118 
combustible liquids or solids during its decomposition. 
7th. Suggesting that the same idea might be transferred to 
coal without confining it to any portion of the plant. 8th. 
The rapid formation of hard peat promoted by the growth 
of fine mosses, which break down readily into fine powder, 
whereas strong stems remain long. 
Next, certain economic and sanitary points. 1st. The 
importance of keeping up in certain parts of the country a 
sufficient amount of peat for the fuel of the neighbourhood. 
2nd. The possibility, by proper peat culture, of increasing 
the growth manifold. 3rd. The question of the removal 
of the resinous, &:c., bodies by solution instead of distilla- 
tion. 4th. The value of peat as a reservoir of water. 5th. 
Its value as a rapid grower, if properly cultivated, for filling 
up wet ground and swamps. 6th. Its subsequent use in 
removing swamp fever, which was never found, at least in 
the northern peat bogs, and he believed never in the true 
peat bog, the cold not being the cause of tliis. 
On recent enquiry, he had found peat which, on good 
evidence, had grown 30 inches in 41 years, and observers 
with still better opportunities gave amounts much higher, 
equal to 88 inches in a similar time. Taking the lower 
estimate, it seemed clear that Sprengel’s statement was 
correct, that peat grew more combustible matter in an acre 
than forest trees grew. The specimen in question, from 
Deeside, on a spur of the Grampians, had a considerable 
density, viz., 0'92, measuring externally, or a cubic foot 
weighed 571bs., whereas a cubic foot of water weighs 62 •82, 
The probably very old peat of a coaly fracture spoken of by 
several persons is not here alluded to, and did not come 
under the author’s observation. The amount of the wet 
material that grew in an acre was 2,454 cubic feet in a year, 
and of the dry material, taking the lowest estimate of 
l-6th, 10’2 tons, say ten. The estimated amount for wood 
in the plains below was considered to be 2 J tons per acre 
