Lord Kames was responsible for the organised clearance of the Kincardine Moss, Perthshire, Scotland using various methods dependent on the depth and quality of the moss. Between 1770 and 1799 around 280 acres were reclaimed and they supported 126 families. The moss was between 8ft and 14ft thick and the most successful and innovative method of removal was digging by hand and flotation by water through man-made canals into the Rivers Teith and Forth. In 1774 the moss extended to some 1,800 acres of which 1,500 belonged to Lord Kames. Hence with deep ploughing and draining the moss was turned slowly into a fertile plain that was highly productive.

Lyrics here, composed by John Henderson on the 27th of October, 20011,
reflect the views of a bystander during the time of moss-clearance.
The words are set to Al Hoffman and Dick Manning's 1956 music for 'Allegheny Moon'.

GLOSSARY:
throw=through: cloddie=peat: wimplin=twisting: scoors=scrapes: slich=alluvial deposit (mud)
sprots=reeds/rushes: muckle=much: eiks=adds: kythe=reveal: wirk=work: dool=sad:
fool=dirty: bygae'n=going past: lowp=jump: gif=if: feedles=fields: gee=sullen: fordal=progress

Oot alang the carse throw cloddie lan,
The Forth miles 'wa fae faar I stan,
Leuks gran, gran, gran;
Bit its wimplin aye scoors aff gray slich,
Upo its sprot-banks day an nicht,
Oot o' ma sicht;
Muckle mossin tee eiks mair ilk day
Tae kythe guid clay fur sprootin hay;
"Guid wirk", maist say;
Bit I'm affa dool fan noo I see,
Fool waater bygae'n me,
Faar aince sae mony fish wud lowp an play.

In the course of time fan mossin's deen,
The Forth micht be as it his been,
A fisher's dream;
E'en gif wimplin aye scoors aff gray slich,
Upo its saft banks day an nicht,
Yon's naitur's richt;
Fermers' feedles tee shud growe guid hay,
Faar aince ull sprots aye won the day,
Till borne awa;
Ay, I'm affa pleesed wi fit I see,
(Tho' mossin makt me gee)
Sae fordal wisna hindrance efter aa.