74-0 DIGGIXd AND PIlEl'AKATION OF PEAT. 



The cheapest method is to pile the turves in either conical or 

 prismatic stacks sloping at the top. Turves which are not 

 thorouj^'hly dried may, however, be easily spoiled in this way. 

 The stacks should he erected in a dry and somewhat elevated 

 place and carefully piled. 



The turves are much better protected from damafje when the 

 stacks are thatched. Straw, reeds, spruce-branches or bracken 

 will serve the purpose ; better still, a light plank roof supported 

 by four posts may be erected with a slope towards the rainy 

 quarter, or the turves may be placed as follows — in the centre 

 of a cleared space a strong stake is driven vertically into the 

 ground, and billets placed radiating in a circle from the stake 

 (as in the base of an Alpine charcoal-kiln) and covered with planks ; 

 the turves are then piled on this floor in a truncated cone 

 thatched with straw. From these thatched stacks the turves 

 can Ije taken during winter according to requirements, this can 

 be done from uncovered stacks only at the risk of spoiling 

 them. 



Whenever the value of turves is sufficiently high, it is best to 

 store them in sheds, which should have their greatest length 

 perpendicular to the direction of the prevalent wind, and be 

 lightly built of planks or laths, so that the wind may blow 

 through them, the rain being kept out by a roof. 



2. Moulded Peat. 



Some peat is not sufficiently compact to be cut into turves, 

 but must be moulded. This is the case with bogs containing 

 much imbedded wood, or so dry that the peat crumbles into dust, 

 or excessively wet so that the peat must be dredged ; also where 

 the peat is only ordinarily moist, but cannot be cut into turves 

 owing to the presence of numerous undecomposed roots. In 

 ordinary peat-bogs, however, where turves are cut, there is 

 always a large percentage of waste peat resulting from the 

 digging, drying or transport of the turves, which can only be 

 utilized by moulding it. This waste frequently amounts to a 

 fifth or a quarter of the annual yield of peat. 



The diflV'rcut works in question are — preparing the peat, and 

 moulding and drying the turves. 



