[2] The oxygen thus absorbed by water, serves for the respiration of fish and aquatic animals.
[3] This sample contained also fish-bones, hence the larger content of nitrogen was not entirely due to absorbed ammonia.
[4] Reichardt's analyses are probably inaccurate, and give too much ammonia and nitric acid.
[5] These analyses were executed--A by Professor G. F. Barker; B by Mr. O. C. Sparrow; C by Mr. Peter Collier.
[6] _Shell marl_, consisting of fragments and powder of fresh-water shells, is frequently met with, underlying peat beds. Such a deposit occurs on the farm of Mr. John Adams, in Salisbury, Conn. It is eight to ten feet thick. An air-dry sample, analyzed under the writer's direction, gave results as follows:
"Water 30.62 { soluble in water 0.70} Organic matter { } 6.52 { insoluble in water 5.82} Carbonate of lime 57.09 Sand 1.86 Oxide of iron and alumina, with traces of potash, magnesia, sulphuric and phosphoric acid 3.91 ------- 100.00
Another specimen from near Milwaukee, Wis., said to occur there in immense quantities underlying peat, contained, by the author's analysis--
Water 1.14 Carbonate of lime 92.41 Carbonate of magnesia 3.43 Peroxide of iron with a trace of phosphoric acid 0.92 Sand 1.60 ------ 99.50
[7] To the kindness of Joseph Sheffield, Esq., of New Haven, the author is indebted for facilities in carrying on these experiments.
[8] At the instigation of Henry A. Dyer, Esq., at that time the Society's Corresponding Secretary.
[9] Derived from the communications published in the author's Report. Trans. Conn. State Ag. Soc. 1858 p.p. 101-153.
1.--_Kinds of peat that make the best fuel._
The value of peat for fuel varies greatly, like its other qualities. Only those kinds which can be cut out in the shape of coherent blocks, or which admit of being artificially formed into firm masses, are of use in ordinary stoves and furnaces. The powdery or friable surface peat, which has been disintegrated by frost and exposure, is ordinarily useless as fuel, unless it be rendered coherent by some mode of preparation. Unripe peat which contains much undecomposed moss or grass roots, which is therefore very light and porous, is in general too bulky to make an effective heating material before subjection to mechanical treatment.