The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-06
THE FARM WAGON.


Suggestions Relative 70 An .Indispcnsabls
Article Of Farm Economy.
You have : now wagon, have youf
am glad of it, for farmers, Ike most
other persons, like to have new things
around them, and especially so If the
new is better than the old. Let us look
the wagon over. The box is stout
one; but there should be an addition
made to it not only as q strengthening,
but as means of preservation, there
fore what suggest is directly in the
line of economy, for whatever makes a
machine last longer saves money for
you. Get strip of heavy band-iron as
wide as the box-boards are thick. and
have holes drilled in it about six inches
apart. Then screw it to the upper
edges of the box all around. If you do
no. do this your box will soon be marred
and broken into on the edges by heavy
articles like boards, pieces Of timber, or
machinery which may be loaded into
the wagon. With this strip on :, box,
the edges can not be injured easAy. It
will cost few shillings, but it will
make your box more durable, and you
will find it paying investment.
What kind of seat has the wagon?
Oh, the old-fashioned spring-seat in
which the springs are long strips of
hard wood which fasten under the box
toward the rear of it, by rod running
across, and are held up by hooks which
hang in the box. l do not like this.
Why? Well, because such seat,
though springy, and easy-riding, is at
tached to the box in such way that
the weight of two or three persons in
it gives it swaying motion which racks
the box and soon splits it. The best
seat is one with springs like those on
buggies under them-the seat-springs
which have an up-and-down motion,
but no side sway and no pressure on
the box beyond that of the weight they
sustain. A seat with these springs can
be removed in a moment. and alone.
The other seat can not be easily re-
moved, and two persons help is neces-
sary to make the work at all easy. The
seat with springs under it is not in the
way as the one with spring-bars is, and
is not as likely to break down.
hive YOU Siuc-DOdIUS 10 use Oh t1c
box in harvest timer You ought to
have. You will find them extremely
handy many times during the year
when you have bulky load to draw.
You can make them yourself. The
blacksmith can put some iron on the
box into which to slip the strips at the
end and middle OF the side-board.
With them it will be easy to pile on
and draw much bulkier load than you
could without them, for without them
your load would be in danger of losing
"a share of itself, or rough roads, or
when driving fast.
VI course, you want your wagon to
look well? Then you must have shed
for 1t, and keep it housed from storms
and the hot sun. If it gets wet, as
soon as dry give all the wheels a good
wash of thin oil about the hubs and
spokes, to prevent the next rain from
soaking in. Oil the axles frequently,
and always use good lubricant. Poor
axle-grease should always be avoided.
1t damages the wagon, for it is never
of any benefit, and the use of it leads
the farmer to think that he is caring
properly for the wagons welfare, and
the first he knows the axles are worn
and cut with friction. Get something
you know to be good. or use tallow or
lard, applying it as often as you think
necessary. Never let the axles get
gummed over with sticky substances.
f.. II. ReTtOrd, in Western PlosCnlan.