376 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



4. Tell what you can of road construction. 



5. How are good roads maintained? 



6. Why should roads be drained? 



7. What effect do narrow and wide tires have on roads? 



8. What have you done to beautify the roadways in your neigh- 

 borhood? 



References. U. S. Farmers' Bulletins on Roads: Nos. 311, 333, 

 505, 597. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



WORK WITH ROPE. 



STUDENTS of both city and country will find much value 

 and interest in learning to tie a few useful knots and to splice 

 ropes. For a farmer the methods of tying and mending rope 

 are of great value. The knowledge may be the means of 

 saving a crop of hay, saving animals from injury, or even 

 saving human life. A few of the most common hitches, knots, 

 and splices are here shown. 



How Ropes and Cables are Made. Cotton or hemp 

 fibres of various grades are used in making ropes. Fibres 

 are spun to the right hand to make yarn; yarns are twisted 

 to the left to form strands. Three strands twisted to the 

 right are used to make a common rope or hawser. If three 

 hawsers or ropes are twisted together to the left they form a 

 cable. The reversal of spinning or twisting aids in keeping 

 the rope or cable from unwinding. The strength of any rope 

 depends upon its fibres, yarns, and strands lying closely 

 together so they cannot slip. 



Square Knot. This is the knot that should be used most 

 commonly in tying cords together, as in tying up packages. 

 The knot will not slip and yet it is easily untied. Tie a 



