USES OF PEAT AND ITS OCCURRENCE IN NEW YORK 



STATE 



The uses of peat are treated in considerably greater detail in 

 this' paper than may seem to be warranted by the known occur- 

 rence of the material in this State. Still this seems desirable, 

 for few people have a true conception of the availability of this 

 material for other than agricultural purposes. In north tem- 

 perate regions, where proper climatic conditions exist, peat of 

 good quality is frequently found, and where fuel is both high and 

 scarce this material is in demand. 



It is but natural that, with the extended immigration into 

 this country, some of the newcomers should notice the peat 

 of our swamps, and its resemblance to the material of 

 Europe. This fact has no doubt stimulated many to investigate 

 the possibilities of our American peat without always having 

 a true idea of the requirements of the case or the exact nature 

 of the raw material. 



A piece of dried muck may appear to burn as freely as good 

 peat, and yet, when its calorific power or chemical composition 

 is actually tested, a material difference is manifest. 



Origin and nature of peat 



Peat is a dark brown or black, often fibrous mass formed by 

 the accumulation and decay of vegetable matter (specially moss) 

 under water. 



Such accumulations may occur in any region where the drain- 

 age is retarded, giving rise to the formation of lakes, often of 

 shallow character, which, by a filling process described below, 

 are converted into swamps. 



Such swamps may originate in several different ways, forming 

 what are known respectively as terrace, delta, or lake swamps. 



Terrace swamps are those formed in depressions on the sur- 

 face of river terraces or flood plains, specially along their outer 

 edge, that is nearest to the valley sides. Many river terraces 

 slope away from the river, thus causing a depressed area on 



