276 



THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 



opposite end of the clamp against the abdomen of the workman 

 who holds the axe. Such -a little instrument will be found of 

 very great service. In grinding up a new axe, make a gain in the 

 end of a rail or scantling, and sit on -it when grinding. The cut 

 ting edge at B should never be more than half an inch beyond a 



FIG. 127. 



FIG. 128. 



A TRANSVERSE SECTION OF THE 

 BLADE OR BIT OF A WELL-FORM 

 ED CHOPPING AXE. 



A CLAMP FOR HOLDING AN AIB 

 WHILE GRINDING IT. 



line drawn from the outside corner D, to inside corner E. (See 

 Fig. 126.) For scoring timber, an axe must be a little circular 

 on the edge from D to E. If this edge is very circular, the 

 timber will be badly hacked. After grinding, whet the edge with 

 a fine gritted oil stone; and if the sides of the -blade could be 

 polished on a polishing wheel, it would enter the wood farther at 

 a given stroke. (See OIL STONE, paragraph 572.) 



THE AXE HELVE. 



371. In order to chop well and easily, a man must have a 

 good helve ; and unless a helve is made of good timber, and of a 

 good shape, it will be an awkward tool in the hands of a good 

 chopper. A helve, in order to be a good one, must not be too 



