SUBDUING THE LAND 12$ 



will prevent its receiving sudden jars. When frozen, it 

 should be thawed out slowly and without direct contact 

 with the heated surface of a stove or fuel. Most acci- 

 dents in cold climates happen while thawing out frozen 

 dynamite. Dynamite is sold in forms so that one or 

 more pieces or sticks may be used for each stump, and 

 suitable fuses are also made. The portions of stumps 

 not thrown entirely out of the ground by the explosive 

 may be drawn out by means of a team with chain and 

 stump hook; though if large roots remain deeply im- 

 bedded in the soil the stump puller may be used. 



The position in which to place the dynamite must be 

 determined by the form and position of the stump. At 

 the side of and under the stump, in a hole made in the 

 earth with a crowbar, is usually the most advantageous 

 place in case of large pine stumps. In some cases, it is 

 wise to bore a hole in the stump, and, in rare cases, to 

 locate the load of explosive under the center of the 

 stump. In timbered regions where much clearing is in 

 progress, men may be employed who are especially 

 expert in the effective and economic use of dynamite. 



Experience with a given kind of stump under certain 

 conditions of soil will aid the judgment of the intelligent 

 man in locating the explosives so as best to throw the 

 stump out, and break it into parts which may be easily 

 piled for burning. 



Chemicals for destroying stumps have been experi- 

 mented with, but so far as known none of them have been 

 successfully used. 



Bacteria and fungi perform an important part in the 

 decay of stumps and it has been suggested that the work 

 of the bacteria might be encouraged by inoculating the 

 stump with the proper species, or by supplying them 

 with the kinds of foods or conditions which would cause 

 them to multiply. Forms of fungi perform an important 

 part in slowly removing stumps, and it may be that by 



