Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-10-01

There is perhaps no industry In which a
general knowledge of mechanical work Is
more necessary than it Is on . farm.
There Is large amount Of repairing and
building which must be done, and yet does
not require the services Of a very skilful
workman. There is also much that Is de-
sirable TO do, but which will not warrant
the expense Of hiring q regular mechanic
to perform. The farmer, therefore, who
has a workshop furnished with the most
useful tools, and possesses skill sufficient
to use them, has decided advantage over
one who has not. A small break in some
implement often causes serious delay. II 1t
must be taken 10 q mechanic for repairs,
when, If We have the means At hand, we
can often make it last through the present
emergency. If not permanently repair it.
Al Insignificant break in q horse rake is
liable to cause many tons Of hay to be
damaged, II the team must be stopped to
take it two or three miles for repairs, when
there Is hardly portion Of 1t that q per-
son Of ordinary ingenuity could not repair
with the proper tools. q refer. Of course
TO the wooden revolving rake.) The
trouble and expense that arise from the
looseniug and breaking Of mower knife
sections is great, unless we have the con-
veniences for tightening or replacing them
ourselves.
Many hours In winter may be probably
I In tho chAn In, hos
rggings, corn makers, ladders, or what
ever articles Of the kind We may need, and
10 repairing implements, furniture, har-
nesses, etc. There is great difference in
the efficacy Of different persons in mechan-
ical work, but the most bungling workman
can do more with tools than he can with
out them. The number of tools required
in farmers shop depends much upon the
skill OF the person who is to use them.
Some will need hardly more than dozen,
while others would use ffty or more, and
some would even probably employ a forge
and drilling machine.
1t is best for an inexperienced person to
begin with few, and enlarge his collection
as he finds 1t necessary. Besides these
tools, the shop should contain q work
bench, wise, shaving horse. pair OF saw
benches, iron box and a nail box divided
into several compartments, for the various
sizes OF nails. screws, bolts, etc. A tool
chest Is not necessary, as II Is quite as
convenient 10 hang The tools on nails
Hrfy.r in fis al %. hold that,
Bits, files, screw-drivers, etc, may be
easily provided for by cutting holes through
shelf OF the proper size and shape 10
hold them. II Is essential TO have a place
place. so far as possible, as we frequently
need them in q hurry, when il is a sacrifice
of both time and temper to hunt for them
Boys should always be encouraged in the
use of tools. There is no way Of gaining
efficiency except by practice. and by be-
ginning young they Will become skillful by
the time their services are really required.
They will of course use lumber and nails
for proatless purposes, and injure the
tools and possibly themselves occasional
ly; but the experience which they acquire
will more than repay the cost.
Tue farmer al the present time needs TO
be something more than q novice in the
mechanic ar,s He shanid .-,ia--.--' -
! principles Of machinery as W ell as those OF
agricultural science. He should be good
judge Of every Kind Of mechanical work
which his calling employs, and be able to
make the slight repairs which his imple-
ments and machinery so constantly need,
with neatness and dispatch.-ICor. Coun-
try Gentleman.