N. B. Gerbes are made by their diameters, and their Varieties cases at bottom one-fourth thick. The method of find- of Coning the interior diameter of a gerbe is this: Supposing struction. the exterior diameter of the case, when made, to be five inches, then, by taking two-fourths for the sides of the case, there will remain 24 inches for the bore, which will be a very good size. These gerbes should be rammed very hard.

arieties tend the rain should be first, drive the case half an inch f Con- with star-composition, and the rest with rain. By this ruction. method may be made many changes of fire; for in large rockets you may make them first burn as stars, then rain, and again as stars; or they may first show rain, then stars, and finish with a report; but when thus managed, cut open the first rammed end, after they are filled and bounced, at which place prime them. The star-composition for this purpose must be a little stronger than for rolled stars.

72 rbes.

. 23. and

Gerbes consist of a strong case of thick paper or pasteboard, filled with a brilliant composition, and generally with stars or balls placed at small distances, so that the composition and the balls are introduced alternately. Immediately below each ball is placed a little grained powder. These last gerbes are sometimes cailed Roman candles. When fired, they first throw up a beautiful jet of flame, which in some measure resembles a waterspout, whence the name. Gerbes are either employed singly, or batteries are formed of them, and frequently those filled with brilliant fire without balls, are placed in rows along the front of the frames of large compound fire-works. They are sometimes made perfectly cylindrical; at others they have a contracted part at the top called the neck.

Fig. 23. represents a wooden former; fig. 24. a gerbe complete with its foot or stand. The cases for gerbes are made very strong, on account of the strength of the composition; which, when fired, comes out with great velocity; therefore, to prevent their bursting, the paper should be pasted, and the cases made as thick at the top as at the bottom. They should also have very long necks, for this reason; first, that the particles of iron will have more time to be heated, by meeting with greater resistance in getting out, than with a short neck, which would be burnt too wide before the charge be consumed, and spoil the effect: secondly, that with long necks the stars will be thrown to a great height, and will not fall before they are spent, or spread too much; but, when made to perfection, will rise and spread in such a manner as to form exactly a wheat sheaf.

In ramming of gerbes, there will be no need of a mould, the cases being sufficiently strong to support themselves. But you must be careful, before you begin to ram, to have a piece of wood made to fit in the neck; for if this be not done, the composition will fall into the neck, and leave a vacancy in the case, which will cause the case to burst as soon as the fire arrives at the vacancy. You must likewise observe, that the first ladleful of charge, or second, if proper, be of some weak composition. When the case is filled, take out the piece of wood, and fill the neck with some slow charge. Gerbes are generally made about six diameters long, from the bottom to the top of the neck: their bore must be onefifth narrower at top than at bottom. The neck S is one-sixth diameter and three-fourths long. T, a wooden foot or stand, on which the gerbe is fixed. This may be made with a choak or cylinder four or five inches long to fit the inside of the case, or with a hole in it to put in the gerbe; both these methods will answer the same purpose. Gerbes produce a most brilliant fire, and are very beautiful when a number of them are fixed in the front of a building or a collection of fireworks.

Small Gerbes, or white Fountains.

May be made of four ounces, eight ounces, or one pound cases, pasted and made very strong, of any length: but before they are filled, drive in clay one diameter of their orifice high; and when the case is filled, bore a vent through the centre of the clay to the composition: the common proportion will do for the vent, which must be primed with a slow charge. These cases, without the clay, may be filled with Chinese fire.

SECT. II. Of Compound Fire-works.

73

AMONG the most pleasing compound fire-works are Rockets. rockets, which are of various kinds. Some are made to ascend to a great height in the air, where they burst, and throw out the contents of the head with which they are provided. These are called sky-rockets. Others are so constructed as to run with great velocity along a line, and are called line-rockets. Some are arranged at the extremities of the spokes of a wheel, and are denominated wheel-rockets; while a fourth variety have their cases made water tight, and are filled with a very strong composition, so as to admit of their burning below water. These last are called water-rockets. Sky rockets are tied to a stick, which renders their ascent into the air more equable and steady.

74

Fig. 25. represents a rocket complete without its sky-rockstick. Its length from the neck is five diameters one-ets. sixth the cases should always be cut to this length after Fig. 25. they are filled. M is the head, which is two diameters high, and one diameter one-sixth and a half in breadth; N the cone or cap, whose perpendicular height must be one diameter one-third. Fig. 26. the collar to which Fig. 26. the head is fixed: this is turned out of fir or any light wood, and its exterior diameter must be equal to the interior diameter of the head; one-sixth will be sufficient for its thickness, and round the outside edge must be a groove; the interior diameter of the collar must not be quite so wide as the exterior diameter of the rocket: when this is to be glued on the rocket, two or three rounds of paper must be cut off the case, which will make a shoulder for it to rest upon. Fig. 27. a former Fig. 27for the head: two or three rounds of paper well pasted will be enough for the head, which, when rolled, put the collar on that part of the former marked O, which must fit the inside of it; then, with the pinching cord, pinch the bottom of the head into the groove, and tie it with small twine. Fig. 28. a former for the cone. Fig. 28. To make the caps, cut the paper in round pieces, equal in diameter to twice the length of the cone to be made; which pieces being cut into halves, will make two caps each, without wasting any paper; having formed the caps, paste over each of them a thin white paper, which must be a little longer than the cone, so as to project about half an inch below the bottom: this projection of paper, being notched and pasted, serves to fasten the cap to the head.

When

Varieties

struction.

When you load the heads of the rockets with stars, of Con- rains, serpents, crackers, or any thing else, according to fancy, remember always to put one ladleful of mealpowder into each head, which will be enough to burst the head, and disperse the stars, or whatever it contains: when the heads are loaded with any cases, let their mouths be turned downwards; and after the heads are filled, paste on the top of them a piece of paper before putting on the caps. As the size of the stars often differs, it would be needless to give an exact number for cach rocket; but this rule may be observed, that the heads may be nearly filled with whatever they are to contain.

75 Dimensions and poise

of rocket

sticks.

Fig. 25.

The last column on the right, in the above table, expresses the distance from the top of the cone, where the stick, when tied on, should balance the rocket, so as to stand in an equilibrium on one's finger, or the edge of a knife. The best wood for the sticks is dry fir, and they are thus made: When you have cut and planned the stick, according to the dimensions given in the table, cut, on one of the flat sides at the top, a groove the length of the rocket, and as broad as the stick will allow; then on the opposite flat side, cut two notches for the cord, which ties on the rocket, to lie in; one of these notches must be near the top of the stick, and the other facing the neck of the rockets; the distance between these notches may easily be known, for the top of the stick should always touch the head of the rocket. When the rockets and sticks are ready, lay the rockets in the grooves in the sticks and tie them on. Those who, merely for curiosity, may choose to make rockets of different sizes from those expressed in the table of dimensions, may find the length of their sticks, by making them for rockets, from half an ounce to one pound, 60 diameters of the rocket long; and for rockets above one pound 50 or 52 diameters will be a good length; their thickness at top may be about half a diameter, and their breadth a very little more; their square at bottom is generally equal to half the thickness at top. But although the dimensions of the sticks be very nicely observed, we can depend only on their balance; for, without a proper counterpoise, the rockets, instead of mounting perpendicularly, will take an oblique direction, and fall to the ground before they are burnt out. Rockets rammed over a piercer must not have so

much composition put into them at a time as when ram- Varieties med solid; for the piercer, taking up great part of the of Conbore of the case, would cause the rammer to rise too struction. high; so that the pressure of it would not be so great on 76 the composition, nor would it be rammed everywhere Method of equal. To prevent this, observe the following rule: ramming That for those rockets which are rammed over a piercer, rockets. let the ladle hold as much composition as, when drove, will raise the drift one-half the interior diameter of the case, and for those rammed solid to contain as much as will raise it one-half the exterior diameter of the case: ladles are generally made to go easy in the case, and the length of the scoop about one and a half of its own diameter.

The charge of rockets must always be rammed one diameter above the piercer, and on it must be rammed one-third of a diameter of clay; through the middle of which bore a small hole to the composition, that, when the charge is burnt to the top, it may communicate its fire, through the hole, to the stars in the head. Great care must be taken to strike with the mallet, and with an equal force, the same number of strokes to each ladleful of charge; otherwise the rockets will not rise with an uniform motion, nor will the composition burn equally and regularly for which reason they cannot carry a proper tail for it will break before the rocket has got half way up, instead of reaching from the ground to the top, where the rocket breaks and disperses the stars, rains, or whatever is contained in the head. When ramming, keep the drift constantly turning or moving; and when you use the hollow rammers, knock out of them the composition now and then, or the piercer will split them. To a rocket of four ounces, give to each ladleful of charge, 16 strokes; to a rocket of one pound, 28; to a two pounder, 36; to a four pounder, 42; and to a six pounder, 56; but rockets of a larger sort cannot be rammed well by hand, but must be rammed with a machine made in the same manner as those for driving piles.

The method of ramming wheel cases, or any other sort, in which the charge is rammed solid, is much the same as in sky-rockets; for the same proportion may be observed in the ladle, and the same number of strokes given, according to their diameters, all cases being distinguished by their diameters. In this manner, a case, whose bore is equal to a rocket of four ounces, is called a four ounce case, and that which is equal to an eight ounce rocket an eight ounce case, and so on, according to the different rockets.

Having taught the method of ramming cases in moulds, we shall here say something concerning those filled without moulds; which method, for strong pasted cases, will do extremely well, and save the expence of making so many moulds. The reader must here observe, when filling any cases, to place the mould on a perpendicular block of wood, and not on any place that is hollow; for we have found by experience, that when cases were rammed on driving benches, which were formerly used, the works frequently miscarried, on account of the hollow resistance of the benches, which often jarred and loosened the change in the cases; but this accident never happens when the driving blocks are used.

When cases are to be filled without moulds, proceed thus: Have some nipples made of brass or iron, of

arieties of several sizes, in proportion to the cases, and to screw of Con- or fix in the top of the driving block; when you have truction. fixed in a nipple, make, at about one inch and a half from it, a square hole in the block, six inches deep and one inch diameter; then have a piece of wood, six inches longer than the case intended to be filled, and two inches square; on one side of it cut a groove almost the length of the case, whose breadth and depth must be sufficient to cover near one-half of the case; then cut the other end to fit the hole in the block, but take care to cut it so that the groove may be at a proper distance from the nipple; this half mould being made and fixed tight in the block, cut, in another piece of wood nearly of the same length as the case, a groove of the same dimensions as that in the fixed piece; then put the case on the nipple, and with a cord tie it and the two half moulds together, and the case will be ready for filling.

77

The dimensions of the above-described half-moulds are proportionable for cases of eight ounces, but notice must be taken, that they differ in size in proportion to the cases.

The best wood for mallets is dry beech. If a person uses a mallet of a moderate size, in proportion to the rocket, according to his judgment, and if the rocket succeeds, he may depend on the rest, by using the same mallet; yet it will be necessary that cases of different sorts be driven with mallets of different sizes.

The following proportion of the mallets for rockets of any size, from one oz. to six lb. may be observed; but as rockets are seldom made less than one oz. or larger than six lb. we shall leave the management of them to the curious; but all cases under one oz. may be rammed with an ounce rocket mallet. The mallets will strike more solid, by having their handles turned out of the same piece with the head, and made in a cylindrical form. Let their dimensions be worked by the diameters of the rockets: for example; let the thickness of the head be three diameters, and its length four, and the length of the handle five diameters, whose thickness must be in proportion to the hand.

ent of As the cause which occasions the ascent of a rocket -rockets into the air is the same as that which makes a musket lained. recoil when fired, it will be proper, before explaining the ascent of rockets, to show how the recoil of fire-arms is produced. When the powder is suddenly inflamed in the chamber, or at the bottom of the barrel, it necessarily exercises an action two ways at the same time; that is to say, against the breech of the piece, and against the bullet or wadding, which is placed above it. Besides this, it acts also against the sides of the chamber which it occupies; and as they oppose a resistance almost insurmountable, the whole effort of the elastic fluid, produced by the inflammation, is exerted in the two derections above mentioned. But the resistance opposed by the bullet, being much less than that opposed by the mass of the barrel or cannon, the bullet is forced out with great velocity. It is impossible, however, that the body of the piece itself should not experience a movement backwards; for if a spring is suddenly let loose, between. two moveable obstacles, it will impel them both, and communicate to them velocities in the inverse ratio of their masses; the piece, therefore, must acquire a velocity backwards nearly in the inverse ratio of its mass to

of Construction.

that of the bullet. We make use of the term nearly, Varieties because there are various circumstances which give to this ratio certain modifications; but it is always true that the body of the piece is driven backwards, and that if it weighs with its carriage 1000 times more than the bullet, it acquires a velocity which is 1000 times less, and which is soon annihilated by the friction of the wheels against the ground, &c.

The cause of the ascent of a rocket is nearly the same. At the moment when the powder begins to inflame, its expansion produces a torrent of elastic fluid, which acts in every direction; that is, against the air which opposes its escape from the cartridge, and against the upper part of the rocket; but the resistance of the air is more considerable than the weight of the rocket, on account of the extreme rapidity with which the elastic fluid issues through the neck of the rocket to throw itself downwards, and therefore the rocket ascends by the excess of the one of these forces above the other.

This however would not be the case, unless the rocket were pierced to a certain depth. A sufficient quantity of elastic fluid would not be produced; for the composition would inflame only in circular coats of a diameter equal to that of the rocket; and experience shews that this is not sufficient. Recourse then is had to the very ingenious idea of piercing the rocket with a conical hole, which makes the composition burn in conical strata which * Hutton's have much greater surface, and therefore produce a much Recrea tions, vol. greater quantity of inflamed matter and fluid. This ex- iii. p. 461.

pedient was certainly not the work of a moment

78

another.

When sky-rockets are fixed one on the top of an- To fix one other, they are called towering rockets, on account of rocket on their mounting so very high. Towering rockets are the top of made after this manner: Fix on a pound-rocket a head without a collar; then take a four ounce rocket, which may be headed or bounced, and rub the mouth of it with meal-powder wetted with spirit of wine: this done, put it in the head of the large rocket with its mouth downwards; but before it is put in, stick a bit of quick-match in the hole of the clay of the pound-rocket, which match should be long enough to go a little way up the bore of the small rocket, to fire it when the large rocket is burnt out. As the four ounce rocket is too small to fill the head of the other, roll round it as much tow as will make it stand upright in the centre of the head: the rocket being thus fixed, paste a single paper round the opening of the top of the head of the large rocket. The large rocket must have only half a diameter of charge rammed above the piercer; for, if filled to the usual height, it would turn before the small one takes fire, and entirely destroy the intended effect: when one rocket is headed with another, there will be no occasion for any blowing powder; for the force with which it goes off will be sufficient to disengage it from the head of the first fired rocket. The sticks for these rockets must be a little longer than for those headed with stars, rains, &c. Caduceus rockets are such as, in rising, form two spi- Caduceus.s ral lines, by reason of their being placed obliquely, one opposite to the other; and their counterpoise in their centre, which causes them to rise in a vertical direction. Rockets for this purpose must have their ends choaked close, without either head or bounce, for a weight at top would be a great obstruction to their mounting. No caduceus rockets ascend so high as single, because of

theirs

79

rockets.

Varieties their serpentine motion, and likewise the resistance of Of Con- air, which is much greater than two rockets of the same struction. size would meet with if fired singly.

80 Honorary rockets.

81

To make a rocket form an arch in rising.

Fig. 3. shews the method of fixing these rockets: the sticks for this purpose must have all their sides equal, and the sides should be equal to the breadth of a stick proper for a sky-rocket of the same weight as those you intend to use, and made to taper downwards as usual, long enough to balance them, one length of a rocket from the cross stick; which must be placed from the large stick six diameters of one of the rockets, and its length seven diameters; so that each rocket, when tied on, may form with the large stick an angle of 60 degrees. In tying on the rockets, place their heads on the opposite sides of the cross stick, and their ends on the opposite sides of the long stick; then carry a leader from the mouth of one into that of the other. When these rockets are to be fired, suspend them between two hooks or nails, then burn the leader through the middle, and both will take fire at the same time. Rockets of one lb. are a good size for this use.

Honorary rockets are the same as sky-rockets, except that they carry no head nor report, but are closed at top, on which is fixed a cone: then on the case, close to the top of the stick is tied on a two ounce case, about five or six inches long, filled with a strong charge, and pinched close at both ends; then in the reverse sides, at each end, bore a hole in the same manner as in tourbillons, to be presently described; from each hole carry a leader into the top of the rocket. When the rocket is fired, and arrived to its proper height, it will give fire to the case at top; which will cause both rocket and stick to spin very fast in their return, and represent a worm of fire descending to the ground.

There is another method of placing the small case, which is by letting the stick rise a little above the top of the rocket, and tying the case to it, so as to rest on the rocket: these rockets have no cones.

A third method by which they are managed is this; In the top of a rocket fix a piece of wood, in which drive a small iron spindle; then make a hole in the middle of the small case, through which put the spindle: then fix on the top of it a nut, to keep the case from falling off; when this is done, the case will turn very fast, without the rocket: but this method does not answer so well as either of the former.

Fig. 31. is the honorary rocket complete. The best sized rockets for this purpose are those of one lb.

Having some rockets made, and headed according to fancy, and tied on their sticks; get some sheet tin, and cut it into round pieces about three or four inches diameter; then on the stick of each rocket, under the mouth of the case, fix one of these pieces of tin 16 inches from the rocket's neck, and support it by a wooden bracket, as strong as possible: the use of this is, that when the rocket is ascending the fire may play with great force on the tin, which will divide the tail in such a manner that it will form an arch as it mounts, and will have a To make very good effect when well managed: if there is a short piece of port-fire, of a strong charge, tied to the end of the stick, it will make a great addition; but this must rise in the be lighted before the rocket is fired.

82

several

rockets

same direction, and at

the same distance.

Take six, or any number of sky-rockets, of any size; then cut some strong packthread into pieces of three or four yards long, and tie each end of these picces to a

rocket in this manner; Having tied one end of the Varieties packthread round the body of one rocket, and the other of Conend to another, take a second piece of packthread, and struction. make one end of it fast to one of the rockets already tied, and the other end to a third rocket, so that all the rockets, except the two on the outside, will be fastened to two pieces of packthread: the length of thread from one rocket to the other may be what the maker pleases; but the rockets must be all of a size, and their heads filled with the same weight of stars, rains, &c.

83

Having thus done, fix in the mouth of each rocket a leader of the same length; and when about to fire them, hang them almost close; then tie the ends of the leaders together, and prime them: this prime being fired, all the rockets will mount at the same time, and divide as far as the strings will allow; and this division they will keep, provided they are all rammed alike, and well made. They are sometimes called chained rockets. Signal rockets are made of several kinds, according Signal to the different signals intended to be given; but in ar-' tificial fire-works, two sorts are only used, which are one with reports and the other without; but those for the use of the navy and army are headed with stars, serpents, &c.-Rockets which are to be hounced must have their cases made one and a half or two diameters longer than the common proportion; and after they are filled, drive in a double quantity of clay, then bounce and pinch them after the usual manner, and fix on each

a cap.

Signal sky-rockets without bounces, are only skyrockets closed and capped: these are very light, therefore do not require such heavy sticks as those with loaded heads; for which reason the rocket may be cut from the stick, or else be made thinner.

rockets

64

veral rock

ets to the

same stick.

Signal rockets with reports are fired in small flights; and often both these, and those without reports, are used for a signal to begin firing a collection of works. Two, three, or six sky-reckets, fixed on one stick, To fix seand fired together, make a grand and beautiful appearance; for the tails of all will seem but as one of an immense size, and the breaking of so many heads at once will resemble the bursting of an air-balloon. The management of this device requires a skilful hand; but if the following instructions be well observed, even by those who have not made a great progress in this art, there will be no doubt of the rockets having the desired effect.

Rockets for this purpose must be made with the greatest exactness, all rammed by the same band, in the same mould, and filled with the same proportion of composi tion; and after they are filled and headed, must all be of the same weight. The stick must also be well made (and proportioned) to the following directions: first, supposing the rockets to be half pounders, whose sticks are six feet six inches long, then if two, three, or six of these are to be fixed on one stick, let the length of it be nine feet nine inches: then cut the top of it into as many sides as there are rockets, and let the length of each side be equal to the length of one of the rockets without its head; and in each side cut a groove (as usual); then from the grooves plane it round, down to the bottom, where its thickness must be equal to half the top of the round part. As their thickness cannot be exactly ascertained, we shall give a rule which generally answers

for

Varieties for any number of rockets above two: the rule is this; of Con- that the stick at top must be thick enough, when the struction. grooves are cut, for all the rockets to lie, without pressing each other, though as near as possible.

85

To fire rockets without sucks.

When only two rockets are to be fixed on one stick, let the length of the stick be the last given proportion, but shaped after the common method, and the breadth and thickness double the usual dimensions. The point of poise must be in the usual place (let the number of rockets be what they will): if sticks made by the above directions should be too heavy, plane them thinner; and if too light, make them thicker; but always make them of the same length.

When more than two rockets are tied on one stick, there will be some danger of their flying up without the stick, unless the following precaution is taken: For cases being placed on all sides, there can be no notches for the cord which ties on the rockets to lie in; therefore, instead of notches, drive a small nail in each side of the stick, between the necks of the cases: and let the cord, which goes round their necks, be brought close under the nails; by this means the rockets will be as secure as when tied on singly. The rockets being thus fixed, carry a quick-match, without a pipe, from the mouth of one rocket to the other; this match being lighted will give fire to all at once.

Though the directions already given may be sufficient for these rockets, we shall here add an improvement on a very essential part of this device, which is, that of hanging the rockets to be fired; for before the following method was contrived, many attempts proved unsuccessful. Instead, therefore, of the old and common manner of hanging them on nails or hooks, make use of the following contrivance: Have a ring made of strong iron wire large enough for the stick to go in as far as the mouths of the rockets; then have another ring supported by a small iron, at some distance from the post or stand to which it is fixed: then have another ring fit to receive and guide the small end of the stick. Rockets thus suspended will have nothing to obstruct their fire; but when they are hung on nails or hooks, in such a manner that some of their mouths are against or upon'a nail, there can be no certainty of their rising in a vertical direction.

To fire rockets without sticks, you must have a stand, of a block of wood, a foot diameter, and make the bottom flat, so that it may stand steady in the centre of the top of this block draw a circle two inches and a half diameter, and divide the circumference of it into three equal parts; then take three pieces of thick iron wire, each about three feet long, and drive them into the block, one at each point made on the circle; when these wires are driven in deep enough to hold them fast and upright, so that the distance from one to the other is the same at top as at bottom, the stand is complete.

The stand being thus made, prepare the rockets thus Take some common sky-rockets of any size, and head them as you please; then get some balls of lead, and tie to each a small wire two or two feet and a half long, and the other end of each wire tie to the neck of a rocket. These balls answer the purpose of sticks when made of a proper weight, which is about twothirds the weight of the rocket; but when they are of a proper size, they will balance the rocket in the same VOL. XVII. Part II.

manner as a stick, at the usual point of poise. To fire Varieties these, hang them, one at a time, between the tops of the of Conwires, letting their heads rest on the point of the wires, struction. and the balls hang down between them: if the wires should be too wide for the rockets, press them together till they fit; and if too close, force them open; the wires for this purpose must be softened, so as not to have any spring, or they will not keep their position when pressed close or opened.

86

Cases for scrolls should be made four or five inches in Scrolls for length, and their interior diameters three-eighths of an rockets. inch: one end of these cases must be pinched quite close before beginning to fill; and when filled, close the other end: then in the opposite sides make a small hole at each end, to the composition, as in tourbillons; and prime them with wet meal powder. You may put in the head of a rocket as many of these cases as it will contain: being fired they turn very quick in the air, and form a scroll or spiral line. They are generally filled with a strong charge, as that of serpents or brilliant fire.

87

Rockets that pass under the denomination of swarm- Swarmers. ers, are those from two ounces downwards. These rockets are fired sometimes in flights, and in large waterworks, &c. Swarmers of one and two ounces are bored, and made in the same manner as large rockets, except that, when headed, their heads must be put on without a collar: the number of strokes for driving onė ounce must be eight, and for two ounces twelve.

All rockets under one ounce are not bored, but must be filled to the usual height with composition, which generally consists of fine meal-powder four ounces, and charcoal or steel-dust two drams: the number of strokes for ramming these small swarmers is not material, provided they are rammed truly, and moderately hard. The necks of unbored rockets must be in the same proportion as in common cases.

88

Care must be taken, in placing the rockets, when Stands for they are to be fired, to give them a vertical direction rockets. at their first setting out; which be may managed thus: Have two rails of wood, of any length, supported at each end by a perpendicular leg, so that the rails may be horizontal, and let the distance from one to the other be almost equal to the length of the sticks of the rockets intended to be fired; then in the front of the top rail drive square hooks at eight inches distance, with their points turning sidewise, so that when the rockets are hung on them, the points will be before the sticks and keep them from falling or being blown off by the wind; in the front of the rail at bottom must be staples, driven perpendicular under the hooks at top; through these staples put the small ends of the rocket sticks. Rockets are fired by applying a lighted port-fire to their

mouths.