Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-31
CARE OF FARM MACHINERY.
A LEAK ON MANY FARMS. A MOVING
MACHINE IN USE FOR Ia YEARS.

| IL takes quite q sum Of money to fit up
farm OF $50 acres In New England
with suitable farm machinery, wagons,
farming tools, etc. Some articles In the
last somewhat elastic Item might per-
hsps be dispensed with, such as small
blacksmith forge with few tools, and q
small kit Of carpenters tools, but II q
man has Ingenuity enough to make q
good sled stake or properly sharpen q
fence post, these tools will soon pay
their cost. II has been but few years
since the farming tools OF the average
farmer were extremely limited In amount
and expense in comparison with the
tools and their cost st the present time.
can well remember when an OK cart,
cast iron plough, an A shaped harrow
with nine or thirteen teeth, scythe and
mandrake, some shovels and forks, near
ly or quite completed the outfit. The
change has been rapid and radical one.
The machinery which at first seemed TO
be bit Of extravsgsuce is now an sb-
s,rsct necessity, and the question to-day
Is, how much machinery can the farmer
use TO advantage. And right here IL a
problem which Is not always solved with
the best Of Judgment. Many farmers
buy too much machinery, and some not
enough. Those who buy too much do
not stop to think that the interest on the
money for machinery that Is not much
needed, and the loss by usage and probs-
bly, lack Of care, would 90 long ways
towards doing the work By hand, and
the cost Of the machine could be used In
stopping an interest leak somewhere. On
the other hand stinginess In denying
ones self needed machinery on the farm,
or handy appliances for the good wife In
the house Is fsr from being economy.
At the present time labor Is the costllest
thing that the farmer buys, and good
judgment Is needed TO know when ms
chinery can be made to take the place OF
hand labor 10 advantage.
Another important matter 10 connec-
ton with farm machinery Is its proper
care. The moving machines, horse
rakes and wagons Of hundreds OF farm
ers would last twice as long As they
now do, II they were kept In good order
and well housed when not In use. The
moving machine for instance, needs
constant attention TO keep the nuts well
frightened, the bearings oiled and the
sections sharp. A dull scythe not only
delays the team, but causes undue fric-
ton and useless wear on the mschine.
IL the scythe gets dull 10 an hours run
it Is the best OF economy 10 put In q
sharp one, or even to stop the tenn and
grind the one that has become dulled.
IL IL throwing away good money to
leave hAying machinery In the field dur
ing the entire hsying season. The dews
and rains will soon spoil the best ms
chine. IL the field IL too far from the
buildings 10 bring up the machinery
every night, Ii Is economy TO build a
cheap shed for all OF the tools.
When Was taking out my horse rake
for the present season one OF the men
remarked that | had a new rake. The
fact Il II has been 10 use for II years.
The present season makes IL years that
have used nv x-foot cut mower, With
less than three dollars Of cost for oresk-
age during the entire time, and II has
cut an average Of 50 or 60 tons OF hay
each year, snd some Of u on rough land.
The mschine Il nov doing hrst-elsss
work. Ga one Of nv western trips .
large dealer In agricultural implements
10 north~estsru Iowa told me that the
average hfe 0f resper 10 that section Of
the csputry wss Only three years aud
halt Bur th~ss machines are unlycrssi-
ly housed In the Lords shed, or on the
happy side % ~lre fence Ther. Il an
un srittsa lao In mos; portions of the
Wsst. that any farmer Who ~ili house
bis farm mschinery shall he prosecuted
sa~ ss~u.lFw % s.rfn machinery as.nfs
sgt aHe do-s NOT need 10 travel outside
% Nex Eagland 10 see this ~ssteful
practice of iessing farming tools and
machinery az the mercy not Only Of the
summer dew, but of the autumn rains
aud ~iDisr frosts and SHOWS The farm
srs ~hO follos this practice are the men
who are sure 90 complain Of hard times
and say that farming don't pay --ALPHA
MEssEg In New EnglA Farmer.