Show prepared by tho the united states department ot of AZri agriculture culture distribution by the united states department of agriculture of pounds of picric acid salva salvaged geI from the war stores and designed to be used for farm explosives will arouse interest lit in the desirability and practicability of 0 blasting stumps to clear off old wood lots tor for crop purposes the picric acid for distribution has been allotted to the states according to areas of cut over lands it is planned to establish an agency in each state to operate cooperate co with the department 1 and the ag agricultural ri cultura I college in each state has been ask ached ed to act in that capacity not commercially available picric acid Is rather higher in explosive power than ordinary commercial dynamite as used in agriculture but tor for manufacturing reasons Is not likely to be on the market after tile the governments supply Is disposed of for stump and rock blasting work it Is used in practically the same way being exploded by a detonating cap either with a luse fuse or an electric detonator in blasting stumps the proper loan location and size of the charge depend upon the kind alize and age of the stump the kind of soil and the amount of moisture in it and the method of firing the charge which Is to be used for tap rooted stumps a good method is to dig away annay enough earth at the side to permit dermit boring an inclined hole well down past tile the center at the depth where it Is desired to cut the root off the hole should be at least eight indies inches deeper than tile the length of the cartridge to allow for tamping this charge may be fired by fuse or electricity or two or more charges may 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 ou on side of the alie root will do the v work 0 rk where stumps have lateral roots some experience and judgment will b be necessary in placing the explosive especially ally if only one charge is used generally the center of resistance will be the center of the stump although sometimes roots on one side are much stronger than on the other the depth requires careful consideration era tion for small stumps the charie charge should be at least two feet deep while larger stumps with wide alde spreading roots should be loaded deeper sandy soil eoll requires a deeper charge than clay or loam size of charge the size of the charge cannot be specified fled briefly but one authority recommends roughly one half pound of 20 per cent dynamite for each square toot foot of stump with picric acid operative cooperative co investigations by the united states department of agriculture and other institutions indicate that success can be attained with one fourth of a pound for each square toot foot of white pine stumps with larger charges for hardwood han lwood stumps the inexperienced blaster bl ater should begin experiments peri ments with noth small stumps and adjust the charge cli arge holes in soil may usually be made by driving a afi linch l inch crowbar with it a ten pound maul in wood of course tin an auger Is required roqui reil sometimes it is wise inise to set oft off a small charge in the lie bottom of the hole bole to form it a chamber arnd after ahe hole lias has cooled tamp it full fall of slit cartridges it if the lie soil Is dry the paper covering of the cartridges may be slit with a sharp knife ond and the cartridges into a solid urais with a wooden stick cartridges may be divided liy by slitting the paper around and breaking never attempt to slit silt a frozen cartridge to prime the charge cli arge cut off of the fill proper length of fuse filse allowing at least 2 feet per minute to get to 80 safety fety after firing open the cap box and allow one eat cap to slide into the hand never pick or pry out a cap with a stick or wire us as they tire are very sensitive S slip the he end of the arre snugly into the open end of the cup cap crimp tile lie cap on with mith it a if the aba cba charge C is to lie be fired in water mitter apply a little grease around the top of alje cap with the handle or a stick the size ize of a lend lead pencil make a hole in tile the side of the cartridge inclining it so 90 the part to bo be occupied by the cap will he be parallel with the ilde i of tin cartridge it the cartridge la is to be tired under water apply some waterproofing substance tle tie the fuse 1 in place with a string around the file exise slid and the cartridge then carefully place the cartridge in the blast hole making sure the cap stays lit in position priming tor for elect elec lc discharge is much simpler directions go with the ap pit para ratu tui wooden stick for tamping having placed the lie primed charge it is necessary to tamp it any straight lit round stick nebout 11 IA aj inches in di ameter and 5 feet long on will do tor for lamping lani ping never use iron moist clay moist loam and moist sand following on one e another in the order named make the best tamping material the material should be packed lightly for four or six inches and then rammed as hard bard as the surrounding soil before firing see that everybody is 0 out ut of the way in firing a safety fuse it Is best to split it exposing the powder for an inch apply a match until the powder spits and then run to safety if the charge falls fails let it alone until next day for large jobs it will often be found advisable to buy an electric blasting outfit which will tire several charges at once the bureau of public roads of the united states department 0 of agriculture will give information about the distribution of picric clerfe acid and the use of this and other explosives the dl distribution trib ution however will be made only through state agen agencies cles |