148 LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY. 



could easily be procured by the small farmer ; and in districts 

 where peat abounds, would be found most useful, and enable 

 him to prepare a supply of rich manure. A bed of the dry 

 peat mould might be formed, and where a pump is not at 

 hand, a bucketful or two of the contents of the tank could be 

 used for moistening it, and by adding occasionally some 

 fresh mould, a valuable compost would be produced, contain- 

 ing the most essential ingi'edients required for the nourishment 

 of his crops. 



227. Along the coast, where sea-weeds can be procured, 

 they present us with an excellent substance for mixing with 

 peat, to convert it into manure, as the weeds rapidly ferment, 

 and communicate to the mould the tendency to decay. 



228. Peat Charcoal. — When peat is burned with a 

 smothered fire, it is converted into a light and friable char- 

 coal, which has been found to possess a high value, not only 

 as a fertilizer, but for the manufacture of gunpowder, and the 

 various industrial purposes for which wood charcoal is 

 usually employed. When it is remembered, that nearly one- 

 seventh of the entire surface of Ireland is covered with bogs, 

 the consideration of the various plans proposed for converting 

 their contents into a more valuable form, becomes of great 

 importance. 



229. Preparation of peat charcoal. — For this purpose the 

 following simple du-ections have been given by Mr. Rogers, 

 who has devoted much attention to the subject: — If prac- 

 ticable, have the turf of a good, hard kind, and as dry 

 as possible. Let it be piled in a circular, conical shape, 

 something like a hand-cock of hay, about from three to five 

 feet across at the bottom. Place all the first layer of sods 

 standing on their ends, and resting against each other, in the 

 shape of an A ; and let the second layer lie against the back 

 of the first, continuing each layer in that manner up to the 

 top, filling in between with sods placed on their ends upright : 

 by this means the air will be admitted freely through the 

 whole, and produce combustion throughout. Set it on fire, 

 by straw underneath, and after a short time the entire heap 

 will become a red mass. When in this state, and not till 

 then, it is to be extinguished perfectly. This may be done by 

 a moderate portion of water, if the charcoal be for manure ; 

 but even in that case it should only be just sufficient to extin- 

 guish it. It may also be smothered, either by means of a 



