The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-11-27

The Broad Road I
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture)
Probably you do not believe that
''the sins of the fathers are visited
upon the sons, even to the third and
fourth generations"
You wouldn't believe, perhaps, that
leaving your plows and harrows in
fence corners this winter without even
greasing them may be a sign that
spells poverty instead of prosperity
for your grandson. 1t may not, but
well, listen to a story.
Two young men, brotherS-in-law,
took their wives, cows, horses, and
plOws into new land in 1910. AS
pioneer farmers, they began with
equal opportunities. Sixty-seven years
later the writer had occasion to go
over the two farms. The grandsons Of
the pioneers were operating them. One
farm was a good one and the men who
operated it, while not rich, were COM
Portable and cOntented. The other was
a rundown, poor farm and its owners
were constantly hard put TO make ends
meet.
The original owner of the rundown
farm had been dead a great many years,
but the man who pioneered on the
prosperous farm was alive, 90 years
old, physically active, mentally sharp
as a briar. The writer, unable to see
why there should be so much differ
ence between two farms that were
equally fertile to begin with, asked
the old man how it came about.
Jimmie Was Careless.
81 don't knOw-well, reckon do
too" he began. Jimmie was a good
man, but he was mighty careless
When he finished laying by his corn,
he left his pillow in the furrow and
hung his gear on the beam or leaned
them against stump. When he start
ed blowing the next spring, he had to
dig his collar and names out of the
dirt, all muddy and rotten, and his
pillow was rusty and wouldn't scour."
Now, of course, this old gentleman
was wrong in thinking that lack of
shelter for his implements was the
cause of his brothers failure, but he
had pointed out an effect that was
indicative of the cause, just as his
own well-kept implement sheds were
Indicative of the cause of his own
success. The brothers rust-pitted mold
board merely went to show that he
was a poor farmer all around.
The United States department of
agriculture corroborates the testimony
of the old gentleman in its general
application. Good farmers, says the
department, take care of their nipple
ments. They may not always find it
convenient or profitable to build ex-
pensive sheds for their tools, but they
will manage to protect them from
moisture in one way or another.
PIow Is Neglected.
In this day of complicated machin-
cry most farmers probably give little
thought to the care of so simple an
implement as a pillow. But, says the
department, more effort has been ex-
pended in the slow process of develop
ing this seemingly simple tool than
in that of any other implement on the
farm. 1t is the basic tillage tool, the
fundamental farm implement, it is
richly entitled to be properly cared
for when not in USE
When laid by, say the implement
experts, the pillow should, if possible,
be stored in a dry place, away from
contact with the ground. In any case
the bright parts should always be
coated with grease to prevent rust.
Once the mold board and share have
became pitted with rust, an efficient
job of blowing cannot be done until
the corroded parts again have ac-
Quired a polish by use.
The department of agriculture, Of
course, does not stop with the pillow
in its admonition in this regard. Har-
rows. also relatively simple but ire
mendously important implements, are,
next to plows, most generally neglect
ed. Many farmers who would not neg
lect an expensive harvesting machine,
say the experts, are careless. as to
harrows and other implements OF this
type. But these, also, represent capital
invested and a larger return is pos
sible If they are properly cared for
at the end of the season.
Support HarroVy's Teeth.
If harrows are stored under q shed,
the teeth should be supported by
blocks and boards so that they will