On the Use of Green Vitriol as a Manure. 53 



Letter No. II- — From John IF. IFHlaume, Esq. to 

 C. D. ir'Uluutne, Esq, 



Queries proposed Inj Dr. Pearson, 



1. How long has the salt of peat heen used ? 



2. How much per acre Is laid on ? 



3. On what kind of lands? 



4. The effects of it on vegetation ? 



5. Whether it is mixed with dung manure, or lime ? 



6. In what parts of the country has it been employed ? 



7. Any other facts which can be collected relative to the 

 tse of this substance ? 



In answering the above queries, I shall divide the subject 

 into three articles : 1st, The peat considered as an object of 

 fuel : 2d, The ashes : 3d, The salt of peat, or dust : the 

 two last as objects of manure. 



1. Peat. 

 The peat, which is found after the removal of the turf 

 er exterior surface to about a spade's depth, has long been 

 known as an article of fuel. It is, however, used only by 

 cottagers, who burn it on a brick hearth : it has been re- 

 jected from the parlour, the kitchen, the brewhouse, &c. 

 as being injurious to grates, and to all sorts of vessels put 

 on it ; it cannot be employed in the roasting of meat, as it 

 will impart a disagreeable taste ; and it is destructive of all 

 sorts of furniturelDv the effluvia which it emits, or by the 

 dust or ashes which may chance to be blown from it. If 

 these disagreeable consequences could be obviated, it might 

 be made all article of general consumption as a substitute 

 for coal, much to the advantage of the seller and consumer: 

 it is dug out in the form of a brick to a certain depth, well 

 known"to the common labourer. This depth nuist be care- 

 fully attended to, lest you should cut out the staple, in 

 which case it would never be retrieved ; but, this circum- 

 stance attended to, it will grow again to its former state in 

 the space of fifteen years. Tfius the whole moor is divided 

 into proper portions, and periodically cut <mcc in fifteen 



years. 



2. Ashes. 



The turf or surface, and such parts of the peat as do not 

 appear to be of the best quality, are laid up in considera- 

 ble heaps and reduced to ashes by the action of fire, The 

 ashes are red, 



D 1 Answer 



