On Peat Charcoal. 
547 
Wiien the peat is saturated with water it wastes considerably; 
frequently more than half by the drying process alone. 
In 1845 the quantity of peat dug was 578 cubic yards; this 
produced 140 cubic yards of charred peat ; thus, 1 cubic vard, 
equal to 21 bushels, would waste by drying and burning to about 
5 bushels, or to about l-4lli its bulk when dug. 
From experiments on a small scale 1 had tlie following restdt : 
fresh dug peat, taken from different depths, lost 3-4ths of its weight 
on being exposed seven weeks to the sun and wind; half of this 
was lost in charring, and half of the weight of charcoal was lost 
on burning it to ashes. 
Peat taken from the dry fibrous part at the stuface will los^j 
less weight in drying, though more in burning. If taken from a 
lower and more earthy part it will lose less in burning, though 
more in drying. Farmers entertain different views of charring : 
one will call that charred which is merely dried and blackened 
by smoke, and others call mere ashes charcoal. 
4. Quantity applied per Acre, a7ul effect in comparison loith some 
other 3Ianures. 
I have previously mentioned the power of charcoal as a 
fertilizer in hastening the germination of the seed, and on this 
account alone charred peat may with great advantage be used as 
a manure for root-crops. Its manner of application may be broad- 
cast by hand, or with the shovel ; this may be better performed 
by means of a broadcast drill,* or by drilling in rows at the 
same time as the seed by the common manure-drill. For the 
latter purpose it is a cheap and excellent substance for mixing 
with the more e.xpensive artificial manures previous to their appli- 
cation, such as gviano, bones, super-phosphate of lime, &c. &c. 
Ashes are frequently added to artificial manures ; but an objection 
to their being used in a dry state (which by the way is the only 
state in which they can be applied by the generality of drills) is 
this : that, should dry weather follow the sowing, the dry ashes, 
being under the seed, will retard its germination. It is perhaps 
hardly necessary to mention that the charred peat will require to 
be sifted before it is drilled. The large pieces that will not pass 
through the sieve can be pulverised by a rammer, or by drawing a 
garden- roll over them. 
The quantity used per acre will of course vary with the cir- 
cumstance of the crop : when drilled in rows, with or without the 
addition of other artificial manure, the quantify need not exceed 
* Mr. Crosskill of Beverley has constructed an excellent implement for 
sowing manures, which, I believe, has been approved by the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society. 
