226 ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 



produce good results, but for the purpose of preparing " peat 

 poudrette " at the gas works, carbonate of ammonia is pre- 

 ferable. If sulphate of ammonia is used, then about 2 oz. of 

 chalk or whiting in powder should be added to each gallon 

 of gas liquor, before mixing, as hereafter described. What- 

 ever portion of ammonia is converted to sulphate, an equiv- 

 ajent of chalk powder must be used. Carbonate of ammo- 

 nia and sulphate of lime result by slow decomposition. The 

 gas liquor is variable in quality ; but that from Pictou coal 

 contains about 5 per cent, of ammonia. This is equal to 

 about 14^ lbs. sulphate of ammonia crystals, per 100 gal- 

 lons, or 2J oz. per gallon ; hence, at the rate of 82 lbs. per 

 acre, 600 gallons of gas liquor should be used. But from 

 later trials than those cited above, it has been proved that 

 much less than this quantity is an effectual manure. The 

 transportation of the liquor in any quantity will not pay the 

 expenses. How then may the farmer use gas liquor 1 It is 

 recommended to dry peat, and then powder it. It may be 

 dried by the spare heat from the gas retorts. The tempera- 

 ture should not exceed 240° F. At 300° it will be apt to 

 take fire. To one ton dried peat, or 50 bushels, add 150 

 gallons gas liquor. 



Peat, as has been shown (259), contains about 15 per 

 cent, solid matter. At the average weight of a cord, fresh 

 dug, the amount of solid matter of 1^ cord, will be about 

 2137 lbs., or one ton ; this when dried as above, will absorb 

 two-thirds its weight, or 150 gallons gas liquor, without 

 becoming pasty ; it forms a moist powder only like damp 

 sand. If it is found that it becomes too wet to work up 

 moist, this is caused by imperfectly roasted peat, and then 

 as proposed (209) the gas liquor must be added at intervals, 

 drying between in open air. The whole will weigh about 

 3400 lbs. and the bulk will equal 100 bushels. At 5 per 



