Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-11-10
Care of Farm Implemdnts.


1t is a reasonable supposition that
farmers generally understand and
appreciate the fact that there is
great economy in taking proper
care of their tools, implements and
machines. A days ride, however, in
any direction by rail, shows that the
number of those who do not SUI,
ficiently consider this matter, or are
too INDECENT and shittless to provide
shelter for farm implements, is by
no means few. 1t Is the subject of
frequent remark by men whose bust
ness calls them into various portions
of the country, and the farther they
90 to the South and Southwest the
more conspicuous is this expensive
carelessness. 1t is an i'll wind (says
the adage) that blows no one any
good. In one way this condition of
things is a benefit to the makers OF
agricultural implements, for ma
chine which would last with proper
care, from fifteen to twenty years, be-
comes worthless in from four to eight
eight; but it is disadvantage often
times to manufacturers, for the rapid
deterioration of u machine by the ell
ements, resulting from the wretched
treatment it receives, is generally
but unjustly charged to its makers.
1t is no doubt true that large per
cent of our Western and Southwest
ern farmers lose quite as much by
their remissness in regard to the care
of tools and implements as from act
ual use. Think of leaving havest-
ing machine, costing several hundred
dollars, in the field when it's work
for the season is finished, exposed to
alternate rain and sunshine. We
saw more than one case OF that kind
on the line of the c. Is. & Q. r. r.
last week. Repeated wetting and
drying will, sooner or later, injure
any kind of woodwork used in the
manufacture of farm or other nipple
ments; sooner or later it will crack,
however well it may have been
painted, and then the work of decay
commences. The parts made ofiron
and steel are eaten by rust, and not
unfrequently, portions of some ma
chimes, and entire tools mysteriously
disappear.
Now whatever may be the circum-
stances of tarmer-whether he be
rich or poor-there is no excuse for
a wanton abuse of farm implements.
1t is a reckless waste OF money to
permit them to remain exposed TO
the weather. If a man is poor, the
necessity Of judiciously protecting
tools is greater than though he were
'well-to-do," for it is more difficult
to supply him with tools necessary
for his work than for those who are
better off pecuniarly. Some kind Of
shelter should be provided, if it is
nothing more than shed consisting
of upright corEer-posts supporting
pieces of scantling or rails, and COW
cred and inclosed with straw. There
are few, however, who cannot pro
vide a PLAIN substantial Toulouse,
wherein farm tools and implements
are secure from damage caused by
exposure to the elements, or losses
from theft, and where any repairs
hat may be needed can be made in
leisure hours which from time to
time occur. In some cases the alb
sence of tool house may be sup
Piled by setting apart portion of
he barn, if tins building is of suf-
icient size to warrant it; but the
better plan IS to provide Toulouse,
and work shop in connection with
it, where there is a convenient place
for everything in the way of tools
and machines, and then to keep ev-
cry thing in its place SO that it can
be had at once when it is wanted.
In this way much time, vexation and
loss will be saved. Such a farm
building is in the line of true econo-
my, as every man knows who has
one, and has tried its advantages in
comparison with the shiftless meth
Cd of letting tools and machines
take care of themselves.
No farmer need be told that the
cost Of implements on farm of ordi
nary size is an important item in car
rying on his business, and it is GER
tainly poor economy to augment the
expense account on this score to pro-
portions, in a term Of years far be-
yond what it would be by more care
full and judicious management.
How much longer tools and nipple
ments last when properly housed and
cared for, than when neglected, de-
ponds on circumstances, but it IS
safe to- say that on an average they
would last one-third longer at least,
and probably twice as long in ma
iority of cases. Now suppose the
tools on farm cost $500, and that
in the course of ten years, neglect
and exposure has so injured them
that their places have to be supplied
in half the time that they should
reasonably last; here is needless
expense Of just that amount-an alb
solute loss by carelesssness. A few
figures in simple arithmetic will
show what that sum, placed at
at ten per cent, (the interest
added to the principle every Year,
will amount to in ten succeeding
years, and some idea may be obtained
of what 1t costs to leave farm nipple
ment at the mercy of the weather,
year after year, as is done by far too
many farmers throughout the coun-
try Western Rural,
Sweet Tasting Hay.
A writer from Ulster county, New
York, in the Country Gentleman,