The Chinese bridle is usually made of three strings, which are attached to the same points on the head kite as the harness cords, or at T, U, and V. The lower string is longer than the two upper ones so that the proper inclination will be presented to the breeze. As the head is inclined, all the section kites will also be inclined. Some makers prefer a balancer on the head kite, and in one instance such a balancer was made in the shape of a ball. A ball made of bamboo strips is shown in [Fig. 8], and is attached as shown in [Fig. 7].
Flying the Kite
It will be necessary to have a helper, and perhaps two, in starting the kite up, as the harness might become entangled. Quite a little run will be necessary, but when up the kite will make a steady flier and will pull very hard. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, try readjustment of the bridle or a little different position in the breeze, and see that the balancers are not tangled. Quite a number of changes may be worked out on these plans, but it is necessary to bear in mind that the distances between sections must be equal and that the general construction must be maintained.
A Movable Sunshade and Seat for Garden Workers
The Sunshade and Seat are Mounted on Wheels So That the Device can be Easily Moved About
Weeding gardens under a hot sun and in a necessarily uncomfortable position is by no means a pleasant occupation, but much of the hardship can be avoided if a combination movable sunshade and seat is made, as shown in the illustration. The framework consists of two end pieces, both made in the same way. Two ¹⁄₂-in. tees are required for each. These are connected with a 5-ft. pipe, for the upright, and the crosspiece that supports one end of the canvas consists of two pieces of pipe, each about 1¹⁄₂ ft. long, screwed into the tee. The axle for the wheels is also formed of two pieces of pipe, but these are only about 1 ft. long.
Four suitable cart wheels should be provided, or solid circular disks cut out of a board or plank, and drilled for a ³⁄₈-in. axle. Ordinary ³⁄₈-in. washers are placed on each side of the wheels, one serving as a shoulder on the pipe end, and the other for the nut. The seat can be made of a 1 by 8-in. board, about 6 ft. 9 in. long, notched at each end to fit the pipe tees and prevented from shifting by means of U-bolts around the axle on either side of the upright. After covering the top with canvas, fastened at each end around the upper crosspiece, the shaded movable seat is ready for service.—Contributed by W. E. Crane, Cleveland, Ohio.
To Keep Grass and Weeds Out of Tennis Courts
Tennis courts are very apt to become covered with grass and weeds unless considerable labor is expended on them. The best way to keep a court free from this growth is to put on sheets of tar paper close together when it is not in use. The paper should be cut in strips the proper length, so that they can be rolled up and set aside until the game is over, when they can be laid down again. After the court has been covered a few times, the grass will die out and disappear altogether. The use of salt, acids, and a number of other things, together with hoeing, were tried out, but the paper covering was the most successful of them all.—Contributed by W. D. Mills, Bakersfield, Cal.