Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-07
miscellaneous.
Economy At Home.

| remember reading, several years ago,
the newspaper report Of an essay read be-
fore country farmers club. in which the
writer, who was not and had never been a
farmer, claimed that farmers should strive
by every means in their power, to build up
the business of the town in which they
live; that they should contribute as much
as possible to the support OF the various
mechanical industries, by hiring their re-
pairing and other mechanical work done,
and that, if for the sake Of economy, they
tried to do such work for themselves, they
robbed the skilled mechanics Of their
legitimate business, and showed them
selves devoid of the public spirit which
should be manifested by all good citizens.
This, IL / remember rightly, was the
substance Of the essay, and it seemed to
me then. and does now, that, II the writer
had acquired bis fortune by farming, in
stead Of behind the counter, his ideas OF
farm Management would have been some
what different, for, as general farming is
conducted. in the majority of cases, the in
come is not large enough to support a fam
lily and hire all the making and repairing
OF farm and household implements done,
to say nothing Of trying to lay by some
thing.
Farmers who hoop their own barrels,
tubs, etc, whenever they need il, mend
and oil their harnesses, do their own butch
ering, papering, painting, withdrawing.
filing Of saws. mending Of farm inple-
ments, and dozens Of other things which
people with any ingenuity are capable Of,
have little idea how much they save every
year by so doing. Things can be kept in
much better order than if they were oblig-
ed 10 wait till money could be earned to
pay professional hands for doing the work.
and oftentimes little mechanical jobs can
be done in much less. time than would be
consumed in carrying them to and from
public workshop.
A light and comfortable workshop, with
bench, wise. and carpenters tools suific-
lent for doing any ordinary work, - al
most Indispensable to a successful farmer
Things so often need repairing, and then.
in the leisure Of stormy days and wintry
weather. great many things needed on
iarm-like cart and wagon bodies, sleds.
OK yokes, AK and whip handles, can be
manufactured by the farmer or his sons.
which serve as good a purpose as if they
had been bought, and cost, in this way.
comparatively little.
A soldering iron, with the necessary
Accomplishments OF resin, acid and solder.
is another economical institution which
dairymen. especially, find very convenient
for, if every milk-can, pail, etc. had to be
carried to the tin shop whenever leak
was to be stopped, great deal OF time,
if not money, would be consumed by it.
Then, every time a lead pipe can be mend
ed by home talent, enough is saved. if
far from village, to nearly cover the cost
of an iron. Ladies, with little practice,
can easily learn to use them and keep
their tinware looking much more whole
some than if mended with putty or rags
drawn through.
If ones time is so fully occupied that
they would be obliged to neglect things
OF more importance to attend to such mat
tiers, of course it would be poor economy
to do so but this is not apt to be the case
with general farmers, as foul weather
gives so much opportunity tor indoor
work that good managers will contrive to
do most of their repairing and mechanical
work at such times.
TO be of any permanent benefit to his
townspeople in the way OF furnishing en-
ployment. man must so manage his bus
mess, whatever it is, that it will be profit
able, and enable him 10 build up CAPT
tai with which to work this ut the pres
ent time ut least, cannot be done without
close attention to business. and the avoid
ance of all unnecessary expenses. - Cor.
New EH1fand Farmer.