I4I2 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



Tying packages: 



Two half hitches, Figs. 73-74, p. 57 



Jam hitch, Figs. 95-97, p. 61 



Crossing hitch, Fig. 98, p. 62 



Surgeon's knot. Fig. 116, p. 65 



Slip knot, Figs. 122-125, p. 66 

 Tying yam: • 



Weaver's knot, Figs. 11 7-1 21, p. 65 



GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING ROPE 



Kinds of rope. — Rope is made of hemp, of cotton, or of wire. The 

 last-named, being used very little by the farmer, will not be considered 

 here. Cotton rope is of value mainly by reason of its softness, and should 

 be used in making rope halters for young animals having tender skins. 

 Because of its strength and durability hemp rope is universally used. 

 Of late years the supply of true hemp has been insufficient to fill the 

 demand, and a substitute has been found in the outer fibers of the leaves 

 of a species of the banana plant grown in the Philippine Islands. The 

 prepared fiber is exported from the city of Manila under the name of 

 " manila hemp," the rope made from it being called manila rope. 



" In manufacturing rope the fibers are first spun into a ' yam,' this 

 yam being twisted in a direction called ' right hand.' A number of yarns 

 are then put together and twisted in the opposite direction, or ' left hand,' 

 into a ' strand.' Three of these strands for a three-strand or fotir for a 

 four-strand rope are then twisted together, the twist being again in the 

 * right hand ' direction. When the strand is twisted it untwists each of 

 the yams, and when the three or four strands are twisted together into 

 rope it untwists the strands but again twists up the yarns. It is this 

 opposite twist that keeps the rope in its proper forni. When a weight 

 is hung on the end of a rope the tendency is for the rope to untwist and 

 become longer. In untwisting the rope it will twist the threads up and 

 the weight will revolve until the strain of the untwisting strands just 

 equals the strain of the yarns being twisted tighter. In making a rope 

 it is impossible to make these strains exactly balance each other. It is 

 this fact that makes it necessary to take out the ' tiu-ns ' in a new rope, 

 that is, untwist it when it is at work. The amount of twist that should 

 be put in the yarns has been ascertained approximately by experience."* 

 In Figs. 43 and 44 are shown the end views of three-strand and four- 

 strand ropes of the same size, a circle having been drawn about each in 

 order that their solidness may be compared. In the three-strand rope 

 the strands are larger than those in the foiu--strand rope, and yet the circle 



* From a pamphlel issued by the C. W. Hunt Company, of New York. 



