MANGANESE. — PEAT. 
341 
©lines (New-Jersey), Cheshire and Wethersfield 
(Connecticut), Singsing (New-York), &c. ; but, as 
the quantity is too small to be worked in many 
places to advantage, we pass it by. The same re- 
marks will also apply to silver ore, a small quantity 
of which is contained in nearly all our lead ores. 
Manganese occurs frequently in the form of an 
earthy oxide, resembling bog iron ore, and is em- 
ployed extensively in furnishing oxymuriatic acid 
for bleaching, communicating a violet or purple 
colour to glass, in painting porcelain, and furnish- 
ing oxygen gas. It has not heretofore been in great 
demand, but there is no doubt it exists in quantity 
sufficient to supply the wants of the country. 
Peat. — Owing to the abundance of other kinds 
of fuel, peat has not yet been brought into extensive 
use, although it exists in inexhaustible quantities in 
many parts of the United States. Peat is derived 
from the vegetable fibres of partially decayed plants, 
or from decayed wood, which is called ligneous 
peat, though this is inferior to the other. The best 
peat lies at a depth of three or four feet, and fre- 
quently contains the trunks and branches of cedar 
and other durable kinds of wood, which have un- 
dergone little change. Though peat abounds in 
cold and wet regions, it is rarely found in warm 
climates, because vegetable decomposition is there 
too rapid to allow of the preservation of organic 
matter. 
It is unnecessary to mention localities where this 
substance is found. Prof. Hitchcock estimates, that 
in the eastern part of Massachusetts 80,000 acres, 
or 125 square miles, are covered with it, being an 
average thickness of six feet four inches. This 
would yield at least 121,000,000 of cords. Prof. 
Mather remarks, " that peat is so common in every 
part of the first geological district (of New- York, 
embracing the southern part), that it may be found 
on almost every square mile. The value of peat- 
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