Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-06
Farm Tools and Profits.


Merritt Greene, Jr in Ames Agricul-
turist.1
There is one phase of farm manage
ment that has had the least of atten-
ton. No other phase needs more than
that of caring for machinery and tools.
One of the most common sights thru
out this country Is to see all kinds oil
farm machinery stored under IA tree or
or the south slope of n hill. Many
think that because machine is made
of iron the weather has no effect upon
It, Why bother to build "a shed? Be-
cause a machine Is constructed large
ly of iron, such as mowers binders,
harvesters and others, ii should be Civ
en- better shelter than those of wool.
Most any farmer can replace wooden
part of a machine. The simple fact
that the paint peals off ought to midi
cate that the bearings and boxes are
rusting Then when the machine Is
started next year cutting of bearings
and loosening of bolts is sure to fol-
low.
A few of the abuses common to farm
machinery are as follows: On ac-
count of the lack of a suitable place
to store the mower, harvester. rake.
loader. plows, etc. they stand out in the
weather. The mowers sickle rusts and
cuts, not grass. when used, while all
other moving parts suffer In like
manner; and the harvester rake and
loader suffer in much the same way.
With the plow, the mold board often
trusts. To give 1t the necessary polish
requires considerable time and labor.
At the time the q chine Is left stand
ing in the lic tie thought is given
of It's next " on's work. When the
time comes to use IL again the farmer
often wonders why certain machine
wears out fast. The final conclusion
is that the manufacturer has sent out
inferior machines. But has he?. An
other time when great deal OF abuse
Is forthcoming Isl while the machines
are in use. The average hired man
does not keep the bolts tight, ADJUST
ments at their proper places. while
the common and serious failing Is the
oversight of fabrication.
There are $4,000, 100000 invested in
farm machinery in this state. There
are about 22s,000 farms. This gives
an average of 1854 per farm. II saw
ing Of So per farm were made In repairs
or any manner it would mean $1,400,OOO
to the farmers credit. Can more than
IS be saved a year by the caring Of
machinery? Give this little thought.
1t is evident that an enormous sum
could be saved or rather not expended.
This statement has been made by man
ufacturers Of farm machinery.
Tf the farmers would take as good
care of the machinery after buying
1t az we manufacturers do in making
it, either the price would have to in
crease or we go out of business"
There is q remedy and 1t can be
found. The first step in prolongtng the
life and usefulness of farm machinery
is to have a shed to store 1t IN. rms
shed should be we'll built, and of such
dimensions that any machine may be
driven in just as it comes from the
field. If this one factor of having a
shed to store machinery in were fol-
lowed, the result would be surprising.
Parts OF the machine are not SO apt
to be lost. The machine does not rust.
the bearings are not cut when used
again. All in all the life or durability
of machine would be greatly length
ened. Farmers house your implements
Some people think that a certain MI
Black, for example, is the luckiest man
in the neighborhood. His harvester
does not break down in the midst Of
harvest or his mower when hay must
be cut, or his corn planter give out
Just as corn must go in the ground
His neighbors say this man Is lucky
Perhaps If they understood how ne
pays attention to his machinery, how
he looks after worn and broken parts
beforehand, how he uses good judy
ment and discretion in all his work
then they could understand why his
profit account is not Clipped" by i'm
plement or repair bills.
Farm tools have the same relation
to the profits that all other industries
or phases of farm management pos
sess. 1t is not the expenditure on tools
alone that cuts profits, this is just one
item. AS a general rule the successful
farmer gives the same attention to his
implements that he gives to the other
things on the farm.
Keep the Good Horses.
II a farmer has choice pair of re-
liable horses to work on the farm, he