1832.] by Simple Means. 197 



to be set to work to forge the screw tap for cutting out the female screw. 

 Others will beat out the cold iron rod for the male screw, which is to 

 form the vent. 



When after successive enlargements of the female screw in the gun 

 metal, it is brought to fit exactly the male, the latter is to be turned in, 

 screws with the requisite force to make it amalgamate with the gun me- 

 tal, particularly in the lower two-tenths, which should purposely be 

 left rather tight. 



It is believed, that the chief thing to be looked to in boucheing iron 

 guns, is to secure a very firm fixture below, by leaving the last two- 

 tenths of the female screw tighter rather than the rest, so that force 

 may be used to make the male screw bite into it. 



We are told that guns have now spare screw vents for insertion on 

 demand ; but is it not probable that if the first screw is destroyed by 

 intense heat, that the gun metal around it will have run, proportion- 

 ately ? In fact it admits of doubt, whether when a screw vent is de- 

 stroyed by hard firing, it can be extracted by other mode than borin°- it 

 out with taps and a brace. 



5. — To make fuzes on emergency. 



It has occurred that a bombardment has been stopped for want of 

 fuzes in the shells, and that have been sent for, express, from the near- 

 est magazine — the following plan of making fuzes on emergency nnVht 

 be of use in such a dilemma. 



Procure some battery planks or any thick wood of two or more inches 

 in thickness, according to the length of the fuze required ; — .stretch a 

 carpenter's marking line along the centre of the smooth plank, and mark 

 a line the whole length ; parallel to that line, and on each side of it, 

 draw other lines at the requisite distances for the .thickness of the 

 fuzes— on those lines bore holes (with a brace, auger or burma) as 

 deep as the fuzes are required to be long ; and having the fuze 

 composition ready, drive it into the holes ; cut off the fuzes, wrasp 

 them, and send them into battery for use ; there is no reason why they 

 should not be as good fuzes as need be, provided the composition 

 is properly prepared and driven. — Persons who have to blast rocks 

 may in this way make fuzes, wherewith to ignite their mines ; for 

 composition they should use mealed powder and charcoal. 



6. — Simple mode of quickly obtaining a light on service. 



Tear off a bit of cloth, moisten it in your mouth, put it into a pistol 

 over a small charge of loose powder, fire the cloth against a bank, or 

 ground, and the rag will give you a light. 



