On Peat Charcoal. 
5i5 
laid in heaps ready for throwing on the fire.?, the 
which it is tal<en bsing immediately filled 
with fresh peat from the trenches. Some per- 
tion of the peat is dried by having sods or 
turfs stacked up in a similar manner to bricks 
before they are burnt. A peculiar kind of 
spade is used in digging the sods ; it requires 
some skill in its use, but any om accustomed 
to it will find it a much better tool for the 
purpose than the common spade. Tliis spade 
is chiefly made of wood, with the exception of 
the cutting part, which is shaded in the 
drawinor; this is of thin iron, a shows the 
front, and b the side of the spade. The sods 
are some time in drying ; but as they do not 
occupy much space, a supply of them is 
useful, when from wet weather the peat that 
lies on the ground is too damp to burn. 
Having got together a supply of the dried 
proceed to the charring process. A quantity 
crround from 
material, we may 
of peat is thrown 
over a small heap of bushes, furze, or other dry fuel, an aperture 
beincr left on the windward side for lighting the fire. As soon as 
the fire gets a good hold, more peat is laid on, and this is con- 
tinued to be supplied at regular intervals. In tending (he heaps, 
the fire must never be allowed to make its appearance on the out- 
side, but the heaps must be sufliiciently covered in to prevent the 
access of the air to the combustion which is gradually going on. 
However, if we lay on too large a quantity at once, there is some 
danger of putting the fire out ; more particularly when the peat is 
wet, or the fire but recently lighted. The fire shoidd not continue 
burning many days; for if it does, the heap will so accumulate 
from the peat with which it is supplied, that there will be great 
difficulty in extinguishing the fire in proper time. Before putting 
out the fire a quantity of the dust or small peat, from which the 
large pieces have been sifted or screened, is laid ovev the heap ; 
by this means all the peat which has been put on previously be- 
comes charred, the fire being prevented by the dust from breaking 
out on the surface. The heap is now pulled down with a long crome 
similar to those used in dragging the weeds from rivers and 
ditches, and a sufficient quantity of water thrown on the fire to 
ext,ing\iish it altogether; if there is much difficulty in putting the 
fire out, the heap may be turiu d over, and water applied as the 
process of turning proceeds. Tliere is no use in throwing a few 
pailfuls of water over the heap, and then allowing the fire to 
smoulder underneath ; for though the outside has the black ap- 
pearance of charcoal, yet the fire will continue to b tu in the 
