THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 237 



about four feet long and three inches wide, and scalloped or forked 

 at the bottom, as in the figure, so that it may rest on the points, 

 while the plumb c swings freely. The rule must be planed as 

 straight as can be with the jointer, with the edges parallel, and 



FIG. 105. 



PLUMB RTTLK. 



a mark made with the gauge along the centre, as at the dotted 

 line a ; I is a screw to which the plumb line d is attached ; c is 

 the plumb, made of lead, about two inches long and one inch in 

 diameter. To make a plumb, bore a smooth hole in a hard stick 

 of wood, and fill it with melted lead ; as soon as the lead is 

 poured in, hold a little wire staple in the melted lead, with the 

 pinchers, until the lead becomes solid. Split the stick, and attach 

 the plumb by the staple, to a piece of small cord d. Place the 

 edge of the rule against the side of a post, and if it is plumb the 

 cord will hang exactly over the dotted line a. Such a rule is 

 usually quite as convenient as a spirit level and plumb, which 

 will cost ten times more ; and it is often far more correct, and will 

 show any slight variation with more accuracy than many spirit 

 rules. 



