PEAT AND TURF 52$ 



Peat is cut and prepared in a very simple manner. The surface-matter being re- 

 moved, a peculiar kind of spade, called a slade, is employed. This is a long spade, 

 with a portion of the blade turned up at right angles on one side. With this the turf 

 is cut out in the shape of thick bricks ; these are piled loosely against each other to 

 dry. The longer peat is kept, and allowed to dry, the more important it becomes as a 

 heating agent. 



On Dartmoor the peat is cut by the convicts, working in gangs ; and, being 

 dried, it is carefully stored in one of the old prisons. From this peat, by a most 

 simple process, gas is made, with which the prisons at Prince Town are lighted. 

 The illuminating power of this gas is very high. The charcoal left after the 

 separation of the gas is used in the same establishment for fuel and for sanitary 

 purposes, and the ashes eventually go to improve the cultivated lands of that bleak 

 region. Attempts were made here many years since to distil the peat for naphtha, 

 paraffin, &c., but the experiments not proving successful, the establishment was 

 abandoned. 



Experiments of a similar character have been made in Ireland, especially by a 

 company working under the patents of Mr. Rees Eeece. A Government Commission 

 made their Eeport on these experiments. The whole matter was so ably examined by 

 Sir Eobert Kane (Director of the Museum of Irish Industry), and by his assistant, 

 Dr. Sullivan, that we quote somewhat largely from their Eeport. 



The object being to ascertain the necessary facts regarding the products of commer- 

 cial value, the following was the course pursued : 



Specimens of turf representing the several ordinary varieties were separately experi- 

 mented on, and the results examined. 



The products of the distillation were collected as 1, charcoal; 2, tar; 3, watery 

 liquids; 4, gases. 



The relative quantities produced by 100 parts of peat were found to be 



Average Maximum Minimum 



Charcoal .... 29'222 39'132 18'973 



Tarry products . . . 2787 4-417 1-462 



Watery products . . 31-378 38-127 21-819 



Gases .... 36-616 57746 25'018 



The peats yielding those proportions of products had been found to contain, previous 

 to distillation, as dried in the air, a quantity of hygrometric moisture, and to yield a 

 proportion of ashes in 100 parts, as follows: 



Average Maximum Minimum 



Moisture. . . . 19-71 29-56 16-39 



Ashes .... 3-43 7'90 1-99 



The several products of the distillation thus carried on were next specially examined 

 for the several materials of which the quantities and commercial value had been the 

 principal sources of the public interest of this inquiry. 



The inquiry having reference, however, to the technical objects of the process, was 

 carried on by examining the produce of 



I. Tar, for 1, volatile oils ; 2, fixed (less volatile) oils ; 3, solid fats, or paraffin ; 

 4, creosote. 



II. Watery liquids, for 1 , acetic acid ; 2, ammonia ; 3, pyroxylic spirit. 



III. Gases for illuminating and heating power. 



The following numbers will indicate the results obtained in average. All the details 

 of the processes of separation, and the numbers of the individual experiments, were 

 given in special reports. 



In seven series of distillation in close vessels there was obtained from 100 parts of 

 peat: 



Average . Maximum Minimum 

 Ammonia .... 0-268 0-404 0-181 



or as 



Sulphate of ammonia . . 1-037 1-567 0702 



Acetic acid . . r . 0-191 0'286 0'076 



or as 



Acetate of lime . . . O'"280 " '0'419' O'lll 



Pyroxylic spirit . . 0'146 0-197 0'092 



Volatile oils .... 0700 1'262 0-571 



Fixed oils .... ; 550 " "0760 0-266 



Paraffin .... 0'134 0-196 0-024 



It is thus seen that the proportions of those products vary within wide limits, 

 which are determined by differences of quality of the turf <rf temperature in the dis- 

 tillation. 



