Sept. I, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY. 73 
being heated "by waste steam from the compressing steam-engine. By 
the time the whole of the sixty per cent, of water is evaporated, an 
arrangement of bands and elevators conveys the peat to a loft over the 
compressing nn*ebine, where it is subjected to the action of an apparatus, 
the result of which is to pass the peat down a tube by the action of a 
ram. As the peat is driven forward in the tube it becomes so wedged, 
and so powerful a resistance is offered by the friction against the sides 
of the tube, that each successive charge is consolidated into a separate 
hard block before the whole mass in the tube yields. The outer end of 
the tube is entirely open, and the compressed peat is delivered from it 
in a continuous cylindrical bar, which can be readily broken up into 
separate discs of one inch thickness each, which are formed at each stroke 
of the ram. Each block in transitu remains one minute under pressure, 
and the quality of the compressed peat as fuel is further improved by 
its being made to pass along an open shoot, continued from the end of 
the tube, some 300 feet from the machine, to the store or waggon, without 
rupturing the continuous cylindrical bar in which the peat issues from 
the machine. Peat thus prepared, being so free from moisture, is w T ell 
adapted for the boilers of stationary engines and for brewers' work, and 
has found a ready sale for household purposes, its great cleanliness and 
freedom from smoke being a strong recommendation. A very good gas 
is made by using one-third of Cannel coal and two-thirds of this com- 
pressed peat, but it is probable that from its application to the manu- 
facture of iron the most useful results will yet be derived. 
CULTIVATION OF THE MULBERRY. 
BY A. MARTELLI. 
One simple statistical fact will justify attention to this subject. Twenty- 
five millions of acres in Piedmont and Lombardy, after supplying the 
full wants of the inhabitants, export silk and cocoons to the value of 
six millions sterling. More than twice that quantity of land in Victoria 
alone, superior to the Italian both in soil and climate, could in twenty 
years double that export. The obstacle to this success is, however, not 
confined to silk only. The great evil of all countries is the listlessness 
that pervades the monied classes in all matters relating to agricultural 
interests, and it is against this apathy that we should endeavour to fight, 
by setting an example of activity to the poorer classes of the community, 
and by raising up an intelligent body of men fitted to carry out the 
projects designed for the furtherance of the cultivation of the soil. 
Complaint is useless where work is necessary to build up the future 
greatness of a country. Give a just direction to agricultural produce, 
