AMERICAN HOME GAKDBN. 



215 



STOCK SPIJTTEE. 

 Fig. 100. 



The stock splitter, Fig. 100, is formed of a stout wooden 

 handle and grooved head-piece (a), the latter either a simple 

 extension of the former or set at a more or less obtuse angle to 

 it, combined upon an iron pivot with an iron handle of the 

 same length, terminated by a knife of pretty thin steel (b), 

 which works directly toward, but does not touch the inner face 

 of the groove. 



The edge of the knife should be gradually curved backward, 

 and perhaps the addition of a small slide in the joint would 

 farther improve it. In working this implement the wooden 

 groove is placed against the back of the stock so far down as 

 the operator may desire to extend the cut, and the cleft is 

 made in an instant by pressure upon the outer end of the iron 

 handle. It is sometimes used at the same time for heading 

 down the stocks, but this is of doubtful expediency, in view of 

 the imjMrtance of keeping its edge in fine order. 



LABELS. 



BAND LABELS. 



Labels may be made with small pieces of pine, about one 

 third of an inch thick, or like the thick end of a good shingle. 

 A small block of straight-grained pine, four inches square and 

 an inch thick, will make a dozen of them ; and if a small hole 

 be first bored thi'ough it, about half an inch from the end, each 

 label, as it is split ofi', will be ready for wiring (101 a) ; or, if 

 preferred, the boring may be omitted, and each may 1)e notch- 

 ed and the wire twisted round it (101 h). These should be 

 smoothed at least on one side, and painted with white lead. 

 Upon this the name or number should be written legibly with 



