122 
[Assembly 
In the fust annual report of ray district, the details of the economi- 
cal geology of Suffolk county were discussed. The geological forma- 
tion of Queens, Kings and Richmond counties are similar, and in fact, 
a continuation of those of Suffolk county. The economical geology of 
those counties will, therefore, be discussed first, and then that of Colum- 
bia and Dutchess. 
II. Economical Geology of Queens^ K%ngs^ and Richmond counties, 
PEAT. 
This alluvion is the result of vegetable decomposition. It varies in 
its aspect; the best quality is a soft, unctuous, tremulous mud, when wet, 
but when dry, is so compact as to receive a slight polish. When heated, 
it burns with flame and a bituminous odour. Ligneous, fibrous, and 
compact peat are the principal varieties. The two former are of com- 
paratively little value. The latter is extensively used in France and 
Ireland, and is considered a valuable fuel. It is used not only for do- 
mestic purposes, but also in burning lime, bricks, and pottery. In cold 
climates it is formed in moist ground and shallow ponds, wherever there 
is an accumulation of vegetable matter. Decayed trees form a light, 
soft, spongy mass, called ligneous peat; from decomposed grasses and 
seeds, a fibrous peat is formed, which is light and spongy several feet 
below the surface, but at a greater depth it may be of a good quality 
for fuel; small aquatic plants, and mosses, such as the sphagnum palus- 
tre, produce peat, which at a moderate depth is compact, without fibres, 
uniform in its texture, and of good quality. Peat, although not very 
abundant in Queens, Kings, and Richmond counties, is very common. 
Many localities were observed. Those of the most importance are near 
Newtown. From a bog one mile westerly from Newtown, peat of a very 
superior quality has been dug for more than fifty years, and it is much 
used by some of the inhabitants. An extensive marsh of peat, which 
is probably deep, and of fine quality, lies near the road from Williams- 
town to Jamaica, and is called the Cedar Swamp. 
There may be about 30,000 cords of peat in this swamp. Small 
bodies of this combustible were seen in the ranges of hills in Kings 
and Richmond counties. A meadow of tw^o or three acres of ligneous 
peat was observed about one mile north of Jamaica. The owners of 
quagmires or quaking meadows will do well to examine them. Be- 
fore many years shall have elapsed, these bogs will become valuable, 
where they are now regarded as nearly worthless. The inferior quali- 
ties of peat will, under judicious treatment in compost heaps, make a 
