Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-10
Take Good Care Of your Implements

III primitive times when agricultural opera
tons were carried on with few rude implC-
ments, tho words OF advice contained in the
heading Of this article were unnecessary The
sickle, aa.l, plow aid harrow comprised nearly
the whole of tle early lniSbandman's stock OF
/ implements, and these were OF such rude con-
struction, that but little care was needed to
protect them from injury. With the farmer OF
the present day the case is widely different
| The number OF implements required to conduct
the ordinary operations Of large farm, is not
only great, but many Of them are of a char
aCter requiring considerable care and attention
not merely in operating them, but in protecting
| them from damage when aot in actual USE
Although most Of the business Of the farm is
simple in character, requiring simple and strong
! implements and machinery, stll important and
complicated working parts have been introdluc-
ed into many of the agricultural machines Of
modern invention, upon the keeping Of which
in complete order, depends the perfect working
of the whole These more delicate parts, are
unfortunately tie very ones most likely to he
neglected. The machine works badly in con-
sequence, and the result is, that it is either
thrown aside as unfit for use, or returned to
the manufacturer, the latter being the course
most generally pursued While we are pre-
pared to admit that many manufactures Of ag-
ricultural Implements deserve to have their ar
ticlcs thrown back upon their hands, On ac-
count of their fimsy construction, We have
equally good reasons for asserting that the dif-
licuty does not lie wholly in that direct Oh
Farmers as a general thing are too negligent
with their tools How frequently a;e pIows
and harroWs permitted 10 rest and rust i'll the
fence corners OF the fields in which they were
last used, from fall to spring and from spring
to fall again. Spades, shorcls and hoes are
not deemed worthy a shelter from the weather,
while ather implements share the same fate
Good Mr.. Farmer this is all wrong and you
are more frequently In error than YOU suppose,
when YOU charge the imperfections of your own
farming machinery wholly to the manufacturer,
and not in some degree at least to yourselves.
Take our advice, and have all your movable
implements carefully cleaned, examined and
stored away in their appropriate place, just as
soon as YOU are done with them for the season,
Wash the dirt from your plows, and while the
mod-board and the Landslide are bright apply
a light coat Of good OIL This will save the
trouble Of rcpolishing, when wanted for next
seasons plowing. Examine your mowers and
rcapcrs when harvesting is completed, repair
|
revolve, and wear rapidly, and the first time
! You are III town. purchase a paint pot, paint
and brush, and the very first leisure half day
You have, give all the wood work of your ma
chimes coat of paint, and then store them
away carefully in their yroper place Pursue
this plan with all your implements, and our
word torit, your complaints against the manu-
factureers will be less frequent. Drought and
rain affect implements injuriouSly, and a good
coat Of paint serves to protect them in a great
degree from bad effects of both.
\ celebrated English Agriculturist express
es our views SO clearly on this subject, that we
commend his remarks to the careful attention
of our readers. lie says: Il would advise
farmers to contriyc by care and good manage
ment to make their implements durable as pos
Sible. The cost of this will be trifng compar-
ed with the advantages. In order to effect it,
select the most likely laberer on the farm; put
the implements under his care and make it a
strict rule with all the men, that each nipple
ment done with for the season. shall be brought
to one particular place, say near the pond or
pump, the man having charge Of the iinple-
mentS must then wash and clean them well be-
! fore putting them into the shed, and at a con-
vcGient time when not otherwise engaged, or
! IN weather when out door work cannot be per
! formed, get them repaired and print them
| The man should be encouraged to make his du-
! ty pleasure and TO feel pride in showing
employers implements in fine order" Such
advice doubtless sounds strangely in the ears
of many farmers; but il is sound and iudicious
and if followed strictly, there will he fewer
complaints i'll regard to the durability Of farm
ing implements.