YELLOW FIRE.
No. 4.
Nitrate of baryta 36 parts.
Oxalate of soda 6 „
Sulphur 3 „
Shellac 5 „
This composition produces a good colour and has a moderate reflective
power. Its principal merit lies in the fact that it will keep good for
any length of time after it is mixed, and can be made with samples of
nitrate of baryta which will not produce a good green.
YELLOW FIRE.
No. 5.
Nitrate of soda 48 parts.
Sulphur 16 „
Antimony 4 „
Charcoal (fine) 1 part.
This is decidedly the best formula for yellow fires, as far as effect is
concerned. But the nitrate of soda is so highly deliquescent that the
composition must on no account be made up longer before use than is
absolutely necessary. Yellow fires are not much used in pyrotechnic
exhibitions. I suppose this is to be accounted for by the extraordinary
power that they possess of giving to all objects, especially the human
face, a ghastly and death-like appearance, anything but agreeable to
behold. I have no doubt, however, that some of my younger readers,
knowing this, will set a higher value upon the formulas for yellow fire,
for the fun of showing off the spectators of their exhibitions to the
greatest possible disadvantage. Especial notice should be taken of the
complete annihilation of colour in flowers, dresses, &c., by this yellow
light. The effect is, of course, very similar to that produced by the
burning of spirits of wine or naptha holding salt in solution. This
latter is known as the _monochromatic light_; that is, a light in which
only one of the colours of the spectrum is shown.
Although I do not remember ever having seen a yellow fire used in any
large exhibition of fireworks, I have given the above formulas in order
to render my paper upon the subject as complete as possible.