MOULD

Soil composed of decayed vegetable matter in a state of minute division, more or le mixed with garden earth. The kinds of mould most in use in horticulture are leaf-mould, formed from the decayed leaves of trees; rich mould, formed of thoroughly decayed stable dung; heath mould, found on the surface of heath lands; and peat mould, formed of thoroughly decomposed peat. In general moulds are distinguished from soils by containing a much greater portion of vegetable matters than of earths. Mould. (Span, molde.) In Sculpture, the matrix or hollowed wrought form into which the liquid or plaster, wax or metal, is run in casting works of art. [s. 788]