h e o r g a n i c t e r r a i n h a s b e e n m a d e i n New B r u n s w i c k . .However, t h r e e a g e n c i e s have s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h i s s u b j e c t . T h e s e a r e : the New B r u n s w i c k Soil Survey, which i s a joint p r o j e c t of the Canada and New B r u n s w i c k D e p a r t m e n t s of A g r i c u l t u r e ; the F o r e s t I n v e n t o r y B r a n c h of t h e New B r u n s w i c k
D e p a r t m e n t of L a n d s a n d M i n e s ; and the Canada D e p a r t m e n t of M i n e s a n d R e s o u r c e s .
The f i r s t s o u r c e of i n i o r m a t i o n i s t h a t s u p p l i e d by t h e Soil S u r v e y . The Canadian Soil S u r v e y d e f i n e s a n o r g a n i c s o i l a s one having a s u r f a c e a c c u m u l a t i o n of o r g a n i c m a t e r i a l g r e a t e r t h a n 1 2 i n c h e s i n depth. It i s c l a s s i f i e d a s d e e p if g r e a t e r t h a n 24 i n c h e s . A tentative c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e w a s p r o p o s e d i n
1960
to the C a n a d i a n Soil S u r v e y C o m m i t t e e f o r i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n d t r i a l . T h e p e a t a n d m u c k m a p p e d i n New B r u n s w i c k i s u s u a l l y a c i d . A n e u t r a l , o r n e a r l y n e u t r a l , peat (St. Quentin S e r i e s ) h a s b e e n m a p p e d i n V i c t o r i a a n d R e s t i g o u c h e C o u n t i e s w h e r e f r e e c a r b o n a t e s o c c u r i n t h e p a r e n t m a t e r i a l s . A e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h s w e r e not u s e d i n t h e f i r s t t h r e e and p a r t of the f o u r t h r e p o r t s a n d a r e a s of p e a t m a y have b e e n m i s s e d i n the wooded a r e a s . P h o t o g r a p h s have b e e n u s e d i n t h e s u b s e q u e n tr e p o r t s and a l l open p e a t b o g s of sufficient s i z e have b e e n i n d i c a t e d .
S o m e o r g a n i c s o i l s u n d e r f o r e s t m a y have b e e n m i s s e d o r e x a g g e r a t e d due t o t h e i r i n t i m a t e a s s o c i a t i o n with p o o r l y d r a i n e d m i n e r a l s o i l s and i m p e r f e c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of p h o t o g r a p h s . Con-
s i d e r a b l e a r e a s of p e a t a n d m u c k o c c u r i n d e p r e s s i o n a l a r e a s and a s n a r r o w b a n d s along s m a l l s t r e a m c h a n n e l s .
T a b l e 1 shows the e x t e n t of o r g a n i c s o i l s i n the a r e a s s u r v e y e d .
4
T A B L E
-
9--
P e a t Muck P e a t+
M u c k T o t a l S u r v e y e d A r e a ( a c r e s ) ( a c r e s ) ( a c r e s ) a c r e s F r e d e r i c t o n - G a g e t o w n Woodstock S o u t h e a s t e r n New B r u n s w i c k S o u t h w e s t e r n ~ e w B r u n s w i c k Andove r - P l a s t e r R o c k N o r t h e r n a n d E a s t e r n V i c t o r i a Co M a d a w a s k a County W e s t e r n R e s t i g o u c h e County C e n t r a l E a s t e r n New B r u n s w i c k T O T A L T h e M i n e s a n d R e s o u r c e s D e p a r t m e n t h a s r e p o r t e d o n 3 1 b o g s i n S o u t h e r n a n d E a s t e r n New B r u n s w i c k c o m p r i s i n g a t o t a l of 4 5 , 3 0 5 a c r e s . T h e s e w e r e s u r v e y e d with t h e i n t e n t of e s t a b l i s h i n g a p e a t m o s s i n d u s t r y i n t h e p r o v i n c e . T a b l e 2 g i v e s t h e n a m e , a c r e a g e a n d l o c a t i o n of e a c h b o g . T A B L E 2 N a m e S t . S t e p h e n H a y m a n S e e l e y Cove P e n n f i e l d H u n t e r P o c o l o g a n M u s q u a s h C u d m o r e H i c k s'.'
B I'
C a n a a n Gade s "A" J o l i c u r e M a u g e r v i l l e E s c u m i n a c E e 1 B u r n t C h u r c h T a b u s i n t a c B l a c k P o i n t County C h a r l o t t e I I 1 1 I I I I I I S a i n t J o h n W e s t m o r l a n d I I S u n b u r y N o r t h u m b e r l a n d 1 1 A c r e a g e 153 5 8 123 680 9 5 3 5 2 362 350 25 2 107 879 825 50 500 283 2,673 17,460 827 3,868 497T a b l e 2 ( C o n t ' d ) Name P o r t a g e Shippegan P o k e m o u c h e L a m e k M i s c o u T r a c a d i e B e a c h Boullou P o i n t L i t t l e T r a c a d i e G a s p e r e a u G r e e n P o i n t L o z i e r County No r t h u m b e r l a n d G l o u c e s t e r I I I t 1 I I I I I 1 I I I TOTAL A c r e a g e
The o t h e r s o u r c e of i n f o r m a t i o n i s the F o r e s t Inventory Section of the New B r u n s w i c k D e p a r t m e n t of L a n d s and M i n e s . T h i s s h o w s t h a t f o u r p e r c e n t of the p r o v i n c e i s c o n s i d e r e d w a s t e l a n d a n d t h a t half of t h i s i s open bog. F i g u r e 2 s h o w s the five f o r e s t d i s t r i c t s i n t o which the P r o v i n c e i s d i v i d e d . T a b l e 3 s h o w s t h e e s t i m a t e d a c r e a g e s of p e a t i n e a c h f o r e s t d i s t r i c t . TABLE 3 F o r e s t D i s t r i c t A c r e a g e 1 36,000 2 67,000 3 88,500 4 108,000 5 1 1,000 TOTAL 310,500
T h e Soil S u r v e y , with a p p r o x i m a t e l y half the province s u r v e y e d , r e p o r t s 157,000 a c r e s of o r g a n i c s o i l s . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t the 310,000 a c r e s e s t i m a t e d by the F o r e s t I n v e n t o r y B r a n c h , i s a r e l i a b l e e s t i m a t e of the a c t u a l a c r e a g e .
F i g - ! S o i l ' S u r v e y A r e a s F r e d e r i c t o n
-
G a g e t o w n W o o d s t o c k S - € - N e w B r u n s w i c k S . W . N e w B r u n s w i c k C e n t r a l E a s t e r n N e w B r u n s w i c k A n d o v e r-
P l a s t e r R o c k N o r t h e r n a n d E a s t e r n V i c t o r i a C o u n t y M a d a w a s k a C o u n t y W e s t e r n R e s t i g o u c h e C o u n t yN E W B R U N S W I C K
I
R E F E R E N C E S
1. A a l u n d , H . a n d R . E . Wicklund. Soil S u r v e y of t h e South E a s t e r n
N . B . C a n a d a D e p t . of A g r i c u l t u r e . 1949. 2. L e v e r i n , H . A. P e a t m o s s d e p o s i t s i n New B r u n s w i c k . C a n a d a D e p t . o f M i n e s a n d R e s o u r c e s . M e m o r a n d u m S e r i e s No. 76. ( D a t e not a v a i l a b l e ) 3 . - P e a t m o s s d e p o s i t s i n E a s t e r n C a n a d a . C a n a d a D e p t . of M i n e s a n d R e s o u r c e s . M e m o r a n d u m S e r i e s No, 80. 1941 4 . P e a t m o s s d e p o s i t s i n E a s t e r n C a n a d a . C a n a d a D e p t . o f M i n e s a n d R e s o u r c e s . M e m o r a n d u m S e r i e s No. 8 1 . 1942 5. M i l l e t t e , J . F . G . a n d K . K . L a n g m a i d . Soil S u r v e y A n d o v e r - P l a s t e r R o c k A r e a , N. B . C a n a d a D e p t . of A g r i c u l t u r e . ( i n p r e s s ) .
6.
Stobbe, P. C . Soil S u r v e y of t h e F r e d e r i c t o n - G a g e t o w n A r e a , New B r u n s w i c k . C a n a d a Dept. of A g r i c u l t u r e . 1940.7. Stobbe, P. C . a n d H . A a l u n d . Soil S u r v e y of t h e W o o d s t o c k A r e a , N. B
.
C a n a d a Dept. of A g r i c u l t u r e . 1944.8. Wicklund, R . E. a n d
K. K .
L a n g m a i d . Soil S u r v e y of South W e s t e r n N . B.
C a n a d a D e p t . of A g r i c u l t u r e . 1953. 9. D e p a r t m e n t of M i n e s a n d R e s o u r c e s , O t t a w a . Ann. R e p t . 1917, 1918, 1923, 1925. 10. F o r e s t I n v e n t o r y . N . B . D e p a r t m e n t of L a n d s a n d M i n e s . 1958. D i s c u s s i o n M r . H a r w o o d a s k e d if c e d a r s w a m p s a l w a y s h a v e a n e u t r a l r e a c t i o n . M r . L a n g m a i d r e p l i e d t h a t t h i s i s n o t a l w a y s t h e c a s e . C e d a r s a r e s o m e t i m e s , b u t not a l w a y s , a n . i n d i c a t o r of n e u t r a l t o a l k a l i n e r e a c t i o n .2 . AGRICULTURAL E X P L O I T A T I O N O F ORGANIC TERRAIN I N NEW BRUNSWICK b y J . A . R o b e r t s I n t r o d u c t i o n T h e p r e c e d i n g p a p e r h a s o u t l i n e d the e x t e n t a n d l o c a t i o n of o r g a n i c t e r r a i n i n New B r u n s w i c k , a n d t h e following p a p e r w i l l d i s - c u s s the m i n i n g and e x p o r t of p e a t m o s s f r o m v a r i o u s m u s k e g a r e a s . D e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t o t h e r p r o v i n c e s h a v e m a d e good u s e of o r g a n i c s o i l s f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n of c r o p s , i n t h i s p r o v i n c e the c h i e f d e v e l o p m e n t h a s b e e n i n t h e m i n i n g a n d e x p o r t of t h i s m a t e r i a l t o b e u s e d b y c o m - m e r c i a l g a r d e n e r s a n d s u b u r b a n h o m e - o w n e r s t h r o u g h o u t t h e E a s t e r n United S t a t e s . T h e e x t e n t of t h e r e s o u r c e t h a t i s a v a i l a b l e would indi- c a t e t h a t t h i s i s a s o u n d b u s i n e s s p r a c t i c e a n d c e r t a i n l y t h e r e c a n b e no c r i t i c i s m of t h i s p r a c t i c e .
What p e r h a p s c o u l d b e c r i t i c i z e d , h o w e v e r , i s a l l o w i n g t h i s r e s o u r c e t o e x i s t without a n y a t t e m p t t o d e t e r m i n e i t s a g r i c u l t u r a l p o t e n t i a l . I n o t h e r p r o v i n c e s i t h a s b e c o m e the chief s o u r c e of vege- t a b l e p r o d u c t i o n . I n t h i s p r o v i n c e a n d i n f a c t in t h e A t l a n t i c r e g i o n g e n e r a l l y , l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of v e g e t a b l e s a r e i m p o r t e d a n n u a l l y . T h e r e a p p e a r s to b e no sound r e a s o n why t h e s e s h o u l d not b e g r o w n within t h e a r e a . A d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r o r g a n i c s o i l s m a y e n c o u r a g e l o c a l people t o e m b a r k o n l a r g e - s c a l e v e g e t a b l e p r o d u c t i o n p r o g r a m s . If l o c a l people d o not s u p p l y t h i s m a r k e t , it c a n b e s a f e l y a s s u m e d t h a t o t h e r s w i l l c o m e i n who h a v e t h e n e c e s s a r y know-how a n d b u s i n e s s a b i l i t y t o u n d e r t a k e t h i s p r o j e c t . T h e a u t h o r doe's n o t p r e t e n d t o b e a n a u t h o r i t y o n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l e x p l o i t a t i o n of o r g a n i c t e r r a i n , with e x p e r i e n c e b e i n g l i m i t e d t o one y e a r ' s w o r k on a b o g l o c a t e d i n K e n t County a n d i n a d d i t i o n h a v i n g r e a d a n d o b s e r v e d d e v e l o p m e n t s i n o t h e r a r e a s .
I n New B r u n s w i c k t h e first a t t e m p t t o grow a g r i c u l t u r a l c r o p s o n t h e a c i d d o m e p e a t b o g s w a s on M i s c o u I s l a n d w h e r e a s m a l l g a r d e n w a s d e v e l o p e d b y t h e H o r t i c u l t u r a l B r a n c h i n c o - o p e r a t i o n with a l o c a l r e s i d e n t . L e s s t h a n a n a c r e w a s d e v e l o p e d i n t h e c o u r s e of t h i s p r o j e c t , d i t c h e s w e r e dug b y h a n d a n d the t o p r a w m a t e r i a l w a s r e m o v e d m a n u a l l y . F a i r l y s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t s w e r e o b t a i n e d , but t h e e x p o s e d l o c a t i o n of t h e a r e a i n d i c a t e d t h a t i t s d e v e l o p m e n t a s a vege- t a b l e p r o d u c i n g a r e a w a s m o s t u n l i k e l y .
111 196 1 , slx11-rcd by t h c i n t e r e s t of' a vegetable e x p o r t c r , the Dt-par-tnie~lt critcrcd ~ n t o a co-operative p r o j e c t with t h i s individual to d c t c r m i n c the f e a s ~ b i l i t y of l a r g c - s c a l e development of t h i s land f o r
v e gctnble production. The a r e a s e l e c t e d was located a t St. C h a r l e s , Kent County, which i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y five m i l e s f r o m t h e V i l l a g e s of Richibucto and Rexton. The total a r e a of o r g a n i c s o i l s in t h i s a r e a a m o u n t s to a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 , 0 0 0 a c r e s , with d e p t h s of o r g a n i c m a t e r i a l v a r y i n g f r o m a few i n c h e s to 12 f e e t . In the F a l l of 1961, five a c r e s , lying i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t to a public r o a d , w a s s e l e c t e d f o r develop- m e n t a s a t e s t a r e a .
Development
T h e a r e a s e l e c t e d had a dome a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 f e e t h i g h e r than the s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a . I t w a s t h e r e f o r e c o m p a r a t i v e l y e a s y to d r a i n . F o r the t e s t a r e a , d r a i n s w e r e i n s t a l l e d e v e r y
66
f e e t in o r d e r to a s s u r e r a p i d d r a i n a g e of the a r e a . T h i s i s l e s s than half the u s u a l r e c o m m e n d e d s p a c i n g f o r d i t c h e s on m u s k e g s o i l s . D r a i n s w e r e i n s t a l - led having a top width of 2 f e e t6
i n c h e s , a bottom width of l foot, and a depth of 3 f e e t . Two m a c h i n e s w e r e u s e d i n the c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e s e d i t c h e s . To r e m o v e the top two f e e t a revolving wheel type d i t c h e r w a s u s e d , which w a s m a n u f a c t u r e d i n Holland and o p e r a t e d f r o m the t h r e e point hitch and power take-off s h a f t of a f a r m t r a c t o r . T h i s i s t h e m a x i m u m depth of d i t c h t h a t c a n b e c o n s t r u c t e d with t h i s m a c h i n e . To c o m p l e t e the w o r k , a n additional one foot w a s r e m o v e d using a n e x p e r i - m e n t a l m a c h i n e developed by t h e A g r i c ~ l t u r a l E n g i n e e r i n g B r a n c h along the l i n e s of m a c h i n e s m a n u f a c t u r e d i n W e s t G e r m a n y .During the p a s t y e a r t h e s e d i t c h e s have l o s t a p p r o x i m a t e l y one foot of effective depth due t o a n a c c u m u l a t i o n of colloidal muck. T h e d i t c h banks show few s i g n s of d e t e r i o r a t i o n .
F o r c o m m e r c i a l development i t i s believed that d i t c h e s c a n be i n s t a l l e d a t a s p a c i n g of 150 t o 2 0 0 f e e t .
C l e a r i n g
The a r e a had been b u r n e d o v e r i n 1959 in a n e f f o r t to pro- m o t e the growth of native b l u e b e r r i e s . All e x i s t i n g top growth, includ- i n g many m o s s h u m m o c k s , was r e m o v e d by mowing with a r o t a r y m o w e r hauled by a f a r m t r a c t o r .
L i m i n g
L i m e w a s applied to the a r e a a t the r a t e of 3 t o n s p e r a c r e following t h e mowing o p e r a t i o n .
T h e a r e a w a s c u l t i v a t e d to a d c p t h of
9
i n c h e s u s i n g a r o t a r y t i l l e r p o w c r e d by a f a r m t r a c t o r . T h i s m a c h i n e did a good job o f chopping u p the h e a v y m a s s of r o o t s a n d m i x i n g t h e l i m e with t h e s o i l . I n t h e S p r i n g of 1962 t h e a r e a w a s plowed t o a d e p t h of 1 foot u s i n g a t r a c k - t y p e t r a c t o r a n d a s i n g l e f u r r o w m o l d b o a r d - t y p e b r e a k i n g plow. L i m i n g a n d F e r t i l i z a t i o n An a d d i t i o n a l 3 t o n s of l i m e w a s a p p l i e d o v e r t h e e n t i r e 5 a c r e s a n d h a r r o w e d i n . T h e a c r e t h a t w a s t o b e p l a n t e d with vege- t a b l e s w a s f e r t i l i z e d by t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of 1 ton of a 10-10-10-3B f o r m u l a f e r t i l i z e r . T h i s w a s b r o a d c a s t o v e r t h e e n t i r e a r e a a n d t h o r o u g h l y m i x e d t o a d e p t h of 8 i n c h e s . P l a n t i n g T h e a c r e w a s p l a n t e d with c a b b a g e , l e t t u c e , c e l e r y , r a d i s h , c a r r o t s , p a r s n i p s , b e e t s a n d o n i o n s . O b s e r v a t i o n s T h e H o r t i c u l t u r a l B r a n c h r e p o r t s t h a t r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d w e r e r e a s o n a b l y s a t i s f a c t o r y . T h e y r a t e d t h e v a r i o u s c r o p s a s follows: R a d i s h-
E x c e l l e n t C a b b a g e-
Good L e t t u c e , C e l e r y , B e e t s , P a r s n i p s - F a i r C a r r o t s-
P o o r Onions-
P o o r T h i s i s not s u r p r i s i n g a s m o s t a u t h o r i t i e s do not r e c o m - m e n d t h a t c a r r o t s b e g r o w n o n t h i s land u n t i l it h a s b e e n u n d e r culti- v a t i o n f o r a p e r i o d of two t o t h r e e y e a r s . I t i s a p p a r e n t f r o m o n e y e a r ' s e x p e r i m e n t s t h a t t h i s l a n d i s p o t e n t i a l l y good f o r v e g e t a b l e p r o d u c t i o n . T h e a p p l i c a t i o n 016
t o n s of lirne c h a n g e d t h e r e a c t i o n of t h e s o i l f r o m a pH of 3.5 to a pH of s l i g h t l y o v e r 5 . T h i s i s s t i l l low f o r s a t i s f a c t o r y v e g e t a b l e p r o d u c t i o n .Tllc b i g g e s t c h a n g c w a s i n t h e c o l o u r a n d t e x t u r e of t h e s o i l .
I11 thc S p r i n g of 1 9 6 2 i t w a s light b r o w n i n c o l o u r a n d would be c l a s s e d
a s r a w p e a t . By S e p t c m b c r 1 9 6 2 , thc a r e a t h a t w a s f e r t i l i z e d and planted w a s b l a c k i n c o l o u r a n d d e c o m p o s e d t o t h e point w h e r e i t would be c l a s s e d a s a n o r g a n i c s o i l . T h e a r e a s t h a t w e r e w o r k e d a n d l i m e d showed con-
s i d e r a b l e c h a n g e but d e c o m p o s i t i o n had not p r o g r e s s e d a t t h e s a m e r a t e a s the f e r t i l i z e d a r e a .
T r a c t o r s u s e d t o p o w e r e q u i p m e n t f o r c l e a r i n g a n d c u l t i - v a t i n g e x p e r i e n c e d l i t t l e t r o u b l e i n t r a v e l l i n g o v e r t h e a r e a . T h e F o r d s o n M a j o r Wheel type t r a c t o r w a s e q u i p p e d with c a g e w h e e l s a n d t h e t r a c k - l a y i n g t r a c t o r w a s a John D e e r e Model 1010.
T h i s p a p e r h a s not a t t e m p t e d t o c o v e r i n d e t a i l a l l a s p e c t s of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e s e l a n d s f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l u s e . P u b l i c a t i o n No. 1080 o f t h e C a n a d a D e p a r t m e n t of A g r i c u l t u r e e n t i t l e d " R e c l a i m i n g Acid Dome P e a t B o g s f o r A g r i c u l t u r a l U s e " p r o v i d e s a n e x c e l l e n t guide f o r t h o s e e m b a r k i n g on s u c h a d e v e l o p m e n t . D i s c u s s i o n M e n t i o n w a s m a d e of the s o i l d e s c r i b e d by M r . R o b e r t s i n t h a t i t showed c o n s i d e r a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t i n b e a r i n g c a p a c i t y . I t w a s w o n d e r e d if t h i s w a s due to d r a i n a g e , a d d i t i o n of l i m e , o r w h a t . M r . Harwood s u g g e s t e d t h a t the e v a p o t r a n s p i r a t i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e m a t e r i a l w e r e c h a n g e d by m i l l i n g the s u r f a c e of t h e p e a t . T h e s u r - f a c e a r e a i n c o n t a c t with the a i r w a s t h e r e b y i n c r e a s e d , which i m p r o v e d t h e e v a p o r a t i o n a n d h e n c e t h e b e a r i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s 0.f t h e s u r f a c e w e r e i m p r o v e d .
E X P L O l T A T l O N O F P E A T MOSS I N NEW B RUNSWICK
by
W. I . Spence
T h e P r o v i n c e of New B r u n s w i c k i s r i c h l y endowed with peat l i t t e r b o g s , the l a r g e r o n e s o c c u r r i n g a l o n g the N o r t h u m b e r l a n d S t r a i t i n the c o u n t i e s of G l o u c e s t e r , N o r t h u m b e r l a n d and K e n t . D u r i n g the e a r l y y e a r s of t h e p r e s e n t c e n t u r y , p e a t m o s s w a s e x t r a c t e d f r o m bogs in the s o u t h e r n p a r t of the p r o v i n c e , t h e p r o d u c t s b e i n g s o l d i n t h e United S t a t e s . H o w e v e r , t h e b o g s in t h i s a r e a w e r e s m a l l and i n g e n e r a l w e r e found t o b e m o r e of a h u m u s than a p e a t m o s s .
When s u p p l i e s of p e a t m o s s f r o m E u r o p e w e r e c u t off d u r i n g the l a s t w a r , a l a r g e m a r k e t w a s a v a i l a b l e in the United S t a t e s . A s a r e s u l t , m a n y of t h e m o r e a c c e s s i b l e b o g s in C a n a d a w e r e put i n t o p r o d u c t i o n . R e s u l t i n g f r o m i n v e s t i g a t i o n s m a d e by what i s now the D e p a r t m e n t of M i n e s and T e c h n i c a l S u r v e y s , O t t a w a , b y s u c h m e n a s Vaino A u e r , A . V. A n r e p , H . A. L e v e r i n , a n d o t h e r s , c o n s i d e r a b l e t e c h - n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n w a s a v a i l a b l e o n the c o m p o s i t i o n of m a n y of t h e
l a r g e r a n d m o r e p r o m i s i n g b o g s i n t h e p r o v i n c e . Among t h e f i r s t b o g s t o b e developed w e r e t h e bogs a t Shippegan; the P o k e m o u c h e bog w a s put i n t o p r o d u c t i o n b y F a f a r d P e a t M o s s C o m p a n y L t d . i n 1942, the
Shippegan bog w a s b r o u g h t i n t o p r o d u c t i o n by W e s t e r n P e a t M o s s Co. L t d . i n 1945, a n d the L a m e q u e bog b y A t l a n t i c P e a t M o s s C o m p a n y L t d .
c o m m e n c e d o p e r a t i o n i n 1946.
C l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s a l o n g the Northumbe r l a n d S t r a i t e n c o u r a g e the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d g r o w t h of high q u a l i t y s p h a g n u m m o s s a n d the m a j o r i t y of the b o g s found i n t h i s a r e a a r e of t h e built up o r " h i g h m o o r " t y p e . T h e b o g s a r e o p e n with s t u n t e d b l a c k s p r u c e a n d t a m a r a c k a r o u n d the p e r i p h e r y . T h e g r o w t h on t h e b o g s i s m a i n l y s p h a g n u m m o s s with s o m e a s s o c i a t e d p l a n t s s u c h a s L a b r a d o r t e a , c r a n b e r r y , b l u e b e r r y , cotton g r a s s a n d p i t c h e r p l a n t s . T h e a b s e n c e of t r e e g r o w t h o n the bog e l i m i n a t e s c l e a r i n g c o s t s p r e p a r a t o r y to d r a i n a g e . T h e c e n t r e of t h e p e a t m o s s i n d u s t r y i n New B r u n s w i c k i s a t Shippegan, w h e r e F a f a r d P e a t M o s s Company L t d . , of Shippegan, a n d A t l a n t i c P e a t M o s s Company L t d . , of M o n t r e a l , o p e r a t e 7,900 a c r e s of C r o w n land on a l e a s e r o y a l t y b a s i s with a d d i t i o n a l a c r e a g e of f r e e - h o l d . F a f a r d P e a t M o s s C o . L t d . h a s t h r e e b o g s u n d e r o p e r a t i o n , n a m e l y : P o k e m o u c h e , G r e e n P o i n t a n d I n k e r m a n F e r r y w h e r e a s
A t l a n t i c h a s two b o g s o p c r x t i n ~ ; L a m e q u e bog on Shippegan I s l a n d and the Shippegan b o ~ on the m a i n l a n d .
P r i o r t o o p e r a t i o n , t h e bog m u s t be d r a i n e d t o a s u i t a b l e depth t.o p r o v i d e a f i r m s u r f a c e enabling a c c e s s t o t h c bog f o r m e n a n d e q u i p m e n t to c u t and to h a r v e s t thc m o s s . T h e m e t h o d of l a y i n g out the m a i n d r a i n s d e p e n d s upon the t o p o g r a p h y a n d the d i s p o s i t i o n of t h e m o s s i n the bog. L a t e r a l d i t c h e s a r e c u t a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s and flow i n t o the m a i n d r a i n s ; t h e s e a l s o s e r v e a s w o r k i n g t r e n c h e s . I n t h e e a r l y d a y s d r a i n s w e r e c u t by hand by the m o r e e x p e r i e n c e d c u t t e r s . Although t h i s m e t h a d i s s t i l l u s e d , the o p e r a t o r s today a r e u s i n g t r a n s p o r t a b l e m e c h a n i c a l e q u i p ~ n c n t i n t h l s p h a s e of the o p e r a t i o n . Cutting i s done b y hand u s i n g a s p e c i a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d s p a d e s h a r p e n e d on t h r e e s i d e s . T h e b l o c k s m e a s u r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 14 x 12 x 4 i n c h e s a n d a r e p i l e d on the s i d e of t h e w o r k i n g t r e n c h which i s dug t o a depth of about 4 f e e t . T h e b l o c k s of p e a t a r e l e f t on the s i d e of t h e t r e n c h f o r 2 to 3 w e e k s , depend- i n g o n t h e d r y i n g w e a t h e r , and t h e n a r e e i t h e r put on r a c k s o r a r e piled i n c h i m n e y s f o r f u r t h e r d r y i n g . When d r y , the ,blocks a r e h a r v e s t e d a n d p l a c e d i n s t o r a g e s h e d s f o r f u t u r e p r o c e s s i n g . T h e m e t h o d of g a t h e r i n g m o s s v a r i e s . A t l a n t i c P e a t ' s Shippegan bog h a s a n e l a b o r a t e s y s t e m of p e r m a n e n t c o n v e y o r s b u i l t o u t on t h e b o g with t r a n s v e r s e f e e d i n g c o n v e y o r s , w h e r e a s t h e L a m e q u e b o g of t h e s a m e c o m p a n y u s e s r u b b e r - t i r e d wagons a n d s m a l l c r a w l e r type t r a c t o r s . F a f a r d P e a t M o s s L t d . u s e s t h i s l a t t e r m e t h o d a s do t h e n e w e r p r o d u c e r s . At t h e L a l n e q u e bog of A t l a n t i c P e a t L i m i t e d , a s e c o n d c u t i n depth w a s m a d e t h i s y e a r and a p p e a r s to be a s good ( o r e v e n b e t t e r ) a g r a d e of m o s s a s the f i r s t c u t . In t h i s o p e r a t i o n , t r a n s p o r t a b l e m e c h a n i c a l c o n v e y o r s have b e e n u s e d to a d v a n t a g e to h a r v e s t t h e m o s s . At t h e p l a n t , the p e a t m o s s i s s h r e d d e d to v a r i o u s s i z e s , d e p e n d e n t o n m a r k e t r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d i s p a s s e d on t o p r e s s e s w h e r e i t i s e i t h e r b a l e d o r b a g g e d . F a f a r d P e a t M o s s C o m p a n y L t d . s h i p s its p r o d u c t s in t h e r a t i o of
9070
h o r t i c u l t u r a l m o s s a n d 10% p o u l t r y l i t t e r . P e a t m o s s f o r h o r t i c u l t u r a l u s e i s o b t a i n a b l e i n 1- a n d 3-peck poly- e t h y l e n e b a g s and a2
c u . f t . s a t c h e l p a c k f o r t h e s u p e r m a r k e t t r a d e , i n 1, 12, 2 , 3 , 4, 5, a n d6
c u b i c foot p l a s t i c c o a t e d b a g s and i n a 7: c u b i c foot b a l e . T h e W e s t e r n P e a t Company L t d . of New W e s t m i n s t e r , B . C . , one o f the p i o n e e r c o m p a n i e s i n New B r u n s w i c k d u r i n g the w a r , a tp r e s e n t i s p r e p a r i n g a bog f o r o p e r a t i o n l a t e r n e x t y e a r . T h i s bog i s l o c a t e d a t M a i s o n e t t e , w h e r e m a i n and l a t e r a l d r a i n s a r e now b e i n g
~ ~ L ) I ~ ~ t * c ~ \ ~ : ~ ~ * i ~ t ~ o ~ . y I ~ ~ ) ~ ~L o ~c . \ ~ t ; l . i ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~11c:xt s \ l r ~ l l n c ~ - . ~ ~ r.,:~.t,~st t ~ c : h n i q u e s will
L)c used in cul.ti~l!: ii nd 11;~t-vcstirig thc: r n o s s .
G r a n d Arise P e a t C o . L t d . of G r a n d A n s e , N. B . c o m - r n e n c c d productiorl l a t c l a s t y e a r a n d w i l l have s h i p p e d 75 c a r l o a d s of m o s s b y y c a r ' s e n d . B u s h l a n d s P r o d ~ l c t s L t d . a l s o c o m m e n c e d p r o d u c t i o n l a t e i n 1961 a n d h a s b e e n w o r k i n g o n a r a k e - t y p e of h a r v e s t e r ; h o w e v e r a t p r e s e n t t h e m o s s i s b e i n g o p e r a t e d b y h a n d m e t h o d s . H e v e c o L i m i t e d h a s b e e n p r e p a r i n g a b o g a t T a b u s i n t a c f o r p r o d u c t i o n a n d i s u s i n g a n a l l - m e c h a n i c a l p r o c e s s f o r d r a i n i n g , c u t t i n g a n d e x t r a c t i n g p e a t . T h i s c o m p a n y h a s c u t 5 0 , 0 0 0 c u b i c y a r d s of p e a t m o s s f o r p r o c e s s i n g n e x t y e a r . F a f a r d P e a t M o s s G o . L t d . h a s e r e c t e d a m o d e r n p l a n t a t t h e I n k e r m a n F e r r y b o g u s i n g p r e s s e s a n d a r t i f i c i a l d r y i n g . T h i s b o g i s e x p e c t e d t o b e i n p r o d u c t i o n n e x t y e a r . M e a n w h i l e , h o w e v e r , t h e d r y i n g u n i t h a s b e e n u s e d a d v a n t a g e o u s l y d u r i n g t h e p a s t m o n t h . T h e New B r u n s w i c k p e a t m o s s i n d u s t r y h a s a r e m a r k a b l e g r o w t h r e c o r d s i n c e its c o m m e n c e m e n t i n 1942 a n d i n t h e p a s t t e n y e a r s h a s i n c r e a s e d p r o d u c t i o n s i x - f o l d . F r o m a n i n d u s t r y t h a t s h i p p e d 1 , 6 0 0 t o n s v a l u e d a t s o m e $ 8 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 i n 1942, i t h a s g r o w n t o a n indus- t r y s h i p p i n g 34,600 t o n s v a l u e d a t $ 1 , 2 7 0 , 3 0 0 . 0 0 i n 1961. S h i p m e n t s t h i s y e a r a r e r u n n i n g w e l l a h e a d of l a s t y e a r a n d l a t e s t f i g u r e s ( J u l y 31, 1962) show 26,690 t o n s s h i p p e d a s of t h a t d a t e . T h e m a j o r i t y of t h e p r o d u c t s a r e s h i p p e d b y r a i l a n d o r d e r s h a v e b e e n r e c e i v e d f r o m m o s t of t h e l a r g e r c i t i e s in t h e e a s t c e n t r a l U n i t e d S t a t e s a s f a r s o u t h a s T e x a s . C a n a d a ' s p r o d u c t i o n of p e a t m o s s f o r 1961 f r o m s i x p r o v i n c e s a m o u n t e d t o 1 9 8 , 0 0 0 t o n s v a l u e d a t $6,329,00O.OO, w i t h New B r u n s w i c k ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n a m o u n t i n g t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 8 % . I t i s s a i d t h a t t h e s e c r e t t o s u c c e s s f u l m a r k e t i n g of p e a t m o s s i s t o h a v e a q u a l i t y p r o d u c t , a t a c o m p e t i t i v e p r i c e , a n d a r e l i a b l e o p e r a t o r who w i l l f u l f i l l h i s c o n t r a c t s . I t i s t h e a u t h o r ' s c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e o p e r a t o r s i n t h i s p r o v i n c e a r e d o i n g just t h a t . A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t i s m a d e t o t h e p e a t p r o d u c e r s i n g e n e r a l a n d e s p e c i a l l y t o M r . F. X . F a f a r d , P r e s i d e n t of F a f a r d P e a t M o s s C o . L t d . , S h i p p e g a n , M r . E . M . L a n g e v i n of A t l a n t i c P e a t M o s s Co. L t d . , a n d M r . W. A. B u r g e s s , A g r i c u l t u r a l A g e n t , C . N . R . , M o n c t o n , f o r t h e i r c o - o p e r a t i o n i n s u p p l y i n g i n f o r m a t i o n u s e d i n t h i s p a p e r .
M r . Eir~rwood w o n d c r e d i f p e a t c a n b e u s e d i n t h e p r o d u c - t i o n of i n d u s t r i a l a l c o h o l 01- o f p l a s t i c s a n d if a n y i n v e s t i g a t i o n s t o t h i s e ~ l d w e r e u n d e r w a y i n New B r u n s w i c k . M r . S p e n c e r e p l i e d t h a t n o t h i n g 01' t h i s s o r t w a s b e i n g d o n e i n New B r u n s w i c k t o h i s k n o w l e d g e . M r . M a c F a r l a n e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t a r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m i n t o t h e c h e m i c a l u s e s of p c a t i s u n d e r w a y a t t h e A t l a n t i c R e g i o n a l L a b o r a t o r y of t h e N a t i o n a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c i l i n H a l i f a x .
4 . SOME A S P E C T S O F ORGANIC T E R R A I N I N NOVA SCOTIA
by J . R . C a m e r o n P e a t i s t h e r e n l a i n s , h u m i f i e d o r u n h u m i f i e d , of v e g e t a b l e m a t t e r s u c h a s m o s s e s , m a r s h p l a n t s , h e a t h p l a n t s , g r a s s e s , r u s h e s , s e d g e s , a s w e l l a s of t r u n k s a n d l e a v e s of t r e e s . T h e s e a r e p r e s e r v e d i n b o g s w h i c h b y c a p i l l a r i t y a n d c o l l o i d a l g e l s , m a i n t a i n t h e w a t e r t a b l e a t o r n e a r t h e s u r f a c e . T h e h i g h w a t e r t a b l e e x c l u d e s a i r a n d t h i s , t o g e t h e r with t h e f o r m a t i o n of h u m u s a n d o t h e r a c i d s , p r e v e n t s d e c a y of t h e p l a n t r e m a i n s , f o r m i n g s i z a b l e d e p o s i t s o v e r a l o n g p e r i o d of t i m e . P e a t b o g g r o w t h t h r i v e s o n r e g u l a r a n d a b u n d a n t r a i n f a l l a n d h i g h r e l a t i v e h u m i d i t y . T h e s e f a c t o r s hold t r u e l o c a l l y ; t h e r a i n f a l l i n t h i s a r e a a v e r a g e s a b o u t 4 0 i n c h e s . T h e c o o l c l i m a t e c o n t r i b u t e s to a h i g h r v l a t i v e h u m i d i t y w i t h a g r e a t d e a l of m i s t a n d f o g . B o g s a r e c l a s s e d a s Low B o g s a n d High B o g s
-
t h e f o r m e r b e i n g f l a t w i t h s c a t t e r e d p o n d s , t e n d i n g t o b e w e t a n d s o f t , a n d f i l l e d w i t h r e s i d u e s of p l a n t s of t h e c a r e x g r o u p . T h e y d o n o t m a k e good p e a t m o s s b o g s . T h e High B o g s a r e g e n e r a l l y d o m e d , c a n b e t r a v e l l e d d r y - s h o d a n d if o v e r 15 f e e t i n d e p t h w i l l g e n e r a l l y h a v e ponds r u n n i n g a l o n g t h e c o n t o u r of t h e d o m e s . A l l b o g s s t a r t o u t a s low b o g s , t h e p r o c e s s b e i n g s o m e - w h a t a s f o l l o w s : A s h a l l o w d e p r e s s i o n o n i m p e r v i o u s g r o u n d f i l l s w i t h w a t e r f o r m i n g a pond. T h e pond p e r s i s t s a n d s u p p o r t s g r o w t h of a q u a t i c v e g e t a t i o n . I n t h e c o u r s e of t i m e t h e d e a d v e g e t a t i o n f i l l s t h e pond by g r o w t h i n t h e w a t c r i t s e l f a n d by g r o w t h f r o m t h e e d g e s of t h e pond of o t h e r t y p e s of v e g e t a t i o n . T h i s i n f i l l i n g i s a s s i s t e d b y m o s s e s , g r a s s e s a n d r e e d s u n t i l g r a d u a l l y t h e e n t i r e pond i s f i l l e d i n a n d i tb c g i n s to s t ~ p p o l - t b o g h t ~ s l l c , s :i.rtti s r n n l l 1.r-ccs. 'I'hcrc i s , a t t h i s s t a g e , a i l n t cxp;irlsc o f b o g ( a ncwly i ~ ~ i i l l c c l p o n d ) p o s s i b l y s c a t t e r e d w i t h o p e n w n t c r p a t c h e s w i t h n o great u l l i i o r l n i t y of l o c a t i o n . T h e bog i s w e t , v e r y qualcy a n d v e r y t r e a c h c t-ous. I t i s relatively s h a l l o w , p r o b a b l y not o v e r t e n f e e t d e e p i n tlle p e a t y a r e a s . E x t e n s i v e o p e n w a t c r w o u l d i m p l y g r c a t c r d e p t h , f o r i t i s dou\,tiul t h a t w a t e r o v e r 10 f e e t i n d e p t h w i l l b o g o v e r , a l t h o u g h l o c a l p o t h o l e s c a n be c o n s i d e r a b l y d e e p e r a n d s t i l l f i l l i n . T h e pond i n f i l l i n g h a s b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d l a r g e l y b y a q u a t i c p l a n t s w h o s e c e l l u l a r s t r u c t u r e i s r e l a t i v e l y o p e n . When t h e p l a n t d i e d , t h e r e m a i n s f e l l i n o p e n w a t e r s u p p l i e d w i t h o x y g e n w h i c h a l l o w e d d e c o m p o s i t i o n . T h e y d e c a y e d t o f o r m a n o r g a n i c o o z e ; a c o l l o i d a l , b r o w n t o b l a c k j e l l y - l i k e s u b s t a n c e . A s t h e i n f i l l i n g c o n t i n u e d , o p e n w a t e r b e - c a m e l e s s a n d l e s s p r o m i n e n t a n d o x y g e n r e m o v e d b y h u m i f i c a t i o n w a s not r e a d i l y r e p l a c e d . C o n t i n u i n g d e c a y o r h u m i f i c a t i o n w a s r e + : ~ r d e d a n d t h e d e p o s i t f i l l e d m o r e r a p i d l y u n t i l a f l a t d r y - a p p e a r i n g s u r f , ? r e s u l t e d C h a n g e s i n d r a i n a g e a n d i n c l i m a t i c c o n d i t i o n s r e s u l t i n v a r y i n g t y p e s of h u m i f i c a t i o n a n d g r o w t h i n d i f f e r e n t a r e a s , b u t t h e low b o g i s now m a t u r e a n d t h e h i g h bog h a s b e g u n t o e v o l v e . T h e s p h a g n u m m o s s e s t h e n b e g i n t o t a k e o v e r t h e a r e a . C h a r a c t e r i z e d b y w a t e r - r e t e n t i o n c e l l s a n d a l s o g r o w i n g c l o s e p a c k e d o n t h e b a s e of t h e p l a n t r e m a i n s , t h e y c r o w d o u t a l l b u t t h e m o s t v i r i l e g r a s s e s a n d b o g p l a n t s a n d b y o s m o s i s ( i . e . c a p i l l a r y a t t r a c t i o n ) c a r r y u p t h e w a t e r t a b l e w i t h t h e i r g r o w t h . T h i s e x c l u d e s a i r , d r o w n i n g o u t t h e wooded p l a n t s u n t i l t h e y d i e a n d d i s a p p e a r i n t h e e n v e l o p i n g m o s s e s . G r o w t h i s c o n t i n u o u s ; a s t h e o l d c e l l s d i e f r o m e x c l u s i o n of a i r , new g r o w t h c o n t i n u e s a t t h e s u r f a c e . I n a r e a s w h e r e t h e m o s s i s c l o s e - p a c k e d o n l y t h e t o p c o u p l e of i n c h e s s h o w t h e c o l o u r i n g of l i v e c h l o r o p h y l l o r i s c e l l s . U n d e r t h e s h a d e of t h e s o o n to b e e n c o m p a s s e d b u s h e s w h e r e g r o w t h i s r e l a t i v e l y o p e n , t h e
6
t o 8 i n c h e s d e p t h of live- s t e m m e d f l o r a l p e a t m o s s i s f o u n d . T h i s i s t h e t o p - g r a d e p r o d u c t of p e a t b o g s . T h e m o s s i n t h e c e n t r e of t h e bog a r e a c o n t i n u e s t o g r o w , c r o w d i n g o u t a l l b u t t h e p l a n t s w h i c h c a n e x c e e d i t s g r o w t h , s u c h a s t h e c o t t o n g r a s s e s , c r o w b e r r y a n d b a k e a p p l e . T h e s u r f a c e now b e g i n s t o a s s u m e t h e d o m e d a p p e a r a n c e of a high b o g w i t h t h e s l o p e g r a d u a l l y i n c r e a s i n g u n t i l i t r e a c h e s 3 % o r m o r e a n d t h e t o p i s r a i s e d 15 f e e t a b o v e t h e o r i g i n a l s u r f a c e of t h e pond. A s t h e b o g g r o w s , c a r r y i n g t h e w a t e r t a b l e up w i t h i t , u s u a l l y t o w i t h i n a f o o t of t h e t o p of t h e p l a n t s , g r a v i t y b e g i n s t o t a k e e f f e c t . A r e a s of w e a k n e s s o v e r t h e l a s t a r e a s f i l l e d w i t h o o z e s e t t l e a n d s i n k l e v e l w i t h t h e w a t e r t a b l e , o t h e r p o r t i o n s of t h e b o g a r e f o r c e d up- w a r d s . ( T h e h u m m o c ! . . ~ a n d s o f t s p o t s a r e r e f e r r e d t o i n E n g l a n d a s" h i l g s " a n d
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l l t ~ s I i ~ * s " rc.s~~c.c-t.ivc l y .) I"I-051 , st1ow a n d i c e c o n d i t i o n s dc.cptn a n d expand tllc low p l a c c s until a new pond i s f o r m e d .T h c s l o p e o f the b o g l c a d s to a n o t h e r t h e o r y of pond f o r m a t i o n : t h a t t h e m o s s p l a n t s d o not b r a n c h t o a n y e x t e n t . T h e s a m e s t e m c a n b e t r a c e d d o w n w a r d s m a n y f e c t . T h i s s i n g l e s t e m m e d s t o c k , d o e s not give v e r y m u c h c o h e s i o n . T h e s h e a r s t r e n g t h of p e a t m o s s h a s l ~ e e n c a l c u l a t e d t o b e o n e t o f o u r p o u n d s p e r s q u a r e i n c h ; l a t e r a l t e n s i o n f a i l u r e would p r o b a b l y r e q u i r e l e s s t h a n t h i s . T h e r e f o r e , w h e n t h e s l o p e of the g r o u n d b e c o m e s s t e e p e n o u g h f o r t h e h o r i z o n t a l c o m p o n e n t of t h e & e i g h t of t h e c o n t a i n e d w a t e r t o r u p t u r e i t , t h e m o s s t e n d s t o flow d o w n h i l l . T h e l i n e of f a i l u r e r u n s a l o n g t h e e l e v a t i o n c o n t o u r . T h i s l i n e of w e a k n e s s f i l l s with w a t e r a n d w i t h f r o s t a n d i c e . T h i s i s o p e n e d i n t o a s t r i n g of p o n d s r i n g i n g t h e d o m e of t h e b o g , s u c c e e d e d b y p a r a l l e l r i d g e s of d r y m o s s a n d r e s u l t i n g i n t h e t a r g e t - l i k e t o p o g r a p h y of high b o g s . An o c c a s i o n a l d r y p e r i o d , o r t h e b r e a k o u t of a pond o r s o m e o t h e r r e a s o n , c a n r e s u l t i n a n i n c r e a s e of h u m i f i c a t i o n of t h e m o s s a n d t h e s p r e a d of h i g h e r s c a l e of v e g e t a t i o n s u c h a s s p r u c e a n d t a m a r a c k . T h e g r o w t h c o n t i n u e s u n t i l t h e w e i g h t of t h e t r e e f o r c e s it i n t o t h e w a t e r t a b l e , d r o w n i n g
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o u t . Should t h e d r y p e r i o d p e r s i s t , t h e s p h a g n u m i s r e p l a c e d b y h y p n u m m o s s e s , b y g r a s s e s a n d b u s h e s , a n d t h e f o r e s t m o v e s i n t o t h e b o g e d g e s , a n d t h e b o g b e c o m e s a d r y b u s h - c o v e r e d a r e a o r g r a s s - c o v e r e d S a v a n n a h . Vaino A u e r ( 1 ) h a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t p o o r s o i l s a r e m u c h m o r e s u b j e c t t o p a l u d i f i c a t i o n ( o r b o g g r o w t h ) t h a n a r e f e r t i l e s o i l s , a n d a l s o t h a t i n Nova S c o t i a t h e c l i m a t e i s m o r e i m p o r t a n t f o r b o g g r o w t h t h a n i s e d a p h i c , o r s o i l , c o n d i t i o n s . A s t u d y of t h e b o g s w i l l s u p p o r t t h i s t h e s i s . T h e a r e a s of p r o m i n e n t b o g g r o w t h a r e o n t h e e x p o s e d c o a s t a l a r e a s a n d g e o l o g i c a l l y o n t h e p r e - C a m b r i a n s l a t e s a n d q u a r t z i t e s a n d o n t h e D e v o n i a n g r a n i t e s . F i r e - s w e p t b a r r e n s a l s o a p p e a r t o s u p p o r t t h e s p r e a d o f b o g g r o w t h . I n f a c t , i n m a n y of t h e r o c k y a n d b a r r e n a r e a s t h e b o g s a r e s o c l o s e t o e a c h o t h e r t h a t t h e m o s s a p p r o x i - m a t e s t h e b l a n k e t b o g of t h e E n g l i s h m o o r s a n d i t c a n b e e x p e c t e d , c l i m a t e c o n t i n u i n g , t h a t m a n y of t h e s e b o g s w i l l c o a l e s c e i n t o o n e l a r g e b o g . I t h a s a l s o b e e n o b s e r v e d t h a t the b o g s o r i g i n a t e o n h e i g h t s of l a n d . A l l t h e b o g s c o v e r c d i n t h e s u r v e y s i n w h i c h t h e a u t h o r p a r t i c i - p a t e d h a d d r a i n a g e i n two o r m o r e d i r e c t i o n s . A s t r e a m flowing t h r o u g h a b o g a p p e a r s to r e t a r d h i g h bog g r o w t h . T h e r e a r e b o g s l i n i n g s t r e a m s b u t t h e s e a r e g e n e r a l l y low b o g s a n d a r e not o f a n y g r e a t e x t e n t . S e d i m e n t a t i o n e i t h e r r e t a r d s m o s s g r o w t h o r i n f l u e n c e s g r o w t h of h i g h e r o r g a n i s m s w h i c h e x c l u d e m o s s . B o g g r o w t h w h i c h p r o c e e d s f r o r n w e t to d r y e r c o n d i t i o n s i s c l a s s e d " p r o g r e s s i v e " d e v e l o p m e n ta n d i s t h e ~ l o r r n a l s t n t . ~ . Wllcn tlic b o g b e c o l n r ~ s w e t . t e r , i t i s c l a s s i f i e d a s " l ~ c g r e s s i v e l ' d c ~ v e l o p r - n c ~ i ~ t , a l s o rcgerlc:ratiori, a n d i s due t o i n t e r r u p - t i o n of m o s s g r o w t h by f i r e , s h a d e , n l g a c , b y t h e s m o t h c r i r i g a c t i o n of e p i p h y t i c p l a n t gl-owth s u c h a,- t h e l i v e r r n o . i s e s a n d l i c h e n s , a n d b y o t l i c r c a u s c s , s u c h a s t h o s e which r a i s e t h e w a t e r t a b l e . T h e f o r m a t i o n o f b o g s i s a c o r i t l ~ ~ u o u s c y c l e ; a r e a s i n w h i c h t h e d r a i n a g e i s b l o c k e d o r t h e v e g e t a t i o n r e m o v e d b y f i r e o r f l o o d s t a r t a new c y c l e , t h e p r o g r e s s i v e a n d r e g r e s s i v e p h a s e s following o n e a n o t h e r a s t h e d r y p e r i o d s s u c c e e d w e t o n e s w i t h e a c h y e a r a d d i n g a few m i l l i - m e t e r s to t h e n e t p e a t l a y e r . G r o w t h of B o e s I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o g t t l e r a l i z e o n t h e r e a s o n s f o r a n a r e a of b e s t b o g g r o w t h . C l i m a t e a n d a v a i l a b i l i t y of t h e r i g h t a m o u n t of m o i s t u r e s e e m p a r a m o u n t . T h e p r e s e n c e of b o g s a p p e a r s a l s o t o hinge on t h e a b s e n c e of f o r e s t s . T r e e s c a n not g r o w i n w a t e r o r o n b a r e r o c k s o r o n e x p o s e d h e a d l a n d s o r w h e n d e s t r o y e d b y f i r e . T h e u b i q u i t o u s s p h a g n u m f i l l s t h e pond, b l a n k e t s t h e r o c k s , d e f i e s t h e g a l e a n d s u r v i v e s t h e f i r e . T h e Nova S c o t i a n b o g s a p p e a r t o g r o w b e s t i n t h e a r e a s a w a y f r o m t h e i m m e d i a t e s e a c o a s t , though t h i s i s b y n o m e a n s c e r t a i n . W h e t h e r t h e c o l d f o g - p o c k e t s p r e v e n t good g r o w t h a s i n t h e F o ~ l r c h u a r e a , o r w h e t h e r t h e h i g h h u m i f i c a t i o n i s d u e t o t h e p r o m i n e n c e of l i c h e n s , i s not e s t a b - l i s h e d . One f a c t o r of b o g g r o w t h i s t h a t t h e w a t e r s u p p l i e d t o t h e b o g i s d i r e c t I n t h e f o r m of r a i n , fog o r m e l t e d s n o w s . S e d i m e n t a t i o n e v e n t o t h e d r a i n a g e of a s m a l l s t r e a m i n t o t h e pond b a s i n a p p e a r s t o r e t a r d b o g d e v e l o p m e n t . D i s t r i b u t i o n P e a t b o g s a s s p h a g n u m m o s s b o g s a r e d i s t r i b u t e d t h r o u g h - o u t a l l Nova S c o t i a . T h e A t l a n t i c C o a s t C o u n t i e s f r o m Y a r r n o u t h t o G u y s b o r o u g h a n d R i c h m o n d i n C a p e B r e t o n a p p e a r t o h a v e t h e g r e a t e s t a r e a l c o v e r a g e . T h e m o r e o c c a s i o n a l i n l a n d bog a p p e a r s t o h a v e g r e a t e r d e p t h a n d d o m i n g . T h e a u t h o r ' s s u r v e y s w e r e c o n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e a r e a s m o r e e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o t h e A m e r i c a n m a r k e t , t h a t i s , i n s o u t h e a s t Nova S c o t i a , a n d l a t e r - a s a p o s s i b l e i n d u s t r y s i t e - i n t h e C a n s o a n d C a p e B r e t o n e a s t e r n a r e a s . Subsccluellt t o the f i e l d t r i p s , photo e s t i m a t e s w e r e m a d e of m u c h of t h e s o u t h c n d of t h e p r o v i n c e . M a j o r b o g s a r e known t o l i e i n a r e a s not c o v e r e d i n t h e s u r v e y s . T h c y a r e i n H a l i f a x - CuysborougEi Courlties a n d t h e h i g h l a n d s of V i c t o r i a a n d I n v e r n e s s Coun- t i e s . T h e r e a r e not a s m a n y bogs i n C o l c h e s t e r , P i c t o u a ~ l d A n t i g o n i s h
Co(t11tic~s n I ~ v t - < - C - I . O S ~ O I I II;IS fc~~idc~cl to r(,trIovc, I h t * wet, c o t ~ ( l i t i o n s which s ( ~ p p c > I-t pa l t ~ c i i li( ;[ti O I I .
I n a d d i t i o n to t h e 3 5 b o g s c o v e r c d i r ~ the M i n e s R e p o r t ( 6 ) u l t l l a t o t a l of 9 , 4 2 7 a c r e s - t h e photo coverage i n d i c a t e d
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f o r h a l f t h e p r o v i l l c e - a n additional 121 b o g s w i t h a b o u t 14,500 a c r e s of s u r f a c e . T h i s p v c s f o r half t h e p r o v i n c e a bog a r c a of a b o u t 3 8 s q u a r e m i l e s . Allowing l o r t h e remainder o f t h e p r o v i n c e a n d f o r s m a l l b o g s of l e s s t h a n 50 a c r e s w h i c h w e r e not i n c l u d e d i n t h e a b o v e f i g u r e , a r e a s o n a b l e a r e a f o r t h e whole p r o v i n c e would be a b o u t 100 s q u a r e m i l e s . T h i s i s c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s t h a n t h e c s t i m a t e of 250 s q u a r e m i l e s m a d e b y C h a l m e r s ( 2 ) a t t h e t u r n of t h e c e n t u r y , a l t h o u g h t h e l a r g e r f i g u r e i s not u n r e a s o n a b l e if talien t o i n c l u d e f l o o d e d b a c k w a t e r s , t i d a l e s t u a r i e s , a n d s h a l l o w d e p o s i t s o n t h e d i v i d i n g l i n e b e t w e e n m e a d o w a n d b o g . T h e i n d i v i d u a l b o g s v a r y f r o m a few a c r e s t o t h e g r e a t t u n d r a s a v z n n a h s of S h e l b u r n e C o u n t y , o v e r 2 , 0 0 0 a c r e s i n e x t e n t . T h e C a r i b o u B o g i n K i n g s County h a s t h e g r e a t e s t v o l u m e of p e a t l i t t e r m o s s , e s t i m a t e d t o b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y&
m i l l i o n t o n s . T h e C l y d e B a y B o g i n S h e l b u r n e County i s r e p o r t e d t o c o n t a i n o v e r 2 m i l l i o n t o n s of f u e l p e a t . D e p t h of B o g s F o u r of t h e m o r e t h a n 3 0 b o g s which w e r e r e p o r t e d o n h a v e d e p t h s of o v e r 25 f e e t . T h e y a r e C a r i b o u , K i n g s C o . , 27 f e e t , T w i n P l a i n s , C u m b e r l a n d C o . , 27 f e e t , L i l y P o n d B o g , G u y s b o r o u g h C o . , 25 f e e t , C u n n i n g h a m B o g , C a p e B r e t o n C o . , 25 f e e t . I t s h o u l d b e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t a l l of t h e s e , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of t h e L i l y P o n d , l i e i n a r e a s of t h e s o f t e r r o c k s a n d t h i s e x c e p t i o n i s bounded by a n e s k e r , w h i c h i s a n i n d i c a t i o n of a p o s s i b l e s a n d o r s o f t b o t t o m . I n f a c t t h e s e f o u r , a n d B l a c k P o i n t , Digby C o . , a r e t h e o n l y b o g s s o u n d e d w i t h a r e a s o v e r 20 f e e t i n d e p t h . O u r d e t a i l e d s u r v e y s c o v e r e d o v e r 5 , 0 0 0 a c r e s of b o g s of t h i s a r e a . Only t h r e e p e r c e n t w a s o v e r 20 f e e t in d e p t h . E l e v e n p e r c e n t w a s o v e r 15 f e e t . T h i r t y p e r c e n t of t h e b o g a r e a w a s o v e r 10 f e e t d e e p a n d s i x t y - s i x p e r c e n t w a s m o r e t h a n 5 f e e t d e e p . O r , t o put i t t h e o t h e r w a y , o v e r a t h i r d o f t h e b o g a r e a s w a s l e s s t h a n 5 f e e t d e e p , o v e r two- t h i r d s , o r 70% w a s l e s s t h a n 10 f e e t d e e p ,89%
w a s l e s s t h a n 15 f e e t d e e p , a n d 11% w a s b e t w e e n 15 f e e t a n d 27 f e e t d e e p . T h i s c h e c k s r e a s o n a b l y w i t h t h e r e c o r d of t h e 1925 P e a t R e p o r t b y H a m e l . ( 4 ) a n d o t h e r s . T h e Nova S c o t i a b o g s noted h a d a t o t a l a c r e a g e of 8 , 6 7 5 ; o n l y 411 a c r e s ( o r l e s s t h a n 5 % ) w e r e o v e r 15 f e e t d e e p , a n d , o f t h i s a c r e a g e , half w a s i n t h e C a r i b o u B o g . I t m u s t b e8u?-[-[!j u o y q a f a a ~ a y L ms8oq yBry ay7 u e y j A~3!x7 a x o u y 3 n u aq 07 u a a s ~ u a u r d o - [ a n a p x a m o l s l o 7ua3ax axoru jo a x e y3rym s a o q M O T
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t h e pond of o r i g i n i s c o m p o s e d of plants which a r e m u c h m o r e s u s c e p - t i b l e to d e c a y and subsequently with l o w e r e l a s t i c i t y and cohesion. They a l s o tend t o c o v e r o v e r semi-fluid muck and ooze with a shallow m o s s c o v e r not capable of c a r r y i n g a n y weight. B a s i c a l l y , they a r e f i l l e d ponds a n d s u b j e c t t o floating i s l a n d s , open c a n a l s and hidden h o l e s . T h e only consolation to a n e n g i n e e r i s t h a t they a r e not v e r y d e e p . A s a c a l c u l a t e d g u e s s , a Nova Scotia low bog of r e a s o n a b l e e x t e n t , which h a s f i l l e d i n to the e x c l u s i o n of ponds of m o r e t h a n a n a c r e i n s i z e , i s not likely t o b e o v e r 10 f e e t i n d e p t h .
The high o r d o m e d bog with a c a p of m o s s of u p w a r d s of 20 f e e t i n t h i c k n e s s on t o p of the low bog c a n b e up t o 25 f e e t thick but a s pointed out above, t h i s is unusual. Most high bogs f a l l i n t h e maxi- m u m 15 to 20 foot depth r a n g e .
The bottom of the b o g s m u s t be s u c h a s to hold t h e w a t e r which will s u p p o r t bog growth. Often i n the e x p o s e d c o a s t a l a r e a s t h i s i s the bed r o c k i t s e l f . I n s h e l t e r e d a r e a s
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i s often on p r e d o m i n a n t l y b a r r e n , high s i l i c a t e s o i l s a s q u a r t z s a n d s o r t h e s a n d s t o n e s and g r i t sof the c a r b o n i f e r o u s . We do not a p p e a r to have t h e f e n p e a t which i n England i s a s s o c i a t e d with c a r b o n i f e r o u s r o c k s . H e r e , w h e r e t h e r e a r e l i m e s t o n e s and d o l o m i t e s , t h e r e i s u s u a l l y a v i r i l e t r e e growth.
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i s not p o s s i b l e to avoid t h e b o g s , t h e tendency i s t o r e m o v e t h e m o s s to its b a s e and t h e n b a c k f i l l . Where t h e r o u t e d o e s not p a s s t h r o u g h t h e p r i m a r y b a s i n , t h i s d o e s not c r e a t e a v e r y g r e a t p r o b l e m a n d m o d e r n e q u i p m e n t working on the solid bottom c a n r e a d i l y d i s p o s e of the m a t e r i a l . The e c o n o m i c s of e a c h p r o b l e m m u s t bed e t e r m i n e d to e s t a b l i s h method of r e m o v a l . T h e p r a c t i c e of t o e b l a s t - i n g is common i n Nova Scotia, applying s u p e r e l e v a t i o n t o t h e toe of the f i l l then b l a s t i n g away the peat a n d allowing the t o e to s e t t l e .
T h e p o s s i b i l i t y of u s i n g b r i d g e s to c a r r y o v e r b o g s h a s n e v e r , to t h e a u t h o r ' s knowledge, b e e n t r i e d . The p r e s e r v a t i o n f e a t u r e s of the bog w a t e r m i g h t c o m m e n d t h i s t o o u r r o a d b u i l d e r s . One s e c t i o n of t h e O r a n g e d a l e -Wycocomagh r o a d w a s b u i l t o v e r a s m a l l bog by f o r m i n g a m a t of s p r u c e b o u g h on t h e t u r f . The s u b g r a d e w a s l a i d o n t h i s a n d s e t t l e m e n t , i f any, i s nominal. S e v e r a l b o g s which had b e e n f i r e - s w e p t w e r e e x a m i n e d . E x c e p t f o r one o n Long I s l a n d , w h e r e h o l e s 4 o r 5 f e e t d e e p h a d b e e n b u r n e d i n t h e bog, g e n e r a l l y t h e r e a p p e a r e d t o be l i t t l e d a m a g e and t h i s w a s soon e r a s e d by m o s s growth. T h e high w a t e r table a p p e a r s t o
