to
1.6 per cent. After twenty-three months in the damp it contained 2 per
cent. moisture, gave a muzzle velocity of 1,478 ft. sees., and pressure of
1,356 atmospheres. In a 7.5 millimetre rifle, 13.8 grm. bullet, and charge
of 2 grms., it gives a muzzle velocity of 2,035 ft. secs. and a pressure
of 2,200 atmospheres. In the 8.4 cm. field-gun, with charge of 600 grms.,
and projectile of 6.7 kilogrammes, muzzle velocity was equal to 1,640 ft.
secs. and pressure 1,750. A sample of the powder for use in the .303 M.
rifle, lately analysed by the author, gave the following result:--

Gun-cotton 96.21 per cent.
Soluble cotton 1.80 "
Non-nitrated cotton trace.
Resin and other matters 1.99 "
_______

100.00

The various forms of powder invented and manufactured by Mr C.F. Hengst
are chiefly composed of nitrated straw that has been finely pulped. The
straw is treated first with acids and afterwards with alkalies, and the
result is a firm fibrous substance which is granulated. It is claimed that
this powder is entirely smokeless and flameless, that it does not foul the
gun nor heat the barrel, and is at the same time 150 per cent. stronger
than black powder.

The German "Troisdorf" powder consists of nitro-cellulose that has been
gelatinised together with a nitrate. Kolf's powder is also gelatinised
with nitro-cellulose. The powders invented by Mr E.J. Ryves contain nitro-
glycerine, nitro-cotton, castor-oil, paper-pulp, and carbonate of
magnesia. Maxim powder contains both soluble and insoluble nitro-
cellulose, nitro-glycerine, and carbonate of soda. The smokeless powder
made by the "Dynamite Actiengesellschaft Nobel" consists of nitro-starch
70 to 99 parts, and of di- or tri-nitro-benzene 1 to 30 parts.

An American wood powder, known as Bracket's Sporting Powder, consists of
soluble and insoluble nitro-lignine, mixed with charred lignine, humus,
and nitrate of soda. Mr F.H. Snyder, of New York, is the inventor of a
shell powder known as the "Snyder Explosive," consisting of 94 per cent.
nitro-glycerine, 6 per cent. of soluble nitro-cotton, and camphor, which
is said to be safe in use. Experiments were made with it in a 6-inch
rifled gun, fired at a target 220 yards away, composed of twelve 1-inch
steel plates welded together, and backed with 12-inch and 14-inch oak
beams, and weighing 20 tons. The shots entirely destroyed it. Th