Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-07

(Written Specially for The BulIetin.)
 The longer I live the stronger grows my dislike of the man who invented the phrase labor saving machinery.
 Very likely he meant well: lots or us do unfortunate things with the best possible intentions. That's just what
 The constant repetition of that mis- leading form has led hundreds and thousands of farmers to believe that they can farm 1t without hard WorKA S,. if only they have machinery enough.
 And they can't do it
 Machinery helps us to do more work in the same time, or to do the same work in less time, or to do the same work easier. But-and this is a very real e'but"-we have to do more work with our machinery to arrive at the same profit, for the simple reason that we've got to pay for the machines ana their maintenance and repairs. You can buy a scythe for a dollar or less; a Inowing-machine will cost you fifty times as much at the outset, to say nothing of inevitable repairs and re- newals. A ton of hays at present prices. would buy you twenty scytnes' it will take two tons and halh 10 puy one moving machine ana certainty half a ton more to furnish oil, renew section knives, replace broken parts, feed the horses that pull it, and al low for interest and deterioration
 And it's more work to cut. dry, rake. load haul in and unload three tons of hay than 1t is to do the same with one ton
 It's the same with all sorts of farm machinery. Half a dozen of my neigh bors have bought sulky blows within fine last few years. Tt was so much easier tosride," they said. Day before yesterday I passed fields where two of them were at fall blowing. Both were walking behind their new blows, for the admitted reason that thelr light teams couldn't stand up to the days work, if they rode. Another actually ruined his span, broke them down by overwork. Two others have sold their horses and bought heavier ones, horses more costly to buy and more expensive to keep, simply in or der to get the added power needful for their blows. The last one uses three horses and admits that they have all they want to do to pull the blow and its rider in tough sward.
 So all through the list. A horse hoe costs more than 8 hand hoe; cutaway harrow more than a home made "A" drag; @ reaper and D1noer more than a cradle: a thresh1ng ma chine more than a fail. They all cost more to begin with and more to keel up. The farmer who has them must raise more stuff to pay for them ano keep them in order.
 Now, don't got. tho Idea that Tn ono of these old moss-backs who "dou't never want none O them new faugled tools" Far from it 1 buy all the machinery can afford and use it wherever I can. But don't call Il 'Iabor-saying" for it isn't. It may be labor-speed1ng. but it Isn't labor-sav- ing. Not in the long run. It helps me to accomplish more with the same effort, while it also compels me tc do more work to pay for and maintain it. It's chief value to me is that Il enables me to attain, with It's aid anc that of my horses. results which can't get hand labor to do at any orice. for the reason that there. are not enough hand laborers available.
 But I can't see that I'm having any less work to do on account or It oi that I'm able to work any less hours
 Nor do 1 find any of my successful farmer neighbors saving work through it. They are often accomplishinE more, while working no harder. They are raising larger crops. with no more hired hand labor than before. Those who are using machinery to fncreas' crops and decrease unit cost of pro 2 duction seem to be getting along Those who are resortfng to it to save themselves work seem, from all wis ible indications. to be going back ward.
 People outside of farming, nay. prac tical farmers themselves. freQuently wonder why it is that farms whicl used to be not only self -supp porting but remunerative. do not now pay thei way I believe that one potent caus' for the condition lies right here, in tht error of thought and practice due t. that pesky phrase, Tabor saving" ma chinery The young farmer who's, father used to work hard and long ol the old farm to make it pay. has beer deluded into the hope that he cal make it pay just as well by worzinl easy and little with the aid of ma chinery.
 It is not at all unlikely that h could make it pay better with the ai' of modern tools and modern method