FUZE, SAFETY 527 



arc made to traverse backwards and forwards in the direction of the axes of the re- 

 volving rollers, during the passage of the cloth over them. 



After they are brushed in the machine, the goods are singed by passing their cut 

 surface over a cylinder of iron, laid in a horizontal direction, and kept red hot by a 

 flue. They are now brushed again by the machine, and once more passed over the 

 singeing surface. The brushing and singeing are repeated a third or even occasionally 

 a fourth time, till the cord acquires a smooth polished appearance. 



The goods are next steeped, washed, and bleached by immersion in solution of 

 chloride of lime. They are then dyed by appropriate chemical means. After which 

 they are padded (imbued by the padding machine of the calico-printers) with a solu- 

 sition of glue, and passed over steam cylinders to stiffen them. 



Smooth fustians, when cropped or shorn before dyeing, are called moleskins ; but 

 when shorn after being dyed, are called beverteen ; they are both tweeled fabrics. 

 Cantoon is a fustian with a fine cord visible upon the one side, and a satiny surface of 

 yarns running at right angles to the cords upon the other side. The satiny side is 

 sometimes smoothed by singeing. The stuff is strong, and has a very fine aspect. 



FUSTIC, or Yellow Wood. (Bois jaunc, Fr. ; Gelbholz, Ger.) The old fustic 

 of the English dyer. It is the wood of the Morus tinctoria. It is light, not hard, 

 and pale yellow with orange veins ; it contains two colouring matters, one resinous, 

 and another soluble in water. Chevreul has given the name of morin to the colour- 

 ing matter obtained from fustic. It is procured by boiling ground fustic in distilled 

 water, passing the decoction rapidly through a filter, and allowing the liquid to stand 

 for several days, when the colouring matter (morin) is precipitated. 



The decoctions of fustic in water are brightened by the addition of a little glue, and 

 still more so by curdled milk. This wood is rich in colour, and imparts permanent 

 dyes to woollen stuffs, when aided by proper mordants. It unites well with the blue 

 of the indigo vat, and Saxon blue, in producing green of various shades. Alum, 

 tartar, and solution of tin, render its colour more vivid ; sea-salt and sulphate of iron 

 deepen its hue. From 5 to 6 parts of old fustic are sufficient to give a lemon colour 

 to 16 parts of cloth. This wood is often employed with sulphate of iron in producing 

 olive and brownish tints, which agree well with its dull yellow. For the same reason 

 it is much used for dark greens. 



The bichromates of potash and of lead have nearly superseded the use of fustic, 

 but still it is employed for producing some green in cotton yarn, and in light cotton 

 fabrics, as gauzes and muslins. 



FUSTIC, YOUNG. (Fustet, Fr.) The wood of the Rhus cotinus, a shrub which 

 grows principally in the south of France and in Italy, called also Venetian sumach. 

 This wood contains a large quantity of yellow colouring matter, named fusteric. 

 This colouring matter has a strong attraction for oxygen, which affects its use as a 

 dye, rendering it very fugitive. It is rarely used alone, but as an assistant to strike 

 some particular tint. 



FUSTIN. A name given to the colouring matter of the Rhus cotinus or young 

 fustic. 



FUZE. Gunpowder, or some other explosive agent placed in a case or tube, to fire 

 the powder placed in the cannon, or in the hole bored in rocks for blasting. See 

 ELECTRICITY, BLASTING BY, for a description of Abel's fuzes. See also FUZE, 

 SAFETY. 



FUZE, SAFETY. The safety fuze is an instrument manufactured for the pur- 

 pose of conveying fire to the charge in blasting. It is made of flax with a column of 

 fine gunpowder in its centre, and appears like a hard, varnished cord. To use it 

 one end of the required length is placed in the charge, and the hole is tamped with 

 any soft substance which will not cut the fuze. Fire must be applied to the fuze 

 itself, which slowly and surely burns to the charge, if care has been taken to select 

 that kind of fuze which the operation requires. It then affords the very best means 

 of blasting ever devised, combining certainty, economy, and safety. The safety fuze 

 was the invention of Mr. Bickford, who thus describes it in the specification of his 

 process : 



' I embrace in the centre of my fuze, in a continuous line throughout its whole 

 length, a small portion, or compressed cylinder, or rod of gunpowder, or other proper 

 combustible matter prepared in the usual pyrotechnical manner of firework for the 

 discharging of ordnance ; and which fuze so prepared, I afterwards more effectually 

 secure and defend by a covering of strong twine made of similar material, and 

 wound thereon, at nearly right angles to the former twist, by the operation which 

 I call countering, hereinafter described; and I then immerse them in a bath 

 of Cheated varnish, and add to them afterwards a coat of whiting, bran, or other 

 suitable powdery substance, to prevent them from sticking together, or to the fingers 

 of those who handle them ; and I thereby also defend them from wet or moisture, 



