THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES 25 
stump you desire to pull out is equivalent to from two 
to five teams all straining together. 
By both those methods just described—that of stump- 
pullers and the three-pulley tackle—the roots are apt to 
come out in one big mass, weighing sometimes a ton or 
more. This makes it necessary to remove the soil from 
the roots, a process which often costs a considerable 
amount of labour, and in British Columbia labour is ex- 
pensive. This drawback does not accompany any of the 
methods I now proceed to outline. 
Buastrine.—The method of stumping most in favour 
with ranchers and the men who usually clear for them 
is to bore a hole well down under the centre of the stump, 
using an augur or an iron bar. Then place in it from 
one-quarter up to as many as a dozen, or even more, 
sticks of dynamite or stumping-powder, or both com- 
bined. Ignite a fuse, and then retire to a safe distance. 
After the explosion they gather up the pieces and fling 
them on the pile to burn. This is a costly method, 
especially if the explosives used are not paid for by the 
men who are using them. There is also a certain amount 
of danger associated with it, owing to the naturally un- 
stable character of the explosives. Hence, for the new 
settler, until he becomes familiar with the character and 
peculiarities of dynamite and stumping-powder, it is wise 
to contract with those who do understand them, and 
leave the latter to provide their own dynamite and 
powder. 
AustraLian Jack.—I once had for a few weeks the 
loan of an extremely useful implement—namely, a patent 
jack, made in Victoria, Australia, which could be levered 
4 
