Re: Tire Fire in Northern California
Richard Starkeson wrote:
>
> Tony & Moira Ryan wrote:
>
> > K1MIZE@aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm pretty sure it was just peat dirt, since we generally have a lot
> > > of it in the air around here. They've been doing some Fall plowing, and the
> > > fine peaty soils here in the Delta are easily picked up and carried on the
> > > regular breezes we get in the evenings. (In fact, some of the agricultural
> > > "islands" in the Delta have lost as much as 25 feet of soil from this cause.)
> >
> > Kurt
> > It sounds to me as though farmers in those "islands" are well overdue
> > for a change of basic technique in preparing their soil.
> >
>
> Actually, it is believed that much of the loss of soil in the islands (created by
> construction of earthen dikes in marsh area about 100 years ago), is due to sinking
> of the ground, as the "soil" dried as the water has been removed.
Very like the Fen country of Norfolk in eastern England where there is a
similar situation. There the ground sinks so steadily that all buildings
are perched on concrete rafts and the ancient churches have separate
towers so they won't pull the main building over.
This is where (non acid) sedge peat comes from.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
