St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-09-14

CARE OF IMPLEMENTS
How They should lie Housed and Shst'
tered-Fine Farm Economv.

CARE OF IMPLEMENTS
How They should He Housed and Shsl.
teretl-Fine Farm Economy.
An honestly-made implement that is
well cared for by the farmer, ought
and usually does. last fifteen or twenty
years; but the truth of the matter is
that they do not, averaging the country
through. last one-half that length Of
time. This is partly due to the rough
nature of the land that they are run
over, but mainly To lack OF shelter and
care.
The hard-earned dollars that have
been invested in machinery should be
guarded just as carefully as the grain
in the bins. the livestock in the
stables. or the money in the farmers
purse. The working capital Of the
farmer is generally insufficient for his
needs at best He ought not to sink
any unnecessary amount in farm im-
plements.
There is a vast difference in the
manner of running machinery. Some
farmers will get good work out OF al
most any kind of IA machine. Every
part of the machine is looked after and
carefully tested before work is com.
n enced. II it is a cutting-machine.
like a mower or reaper, the knives are
put in good order, nuts. guards and all
parts made stight and secure; badly
worn portions replaced with new ones,
and every thing put in complete readi.
ness before u start is made. Teams are
carefully driven. and rough places
eased over. Such men seldom have q
breakdown in the midst of pressing
work.
On the other hand. there are farm.
ers who can not, or do not get good
work out OF any machine. They seem
TO consider machine thing OF
automatic intelligence that will adjust
itself 10 all the Irregularities Of its
work. that all that is required OF them
is to furnish the motive power and the
machine will operate itself.
They do not understand the real
needs of the machine. and consequent
ly do not keep the machine in good
working order. When a machine gets
out of order it can not do good work,
requires much greater motive power,
and wears distinctively upon itself.
This is prolific cause of short life in
a machine.
But perhaps the greatest loss in farm
implements occurs from the lack OF
housing and shelter. It is not an un-
common sight to see implements OF all
kinds left out in the yard and field. ex-
posed to the destructive elements at
all seasons of the year. Such treat
ment takes the life out Of machine
before half its time Of resistance to
natural wear and tear. under fair treat
ment. has expired. Comparatively few
farmers have buildings expressly de-
signed for the storing of implements.
Implements are generally stored in odd
hooks and corners about the barns and
sheds To be stored in places Of such
limited space they must usually be
taken apart and packed away in Sec
tions. Now many of the implements
must be used. mt different times. all
through the summer season. As it is
quite a task to take n machine apart
and put it together again every time 1t
is used. machines are very apt to re-
main out from the time they are first
used until the approach OF winter pre-
cludes all possibility OF using them
again. They are thus exposed to the.
action Of the elements during the very
worst part Of the year.
The hot sun. drying winds and rains
combined are most fatal to wood work.
and iron, too. for that matter. Every
farmer who keeps u full set Of heavy
implements should have building in
which these may be stored at any time
without taking apart The mower.
reaper. seeder, shay-rake. wagon and
all small farm tools. should have their
respective places in this building. and
should be stored there when not in
actual use.
A one roof shed with sliding doors
at the front, and the floor about on the
level with the ground. makes an ex-
celent arrangement for this purpose.
The doorways should be wide enough
to allow any OF the implements to be
backed in readily. 1t is no trouble at
all TO store machinery with such ac-
commodations. The horses need not
be unhitched from the machine in use
until it is under cover. The saving in
farm machinery would soon pay for
such building. While it costs but q
few dollars at the start. it will ulti-
mately save the farmer hundreds OF dol.
lars. perhaps.-Western Plowman.