The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-03-11

body II the farm and its appointments
are kept in any thing like ship-shape or
der. Gates get out Of repair, or new
ones are needed whimetrees break ;
the cattle need new drinking troughs
or new feed-boxes; new wagou-box
or hay rigging is required, or the old
one needs repairing; wagons and ma
chimes need painting, and buildings need
occasional repairs. The question is how
much of this work should the farmer
aud his sons perform themselves5 Tho
oreticalIy, they should leave it all to the
professional mechanic. One of the axi-
oms IN political economy is, the greater
extent that division Of labor 10 practised
the better is the work performed also
that the mechanic must be furnished
with work or he cannot pay for the ar
ticles the farmer has to sell, aud so hard
times result. But most theories break
y hen drawn out beyond certain limit.
There are many reasons why it Is OF
great advantage to the farmer to know
how to use tools somewhat and be able
to perform the class Of work have al
luded to, himself. He usually lives at
some distance from the shop of q regu-
ar mechanic. II every time q slight
break occurs in an implement work must
stop until it is taken to the shop and re-
paired it often causes great loss of
time, and in certain cases greater loss
OF labor, and value as well. know Of
one instance where slight break in a
i,orsc-rake that any man, at all handy
with tools inight have repaired in twen-
ty minutes, caused dozen tons of hay
to be seriously injured by rain. The
rake had to be loaded on a wagon aud
driven mile and q half to a shop, thus
delay ing all operations OF men aud team
for nearly half day, and as the result
auany tons Of hay were damaged. Sim
liar incidents are familiar to every far
mer. If the means are at hand for set
ting things right at short notice, much
time and cash is often saved. 1t does
not matter whether the work will bear
tho inspection of skillful mechanic or
not, DO long as ii relieves the annoyance
Mechanical work commands better pay
than farm labor. The farmer, therefore
who is able TO save mechanic bills by
doing his own work can hire an equsi
amount of farm labor done aud have
money left. Therefore he 10 able to
make improvements that he could moi
otherwise afford. I have noticed tha,
farmers who are able to do mechanical
work usually keep their fixtures in bet
ter repair than those who cannot use
tools.
There are many things that arc very
desirable, but which a farmer can hard
~ afford if he must pay mechanic for
making, but il with his own skill. by
turning slacktimes or unfavorable wealth
or to account, he can provide them, inc
enjoys decided advantage. Some
years ago farmer Of my acquaintance
paid mechanic SO in cash for making a
harrow, furnishing the teeth himself.
The first summer this harrow had be-
come SO far worn out as to be nearly
useless. This farmers sOn. in the mean
time, had learned 10 use carpenters
tools some. BY working few minutes
each morning, while his brother was af-
ter the cows, he transformed bit of
oak plank into a harrow. apparently
equal in all respects to the original one
when new, AT cost of 10 cents for rip
saving and 80 cents for paint and oil.
The old irons answered, and thus he
turned out new harrow ut an insigni-
ficanf cost and without consuming vala-
bic time. This is only one instance.
This same young man has just complet-
cd tobacco yress at cost Of abont
$3.50 equal in every respect to one re-
Gently purchased by ncighbor at a
cost of so. When boy he was often
reproved by his father for spending SD
much time ''puttcring" in the shop.
Now, however, the stern parent rccog-
nizcs his ability and he is often called
from the farm work 10 the shop to do
something that requires his shill. |
think i: should be part Of the educa-
ton of every farmers son to learn how
TO use mechanics tools enough so that
he may be nble to get along with the
common wants Of his business without
depending on others. II will increase
his independence. and help him to make
money. There is no danger tina, he win
learn any thing that will harm him in
his workshop. II he prefers mechanic
al work to farming, he should not be re-
proved for it. 1t is not the extreme
that leads to danger. II he is restless
and desires to leave home for some more
gcnteel occupation in the city. that is
another question. But trade, well
mastered, is nm advantage to every man.
and it would be poor policy to spoil a
good carpenter, or machinist, 10 make
poor farmer.-Cor. Husbaudman.