=Charging with Cartridges.=--The charge must fit and fill the bottom of the bore, and be packed solid. Take a cartridge as nearly as possible of the same size as the bore, and cut it into sections of about twice or three times the diameter. With a hard-wood rammer, as large as will run freely in the hole, press these sections into the bore-hole one by one with sufficient force until each section is driven to the bottom and expanded laterally so as to fill the hole solidly in every direction. If the cartridge is smaller than the hole, slit it lengthwise. _Metallic rammers must not be used._ =Priming.=--Cut off squarely the end of the fuze and thrust it into the cap up to the fulminate. If the fuze is too large, scrape it down, and if too small wind it with paper. Then clamp the cap to the fuze with the nippers, being careful not to disturb the fulminate in the cap. If for a wet hole, smear the junction of the fuze and the cap with bar-soap or the like, to make it water-tight. Now open the end of the cartridge, and with a pointed stick make a hole in the explosive and insert the cap (with the fuze attached) the full length of the cap, and press the explosive firmly about the cap. Next gather the cartridge-paper about the fuze and tie it there strongly with a string, so that the cap cannot be withdrawn from the explosive. Cut off so much of the cartridge as is not needed, and the primer is complete. Thus prepared, place it in the drill-hole and press it with a wooden rod into contact with the charge. =Tamping.=--This is of great importance. Always tamp if you can, and with the best materials and in the strongest manner. In deep and down holes water is good. A shallow tamp of water amounts to very little. A shallow tamp of sand or clay is better. In driving and packing the tamp next to the primer be careful not to explode the cap; the first handful of tamp should always be pressed down gently. In fissures or artificial cracks surround the charge with mud, clay, sand, or water, if possible. =Explosion of Blast.=--In most cases it is better not to cut off the required length of fuze until the hole is tamped. Then cut off at a safe length and fire by igniting with a match or fuzee. If it misses fire, be careful in taking out the tamping not to approach nearer the cap than within two or three inches; then put in another cartridge and fire it. _Never pick out the charge._ After inserting the primer it is well to put a ball of newspaper or some substance readily recognized on top of it and then the tamping. If then the tamping has to be removed, warning will be given on approaching the primer. =To Insure Explosion.=--The dynamite must not be frozen; the fuze must be good and kept in the cap; the cap must be dry and not withdrawn from the explosive. =Frozen Dynamite.=--Dynamite freezes more easily than water, becomes hard and cannot be properly loaded into bore-holes, and is more difficult of explosion. Keep it where it will not freeze if possible.