STUMPING UP-TO-DATE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 35, 11 October 1913, Page 7

STUMPING UP-TO-DATE.

DEMONSTRATION YESTERDAY

“ERUPTITE” IN ACTION

There was a good gathering of farmers on Thursday, afternoon at the farm of Mr E. Ireland, East Hoad, near Ivahouri bridge, the occasion being a demonstration of the use of the explosive “‘Eruptite” in removing tree stumps.) The demonstration was arranged by tne Stratford branch of the .New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency (Jo., and Mr W. A. Hewitt, tne agent, was on. the ground and explained fully the cost' of the explosive ' and the method of using it. A start | was made on a large rimu tree, which l measured about five arid a half feet through, and; was about sixty, feet nigh. The explosive is in the form of a line white powder arid is prepared for use by, the addition of oil, the exillusion being caused by a fuse and detonator. Preparations had been made for .the demonstration, excavations haying been made for the charges. The excavatiojx, under the first tree was a small We about four feet deep, sloped slightly towards the centre of the tree. The charge consisted of about four pounds of Eruptite, which was wrapped in a piece of sacking, and was tightly tamped in the exeat acion. The shot was an entire success. The big tree was lifter straight up for a few feet and thou toppled over. Examination afterwards showed that the whole of the roots had, been loosened, at least so far'ps the roots concern the plough. The earth for some distance round tvas also loosened. The weight of this tree was estimated at six tons. Mr Hewitt explained that , the complete removal of the tree had i cost.only 4s 2d, the job being one over | which a man working by other methods must have spent somewhere about two days. A second charge (weighing about three pounds) was iired under a big stump, which was blown out cleanly rand shattered, the roots in this case being also w’ell loosened. A third charge saw the fall of another large free. Altogether six trees l were dealt with, the explosive working admirably in all cases. Mr fecoblc Had charge of operations.

Following are details of the various

1. A large rimu 66ft x oft, about 6 tons in weight, was blpwn clean out of the ground. 2. A rimu stump, well.,rooted down about four feet in diameter, was thrown clean out ofground and broken into several pieces; with four pounds of Eruptitc, 4d. This, avas a difficult, patient.to ‘operate' ulpon. HA7 ‘t ./ -- 'hi" > S'.—A large rimu tree 80 .feet high uidiilve topsixi feet diameter, which V-vcnif farmers present . considers! over 8 tong itf. weight, .was completely thrown out, including roots, with five lb's explosive costing 4s 2d. large rimu measured after falling 90ft.by sft, weight- estimated at about ten tons, was lowered with si)bs Eruptito. This demon straiioVsv£s unique in that the tree, rose -Straight, up into the. air about ) shq feet, then about 4 or 5 feet of the stem, xml roots were blown off and. the remainder of the stent-.dropped bach into lie hole- and then fell over, comiletely shattering itfehlf. 7 b , "..—This demonstration was the best .Worn a public point! M>f View, because die tree was a very large one, being IS feet high and abtfut Gift in diameter and not whhbis called a good wee to blow up. The public consider>d that in this operation the operator, Vlr Scoble, was sohiotvbat shy of the ■roe. However, after a good deal of banter with some of the farmers present, the agent suggested that some af them should dig the hole under the tree and Mr Scoble would blow it mt. Eager hands soon dug the hole xnd the charge (otlbs Eruptite, cost 's 7d) was placed underneath. The tree came completely oxit ol the ground L o the surprise of the majority piexent. 1 :

o. An old rimn stump 6ft in diameter, but hollow, with some rata roots ironnd it was undertaken. The farm'rs present Considered this a very aasty customer to handle, but with Übs' of Eruptite it : tv as demolished •ompletely. The cost was 2s 6d. The N.Z.L. and M.A. Co. are sole Taranaki agents for Eruptite. The efficiency of the explosive in respect to trees .and' stumps was thoroughly demonstrated yesterday; and it is also claimed that, it is a useful agent in fertilisation. 1 The explosion in connection with stumping operations loosens the subsoil foi several feet down, and it feitilises the soil because of the, great amount of potash in its composition. The explosive is supplied in the form of fine powder, hut is also obtainable in urepared cartridges of handy weights, both for (stumping and - suh-soiling.