Peat and its Products. 
763 
late up to 30 tons of moss peat per day. The smallest machine 
made will work 150 cwt. in a day, requiring one horse-power 
to drive and two men to serve it. The price of the latter 
machine is about 81. 
Further improvements in machines of this kind have been 
made; some of them combining with the “Wolf"’ a sieve for 
separating the dust from the fibre. The sieves generally used 
for this purpose are made of wire netting with meshes of from 
£ to \ of an inch. They are either stretched on a frame which 
is shaken by a horizontal motion, or are made in a cylindrical 
form, and revolve as the moss peat is pushed through them. 
The latter system requires less expenditure of force, but does 
not separate the peat dust so effectually. 
The pressing of moss litter into the smallest possible compass 
and the most convenient shape is an important condition of its 
transportation to distant markets. In Oldenburg and Hanover 
simple lever presses are used, but these have been made so 
powerful that an ordinary large railway truck (as used on the 
Prussian lines) will now take 10 tons of pressed litter. This, 
however, can only be attained by the use of steam-power. 
The vertical presses made by the firm of R. Dolberg, in 
Rostock, will produce with hand labour about, forty bales of 3 
cwt. each per day, or with steam-power sixty to ninety bales of 
3 cwt. each. The price of the hand-press is 25 Z. ? and of the 
steam-press 70 1. 
It is claimed for moss litter : — • 
1. That it affords drier and healthier bedding for horses and cattle than 
any other material. 
2. That in consequence of its great power of absorbing moisture it 
binds the valuable portion of the animal excrements, and, consequently, yields 
the best manure. 
3. That it acts as a disinfectant, and improves the air of the stable. 
4. That a smaller quantity of it is required than would be needed if 
straw were used. 
The published results of experiments and longer experience 
in the use of moss litter are not entirely consistent. In general, 
however, they are favourable, especially where horses and horned 
cattle are concerned ; and cases of sickness consequent upon its 
use can be traced, as a rule, either to negligence or to the 
employment of damp litter. 
The following is an extract from a Report, dated Hanover, 
April 1883, on the use of moss litter in the stables of the 
Prussian Regiment of Uhlans (Lancers) No. 14, which seems 
decidedly favourable : — 
The regiment has used moss litter as a substitute for straw with the 
object of obtaining better and drier beds- for the horses, and reserving the 
