230 
THE GEOLOGIST, 
used by them in 1860, nearly one hundred and ninety thousand were 
Welsh coals. 
The various qualities stand as follows ; beginning with those which 
have the greatest heating power. The column standing before the 
name shows how many pounds of water can be converted into steam 
by the use of a pound of the coal. The column C stands for the 
carbon ; H for hydrogen, which is greatest in the bituminous coals, 
and by its blaze adds so much to the cheerfulness of the fire-side. 
Those coals that have most of it are caking coals, which is an addi- 
tional attraction. Who does not like to poke the fire ? But when 
stem work is to be done, and every ounce of coal is so much added 
on to the price of iron — then the coal which has most carbon is in 
request. 0, oxygen, is simply a nuisance ; for being combined with 
(H) hydrogen, it forms so much water — a thing to be got rid of 
before any heat can be got out of the coal. 
The best patent fuels have none of it, and Welsh coal has less than 
Newcastle, and this than Scotch, as the table will show. My own 
opinion is, that the further you go north, the more it takes to warm 
you. 
Lbs. of Water. Best Coals. C. H. 0. Ash. 
91 Welsh Anthracite 91^ 3^ 2i 1^ 
lOi Welsh, Ebbw Yale 89^ 5 U li 
9, 4-5ths Irish Anthracite 80 2i — 10 
7i Newcastle 81^ 6 4i 3 
7 Scotch Coal 74^ 5 15^ 4i 
Patent Fuels. 
10^ Warhch's 90 5^ — 3 
9 BeU's 871 5 — 5 
— WyWs 80 5i 6i 5 
Inferior Coals. 
8, 4-5th8 Welsh, Eock-vein 75 5 5 11 
8^ Forest of Dean 73^ 5^ 6^ 10 
8i Borneo Coal (Tertiary) 64^ 4i 20f 7i 
We see by this table that a large quantity of oxygen and hydrogen 
relatively to the carbon is a sign of inferiority ; and, of course, a 
great amount of earthy matter, or ash, is so too. I will add, for 
comparison, some substances which are not coal yet. 
C. H. O. 
Peat (from many analyses) 60 6 33 
Lignite (fossil wood and peat) 68 6 27 
Bogwood 57 6 37 
Willow wood 511 6 41 
Oak 50i 6 42 
Birch 60i 6 42 
Beech 50 6 43 
The result is in round numbers : not quite exact. 
But then again, no kinds are useless. A coal that has most hydro- 
gen is best for making gas ; and the coke will do for the furnace. 
Parlour-coals should be more caking than those you allow for the 
