Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-17
THE FARMER AND FARM LIFE.
KEEP THE FARM MAT.

kkkP The Farm MAT.
There are several remunerative things
In keeping the farm neat aud In good
trim, and many unremunerxtive things
connected with the farm that Is filthy
and neglected. Nestness Is an agent OF
health and filthiness aud disorder are
causes Of disease. The habit Of putting
machinery In place under cover, cleaning
up the yard, moving weeds around the
fields and cutting scattering bushes In
the pasture Ia frequently contagious,
and when farmer does these things he
uuconsciously induces all his neighhors
to do the same. The opposite Of neat
ness is not as contagious, but Is disgust
ing 10 every one Of n reasonably neat
disposition. The Farmers Guide, In dis
eussing the subject, says:
The farmer who trains his mind and
eyes and ears 20 know, see and hear
things that are out Of joint on the farm
Is a very good ueighpor for the rest Of
Us TO pattern after. IL we would all
train ourselves TO see and recognize the
things that are as they should not be
and endesvor TO put them Alright the
community would be the better for our
having lived la IL. IL we take pride In
our farms and in our homes We are very
apt 20 take pride In our community, our
township, our county, our state, our
country and our Creator. The way TO
lay the foundation for this pride Is In
keeping close lookout for the little
things that 90 wrong, and yet IL
takes but few days each year TO kesp
the brush cut away from the fences, 10
nsil up board here and there that ms y
have become loosened, to keepthe fen,e
up straight, with no weak places 70 tempt
stock TO break through into the owner s
or neighoor's field Of grass or grain, 10
put the implements under shelter wht
not in use, 10 pick up boards lying
around the barn and house, to trim Il e
fruit trees and cut out old dead or dying
branches, TO now the lawn at least on'e
a year, TO arrange sll the gates so they
will freely swing on their hinges, o
have well kept garden, good supply nf
small fruit, the pump In good workir Z
order, good supply OF dry wood une'r
shelter, TO keep the roadside clean al d
bushes cut, 10 clean out all open bitches,
and 10 look after the stock frequently
and csrefully-sll these things take but
= little time st the proper time, and they
increase the cash value OF the farm. u
we have 10 the past neglected there
things, let Us resolve 10 do differently.
Possibly we will not have so many lei;-
ure hours, but we will be adding TO tie
looks snd worth of our earthly possess =
ions and TO our standing as men and
farmers"
Keep out OF the ruts. IL Is the natural
thing no doubt for the farmer, "a fer
every other man, do do as he has learned
by experience, especially II that expert
ence hiss been gained at his home Ia hs
youth. But In thousands OF cases, keep
ing along in the ruts In which ones
father ran brings certain aud sometimes
great disaster. This is time when the
margins OF profit on everything are
small, when competition Is sharper than
IL ever has been, and when the hardest
work, the closest attention 20 details, the
most avoidance of waste and the closest
economy are needed to keep both sides
Of the ledger even. IL Is well, therefore,
for every farmer to consider carefully
and see II he is not running in some one
or more ruts that he would better get
out Of.
There are some bad leaks on thousands
OF farms that the owners seem 10 keep
their ewes closed 70, that are manifest TO
people who travel through the country,
whether by rail or BY common roads.
On some OF these the farm papers harp
a great deal, and very properly so; and
yet, strange 70 say, they go on just the
same. A notable instance OF this kind Is
the leaving Of valuable farm implements
exposed 20 the weather. This piece OF
folly, for it Is the rsnkest aud most ex-
pensive kind Of folly, is so common that
Il may be said 10 be almost universal.
Why il is such common practice, and
why so persisted In, Is one OF the incon-
things that cannot be accounted
for on any intelligent basis. What II
costs the great mass OF farmers every
year Is almost iucslculable.
II is computed BY the makers OF reap
ing machinery that the average useful
period of machines Of that kind in the
hands Of farmers Is from three 10 i've
wears. At the end of that time new
has TO be bought. Not because
the old one has worn out, but because II
has rusted out or warped out and be-
come useless from exposure. On the
other hand, some farmers get good ser
vice out OF such machines for fifteen
years. The outlay for machinery TO
such one is just oue-third what IL is to
the other kind of farmer, and the savings
from this sort OF care 90 long ways to-
wards making the man independent.
Surely this Is a matter we'll worth con-
most seriously by every one
who does not wish 70 become impover-
Of Agriculture.