WITHOUT CLOSE VESSELS. 407 
from the second stratum, is much better, being 
more compact, and sells at five shillings and six- 
pence per load.. The black, or best quality, some- 
times called iron turf, is very hard and heavy : it 
gives an intense and sharp heat ; produces a thick 
black smoke, with strong and unpleasant smell ; 
it burns slowly, and is bought at six shillings. 
The incineration of the black turf leaves heavy 
reddish ashes, whilst those of white turf are of 
a sulphur yellow, and those of the brown have 
often a sort of orange tinge. 
The peat ashes which owe their alkaline qua- 
lity chiefly to the presence of lime, are considered 
a good manure for grass and clover, and used as 
such in the north of France and in Belgium. 
Marchand April are the best months to use them. 
They are generally sown during damp weather, 
and will have a good effect used with any plant, at 
its first appearance above ground. I tried them 
last year with pease and other vegetables, and 
perceived in one instance, that the use of them 
cleared the cabbage plants of the insects that 
were devouring them. 
In order to get the kiln to act more regularly, 
it is well to carbonize each sort of peat separately. 
