TURF, the sod which covers the surface of pastures, and is of a portion of the soil with the roots of natural grasses or other plants ; which gives the whole a consistence, and allows of its being raised in slices by the plough, or the paring tool made for the purpose.
The word is often also applied to the substance which is generally called peat ; and when the latter is taken from the surface where living plants are growing, the name of turf is very applicable to it. It is derived from the Dutch word tor); which is generally applied to perfect peat as well as to turf. The origin and composition of peat have been described under that head. [PEAT.] We shall here only notice the uses to which turf is applied, when we mean a sod taken from the surface on which some living plants are still or have lately been growing. Near extensive heaths which have never been reclaimed, and in situations where no regular peat-bogs are to be found, turf becomes a very useful fuel. It is pared off the surface with the heath growing on it, in dry weather,-in sods of a convenient size, generally round, and about one foot in diameter. The thickness Of the sod depends on the depth and abundance of the roots found in it, as they are the sole cause of the turf continuing to burn when the blaze caused by the burning of the heath is over. As the soil of the places where turf is usually cut is generally of a sandy nature, turf ashes are not so valuable for manuring the land as peat ashes; still they contain por tions of potash and other vegetable salts, and produce a very good effect when spread as a top-dressing on moist meadows the soil of which is chiefly composed of clay. In sufficient quantities they are excellent to raise turnips ; and it is generally observed that where poor heathy pastures are pared for the purpose of burning the turf on the spot and spreading the ashes, the turnips sown there seldom fail. For the advantages and of this operation, see PARING and BURNING.
Where the poor can readily obtain turf for the trouble of cutting it and drying it for use, a degree of comfort is diffused through their cot tages which cannot be found where fuel is scarce. In the large open
chimney the whole family can be seated by a pile of turf burning on the hearth.
Turf is used for many other purposes, as well as for fuel. Laid like tiles on a roof, overlapping each other, they form an excellent and cheap protection against rain. Cut somewhat thicker, and in the shape of bricks, they serve to build the walls of cabins, which are warm and durable, provided the eaves of the roof project sufficiently to cover them. The soldier who has served through many campaigns knows from experience that a conical hut of turf can be raised in a very short time, if the material is at hand, When clay is burnt to improve the texture of the soil, the operation is best performed in a circular hearth made of turf, with certain flues to regulate the supply of air to the burning mass. The turf is a slow conductor of heat, and by its means the mass is kept burning steadily in the interior of the heap, without being cooled by the effect of the external air. When the turf-wall itself begins to burn through, it is generally the proper time to mix the whole and extinguish the fire.
The turf which we have been considering is taken from the surface of uncultivated land, and in the course of a certain number of years the wild heaths and other plants natural to the soil spring up again, and by their stems and roots produce a fresh turf. To assist this renovation it is usual to cut the flat turfs of a circular shape with a thin paring tool, as we observed before, so that there remain portions of the surface which are not disturbed, and from which the heath and wild plants soon sprawl over the surface which has been cut. In this way the same spot may be made to give a fresh supply of turfs every seven years. This is only done where the soil Is absolutely barren, and where its cultivation is not thought of ; for at last every remnant of good earth is carried of the grasses disappear entirely, and nothing but the cominou heaths can find food for their vegetation.