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

not become embedded in the ground. All
accumulations of earth and trash
should be removed. This is especially
applicable to wooden frame harrows.
The earthly accommodations retain mois-
ture and accelerate decay. When the
wooden parts have dried out sufficient
ly, they should be painted to prevent
season checking and splitting. AS the
harrow works in wet earth and close
to the ground, deterioration is rapid
once checking has started.
If the disk harrow is stored in
shed or other floorless building, the
disk gangs should be run upon boards
so the disks will not become embedded
in the ground. Whether housed or not,
the implement should be carefully
cleaned of all Accommodations of soil
and the disks should be creased with
a heavy grease to prevent ust. The
paint, particularly on the wooden
parts, should be renewed frequently.
Care of Mowers.
Mowers, more generally than plows
and harrOws, are put under shelter,
but many of them spend the winter
at the edge of the meadow where the
last cutting of hay was made, and in
most cases they are not properly
creased even when sheltered. Get the
mower under shelter, if possible. In
any case, clean the knife bar, wipe it
with a greasy rag, and store in a dry
place. Place a block Of wood or other
support under the mid-point of the
tongue, so that it will not acquire a
permanent sag. If the mower is stored
with the cutter bar in a vertical posi-
ton, place a block of wood under the
shoe to take the weight off the frame.
All Accommodations of vegetable matter
and dirt should be removed and all
bearings and other bright parts of the
machine oiled or creased. Much the
same rules apply to reapers and
binders.
The time to care for each implement
is when its work is finished. Pressure
of other work, however, frequently
makes this inconvenient, but nothing
Should be allowed to interfere with
getting all machinery creased, and,
if possible, under cover before the
beginning Of winter Then, as early
in the winter as you can find time for
it, go over every piece and see what
repairs are needed. If new parts have
to be ordered, order them at once. A
great deal of valuable time is lost
every spring waiting for repair parts
to arrive from the city.
Cost of Machine Shed.
It should be borne in mind that the
proper care of implements does not
necessarily entail the expense of build
ing costly implement sheds. The over
head cost of such structure often far
exceeds any possible depreciation of i'm
plements through exposure to the
weather. But such housing space as is
available, and grease and paint should
be used without stint. Any farm i'm
plement, with bearings and bright
parts well protected with heavy grease,
is better of out in the weather than
standing in a shed without protection
by grease or oil.
The United States department Of
agriculture has two bul1etins-Farm-
ers' Bulletin GAG and Farmers Bulletin
947-devoted to the repair and adjust
ment of farm implements. With all
implements safely sheltered for the
winter, you have time to write for
these bulletins and to use the informa-
ton they contain in putting your i'm
plements and machines in the best pos
sible condition for next crop season.