The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-01-07
Farm iSt,lldtngS

If stitch in time ever saves nine, it is when
the principle is applied to farm buildings.
When decay begins 1t is very rapid in its pro-
rress unless Immediately arrested. 1t requires
but little time, and frequently but SINCE nail
TO replace board and the beginning OF decay
IS arrested But one board is often not very
material, and its replacement, when it falls
out of place IS neglected After while ano
Their follows, and by and by the building Is IN
most dllapldated condition, TO repair which
will take considerable time and money Most
generally however every board is material
1t was originally put IN place for that reason,
and when 1t is off something or somebody will
suffer Whoever or whatever may not suffer,
the owner will sooner or later. III the board IS
off the house, or the windows or doors are out
of repair the imperfect condition simply
means larger consumption OF iuel, ana per-
-haps, even then, discomfort all through the
winter. If the latter, it is very unwlse negi-
gence that produces it; and when unnecessa.
nv fue, is consumed 1t signifies unnecessary
EXPENSE and that is true whether we have
plenty of woodland or not. We must conclude
In this country that timber is valuable, ana
we must stop its waste III every conceivable
way. While we are advising treeplantlng
and forestgrowng, we must advise tree-savlng
and Misrepresentation. The Woodplle has
not been vaued as it should have been by any
supply the defect in the house, which frequent
Iy ten minutes time and two or three nails
would remedy we show no regard for its val
ne whatever If this were all, however, per-
hans il would be well enough to let the matter
pass without comment. But such defects in a
house or any other building as loose or missing
boards, exposes the structure to the storms,
and the result must be damage. Not uhtre-
1uently, The rains and SHOWS beat in, and the
dampness being secure from the suns rays,
there is continued moisture and an ultimate
rOtting of the tlmbers.
If the defect Is in the barns or cattle sheds,
the stock will certainly not be benefited Some
writer has said that timber is cheaper than
hay and grain, and where 1t exists in any
quantity, that is certainly true IL is very
poor policy in us TO attempt to fill hole IN
the side Of barn with corn or hay at present
prices ANYHOW: and If the animal heat is not
kept up one way, it must be kept up IN anoth-
err; the fires must be kept burning, and II the
draft is too great a great deal of fuel VIII be
consumed In addition to all these benefits,
either named or suggested is that OF appear
ance which Is very great one. We have In
mind now very pretty farm, on which there
is not perfect building, or perfect fonce on
the premises. Some time in the past-thirty
or forty years agc-the most OF them were in
good condition, but they have been permitted
20 fall TO pieces, until the farm is disgrace to
the neighborhood. Now all this decay did
not occur at once, nor in any one month, or in
any one year 1t is the result of years OF
shameful neglect First one board fell Oft and
then another; one rail was dislOdged and then
another; one window pane was broken and
then another, and no attempt at repairs were
made. IL every board that fell had been re-
placed at once, as q matter Of course, there
could not have been such a scene OF desolation
as there is now presented. lie. us all act up
on the principle, that a stitch in time saves
nlne-WesterH RluTl.