MATCHES FOR ARTILLERY. 



of nitrate of copper, the other in a solution of nitrate 

 of lead. In each, the oak, elm, ash, and elder, were 

 riot saturated, and burnt in the usual manner ; the others 

 afforded me very good matches. But before I enter at 

 large on their properties, I shall observe, that I conceive 

 the nitrate of copper should be rejected, because it is too 

 dear, it quickly corrodes the boilers, and its vapour is 

 noxious. Accordingly I confined myself to the nitrate of 

 lead; and I found after several trials, that it answered the 

 purpose completely. 



The wood that did best was that of the lime, birch, or 

 poplar. To compare their properties, I weighed some rods 

 both before and aftei boiling; I ascertained how much their 

 weight was increased, and how long they continued burn, 

 ing; and I calculated how much of each a pound of nitrate 

 of lead would saturate. The following table gives the 

 proportions. 



83 



Oak, ash, elm, 

 and elder, do 

 not answer. 

 Birch, poplar, 

 lime, and fir. 

 do. 



Nitrate of cop- 

 per disadvanta- 

 geous. 



Lime, birch, 

 and poplar 

 best. 



Name of the 

 wood 



Birch 



Poplar 



Lime 



Weight of a yard 

 before the expe- 

 riment. 

 Grains. 



516 



Weight after. 



Grains. 



1416 



936 



1728 



Gained in weight. 



Grains. 



Their proper- 

 ties compared. 



528 

 420 

 840 



Name of the 

 wood. 



Birch 



Poplar 

 Lime 



Length saturated by ajTime each coa 



pound of nitrate of 



lead. 



\ards. Ft. Inches. 



17 1 



21 2 8 



10 2 9 



tinued burn- 

 ing. 

 Hours. 



3 

 2 

 3 



From this comparative trial it follows, that the lime tree 

 affords the best wood for matches for artillery ; and with it 

 I made the experiments desired by the minister, in presence 

 of Mr. Lespagnol. 



There are circumstances in which the service of the Light some- 

 artillery requires light. Rods impregnated merely Avith timesnecessar y 

 nitrate of lead, produce a coal sufficient to discharge a 

 cannon, but no light is afforded by them I conceived, Subsequent im- 

 that, if they were impregnated with oil of turpentine, they P re S l1aTion with 



-it- -X7-T7-TT t „~_ -^ oil of turpen- 



yoL. XVII.— June, 1807, D might tine produced 



this. 



