Dynamiting Highly Endorsed by Chief Moore 

 of U.[S. Weather Bureau 



I STATES DEPARTMENT OF AG 



WASHINGTON. D. c. ' Dececfcer 14, 1911* 



Mr. G. P. Hamlin, 



Manager, Du Pont Powder Conpany, 



Philadelphia, Pa. 

 Dear Sir: 



1 have received your letter of the 13th instant. With 

 regard to the 35 acres 1 have just planted with apple and peach 

 trees, using dynamite to blow the holes, permit me to say that 

 I found that I could use the dynamite with but little, if any 

 more, work than was required to dig the holes in the ordinary 

 way. I used a force oi five men: one to cut the sticks of 

 dynamite attach the fuse, and put on the caps; two to drive 

 holes with crowbars; one to insert charges and tamp them; and 

 one to explode the cnarges. This force worked in the forenoon 

 blowing the holes, and in the alternoon they started where 

 they began in the morning shaping up the holes and planting 

 the trees. They put up from six to seven hundred trees each 

 working day. As a test 1 shoveled the dirt out of several 

 holes, and found the earth' shattered fine and permeable to 

 a depth of four or five feet and an equal distance in a 

 hori2ontal direction. I am of the opinion that the trees 

 set in these holes will make the ordinary five years' growth 

 in three, other conditions being equal. 



Another year I intend to loosen up the sub-soil in a 

 field in which I shall plant corn, for the purpose of making 

 a comparison with an adjacent field that will be planted with- 



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out the use of dynamite. I look forward to valuable results 

 for the farmer from the use of explosives* 

 Very truly yours, 



