Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-12-28

In this day of complicated machinery
moat farmers probably give little thought
eo'the care Of 90 simple IN implement q
. plow. But moro effort has been ex
pended In the slow process of developine
this seemingly simple tool than In thai
OF any other implement on the farm. Il
is the basic tillsge tool, the fundamental
farm implement, and Il 10 richly entitled
to DO properly cared for when not in use
SHOULD BE STORED IN DRY PLACE.
When laid by, the plow should, II pos.
siole. Do stored In dry place, away
from c0nfaot 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 be.
come pitted with rust, IN efficient job OF
plowing can not be done until the cor.
roded parts again have acquired q polish
By use.
Hsrrows, also relatively simple but
tremendously important implements, are,
next to plows, most generally neglected.
Many farmers who would not neglect ap
expensive harvesting machine, cay the
experts, are careless "a to harrows and
other implements of this type. But
these, also, represent capital invested,
and larger return is possible II they are
properly cared for at the end Of the
season.
II harrows are stored under . shed,
the teeth should be supported by blocks
or boards, 90 that they will not become
embedded In the ground. All accumu.
lations Of earth and trash should be re-
moved. This is especially applicable to
woodenframe harrows. The earthly ac-
cumulations retain moisture and accele-
rate decay. When the wooden parts
have dried out sufficiently they should
be painted, to prevent season checking
and splitting. As the harrow works in
wet earth and close to the ground, dete
rioration 10 rapid once checking has
started.
II the disk harrow is stored in q shed
or other floorlcss building, the disk gangs
should be run upon boards 20 the dicks
will not become en- bedded in the ground.
Whether housed or not, the implement
should be carefully cleaned Of all accu-
mutations OF soil, and the disks should
be creased with heavy grease TO pre-
vent rust. The paint, particularly on
the wooden parts, should be renewed
frequently.
GET THE MOWER UNDER SHELTER.
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 cut
ting Of hay was made, and In most cases
they are not properly creased, even when
sheltered. Get the mower under shell
ter If possible. In any case, clean the
knife bar, wipe II with Q greasy rag, and
store in dry place. Place . block Of
wood or other support under the mid
point of the tongue, 30 that It will not
acquire permanent sag. II the mower
10 stored with the cutter bar In vertical
position, place . block of wood under
the shoe to take the weight of the
frame. All scoumulstions 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 inconvsnient, but nothing should be
allowed to interfere with getting all ma
ohinery CREASED, and, II possible, under
cover before the beginning of winter.
Then, a. early in the winter as you can
find time for 1t, 60 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.
The best possible use should be made
OF such housing space as 10 available,
and grease and paint shonld be used
without stint. Any farm implement with
bearings and bright parts we'll protected
with heavy grease is better off in the
weather than standing In shed without
sny protection by grease or oil.