So, Steven, can you tell us the properties of spaghnum moss - and why there was an abundance of the stuff in this area in Firth? Fascinating. Does it still grow there - or did the good ladies of Firth extinctify it (!) i wonder? Fiona (York) >From: <steven@kw15.co.uk> >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction >Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 22:28:55 +0100 > >The area is one my granny used to always point out, saying that it was >where >the young women of Firth used to pick spaghnum moss during the First World >War, to be sent off for field dressings for injured soldiers. > >Cheers, > Steven > _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

Sphagnum Moss grows all over Orkney wherever the land hasn't been drained and improved. My father used to tell of gathering it from the hills surrounding Stromness Waterworks during the First World War. It's main property is that it is highly absorbent. It was sterilised and used in field dressings and bandages. You've probably used it yourself as a lining for hanging baskets for your summer flowers. -- Mike Clouston ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fiona Pearson" <fcpearson@hotmail.com> To: <ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 12:01 AM Subject: [<orcadia>] spaghnum moss? > So, Steven, can you tell us the properties of spaghnum moss - and why there > was an abundance of the stuff in this area in Firth? Fascinating. Does it > still grow there - or did the good ladies of Firth extinctify it (!) i > wonder? > Fiona (York) > > > >From: <steven@kw15.co.uk> > >Reply-To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > >To: ORCADIA-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: Re: [<orcadia>] Hello & an Introduction > >Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 22:28:55 +0100 > > > >The area is one my granny used to always point out, saying that it was > >where > >the young women of Firth used to pick spaghnum moss during the First World > >War, to be sent off for field dressings for injured soldiers. > > > >Cheers, > > Steven