Excerpt from Report of the Fuel Research Board for the Years 1922, 1923: First Section: The Production of Air-Dried Peat

The use of peat as a domestic fuel is of very ancient origin and is probably coeval with that of coal. Notwithstanding the long period over which peat fuel has been. Used, progress in its preparation and utilization has been slow, and in many countries its production is still dependent upon the laborious hand-winning methods which, with the exception of minor differences, are the same in all countries.

During the past century many attempts have been made, chiefly in Germany, to apply mechanical methods to the excavation and spreading of the peat. While the use of elevators and mace rators has led to the production of a denser and tougher fuel, the output of such plants is small and the number Of workers so large that unless wages are kept at a very low level such processes can scarcely be held to produce a peat fuel capable of competing with hand - cut peat or coal. Within the past ten years strenuous efforts have been made to develop mechanical methods Of excava tion and to apply conveyor plant to the automatic distribution Of the peat in the shape of blocks, or sods, on the bog surface. The purpose Of this report is to set out recent practice as Observed during visits paid to Canada in 1920 and to Germany and Sweden in 1921. (see Appendices I to III.) It may be fairly stated that in the countries mentioned the most serious efforts have been made towards the solution of the problem of winning peat. The problem may be said to consist in the preparation of a fuel in the form Of blocks or briquettes containing 15 per cent. To 30 per cent. Of moisture from the raw peat in the bog, which, in its undrained condition, may contain 92 per cent. To 95 per cent. Moisture and, when drained, 88 per cent. To 91 per cent.

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