i6 



DIGGING AM) PREPARATION OF PEAT. 



(i.) Method of Schlickeysen ' and Geysser. — A vertical axle is 

 moveabk' by steam-power iu a vertical, hollow, cast-irou vessel, 

 with a funnel-shaped top. On the axle are 6 sharp horizontal 

 knives, fitted to it like the thread of a screw, while G corresponding 

 knives ai-e on the walls of the vessel. There is also a moveable 

 base, which is attached to the axle and rests on the real base of 

 the vessel, and immediately above it are two holes on opposite 

 sides of the vessel through which the prepared peat passes. The 

 peat placed in the vessel while the axle is iu motion is cut into 

 shreds by the knives, which also cut through all pieces of roots ; 



Fio. 324. 



Fio. 325. 



it is at the same time pressed slightly downw^ards by their screw- 

 like action, and finally passes out through the holes in a round 

 rope-like mass of stift' paste. This runs out continually on to 

 a bench, and is cut into pieces and dried. 



Although no water is added to that originally in the peat, the 

 latter is quite plastic. The fresh turves are only moderately 

 dense, though covered superficially with a smooth gelatinous 

 coating they are yet capable of being easily and thoroughly dried. 

 There is no loss of humus-carbon, which during the macerating 

 process becomes attached to the walls of the vessel and issues 

 from it as a glazed coating to the turf. In 12 hours, 15,000 



* Leo, Die Koinjuossioii iles Torfes. 



