HANDY THINGS ABOUT THE FAHM. 



413 



and drawn either backward or forward. The runners are made 



of strong plank, and serve for side-boards as well as runners. 



The manner of dumping is shown in Fig. 29. The short chain 



is unfastened, and the team 



is allowed to draw by the 



long chain, which dumps the 



sled. 



Fig. 30 illustrates a cheap 

 and convenient potato screen, 

 by means of which not only the loose earth among the potatoes, 

 but the small potatoes also can be taken out. The slats should 



be rounded on the upper 

 side and planed smooth, so 

 as to reduce friction as much 



FIG. 28. SELF-DUMPING SLED EMPTY. 



as possible, and should be a 

 little wider apart at the bot- 



FIG. 29. SELF-DCMPING SLED LOADED. 



torn than the top of the screen. A good width for it is twenty 



inches, and the lower end should be high enough to receive a 



basket. Often it can be so arranged that the potatoes can be run 



directly into a bin in the 



cellar through a window. An 



old cloth spread under the 



screen will facilitate gathering 



up what passes through, and 



also prevent dirt and litter 



near the house. 



Fig. 31 shows a cover for a 

 roller. It is well known that 

 exposure to the weather dam- 

 ages farm machinery more 

 than its use, and as the roller 

 is large and awkward to put 

 in the shed and occupies a 

 good deal of space, it is more j:'4'T! 

 likely to be left out than most FI.;. .^.-POTATO 



implements. If raised a few inches from the ground and covered 

 with a box like that shown in our engraving, it will be as 



