280 THE COUNTY OF FIFE. cbap. XIF. 



riage, the cost of the coals, when laid down at 

 their door, is .not under 135. 6 d. per ton. 

 They are, sometimes, brought round by water ; 

 but the advantage arising from this is not very 

 material, except to those who reside upon, or ve- 

 ry near the shore. The quantity consumed an- 

 nually in Fife may amount to 160,000 tons. 



Besides coal, peat is to be had in many parts 

 of the county : but, except by those who live in 

 the immediate neighbourhood of the mosses, 

 peat is seldom used as ordinary fuel. The ex- 

 pence, and the waste of time necessary in dig- 

 ging, drying, and carrying them home, besides 

 the risk of their being rendered unfit for use by 

 rainy seasons, must ever prevent the general use 

 of this kind of fuel, in a country where coal can 

 be got at a moderate price. There are, however, 

 considerable quantities used for kindling fires 

 and drying grain. 



Wood is seldom used as fuel : indeed the 

 county is too scantily supplied with this article, 

 to admit of its being used in any quantity for 

 that purpose. 



