The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1921-10-26

| w iln dynamite IOr
Clearing Land.
Distribution by the United States
department of A Agriculturc of 12,50O,-
600 pounds of picric acid salvared
from the war stores and designed to
be used for farm explosive swill arouse
interest in the desirability and prac-
! tlcablllty of blasting stumps to clear
off old woodlots for crop purposes.
The plcric acid for distribution has
been allotted to the States according
to Arrears of cut-over lands. 1t is
planned to establish an agency in each
State to cooperate with the depart
mcnt, and the agricultural college in
each State has been asked to act in
that capacity.
Not Commercially Available
Plcric acid is rather higher i'm ex-
plosive power than ordinary CONNER
clal dynamite as u.'cd in agriculture,
but for manufacturing reasons is not
likely to be on the market after the
Governments supply is disposed of.
For stump and rock blasting work it
is used in practically the same way,
being exploded by decorating CAB,
either with a fuse or an electric de-
tonator.
In blasting stumps, the proper loca-
tlon and size of the charge depend up
on the KIND, size, and age of the
stump; the kind of soil and the amount
or moisture in it; and the method of
firing the charge which is to be used.
For tap-roOted stumps a good me-
thod is to dig away enough earth at
the side to permit boring an inclined
hole well down pasc the center at the
depth where it is desired to cut the
root off. The hole should be at least
3 inches deeper than the length of the
cartridge to allow for tamping. This
charge may be fired by fuse or cleo
| trlclty, or two or more charges nav
be placed in holes around the outside
OF the root and fired with an electric
blasting machine. Sometimes even
one large charge, planted deep on the
outside OF the root, will do the work.
Where stumps have lateral roots,
some experience and Judgment will be
necessary IN placing the explosive, es-
pecially if only one charge is used
| Generally the center of resistance will
be the center of the stump, although
sometimes roo tson one side are much
stronger than on the other.
Inc depth requires careful consid-
GRAFTON. For small stumps the charge
should be at least 2 feet deep, while
larger stumps with wide c-sprcadinp
roots should be loaded deeper. Sandy
SOIL requires Il deeper charge than
clay or loam.
The size Of the charge can not be
specified briefly, but one authority re-
commends roughly one-half pound of
20 per cent dynamite for each square
foot of stump. With picric acid, CO.
operative Investigations by the United
States Department of Agriculture and
other institutions indicates that sue
cess can be attained with one-fourth of
a pound for each sqrarc foot of white
pine, stumps, with larger charges
TOR hardwood stumps. The incXpcrien-
ced baster should begin experiments
with small stumps and adjust the
charge
Holes in soil may usually be made
by driving a 1 1-2-inch crowbar with a
lO-pound maui. In wood, of course, an
auger is required. Sometimes it is
wise to set off small charge in the
bottom of the hole to form a chamber
and after the hole has, cooled tamp
1T full of slit cartridges. If the soil is
dry, the paper covering of the cart
ridges may be slit with a sharp knife
and the cartridges tampcd into a solid
mass with wooden stick. Cartridges
may be divided by Sitting the paper
around and breaking. Never attempt
to slit q frozen cartridge.
TO prime the charge. cut off the pro-
per length of fuse, allowing at least
z feet per mi minute required to get to
safety after firing
Open the cap box and allow one cap
to slide out into the hand. Never
pick or pry out a cap with sick or
wire, as they are very sensitive. Slip
the end of the fuse snugly into the
open end Of the cap. Crimp the cap
on with crimpcr. If the charge is to
be fired in water, apply little grease
around the top of the cap.
With the crimpcr handle, or stick
the size of lead pencil make a hole
IN the side of the cartridge, incinng
1T so the part to be occupied by the
cap will be parallel with the side of
the cartridge. If the cartridge is to
be fired under water, apply some wa
tcr-proofng substance. Tie the fuse
in place with strin garound the fuse
and the cartridge. Then carefully
place the cartridge in the blast hole,
making sure the cap stays in position.
Printing for electric discharge is much
simpler. Directions go with the ap-
! paratuS.
Having placed the primed charge,
it is necessary to tamp it. Any