270 THE PEACH. 



should be about ten inches long. We next construct a pair 

 of handles, similar to those of a wheelbarrow, but much more 

 depressed at the point designed to receive the bearings of the 

 axletree, and extending forward of the wheel just far enough 

 to admit a cross-beam to connect the handles at this point; 

 one-and-a-half inches in rear of the wheel, a second cross- 

 beam is framed into the handles, and eighteen to twenty-four 

 inches farther back, a third. The two last named cross- 

 beams have framed to their under-sides, a fourth piece, cen- 

 trally, between the handles, and pointing in the direction of 

 the wheel. To the handles and to the three last named pieces, 

 the arms or ribs to support the canvass are to be fastened. 

 To the front part of the beam connecting the handles in front 

 of the wheel, the ram is attached; this should be covered 

 with leather stuffed with furniture moss, a dozen or more 

 thicknesses of old hat, leather or other substance, being care- 

 ful to use no more than necessary to protect the tree from 

 bruising. Ascertain the elevation the handles should have 

 in driving, and support them in that position. We now put 

 in place the stockers, or arms, six for each side, which are to 

 receive and support the canvass. We put the front arms in 

 position. These extend back to near the centre of the wheel 

 on each side, and in front of the wheel (for large machines), 

 say six feet, and f^ir enough apart to receive the largest tree 

 between them on which it is to operate. The remaining arms 

 are supported on the handles, and fastened to them and to 

 the two cross and parallel pieces in rear of the wheel. These 

 are so placed as to divide the space at their outer ends equally 

 between them and the first mentioned stretchers and fastened 

 to the ends of the handles. Next, we have ready a strip of 

 half-inch board two and a half wide. One end of this is se- 

 cured to the forward end of one of the front arms, and in 

 like manner to all the others on one side of the machine, and 

 fastened to the bundles. Both sides are made alike. The 

 office of these strips is to hold the outside ends of the arms 

 in position; they also prevent the front arms from closing. 

 These outside strips also receive the outside edge of the can- 

 vass, which is fastened to them as well as to the several arm 

 supports. 



