The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-04-07
Various Suggestions.
Country Gentleman. !

Country Gentleman.
There are a number of good practices
which farmers might be induced to
adopt if occasionally reminded Of them.
Among them we give the following:
Copper wire and copper straps are
often very convenient and Of much use
in repairing tools, doors, CRATES and
parts of buildings. Copper wire is
always rs easily handled as Irvine, and
is more unyielding and durable. Its
fexibility gives it great advantage over
iron wire, and it does not rust. Copper
straps for mailing are better than leather
on one hand ond hoop iron ON the other.
Copper tacks are good for mending old
harness, as they are easily clenched.
Provide boxes or shelves with apart
ments. and place in appropriate divis-
ions, distinctly marked, all refuse
screws, nails, bolts, riyets, staples, tacks,
etc, and replenish them as needed by
purchases at hardware stores, procuring
all the kinds and sizes you ever want.
Such things always at hand, costing
perhaps but few cents, may save you
dollars in time when repair is needed,
at a busy time and laborers are waiting.
Teach every person in your employ,
as well as yourself, always to put every
tool back in its place as soon as done
with, no matter how great hurry he
may be in Better spare half minute
now in doing so than for you to hunt
half an hour with team or man walt
ing We know men who waste whole
days in the aggregate in hunting for
misplaced tools, and in asking eight or
ten diffGteTr47st persons on the place where
they are. {
Keep your cellar properly and well
drained; allow no decaying matter In
it, prohibit the throwing of slops in
puddles at the back door, and never
allow sink pipes TO become choked or to
emit foul air. Much of the sickness in
the country is caused by such bad air.
Keep all the hinges and latches about
the house oiled, to prevent wear and l
squeaking. Go over them once week
with oil and feather make regular
work of it. Keep gates properly
CREASED at latches and hinges, and see
that they do not sag. The labor of
dragging sagging gate is as hard as it :
is useless.
Use coal ashes or wood dust, or both, /:
in all your vaults daily. This will
prevent all danger of wells becoming .
poisoned by the drainage
Give pure water to animals. Cows
are sometimes watered from wells in
the manure yard containing impurities,
and the milk is thus more or less defled
and poisoned, the butter tainted, and
the owner wonders why his family suf-
fers so much from sickness. If you
expect good healthy pigs and wholesome
pork, let them have pure water, pure
food and constantly clean quarters.
We have actually seen the careless and
dirty character Of some farmers photo
graphed in their filthy pig pens.
Use petroleum as a preservative of
all exposed woodwork and tools. 1t is
very cheap, and penetrates the pores.
1t is good for all wood buildings, good
for gates, farm wagons, rakes and forks,
and for all rustic work exposed to the =
weather. 1t will pay its cost back
again at least 900 per cent.
On rainy days examine your mowers
and reapers, and all other machinery
of similar character; clear off the
grease on the axles which has beenI
hardened with dust, and put all in good
running order. Kerosene applied tol
snch parts will enable you to clean
them easily.
When any tool, harness, wagon or
anything else breaks, do not wait till
you need it for use before repairing it,
but get it mended at once. If a horse
loses shoe do not wait till he becomes
lame, but have IL set Immediately.