Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-11-26
Care of Farm Implements

NdIC VI A a ia AAhPASANANS
In this day of complicated machinery
most farmers probably give little
thought to the care of so simple an i'm
PIGMENT as a pillow. But more effort
has been expended in the slow process
of developing this seemingly simple tool
than in that of any other implement on
the farm 1t is the basic tillage tool
the fundamental farm implement, and
it is richly entitled to be properly
cared for when not in use.
Should Be Stored in Dry Place
When laid by, say the implement eX-
perts, the pillow should if possible be
stored in a dry place, away from con-
tact 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
become pitted with rust, an efficient
lob of blowing can not be done until
the corroded parts again have acquired
a polish by use.
The United States Department Of
Agriculture, of course, does not stop
with the pillow in its admonition in this
regard. Harrows, also relatively sim
pie but tremendously important i'm
elements, are, next to plows, most gen
orally neglected Many farmers who
would not neglect an expensive har-
vesting machine, say the experts, are
careless as to harrows and other i'm
plements of this type But these, also,
represent capital invested, and larger
return is possible if thew are properly
cared for at the end OF the season.
Il harroWs are stored under a she'd,
The teeth should be supported by
blocks or boards, 50 that they will 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 on; 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 S. rdpid
once checking has started.
If the disk narrow is stored in a
shed or other hoorless building, tnc
disk gangs should be run upon boar Is
so the disks will not become embedded
in the ground. Whether housed or not,
the implemet should be carefully clean
ed of all Accommodations of soil, and the
disks should be CREASED with a heavy
crease to prevent rust. The paint, par
ticularly on the wooden parts, should
be renewed frequently
Mowers, more generally than plows
and harrows, are put under shelter,
bot 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 III any case
clean the knife bar wipe it with a
greasy rag, and store in dry place
Place a block OF wood or other support
under the midpont OF the tongue, so
that it will not acquire a ornament
sag. If the mower is stored with the
cutter bar in vertical position, place
a block of wood under the shoe to take
the weight off the frame All accumu-
lations 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. Pres
sure of other work. however, frequent
" makes this inconvenient, but moth
ing should be allowed to interfere with
getting all machinery creased, and, if
possible, under cover before the be-
ginning of winter Then, as early in
the winter as you can find time for it,
90 over every piece and see what re-
pairs are needed If new parts have
to be ordered. order them at once. A
great deal of valuable time is lost
evehy spring waiting for repair parts
to arrive from the city.
The best possible use should be made
of such housing space as is available,
and grease and paint should be used
without stint. Any farm implement
with bearings and bright parts well
protected with heavy grease is better
off out in the weather than standing in
a shed without any protection by
grease or oil.