Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 edition. Excerpt: ... a town in the State can be named where more or less peat does not exist. The eastern section, however, is certainly best stored with those varieties that may be employed for fuel; and it is an unexpected fact, that the south-east part of the State, which abounds with sand, contains also a large amount of peat. "The beds of peat on Nantucket, and the small adjacent Islands of Thuckanuck, Muskegut, and Gravel, contain, according to a report of Lieut. Prescott, six hundred and fifty acres of peat from one to fourteen feet thick, and generally of good quality. This must afford an inexhaustible supply of fuel for the inhabitants; and yet I was surprised to learn that so little use was made of it." We are told of a deposit of peat at Barnstable, resting upon a thick bed or matting of cranberry vines; the vines and berries still preserving their original form until brought to the surface and exposed to the sun and air. We have ourselves seen at Lexington, Mass., a rich deposit of pure black peat, six feet in depth, resting upon a compact bed of clean moss, of the consistency of wet hay, and retaining its light green color. It is a curious fact also, and worthy of note, that, along the coast in the south-east part of the State, the remains of ancient forests, now submerged, are not uncommon. This is the case in the harbor of Nantucket, as reported by Lieut. Jona. Prescott, who superintended the dredging of that harbor. Portions of cedar, maple, oak, and beach trees, were found, some of them in an erect position, accompanied by peat. Another submarine forest exists at Holmes Hole. Near the south-west extremity of the Vineyard, we learn of another. On the north side of Cape Cod also, opposite Yarmouth, cedar stumps are found, extending...
