PART VIII 



ROPE AND HARNESS WORK ON THE 

 FARM 



CHAPTER XXXVI 



CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF ROPE 



357. The Need for Rope Work. A working knowledge 

 in the use of rope is of value to every one on the farm. Rope 

 is used in a great many ways, and often much time may be 

 saved by knowing how to make a simple splice, or tie a satis- 

 factory knot or hitch for a particular purpose. Accidents are 

 often averted by knowing how to tie the right knot for the 

 right place. To become expert in tying and splicing rope re- 

 quires a great deal of practice. One can learn this kind of 

 work only by actually doing it. The work outlined under 

 this head is to give the reader an idea of the principal knots 

 and splices and their applications. Practice work is grouped 

 into several pro j ects. The student should not expect to make 

 progress in rope work without carrying thru these projects. 



358. Materials of Which Rope Is Made. The greater 

 part of rope is made from either manilla or sisal fiber. Manilla 

 fiber, a product of the Philippine Islands, is obtained from a 

 plant similar to the banana. The sisal fiber, from which most 

 binder twine is made, a product of Yucatan, is secured from a 

 plant similar to the American aloe. The two kinds of rope 

 are ordinarily known as hemp rope. The sisal is neither as 

 strong nor as durable as manilla fiber. A distinguishing 



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