542 
Oa Peat Charcoal. 
the use of powdered charcoal, was very plainly shown on a farm 
where I had opportunity of making observation. During the 
exceeding dry summer of 1844, wood charcoal, powdered fine, 
was drilled with carrot-seed, with which it was well mixed to 
prevent the seed clogging in the drill; it served two piu'poses: the 
seed was deposited with great regularily in the drills, and the 
carrots made their appearance above ground, notwithstanding the 
dryness of the weather, in a few days, and in sufficient numbers to 
constitute a full plant ; the crop was good for the year, being 
upwards of 500 bushels per acre, which was equal, or superior, to 
any crop in tha neighbourhood, where, from the dryness of the 
season, the crops of this root were a failure ; this arose principally 
from the seed not havinof a sufficient amount of moisture in the soil 
for its vegetation. It may be asserted the carrot seed would have 
grown equally well without the addition of the charcoal, and it is 
to be regretted that no certain trial was made at the time by 
drilling part of the field with seed alone, and part with seed mixed 
with charcoal. The dry season of 1844 would have shown the 
efficacy of charcoal, as a manure, much better than one in which 
the average amount of rain falls. 
We must now pass from these introductory remarks to the real 
subject of our essay, and I shall describe, in as concise and plain a 
manner as possible, that which has come under my own practice 
and observation relating to the use and preparation of peat- 
charcoal; in doing this, we are required to attend more particu- 
larly to the following points : — 
1. Quality of peat. 
2. Mode of making the heaps and burning the charcoal. 
3. Quantity produced from a given measure of peat. 
4. Quantity applied per acre, and effect in comparison with 
some other manures. 
1 , Quality of Peat. 
I have already stated the causes wiiich affect the quantify 
and quality of the earthy or inorganic matter found in peat ; 
and as tliese add to or lessen the value of peat ashes, they also 
affect the quality of the charcoal, though certainly to a much 
smaller extent, for, as far as practice can judge, the ashes, 
burnt, as they often are, to a liglit or red colour, appear to have 
lost all or the greater part of the carbon contained in the peat, 
and must owe their cliief use as a manure to the earths and 
salts which remain after combustion has ceased. On the other 
hand, the charcoal being burnt only till it assumes a black colour, 
has all th(! earthy malerials as well as a great proportion of tiie 
carbon, thus securing a more valuable manure by the con- 
sumption of a smaller amoiuit of peal. The quality may be 
