The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-10-04
aepAlRlNc IMPLEMENTS.
srork Which the Economical Farmer Will
Do Himself

Srork Which the Economical Farmer Will
Do Himself.
Here again we see a vast difference
in the management of farmers. Some
are always running to the shops Tor
repairs, or buying new parts from the
manufacturer, to replace the used up
old ones. Like the gun that was re-
newcd in lock, stock and barrel, the
original implement is gradually lost
in repairs.
No matter what the implement, the
character of the work, seed time or
harvest. these men will be seen on the
road to or from the shop. 1t makes
very little difference about the quality
Or AGE of the implement. it is con-
stantly in need of repairs.
Other farmers again never seem to
have break-downs. The machinery
always runs smoothly and is seldom
repaired. There can be no fatality
about this, it must all be in the man.
arement of the farmer.
Machines are not, of course, built
like the famous One-nOSS shay. "
They have all got their weak places
places that will wear out or break
first. and thus come to need repairs:
but it should be the study of the
farmer to keep these down to the min.
imum. Repairs are expensive-ex-
pensive in themselves and in the losses
they directly and Indirectly occasion.
Compare the cost of casting that is
bought to take the place of broken
one with the cost of the original piece
proportionately figured on the price of
the whole machine. Manufacturers
and dealers readily admit that their
profits on these repairs are enormous.
The farmer knows he is paying two or
three hundred per cent. more than the
article ought to bring. but he is
obliged to buy, and of that particular
shop where his machine was built. so
he is completely at the mercy of
dealers. 1t certainly behooves the
farmer to look carefully after the con-
diton of his implements. and not al
low these breakdowns to occur. It
does not take long to lay out the price
of new machine upon an old one.
There is but little use to buy repairs
for an old machine that is becoming
badly worn in all it's parts. Better
buy new than to do this.
An old, wOrn-out machine may occa-
sion much loss of valuable time. No
farmer should enter the hay or harvest
field with such machine and trust to
repairs to carry him through. 1t is an
easy matter to lose the price of a ma
chine in this way. The losses occa-
stoned by having to take the team out
of the field and away to town for re-
pairs every two or three days can
hardly be estimated. Haying may be
delayed, bad weather come on, and
the product so much njured that the
condition of all the farm stock subsist-
ing upon it is affected during the fol-
lowing winter There is no depart
ment of farm management but that
affects and IS affected by all others.
Much of the repairing needed by the
farm implements can be done at home
by the farmer if he is suitably equipped
for the work. Actual cash outlay is
saved in this way, and much time that
may be of even greater Importance to
the farmer than the cost of the re-
pairs. Every farmer should have his
small workshop and outfit of tools. A
small portable forge with the common
iron working tools can now be had for
very moderate sum. These in addi-
ton to the common wOOd-wO rkine
tools. will enable man with very or
binary skill to perform many little
jobs of repairing. He can put a new
bolster in wagon. repair any part oil
sleigh. replace a broken beam in a
pillow, rivet, splice or weld any piece
OF iron that gives out about his imple-
ments Even a casting may sometimes
&c drilled and irOn-strapped, and a re-
pair thus effected without buying new.
There are many simple and convent
emf tools that may be made at home
by the farmer, and which will answer
his purpose as well as those costing
seqeral dollars. perhaps, at the shop
lake land roller, for instance Al
most any man who has the material
and tools can make a roller that will
be just as serviceable as one costing
SD or $50. He can make marker, a
stone boat, wood frame for new har-
row, or whatever simple tool he may
need, Too many farmers have an idea
that skilled workman must be en-
poyed for all such jobs. The farmer
can not afford to adhere too strictly to
Old maxim of every man to his
trade especially when he has weeks
OF comparatively leisure time in win
ter in which to do such work for him
self.
For want of tools and materials tic
work with, many boys grow up with
out the least knowledge of their use,
and consequently without the Develop
ment OF any mechanical ability that
they may natu rally have. been pos
sessed of. Every farmers boy should
nave knowledge of practical ma
ehlnes, so far, at least. as they apply
TO agriculture. And he should have
an opportunity of acquiring the skill
needed in their application to the va
rlous departments of farm work. The
workshop is great practical educa-
tor and should be permanent ipsti-
tutlon on every farm w. d. Boyn-
ton. in Western Plowman.
In breeding and feeding cattle the
nrst legitimate purpose is to make the