Tilt: II Wl>\ MAN ON Till. FARM. 



sir, 



into each other, allow s the thread to be drawn tighter. 'I'. > facilitate the use of 

 the awl, saddlers usually cut a Hat place on the ha ml If. and by always keeping 

 the thumb on this, the righl angle is secured without difficulty. (Fig. 15.) 



When the first hole has been made the needle is passed up from below, and 

 the thread drawn through until an equal length is on each side. The next hole 

 is then made with the awl and the lower needle broughl upwards through 

 this, and when the thread has been drawn through aWont •"> inches, the 

 upper needle is passed down- 

 wards through the same 

 hole. [Fig. 16.) The awl 

 makes a diamond-shaped hole, 

 and the thread brought up 

 from below must be kept in 

 the angle neares! the stitching 

 already done — the lower end — 

 while the thread taken down- 

 wards must lie kept in the 

 upper angle. This can be 

 done by pulling downwards 

 a little with the upper hand, 

 while the lower hand is drawn 

 slightly towards the operator. 

 Each thread must be firmly 

 drawn when pulled through. 



This is continued until the required amount of stitching lias been don< , 

 when the thread is secured by turning back a stitch, using a round awl for 

 making the hole. The thread when passed through is cut off flush with the 

 surface of the leather. 



By following the above directions, much useful repairing may he done by 

 the farmer in his spare hours, and besides being profitable the work will h** 

 found interesting. 



Broken winkers can be repaired, lost buckles replaced, and backhands 

 and belly-bands, which are damaged, made strong again. Traces can be made 

 ■>afe, and the unsightly, dangerous knots, often seen in reins and other parts 

 of the harness, replaced by strong, neatly-stitched repairs. It will be 

 found that neat, strong work can be easily done, and that the details are 

 soon mastered. Much of the work is merely cutting-out and stitching, 

 and by close examination of the harness and imitation of it, nearly all 

 repairs can be accomplished. Many articles, such as bridles, straps, belly- 

 bands, &c, can also be made without difficulty. These can be cheaply 

 bought, but provided good leather and hemp are obtained, the home-made 

 article will probably have the merit of greater strength and durability. 



Fig. 16.— Stitching. 



Horse Rugs. 



Some difficulty is often experienced in securing a rug to the horse so that 

 it fits him comfortably without slipping off. The best method of accom 

 plishing this is to attach flank straps, instead of the crupper t hat is often 

 used, and to have the usual girth and chest straps. When flank straps art- 

 adopted it is not necessary to buckle any of the straps a« tightly as when i 

 crupper is used. 



