The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-03-20
Getting Land Into Shape by Blowing Out stumps.

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Getting Land Into Shape
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
Explosives can be used to advantage
In clearing most land. Either alone or
in combination with burning methods
or pullers, explosives, if used efficient
~, will materially reduce the cost of
stamping.
Dynamite is a ear Of rapid clear
ing, and when it is used there is no
capital tied up in idle machinery after
the clearing is completed. If it is not
possible to reduce the acre cost for
stamping machinery to a reasonable
figure, blasting is the most economical
method, except perhaps the burning
methods, to use in stamping small
mite alone in stumping it is advisable
to get a 25 or 50-psund box and exper-
iment to find how much it requires to
blow out some average stumps on the
tract. However, it is usually found
more economical to use dynamite than
to depend upon labor for doing the
work.
1t is difficult to clear the earth from
the roots Of stumps in clay soil. Where
stumps are shot clear Of the ground
there is less adhering earth than
where they are cracked and pulled.
Perhaps in clay soil it would be more
| economical to shoot the stumps clear
of the ground.
Cost of Explosives.
If explosives are bought in small
quantities the cost is rather high. To
reduce the cost it is recommended that
several farmers club together and buy
in large quantities. Careful, expert!
enced persons can safely do the work
with high explosives, but no n should
attempt to use them until he thorough.
ly understands the best and safest
methods of handling. Various brands
of explosive require different methods
Of handling, and full and detailed in
formation as to the best ways Of using
them is absolutely essential. For this
reason, the reader is advised to study
with extreme care the instructions is
sued by the manufacturer of the brand
of explosive which he proposes to use
If dynamite is to be handled in cold
weather, study very carefully the man
ufaeturers' instructions on thawing
dynamite. Many accidents have hap
pened through ignorance or careless.
ness in thawing. The blasting caps
are much more sensitive than the dy
Mantle itself, and should be handled
with great care. A cap crimper is an
inexpensive tool, and it's use may pre-
vent serious accidents.
Best Time to Blast.
The best time to blast stumps is
when the ground is saturated with wa
ter. The explosive works most eff
GENTLY then because the gases result
ing from the explosion do not escape
through the spaces between the soil
particles.
An explosive containing a low per.
centage Of nitroglycerin will do the
same work in wet soil as one contain.
Ing a higher percentage would do in
the same soil when dry. Dynamite
with 20 per cent Of nitroglycerin or
It's equivalent is used almost exclusive
ly on the Pacific coast. 1t could be
used effectively for. stamping opera
lions in many other parts Of the United
States, especially where the soil is
heavy, wet or where the stumps are
well decayed. Dynamite with 40 per
cent nitroglycerin is largely used in the
South for blasting the longleaf pine,
and the lake states for white pine. In
many cases a lower grade Of explosive
could be proftably substituted. The
40 per cent grade should be used where
the soil. is somewhat light and dry or
where the stumps are green. The 60
per cent grade of dynamite has been
used with good success in blasting
stumps in the porous coral soils of
southern Florida, in blasting stumps at
a dry time in sandy soil, and in blast
ing tough, green, hardwood stumps.
The higher percentage dynamites are
likely to pack heavy soil if used when
it Is very wet.
Roughly, the number Of pounds of
dynamite required to shoot a stump
clear Of the ground is the same as
the square of the number Of feet in
the diameter Of the stump at the cut
off. For example, a 2-foot stump will
require four pounds, and n 6 feet
in diameter will require SO pounds
Often less will do the work, but oc.
casionally more is required. All fac
tors, such as kind and %soundness OF
the stumps, and kind and condition OF
the soil, influence the amount of explo-
sive required for a stump Of given size
Loud reports and the throwing OF parts