12 



the points y, z, (Fig. 5,) and insert a screw eye at each end on the 

 under side, and this completes the beam. 



Next get out two pieces, each i inch thick, 4 inches wide, and 

 5 ft. 8 inches long, like Fig. 4, and cut the ends as shown ; these 

 are the pieces o, o, which cross in Fig. 2 ; cross them at right 

 angles and nail securely ; now take four laths (t, t, t, t, Fig. 2), cut 

 two of them 4 ft. long, and two 3 ft. 9 inches long. The cross-piece 

 (o) which is underneath must have two blocks of inch board, 4 

 inches square, nailed to each end, to bring the top up even with 

 the other cross-piece. Now nail the laths on as shown. This is 

 the skeleton of the platform, which is to be covered with heavy 

 cotton cloth, or canvas, or oil cloth, tacked to the lath frame ; ^ 

 inch holes are bored, one in each corner, and through this the win- 

 dow cord will pass. The spreader (h) is shown on a larger scale in 

 Fig. 6 ; it is made from a rake stale and is 3^^ ft. long ; four holes 

 are bored in this, two (i and 4 in cut) are three inches from the 

 ends, the spreader bail-cord passes through these. The other two 

 are 9 inches from the end, and are at rightangles to the two first 

 mentioned ; through these (2 and 3 in Fig. 6) the cords which 

 suspend the platform are to pass. 



Fig. 3 is simply a piece of inch board, i foot square, with holes 

 in each corner. On this platform the weights are to be put. The 

 cuts show how the cords are arranged ; where the spreader bale 

 passes through the halter snap it must be tied, so that it cannot 

 slip through the ring of the snap. It is very important that the 

 distance between the center screw eye and the end ones shall 

 be exactly alike. 



When the whole is completed it may be suspended from a beam 

 in the barn floor by a rope, and if it is desirable this rope may pass 

 through a pulley on the beam, and when the balance is not in use 

 it may be drawn up out of the way, being lowered on to the floor 

 when needed. 



I was three hours in building the one we are using, and most 

 farmers, or their boys or hired men, can build one without having 

 a carpenter to do the work. The cost will then be less than fifty 

 cents. Surely this sum need not prevent any one knowing what 

 he is feeding. 



When the whole is complete two bricks will nearly balance the 



