OF ROCKETS. '21 J 



After the cartridge is placed in the mould, pour gradually into it 

 the prepared composition ; taking care to pour only two spoon- 

 fuls at a time, ami to rum it immediately down with the rod, strik- 

 ing it in a perpendicular direction with a mallet of a proper size, 

 and giving an equal number of strokes, for example, 3 or 4, each 

 time that a new quantity of the composition is poured in. 



When the cartridge is about half filled, separate with a bodkin 

 the half of the folds of the paper which remains, and having turned 

 them back on the composition, press them down with the rod and a 

 few strokes of the mallet, in order to compress the paper on the 

 composition. 



Then pierce three or four holes in the folded paper, by means of 

 a piercer, which must be made to penetrate to ilie composition of 

 the rocket. These holes serve to form a communication between, 

 the body of the rocket and the vacuity at the extremity of the car. 

 tridge, or that part which has been left empty. 



In small rockets this vacuity is filled with granulated powder, 

 which serves to let them off: they are then covered with paper, and 

 pinched in the same manner as at the other extremity. But in 

 other rockets, the pot containing stars, serpents, and running 

 rockets is adapted to it, as will be shewn hereafter. 



It may be sufficient however to make, with a bit or piercer, only 

 one hole, which must be neither too large nor too small, such as a 

 fourth part of the diameter of the rocket, to set fire to the powder, 

 taking care that this hole be as straight as possible, and exactly in 

 the middle of the composition. A little of the composition of the 

 rocket must be put into these holes, that the fire may not fail to be 

 communicated to it. 



It now remains to fix the rocket to its rod, which is done in the 

 following manner. When the rocket has been constructed as 

 above described, make fast to it a rod of light wood, such as fir or 

 willow, broad and flat at the end next the rocket, and decreasing to. 

 wards the other. It must be as straight and free from knots as 

 possible, and ought to be dressed, if necessary, with a plane. Its 

 length and weight must be proportioned to the rocket ; that is to 

 say, it ought to be six, seven, or eight feet long, so as to remain in 

 equilibrium with it, when suspended on the finger, within an inch 

 or an inch and a half of the neck. Before it is fired, place it with 

 the neck downwards, and let it rest on two nails, in a direction 

 perpendicular to the horizon. To make it ascend straighter and to 



P4 



