Peaty soils and peat bogs, which latter it should always be remembered may be almost floating upon water and have a surface layer of vegetation and moss, must be differently treated to other soft soils, and thorough drainage may be economically impossible in deep deposits. In such a situation, as the peat is alone capable of bearing the pressure, it should not be disturbed or the particles disunited, for the continuity of the layers will then be destroyed, and probably cause an upward flow or other passage of water upon pressure being applied. This state is frequently met with where inland waters have existed, as in that case the peat moss covering has sunk, the depression depending upon the depth of the peat underneath it and the distance at which the firm ground is reached. It is, therefore, advisable to ascertain this, as then some idea of the probable subsidence may be known. The system of a platform of poles, hurdles, or fascine-work is well known, and has been proved to be effectual in preventing any dangerous lateral or vertical movement. Sand, fine gravel, ashes, or other binding material, spread over the surface of peat consolidates it and assists in preventing movement, and it is well if such a covering extends for some distance in front and at the sides of an embankment to keep the ground from rising. Upon soft soil, a thick layer of clean sand, well wetted and consolidated, 5 feet or more in depth, has been used in lieu of piles for forming a bed upon which to deposit a Portland cement concrete foundation to receive heavy masonry piers of a bridge, and at much less expense and with greater expedition, and no slip or subsidence of the ground has occurred. It is obvious the earth should be deposited in even layers, similarly to the general method of closing reclamation embankments from the bottom upwards; staging is, therefore, necessary for the waggons to run upon and discharge their contents, but piles should not be driven, as they disturb and upheave the earth and do not consolidate any soil. A successful system of depositing embankments of bog or peat earth is to thoroughly cut up, pun, and tread down the soil in order that it may not shrink in cakes. If an embankment subsides and must be raised, only light earth or material should be used. “Forming” or embankments of little height are usually made from the drain excavation, and when more earth is required the outer ditches are widened and deepened so that the fenced-in land is made as firm as possible upon which a railway or a road has to be maintained.