The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-02-26
NUMBER s6
FARM ECONOMIES.

The small economies of the farm are
by no meansinsigniiicant. The small eco
Monies saving either of labor or ma
terial--are often what make the profits
in every department of business, and
perhaps in no less degree in that of the
farmer. There is Il right and wrong
way 10 do everything. and the right
way is the easy way, because the best
and most economical. Take the prepa-
ration of fuel. Is il wood? Sawed. split,
and piled green, with air-passages
through it, especially near the bottom,
and seasoned under cover, is worth &c
per cent more ihan if burned green OF
from the log lying out of doors. and for
the reason thai, seasoned. 30 pc" cent OF
water is dried oml OF it, If seasoned in
the fire during combustion the heat re.
Qilircd to cvapOratc this moisture is alb.
sOlucly wasted. - far aS any practical
purpose Is concerned. 10 say nothing OF
the misery entailrd upon the housewife
over II sinmering or smoky fire. IL this
fuel is la be- hauled LONG distances. the
evil is still further enhanced. In this
case the wood should he cut into four
foot lengths. carefully piled. and covered
To she'd rain for at least one summer.
You thus save half the cost of hauling.
Suppose the fuel is bilumOus coal. II
exposed to the weather for -iN months it
wcakens and stacks down. and is often
practically ruined. II dumped down
ont of doors and saturated with water.
although fresh. il is practically in the
same condition IL green wood. The
wafer must be cvaporatad by the heat of
the fire. Coal should be- KEEP, under
cover until dried ont. for n taken fresh
from the mine it i, often fully saturated
with water. True economy in all fuel.
whether peat, coke. anthracite or btu
nous coal. or wood. consist, in the fact
that il IL cheaper Ia season il by means
of air than hy thc burning of part OF
the fuel
Have You II. workshop on the farm? Ii
not. why not? MANY jobs can he done
on the farm in less time than il would
take to order them of some person. per-
haps miles away. and then wait for
them. or perhaps make another Journey
after them, Every farmer is not handy
with tools. but he may soon become so
by their handling. nj least Ia such Il de-
gree As 10 perform jobs sufficiently well
to compass the end. Nowadays any re-
pair about the farm may be had already
shaped and only needing fitting. If YOU
are distant from where such things may
be bought. when in The woods look out
for crooks that will make a plow-handle.
or timber that will split into pillow
beams. harrow frames. wagon tongues.
cross pieces for Il hay rigging, a log for
Il roller, or any other material needed.
The broken implement will serve as a
pattern To hcw or otherwise work
by. When found. prepare roughly and
pile in loft. where the wood may be-
come thoroughly seasoned against Il
time of want Many Il job may be nice
" done in the workshop in Indictment
weather, especially in winter. Provide
few necessary tools and II stove to keep
the shop warm. Al odd times make du-
plicates of articles or parts of implc-
ments likely To break. Many minor i'm
plements are now more chcaply bought
new than repaired or made on the farm.
Handles to amy of the implements,
rakcs. etc, are among the number. and
when they may he bought ready shaped
they are cheaper than to hew them
uoN III rom tllHbfI. II liht> HUE ldDOE
to fit these properly to their places.
In the workshop broken harness may
be mcnded by means of rivcts or stitch
ing. Many implements of Use or con-
veniencc in the family may be easily
made Here the children will make
play in learning To become handy with
tools. The hired men will also take
kindly To this work. since it is sure TO
keep them out of the storm.
With good stock of timber poles
may be- prepared tor making sheds.
Lumber may he fitted for pig-pens.
Posts may be prepared by boring or
hewing. Rails may be sharpened, man.
gers may be- fitted. feed-boyes prepared.
stanchiOns made ready for fitting to-
gethcr. and tools and implements may
be sharpcned. These are few of the
uses to which the workshop may be
put and the ingenuity of the master and
man exercised. If they prevent visit
to the village grocery for drink and
.card-playing when time drags heavily,
the small economics will carry JOY TO
the household. honor TO the head OF the
family, and money into the purse
against rainy day.