The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-07
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

A WORD ABotT REPAIRs.-The inev-
table waste and wear, which always, in
the end, necessitste the abandonment of
everything in its day useful to mankind,
is compensated for and retarded by re-
pairs. But in the attempt to do this,
there is often much time and money use
LEI sly squsndered.
One of the principal causes of loss is
delay in making timely renovations and
substitutions; another is injudicious
ways of repairing; and, lastly, repair
ing that which it were wise to abandon
altogether. Instead of at once correct
ing what is smiss in tool or machine,
many will let it run as long as it is pos
sible to work with it, when it is often
found impracticable ever to make it SER
viceable again or, if not so badly in
jured as this, that one deficiency, which
it would have cost little to supply,
has caused many worse than the first.
In making repairs it is often thought
that q poor mechanic will do Just as
well as better and more costly skill. No
greater mistake can be committed. We
assert that the mechanical ingenuity,
ready command of resources, knowledge
of the adaptability of means to ends,
skill of eye and hand, common sense and
sound judgment-which go to make up
an accomplished mechanic-are more
necessary in a repair shop than any,
where else. Here it is not the same old
routine, day after day, the making and
putting together of forms so familiar as
to require little original thought; but
every job varies in some particular from
every other, and each must be repaired
in different way. 1t requires brains
as well as manual skill to do this kind
of work in q creditsble manner, and
every manufacturer will find it policy
to put tirst-class mechanic in his repair
shop.
Lastly, in constantly stopping old
machines to patch them up into make
shifts, there is often more money sunk
than would supply their places with
new ones. Many people estimate the
cost of repairs only from the cost of ma
terial and labor; but in many cases the
time lost in repairing is the largest ele-
ment of expense, especially when the
steppage of one machine entails the
stoppage of many others.
In repairing machines the following
rules ought, therefore, to be observed
First Repair as soon as anything gets
out of order Second. Intrus- none but
good mechanics with repairs. Third.
Be careful not so continue repairs when
machines cease to be worth them.
| LAWN AND LAWN -DREssING.-There
is no feature around dwelling house
that will add more to the appearance
than a well kept patch of grass. Around
a fine country seat the land always re-
ceives early and careful attention from
the gardener in charge, for he knows
the importance that is placed upon it by
his employer, and therefore makes use OF
every means within his reach to have the
land in good order. 1t makes but little
difference how small the spot of grass is
if it has been carefully tended, it adds
to the beauty of village lot or city
door-yard, and the expense of doing
what is necessary to bring about a
velvety surface is mere tritle. Owing
to the severity of our winters, well
kept lawn needs protection by mulching g
to prevent "heaving" toward spring in
case the ground is heavy clay, and
even on light soil this mulch will well
repay the trouble and expense of apply
ing it. For lawns the best substance
that have tested is horse manure. This
will answer a double purpose, first as
serving as a mulch, and second as an ex-
cellent fertilizer in stimulating an early
and rapid growth of grass in the spring
The manure may be spread broadcast
at any time from the Goth of the present
month without danger of smothering
the grass. In spreading the manure it
should be scattered evenly and not toe
thick. 1t is not necessary to complete
ly cover the surface or grass. A thin
coating will answer every purpose
When the manure is spread it is better
to go over the ground again with fork
and whenever there is lump, knock il
about with the fork, so that it will be
scattered evenly; if not the lawn will
be "spotty" in the spring.
Nothing more than this fall coating
of horse manure will be needed until the
spring opens. Say in the latter part Of
March or early in April. Then the
grass should be raked over with coarse
iron, or common wooden rake, removing
any litter or straw that may happen tc
be on the grass. The fine parts of the
manure will settle down among the
crowns of, and furnish nourishment tc
the roots, causing them to tiller more
freely. From then until the close o.
the season everything will depend upor
the frequency of cutting. No matter
how carefully and thorough the GROUND
is prepared and seeded down for lawn
unless the grass is cut at least every two
weeks during the spring and summer
half the beauty is lost, and those who
appreciate rich yelyety grass shoulC