FARM CONVEYANCES 191 



bobsleighs. Bobsleighs hitched together with an old- 

 fashioned reach and provided with wide heavy raves 

 will climb over logs, pitch down into root holes, and 

 weave their way in and out among trees better than any 

 other sled contrivance, and they turn short enough for 

 such roads. The shortest turning rig> however, is the 

 cross chain reach shown in Figure 167. 



MAKING A FARM CART 



A two-wheeled cart large enough to carry a barrel of 

 cider is a great convenience on a farm. The front 

 wheels of a buggy are 'about the right size and usually 

 are strong enough for cart purposes. A one-inch iron 

 axle will be stiff enough if it is reinforced at the square 

 bends. The axle is bent down near the hubs at right 

 angles and carried across to support the floor of the 

 cart box about one foot from the ground. The distance 

 from the ground should be just sufficient so that when 

 the cart is tipped back the hind end will rest on the 

 ground with the bottom boards at an easy slant to roll 

 a barrel or milk can into the bottom of the box. Under 

 the back end of the cart platform is a good stout bar of 

 hardwood framed into the sidepieces. All of the wood- 

 work about the cart is well braced with iron. The floor 

 of the cart is better when made of narrow matched 

 hardwood flooring about seven-eighths of an inch thick 

 fastened with bolts. It should be well supported by 

 cross pieces underneath. In fact the principal part of 

 the box is the underneath part of the frame. 



Sidepieces of the box are wide and are bolted to the 

 vertical parts of the axle and braced in different direc- 

 tions to keep the frame solid, square and firm. The 

 sides of the box are permanently fastened but both 

 tailboard and front board are held in place by cleats 



