Tables of Composition for Rockets.
THE COMPOSITION FOR ROCKETS.
As we wish to complete the article Rockets in this section, we shall here give the composition proper for filling them, which must vary in the proportion of its ingredients according to the size of the Rocket; this variation in the strength of the composition, is positively necessary; for that which is proper for small Rockets, would be much too strong for large ones, therefore its strength should increase nearly as the dimensions of the Rockets decrease.
1. For one and two ounce Rockets, the ingredients for a proper composition should be—
One pound of gunpowder, two ounces of soft charcoal, and one ounce and a-half of salt-petre.
2. Two to three ounce Rockets:—
To four ounces of gunpowder, add one ounce of charcoal, or to nine ounces of powder, add two ounces of salt-petre.
3. Four ounce Rockets:—
To one pound of gunpowder, add four ounces of salt-petre, and one ounce of charcoal. The composition will be much stronger if in this proportion:—To ten ounces of powder, add three ounces and a-half of salt-petre, and three ounces of charcoal.
4. Five or six ounce Rockets:—
Gunpowder two pound five ounces, salt-petre half-a-pound, sulphur two ounces, charcoal six ounces, and iron-filings two ounces.
5. Seven or eight ounce Rockets:—
Gunpowder seventeen ounces, salt-petre four ounces, sulphur three ounces.
6. Eight to ten ounce Rockets:—
Gunpowder two pounds five ounces, salt-petre eight ounces, sulphur two ounces, charcoal seven ounces, iron-filings three ounces.
7. Ten or twelve ounce Rockets:—
Gunpowder one pound one ounce, salt-petre four ounces, sulphur three and a-half ounces, charcoal one ounce.
8. Twelve to fourteen ounce Rockets:—
Gunpowder two pounds four ounces, salt-petre nine ounces, sulphur three ounces, charcoal five ounces, iron-filings three ounces.
9. One pound Rockets:—
Gunpowder one pound, charcoal three ounces, sulphur one ounce.
10. Two pound Rockets:—
Gunpowder one pound four ounces, salt-petre two ounces, charcoal three ounces, sulphur one ounce, iron-filings two ounces.
11. Three pound Rockets:—
Gunpowder four ounces, salt-petre one pound, sulphur eight and a-half ounces, charcoal two ounces.
12. Four pound Rockets:—
Gunpowder half-a-pound, salt-petre fifteen pounds, sulphur two pounds, charcoal six pounds.
For Rockets of the largest size:—
To eight pounds of salt-petre, add twenty ounces of sulphur, and forty-four ounces of charcoal.
The several ingredients should be each ground separately, and sifted, and afterwards weighed and mixed together, in readiness for loading the cartridges
We now proceed to describe some of the various modifications which Rockets are susceptible of in their exhibitions; in which we shall endeavour to blend the most prominent features: were we to attempt to give the whole, it would annihilate the purpose of our work; indeed it is impossible to set limits to the field of variety which here opens itself; we shall therefore describe a few of the most particular, and leave the rest to the Tyro, assuring him it will afford a pleasing source of amusement, and furnish excellent matter for the exercise of his ingenuity.