was to render the grains of the powder practically
waterproof and less affected by the atmospheric influences of moisture and
dryness, and the last improvement to the process was that of hardening the
grains by means of a solvent of nitro-lignine, so as to do away with the
dust that was often formed from the rubbing of the grains during transit.

Minor modifications have from time to time also been made, in order to
meet the gradual alteration which has taken place during this long period
in the manufacture of sporting guns and cartridge cases to be used with
this powder, but through all its evolution this Company has adhered to the
first idea of using woody fibre in preference to cotton as the basis of
their smokeless powder, as experience has confirmed the original opinion
that a powder can be thus made less sensitive to occasional differences in
loading, and more satisfactory all round than when made from the cotton
base. The powder has always been regulated so that bulk for bulk it
occupies the same measure as the best black powder, and as regards its
weight, just one half of that of black.

The process of manufacture of this powder is briefly as follows:--

Wood of clean growth is treated by the well-known sulphite process for
producing pure woody fibre, which is very carefully purified, and this,
after drying, is steeped in a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, to
render it a nitro-compound and the explosive base of the powder. This
nitro compound is carefully purified until it stands the very high purity
requirements of the Home Office, and is then ground with oxygen-bearing
salts, &c., and the whole is formed into little irregular-shaped grains of
the desired size, which grains are dried and hardened by steeping in a
suitable solvent for the nitro compound, and after finally drying,
sifting, &c., the powder is stored in magazines for several months before
it is issued. When issued, a very large blend is made of many tons weight,
which ensures absolute uniformity in the material.

There is in England a standard load adopted by every one for testing a
sporting powder; this charge is 42 grains of powder and 1-1/8 oz. No. 6
shot--this shot fired from a 12-bore gun, patterns being taken at 40
yards, the velocity at any required distance.

The standard muzzle velocity of Schultze gunpowder is 1,220 feet per
second.

The mean 40 yards ditto is 875 feet per second.

The mean 20 yards ditto is 1,050 feet per sec