to April, 1912.] 



Farm Black%miih'ni e. 



217 



dency to spread will be observed where heavy crops occur and the limbs 

 will not easily regain their original position. This tendency is more marked, 

 of course, in some varieties than in others, owing to the habits of growth 

 being entirely dissimilar. 



The pruning season may start as soon as the crop is off the trees, and 

 may continue until just before the spring growth sets in. That is, the 

 work should be carried out usually about June or July in most of our 

 districts, varying somewhat with the locality and variety. 



If the frame-work has been properly established the chief care at each 

 annual pruning will be the selection and encouragement of the right class 

 of laterals for fruiting. As a general practice the spurring back of the 

 laterals is not advised. It is better to practice thinning, leaving the remain- 

 ing ones long. 



{To he cotilinued.) 



FARM BLACKSMITHING. 



{Continued from page 195.) 



George Baxter, Instructor in Blacksmithing, Working Men's College, 



Melbourne. 



v.— WELDING {continued). 



Forging Spanners. 



Figure 53 shows two methods of forging spanners. A is the usual 

 manner in which they are made from steel out of a solid bar, and B is the 

 best method of making from iron. 



To forge the first named a piece of mild steel is required equal in 

 thickness to the depth of the nut and in width about one and three-quarters 

 the breadth of the nut. 



FIG. 53. SPANNER. 



{a) Roughing out. [b) Position to cut off bar. [c) The completed spanner. 



{d) and {e) Scarfed ready for welding. 



Such a piece of metal is first drawn down to form the handle, as 

 shown in A ; the length of handle requiring to be fifteen times the diameter 

 of the bolt. It would then be cut off at B, the enlarged portion roughlv 

 rounded, and a hole punched as shown by dotted lines. The hole being 

 then drifted out to the breadth of nut the gap would be cut out with 

 the chisel and the spanner afterwards forged as near as possible to shape 

 shown at C. The handle should be the last part finished bv rounding 

 the edges with a top and bottom swage, so that it will be comfortable 

 in the hand. 



