117 
Ordinary Meeting, April Gtli, 1875. 
Edward Schunck, Ph.D., F.R.S., &c., President, in the 
Chair. 
Mr. J. S. Kipping and Mr. W. A. Cunningham were 
appointed Auditors of the Treasurer’s accounts. 
“ A Study of Peat Part I. By R Angus Smith, Ph.D., 
F.RS., &c., Y.P. 
The author referred to a former paper, in which he 
stated his belief that calculations as to the age of peat bogs 
were frequently much exaggerated, and that the more highly 
combustible bodies called hydrogen and richer hydrogen 
compounds increased in proportion to age, not by addition 
to their substance, but by the oxidation of the other 
parts, and removal of carbonaceous bodies in the brown 
water. 
After referring to the observation of oil from peat and 
treatment of the subject and its relation to questions con- 
nected with coal, by E. W. Binney, F.R.S., he now wished 
to bring forward certain scientific and certain economic 
points. Of the former : 1st. The rapid growth of peat, 
shown partly by collected experience and by numerous 
quotations. 2nd. The existence of the resins and bodies 
having a high amount of hydrogen and carbon in new as 
well as old peats. 3rd. The cause of the rather greater 
amount in the old, not from formation during decay of the 
plant, but their greater permanence and insolubility. 4th. 
The existence of similar bodies in the fresh mosses which 
form the peat. 5th. The possible removal of all woody 
fibre by decomposition, leaving only oils and resinous or 
similar bodies undergoing little if any chemical change. 
Cth. The reason, viz., that woody fibre produced no highly 
Proceedings — Lit. & Phil. Soc. — Vol. XIY. — No. 11. — Session 1874-75. 
