102 PAPER8, ETC. 



again in a few years, which is an error. The cause of 

 these pits becoming filled with turfy matter is that the 

 pressure on the particular spot having been removed by 

 the excavation of the peat, the substratum being in a semi- 

 fluid State is forced up into the pit, by the pressure of the 

 suri-ounding mass. The surface by its buoyancy thus keepa 

 out of the reach of floods, which would otherwise stop the 

 further growth of the peat bog plants, and its alluvial 

 deposit on the surface, would cause an almost immediate 

 growth of pasture grasses. 



This mass of decomposed vegetable matter becomes, at 

 the depth of about three or four feet, an homogeneous 

 semi-fluid and dark-coloured substance, and undergoes a 

 fei'mentation, which developes the bituminous and inflam- 

 mable property. In this state, when dug and dried for 

 fuel, it affords a highly combustible substance, and pro- 

 duces, when in a State of ignition, hydrogen gas, ammo- 

 niacal liquor, and coal-tai", and seems to corroborate the 

 opinlon that coal owes its origin to vegetable matter. 



The cofFee-coloured water always found in the pits dug 

 out for fuel, has an astringcnt taste, and is so highly 

 antiseptic, that animal matter immersed in it may be pre- 

 served a great length of time, undecomposed. An attempt 

 was made some years since, to apply it to the purposes of 

 tanning leather. The tanning principle was however found 

 to be too weak to efFect any beneficial purpose. Dr. 

 Rutty, in his Essay on the Mineral waters of the kingdom, 

 observes, "Moss water is possessed of an antiseptic and 

 embalmlng property, and not only remains pure and free 

 frora putrescency, but it retards the putrid fermentation 

 both of vegetablo and animal matter immersed in it ; that 

 the ligneous shrubs, trees and parts of animals are fcund 

 in a State of unusual preservation, as is seen In the oak 



