140 



THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



way is to place the plugs or cartridges in an ordinary tin billy, and to stand 

 this billy in a bucket containing hot water — so hot that you can just about 

 bear your hand in it — for about twenty minutes, when it becomes soft and 

 pliable. On no account should the bucket containing the hot water and 

 frozen explosive be put on or near a fire ; such a proceeding would be highly 

 dangerous. 



Fig. 5. — Punching a hole in the plug of gelignite, showing the correct position o( the hands and gelignite 

 when making the hole with crimpers. 



When gelignite was originally recommended for land -clearing purposes 

 in pre-war days, it contained about 62 per cent, nitro-glycerine, but as the 

 war period extended and the demand for nitro-glycerine for military purposes 

 became more acute, the percentage was reduced to 50 per cent. This 

 50 per cent, nitro-glycerine product is more satisfactory than the old 62 per 

 cent, form for clearing purposes, owing to the reduced percentage of nitro- 

 glycerine having a much slower effect. Both qualities are now available 

 locally. 



Fig. 6.— Inserting the capped fuse in the gelignite. 



