1880 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
317 
A Canvas Chair. 
While on a visit to some friends in the coun¬ 
try, not long ago, we made the acquaintance of a 
chair which was so easy, cool, and altogether suited 
for summer use, that we give an engraving of it, 
for the benefit of other friends in the country. An 
explanation of its parts is scarcely necessary, as it 
can be easily understood from the figure. The legs 
cross as in a camp stool, two of them being long, 
and with the canvas, forming the high back to the 
chair. Two braces which are attached near the 
center of the back are joined by a cross-piece, which 
fits into notches seen at the rear, and by moving 
AN EASY SUMMER CHAIR. 
the braces up or down, the back may be brought 
nearly upright, or horizontal. When not in use, 
the chair may be folded up so that it will occupy 
but a small space. If the chair is patented, we 
failed to see the mark which the law directs shall 
be put on to indicate that such is the case. 
A Hammock for the Household. 
Merely the sight of a hammock hung in a cool 
and shady place is refreshing ; it appears so com¬ 
fortable and inviting. A hammock is not a sign 
of indolence, as some who think that they have no 
time for rest, except in the night, may regard it ; 
it is rather an index of good sense upon the part 
of the owner who is aware that in the busiest life 
there are minutes that can be best spent iu com¬ 
fortable repose. Even on the farm in mid-summer 
there are half hours and quarter hours at noonday, 
or in the evening after the. heat and work of the 
day are over, when the rest which an easy fitting 
hammock affords is just so much clear gain. No¬ 
thing that will give rest to the weary body and at 
the same time divert the mind is out of place in the 
farmer’s household. If there are children in the fam¬ 
ily, there is nothing that can give them more amuse¬ 
ment and comfort than a hammock, and the guests, 
whether of an hour or a day, will not object to the 
pleasure which it affords. Hammocks are not ex¬ 
pensive, at least they do not now cost the price that 
they once did, when they were imported and their 
use was less general. Two or three dollars will 
now buy a very serviceable plain one ; those that 
are elaborately made of course costing much more. 
In hanging the hammock it should be placed in 
the shade, either between two trees upon a lawn or 
upon the piazza and hung by hooks or screw-eyes 
placed in the columns or posts. If more par¬ 
ticularly for children it should be somewhat lower 
than usual. For grown persons the hook which 
supports the head end should be six feet high and 
that for the foot four feet; this will afford the 
most desirable position for the occupant. The 
body of the hammock should be nearer the higher 
hook than it is to the other, and this may be secured 
by using a shorter piece of rope on the head end. 
There has been introduced recently a hammock 
hung to a portable frame ; this frame folds up and 
occupies but very little space when not in use. 
Of course, like most good things, the hammock 
may be abused—the comfortable rest which it gives 
may induce persons to remain too late out-of-doors, 
thus exposing them to the chilly or damp air of the 
night, but this is not the fault of the hammock, 
and no argument against its more general introduc¬ 
tion as one of the wholesome comforts of the 
farmer’s home during the hot months of summer. 
Tents and Canopies for the Lawn. 
To get out-of-doors in the hot days of summer is 
a common impulse. Even though the thermome¬ 
ter may show no marked difference in the tempera¬ 
ture, the freedom of the open air is preferable to 
the confinement of the house. But to be out-of- 
doors one must also be in the shade. The natural 
shade of trees is pleasant occasionally, but rarely 
so desirable, take it altogether, as that of a tent. 
Trees are not always just where we wish the shade ; 
the ground beneath them is often damp; and be¬ 
sides there are falling leaves, unwelcome insects, 
and other discomforts that make the tent prefera¬ 
ble for a prolonged out-door sojourn. A tent may 
be made an important ‘‘annex” to the house in 
summer, and afford not only a pleasant place for 
reading, sewing, etc., but we have known it to do 
good service as the tea-room of the family during 
the hot days. The readiness with which children 
take to a tent as a play-ground is a sufficient evi¬ 
dence of its utility, were there no other. The sim¬ 
plest form of tent is a mere roof, without side 
walls, technically known as a “fly”—aud this is in 
many cases all that is desired. Such a canopy is 
easily made aud inexpensive. The materials out of 
which it may be made are various ; common sheet¬ 
ing, heavy drilling, or duck, may be used; it will 
be found the cheapest in the end to get good sub¬ 
stantial material that will last aud look well for a 
number of seasons. The size of the canopy being 
decided upon, and the requisite material procured, 
all the making required will be to sew the breadths 
together and to make a broad hem at each end, 
with eyelet holes at each corner, and as many along 
the sides as there are to be ropes. If the material 
is heavy duck, the work must be done by a sail- 
maker, or by one who can use a sail-needle and 
“ palm.” Two upright poles, about 8 feet long, 
will be needed, and a light ridge-pole which will be 
as long as the width of the fly. An iron pin should 
be inserted in one end of each pole ; this should be 
Fig. 2.— AN OPEN TENT. 
long enough to pass through a hole in the ridge¬ 
pole, and it will be all the better if it pass through 
the ridge-pole and project a short distance to allow 
an eyelet in the middle of the edge of the canvas to 
go over it. This is not always done, but will add 
much to the firmness of the “structure.” Guy¬ 
lines or ropes, for holding the canopy in its posi¬ 
tion, must be provided. These are se¬ 
cured to the edges or “ eaves ” by pass¬ 
ing through an eyelet hole and making 
a knot in the end. Tent pins will be 
needed, as many as there are ropes ; 
these are strips of liard-wood, pointed, 
for driving into the ground, and with a 
notch near the upper end for holding 
the guy-lines. For convenient tighten¬ 
ing and loosening the ropes, it is well 
to provide each with a “becket,” which 
is piece of hard-wood, about 4 inches 
long and an inch wide, with a hole 
in each end, as in figure 1. The end of the guy- 
rope is put through the holes and a knot made. 
The open tent is now ready to pitch, and when 
in position is as shown in figure 2. In this form 
of tent the ends are entirely open, but end pieces 
may be added with but very little trouble and ex¬ 
pense, and the tent is much more complete. After 
the pitch of the main part has been decided upon, 
the cloth for the ends is cut, so that it will fit upon 
the open end, as shown in figure 3. This piece may 
be kept separate and adjusted by lace strings pass¬ 
ing through eyelets, or sewn fast, as desired. The 
pitch of the end piece should be the same as that 
Fig. 3.— OPEN TENT WITH ENDS. 
of the sides, and the bottom should come in the 
same plane. A single rope and pin will be needed 
to keep the ends in place. Those who prefer 
greater seclusion in their lawn tent, will find it in 
Fig. 4.— A WALL TENT. 
the Wall Tent, shown in figure 4. They can be 
made of any size ; and if of heavy material, can be 
used for “camping out.” A wall tent complete 
has over it a fly, made just like the canopy first 
described. This makes the tent much cooler, and 
in heavy rains breaks the force of the storm aud 
prevents leaking. A small Palmetto Tent, more 
especially adapted for children, is shown in figure 
5, the construction of which can be easily seen from 
the engraving. The cost of it is small, in compari¬ 
son with the amount of pleasure it can give the lit¬ 
tle ones, where they may “ keep house all to them¬ 
selves.” If the tent is to remain for some weeks, 
it will add greatly to the comfort of those who use 
it to have it furnished with a floor. If the needed 
sills or sleepers and boards are cut the right length 
aud put together with screws instead of nails, the 
floor will last for several years. In the suggestions 
for making a tent we have had shade and shelter 
only in view, but either style is capable of ornamen¬ 
tation ; alternate strips of blue and white or red aud 
white may be used, and the edges can be finished 
Fig. 5.— -SMALL PALMETTO TENT. 
by a scolloped border, as indicated in figure 5. Be¬ 
sides small flags may be successfully introduced. 
