2 BULLETIN 802, U. S. DEPAET^IEXT OF AGRICULTURE. 
bilities, and which vary greatly according to regional distribution 
and topographic features, even in the same deposit. Xot only a proper 
understanding by the layman appears to be wanting, but the neces- 
sary scientific foundation is still lacking in this country which would 
deal with the differences in botanical composition of the various peat 
materials and their corresponding physical, chemical, and other char- 
acteristics of practical importance to the farmer, the technician, the 
manufacturer, and the scientist as well. A recognition of these differ- 
ences, it is believed, would emphasize to those using peat land the 
inherent possibilities and limitations of the organic materials. From 
the standpoint of the State agencies and local investigators this is a 
specific problem of an urgent character underlying the sound and 
rational use of such land. Neither the selection of- peat deposits of 
practical value for certain crops or for specific technical purposes 
nor the close correlation which exists between the botanical composi- 
tion of the different peat materials and its corresponding physical, 
chemical, cultural, economic, or other merits can be attempted suc- 
cessfully until consideration is given to the important types of this 
material found in this country. 
It is precisely this information which would enable one to form 
a correct judgment concerning the structural profile of peat deposits 
which accumulate under the widely differing climatic, topographic, 
geologic, and vegetational conditions of this country; and it is this 
aspect of the problem that would supply the essential criteria con- 
cerning the manner of developing a peat area for specific agricultural 
or technical purposes, or for a combination of agriculture with a 
varied manufacturing utilization, where under the pressure of stren- 
uous circumstances this development must needs be centralized near 
a source of supply of raw material to insure financial success. 
If we attempt to formulate the status of peat investigations in the 
United States and compare it with that of Holland, Sweden, Austria,, 
or Germany; if we appraise in these countries and our own the degree 
of success in utilizing the various types of this material directly ap- 
plicable to certain forms of agriculture or to economic industries ; or 
if we compare the respective results of scientific investigations and 
the literature on the subject, based upon well-established, definitely 
described classes of deposits or groups of peat material, we shall have 
to acknowledge that we are far behind the position we ought now 
to occupy by right of resources and opportunities. The lack of in- 
formation on which a wise decision should be based and the absence 
of any prospect of continuous or satisfactory returns have led in 
many places to a lack of confidence and to the abandonment of at- 
tempts to bring peat-land areas to a profit -yielding basis. 
On the continent of Europe much effort is now devoted to encour- 
aging the development of distinct classes of peat land. Good and 
