646 



turned into other uses besides that he had pointed out, and in answer 

 to which, 



Mr. Rogers said he could not do better than quote the following 

 paragraph from his original paper, read to the Society on the sub- 

 ject: " In its natural state peat moss had several peculiarities. It 

 contains, in different proportions, ammonia, pyro-ligneous acid, tar, 

 &c, and also a very singular production, a 'fatty matter,' which, 

 when purified, closely resembles spermaceti, and makes a very beau- 

 tiful candle. Mr. Reece has recently patented a process for the ex- 

 traction of these articles ; and 1 am happy to say, a few energetic 

 Englishmen have not feared to risk both themselves and their for- 

 tunes to commence operations on an extensive tract of bog and mine- 

 ral, in the county of Antrim, where they have coal as well as peat, 

 and they purpose carrying out the production of iron from ore, 

 which is upon the property. Possibly 'Price's Patent Candle' may 

 yet be rivalled by ' Reece's Bog Spermaceti.' To speak seriously, 

 the production is really beautiful, and gives a pure and strong light. 

 The question to be solved, however, is, can it be obtained in sufficient 

 quantity to be profitable ? It is found in its natural state, at times, 

 in small quantities collected together, by some peculiar local filtra- 

 tion or perhaps affinity, which draws it from the mass around, to one 

 spot. I have seen a collection of it, a little well, 1 may say, of six to 

 seven inches in diameter, containing the matter pure, and about the 

 colour of butter. The superstitious tradition of the peasantry is, that 

 the fairies hide it for their use, and hence it is called ' fairy butter. 1 

 It is but rarely found in that state, and is then treated with great 

 reverence." 



Dr. Cook and Dr. Semple expressed doubts as to the possibility of 

 plants receiving carbon through the root, and quoted Sir Humphrey 

 Davy and Liebig to support their argument. 



Those gentlemen were replied to by Dr. Redmond, who contended 

 that Mr. Rogers's chemistry remained untouched by their arguments. 

 By his proposition the plant drew up by its root carbonic acid, which 

 the secretions converted into charcoal. 



The Rev. Mr. Stoddart and other members of the Society having 

 expressed themselves in terms favorable to Mr. Rogers's views of 

 the subject, 



The Chairman expressed the gratification the Society had expe- 

 rienced from Mr. Rogers bringing the subject before them, and the 

 meeting then adjourned, after passing an unanimous vote of thanks 

 to that gentleman. — G. E. D. 



