STEVENSON— INTERRELATIONS OF THE FOSSIL FUELS. 39 



concerning growth of peat in water-basins have been known long 

 time and the reports of observations were pubHshed widely. 



In 1839, Palliardi-^ of Franzensbrnnn, Bohemia, described a peat 

 bog near that city, which had been dug for fuel during many years. 

 It covers a space of one by three miles and is from 4 to 5 feet thick, 

 occasionally reaching a maximum of 14 feet. The peat grows again 

 in spaces whence it has been removed. In the second year, algse 

 appear and in the third there is a more definite vegetation, duck- 

 weed being prominent. During the fourth and fifth years, rushes, 

 sedges and reeds form a floating cover, which the natives term the 

 " cow paunch." Within ten to twelve years the surface is covered 

 with Erica, Vaccimim, Salix and Pinus; and after thirty to forty 

 years the peat may be cut again, if the water-supply have been con- 

 stant and the cattle kept off. The deeper the deposit, the denser, 

 more like brown coal and richer in bitumen the peat becomes. 



In 1854, Yogt-*' recognized that the first stage is apt to be marked 

 by accumulation of aquatic animals and plants, the latter mostly 

 free algae. Somewhat later, Heer-" described the process in detail. 

 In water, organic life begins with the algse; even pure water, ex- 

 posed to light and air, is full of little plants with boundless capacity 

 for increase ; they quickly appear in vast multitudes, which eventually 

 sink to the bottom and, mingled with newer, higher forms, give a 

 layer of organic matter. Then follow the floating mosses in great 

 lawns with myriads of seeds, which, in spite of their minuteness, in 

 time form a considerable mass of organic substance. Thus the way 

 is prepared for life conditions of flowering plants, which arrive 

 quickly. Bladderworts appear and the water-milfoils root in the soil ; 

 water-lilies spread out their leaves and cover the water; reeds press 

 out from the shore ; rushes and sedges form a thick complex of roots, 

 which gradually extends over the whole and the water is concealed. 

 This peat mass, constantly growing denser, draws moisture from 

 below and in its soft, damp polster nest Menyanthns, Andromeda and 



25 Palliardi, in W. A. Lampadius, " Ueber den Schwartztorf und dessen 

 chemische Eigenschaften," Journ. f. pr. Chcm., 1839, 2te Bd., pp. 16-18. 



26 C. Vogt, "Lehrbuch der Geologic," 2te Aufl., 1854, Bd. II., pp. 107, 108. 

 2" O. Heer, " Die Schieferkohle von Utznach und Diirnten," Zurich, 1858, 



pp. 2-5. 



