The Kendrick gazette., 1921-09-23

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
1t is poor business to neglect the
care 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-
rartment of Agriculture. On many
farms IA 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 five
wears. 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
cleaning and oiling occasionally.
Fifty million pairs of shoes could
be saved annually if the American
people kept their footwear in repair,
the specialists say. AS nation we
nuy some 3O0,0OO.0O0 pairs Of shoes a
year. but If each individual cared for
his shoes properly the needs could be
Supplied by 25O.OOO,OO0 pairs. The
wasting of single shoe year by
| each person in the United States
would cost the country at least $780,
OO0O0O 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. If not
useless, within 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, it is more eco
nOmical to get a set that is too heavy
than one which is too light for the
work required. Make sure especially
that the reins, breeching, holdhack
straps. tugs or traces, belIybands, 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
ly bent.
Harness should be washed and oiled
when it becomes dirty or extremely
dry. For washing, use tepid water, a
neutral soap, such as CASTLE or white
toilet soap, and a 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 warm place until it is no longer
wet but still damp. Then oil II and
leave il in warm place for "a hours
before being used. Harness should bt
oiled or creased while still damp, 9th
erwise. il may take up so much grease
that it will pull out Of shape or take
up sand and grit, which will injure 1t
as well as spoil Its appearance, Har
ness should never look or fee
greasy.
Neat's-foOt or castor oil OF a mix
ture Of these with wool grease is goo,
for driving harness. For heavy har
ness USE mixture of any or all o
these with wool grease TO make
paste. having about the consistenc
of butter Apply the grease lightly t
driving harness and literally to wor
harness. Rub the oil or grease, warr
to the hand, thoroughly into the leatf
er while it is still damp from wash
Ing. After the harness has hung in
warm room overnight, remove with
clenn dry cloth the excess Of oil whic
the leather is unable to take mp.
II Keep eeits Clean.
In selecting belt for driving ms
chinery, make sure that II is wide an
heavy enough for the load 1t Is I
carry. Ordinarily the competent he
makers advice as to the proper be
for q given installation should be fo
lowed. II the belt is not suited to II
work II gives trouble continual
causing shutdown of machinery thu
will soon cost more in loss Of tin
and wages than many good belts,
should always he sufficiently flexib
to cling closely to the smallest pullt
over which II passes. A belt will n
give satisfactory results II II slip
does not run true. Is not proper
iacAd fs RIM too loose or too fight