ANNUAL REPORT-MINERAL INDUSTRIES. 
39 
keeping the boiler up to its rated capacity, and, in fact, 
during the four hours’ run the percentage of rated horse¬ 
power of the boiler developed was 113.2. The amount of 
peat burned per indicated horsepower hour at the steam 
engine was 5.66 pounds, and per electrical horsepower 
huor at the switchboard was 6.98 pounds. The calorific 
value of the peat as used was 10,082 British thermal units 
per pound. The principal difficulty in the utilization of 
peat under boilers appears to be the frequency with which 
it is necessary to fire. On account of the lightness of the 
material and also on account of its rapid combustion the 
fireman was kept at work almost constantly during the 
test.” The details of these tests are given in a later Bul¬ 
letin No. 332, pp. 76-T8, 1908. 
The great abundance of coal in the United States has 
delayed the development of the peat industry. Peat 
deposits are known to be extensive in this country, and 
with the approach of the exhaustion of coal together with 
the advance in price as a result of increased cost of min¬ 
ing attention will be directed more and more to peat as a 
source of fuel. In Florida, in particular, the lack of a 
local fuel is keenly felt. If present conditions continue 
the supply of wood will soon be exhausted, while the im¬ 
portation of coal involves heavy freight charges. If the 
peat bogs can be drawn upon as an addition to the fuel 
supply the State will be greatly benefited. Some of the 
European countries, as is well known, have relied upon 
peat as a local source of fuel for many centuries. Canada, 
whose coal is less bountiful than that of the United States, 
has advanced much beyond us in the utilization of peat. 
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH. 
Diatomaceous or infusorial earth occurs in the State 
and has been mined to some extent in the vicinity of 
Eustis. None of this material, however, was produced 
during 1907. 
