Till: II \M)V MAN <)\ THE FARM. 





Knots. 



There is such an array of knots thai it is a difficull task to select just those 

 that the fanner will find most useful. A few stand out prominently by 

 virtue of their utility, bul for the rest an em lea \ our will be made to describe 

 types, and there should he little difficulty experienced in modifying' or 

 elaborating them according to requirements. 



First and foremost are the methods of joining of two ropes together. The 

 commonest and most inefficient knot to use is undoubtedly the "Granny 

 (Fig. 13). If not tied tightly it will slip ; and when once it catches it jams so 

 tightly, and is so difficult to undo, that it is often a cause of grave danger. 

 The "Reef" knot (Fig. 1-4), which should always he made in its place, is 

 very similar, and may be confused with it. The first tie is the same in both 

 eases, the difference in the knots being that, in the "Reef " knot, the end that 

 comes over from on top, remains on top when crossed for the second ti.-, 

 while in the "Granny" it is crossed below for the second tie. 



It may be worth noting here that a " Reef " knot is easily undone, by taking 

 either end and giving it a sharp pull over in the opposite direction to which 

 it is pointing. This will straighten it out if the material is pliable, and the 

 end can then be easily drawn out. This is a good method to adopt with 

 bandages or string, and when there is no knob on the end, but if there is a 

 knob, or the material is fairly stiff, the easiest plan is to push one end back. 



The " Reef" is easy to undo, and under ordinary conditions should never slip ; 

 but where a thin rope is to be tied to a thick one, the " Reef " will slip, and it i s 

 best then to use the "Sheet Bend " (Fig. 17a and b). The latter can be used 

 when a small rope is heaved, say, over a limb of a tree, and a thicker rope 

 pulled up after it. The " Sheet Bend " is not permanent, and will soon come 

 undone if the rope gets slack or the strain is intermittent. 



The safest way of tying two ropes together, whether of the same thickness 

 or not, is by what is termed 

 the •• Fisherman's" knot (Fig. 

 15). It will take some 

 practice to make this suc- 

 cessfully, and the overhand 

 knots should be made in such 

 a way that they fit over one 

 another when drawn tight as 

 shown in Fig. 16. So sure 

 is this knot, that the Alpine 

 Club have recommended its 

 exclusive use where ropes 

 are to be tied together in 

 mountain climbing. 



The "Figure-of-eight" knot 

 (Fig. 18) is hardly suitable for 

 working in rope, but it is so 

 readily made with wire, and 

 holds so strongly, that it is 

 verv widely used for tying 



fencing wire. Its disadvantage lies in the two ends, which stand out 

 .t right-angles and prevent its passing through auger holes when 

 t 54797—2 F 



Fig. 18.— The Figure-of-eight Knot. 



