The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-08-02
Housing and Care
Farm Machinery
n n. n. nUSSElnlAN, Inserusfss h Psru nsskanl
Mieklgas kshsslsral College

ever. many farmers who do not CIV
this matter the attention 1t deserve
and we are led to inquire wheth(
they are fully convinced that 1t is
matter Of dollars and cents, or, on Il
other hand, one Of carelessness ar
neglect.
1t Is difficult to produce figur
showing that there is a definite SO
Ing In the proper housing and care
farm equipment of the kind me
toned. 1t has been demonstrate
however, and Is yearly being shoV
that such is the case. In almost al
community examples can be fouEu
where the period of usefulness Of ma
chinery, well protected and cared for.
Is nearly double that on adjoining
farms where It is left to the ravages
of the weather, with no system OF
keeping in order.
AS showing further the need OF
more careful attention to this phase
of farm management the following
figures are presented. Though some
assumptions are made as to the pc
Rod OF usefulness of the machine In
question they are based on the 1udg-
ment of good authorities and may be
verified by the experience OF the
reader. BY making a list OF the I'M
plements and tools required on 100
acre farm II will be found that their
value will not be far from $1,000.
Properly housed and cared for the
- I'D
Of usefulness of twelve years. On this
assumption the yearly cost would be
nearly $S5. The annual or yearly cost
in each case is found by dividing the
first cost by the period Of time In use.
Taking eight years as the period OF
usefulness for unprotected equipment
II will be found that the annual cost
would be $120. Now an implement
house to protect this machinery could
be constructed at cost OF from 81
to $3.50. Using the latter figure and
assuming that the house could be
used for IL years, yearly cost OF
nearly SIT would be shown. Not TAX
ing into account interest on invest
ment for the purpose in mind the to-
tai annual cost of protected machin-
cry would be $s5 plus SIT equals $102.
as against an annual cost OF $500
per year for unprotected. From these
figures a saving of SIS per year will
be shown.
1t should be remarked. too, that In
a well-designed implement house the
work of caring for implements Is not
increased. 1t is often more expedient
to drive a.machine under cover than
to spend time in covering 1t with can
vas or otherwise protecting 1t tenn
porarily In the field. as must be done.
for instance, with the binder. The i'm
plement house should have ample floor
space. Height is not so essential, but
space may often be economical by US
ing a hoist of some description TO
lift and hang the lighter tools and i'm
plements off the floor. This would be
desirable, particularly for implements
or tools used only for short periods
Of the year. The implement floor
should also be open and free from
posts II possible to facilitate moving
the larger units. The doors should
be wide enough to accommodate any
implement and close enough together
to permit taking machines out Of the
building without making 1t necessary
to move a great number Of others. It
might also be said in this connection
that an effort should be made to
group together those implements in
use at the same time. Using this
scheme, the whole group may be taxi
en- out at once. A concrete floor made
level also makes moving heavy imple-
ments an easy task. Two men can
move loaded wagon on a cement
floor that would be load for team
II left standing on an earth floor.
The farmer has an endless number
Of details to look after and hence
should make system do as much Of his
work as possible. This not only econ
omizes time but leaves his mind free
to pillow rather than carry and hold
items of unimportance. Following is
a suggestion intended to show what
is meant.
Summer is a busy season and II Is
difficult to find time to put an i'm
plement In order when through using.
This is, however, the best time be-
cause the operator has in mind the
details which need replacing or re-
pairing. This scheme will help econ
omize time and yet bring to mind
what Is to be done. Procure some
shipping tags about 2hx4h (cost 81
to $3.50 per ny. When the tool Is
brought In note on one of these tags
the repairs to be made, the number
and description Of the parts to be or
dered. These cards are then attached
in conspicuous place on the nipple
ment.
Wen favorable time comes for
putting the machine In good order
these cards will suggest what needs
to be done. Parts may be ordered i'm
mediately or may be left till a time
when II can be done for all the ma
chimes. To assist In ordering repairs
a printed list Of parts which is usual
ly furnished by the manufactures
should be kept convenient. In order
ing parts be explicit in giving the