To find the length of the rafters, at ONE-FOURTH pitch, multiply the width of the building by .56 (hundredths); at ONE-THIRD pitch, by .6 (tenths); at TWO-FIFTHS pitch, by .64 (hundredths); at ONE-HALF pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken into consideration. NOTE.-By or pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be x or the width of the building higher than the walls or base of the rafters. How to reckon the cost of hay. RULE.-Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, and remove the decimal point three places to the left. How to measure grain. RULE.-Level the grain; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic feet; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to the left. NOTE.-Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel. The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by multiplying the number of bushels by 8. If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of ear corn to make 1 of shelled corn. Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any given plot in square yards; then, given the number of yards, find out the number of rods and acres. The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to walk in a straight line; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote; and, in walking, keep these objects constantly in line. Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious contrivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard measure. Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given. How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods being given. RULE.-Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5, and remove the decimal point two places to the left. The diameter being given, to find the circumference. How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given. To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thickness throughout will contain when squared. RULE.-Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet. RULE.-Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. RULE.-Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1-10 to 1-15 according to the thickness of the bark. Howard's new rule for computing interest. RULE.—The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left. Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. NOTE-The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate; thus 3 per cent. per month, inverted, becomes of a month, or 10 days. When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus: 3-1, three ones. Rule for converting English into American currency. Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. A township-36 sections each a mile square. A section-640 acres. A quarter section, half a mile square-160 acres. An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide-80 acres. A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square-40 acres. The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east corner. The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The description of a forty acre lot would read: The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile. SURVEYORS' MEASURE. .....make 1 link. 7 92-100 inches... 25 links....... 4 rods......... 80 chains.. NOTE. A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barleycorn; three of which made an inch. Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches-called a hand. In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches. The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. A fathom is equal to 6 feet. A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league. In cloth measure an aune is equal to 14 yards, or 45 inches. An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic manner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of acquiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers. A SIMPLE RULE FOR ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CENT. FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per cent. of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest. ILLUSTRATION. Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multiplied by .48 gives $222.0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent. of Interest) gives 60, and $222.0000 divided by 60 will give you the exact interest, which is $3.70. If the rate of Interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222.0000 by 30 6)360 (because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per cent., by 45: and in like manner for any other per cent. Solution. $462.50 .48 370000 185000 60/$222.0000($3.70 MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 180 420 420 00 12 units, or things, 1 Dozen. | 196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour. | 24 sheets of paper, 1 Quire. 12 dozen, 1 Gross. 20 things, 1 Score. 200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork. 20 quires paper 1 Ream. 56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter. | 4 ft. wide, 4 f. high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood. NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS. Virginia.-The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region. Florida.-Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or "Feast of Flowers." Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country.. Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies "Here we Rest." Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning "Long River." Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for "smoky water." prefix was really arc, the French word for "bow." Its The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana,” after Charles the Ninth of France. Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first established a colony there in 1732. Tennessee is the Indian name for the "River of the Bend,” i. e., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary. Kentucky is the Indian name for "at the head of the river." Ohio means beautiful;" Iowa, "drowsy ones; " Minnesota," “cloudy water," and Wisconsin," wild-rushing channel." Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying "tribe of men." Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. Missouri is from the Indian word "muddy," which more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. Massachusetts is the Indian for "The country around the great hills.” River." Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of England. New York was named by the Duke of York. Pennsylvania means "Penn's woods," and was so called after William Penn, its orignal owner. |