50 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



mass and mix and divide it more perfectly. There are no blades 

 or pFOJections fixed to tlie internal surface of the cylinder. The 

 pulp is driven out sideways through one or more nozzles inserted 

 close to the bottom of the cylinder and issues in the form of a 

 continuous block or pipe, that is cut off in suitable lengths either 

 by hand or by machine. The addition of water is unnecessary 

 in any case, indeed the pulp may with advantage be previously 

 air-dried." 



Lcavitfs 2)C(it-condcnsing and moldhuj milL^ About 1867, Mr 

 T. H. Leavitt, of Boston Mass., took out a patent on a peat- 

 condensing mill which consisted " principally of a strong box 

 or cistern 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet high." The upper portion 

 of the box is divided by a series of horizontal partitions, the upper 

 ones being open latticework and the lower ones being perforated 

 with numerous holes. The upright shaft which rotates in the 

 center of the box, carries a series of arms or blades extending 

 on opposite sides, and, as these revolve, they cut the peat 

 and force it through the opening in the diaphragms. The 

 lower portion of the box, in place of complete partitions, has a 

 series of corrugated shelves extending alternately from opposite 

 sides, and the peat is pressed and scraped from these by a series 

 of arms. By this series of operations the air bubbles are expelled 

 from the peat, and it is reduced to a homogeneous paste. When 

 it arrives at the bottom of the box, it is still further compressed 

 by the converging sides of the hopper, and it is received in light 

 molds which are carried on an endless belt. Powdered peat is 

 used for preventing the prepared peat from adhering to the mold. 

 This prepared peat is then air-dried and is fit for use after about 

 10 days. 



Hodge's metliod? About 1866, a method of digging and pre- 

 paring peat was devised by Mr Hodges in Canada. The plant 

 consisted essentially of a barge, on which was all the machinery 



^Leavitt, T. H, Facts about Peat. p. 60. 



PeiT-y, John. Metallurgy', p. 246. 



Johnson, S. W. Peat and its Uses. p. 146. 

 =^Geol. of Canada. 1866. 



Percy, John. Metallurgy, p. 247-57. 



