Dr. Words on Fuel. oY 
‘There are two modes of e. a but the one in use 
upon Block Island, in this country, is much better than an 
other which has come to the knowledge of the writer. It 
does not, however, come within his plan at present, to de- 
scribe such mode. 
gain an artificial cavity, in a peat-bed which had 
been in existence six years, the writer has seen matter 
growing, or rising even above the surface of the water. 
This was in a dry time in the month of August. A few other 
water plants, and but a few, were seen growing in said peaty 
matter. This last matter was soft, and appeared upon eX- 
amination to be spongy, or semi-spongy, and in the writer’s 
opinion it was organized. The life of peat would probaby 
be destroyed Bye permanent drainage, andeammapelity for fuel 
injured. 
As the associa tions of the reader, as well as. those of 
Doctor McCulloch, ar are expected to be of 
aware that this management may be Fi to some of his 
readers, but he hopes to experience their candour and indul- 
gence, as the object of the investigation is the disgovary and 
propagation of f truth. 
Did it come within the writer’s plan to give the natural his: 
tory of peat, or peat-wood, he could easily show that there is 
no such variety as that which Doctor McCulloch calls trans- 
ported peat,because the peaty matter grows where it is found. 
Before the writer takes leave of the reader, he wishes to say, 
in this public manner, to his particular friends, that he is not 
sanguine with regard to his power of extending the usefulness 
of peat, for the history of other things shows the great difficulty 
of such an mndertaking, _ This difficulty is well. seurmpifed in 
of the common potatoe, which shows the great influ- 
ence of authority and fashion in human affairs. “ The introdue- 
tion of this valuable plant, received for-more than two centu- 
ries,” says a popular writer, an unexampled opposition from 
vulgar prejudice, which all the philosophy of the age was un- 
able to dissipate, until Louis XV. wore a bunch of the flow- 
ers of the potatoe, in the midst of his court, on a day of fe 
ity, and the people then for the first time, obsequiously « ac- 
knowledged its utility, and began to express their astonishment 
at the apathy which had so ‘nk re alec with regard to tts 
general cultivation,” &c. 
