Peat and its Uses as Fertilizer and Fuel

by Samuel W. Johnson

Note.—In peats containing sulphate of the protoxide of iron, the loss that occurs during ignition is partly due to the escape of sulphuric acid, which is set free by the decomposition of the above mentioned salt of iron. But the quantity is usually so small in comparison with the organic matter, that it may be disregarded. The same may be said of the combined water in the clay that is mixed with some mucks, which is only expelled at a high temperature.

IV. 3 grammes of the sample are digested for half an hour, with 200 cubic centimeters (66.6 times their weight,) of boiling water, then removed from the sand bath, and at the end of twenty-four hours, the clear liquid is decanted. This operation is twice repeated upon the residue; the three solutions are mixed, filtered, concentrated, and finally evaporated to dryness (in a tared platinum capsule,) over a water bath. The residue, which must be dried at 212 degrees, until it ceases to lose weight, gives the total amount soluble in water. The dried residue is then heated to low redness, and maintained at that temperature until the organic matter is burned off. The loss represents the amount of organic matter soluble in water, the ash gives the quantity of soluble inorganic matter.

V. 1 gramme is digested for two hours, at a temperature just below the boiling point, with 100 cubic centimeters of a solution containing 5 per cent. of crystallized carbonate of soda. It is then removed from the sand bath and allowed to settle. When the supernatant liquid has become perfectly transparent, it is carefully decanted. This operation is repeated until all the organic matter soluble in this menstruum is removed; which is accomplished as soon as the carbonate of soda solution comes off colorless. The residue, which is to be washed with boiling water until the washings no longer affect test papers, is thrown upon a tared filter, and dried at 212 degrees. It is the total amount of organic and inorganic matter insoluble in carbonate of soda. The loss that it suffers upon ignition, indicates the amount of organic matter, the ash gives the inorganic matter.

Note.—The time required to insure perfect settling after digesting with carbonate of soda solution, varies, with different peats, from 24 hours to several days. With proper care, the results obtained are very satisfactory. Two analyses of No. 6, executed at different times, gave total insoluble in carbonate of soda—1st analysis 23.20 per cent.; 2d analysis 23.45 per cent. These residues yielded respectively 14.30 and 14.15 per cent. of ash.

VI. The quantity of organic matter insoluble in water but soluble in solution of carbonate of soda, is ascertained by deducting the joint weight of the amounts soluble in water, and insoluble in carbonate of soda, from the total amount of organic matter present. The inorganic matter insoluble in water, but soluble in carbonate of soda, is determined by deducting the joint weight of the amounts of inorganic matter soluble in water, and insoluble in carbonate of soda, from the total inorganic matter.

VII. The amount of nitrogen is estimated by the combustion of 1 gramme with soda-lime in an iron tube, collection of the ammonia in a standard solution of sulphuric acid, and determination of the residual free acid by an equivalent solution of caustic potash and a few drops of tincture of cochineal as an indicator.

The results of the analyses are given in the following Tables. Table I. gives the direct results of analysis. In Table II. the analyses are calculated on dry matter, and the nitrogen upon the organic matters. Table III. gives a condensed statement of the external characters and agricultural value[9] of the samples in their different localities, and the names of the parties supplying them.

TABLE I.—COMPOSITION OF CONNECTICUT PEATS AND MUCKS.

KEY
A - Soluble in water.
B - Insol. in water, but soluble in carbonate of soda.
C - Insol. in water and carbonate of soda.
D - Total.
E - Water.
F - Nitrogen.
G - Total matters soluble in water.
From Whom and Whence Received.	ORGANIC MATTER.				INORGANIC MATTER.
	A	B	C	D	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
1. Lewis M. Norton	17.63		34.79	52.42				35.21	12.37	1.28	1.54
Goshen, Conn.
2. Lewis M. Norton	60.02		11.65	71.67				8.00	20.33	1.85
Goshen, Conn.
3. Lewis M. Norton	50.60		29.75	80.35				4.52	15.13	1.90	2.51
Goshen, Conn.
4. Messrs. Pond & Miles	65.15		11.95	77.10				3.23	19.67	1.20	1.63
Milford, Conn.
5. Messrs. Pond & Miles	67.75		16.65	84.40				2.00	13.60	.95	3.42
Milford, Conn.
6. Samuel Camp	43.20		8.90	52.10	14.90		14.30	29.20	18.70	2.10	2.50
Plainville, Conn.
7. Russell U. Peck	38.49		30.51	69.00				13.59	17.41	1.62	2.61
Berlin, Conn.
8. Rev. B. F. Northrop	42.30		10.15	52.45				34.70	12.85	1.31	1.64
Griswold, Conn.
9. J. H. Stanwood	49.65		7.40	57.05				4.57	38.38	1.23	1.83
Colebrook, Conn.
10. N. Hart, Jr.	55.11		10.29	65.40				14.89	19.71	2.10	6.20
West Cornwall, Conn.
11. A. L. Loveland	38.27		2.89	41.16				47.24	11.60	1.00	.75
North Granby, Conn.
12. Daniel Buck, Jr.	27.19		48.84	76.03				5.92	18.05	2.40	2.94
Poquonock, Conn.
13. Daniel Buck, Jr.	33.66		40.51	74.17				8.63	17.20	2.40	1.80
Poquonock, Conn.
14. Philip Scarborough	51.45		25.00	76.45				7.67	15.88	1.20	1.43
Brooklyn, Conn.
15. Adams White	54.38		23.14	77.52				9.03	13.45	2.89	5.90
Brooklyn, Conn.
16. Paris Dyer	18.86		5.02	23.88				67.77	8.35	1.03	2.63
Brooklyn, Conn.
17. Perrin Scarborough	43.27		16.83	60.10				25.78	14.12	0.86	15.13
Brooklyn, Conn.
18. Geo. K. Virgin	2.21	20.57	8.25	31.03	0.32	9.41	48.05	57.78	11.19	0.64	2.53
Collinsville, Conn.
19. Geo. K. Virgin	1.12	9.19	5.10	15.41	0.28	1.08	48.65	50.01	34.58	0.34	1.40
Collinsville, Conn.
20. Geo. K. Virgin	0.72	9.31	3.65	13.68	0.25	0.76	28.20	29.21	57.11	0.28	.97
Collinsville, Conn.
21. S. Mead	3.30	40.52	8.20	52.02	2.60	10.02	23.90	36.52	11.46	1.51	5.90
New Haven, Conn.
22. Edwin Hoyt	2.84	13.42	7.55	23.81	2.72	19.88	46.30	68.90	7.29	0.45	5.56
New Canaan, Conn.
23. Edwin Hoyt	2.34	13.49	8.05	23.88	1.54	12.42	56.20	70.16	5.96	0.90	3.88
New Canaan, Conn.
24. Edwin Hoyt	1.15	17.29	8.00	26.44	1.67	14.13	51.10	66.90	6.66	1.01	2.82
New Canaan, Conn.
25. A. M. Haling	3.43	52.15	8.65	64.23	0.35	0.16	4.90	5.41	30.36	1.62	3.78
Rockville, Conn.
26. A. M. Haling	3.87	71.57	8.44	83.88	0.23		1.98	2.21	13.91	1.32	4.10
Rockville, Conn.
27. A. M. Haling	3.87	44.04	4.25	52.16	0.51	4.07	5.05	9.63	38.21	1.88	4.38
Rockville, Conn.
28. Albert Day	2.45	46.25	6.35	55.05	0.32	0.65	5.40	6.37	38.58	0.84	2.77
Brooklyn, Conn.
29. C. Goodyear	1.80	45.42	10.35	57.57	0.35	7.98	18.80	27.13	15.30	1.68	2.15
New Haven, Conn.
30. Rev. Wm. Clift	3.33	51.68	9.80	64.81	2.82		5.86	8.68	26.51	0.95	6.15
Stonington, Conn.
31. Henry Keeler	2.13	45.12	12.05	59.30	0.78	3.79	16.70	21.27	19.43	1.57	2.91
South Salem, N. Y.
32. John Adams	1.71	42.87	10.65	55.23	1.02	1.33	14.35	16.70	28.07	1.76	2.73
Salisbury, Conn.
33. Rev. Wm. Clift	5.40	16.72	7.25	29.37	7.40	6.40	48.05	61.85	8.78	1.32	2.80
Stonington, Conn.
Average	2.06				1.44					1.37	3.72