The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-04-12
HANDY FARM DEVICES.
Clemson Extension Work.
Article IS.

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There are hundreds of ways in
which the work about the farm and
farmhouse may be made easier and
simpler. There is no particularly
heavy expense attached to the use OF
labor-saving and tirne-saving devices.
They may be, for the most part, the
result of a little concentration OF
thought and a timely application OF
muscular energy.
These different handy devices on the
farm, not only save time and labor
but they give personal sense Of gra-
tifcation and increased efficiency
which make them worth their cost
MANY times over. For instance, II
there is not some convenient and eff
cient machine for sharpening the cut
ting implements Of the place, the far
mer more often than not will work
with dull tools-with poor results.
His stock will more than Likely go
thirsty if ther is not some simple and
expedient method of watering them. If
the gates are unwieldy, and are fas-
tened by some such cumbersome de-
vice as heavy chain or horse shoe
and piece of baling wire, they are
pretty apt to be left open-and just at
the wrong time.
Very often herd boar is discarded
because he is too large, and consider
able sum of money is expended for a
new one, when it would be a compara-
lively simple matter to build breed
ing crate and thus prolong the period
of usefulness of the first one.
Space will permit of a detailed de-
scription of only few of these de-
vices.
A handy feeding trough for sheep
and calves may be made by building
a box y inches wide by six inches
deep and ten or twelve feet long. The
trough may be supported at one end
by a short axle, which is in turn sup
ported by two old cultivator wheels,
and at the other by the usual legs or
standards. A pair of handles may be
attached to the box at the end opposite
the wheels, so that he device may be
used, after the manner of wheel
barrow, either to move the trough or
to haul feed into the lot
Individual hog houses may be con-
structed by making the sides and roof
in separate pieces, so that the house
may be torn down, moved, and set up
again in few minutes. The parts
may be held together by strong iron
hoods or latches, such as are used on
heavy doors or gates. These houses
are found to be very useful in keeping
brood sows and their Iitters separate.
Gates can be kept from sagging and
at the same time be made to open and
close easier by supporting the end op-
posite the hinges on an extra buggy
wheel or plow wheel. A handy latch
dropped between the spokes will hold
the gate open or closed, as desired
The mail box may be brought a con-
siderable distance from the road to
the house by suspending it On a
heavy wire for trolley and by ar
ranging a system of pulleys and
smaller wires over which to pull it
back and forth. In pulling fence
posts much labor can be saved by fas-
tening a chain about the post near the
ground, and then running the chain
up over the end of prop set against
the post at an angle of forty-fve de-
grees. A team hitched to the chain
will draw out the post, unaided by the
usual digging, prying and pulling.
These are cited as only few of the
ways whereby farmer may save him
self much work. While conditions
vary greatly, little forethought and
timely application will save much
drudgery and labor under any con-
dition Prof, M. 5. Gardner,