HANDLING THE HAY CROP 173 



the frame by having the bottom end mortised into the 

 center cross timber at the middle and it is braced solid 

 and held perpendicular to the framework by 4"x4" 

 wooden braces at the corners. These braces are notched 

 at the top ends to fit the corners of the mast and 

 are beveled at the bottom ends to fit flat on top of 

 the timbers. They are held in place by bolts and by 

 strap iron or band iron bands. These bands are drilled 

 with holes and are spiked through into the timbers 



Figure 153. (1) Hayfork Hitch. A whiffletree pulley doubles the 

 speed of the fork. The knot in the rope gives double power to start 

 the load. (2) Rafter Grapple, for attaching an extra pulley to any 

 part of the barn roof. 



with four-inch or five-inch wire nails. Holes are drilled 

 through the band iron the right size and at the proper 

 places for the nails. The mast is made round at the 

 top and is fitted with a heavy welded iron ring or band 

 to prevent splitting. The boom is usually about 30 

 feet long. Farmers prefer a round pole when they can 

 get it. It is attached to the top of the mast by an iron 

 stirrup made by a blacksmith. This stirrup is made 

 to fit loosely half way around the boom one-third of the 

 way up from the big end, which makes the small end 

 of the boom project 20 feet out from the upper end 

 of the mast. The iron stirrup is made heavy and 



