lo Jan., igi2.] Farm Blacksmiihing. 49 



the competitors in preceding years, inasmuch as very considerable improve- 

 ments have been effected on many of the farms quite recently, with a 

 view of bringing them up to a standard suitable for competition. It is, 

 of course, inevitable that, in any given district, there will always be a 

 few farmers who stand out conspicuously from their fellows, in the 

 efBciency with which they conduct the various farm operations, and in 

 regard to the general standard of cultivation. From the point of view of 

 the State, it is of the highest degree of importance that the great bulk of 

 the farming population should follow the lead set by the more progressive 

 farmers of a given district. 



In a word, it is of the highest importance to encourage the many to 

 do what the few are doing at the present time. From the standpoint of 

 the State, true progress will come, not bv increasing the size of the 

 individual holding, but by encouraging higher class farming, and I feel 

 sure that the yearly focussing of the farmers' attention on the merits of 

 the best farms of a district must lead to great general improvement in 

 the farm practice of that district. In this direction, the Nhill Agricul- 

 tural Society has done most valuable work during the past eleven years, 

 and it is sincerely to be hoped that this good work will continue. 



I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without pointing out the great 

 amount of good work Mr. C. H Towns, the popular secretary of the 

 Nhill society, has done. The success of a society is very largely dependent 

 on the energy and enthusiasm of its chief officers ; and, for the able direc- 

 tion of the work of the farm competitions for the past eleven ^■ears, 

 Mr. Towns is almost wholly responsible. 



FARM BLACKSMITHING. 



{Continued from -page 799, Vol. IX.) 



George Baxter, Instructor in Black smithing, Working Men's College, 



Melbourne. 



v.— WELDING {Continued). 



Swingle-tree Mountings. 



Figs. 42 and 43 show two methods of mounting a swingle-tree. The 

 first is much simpler than that depicted in Fig. 43, but is not as strong. 

 Holes must be bored through the timber to receive the ironwork, whereas in 

 the second instance the iron is made to surround the wood, thereby prevent- 

 ing it from splitting, which would easily happen if the first method be 

 adopted. Notwithstanding this disadvantage, it is commonly used ; and, 

 to overcome the loss of strength due to boring the holes referred to, wood 

 of a larger section is employed. 



It would undoubtedly be advisable to first make one of the simplest 

 nature. The following information concerning both methods will, it is 

 hoped, be sufficiently clear to enable one to make eitlier. Fig. 42 will be 

 considered first. 



Take a piece of \ in. or f in. round iron of any convenient length and 

 start by making a wedge-shaped point in the same manner as that described 

 for the hinge (Fig. 40); then bend it over the beak of the_ anvil, using a 

 drift to make the hole the correct size and shape. (See a. Fig. 42). 



