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used for fuel. The works were situated close to the bog, 
and the cost of cutting, drying, and carrying the peat to the 
mouth of the retorts, was but 2s. 6d. per ton. 
The results obtained by the destructive distillation of 100 
tons of peat, were, charcoal 33 tons ; peatine 100 gallons; 
heavy oil 50 gallons ; pyroxylic spirit 30 gallons ; acetic 
acid 168 gallons; crude tar, of the consistence of tallow, 
containing paraffine, 33 cwts. 14 lbs. ; sulphate of ammonia 
7 cwts. 2 qrs. ; 100 tons of peat were used as fuel, which 
gave 8 tons of ashes. 
Commercially the undertaking proved a failure, not because 
the required products could not be obtained, but because 
they could not be obtained at a price which would enable 
them to enter into competition with the same class of articles 
produced from other sources. 
The other attempt was that of Mr. Rees Reece. In 
endeavouring to carry out his object, Mr. Reece makes use 
of a blast furnace, lined with cast iron at the upper part ; 
below, there is a grating or set of fire bars on which the peat 
is placed, under which are set the blast pipes for introducing 
the air necessary to maintain the combustion of the peat. The 
furnace is provided at the top with a suitable cover, which is 
raised when the furnace is to be charged, an operation done at 
intervals, care being taken that the charge does not descend so 
low as to go out. From the upper part of the furnace, is an 
exit pipe, the other end of which dips into a closed trough of 
water, from which emanates another pipe of ©onsiderable 
length, immersed in a condensing apparatus, kept constantly 
supplied with cold water. The gases or incondensable pro- 
ducts, in their exit from the condensing apparatus, may be 
collected for use as fuel or otherwise ; and the tarry and 
other liquid products pass into a suitable receiver, whence 
they are removed, to be separated and purified by various 
chemical means. 
