DR. ANGUS SMITH ON PEAT. 329 



Resins, Fat, Waxes, fyc. found in Peat. 



It seemed to me at one time that the retention of hydro- 

 gen during the decomposition of woody fibre was an expla- 

 nation of the existence of the large amount of bodies con- 

 taining much of that element — making in this manner a 

 theory which would suit the opinion generally held by the 

 few who have thought of the subject. 



Mulder, as has been mentioned, has paid much attention 

 to the resins. 



It is known that when peat is washed with ether or bisul- 

 phide of carbon or alcohol, benzol, or any of the liquids used 

 for dissolving fats or resins, we obtain substances very rich in 

 carbon and hydrogen. The origin of these compounds does 

 not seem to be any decomposition in the dead plant, but 

 may be traced, I think, with certainty to the living one. 



I suppose now that the substance is one which, like the 

 resins in wood, resists decomposition under water, and to a 

 certain extent accumulates ; that is, the woody fibre is 

 washed away and the resins are left to be greater in pro- 

 portion than at first. 



This gives the reason why the old peat is so much richer 

 than the new. The early stages give us it light and fibrous, 

 and so elastic that it cannot practically be compressed for 

 useful purposes without great expense, and the fibres must 

 be broken so as to destroy the elasticity of the moss. Time 

 breaks up all the fibres and gives us a substance containing 

 few, if any, distinct forms, the spaces all filled up, and the 

 resinous part much increased, along with the total density. 

 The weight per cubic foot varies in my specimens from i 

 to 6, i. e. from o*2 to 1*2. 



If the action went on very long, we should have nothing 

 at last but the hydrocarbonaceous matter remaining : the 

 woody fibre would all be gone ; and we should have a sub- 

 stance such as a hydrocarbon (a resin, a wax, or a fat) by 



ser. in. vol. v. z 



