480 Peat. [October, 



as in an ordinary pug mill. By the action of these blades 

 the peat is broken up and forced downwards into the com- 

 minuting apparatus. The latter consists of a horizontal 

 cylinder fitted with a central revolving shaft, upon which are 

 fixed propelling screws, and a series of curved arms or discs, 

 so arranged upon it, that in their whole length they form a 

 dissected double helix, with increased spiral. Along the 

 bottom of this cylinder, and projecting upwards towards the 

 shaft, are arranged cutting blades of hardened steel, between 

 which the discs pass in their revolution. The general 

 arrangement of this part of the apparatus is very similar to 

 that of a huge sausage-making machine. 



The peat thus fed into the cylinder is carried forward by 

 the discs, each revolution bringing the peat against the 

 cutters, and thereby effecting a complete mastication of its 

 fibrous tissues and cellular structure, the roots and other 

 undecomposed portions being reduced to a state of fine pulp, 

 and the whole mass is brought into a uniform condition. 

 The end from which the pulped peat issues is fitted with a 

 number of moulding orifices through which it is forced. 

 These may be of any desired shape and number according 

 to circumstances. Beneath the chamber upon which the 

 moulding orifice is fixed is a roller table, on which the 

 trays for receiving the moulded peat are placed in succession 

 by a bog, so that they run in a continuous series underneath 

 the moulding orifices and receive the peat issuing from them. 

 As the front end of each tray comes up the workman severs 

 the streams of moulded peat by means of a sliding cutter, 

 which severs each bar into pieces 5 inches long. The trays, 

 thus loaded, are lifted on to racks, where they remain for 

 about three days, until the peat will bear handling, when 

 they are placed upon open shelves for final drying. It is 

 stated that peat of a fibrous nature when treated by this 

 machinery becomes compact and hard, and assumes a specific 

 gravity of from 1*05 to i*io, whilst black decomposed bog 

 condenses to about 1*20. 



In conclusion we have to make a few observations upon 

 Mr. Box's method of treating peat in order to produce it in 

 a dense form ; but first we must refer to a few principles 

 laid down by that gentlemen to be observed on this subject, 

 as, so far as we are aware, they have not previously been 

 insisted upon. With regard to the initiatory pulping of 

 the peat, it must be observed that this process may be carried 

 to too great an extent, as extreme fineness of maceration 

 entirely defeats the object in view. Mr. Box has remarked 

 on this subject, in a letter to the Freeman's Journal 



