Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-10
.FARN|NG IS NADE EASY
A T..R. Solicitor Finds the Farm.
ers Ali Riding Improved
Machinery.
Wonderful Change Wrought in
the Hardships OF Farm Labor
by inventions.
Machines Improve SO Fast Farm
ers Let Them Rust Out
in Fields.


Goodell April 9.-1t is certainly a
pleasure to drive out in the country
these days and talk with farmers about
the outlook for crops. The ground was
nor have they for a great many years
been able to get into the fields at so
early a date. Practically all the small
grain is in and they are now getting
things in shape to push the corn when
the time comes.
Wonderfully improved machinery has
made it possible for farmer to get his
crops in quick and with less expense
than ever before. 1t is an every day
occurrence to see a seeder operated by
small boy just big enough to sit on
the seat and drive the horses, while his
father is running the disc right behind
him. and in this way a man and his
smaller boy are now doing the work in
three days that formerly took from a
week to ten days.
The advance in the price of land is In
some respects to be accounted for from
the fact that a man in figuring the ex-
pense of farming a quarter section finds
out that he can run the whole thing
himself and make money on his invest
ment, even at a high purchase price,
where twenty years ago the expense of
running his farm with hired help and
high interest would leave nothing With
which to pay the principal.
The amount of work one man can do
en- farm is remarkable There is a
man living near Grinnell. who owns
500 acres of land has 600 head of stock
and operates this large farm alone with
the exception of about three months in
the year. He has two of the largest
barns In PoWeshiek county, one being
112 feet long by As feet wide, and As
feet high; the other is 112 feet long by
80 feet wide, and "a feet high. These
two immense barns stand close togeth-
err, conveniently arranged so that when
he puts his feed away in the fall it is
easy to get out in the winter. He has
running stream on the place which is
great help to him. This man started
twenty-five years ago without a dollar
to his name, and is wealthy today be-
cause he worked to that end. When
he built his barns he hauled all his
lumber himself, in addition to looking
after his farm work. He would be at
the lumber yard at 6; 80 in the morning
with two teams, one tied behind the
wagon of the other. and would make
the trip home, seven miles, to return
again in the afternoon for two more
loads. In addition to this he sometimes
had to do his own cooking, as he has
never been married-his neighbors say
that he could never take time to find {,
wife. He is up in the morning at
o'clock to commence his chores, and
just as soon as he is thru he is in the
field. He trots his horses to all the
work, oftimes changing horses three
times in day, as fast as they wear out.
He himself never seems to be tired and
can not realize why the people who
work for him can not get a move on
them, and. strange to say, this man
takes the daily newspapers. Some
times when men say they are too busy
to read a daily newspaper the face of
wonder what they would think about
being busy If they followed him for
day.
The improved machinery, where ev-
erything is built to ride, makes it pos
sible for all of the family to help at the
work. Near Kanawha Is a farmer who
lost both his legs by being run over by
the cars. In settling with the railroad
company he got enough to buy 1861
acre farm. This farm he runs with
boy about 16 years old. The boy does
the chores and bitches up the horses,
but all other work he can do with his
artificial legs) as well as any one. He
rides the seeder, disc and all other ma
chinery.
Most all farmers buy machinery, but
only small per cent of them have any
place to keep 1t. They let 1t stand out
in rain and snow, winter and summer.
A few have machine houses, but not
many / asked one farmer who owned
a big farm and plenty of barns how his
binder happened to be left out In tho
field where he quit using it last fall and
he said: ooh. have to buy new one
every few years, they are improving
them so fast, that f didn't let 1t rust
out could not keep UP with the new
machines" "Well,' / said, "supposing
you kept it we'll you could sell it to
some one" He laughed "rhey are all
like me; they want the latest kind and
could not give it away and if it was
in good shape would have to throw it
away, SO | smother my conscience by
having them wear out quick, then I
have to have new one, so in that way
am always with the latest.
GEORGE f. THAYER.
SHORTS IN MAY WHEAT COVER.