REPORT OP THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 1903 49 



and sharp at the convex edges for the purpose of cutting the 

 peat. When the peat is too dry for pulping, water is added. 

 Pulping in this process is effected by cutting and not by rubbing, 

 as in Challeton's machine. 



" The pulp is molded either in molds such as are used for making 

 mud brick, oi* the pulp is put into pits where the water drains ofif, 

 and the peat is then cut into the required dimensions. After 

 being either molded or cut, the peats are air-dried and then 

 desiccated in a large building by artificial heat." 



Linning^s process.^ In 1837 a patent was granted to Linning 

 ^* for the preparation of peat by pulping, compressing and mold- 

 ing." The pulping was accomplished in a pug mill similar to those 

 used in making brick, but fitted with longer and sharper knives. 

 The peat was then molded like brick and pressed, after which 

 they were dried either in the air or in kilns. 



Buchland/s peat macMne,- This machine ^' consisted of an ob- 

 tuse iron cone having a spiral groove on its exterior and revolving 

 vertically and concentrically with the apex downward within a 

 hollow cone of iron plate perforated everywhere with small holes 

 1^'ke a colander. The peat was put into the space between the 

 solid and hollow cone and, by the rotation of the former, was 

 squeezed through the holes in the latter and extruded in the form 

 of wormlike pieces; as prepared, it was ready for molding, and 

 compressed peat bricks were artificially dried." 



ScTilickeysen/s peat machine.^ This machine has been used in 

 Germany since about 1860 and with its many improvements is 

 probably used more at the present day than any other one 

 machine. " The peat is pulped in a vertical cylinder, in the axis 

 of which a shaft rotates carrying projecting blades which are 

 strong and have cutting edges, and are so placed as to force down 

 the peat. The blades are arranged nearly but not exactly, in a 

 true spiral, the effect of which is that they act unequally on the 



^ Percy, John. Metallurgy, p. 244. 

 'Percy, John. Metallurgy, p. 245. 

 'Dlngler's Polytechnisches Journal. 1862. 165:184 and 1864. 172:333. 



Percy, John. Metallurgy, p. 245-46. 



Johnson, S. W. Peat and its Uses. p. 144. 



