208 USE 0F GREEN VITRIOL 



Description of I . Peat. The peat, which is found after the removal of the 

 turf or exterior furface, to about a fpade's depth, has long 

 been known as an article of fuel. It is, however, ufed only 

 by cottagers, who burn it on a brick hearth; it has been re- 

 jected from the parlour, the kitchen, the brewhoufe, &c. as 

 being injurious to grates, and to all forts of veffels put on it; 

 it cannot be employed in the roalting of meat, as it will im- 

 part a difagreeable tafte, and it is deftru&ive of all forts of fur- 

 niture by the effluvia which it emits, or by the duft or allies 

 which may chance to be blown from it. If thefe difagreeable 

 confequences could be obviated, it might be made an article 

 of general confumption as a fubftitute for coal, much to the 

 advantage of the feller and confumer; it is dug out in the 

 form of a brick to a certain depth, well known to the common 

 labourer. This depth mull be carefully attended to, left you 

 fhould cut out the ftaple, in which cafe it would never be re- 

 trieved ; but, this circumftance attended to, it will grow 

 again to its former ftate in the fpace of fifteen years. Thus 

 the whole moor is divided into proper portions, and periodi- 

 cally cut once in fifteen years. 



Its athes. 2. Afltes. The turf or furface, and fuch parts of the peat 



as do not appear to be of the beft quality, are laid up in con- 

 siderable heaps, and reduced to allies by the action of fire. 

 The a/hes are red. 



Anfccer to Queries. 



Anfwers to the *• The allies have been long known as a manure, and the 

 queries as to the demand is on the increafe. 



aftes * 2. The quantity ufually laid on an acre, by fpreading or 



fowing it, is fifty bufhels, either on grafs or arable land. 



3. It is laid on hot land. By hot land, we underftand 

 fandy, gravelly, chalky foils of a dry nature, fuch as are 

 burnt up on the long continuance of hot weather. It is mod 

 commonly ufed forgraffes ; but is in confiderable efteera, as a 

 manure, for oats or barley on land of the nature above-men- 

 tioned. 



4. The vegetable effeft is furprifing, inafmuch as it will 

 double or treble a crop of any new fown grafs, fuch as trefoil, 

 &c. I have feen the benefits arifing from it on old pafture 

 land much overgrown with mofs, which it effectually deftroys, 

 and produces in its (lead white or Dutch clover. You may 



