300 DR. ANGUS SMITH ON PEAT. 



In the third book, " on preparation of peat/' we are told 

 of the usual mode of cutting and also of the mode of taking 

 out the fine peat from the wet places, ponds, and ditches, 

 by means of nets. The magistrates decide in what places 

 peat shall be taken, as otherwise not only the fuel of the 

 neighbourhood may be interfered with, but the drainage 

 and embankments. It would appear that the modern mode 

 of breaking the peat fine and taking it out of the water in 

 a condition resembling mud was an old one. The texture 

 is by this means rendered less open. The more it is 

 kneaded and pressed the more dense and solid is the peat. 

 Patents have lately been taken out for doing this, as well 

 as for methods of doing it. 



"XI. Prsecipua in labore hsec circumstantia est obser- 

 vanda, ut materia turfina, tanquam massa pistoria bene 

 misceatur et subigatur; quo magis enim depsendo com- 

 pingitur, eo solidior et densior sit turfa, eoque meliores et 

 ignem diutius foventes largitur carbones. Cum contra, 

 quando materia minus bene subacta sit, turfas porosas, 

 spongiosas, non diu cohserentes, sed cito dissolubiles inque 

 igne deflagrantes sistat." 



The labour of digging or, rather, fishing out the peat is so 

 great that the inhabitants of Holland will not do it, but 

 bring yearly several thousand strangers from Hanover and 

 Luneburg, who work with wonderful patience. 



It was the custom where the levels unite to sell off all 

 the peat and then to use the land for agriculture. It is 

 said in XXVII. that this plan of obtaining good land 

 was first discovered in the 15th century, as told by W. van 

 Gouthoven, c Chronick van Holland/ p. 574. 



The 4th chapter is on the differences in peat, which the 

 author fully recognizes. 



In another place he shows the difference between peat 

 and turf, which he names " turfa " and " cespes," and 

 which it is better in English to call peat and turf. The 



