202 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



production of a fuel, or power gas, accompanied by by-product 

 recovery, would prove profitable. But in the case of the production 

 of power, the same economics must be introduced into the manu- 

 facture of power that apply to a domestic fuel, and even though the 

 content of nitrogen is well above the average, any increase in the 

 cost of fuel rapidly decreases the expected profits. Peat is a low 

 grade fuel which must be manufactured and sold at a comparatively 

 low cost, if it is desired that it should serve as a substitute for coal. 

 It is evident, therefore, for the foregoing reasons, that the manu- 

 facture of peat fuel does not hold forth any glowing prospects for 

 getting rich quickly, although reasonable and very good profits 

 should in almost every case be realized when the industry is run 

 on a business-lilce basis. But the element of speculation, and some 

 of the commonly practiced m.ethods of promotion must be eradicated 

 if the peat industry is ever to become an accomplished fact." 



The largest development in the use of peat in this country has 

 been in the agricultural field, wherein the material is used both 

 directly on soils and in mixture with chemical fertilizers. The 

 more thoroughly decomposed nitrogenous peats are preferred for 

 this purpose. A special form that has excited some interest in 

 agricultural experiments is bacterized peat, prepared by sterilizing 

 the natural peat at a temperature of 130° C. approximately and 

 then adding lime until the material is neutral. After this the peat 

 is inoculated with bacteria which have the property of fixing 

 atmospheric nitrogen. Bacterized peat is supposed to enrich as 

 well as stimulate the soil. Reports by agricultural experts do not 

 agree as to the results obtained in the use of this preparation. 



It has long been a common practice in many parts of the State 

 to employ the black, decomposed peat or muck as an amendment 

 for soils. More of this material has been employed than for all 

 other purposes. Its use is recommended in soils deficient in humus; 

 it also improves the physical condition of certain soils, helping 

 sandy soils to retain moisture and making clayey soils more open 

 and porous. No accurate information in regard to the quantity 

 of material emplox^ed in this way has been secured. 



References 

 Beck, Lewis C. INIineralogy of New York, 1842 



Hall, James. Geologj- of New York. Report on the Foiirth District, 1843 

 Mather, W. W. Geology of New York. Report on the First District, 1843 

 Parsons, Arthur L. Peat, Its Formation, Uses and Occurrence in New York. 



N. Y. State Geol. 23d Rep't, 1904 

 Ries, H. Uses of Peat and its Occurrence in New York. N. Y. State Geol. 



2ist Ann. Rep't, 1903 



