The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-10-27

University of Wisconsin.
The subject Of mechanical house,
hold equipment has been until recent
years very sadly neglected. This il
quite evident when one visits the
average farm home where as Yet the
modern equipment is lacking and the
same general line of household con-
v~enlences which grandmother used
are still in service. The average
farmers wife uses the same old
churn, the same old broom. dust pan.
mop, cook stove. and wheeZy pump
which the grandfolks used. The only
marked Improvement which one can
note as generally adopted is in the
slight changes III types Of utensils
Compare this with the general
adoption Of farm equipment. What
FARMER now cradles oats with the
old-fashioned cradle? Many never
sa" one. How many farmers are
there who still NOV the hay with
the old scythe? In place of equip
ment used by grandfather there is
practically an entire new field of labor
saving devices. There are avail
able the same line Of labor saving
devices for the mother in the home;
and to the mar on the fence it
would appear to be poor to
pass such equipment by, especially
since the commissary department
maintains a position of vital impor-
lance on the farm.
The retired farmer who moves ito
town does SO usually because his
wife is worn out and must have rest
which is made possible by the con-
v~enlence Of public utilities such as
water, gas, electric lights, sewage
disposal, good roads, etc. How much
better off he would be at HON if
he could be induced to install these
cOnveniences on the farm and ioin
| hands with tho ~hhnrc IN nra-oo+
ing such improvements as tend to
keep men on the farm.
the work of the farmers wife can
be changed from drudgery t. real
pleasure by adopting u~p-to-date
equipment, and savings can be effec-
co which Will more than pay for the
entire cost. 1t is estimated by gov
eminent experts that the average
farmers wife lifts more than a ton
of water per day! The most conserv-
ative figures will show that the cost
Of this wasted energy would pay for
a water works system in
less than five years and carry the in
terest on the investment.
| The installation of a safe system
f of seWage disposal will in many
r cases be paid for directly in reduced
doctors bills and loss Of time or
account Of illness. A good heating
Y system will heat the average house
az q NOot liz Is less imam Ono-ndI
i the cost of heating with stoves.
. A little sprinkling in the garden
r at the right time may easily save {
undred dollars loss, and a garde1
: hose with only a fair water pressur,
available will usually save losse
which would pay for the water work
S system many times over. Further
S the water works system can very easi
ly be designed SO as 10 permit the in
staI1tiCn Of an automatic sprirklc.
system which will Practically ell1uin
ar f:1ee. This one feature of :r,
prevention is alone Of sufficien
economic importance to warrant tn
adoption Of the equipment needed t
- avoid such losses.
= Lamps, lanterns, candles, etc, ar
- the cause of most country fires. Thes
could be practically eliminated by tn
installation Of a small co-operativ
electric lighting system in the neigh
borhood-and light made available a
n a rate cheaper than by using kerosen
lamps.
y There are other consideration
~ which prove the economic importanc
of household equipment, among thel
~ the following. Time saved in til
= house could be proftably spent in tn
~ garden or with poultry or bees, an
~ would introduce the much needle
n change of interest and fresh air neee
Su " LII ISditlA IN A1@A
ne the tired mother The servant 81
problem is very materially bettere
er If not altogether solved. There is Ii
70 tie wonder girls won't go to work {
eo ferns, when forced to live in uncon
Portable homes and work with pot
on equipment. Few girls were ever lure
A. away from the city by pictures Of
weekend bath in a wash tub.
IN In some cases the power equipme1
as needed for milking machines. crea
ps separators. feed grinders, and 9th
III farm machinery can be used in II
supply of power for the househo
and thus serve a double duty. In fas
on if should he understood by the farm
re thai a comprehensive plan of the e
ep tire mechanical equipment should
ke worked out for each farm so tn
ar wasteful Implications and expense
all changes may be avoided. These a
Ike nroblems which call for the seryic
oh - The f~4n~ o1-r