PRELIMINARY REPORT ON PEAT.

Mr. J. S. Kirk, of the Tavares & Gulf R. R.; Mr. W. J. Krome, constructing engineer of the Florida East Coast Ry.; and Mr. H. P. Savage, who was in charge of the Everglades drainage operations west of Fort Lauderdale at the time of my visit in April, 19o9. Most of these gentlemen, it happens, are of that numerous class who have come from other states to Florida, and attracted by its many natural advantages have become permanent residents.
Outside of Florida I have received most valuable advice from Dr. Chas. A. Davis of the U. S. Geological Survey (lately transfer.red to the newly created Bureau of Mines), who is perhaps the foremost authority on peat in America at the present time. He has helped me most generously in personal consultation in New York and Washington, and by a somewhat voluminous correspondence; and I have drawn freely for ideas upon his published reports on the peat of Michigan, Maine, and North Carolina, particularly the first named.
Prof. C. S. Sargent, director of the Arnold Arboretum, bv sending me to remote corners of Florida in search of rare trees, during three weeks in the spring of 19o9 and two months in the spring of 191o, has given me opportunity to see some interesting peat deposits which I might have missed otherwise, particularly at the south end of the Everglades and the mouth of the Suwannee River.
Mr. Bryant Walker, of Detroit, Mich., a recognized authority on fresh-water shells, has furnished a list of shells found in peat near Lake Panasoffkee.
Prof. M. L. Fernald, of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University, has identified a few of the peat-forming plants by comparison with the large collections at that institution, much better than 1 could by the descriptions to which I. had access in Tallahassee.
Dr. J. H. Barnhart, librarian of the New York Botanical Garden, has kindly looked up for me a number of references which could not be supplied by the library of the Survey.

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