USE OF DYNAMITE AND TONITE IN FORESTRY. 241 



XXVII. On the Use of Dynamite and Tonite in Forestry. By 

 D. F. M'Kenzie, Forester, Murthly Castle, Perthshire. 



When pitting, trenching, breaking up large boulders, and re- 

 moving large tree roots are necessary previous to planting, these 

 operations will be done most expeditiously by means of an ex- 

 plosive substance. For this purpose Dynamite and Tonite, two 

 of the most powerful blasting powders yet known, are beyond 

 doubt the safest and most economical. Their utility has only to 

 be made known in order that they may come into general use for 

 clearing land of obstructions, etc. The writer having vised these 

 agents largely, and under various circumstances, wishes to bring 

 them under the notice of the Scottish Arboricultural Society. 



Two of the most important uses of these explosives in forestry are, 

 preparing the soil to receive large plants instead of the old method 

 of pitting, and the breaking up of moorband pan. The bad effects 

 of pan on the roots of trees are already too well known. These 

 explosives break it up, and shatter and mix it with the soil so 

 effectually that it disappears, and a free passage is left for the 

 roots several feet around and below the charge. They can also 

 be used with economy in ditching, road-making, and fencing ; also 

 in well-sinking, and in places where the use of the pick is necessary 

 but not convenient. 



Before proceeding further, it is needful to describe the pro- 

 perties, and the caution required in the handling of these safe (but 

 under careless management dangerous) explosives. The safety 

 of dynamite in use and transit is now proved beyond doubt, as 

 "the documents placed in the hands of the secretary to the 

 Railway Clearing House, London, at the meeting of goods 

 managers, on 25th October 1871, and the very severe tests made 

 at Glasgow, by Professor Bischof, on 20th November of that 

 year, before the sub-committee of goods managers, who were 

 appointed to investigate and report as to the ' safety of dynamite 

 in transit,' as well as subsequent tests by the War Office, and 

 other competent authorities, prove that it is unquestionably much 

 safer than gunpowder under all conditions of transport." 



The properties of dynamite are : " When set fire to with a 

 match or fuse in an open space, it bums without exploding, and 

 under confinement it only expends itself more rapidly ; in either 



VOL. VIII., PART III. R 



