404 CARBONIZING TURF 
wood was to be distilled, were inefficient when 
applied to the carbonization of peat; but by dint 
of trials and patience, I succeeded beyond my 
utmost expectations, upon the following plan : 
I make two tunnels of inch board, nine feet 
high and eight inches square, with some hand- 
holes from distance to distance. These tunnels 
I place in the kiln along the side, in order that 
the bottom end may correspond with one of the 
four air-holes; one of my workmen descends then 
to the floor of the furnace, and forms an erated 
bed with peat, by setting the cakes upright, with 
their tops inclined one towards another, so as to 
create a good draft, which must, as much as pos- 
sible, run in the direction of both air holes where 
the tunnels are standing. It is necessary for this 
operation that the cakes be entire and dry, as 
pieces would intercept the air, anda wet cake 
would paralyse the action of the fire. After the 
setting of this bed, the peat is thrown down upon 
it, and left in the natural confusion of its fall, 
only it is required that a man places round the 
tunnels the turf cakes in regular order, to build 
like a chimney round these moveable tubes. 
When the kiln is filled and heaped up about three 
feet above the level of the hole, the tunnels are 
