340 PEAT. 



and branches, and from growing plants ; so that this 

 species is always of a mixed nature. The ultimate 

 fall of the trees produces the purely forest peat, giving 

 the peculiar character to the whole ; while it depends 

 on other circumstances, whether such timber shall 

 preserve the character of submerged wood : the chief 

 of these being, a growth of peat subsequent to its fall, 

 so rapid as to protect it from the action of air and 

 water. In these cases, oak is often so well preserved, 

 being sometimes also dyed black by bog iron, as to be 

 applicable to the purposes of joinery ; and if the roots 

 are often entire when the trunks have decayed, it is 

 merely because they have been most deeply situated. 

 This fact, with others, has given rise to the notion 

 that peat possessed some mysterious antiseptic powers ; 

 as these have been sought in tannin, which is casual 

 and rare, and in some acid, which does not exist. The 

 case is analogous to that of piles, and the solution the 

 same. I need scarcely remark, that forest peat must 

 vary in character, according to the nature of the trees, 

 the degree of decomposition, and the proportion of 

 marsh peat; while, when most perfect, it is flaky, or 

 schistose, retaining, more or less distinctly, the traces 

 of the original wood. 



If I have not distinguished Submerged wood from 

 forest peat, being essentially the same, the geological 

 position of the former should prevent observers from 

 confounding it with the lignites, as they have done : 

 while, being of very different ages, they also differ in 

 their chemical qualities. In our own country, tracts 

 of submerged wood occur in Orkney, Anglesea, Mann, 

 Lincolnshire, and elsewhere. The latter are remark- 

 able for their extent and situation, while similar beds 

 occur in Holland : and near Modena, according to 

 Ramazzini, there are two noted deposits separated by 



