Tract 34.

IN GUNNERY.

The object this day was the effect of cork wads* and ofdifferent degrees of ramming. The cork wads were near aninch long, and were made to fit very tight, being rathermore than 2 inches diameter ; and weighed 5 drams each.

N os 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 were without wads,'

4, 5, 10, 11 with a wad gently pressed home,

6, 7, 12, 1? with a wad, and hard rammed by 2 men.

At n° 12 one of the iron bands of the pendulum broke,and fell across the measuring arch. The band weighed41 lb; n° 13 was fired after the band was removed, andconsequently 41 lb must be deducted.

The velocities are

1416

1375

1426

1390

1442

D

1396 the mean without wads.

1408 with wads not pressed.

1442 with wads very hard rammed.

148 Mean recoil without ball275 Ditto with ball.

N° 13 is very doubtful, the vibration of the pendulumbeing evidently too large; perhaps 174 had been set downinstead of 164.

In the above there seems to be some small advantage infavour of the wads. But it is suspected the difference isonly accidental; and the number of experiments is'too smallto afford any tolerably good mediums.