The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-09-02

This harness has been ussd Tor - J
oiled frequently with neat's.Soot 81
deterioration and should last 20 ,
care did Il.
prepared by the United States DEPART
ment OF AgricultureJ
It Is poor business to neglect the
cure Of leather. Every pair Of shoes,
every machine belt, piece Of harness,
or other leather product on the farm
that is allowed to 60 to waste or not
made to yield its full service must be
needlessly replaced, thus adding un-
necessary expense to the farm, say
specialists Of the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture. On many
farms set of harness lasts less than
ten years. Where eight or ten horses
are kept this means one new set\ Of
harness every year. The department
has received many reports. especially
from Southern states, showing that
harness lasts only from two to i've
years. But good harness, properly
cared for. will last 20 years or more.
In every neighborhood there are cases
where farmers are cutting their har-
ness bills In half by giving the leather
q cleaning and oiling occasionally.
Fifty million pairs Of shoes could
he saved annually II the American
people kept their footwear In repair.
the specialists say. As a nation We
huv some 3OO.OOO.O 900 pairs Of shoes
year. but II each individual cared for
his shoes properly the needs could be
supplied by 25O,O0O,OOO pairs. The
wasting 1T single shoe a year by
each person In the United States
would cost the country at least $780,
100000 annually at present prices Of
shoes.
Any leather improperly used. and
neglected will deteriorate rapidly.
Belts for driving machinery. for ex-
ample, often become impaired, II not
useless. within a few years even on
straight drives. but when they are
kept clean and oiled they will last
from ten to thirty years.
Selecting and Caring for Harness.
Harness that is too light or OF poor
quality cannot give years Of service.
In selecting harness. 1t Is more eco
nomicai to get set that Is too heavy
than one which Is too light for the
work required. Make sure especially
that the reins, breeding. holdback
straps. tugs or traces, bellybands. and
yoke straps are strong. A runaway
team cannot be controlled with weak
reins. nor will weak tugs and straps
stand heavy work. No portion Of the
harness should show cracks on the
grain side when the leather Is sharp
" bent.
Harness should be washed and oiled
when 1t becomes dirty or extremely
dry. For washing, use tepid water, u
neutral soap, such as CASTLE or white
toilet soap, and sponge or fairly stiff
brush. Hardened grease Is very con-
veniently removed by scraping with
dull knife. Rinse In clean, tepid
water. and allow the harness to stand
In warn, place until it Is no longer
wet but still damp. Then oil 1t and
leave 1t In warm place for "a hours
before being used. Harness should be
oiled or creased while still damp 9th.
erwise. 1t may take up so much grease
that IL will pull out Of shape or take
up sand and grit, which will tnjure it.
as well as spoil its appearance. Har-
ness should never look or feel
greasy.
Neat's-foot Or castor oil or q mix
ture Of these with wool grease Is good
for driving harness. For heavy har-
ness use mixture of any or all of
these with wool grease to make q
paste. having about the consistency
Of butter. Apply the grease lightly to
driving harness and literally to work
harness. Rub the oil or grease. warm
to the hand. thoroughly into the leath-
or while 1t IL still damp from wash.
ing. After the harness has hung In q
warm room overnight. remove with a
clean dry cloth the excess of oil which
the leather Is unable to take up.
Keep Belts Clean.
In selecting belt for driving ma.
chinery. make sure that It Is wide and
heavy enough for the load It IL to
carry Ordinarily the competent belt
maker's advice a. to the proper belt
for given installation should be fol.
lowed. Il the belt Is not suited to the
work Il gives trouble continually
causing shutdown Of machinery that
will som cost more In loss of time
anil wage. than many good belts. II
sh"nid always he suficiently flexible
"a cling closely to the smallest pulley
over which II passes. A belt win moi
give satisfactory results II It slips
d"es aot run true. 10 not properly
Acad. 10 eun too loose OF too tight. ID