010 



Botanical Society of London. 



Friday, July 6, 1849. — E. Doubleday, Esq., V.P., in the chair, 

 which was afterwards taken by J. Miers, Esq., V.P., F.R.S. 



Mr. Jasper W. Rogers read a paper on the Use and Properties of 

 Peat Moss, and the value of Peat Charcoal as a disinfectant and ferti- 

 lizer. The object of the paper was to show the useful purposes into 

 which the bogs of Ireland could be converted by the extraction of 

 peat from them for its conversion into charcoal. The charcoal ex- 

 tracted from the Irish peat was far preferable to wood charcoal, and 

 one of its greatest advantages was the effect it had as a disinfecting 

 and dedorizing agent. Wood charcoal had not that property to 

 nearly such an extent. It was, therefore, singular now, when there 

 was so much excitement about sanatory matters, that an agent so 

 powerful should have been so much overlooked. It was also valuable 

 as being a powerful absorbant, as it would absorb about 80 per cent, 

 of water, and keep it for the benefit of the soil which might surround 

 it; while it took up the greater portion of the obnoxious gases inherent 

 in night soil and sewage matter, and thereby did away with any bad 

 effect which might result from them. It, therefore, was capable of 

 being converted into a manure of the greatest value, — the proportions 

 being two-thirds of night soil to one-third of charcoal. It was im- 

 possible to find a better manure for the food of plants ; for, containing 

 as it did a large quantity of carbon, it exhaled the ammonia and the 

 salt which were in the night soil, did not allow them to escape, but 

 treasured them up, and in due time gave them out for the sustenance 

 of the plants placed under its influence. No better agent could be 

 found for improving the sanatory condition of the metropolis. Were 

 a proper system observed by means of this agent, the sewage matter 

 of London could be converted into a source of great profit ; while the 

 bad effects arising from the effluvia which emanated from such mat- 

 ter would be got rid of. According to a calculation he had made, the 

 matter so produced by a family of six, would, in the course of a year, 

 if subjected to the influence of this agent, yield a£30 per annum ; and 

 supposing the cost of the charcoal, and other expenses, to amount to 

 £15, which they could not exceed, there would still be a clear profit 

 of £15 yearly. That might be doubted, but it was a fact, which he 

 had ascertained after the most careful consideration ; and he had 

 further ascertained, that were all the houses in London which were 

 rented at upwards of £10 to adopt that system, they would earn a 



