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The capacity of growing possessed by peat was so great, 
if the results found can be readily attained in many places, 
that in suitable situations it might be used for filling up 
swamps and making dry surfaces, for after rising to a certain 
height the top easily drained and left a part dry. 
Swamps were sources of fever and ague. True peat bogs 
never were, so far as the author knew, and probably the 
growing of peat would render many places healthy which 
could not otherwise easily be made so. Gases from peat 
mosses it is intended to examine more fully, and also many 
peat-forming plants. 
PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SECTION. 
Tuesday, March 2nd, 1875. 
E. W. Binney, F.E.S., F.G.S., Vice-President of the Section 
in the Chair. 
“Kainfall at Old Trafibrd, Manchester, in the year 1874,’’ 
by G. V. Vernon, F.E.A.S., F.M.S. 
The rainfall during 1874 was 34*095 inches and fell upon 
203 days. The total rainfall was 1*617 inches below the 
average of the last 81 years, and 4*280 inches above the fall 
for 1873. 
January had a rainfall above the average ; February below, 
March considerably in excess; April, May, June, and July 
were all considerably below the average, June and July 
unusually so, the deficiency for these four months amounting 
to 5*540 inches below the 81 years’ average; August and 
September were above the average, September slightly 
below the average ; November and December were above 
the average, especially November, the fall in that month 
reaching nearly 5 inches. April was the driest month of 
the year. 
