HARVESTING THE PEAT. 741 



(a) Preparing the Peat. — Peat which is to be moulded should 

 form a homogeneous mass, containing a suitable amount of water, 

 and capable of being kneaded. If the peat is naturally powdery 

 and dry, it should ^be mixed with water in a pit or a wooden bin 

 with holes in its base ; if it is muddy peat with a superfluity of 

 water, it must be dredged out of the bog with a hollow shovel or 

 in a purse-net, and poured into the bin or on straw laid on the 

 ground, so that the superfluous water may drain away. In what- 

 ever way it is collected, the mixed peat and water must now be 

 thoroughly kneaded and worked together until they form a fairly 

 homogeneous mass. This is generally done by men trampling 

 on it with bare feet or with flat clogs, less frequently with the 

 help of hoe or spade. 



When the peat is of the ordinary consistency and moisture, the 

 workmen place planks in the trench in front of the bank of peat, 

 and cut the peat away from the bank with a sharp cutting 

 mattock, letting it fall on the planks, and watering it sufficiently 

 by means of wooden buckets. In Holland and several places 

 in North Germany (especially Hannover), the peat-pulp is left 

 alone to dry for a few days, and then again kneaded. In South 

 Germany, it is moulded while still very wet, the second operation 

 being omitted. 



(b) Moulding the Turves. — The turves should be moulded at a 

 place close to where the peat has been dried. If this is at any 

 great distance from the bank of peat, the peat-pulp is removed 

 in baskets or bins which are placed on wheelbarrows ; it is then 

 thrown on to straw or planks, and is either cut or moulded into 

 shape, the moulds containing several compartments or being 

 similar to those used for brickmakiug. 



Peat-pulp is cut into shape in Holland, Friesland or Hannover, 

 being spread out in layers, often half an acre in extent, and 

 beaten flat with flat wooden shoes, planks or shovels. The pulp 

 is allowed to lie for several days, and when sufficiently dry and 

 consolidated is cut with sabre-like blades or sharp spades in 

 parallel strips as broad as the turves are long. After a few more 

 days' exposure, these strips are cut into turves. 



When on account of its watery condition, the peat-pulp is 

 collected in perforated bins, in which it is worked up, it is 

 moulded into turves bv means of wooden frames without bases ; 



