Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-07-02
rlMs-sAvINe IMPLEMENTS.

The choice of implements and ma
chimes is a subject to which every
thoughtful farmer has given good deal
OF attention, but which will repay
further consideration. In fact, it is one
of the matters connected with farm
operations that cannot be settled once
for all. 1t never gets out of date. This
is because of the restless activity of our
inventors and manufacturers in develop
ing and bringing TO public attention i'm
plements and machines that are different
from those that were made at an earlier
date.
Some of these patterns are great i'm
provements upon any that have preceded
them. If the farmer had no appliances
for the purpose which these are design
ed to serve he would not need to hesi-
tate in his choice between some of the
newer and most of the older styles. The
former would be selected at once. But
great many farmers are already sup
piled with machines that are in fair con-
dition, and that can be made serviceable
for many years. This fact makes the
question of purchasing newer machines
much more difficult than it would other
wise be.
1t has been the common custom to
keep fairly good implement or machine
until il was worn out. The farmer who,
in order to obtain a better one, would
lay aside, or sell for low price, har-
row, cultivator or almost any other farm
implement before it was worn out was
regarded as tickle and extrayagant. In
many places something of the same
feeling still exists. But in the country
at large it is rapidly giving way to the
idea that the greater efficiency of a new
implement as compared with that of one
already on hand may not only justify a
change before the old one has become
useless, but may really be quite profit
able. This is especially true as it re-
lates to the implements and machines
that are used in tillage.
The growing season is short ut the
best. All the work that is done in pre-
pairing for seeding and in the cultivation
of crops must be crowded into brief
period In an unfavorable season even
this short tern is lessened. But whether
the time in which preparation and culti-
vation can be attended TO is curtailed or
reaches its natural limits the matter of
efficiency is of vital Importance. The
ground must be wei fitted to receive the
seed, and the growing plants must have
suitable cultivation, or the crop will
partially fail. Getting the land in fine
condition for grass and putting in the
seed before q storm may make all the
difference between a good start, sue
ceeded by large crops of hay of fine
quality, and poor catch followed by
moderate yields of hay that is badly
mixed with coarse grasses and weeds.
The difference in the value of the crops
seeded again will be large. The same
principle applies to other crops. a ma
chine that is of enough greater efficiency
to enable is owner to get in the seed OF
wheat or oats lin the nick of time" or
give prompt and thorough working to
corn and potatoes that would have had
only inadequate cultivation if the old
implements had been used, may more
than pay for itself in single season.
And. in addition, there would be a con-
siderable saving of the team and its
driver.
Whether it will be wise to make
changes of this kind will largely depend
upon the amount of business that is done.
Upon some farms it is large enough
to enable the owner to stand the ex-
pense, and have a handsome profit be-
sides, while upon others it is too small
TO Justify the outlay that would be in
volved. 1t is not pleasant to do so, but
there are many cases in which it will be
wiser to plod along with an old but
reasonably effective machine than it will
be TO go into debt or to use money that
is greatly needed for some other pur-
pose by buying new one. But If
farmer must buy in order to work effi-
ciently there can be no doubt that one
of recent and improved pattern should
be obtained. 1t will be far better to
sacrifice something else, to pinch, if
need be, in some other direction, than it
will to buy an out-of-date machine or
implement that either works slowly or
does not work well.-Exchange.