REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND STATE GEOLOGIST 1903 61 



market prices, for 494,100 marks (|117,596). A plant of 12 

 oyens, with all appurtenances complete, would cost |261,800 in 

 Germany, and should produce annually products worth |350,000, 

 from which, deducting the carefully estimated cost of peat, 

 labor, depreciation of property and other expenses — 1179,200 — 

 there would remain a profit on the year's operation of |1T0,800. 

 This process is in successful operation at Redkino, in Russia, 

 and the German government has evinced its practical interest 

 in the subject by placing at the disposal of the company a large 

 tract of peat-moor lands, the property of the state, on which 

 extensive works will be erected during the coming year. 



The products that may be produced by such coking are many 

 and valuable, and it is a question whether the by-products may 

 not prove more valuable than the coke. A list of these include 

 ammonia, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, acetic acid, benzol, illu- 

 minating oils, paraffin, tar and heavy lubricating oils. With the 

 exception of the ammonia, all these products can be used in the 

 generation of gas if desirable, though ordinarily it would prob- 

 ably be more desirable to save each product. 



Among the -other uses for which peat has been employed may 

 be mentioned the construction of pavements and the manufacture 

 of paper and a substitute for terra cotta and papier-mach6, while 

 carpets, celluloid and antiseptic bandages may be added to the 

 list. It has also been employed to a slight extent in tanning. 

 As a filtering agent peat charcoal is said to be superior to any 

 other, and it is also said to be unsurpassed for use in the manu- 

 facture of powder for fireworks. 



Agricultural value of peat 



In the United States the way in which peat has been most 

 extensively employed is in its character of swamp soil and as 

 a fertilizer. The ordinary practice in using the swamp soil is 

 to drain the swamp with ditches about 3 feet deep at suitable 

 intervals, clear the surface of the woods and burn the stumps 

 and loose cap of leaves or moss, after which the land is plowed. 

 The application of a dressing of lime is beneficial in neutralizing 

 the acidity of the peat. In this way a soil is prepared which is 

 ainexcelled for raising vegetables and nearly all crops except grain. 



