IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF Moss PEAT OF THE GENUS SPHAGNUM
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Versmann, Ph.D., Consulting Chemist, of
New Charlton, in the County of Kent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF Moss PEAT OF THE GENUS
SPHAGNUM." A communication from abroad by the Firm of Ed. Meyer & Co.,
of Brunswick, Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Versmann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1SS1.
FREDERICK VERSMANN, Ph.D., Consulting Cheinist, of New Charlton, in the
County of Kent. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF
Moss PEAT OF THE GENUS SPHAGNUM." [A communication from abroad by the
Firm of Ed. Meyer & Co., of Brunswick, Germany.]
The object of this Invention is the preparation and application to useful purposes
of moss peat of the genus sphagnum, which is found in various parts of the
Continent of Europe, and more particularly in Germany, and which is generally
known by the naine of light moss peat or bakers' peat.
The manner in which I prepare this peat is as follows:-
After it has been dug and dried in the usual manner, I pass it through a machine
similar to a " devil" to tear it up, and separate therefrom any hard lumps or roots;
the material thus prepared forms a mixture of a spongy fibrous mass and of a
coarse powder, which I separate from each other by passing them over or through
a sieve connected with the machine.
If the material has to be transported some distance I prefer to have both
materials strongly compressed in bales, to reduce the bulk as much as possible.
Both the spongy fibrous mass and the coarse powder thus obtained from the
moss peat act much more powerfully than ordinary peat in absorbing moisture,
salts from saline solutions and various gases, either free or in solution.
I apply the spongy fibrous part as a substitute for straw, sawdust, or other
substances in stables as litter for horses or other animals, and for this reason I call
ונו...מז

page_text: it moss peat litter; it is more active than any other material hitherto used for the
purpose in absorbing and retaining the liquid and solid excrements of the animals,
and the air in the stables remains perfectly free from any smell; but it is most
important to have the litter free from any dust or powder which would be injurious
to the animals, and for this reason I separate the powder therefrom, as already
stated.
I further apply the peat as an absorbent and disinfectant in urinals and in
closets similar to the well known earth closets, using the peat in lieu of the dry
earth; but for these applications I prefer to use the coarse powder resulting
from the first preparation of the moss peat, and which I call moss peat dust or
powder.
When fully saturated the materials are removed from the stables, urinals, or
closets, and form a valuable manure, which may at once be used as such; or it may
be pressed to separate as much as possible of the absorbed liquid, and then be mixed
with any of the known chemical manures, such as ammonium sulphate, bone
ashes, etc., to increase its manurial value.
If preferred the material may be mixed with such manures without previous
pressing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Frederick Versmann in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th May 1882.
FREDERICK VERSMANN, Ph.D., Consulting Chemist, of New Charlton, in the
County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF
Moss PEAT OF THE GENUS SPHAGNUM." (A communication from abroad by the
Firm of Ed. Meyer & Co., of Brunswick, Germany.)
The object of this Invention is the preparation and application to useful purposes
of moss peat of the genus sphagnum, which is found in various part of the
Continent of Europe, and more particularly in Germany, and which is generally
known by the name of light moss peat or bakers' peat.
The manner in which I prepare this peat is as follows :—
After it has been dug and dried in the usual manner, I pass it through a machino
similar to a "devil" to tear it up, and separate therefrom any hard lumps or roots;
the material thus prepared forms a mixture of a spongy fibrous mass and of a
coarse powder, which I separate from each other by passing them over or through
n sieve connected with the machine.
If the material has to be transported some distance I prefer to have both
materials strongly compressed in bales to reduce the bulk as much as possible.
Both the spongy fibrous mass and the coarse powder thus obtained from the
moss pect much more powerfully than ordinary peat in absorbing moisture
salts from saline solutions and various gases, cither freo or in solution. I apply
the spongy fibrous part as a substitute for straw, sawdust, or other substances in
stables as litter for horses or other animals, and for this reason I call it moss peat
litter; it is more active than any other material hitherto used for the purpose in
absorbing and retaining the liquid and solid excrements of the animals, and the
air in the stables remains perfectly free from any smell; but it is most important
to have the litter free from any dust or powder which would be injurious to the
animals, and for this reason it is essential to separate the powder therefrom, as
already stated. I further apply the peat as an absorbent and disinfectant in
urinals and in closets, similar to the well known earth closets, using tho peat in lieu
of the dry earth; but for these applications I prefer to use the coarse powder
resulting from the first preparation of the moss peat, and which I call moss peat
dust or powder.
When fully saturated the materials are removed from the stables, urinals, or
closets, and form a valuable manure which may at once be used as such; or it may
be pressed to separate as much as possible of the absorbed liquid, and then be
mixed with any of the known chemical manures, such as ammonium-sulphate,
bone ashes, etc., to increase its manurial value. If preferred the material may be.
mixed with such manures without previous pressing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Versmann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of May, One thousand eight hundred