1864] DR. T. STERRY HUNT ON PEAT. 435 



whole of the charred peat was not required for the distillation ; so 

 that by means of an arched opening fitted with a door just above 

 the fire-grate, a portion of the charcoal could be removed from 

 time to time. By this means, the amount of peat which could be 

 worked was much increased, The removal of the charcoal in this 

 way was however attended with difficulty during the prevalence of 

 high winds. 



With these improved arrangements, it was found that the 

 amount of peat distilled was always above seventy tons, and in 

 favorable weather upwards of one hundred tons weekly, for each 

 kiln ; while the proportion of tar was raised from 3*9 per cent, to 

 7'5, and was on average as much as 7-0 per cent. In this way 

 there were obtained in the year 1861-62, from one hundred tons 

 of peat — 



749 gallons of oil (with paraffine), at 2s, £ 74 18 



From which is to be deducted — 



For 100 tons of peat, at 2s, £10 



" cost of manufacture, 28 14 6 



38 14 6 



Leaving a balance of. £36 3 6 



These are given by Dr. Paul as his working results within the 

 last year, and contrast most favorably with those obtained in Ire- 

 land, as stated by Mr. Sullivan in'his report to the directors of the 

 Irish Peat Company in 1855 ; according to which, one hundred 

 tons of peat gave — 



150 gallons of oil at 2s., £15 



300 pounds of paraffine, at Is., 15 



52 gallons of wood-naphtha, 2 10 



3 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, 1 16 



£34 6 



From which is to be deducted — 



For 100 tons of peat, at 43., £20 



" cost of manufacture 14 3 4 



£34 3 4 



Leaving a balance of £0 2 8 



It will be seen that the cost of the Irish bog-peat was, for 



reasons already mentioned, 4s., instead of 2s., the ton; while its 



yield was so much less than that of Lewes, that even at an expense 



of manufacturing which was only half the latter, its distillation 



appears to have been no longer profitable ; although the wood- 



