Part 20

Crimson Fire.

The principal ingredient in this is nitrate of strontium, of which 40 parts are taken, with 13 of sulphur, 15 of chlorate of potass, 4 of sulphuret of antimony, and 2 of lamp-black. These, as all the ingredients for the other fires, should be rubbed in a ladle, and they may be used in a ladle or iron dish set on the ground.

Blue Fire.

The ingredients of blue fire are 20 parts; 12 of niter, 4 of sulphur, 2 of sulphuret of antimony, and 2 of lamp-black.

Green Fire.

The ingredients for green fire are in 54 parts; 42 of nitrate of barytes, 8 of sulphur, 3 of chlorate of potass, and 1 of lamp-black.

Purple Fire.

The best recipe for purple fire is of 60 parts; 25 of niter, 25 of nitrate of strontium, 7 of sulphur, 2 of realgor, and 1 of lamp-black.

White Fire.

The best and purest white fire is made of 24 parts of niter, 7 of sulphur, 2 of red arsenic, and one of lamp-black.

Spur Fire.

9 parts of niter, 4 of sulphur, and 3 of lamp-black, well rubbed together.

Blue Lights.

These are made of 4 parts of sulphur, 2 of niter, and 1 of powder, and are rammed into squib-cases the contrary way.

Port or Wildfires.

Saltpeter 4 parts, meal powder 6 parts, and sulphur 3 parts. The composition to be moistened with linseed-oil.

Slow Fire for Wheels.

Saltpeter 4 parts, sulphur 2 parts, and meal powder 2 parts.

Dead Fire for Wheels.

Saltpeter 5 parts, sulphur 1 part, lapis calaminaris 1 part, and antimony 1 part.

Cautions.

Such are the principles and methods by which fireworks may be made; but we would advise our young friends to be very cautious, and never to attempt making any fireworks by candlelight; always to select some outhouse for their operations; to see that no iron or steel implements are about the place in which their fireworks are being manufactured, or they may go off before they wish it; to use wooden or brass implements in the bruising, grinding, and sifting of their mixtures; and never to bring the fireworks, or any of their ingredients, into the dwelling-house, or they may suddenly receive a

“Heavy blow and great discouragement.”

To Make an Illuminated Spiral Wheel.

Procure a circular horizontal wheel two feet in diameter with a hole quite through the nave, then take four thin pieces of deal three feet long each, and three-quarters of an inch broad each. One end of each of these pieces is to be nailed to the felloe of the wheel at an equal distance from one another, and the other end nailed to a block with a hole in its bottom, which must be perpendicular with that in the block of the wheel, but not so large. The wheel being thus made, a hoop planed down very thin must be nailed to the felloe of the wheel, and wound round the four sticks in a spiral line from the wheel to the block at the top; on the top of this block a case of Chinese fire must be fixed, and on the wheel any number of cases, which must incline downwards and burn two at a time. The axis of the wheel must be a little longer than the cone, and made very smooth at the top, on which the upper block is to turn and the whole weight of the wheel to rest.

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